Despite being technically in the countryside, the compound had an industrial opulence that made Jack feel like he’d stepped back into the city. Metal wheels squeaked along steel tracks, and the carts, crafted from wood and reinforced with iron, were brimming with grain, crates of fruits, caskets of wine, jars of honey, eggs, and even slabs of meat. The facility buzzed with efficiency.

  The Agropastoral Institute was a five-story white building, one of the tallest Jack had seen in the game. Even so, the most impressive sight was the cluster of silos adjacent to the building. The towering white structures dwarfed even the institute’s height. Jack wondered what was taller, the outer wall that kept the dinosaurs outside of the human’s domain or these siloes. If the cylinders didn’t have painted in huge letters the names of different cereals, Jack would have suspected that there were rockets or missiles hidden inside them.

  “It’s a lot busier than I expected,” Jack murmured, taking it all in.

  “Yeah, these institutes work as drop-off points for farmers and ranchers so they don’t have to trek all the way to the city,” Amari explained. “There’s also a marketplace here if you need to sell any loot.”

  Jack shook his head. “I’m good for now, thanks.”

  They approached the institute’s front doors, where a guard in a simple but imposing uniform, halberd in hand, blocked their path.

  “Identify your purpose,” the guard intoned, his gaze scrutinizing.

  “We need to talk to someone in the Poultry Department,” Amari said, handing over a silver coin with a practiced motion.

  The guard eyed the coin, pocketing it with a curt nod as he stepped aside. Jack sighed, handing over his own silver piece. Why are all the guards in this game dirty?

  Inside, the high-ceilinged hall was bustling. NPCs in white, tunic-like coats moved quickly, carrying crates or jars. Several players mingled among them, their leather and metal armor clashing with the sterile, clinical surroundings.

  “Why do players come here?” Jack asked.

  “The institute offers quests that help unlock achievements and progress in farming and ranching,” Amari replied.

  Jack frowned as he observed the odd mix of modern and ancient aesthetics. “It’s like the NPCs are the real people, and the players are the NPCs,” he muttered.

  Amari chuckled. “I hadn’t thought of it that way, but yeah. It’s almost like this place belongs to our own time. But there’s no advanced technology here. That means we’ll have to use the stairs. No elevators.”

  Amari led him up a broad, stone staircase. After navigating a maze of corridors, they finally reached the Poultry Department's lab.

  The room was bathed in a dim, sterile light from dozens of oil lamps set into glass enclosures on the walls. Shelves lined with jars held chicken parts suspended in a faintly green liquid, giving the place an eerie look. Scientists carefully inspected eggs under magnifying lenses. A faint antiseptic smell mingled with an earthy musk, creating an unsettling scent. In one corner, a technician poured reagents onto strips of chicken meat, observing each reaction with intense focus.

  “That’s the NPC we need,” Amari said, nodding toward a man in a tunic-like lab coat who was adjusting his glasses as he reviewed a tray of eggs.

  Jack walked over to the NPC. “Excuse me, sir. Jerry from a local farm asked me to show you this.”

  “Jerry. I know him,” the scientist replied, taking the egg and laying it neatly on the table. “He’s one of the ranchers closest to here. Let’s take a look.” The scientist examined the egg closely, a thoughtful expression crossing his face.

  “So, what’s this all about?” Jack asked.

  “This phenomenon has been happening more and more in this region. Did Mr. Jerry tell you how often he finds this kind of egg?”

  “Yes, he said every fortnight,” Jack confirmed.

  The scientist walked over to a wall map with a detailed layout of the area. The map was hand-drawn and slightly worn; its colors faded from repeated handling, and Jack could see pins scattered across the region.

  “It’s becoming more frequent,” the scientist murmured.

  “This is happening at other farms, too?” Jack asked, his curiosity piqued.

  The scientist nodded as he added another pin to the board, marking what Jack assumed was Jerry’s farm.

  “What’s causing this?” Jack pressed.

  “Our theory is that it’s a prehistoric bird trying to fertilize chicken eggs.”

  Jack blinked his eyes in disbelief. Theory? They don’t know?

  “Some eggs react like this, but true crossbreeding between species isn’t possible. The egg never progresses beyond this stage and rots after a few weeks.”

  “And why do foxes react so strongly to it?” Jack asked, trying to get some information.

  The scientist shrugged. “Perhaps this species is a natural enemy of the foxes, or maybe it’s just coincidence. There’s so much we don’t know.”

  Jack looked at Amari, who shrugged, clearly as bewildered as he was by the whole mystery. The game’s quests often took strange turns, but this one was particularly odd.

  A case of theft: this story is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.

  The scientist adjusted his glasses. “We’d like to keep this egg for further experiments. Please tell Jerry that if he finds more, he should bring them here. We need all the data we can gather to reach a conclusion.”

  “Very well,” Jack agreed.

  You’ve completed [A Weird Egg].

  See Jerry for your reward.

  As the notification flashed across his vision, Jack felt the familiar satisfaction of completing a mission.

  “It’s done!” Jack said. “All that’s left is to go see Jerry.”

  “Let’s go then. I’m also heading in that direction,” Amari offered.

  *

  Now that they weren’t carrying the egg, the Vulpine Woods seemed to exhale, returning to a peaceful stillness. Foxes lay in cozy heaps, fur ruffled as they slept in their dens, while birds filled the canopy with cheerful songs. Jack glanced around, taking in the tranquility.

  Jack rode side by side with Amari as they chatted. “Was it difficult to get the footage?” Jack asked, breaking the silence.

  “Nope. Easy-peasy.”

  “And what do you think of it so far?”

