Chương 100: Chapter 98 – Future Plans.

"You want Rusty to fight a Demonic Duke? I thought you were mad, but this is outright idiotic."

"He has to aim big! With those fascinating abilities he has, and the Soul Forge, it will be possible!"

"You just want him to take your revenge on the Dukes who betrayed you." Alexander interjected sharply, his voice, as always, tinged with annoyance.

"Don't think I don't see through your ploy, Aburdon. You're trying to convince Rusty to fight your battles for you." Aburdon chuckled, and if he hadn't been just an orb of light, the sound would have been a menacing cackle.

"Oh, Alexander, always so quick to accuse. Of course, I want revenge. Those treacherous dogs turned their backs on me, and the mere thought of it sets my soul ablaze. But tell me, hero, is revenge truly such a terrible thing?" Alexander folded his arms - or at least gave the impression of doing so as a glowing sphere of light.

"Yes, when it consumes you like this. Rusty isn't a tool for your vengeance. He deserves to make his own path, not inherit your grudges."

"And what about you, Alexander? Don't tell me you don't harbor grudges of your own. What about the companions who abandoned you, the people you couldn't save, the choices that haunt you? Don't stand there on your pedestal and pretend you're free of bitterness." Alexander flared brightly for a moment, but soon his light dimmed.

"That's not the same, Aburdon. I won't let the past chain me or dictate my actions."

"It's not? Don't lie to me, hero. I know how you feel. I know what emotions stir within you - especially after seeing those Paladins of Ghelene. What was that woman's name… ah, right, Seraphina. Did she not betray you? Along with all those other fake 'heroes'?" Alexander's light wavered, flickering like a torch caught in the wind. For a moment, the hero's orb dimmed to near darkness.

"That's enough! Can you two stop flickering around? You're going to get us caught!"

"(•̀ - •́)" Gleam nodded subtly as the two orbs continued their ruckus. While their voices could only be heard by her and Rusty, their flickering lights were visible, drawing attention. The more they moved erratically, the greater the risk of being noticed by the merchants or anyone nearby. Rusty shifted his focus back to the present, realizing that if the two guides couldn't contain their rivalry, it might endanger their fragile escape plan.

"Look, I'm not sure who these Demon Dukes are, but first, we need to get out of here. I need you two to focus! Now, what do you suggest I do to escape?" Rusty found the idea of facing powerful enemies intriguing, but this wasn't the time for such conversations. He was still stuck inside a cart filled with textiles, and Gleam was beginning to look tired. Unlike him - a seemingly immortal piece of armor that didn't need rest - Gleam was just a regular monster. She needed food and sleep.

Her usual diet of mana crystals from the underground dungeon was unavailable here, and the strain was beginning to show.

"Depends on what our goal is," Aburdon mused.

"We could jump out into the bushes and make a run for it. I doubt those adventurers would give chase for long. They're here to guard the merchants, not hunt monsters."

"Our goal…" Rusty repeated, his voice trailing off as he contemplated this issue.

"(ᵕ—ᴗ—)" Gleam offered no response, looking as though she was about to fall asleep. Her weariness triggered a memory for Rusty - the day they first met. Gleam had fallen asleep on him after his evolution, in the safety of a cave filled with crystals. It had been a simpler time, spent hunting monsters with the reassurance of having a safe place to return to. Maybe that was what they needed now.

"How about… a place to stay first?"

"Oh? A place to stay? Do you wish to have a home? I thought you were more the adventurous type." Rusty's proposal clearly caught Aburdon off guard. Monsters like him - living armor were not known for building homes. They usually wandered aimlessly, driven by instincts. However, Rusty was not a simple monster, he had his own goals and even fears. He knew that having a hideout was needed for survival.

"Having a base to come back to is a good start, but the question is, where?" Alexander chimed in, directing his words not to Rusty but to Aburdon.

"Well... we're heading to one of the nearby cities, but there are many more ahead. Rusty could always take on the form of a fallen adventurer - or perhaps one of the locals..."

"One of the locals? What do you mean?" Alexander asked.

