Eager to reach Maisie as quickly as possible, Alpkutay showed no mercy to his horse and made it gallop at full speed. Sencer followed suit. About half an hour later, when they reached the fork in the road leading up the Red Rock Mountain, the horses were in a terrible state. If the road had been a little longer, the horses would surely have died.
With Alpkutay in front and Sencer behind, as they turned onto the path leading up the mountain, Sencer checked his map. A green dot and four red dots, very close together, were approaching them. Without hesitation, he brought his horse closer to Alpkutay's and showed him the map.
- Your Majesty. Here they are, Arat is approaching us with four people. I assume those with Arat are Lady Maisie and her team.
- You may be right. Message Arat immediately and get information about the situation. Based on the information we receive, we can decide what to do.
- (Sencer hesitantly reminded Alpkutay of a fact.) Your Majesty, the advanced messaging feature was with Willy. Since Willy is dead, all our advanced messaging features have disappeared. I can only send Arat a message if he comes within about three hundred meters of us. Otherwise, it's impossible for me to reach him. I apologize for not being able to fulfill your order, sir.
- Alright, no problem. Let's rest a little by that tree over there. You follow Arat, let's not get ourselves into unnecessary trouble.
...
In the primitive world, there are many features that can be added to personal bracelets. Initially, all the abilities necessary to conquer the world were given to players as rewards as they leveled up. But due to the difficulty of the primitive world and the low skill levels of the players, most abilities became unusable.
A system of purchasing abilities with money was added to the game to make them usable again. Martial arts, Weapons and ammunition, Food and supplies, First aid and healthcare, Map, Communication, Personal development, Skills and specializations, Information network and library, … … etc.
The game's AI system adjusted all add-ons according to players' progress to help them improve their combat capabilities and personal development, and to motivate them. It also created in-game purchase options to make it easier for players to access skills.
In addition to these conveniences, the AI system made all purchased skills available to all players in the team. However, for the purchased skill to be usable by the entire team, it was made mandatory for everyone in the team to purchase the standard package of the skill.
For example, when you want to add the "communication service" package to your wristband, four options will appear: Standard, Advanced, Elite, and Ultra.
The Standard communication package is an application add-on that allows you to send text messages to your team members within a 300-meter radius. Its price is 100 gold.
The Advanced communication package allows you to send voice or text messages to all your team members within the coverage area of your map. The price is 500 gold.
Elite communication package; In addition to the advanced package, it allows you to send video messages to your team members. You can share a video recording of up to three minutes that you have previously recorded or broadcast live with your team members. The price is 2500 gold.
Ultra communication package; In addition to the elite communication package, you can have video conference calls with all your team members. You can also send a video recording of up to 30 minutes to your team members. The price is 12500 gold.
Since each stage costs thousands of gold, each team member adds only one add-on package to their personal wristband that they deem necessary for the team.
Sencer having the advanced package for the map add-on and Arat having the space box is a result of this. Willy also had the "advanced communication package," but since he died, the package was deleted, and Alpkutay's team had to make do with the standard communication package.
...
When they reached the resting place, Sencer tied the horses to a tree and then checked his map. The map showed nothing nearby except for two or three animals. They weren't in danger, so Sencer sat down somewhere nearby.
About five minutes later, when Arat came within messaging range, he immediately got up and went to Alpkutay.
- Sir, Arat is close enough. We can send him a message now. What do you want me to write?
- (Alpkutay answered Sencer's foolish question, first with a condescending look, then verbally.) First, we need to find out if Arat is alright, and then who is with him, right?
- Yes, sir. You're right...
- What are you waiting for then? Write the message.
- (Arat's reply was not long in coming.) Your Majesty... Arat is alright, and those with him are, as we suspected, Lady Maisie and her team.
- Ask him if he told Maisie anything about us.
- My Prince, Arat says that; Since I didn't know if His Majesty would be able to come, I told Lady Maisie that I was alone on the mountain and that His Majesty would arrive later. I explained that I had set out ahead to check if there was any danger on the mountain.
(A smile appeared on Alpkutay's face, pleased to have such a clever man, but his face immediately fell again at Sencer's question.) Sir, since Arat mentioned that we would arrive later, if you wish, we can wait on the road with our horses. It will be as if we have just arrived. What do you say?
- Why did I even bring you along? Stop talking nonsense and tell Arat that if Maisie asks, he should tell her that we decided to come here because we were curious about Red Rock Mountain…
…
Asena kept one eye on Arat. This suspicious man had been fiddling with his bracelet for some time. Unable to bear it any longer, Asena approached Arat. Arat was about to read the message from Sencer.
- What are you doing there? Sneaky movements. Secretly playing with your bracelet. You'd better explain yourself. Otherwise, I'll tell my Lady.
Asena became increasingly suspicious as Arat's hands and feet became tangled up like a thief caught red-handed.
- I knew you were hiding something. Tell us!! What are you hiding from us?
- (Asena's voice rose slightly, causing everyone to gather around Arat.) I'm not hiding anything. I received a message from His Majesty, I was looking at it.
- What message? Show it to us, let us read it too. Besides, why are you receiving messages when we don't? Isn't there something strange about this?
- (Polat) Asena, calm down. The team messaging add-on will be activated when we go to the second secure area. It's perfectly normal for Prince Alpkutay and his team to have this add-on. (He turned to Arat. He wanted to repay him for helping Lady Maisie.) There's nothing wrong with the message, is there? If there's anything we can help with, just tell us.
