Cyberserk

Chapter 31 - Mousy Snif

"The human speaks the truth! The most respectable inn is Snotty Mouse's establishment!"

The players and hobbits turned at the tone of a sonorous and squeaky voice. On the opposite bank of the river stood a small Mousey who waved his paw affectionately at the brave troll winners.

The little mousy was a civilized creature. He proved it by his ability to speak and by the clothes on his body. The mouse was dressed in a leather vest with pockets. He wore leather shorts on his feet. Next to the mouse was a bag.

"Brave men and companions may now pass over the bridge. Snif will show you the way to the city of Grossroads, where you can rest at Snotty Mouse's inn," the mousy mouse grabbed his bag and ran up the path that approached the bridge.

"Master, I found two gold coins," the hobbit held out his trophies to Dan.

"My nimble fingers managed to find three gold coins. I'm the best," the second hobbit bragged and handed the loot to the player as well.

Dan took the money and began to examine the coins.

"Let's cross the bridge first. That troll could resurrect at any moment," the clone poked the player in the shoulder.

"The troll won't be resurrected until a shadow falls on him," the mousey hissed loudly. "The troll will revive tonight and take gold from the weak citizens again."

Raven did not resist and walked quickly toward the bridge. The player walked across the short stone construction and saw that a neat stone-covered pathway led from the bridge.

"I am Snif, I am an employee in the establishment of the honored Snotty Mouse," the Mousey threw down his bag and clutched his paws to his chest. The little one stood up in a proud pose and showed that working in the Mouse's establishment is a worthy and honorable job. "Snif is ready to do a favor for humans. Snif will show the way to the city of Grossroads and introduce the humans to Master Snotty Mouse. You can rent a room for the night in our place. It's only 1 gold a night."

"Why so expensive? The fee at Moustache Mouse's place is only half a gold one night," the phantom began to trade. "For a room for two nights, one gold. That's a fair price."

"Snif doesn't believe the human. The human wants to cheat Snif. Moustache Mouse brews potions in the Blue Lizard Quarter. Moustache Mouse won't let travelers into his apothecary," the mousy took the bag and squeaked in a quiet, resentful voice. "The human is like a gnome. The human wants to deceive Snif."

"No one wants to deceive you. My friend is talking about another Moustache Mouse. His acquaintance Mouse keeps an inn," Dan interjected into the conversation.

"Snif is a good employee. Snif knows all the inns and establishments in the city of Grossroads. The human shouldn't cheat me," Mousy turned and walked down the road toward the city.

Dan Raven thundered his fist at his friend, who liked to be stingy and frugal. The phantom snorted in indignation at the young man's naivety.

The clone did not believe that the first little mouse he encountered would turn out to be an angel of purity and honesty. One golden coin for a night's lodging? This is a robbery! Then those mice will demand 1 golden for an opportunity to bathe in hot water. Then stupid Dan will pay 1 gold for clean sheets to cover a dirty mattress. Never give in to the provocations of little mousey! There's no telling what that little mouse is hiding in his bag!

Phantom looked suspiciously at the back of the mousy, who is a quiet, squeaky voice was telling Dan about Grossroads. The clone decided not to show his suspicion and listened carefully to the talkative mousy boy.

Snif proved to be an excellent source of information! Den Raven learned the highlights of his new adventure.

"The great city of Grossroads was built in times long past. In our city live skillful and honest Mice. Many brave and honest Orcs live in the city. The most dangerous and cunning creatures are the Elves! All Elves live many years and from childhood, they learn cunning and hidden ways to fight their rivals. Vampires are the wisest and most sympathetic citizens. Vampires have been learning magic since childhood. They love to drink blood. But vampires always pay gold coins to those who treat them to blood. Snif often treats vampires to blood and saves gold to buy new recipes from Master Snotty Mouse.

Master Snotty Mouse is a very famous cook! He makes the most delicious cheeses and dairy drinks in their neighborhood.

The most unpleasant residents of Grossroads are the gnomes. Gnomes are very much in love with money and are in the banking business. Gnomes have taken over every seat in the management of the Blacksmiths Guild. Gnomes are very good master blacksmiths but all gnomes are calculating and do not know how to be kind.