"With Rusty's unique skills, why not have him become an artisan? A larger home with a workshop would provide the perfect cover for our nocturnal activities. Even without the soul forge, he should be able to craft simple weapons to keep up his guise." Aburdon explained, a faint smugness in his voice.

"You want him to become an artisan? Like what, a blacksmith?"

"Precisely!" Aburdon's tone brightened with enthusiasm.

"Why should Rusty limit himself to just one persona? With his versatile loadout, he can easily switch between multiple identities. Imagine it - if he were a respected resident of the city, we wouldn't have to keep running! Even if one of his identities becomes a criminal, we can just discard it!" Alexander's light flickered in contemplation as he saw the merit in this proposal.

"I see... that's not even a stupid idea."

"I do not propose stupid ideas, hero. I leave those to you!" Aburdon gloated, his tone practically dripping with self-satisfaction. Rusty, meanwhile, deliberated over the suggestion. The notion of adopting a stable cover and building a place to call home had its appeal, especially given their current circumstances. This book's true home is on another platform. Check it out there for the real experience. His guide was right.

If Rusty had another body to occupy, one with a good enough reputation, perhaps he wouldn't need to leave the city at all. It was a sprawling place, and the Paladins were unlikely to search homes without cause. Right now, though, he was on the run, with no clear direction for the future. The idea of finding a place he could gradually develop into a sanctuary was becoming increasingly appealing.

"That doesn't sound bad, but where should I stay?" The two orbs turned toward him, their flickering movements slowing as they noticed his genuine interest in the idea.

"Well, I do know the map of the area. We've got a few options to consider… There are three cities nearby that might serve as a starting point." Aburdon began while Alexander decided to wait before adding his own two cents.

"First is Dallbrim, a port city close to the western coastline. It's bustling with trade, particularly shipbuilding and repairs. You'd have easy access to imported materials for your soul forge. If you posed as a blacksmith or armorer, you'd blend in perfectly."

"Dallbrin huh? I'm not sure if that's a good idea, the nearest dungeon is far away, it's a port city with a lot of trade but I'm not sure if we would be able to earn enough coin to buy a workshop…" There were several problems with this choice and one of them was the lack of a dungeon.

"Rusty you used up all of your money right?" Asked Alexander.

"Yes? Ah, without a dungeon, I won't be able to earn any money!"

"That's right and another thing, I'm not sure how well the locals would accept a blacksmith that wears heavy armor all the time, some of them might get suspicious…"

"Hah, nonsense, we'll just cover him up with a robe so no one will be the wiser!" Aburdon replied to Alexander while Rusty shook along with the wagon they were in. Gleam at this point had already managed to doze of and wasn't even listening to what they were talking about.

"I'm not sure if that would work… but perhaps…"

"... Or you could go to Blackthorn Hold! It's near a vast network of caves with an E-rank dungeon at its heart. Perfect for gathering rare materials and gaining strength. The city itself is rough, though - more of a haven for mercenaries and thieves than respectable artisans. But if you're looking for somewhere to grow stronger without too many prying eyes, it's ideal." Alexander flickered in disagreement.

"Yes, if you enjoy living in a pit of lawlessness and filth."

"You've been complaining a lot, but I don't see you offering any better options. Dear Rusty, it's probably best not to trust our hero's bad memories of these places. Just trust in my knowledge instead!" Aburdon cackled, his voice filled with amusement. He had thoroughly studied all the information from both guilds, and Rusty knew this guide of his wasn't always motivated by his best interests. It was likely that at one of the locations, Aburdon had something to gain.

One of the places was a bustling area filled with merchants - no shortage of commerce, but certainly no opportunities for earning through monster hunting. The other, however, was more like a den of thieves, where Rusty would have to be on constant alert for corrupt officials and robbers. Luckily, he still had the thieves' guild coin, tied not to his old Albert persona, but to his current self. It might give him an advantage in that shady location.

"How about we find a developing city? Somewhere where the prices are low and people are actually looking for an artisan. We won't have much luck in places that have long-running history."

"But where then?"

"I'm not sure…"

"If you aren't sure, then don't speak!" Aburdon snorted.

