Chapter 40 - Episode 40: Bond.

"The smell of my house is nice..."

Emma chuckles and shakes her head while putting the car key on the dining table.

"You mean, the smell of greasy food?"

I'm humming with an agreement and lay down on the couch. Emma walks to the gaming room. I lift my head and look at her.

"Are you going to play?"

Emma is at the door.

"Yeah, I promised Ivonna to inform her when you're back. When are you going to play?"

I look at my watch, it's 10 a.m.

"Maybe in an hour? I want to buy chocolates in the convenience store and eat lunch."

Emma nods and then she grins.

"Buy me some as well, please? The chocolate, I mean. I will buy my own lunch later."

I get up and walk past her and grab the car key.

"Sure, I'll buy all the chocolate."

Emma is smiling happily and then goes inside the gaming room. I grab my phone and check my balance.

[Your Balance: $213.472.685]

"Damn, I'm rich..."

I left the house and drove to the convenience store. I bought all types of chocolate and the back of my car was filled with chocolates. Then I went back home after I bought an iced coffee and ate lunch.

I look at the time and it's 1 p.m. I go to the gaming room and put on the helmet and login into the game.

I'm back at Avriel's hiding place. I look around and nobody is here, but the place is warm which means Avriel is still here waiting for me. Then I open my quest tab. I still have 32 days before the quest failed.

Clack... the sound of someone is opening the door. It's Avriel and she's surprised when she sees me.

[Affinity towards Trevor increased by 5%]

[Avriel Scarlettblood (75%)]

"You came back. It has been a month already."

I smile and raise my eyebrows.

"Yeah, I'm sorry it took so long."

Avriel shakes her head and smiles. She's looking at me.

"It seems that you are in a hurry, shall we move now?"

I nod.

"Let's go. But not to the Alliance Kingdoms. We are going to see your father."

I need Jariel's reward for bringing Avriel to him. If what Kingstar said is the truth, I will need it to retrieve Krestan's eye later.

Avriel smirks.

"Sure, lead the way."

Avriel wore her hooded robe to hide her identity, then we left her hiding place and went to the teleportation device and teleported to Fjel. When we arrived, Avriel was surprised because the fact that her father has been hiding in this small town that is not that far from Sarkh Village blew her mind.

"Fjel town... why I never thought of this place before..."

I smirk and look at her.

"Surprised? Let's meet your father."

Avriel smiles and nods.

[Affinity towards Trevor increased by 5%]

[Avriel Scarlettblood (80%)]

We both entered the bar. Avriel looked around and stood behind me. I looked at her and her eyes were wide open with disbelief. She removed her hood. The bartender and all the people in there were looking at Avriel in silence.

"Avriel?"

It surprised both of us and we turned around. Jariel appeared out of nowhere. Jariel didn't appear behind us back then. Avriel crossed her arms and looked down. Jariel hugged her so tightly and stroke her hair. This was the second time I watched this scenario and it still gave me goosebumps. A cry of happiness and sadness at the same time. I stealthily walked towards the bartender and leaned on the counter. The bartender patted my back with a huge smile on his face. I shrugged and smirked.

Everyone is surrounding Avriel and they all happy to see her here with them. I'm drinking ale with the bartender. Back then, I never asked the bartender's name. Everyone called him Bartender and not his name. When I'm about to ask for his name, someone is pulling me from behind and dragging me to the hatch. I look back and it's Jariel who's pulling me. Avriel is in front of him and smiling at me.

Jariel and Avriel are sitting in front of me.

[Jariel's Dream Fulfilled]

[You successfully brought Avriel to him.]

[Jariel is starting to like you.]

[Affinity towards Trevor increased by 80%]

[Jariel Scarlettblood (80%)]

Jariel shows me a red scroll and throws it at me. I grab it and smile because this is a one-of-a-kind item that is more precious than legendary items for me.

[Unique Skill Scroll: [Nightfall] obtained!]

[The skill will be learned when used.]

[Use it? Y/N]

...

[Yes]

...

[Congratulations! Unique Passive Skill: [Nightfall Lv. Max] has been learned.]

[Nightfall: When the night rises, the player will regenerate max HP and STA by 1% every second. Increase status values by 10% and increase damage output by 50%.]

Jariel clears his throat and then his face becomes serious. He looks at Avriel.

"So you have read the document?"

Avriel nods and puts the document on the table.

"If we give this document to the other sovereignties, Eluna Empire will be a fallen empire soon. If you have this information, why haven't you gave the document to them?"

Jariel shakes his head.

"I was about to do so, but then the emperor ordered all his men to hunt me down. You were there when the emperor announced that I betrayed the empire. I knew that will happen to me sooner or later, that is why I never revealed that you are my daughter. I was one of the many men that are disposable in the emperor's eyes. I also believe that they already knew that you are my daughter, so sooner or later you will have the same fate as me."

Avriel looks at me and then looks at Jariel.

"What is your plan now? Since we got the document."

Jariel sighs.

"For now, we wait. We need a lot of force to turn the tide."

Avriel furrows her forehead and covering her mouth.

