Lost Gold Vyn Investigation 03-04
Overview
- "You chose to come with me, so I am responsible for ensuring your safety on this trip. I could not allow myself to stand by and wait for others to rescue us when I caused our dangerous predicament."
- Stage Cost: None
- First Clear Rewards:
Astral Memory x20
- Unlock Condition:
Emergency Medicine x400, 
Lumber x100, 
MRE x300, 
Drinking Water x200 - Note - During its initial limited run, this stage's first clear reward was:
Hunter's Badge x50
Guide
- Hover to view spoiler content.
Script
Temporary Camp
By the time you and Vyn get out of the mountains, the moon is already high up in the sky.
To ensure your safety, you two spend the night hurrying towards the closest camp. By the time you arrive, it's already dawn.
You: I'm beat. If there was a scale around, I'd weigh an all-new low.
Vyn: There are solar-powered water heaters at camp. Take a shower and sleep.
You: Dr. Richter, I still can't believe we "flew" across the cliffs. That was incredibly thrilling.
You: I'm physically exhausted, but I'm mentally raring to go!
A few hours earlier.
Secret Prison
Outside the prison, the door leads directly to a sheer cliff. The plank walkways had long rotted away.
The drop from the precipice to the underground river below is several dozen meters. Jumping down would be a death sentence.
You: I remember you said that you're good at riding and archery.
Vyn: Correct. So, how could I not bring a bow and arrows with me to a deserted island like this?
Vyn removes a collapsible bow from his backpack.
When compact, the black collapsible bow is about as large as a portable umbrella. It unfolds to a regularly sized bow.
You: I didn't think...
How can a bow and arrows help you escape? Unless...
Scenes of escapades only found in movies and TV shows appear in your head.
You: Dr. Richter, you're not planning to attach something like wire rope to an arrow and shoot towards the opposing cliff, are you?
Vyn: Sometimes I really do wish you were less intelligent.
Vyn: You always guess my thoughts. How am I supposed to set up a nice surprise for you?
You: Guess what thoughts...
A warm hand rests on your head and pats it.
Vyn: One moment. Let us play... something exciting.
While you stare curiously at him, Vyn fishes out a roll of wire rope from his backpack.
He ties one end of the wire firmly to the bars and the other end to an arrow.
Vyn stands by the cliff's edge, nocks the arrow, and draws his bow...
Light from the prison cell outlines his upright figure. In the darkness, his golden eyes focus on the opposite cliff.
He's searching for a crack that can securely hold the arrow. The aura coming from him is reminiscent of...
Of a king overlooking his domain. Even the rushing waters of the underground river grow silent.
You don't realize that you're holding your breath.
You: ...!
Finally, the arrow leaves the bow.
With an air-splitting whistle, the arrow firmly lodges itself in a crack on the cliff wall that is low enough to comfortably descend onto the bank beneath.
Vyn tests the arrow's stability, then turns to you with a smile.
Vyn: All good. I will create a zip line so we can cross over.
Vyn: You... I apologize, you will have to hold onto me. I shall carry us across.
You: ...
Imagining the position that Vyn just said set your cheeks ablaze.
But this isn't the time to be bashful. You...
You: That's... Sorry for the trouble, Dr. Richter.
With your backpack secured, you walk to Vyn. Under his gentle gaze, you hesitantly wrap your arms around his neck.
You: Like this?
Vyn: A little lower. Hold onto my shoulders. Place your arms between my back and backpack.
You: Oh...
You adjust your position according to Vyn's instructions. His elegant fragrance fills your nose.
Perhaps intensified by his warmth, the smell of juniper is particularly clear. You also make out a wisp of the light sweetness of rose.
Vyn: Hold on tighter. You can rest your head on my chest.
Vyn: If you are afraid, close your eyes. This will only last a few seconds.
You close your eyes, and the wind rushes past your ears.
It might have been a few seconds or a century... before you both descend from the cliff.
You: Dr. Richter, your back collided with the cliff when we were zipping down. Are you all right?
Vyn: You have already asked me that several times. Of course not, my backpack softened the impact.
You: I didn't feel it at the time because I was so nervous, but that really was scary.
You: Instead of taking such a risk, maybe we should've called for the rescue team to save us.
Vyn: Your suggestion may indeed have been safer. I apologize, but it would have been unacceptable to me.
You: Huh?
Vyn: You chose to come with me, so I am responsible for ensuring your safety on this trip.
Vyn: I could not allow myself to stand by and wait for others to rescue us when I caused our dangerous predicament.
Vyn: Of course, I was not grandstanding. Had I not found an escape route, I would have most definitely called for aid.
You: Dr. Richter, I never knew you could be so childish.
Vyn: In your presence, I want you to look at me favorably.
Vyn: However, I did consider other things aside from that.
Vyn: The location of the gold is still undetermined, and our position was not within the event's boundaries. Rashly calling for assistance may have exposed mission information.
Vyn: With so many treasure hunters in Nosta, chaos would erupt if they learned about the gold.
You: Right. And we don't know where Zachary went—
Before you can finish, you hear the emergency care team shouting from the entrance of the camp.
You and Vyn go over and find a man lying on the stretcher. It's Zachary Clarke.
You: His shoulder... Is that a gunshot wound?
You squat down to look at Zachary. His lips and skin are deathly pale, and he's sweating buckets. He appears to be in a great amount of pain.
Vyn: I spoke to the emergency care team. He was shot by a firearm and has lost a considerable amount of blood.
Vyn: The rescue team went to retrieve him after receiving a call from a group of treasure hunters.
Vyn: They intend to transport him to the base camp after administering basic emergency treatment.
You: Did he run into Joshua?
Vyn: I asked the others in the encrypted channel. The person he met was not Joshua, but Jack Barlow.
You: Jack Barlow!? Did they have a history?
Vyn: No. I speculate that both Jack and Zachary were being manipulated by Joshua.
Vyn: Artem said that Zachary left something at the scene, and that Jack was wounded as well.
You: Looks like we'll have to meet with the others at the base camp if we want to find out the whole story.
Vyn: There is no need to hurry. It will take time for them to treat Zachary's wound. You should rest while you have the chance.
Vyn: We shall make our return to the base camp when you are fully recovered.