"How quaint. Such places are nothing but breeding grounds for underdeveloped economies and local corruption. There is a reason why they are failures, we should go to an already developed city!" Rusty started to consider Aburdon's point, but he wasn't entirely convinced. His goal wasn't just about making money - it was about building a future where he could lay low, build strength, and protect Gleam.

A less populated city offered fewer variables working against him but in a larger one, he would be able to hide himself among the crowd to avoid detection.

"What about somewhere between the two? A smaller city with trade, but also a community where I could grow without attracting too much attention. It doesn't have to be a major port or a city with multiple dungeons around it."

"So, a place that already is showing hope? Hmm… Well, there was a city like that. I wouldn't say that it's developed but much better than the average small town. However, it's near an area with orc tribes and some other barbaric tribes. It has a dungeon but it is unable to prosper due to the constant conflicts nearby."

"Oh, what is its name?" Rusty asked as the description sounded quite interesting. A place with ample battle outside but also one where he could retreat behind some strong walls and rest.

"It's called Ferndale." Aburdon said, with a hint of reluctance.

"It's located at the edge of a forest region, right on the border between civilized lands and the wild territories. The dungeon there is said to be only partially explored, which could be used to our advantage as an out-of-place living armor, wouldn't be seen as strange." Rusty's interest was piqued. In the previous city, his presence had been too unique, always drawing the attention of adventurers. But perhaps in this new dungeon, he could find a place to continue his leveling efforts.

Once the day broke, he could return to his new base of operations with all the loot he'd gathered. By day, he would be a humble artisan, blending in with the city's residents; by night, a menace within the dungeon, hunting for more power. Rusty was deep in thought as the wagon trundled along. The discussions between Aburdon and Alexander had given him plenty to consider, and Ferndale seemed like the most balanced option. Yet, they weren't free to make any decisions just yet. First, they needed to escape.

"Let's decide after we're out of this mess." Rusty said decisively. He glanced over at Gleam, who was now softly snoring.

"Agreed." Alexander responded.

"We can make plans later. First, we need to get off this wagon and out of sight."

"Finally, something we can all agree on! But if I may propose something?" Aburdon chimed in, his tone smug as always.

"Yes?"

"We should probably remain here a while longer. This caravan is heading toward the port city of Dallbrin. Around halfway, we'll reach a crossroads - likely in two days' time. These merchants are sure to take a break there. Once night falls, we can make our escape and decide where you wish to go next, Rusty."

"And we entered a wagon heading to the first city you propose, by accident huh?"

"Oh? Are you accusing me of something, hero?" Rusty rolled his non-existing eye sockets while letting the two bicker for longer. He decided to go along with this plan and wait for these two days. This whole situation made him want to create a smaller version of his armor, something that could hide in small areas like this while being able to move. The journey continued uneventfully over the next two days.

The merchants talked amongst themselves, occasionally checking the cargo but thankfully never suspecting anything unusual. Gleam managed to regain some energy, though she remained cautious, curling up beside Rusty to avoid drawing attention. By the time the caravan reached the crossroads, dusk was falling, painting the horizon in shades of orange and purple. The merchants decided to make camp, setting up a ring of wagons and lighting fires for warmth and cooking.

Rusty, hidden deep within the textile cart, waited patiently, his thoughts focused on the mission. As the night deepened, the camp grew quiet. The merchants and their guards had taken turns on watch but seemed otherwise relaxed. Gleam stretched beside him, her ant features shimmering faintly in the moonlight filtering through the gaps in the cart.

"It's time."

"Finally!" Aburdon urged Rusty while both he and Alexander occupied his helmet. Once there they made his eye sockets glow, one in a more radiant white while the other remained a sinister black. However, right as Rusty was about to activate his loadout and change into his more slender form, something unexpected happened. An arrow came flying from the distance, striking their cart along with the others as shouts erupted from the darkness beyond the camp.

Rusty froze in place, his senses sharpening as he scanned the surroundings with his life detection skill. The merchants stirred from their sleep, guards scrambling to grab their weapons.

"Bandits?!" People shouted and his skill confirmed it, the whole camp was surrounded and perhaps waiting for the best moment to escape had been a mistake...