By evening, the rain clouds that had hung in the sky for so long finally broke. Leaden clouds loomed low, and fine threads of rain, like a net woven by fate, soaked the muddy ground into a reddish-brown swamp.
Little Knife stood at the edge of the Three-Color Canopy and held out his hand, watching raindrops gather in his palm and feeling their chill.
"How long is this damned weather going to stick around?"
Someone beside him suddenly asked. Little Knife turned to see a player in a wool sweater, dressed much like a local merchant. He raised his gaze slightly to look at the ID above the man's head.
+Ye Ao Nai He+
That username... was pretty unusual.
"Have you asked the local farmers?"
Little Knife offered the suggestion.
"They're locals. They know the climate here better than we do."
"I did. They said it would rain for a week."
A faint sadness appeared on Ye Ao Nai He's face, along with a bitter smile.
"I need help."
"The Mountain Tiger warband probably doesn't have time."
Little Knife refused without a second thought.
"We're heading out in a few days to take a look around Republic territory. We're not interested in going to Hegrande."
Little Knife knew Ye Ao Nai He. He was the man who had led the refugees back to Bolas Fortress. If Ye Ao Nai He had come looking for him now, it had to be about the bandit suppression quest posted at noon that day.
With its meager reputation rewards and cumbersome quest procedures, this sort of quest only interested newcomers who had yet to join other warbands. Most veteran players had no interest in it.
That meant few players took on bandit-clearing quests, and those who did were not particularly strong. Still, that was