"How are we going to find those?"

Jariel smirks.

"We have the former overlord Rodwane the Third from the Alliance Kingdom and we also have Krestan."

Avriel is surprised with disbelief. I chuckle because of the expression she's made.

"The overlord Rodwane is still alive?! I thought you killed him back then."

Jariel chuckles.

"You are still too young to know everything, Avriel. Yes, he is alive. I was the one who proposed this idea to him. He understood fully how important the information I have. With how corrupted the Alliance Kingdom and how the rulers of the kingdoms worked under the Eluna Empire, he faked his death by my hands and left the Alliance Kingdoms with his trusted men still monitoring the kingdoms. Both of them are here in this territory. Hiding from them like me. Krestan said he is waiting for someone to retrieve his limbs back. Once Krestan has all of his limbs back, he will definitely help us, then Rodwane will inform his men to start the rebellion."

Avriel is pointing at me. I smirk and raise my eyebrow.

"Trevor has them..."

Jariel looks at her with confusion.

"Have what?"

I show Jariel Krestan's right arm and left leg. He jolts from his seat and approaches me. He laughs so hard and covering his head.

[Affinity towards Trevor increased by 10%]

[Jariel Scarlettblood (90%)]

"Excellent! All we need is Krestan's eye. Then we can prepare our plan soon!"

Avriel is looking at me.

[Affinity towards Trevor increased by 5%]

[Avriel Scarlettblood (85%)]

I put them back in my inventory.

"I have roughly 32 days to retrieve Krestan's eye. That's why we came here first so Avriel can see you and know about your plan."

Jariel and Avriel are looking at me suspiciously. Jariel put one of his hands on his back and Avriel's eyes are pointing at Jariel's hand for a split second. I can tell that he's grabbing his dagger.

[Jariel is suspicious with your knowledge]

[Affinity towards Trevor decreased by 50%]

[Jariel Scarlettblood (40%)]

"How do you know about my plan? So it was not a coincidence that you came to me with Avriel's recommendation letter..."

[Jariel is suspicious with your knowledge]

[Affinity towards Trevor decreased by 50%]

[Jariel Scarlettblood (0%)]

[Antipathy towards Trevor increased by 10%]

[Jariel Scarlettblood (-10%)]

F*ck... I shouldn't have said that...

Avriel stands up and walks towards Jariel. She put her hand on his back to prevent him from killing me.

"Don't... he saved my life. If it is not because of him, I'm dead by now."

Jariel is looking at Avriel with disbelief. Avriel sighs and looks at me.

"You should go out for now. Let me talk to him in private."

Jariel is blocking my way with his other hand. Jariel looks at Avriel.

"What if he is one of them? What makes you think he won't run and report the information he got from our conversation earlier?"

Avriel looks at me then looks at Jariel.

"I believe in him. I chose him and I have spent a month with him, so I know exactly what kind of person he is. He won't run away. Believe me, father."

Jariel looks at Avriel and sighs deeply. He puts down his hand.

"You can leave for now."

I nodded and then left the room. I went outside the bar and sat down on the bench.

"F*ck, that was intense... I'm f*cked..."

I'm waiting while looking at the forum. Then a notification appears in front of me.

[Jariel is grateful towards you]

[Antipathy towards Trevor decreased by 10%]

[Jariel Scarlettblood (0%)]

[Affinity towards Trevor increased by 20%]

[Jariel Scarlettblood (20%)]

[Affinity towards Trevor increased by 20%]

[Jariel Scarlettblood (40%)]

[Affinity towards Trevor increased by 40%]

[Jariel Scarlettblood (80%)]

[Affinity towards Trevor increased by 10%]

[Jariel Scarlettblood (90%)]

I lean on the bench and close my eyes while sighing with relief.

"I'm saved..."

"Of course you are..."

I'm startled and immediately open my eyes. Avriel is standing behind me and looking down at me with her smiles.

"Can you follow me for a moment?"

I nod and stand up.

I walked beside Avriel and we ended up on the outside of Fjel town.

Avriel turns around and shows a blade. Not just any blade that she has, but the blade that she used back then when I'm playing with Becker. The legendary blade was given to her by Jariel and she forged it into a dagger and used it to avenge her defeat against Diadre.

"Take it. It is yours..."

This is the first time for me. Avriel didn't give me the blade back then because she used it. Then I take it from her hand.

[Crescent Moon Blade obtained!]

[A forging material blade with the shape of a crescent moon. It is origin is unknown. But it held a tremendous amount of magical power. It is said that when the blade is exposed to the moonlight, its true power will be unleashed.

Rarity: Legendary (R??)

Base ATK: ??

Passive Skill: ??

The status will be revealed when the blade forged into a weapon.]

Avriel smiles.

"This is what I want you to have. I don't think I needed this. If it is you, I believe you can make something impressive from it."

Avriel approaches me and kisses my cheeks then walks away.

"Let's go, my father wants to have a talk with you."

[Affinity towards Trevor increased by 15%]

[Avriel Scarlettblood (100%)]

[Your bond with Avriel Scarettblood cannot be broken!]