Chapter 256: 1.5-37

"I must go now," Pan Yingjie stated, sensing that someone had come in the main entrance of the library from the talisman connected to the door. Sadly his work had officially put a halt to the long conversation he was having with the boy. "Feel free to contact me anytime if you have any problems."

Melting Snow nodded rapidly at the man's words, clutching the thick orange tome tightly in his arms. "Don't worry, I will. Thank you so much for allowing me to read the book, I promise to be careful with it."

After giving him the book, the librarian told Melting Snow some information about it. Like how unique it was and how there was only one like it in the entire world. The NPC made him promise to be cautious when holding it and hinted that he needed to carefully read the words.

Although the NPC didn't tell him anything that he didn't already know, Melting Snow was still thankful to him. He could tell that this NPC would be crucial to whatever quest he would get from the book.

He had a gut feeling that the NPC knew about the hidden class the book held, so chumming up to him was a must.

"No thanks needed, you earned it." Pan Yingjie gave him a gentle smile at him before sauntering away.

Once he saw the librarian disappear behind one of the bookshelves, Melting Snow looked down at the book he was holding in his hands and let loose the excited squeal he was keeping inside for a while now.

He couldn't wait to show the book to Drifting Cloud and give him the excellent news. Smiling gaily to himself, he started to make his way through the maze of bookcases with the thick orange tome clutched to his chest.

As the furry-eared boy walked back to where his friend was located, he began to think about something else the NPC had talked to him about. At the time, he didn't pay it any mind, but he does have to wonder why the NPC asked about Drifting Cloud.

'But with the question he asked, he was probably just wondering if he was my guardian,' thought Melting Snow, convincing himself that was it.

~

Five Minutes Later

Hearing the telltale signs of feet running towards him, Xinya looked away from the book he was reading and towards the sound. Only to see that it was Melting Snow grinning widely with that tattered brown book tucked in his arms.

"Drifting Cloud, guess what!" exclaimed Melting Snow once he was near.

From the happiness displayed on the boy's face, Xinya could already tell that he had completed the quest, but decided to play along.

Xinya cocked his head to the side and widened his eyes, trying to obtain the appearance of someone who was clueless. "What?"

"I finished the task the librarian gave me! I got the book, and we won't be banned!"

"That wonderful, Melting Snow," Xinya gushed, giving the boy a swift pat on the head. "I knew you could do it!"

Smiling, Xinya watched the boy puff out his chest at the praise; he was delighted that everything had worked out in their favor, and they wouldn't be banned from the library. This was there an only good source of information for miles, and he would have been upset if he couldn't have used it.

"By the way, where is the librarian?" questioned Xinya, a little confused as to why the NPC didn't come back with the boy.

Shrugging, Melting Snow put the book down on the table and sat down. "I don't know he said he had to go do something."

"Oh, did you at least talk to him before he left?" Xinya wondered if the NPC had some information about the book.

"Yes, we talked for a while," Melting Snow began to recount everything the librarian informed him about the book gleefully. "He even added me as a friend!"

Xinya felt that it was strange that the NPC added the boy as a friend just like that; usually, when an NPC adds a player as a friend, it's either something to do with a quest or their goodwill towards the player is really high.

So he found it odd that the librarian would do that with how mad he was when Melting Snow toppled the bookcase. However, after thinking about it for a bit, Xinya speculates that the hidden class quest might have something to do with the NPC.

And if that was so, adding the boy as a friend would be an excellent way to keep track of him without looking too suspicious.

'Maybe the librarian is this class instructor for the Monk hidden class.' Xinya thinks that it could be a possibility; after all, his class instructor is a certified toymaker.

"That's good, make sure you keep in close contact with him," Xinya said knowingly. "From what SharkBabii wrote, the hidden class quests are challenging. The librarian might be connected to all of this, and could give out hints."

"I know, don't worry; I will keep my goodwill with the NPC high."

Smiling slightly, Xinya asked, "So, are you going to start reading the book now?"

"Yeah, if you don't mind waiting for me." Melting Snow hesitantly replied, worried that Xinya might already be finished with his reading and wouldn't want to wait for him.

"No, it's fine; I was rushing before; this way, I can go through my notes and check to see if I missed anything important. Also, there is something else I want to research while we are here."

"What is that?" Melting Snow curiously asked.

"Well, while we were on our way here, I realized that having a vehicle of some kind is essential, so I want to start the egg hatching process and learn more about the species before we go."

Melting Snow nodded in understanding at the man's words; they really did need a vehicle of some kind. Although he had super speed, he knew that he wouldn't be able to keep using it endlessly for longer trips because he eats at his stamina.

Getting Drifting Cloud's wagon up and running was the best plan, but he knew that eggs take a long time to hatch. Altogether it could take up to 5-7 days 'real-world time' before the egg will hatch depending on how rare it is.

With the type of luck his friend had, Melting Snow had a feeling that the animal inside that egg was a rare one.

Knowing that he decided that since he almost got them kicked out, he would go meet up with his cousin after they leave the library and ask to borrow one of his vehicles.

He needed to visit him anyway to inform him of his brother's silliness of wanting him to be a spy; this way, he would be killing two birds with one stone.

"That sounds good. Are you going to research winemaking while you're here as well?"

Shaking his head, Xinya said, "No, there is no need to do that yet. I will worry about researching that once the farm is up and running."

"That makes sense," Melting Snow agreed before pulling the golden tome closer to him and opening it up to read.