MMORPG: REBORN MARK ADVENTURE IN ONLINE GAME

As Raven tucked the Forbidden Pages into his inventory, he sensed something off.

Mist Low was standing near the treasure chest, twirling a coin between his fingers, but…

Something didn't feel right.

Raven's eyes narrowed.

His instincts screamed at him—this wasn't Mist Low's real body.

"...I wanna ask," Raven said casually, glancing sideways. "When are you going to show your real body instead of this illusion?"

The room fell silent.

Ana and Liz blinked in confusion, then stiffened.

Daniel's hand twitched toward his bow.

Mist Low froze for a fraction of a second, then let out a slow, dramatic sigh.

"Aww, you noticed?"

His entire form shimmered—and then vanished.

A beat later, Mist Low's real body stepped out from the shadows near the far wall, hands raised in mock surrender. "Tch, you're no fun, Raven."

Ana's eyes narrowed. "...Then where were you hiding?"

Mist Low smirked, stretching lazily. "Now, now. That's a magician's secret."

Liz scoffed. "You were peeping, weren't you?"

Mist Low grinned. "I only appreciate beauty. It's a gentleman's duty."

Ana and Liz exchanged glances. Then, as if coming to an unspoken agreement—

They cracked their knuckles.

Mist Low took a single step back. "Now, now—violence isn't the answer, ladies."

Raven ignored their antics and crossed his arms. "You knew we were being watched?"

Mist Low's grin widened. "Obviously."

Daniel, still frowning, finally spoke. "...Then why didn't you say anything?"

Mist Low shrugged. "Because they weren't a threat." His gaze flicked toward Raven. "Not compared to you, anyway."

Raven's eyes sharpened.

That meant Mist Low had noticed something—or someone—but had chosen to keep quiet.

That was information Raven would have to pry out of him later.

For now—

He glanced at the teleportation gem.

They had what they came for.

It was time to return.

The dim glow of the teleportation gem cast eerie reflections across the cavern walls. The excitement from the loot had settled, but the weight of their discoveries still lingered in the air.

Raven stood a few feet away from Mist Low, his expression unreadable. The Trickster was still grinning, flipping a magic card between his fingers like it was a simple playing card.

A perfect illusion of nonchalance.

But Raven wasn't fooled.

Mist Low was thinking.

That was rare.

"You're strong," Raven finally said, voice even. "And annoying as hell, but strong."

Mist Low's grin widened. "Flattery will get you nowhere, Raven."

"I'm not flattering you," Raven replied, tilting his head slightly. "I'm being realistic. You're dangerous in a way most players aren't."

Mist Low twirled the card once more. "Dangerous, huh? Now, that's a compliment."

Raven didn't waver. "Will you join the guild I create?"

Silence.

The shift was almost imperceptible, but Raven caught it—the slight pause in Mist Low's movements, the flicker in his gaze.

Ana and Liz looked at each other, surprised. Daniel, however, scowled slightly, his fingers twitching near his bowstring.

Mist Low didn't joke.

Didn't smirk.

Didn't immediately wave the question away like Raven expected.

Instead, he actually seemed to consider it.

That alone spoke volumes.

The Trickster finally sighed, rubbing the back of his neck. "You sure know how to throw out big questions at the weirdest times."

Raven smirked. "It's what I do."

Mist Low's eyes flickered with something unreadable. He glanced at Ana and Liz, who were now watching with amused curiosity, then at Daniel, who looked like he wanted to strangle him.

Then, finally, he looked at the teleportation gem.

"...Let's get back to Viles Town first," he said, stretching lazily. "Then we'll talk."

Raven narrowed his eyes.

That wasn't a no.

The moment they activated the teleportation gem, the world around them blurred. The cavern, the forbidden garden, the remnants of their battle—all of it vanished in a flash of light.

A second later—

They reappeared in Viles Town, standing in the middle of a dimly lit alleyway near the town's outskirts. The teleportation magic left a faint hum in the air before dissipating entirely.

The streets were lively, filled with players and NPCs moving between the various shops and taverns. The scent of freshly baked bread mixed with the usual damp, musty air of Viles Town.

Raven immediately checked his surroundings. No one seemed to notice their sudden arrival.

"Well, that was smooth," Mist Low muttered, dusting off his coat. "I was half expecting to land inside someone's bathtub."

Ana and Liz stretched, both relieved to be back in civilization.

Daniel, however, was still glaring at Mist Low like he hadn't forgotten the whole 'kiss Daniel' incident.

Mist Low grinned. "Still mad at me, Danny boy?"

Daniel twitched. "I will actually kill you."

Liz giggled. "Please don't. I still want to see Mist Low suffer first."

Mist Low clutched his chest dramatically. "Such cruelty!"

Raven ignored them, pulling out the forbidden pages they had found. The aged parchment still gave off a faint magical aura, proof of their rarity.

"I need to see Varian," he muttered.

Ana tilted her head. "Who's Varian?"

"A researcher," Raven replied. "He's one of the few NPCs who can decipher rare texts like these."

Mist Low's gaze flickered to the forbidden pages, and for the first time since arriving, his playful smirk faded slightly. His eyes were sharp, assessing.

He recognized the value of what they had found.

But he said nothing.

As the group stabilized from the teleportation, Mist Low stretched lazily and smirked.

"Alright, boys and girls," he said, flipping a gold coin in the air. "We just hit the jackpot. How about a proper meal to celebrate?"

Raven raised an eyebrow. "You're buying?"

Mist Low caught the coin effortlessly. "Of course. I'm a generous man."

Ana and Liz immediately perked up.

"A real meal? Not just dried rations?" Liz grinned. "I'm in."

Ana nodded. "I won't say no to free food."

Daniel, still glaring at Mist Low, folded his arms. "Are you trying to butter us up before doing something shady again?"

Mist Low gasped dramatically. "Daniel, my friend, I'm deeply hurt by your lack of trust."

Daniel's glare intensified.

"Alright, alright," Mist Low chuckled. "It's just a meal. No schemes, no tricks." His grin widened. "Unless you count my undeniable charm as a trick."

Ana and Liz rolled their eyes.

Raven sighed. "Fine. Lead the way."

Mist Low turned, whistling a tune as he sauntered through the streets, the rest of them following behind.

They weaved through the busy alleys of Viles Town, passing vendors shouting out their wares and mercenaries gathering for dungeon runs. Eventually, they stopped in front of a high-end restaurant—one with a beautifully carved wooden sign that read:

The Velvet Fang.

Daniel whistled. "This place looks expensive."

Mist Low winked. "Only the best."

Raven crossed his arms. "You better not be making us pay for this."

Mist Low just smirked and pushed open the door. "Trust me."

With varying degrees of hesitation, they followed him inside.