NOVEL NEXT Chapter 42: Searching
What kind of person was Bennett?
Those familiar with him would probably say he was a hapless youth plagued by "misfortune".
His bad luck exceeded common sense. Bizarre accidents like rock slides would mysteriously occur during adventures. Treasure right before his eyes but ending up empty-handed due to all kinds of mishaps.
Always covered in wounds, like a boy abandoned by the world.
But his passion for adventure burned fiercely like fire. All misfortunes became stepping stones for him to become a great adventurer.
When Nolan learned of Bennett's story in the original work, Nolan was deeply shocked and impressed by this young man.
What kind of passion and willpower allowed one to stand up again and again after repeated falls and still smile?
Sigh, Nolan deeply exhaled.
"Bennett, going alone is too dangerous."
Katherine lightly shook her head, declining Bennett's request.
"Oh..." Bennett rubbed the back of his head, then pressed his palms together pleadingly, "Please, Miss Katherine. I already asked my Benny's Adventure Team members earlier, but they said they had an upset stomach recently and can't make it over."
"But as the captain, adventure must press on even alone, right? I have to set a good example for them. Please, Miss Katherine!"
Bennett earnestly pleaded again.
Nolan at the side felt like retorting - your team members have already defected. it's just that Miss Katherine is just too kind to point it out directly.
Now Katherine also showed a troubled expression.
Nolan wondered if there was a chance to temporarily team up with Bennett.
Although Bennett was unlucky, even dragging those around him into it, there were no records of his teammates getting seriously injured. Nolan was surely much stronger than the average adventurer. He was confident he could handle Bennett's misfortune.
Moreover, Nolan looked at the Pyro Elemental Vision hanging on Bennett's portable waist pouch.
As known, Visions embodied their wielders' "ambitions".
And everyone's ambitions differed. So even identical Vision types resulted in different abilities realized depending on the individual.
Take Pyro Visions for example.
The basics of course were guiding and manipulating Pyro. Combined with the wielder's traits and strengths, their unique Elemental Skills took form.
For Amber who also used Pyro, her Elemental Skill was fusing Pyro with Bunny to create a monster-distracting bomb - Explosive Puppet.
Bennett's Elemental Skill - Passion Overload - was a bit more peculiar.
He could fuse his adventuring passion with Pyro onto his sword. Effects varied based on the passion imbued.
Average passion simply cloaked his strikes with Pyro. More passion could blast small enemies away. Too much passion strengthened the attack but also blew himself back.
Very interesting.
Using Elemental Skills built up Elemental Energy. Absorbing enough allowed the triggering of more powerful Elemental Bursts.
Amber's was firing continuous arrow rain with Pyro arrows - Fiery Rain.
But Bennett's Elemental Burst also reflected his understanding - gently releasing Pyro as the morale-boosting Fantastic Voyage field.
It could heal and empower those in the field. Gamers knew his usefulness well.
So Nolan pondered, wouldn't "Fantastic Voyage" combined with his Adventurer's Hunting Bow be way too overpowered against monsters? Just snipe them from the range!
Especially Ruin Guards with obvious weaknesses. The advantage would be tremendous.
He was also lacking teammates and genuinely hoped to team up with Bennett out of admiration for his tenacity.
So amidst their hesitation, he approached and said:
"Um, Katherine, and Mr. Bennett. I also happen to lack teammates, so how about... the two of us team up?"
"Really?!"
Bennett who was somewhat dejected instantly revived full of spirit at the nearby stranger adventurer's words.
His emerald eyes shone like stars.
Usually due to his terrible luck, after his members took leave he basically adventured alone. Now someone actually volunteered to explore the ruins together with him. Needless to say, he was elated.
"Of course." Nolan gave an affirmative reply.
"It's possible, but you'll need at least three people."
Katherine was also secretly relieved to see Bennett find a teammate.
"Great!" Hearing Nolan's confirmation, Bennett was excited, then dampened by Katherine's follow-up. "We still need one more teammate huh..."
Although the senior guild members were very accommodating, when it came to adventuring together, it was truly another story.
For the supremely unlucky him, finding another teammate really was a bit difficult.
"Don't worry, leave the last teammate to me." Nolan said with a smile.
Although he said this, there was no guarantee he could find someone. Might as well go to the Knights first to look for Noelle.
With this thought, Nolan asked Bennett:
"I have a friend at the Knights HQ. Shall we head over to ask now?"
"I see. Then I'll try my luck at the tavern to see if any adventurers are willing to team up. Can't let you do all the work."
Bennett rubbed the bandaged scrape on his nose and replied.
"Sounds good."
After a simple introduction, Nolan and Bennett temporarily left the Adventurers' Guild, agreeing to meet back there at 4 pm whether they found a teammate or not.
Once again at the Knights of Favonius HQ, it would be too weird to squat outside after all.
Using borrowing books as a pretext, Nolan entered to see if Noelle was around.
The great hall was still spacious as usual. Knight Wyratt stood guard outside the library.
Nolan walked over and asked:
"Excuse me Mr. Wyratt, may I ask you something?"
"Oh, it's you again. Here to find Miss Amber?" The armor-clad Wyratt still remembered this Liyue youth. "She's already departed for recon duties and won't be back until the afternoon."
"Um, not here for Miss Amber this time. I wanted to ask if Miss Noelle is in?"
Although friends with them, Nolan still used more formal addresses before others.
"Miss Noelle? Let me think..." Wyratt's metal gauntlets stroked his chin. Soon he said:
"Ah right, I remember now. Early this morning, Little Klee wanted to sneak out adventuring again, but got caught red-handed by Master Jean. To prevent Klee from sneaking off again, she had Noelle keep an eye on her."
(End of Chapter)
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