A few days ago a miracle happened in the city of Grossroads! The old palace with the ghosts came to life. Dangerous monsters disappeared from the old building. All the adventurers who disappeared in that creepy place were given a new chance at life! The whole town happily welcomed relatives and acquaintances from captivity.

The brave King Arador now lives in the building. Queen Gemma is related to the elves and she is beautiful and very wise. The young Princess Elina is as beautiful as a white piece of cream in a milky drink. The princess is cheerful and brave. She often runs away from the palace and the king's servants run around the city looking for the restless adventuress.

Humans showed up in the city a few days ago. The humans don't like Snif. Humans are as rude as orcs and as greedy as gnomes. No one wants to pay gold for a night's lodging in Snotty Mouse's lovely establishment. Humans sleep outside like the lowest commoners.

One human even wanted to take Sniff's bag of berries away from him! But Snif knows the laws of Grossroads. He threatened the human with punishment and the wicked human left Snif alone."

Dan Raven learned the most important information. He realized that he had entered the Player's Paradise. But every Paradise has its own Hell.

The city of Grossroads is the center of a huge location. In the city are allowed only players are allowed to the guards. Each player is required to register with the servants of the King of Arador! Once registered, the player will be able to be reborn after death!

"I can be reborn after death?" Dan Raven stopped and grabbed the mousy mouse by the shoulder.

"Yes. Every citizen of Grossroads City is reborn after death. Snif is reborn in the old Mouse Burrow," the mousy mouse smiled and calmed the human down. "You are a brave warrior and will surely be able to prove your mastery in the Adventurer's Guild. You may die on a quest of the citizens. But you will be reborn in the Temple of Humans."

Then the little mouse deftly released his shoulder from the man's hand and looked intently into Dan's face with his little eyes.

"A human being must not take risks. If you fall into Mortal Danger you cannot be reborn in the Temple. Then you will be lost forever in a spooky place. The old Ghost Palace was a spooky place. But now there are only three creepy places left in the city. The palace is now home to the good King Arador and his family."

"Tom, did you hear that? That completely changes everything! Now I'm going to have a rebirth! But I don't understand how a player can lose the ability to be reborn," admitted Dan.

"Congratulations on joining the Big and Normal Game! That's the nice and important part you learned. I, too, am pleased with the news of the revival. The details about the penalties associated with the revival need to be clarified. Every serious game has penalties! I don't believe in the benevolence of the game creators.

But with the local Hell, everything makes clear to me. Any location has requirements for the player.

Imagine being in a dungeon for players from level 3 to 5 and maxing out your level to 7 to easily pass the dungeon. That's it! You've trapped yourself in a dungeon! On the other hand, should be a dungeon where the mandatory condition for exit from the location is the victory over the boss! The player can not kill the boss and disappears in such a deadly place. The player has no right to leave the location! I don't know what happens to such a loser," Tom speculated. "We can't relax! We're at the destination. The city is close and you have to get in alive."

Mousey reassured Dan and Tom. The road to the city is a magical place. No monsters can approach the city road. There is no danger! Dangerous monsters live near the road.

Dan applied the sacrifice skill and sent the hobbits off to rest. The little mouse didn't notice as the two companions disappeared in quick flashes of flame behind the travelers' backs.

Tom winked at his friend and got out of the way. The clone had decided to end his existence fighting the monsters. He had a good chance and the phantom hoped to earn a few hundred experience points for Dan. Tom didn't want the player to spend 1 golden coin on him to pay for his passage into the city.

There was no small coin of exchange in this world! One gold coin was the smallest payment for goods and services. Now Dan understood why the polite mousy disliked players of humans who were greedy to pay one coin for a night's lodging.

Soon Den Raven arrived at the high gate of the city of Grossroads. At the entrance stood two guards with heavy armor. Den could not see the levels of these creatures. He could not see the level of the mousy Snif! He saw no information about his new acquaintance at all.

[Warning: The entrance to the Grossroads location has been discovered. Type of Location: City.

Requirement: level 10-19. 1 gold coin.

Do you wish to enter the Grossroads location? Yes/No]

Dan realized that he had come to a place that could long be his new home and source of new adventures.