Chapter 566 Pokkir
As soon as he finished his training in the Fencing Department and then in the Archery Department, Kaizen went to the capsule room to check the game again. Since his goal was to reach level 200 as soon as possible, it was good for him to get into the game for at least a few hours a day.
Besides, the sense of adventure still instigated him, and he was curious to explore this new region of Mibothen.
Connecting to the RO once more, he appeared at his spawn location, on the bed of the room he rented in the tavern.
Kaizen looked around, remembering the cozy atmosphere of the room. Leaving the tavern, Kaizen found himself once again in the picturesque village of D?mmerung. The wooden houses, the snow-covered dirt roads and the beautiful natural landscape impressed him once again.
Remembering the information Peter had given him about Pokkir, the nearest big city to the village, Kaizen decided that this would be his next stop. However, he was also aware that the journey could be dangerous, after all, the unknown lands of Mibothen were full of wild creatures and unexpected challenges. Therefore, before leaving, he decided to stop by the equipment store to purchase some essential items for the journey. Luckily, Peter let Kaizen keep Astru's old horse, as having the horse would only make him remember more of what happened to his son, so the journey would be quicker.
Inside the store, Kaizen carefully considered his options and decided to invest in a saddle for the horse, which only had the reins. He also bought some healing potions and some clothing for the horse to withstand the cold.
With the equipment in place, Kaizen headed towards Pokkir. The journey would be long, but Peter claimed that he could reach Pokkir in less than half a day if the weather was in his favor.
Kaizen mounted his horse, holding tightly to the reins. The horse was majestic, with a dark coat and expressive eyes. He could feel the energy of the animal, which seemed rested and less frightened than the day before.
The crunch of snow under the horse's hooves echoed as they left D?mmerung behind.
The cold winter air caressed Kaizen's face, but he was well protected by his armor and warm clothes.
The landscape soon changed around them. The forests and majestic mountains still provided a spectacular view of stunning nature, but valleys began to emerge.
Along the way, Kaizen met a few other players traveling in similar directions. There were some newbies and others who seemed more experienced. While the newer players looked at Kaizen with admiration, others looked at Kaizen with interest, after all they had never seen him before.
Kaizen's horse galloped at a steady pace. Thus, time passed quickly, and the city of Pokkir finally appeared on the horizon. Its tall towers and sturdy walls displayed a sense of grandeur. Kaizen felt excited to see Pokkir approaching. The city was hundreds of times larger than D?mmerung and radiated an atmosphere of activity and movement.
As he approached the city gates, he noticed the colorful flags fluttering atop the towers, each representing a guild that operated in the region.
Upon entering Pokkir, the noise of people chatting, the sound of horses' hooves on the paved streets, and the aroma of exotic foods coming from food stalls were very welcoming.
Dismounting from his horse, Kaizen thanked the animal for its loyalty with a caress and left it in a safe stable so he could walk through the small alleys.
Walking through the busy streets of Pokkir, Kaizen felt like an outsider in an unfamiliar land. The tall, well-built buildings, the colorful stores and the merchants displaying their wares caught his attention, because the city, though not as large as Holinda or the Tretidian Capital, seemed to have life.
He decided to look for an Adventurer's Guild to rest a bit, find out about the interesting places to explore in Pokkir and also see if he could get a Teleportation Crystal to Tretidian. Soon, he found the local association, which looked busy and lively, with a large influx of players. When he entered, he saw that inside there were several tables and a space for people to chat, exchange information and also rest.
Since Kaizen needed to rest a bit, Kaizen sat down in a corner of the tavern and ordered a drink before going to the counter to ask questions. He watched and listened to the conversations around him, soaking up information, only to suddenly have a group of adventurers approach Kaizen, attracted by his armor and resolute appearance.
"Hello, stranger." greeted one of the players, a green-haired warrior with a challenging look. "You're not from around here, are you? You look like you just arrived in Pokkir."
Kaizen was a little surprised by the man's statement. "Oh? How did you guess?"
The green-haired warrior smiled, revealing sharp white teeth. "Well, it's just that we don't usually see many adventurers wearing such impressive armor around here. Besides, you've got that look of one who's ready to brave unknown lands."
Kaizen chuckled lightly, appreciating the player's sense of observation. "You're right, I am an outsider. I have recently arrived in Mibothen."
The warrior extended his hand. "My name is Darius. I am the leader of this small team of adventurers. We are always on the lookout for new exciting quests and places to explore. If you are interested in joining us, we would be happy to have you as a traveling companion."
Kaizen shook Darius' hand firmly. "My name is Klaus. I appreciate the invitation and the hospitality, but I'm actually interested in farming XP. Do any of you know a good place?"
A blonde-haired female archer promptly replied:
"The city sewers are a great place. It's a tight place for a big guy like you though, so be careful."
Kaizen blushed and thanked her with a smile. "Thank you very much for your concern, and once again, it was a pleasure meeting you."