- (Although Arat couldn't read the last message from Sencer, he wasn't the type to reveal anything to strangers.) No problem. Your Majesty has come to the mountain and is asking where I am…
- (Polat looked at his map and saw two motionless red dots at the foot of the mountain. Shouldn't there be three red dots? Still, to be sure, he showed the red dots on the map to Arat and asked.) These… these two red dots… are you sure they are Your Majesty?
- Yes, they are. Your Majesty and Commander Sencer.
- Okay. They must be waiting for you. Then, let's go and not keep Your Majesty waiting any longer.
When everyone started walking again, Arat, who was at the back of the group, was looking for an opportunity to reply to Sencer, but Asena wasn't going to leave him alone. Asena never left Arat's side until the group emerged from the forest.
…
Although Alpkutay and Sencer were somewhat uneasy because no message had arrived from Arat, they had no choice but to wait. But Sencer didn't sit idle, constantly checking for messages from Arat and his map. He continued checking his virtual map until Maisie and her team descended the mountain and emerged from among the trees.
Alpkutay, meanwhile, sat calmly at his resting place. At first, he had acted out of a desire to be with Maisie and do things together. He had galloped his horse very fast in the hope of seeing her. He wanted to look into her eyes, to stroke and smell her hair. But after resting for a while at the foot of the mountain, something inside him changed.
He was the fourth prince of the empire. How could a prince's heart beat so fast? It didn't make sense. Could a prince succumb to his heart? Alpkutay had to pull himself together quickly. He had to protect his honor and status. Because everyone here was under his authority and his subjects.
Alpkutay couldn't do anything that would humiliate himself in front of his subjects. But he also wanted to attract Maisie's attention. He wanted to show her, to prove how strong and powerful he was. Perhaps then Maisie would realize that her man was superior to the others and would dedicate herself entirely to him.
Alpkutay's heart beat faster as the thought of possessing Maisie grew stronger within him. But now was the time to be patient. There was no need to rush. After all, Maisie and her team would soon descend from the mountain, and then, whether they wanted to or not, they would come to Alpkutay and greet him.
As Alpkutay thought of the moment Maisie had bowed before him, he suddenly stood up. Then, as if Maisie were right in front of him, he puffed out his chest, slightly raising his chin. For a noble posture, he put one hand in his pocket and looked into the distance. "That's how noble, how powerful your man is… You see, don't you?"
At that moment, Maisie, her team, and Arat emerged from among the gray trees and approached Alpkutay. When they were close enough, they all bowed in greeting. Alpkutay was lost in his own thoughts, but Maisie's voice brought him back to reality.
- Maisie Kenna Miloid and her entourage from the Miloid family salute His Majesty Prince Alpkutay Lebreheinn, the fourth prince.
When Alpkutay came to, he saw everyone bowing before him. It was truly magnificent. He felt incredibly powerful and exalted. He looked at Sencer with a condescending gaze, as if to say, "Why don't you bow too?" When Sencer bowed in return, a wicked grin of dominance appeared on Alpkutay's face.
That's how it should be, anyway. After all, he's a prince. No exceptions. Everyone has to bow before him. They have to do whatever Alpkutay wants or says. This includes Maisie. But Alpkutay doesn't want to be a cruel prince. Cruel is bad. Everything should happen spontaneously. But perhaps this "spontaneous thing" needs a little guidance.
Alpkutay walked calmly towards Maisie. He enjoyed her bowing before him like that. With a sense of superiority and a strange pleasure, he approached Maisie.
- Lady Maisie! What a coincidence. I didn't expect to meet you in a place like this. Please rise. You don't need to bow for so long. (At Alpkutay's request, everyone stopped bowing.) I'd really like to know what brought you here. Did you go on a trip, or are you here on a quest? Please tell me.
- Your Majesty guessed correctly. As you said, we are here on a quest.
- A quest? I would like to ask if there is anything we can do to help you… but since you've come down from the mountain, you've probably already accomplished your quest. Or am I mistaken?
- Unfortunately, Your Majesty… We can't say we were very successful. The quest turned out to be more difficult than we expected. We only managed to complete half of it. Although, we wouldn't have been able to do even that without Sir Arat. Sir Arat came to our aid just in time. And I know that Sir Arat's help was entirely thanks to Majesty goodwill. (Maisie bowed slightly.) Thank you for your help, Your Majesty.
- (When Maisie greeted him, Alpkutay glanced at Arat for a moment. Then he quickly pulled himself together.) Please get up. We are happy if we could help you. Don't worry, I and my men will always be by your side…
(In a sudden realization, Alpkutay didn't want to miss the opportunity to be by Maisie's side.) You said the quest was difficult. If you wish, we can accompany you and help you with the rest of your quest. What do you say?
- Thank you, Your Majesty. We don't need any help at the moment.
- Is that so? Okay then... Whenever you need help, we are here. Just let us know.
- Of course, Your Majesty. I will definitely let you know. But for now, we ask for your permission. This task has exhausted us. Your Majesty, if you allow us, we wish to return to the village to rest.
- (Alpkutay was suddenly taken aback. He wanted Maisie to stay with him, but he couldn't say, "Don't go, stay with me." He could only convey his best wishes to her.) All right... Go safely... Be careful...
After Maisie and her team greeted him and left, Arat approached Alpkutay, who was watching Maisie leave, and recounted everything that had happened since morning, as if giving a report. The most important detail in what was said was that the red wolf's carcass was in Arat's possession.
Alpkutay wanted to immediately go after Maisie using the red wolf's carcass as an excuse, but they had only just parted ways. If he went after her again now, it would create a strange situation. So they decided to wait for about an hour. At the end of an hour, Alpkutay mounted his horse. Sencer and Arat mounted the other horse, and together they set off towards Maisie…