Chapter 149 A Clear Path (1/2)

A week passed quietly, the Inferno Guild marched steadily forward in the tower and Mermaid City but were suspiciously quiet on the Oasis front.

[Officer Meeting: Guildhall on Glory Island]

/Guild Officer: Nix: We have two tough challenges to finish the week. The 79th floor and 7.9 in Mermaid City. Preferences?

/Guild Officer: Jun Li: I prefer to head up the Mermaid City team.

/Guild Officer: Semmi: Same here.

/Guild Officer: Nix: Those who want to take on the Mermaid Tower raise your hand.

/Guild Officer: Jun Li: That means Pon, Wind, Banzi, Nix, and Chael will take floor 79.

/Guild Officer: Tess: With no heals? There's a five-person limit, so if you want me to go someone will have to swap out.

/Guild Officer: Sharl: Let Banzi come with the Mermaid City group, Morti can tank that floor.

/Guild Officer: Tess: Yes! I'm in!

/Guild Officer: Nix: Okay, I'm sending everyone a short letter from a group called the Cabal. Please read and then we'll discuss.

Nix,

We would like to congratulate you and the members of Inferno for your incomparable work in Colonial, the Embassy and Oasis. We've been observing the progress you have made these past few months, we feel that Inferno has all the parts necessary to become an Ascendant Guild. You're only a mid-tier Guild now, yet you wield more power than any of the Upper-Tier Guilds. Oasis is an important part of that journey, however, the Embassy is an equally vital piece. The Embassy was built to put the pieces in place for an Upper-Tier Guild to advance to the next level. We did not foresee that it would be Inferno that took the prize.

Continue to advance and weigh your options carefully. At this time we can't offer you anything other than encouragement.

Regards, TC

/Guild Officer: Pon: That's some vague shit right there.

/Guild Officer: Semmi: The 70th floor is key in progressing passed the Upper-Tier level?

/Guild Officer: Wind: That would mean that the strongest Upper-Tier Guilds should have been battling to finish the 69th raid rather than the Escalades Bridge?

/Guild Officer: Nix: I've been studying this a few days. Beating the 69th floor gives us the ability to cross the Escalade and come back through the Parliament. That must be the key to this higher tier.

/Guild Officer: Semmi: I get it. There must be something on the Embassy Upper levels. Something really big.

/Guild Officer: Pon: Resolute was trying desperately to beat the 69th floor, Caza told me that Sulane was pushing them every day, wipe after wipe.

/Guild Officer: Jun Li: We made choices that no one else thought of. The Aquarion Spirit companions and the Nemesis Allies, we were able to step pass Resolute and take their prize.

/Guild Officer: Semmi: Look at the chain reaction of some of our steps. The battle of Espana Bay, the Faction Event, even Nix uncovering the Cai'Song Artifact conspiracy. All of these together brought us to a key place.

/Guild Officer: Nix: Nope... you lost me, Sem.

/Guild Officer: Pon: Same here.

/Guild Officer: Semmi: What would you say was the biggest single factor in beating the 69th floor.

/Guild Officer: Nix: There were several factors, but when it comes down to it... I'd have to say, Mortimer.

/Guild Officer: Jun Li: The key place was Shangri?

/Guild Officer: Sharl: A bear cub, that can stand off a Salamander Nemesis and Ced' Far... None of the tanks could have done it. At least not at the mid-tier level.

/Guild Officer: Semmi: That's why it should have been an Upper-Tier Guild that grabbed the prize. We are strong, but we aren't there yet.

/Guild Officer: Ronnie: Shangri was where Nix found him.

/Guild Officer: Nix: I wonder if Sulane received a letter like this one. Perhaps that's why Resolute remained behind while the other Upper-Tier pushed forward into Oasis.

/Guild Officer: Ronnie: That's a good theory Nix! I'm so jealous.

/Guild Officer: Nix: Something to think about anyway. Next item...Have all the members of Inferno reserved homestead plots?

/Guild Officer: Semmi: Yes, thankfully there aren't any disputes over land.

/Guild Officer: Nix: Let's go ahead and let everyone use their Homestead Tokens on the plots they've reserved.

/Guild Officer: Semmi: Sounds good. I'm going with a nice farm. Golden fields of Wheat.

/Guild Officer: Jun Li: Going to build a Vineyard.

/Guild Officer: Wind: Cattle ranch.

/Guild Officer: Nix: Horse Ranch.

/Guild Officer: Ronnie: Water Park.

/Guild Officer: Sharl: Oh god...

/Guild Officer: Nix: Nice Ronnie, I'm backing you up.

/Guild Officer: Pon: A Toma Brewery.

/Guild Officer: Wind: F*ck... That's a good one.

/Guild Officer: Sharl: I should have thought of that.

/Guild Officer: Jun Li: Oi... Is that why you set up so close to Semmi? You two are going into business?

/Guild Officer: Semmi: Yes.

/Guild Officer: Pon: Yep.

/Guild Officer: Nix: Let's take the day off from raiding so everyone can start their builds.

*****************

/Go Fish/ Jun Li: Start the build and then hit the spot?

/Go Fish/ Semmi: I'm in.

/Go Fish/ Nix: Me too.

Nix whistled as he walked through the woods. He had found the place a few days earlier, a small clearing right at the base of a two hundred foot cliff. Nix placed his hand on the smooth granite wall. When Shae eventually returned, she could make as many caves as she liked.

The Homestead Token pulsed with power when Nix activated it. A large menu of different types of buildings became available and he scrolled down the list until he arrived at Horse Ranch. The main house would be a traditional ranch style. He chose a sprawling two-story ranch house with a large kitchen and dining area. There were six bedrooms and a balcony that wrapped around the front of the home. There were three other buildings that accompanied the ranch. A large barn with a corral. A horse stable for a dozen horses and a bunkhouse for ranch hands to stay in. Nix envisioned a place teeming with workers and horses.

Nix adjusted the locations of the bunkhouse, he wanted it closer to the grazing area and he moved the barn a bit further away from the Main house. He definitely didn't want to smell fresh manure when he was eating or sleeping. When he was satisfied he activated the build Icon and walked away. His countdown said 14 hours.

Flash came down to visit him as Nix walked toward the fishing spot. There were five mares following him. ”Must be nice to be King. I expect some production from you guys sooner or later.” He took out an apple from his inventory and fed it to the black stallion. It was a habit he had started and it made Flash more approachable. He gave one to each of the Mares as well, no need to play favorites.

Semmi and Jun Li were already waiting when he arrived at the river. Their fishing hole had evolved a bit in recent days. Each of them had their own chair and their rods had been upgraded. Nix's fishing skill stood at 52 while both Semmi and Jun Li were at 46. Even though Jun Li's skill was lower than his, she seemed to have the best luck fishing.

/Go Fish: Semmi: Welcome Nix, we were waiting for you.

/Go Fish: Jun Li: What's the cook time on your ranch?