  "So far, it's good. Lots of great material," Amari assured him.

  Jack grinned. "And when are you thinking of releasing the first video?"

  "As soon as possible. What are your plans after you gain a level at Jerry’s chicken farm?" Amari asked.

  "After I gain this level, I’m going to equip my new gear," Jack replied with a hint of longing in his voice, "and then I have to choose two minors. From what you told me, we won’t be doing any shopping where we’re going, and I’m guessing that there won’t be any NPCs to teach me professions either."

  Amari nodded. "Have you considered what the next two minors will be?"

  "Between bard, bushcrafting, and pottery, I already have my hands full—at least for now. I was thinking of getting two professions that aren’t too time-consuming, something akin to beekeeping. Maybe fishing?" Jack said. "Seems relaxing."

  Amari chuckled. "Oh, yes. It’s a favorite among retired players. They make for incredible competitors if you join the fishing scene. But don’t be fooled. Fishing can be time-consuming, too."

  Jack nodded, recalling the veterans who’d stopped by his diner while he farmed bushcrafting XP at the bushcrafting site. They’d shared plenty of tall tales about their fishing exploits as they ate Jack’s cooking.

  "Well, since there won’t be any water where we’re going—or at least the chances are very low—I’d leave fishing for later," Amari advised.

  "Then what do you suggest?" Jack asked.

  Amari drummed his fingers on his saddle. "You already have the [Forage] skill from bushcrafting, which lets you gather a variety of resources. But you don’t have any skills to preserve perishables. Maybe pick a profession that’ll help you gather other resources—something like mining or lumberjacking."

  The woods soon gave way to open fields, and Amari halted, turning his horse slightly to face Jack. "Well, this is where we part ways. My destination is that way."

  "Where are you headed?" Jack asked.

  "I’m going to the country house of a count. It’s one of the places where you can trigger a breaching quest," Amari replied.

  “You haven’t really explained what a breach is,” Jack said, sounding a bit annoyed.

  Amari nodded thoughtfully. "Have you ever done a dungeon run?"

  Jack perked up. "Yes, that’s how we first met. Remember? I asked you where the pyramid was?"

  "Oh, right, I’d forgotten about that. That was you, wasn’t it? Well, I guess I’ll see that bit in the footage later," Amari said.

  Jack’s shoulders slumped. He’d thought their first encounter was memorable. But to Amari, it had been just another day, just another player.

  “Anyway, it’s like a defensive dungeon run,” Amari continued. “The royal family delegates territory to noble families. They’re assigned stretches of wall, outposts, and fortresses to defend. Sometimes, animals slip through, and breaches open. That’s where we come in.”

  “Breaches, as in holes in the wall?" Jack asked, remembering the crumbling sections he’d seen outside the city.

  “Sometimes. Or it could be a tunnel that some creature digs under the wall. Basically, we go to a noble, volunteer to defend a breach, and we’re transported to a special map. There, we defend an outpost or wall segment for a set time. The longer we last, the better the rewards.”

  “A special map, uh? So we’ll be isolated from the outside world.”

  “And safe from the Slayer,” Amari added with a foxish grin.

  “But aren’t we too low-leveled? We shouldn’t last long, right?”

  Amari shook his head. "The challenge is tailored to your starting level. If you’re quick and learn fast, you can last pretty long."

  Jack imagined himself fending off waves of dinosaurs in some remote, dimly lit outpost. "What’s the record?" Jack asked.

  "Last I checked, it was 88 waves."

  "That’s a lot, right?"

  Amari grinned. "If it weren’t, it wouldn’t be the record, genius. Anyway, all the best with your quest. Looking forward to seeing what two minors you pick up.”

  Jack watched Amari ride off, his horse trotting steadily into the distance. Turning to Snowy, he patted her side with a smile. "Well, Snowy, it’s just you and me again. Let’s go gain a level!”

  As Snowy trotted through the meadow toward the chicken house, Jack shot a message to Rob. "Hey Rob, just checking in. You alright?"

  Rob replied almost instantly. "No worries, cuz. I’m fine."

  The message came a little too quickly. Jack stared at the screen, trying to convince himself that Rob was truly alright. But something gnawed at him—a nagging feeling that not all was well on Rob’s end.

  Jack steered Snowy toward the chicken farm and left her grazing at the entrance. He traced his way back to Jerry, who was still hard at work, plucking feathers from a row of chicken carcasses.

  “I’m back, sir.”

  Jerry looked up, a gleam of curiosity in his eyes. “Oh? Did you make it to the institute?”

  Jack nodded, feeling a flicker of pride.

  “So, what did they say about the egg?” Jerry asked, his hands never stopping their work.

  “They’re not entirely sure,” Jack replied. “Their best guess is that some sort of creature fertilizes the eggs, causing them to mutate.”

  “A creature, huh? Any idea what it might be?” Jerry paused, his gaze resting on Jack as if inviting him to speculate.

  Jack hesitated, wondering if Jerry expected him to guess or if he might offer a follow-up quest. But after a moment, Jerry chuckled and went back to plucking. “Guess it’ll stay a mystery, then. Thanks for your help, though. I suppose it’s time to hand you your rewards.”

  A notification popped up:

  Completion rate: A

  Calculating reward…

  Jack’s eyes widened, and a grin spread across his face. He’d completed the quest on his first try, heading straight to the Agropastoral Institute without any detours. His effort was about to pay off.

  You’ve received 1 gold;

  You’ve received 20x[Jumbo Eggs];

  You’ve received 30x[Medium-Sized Eggs];

  You’ve received one free level.

  You’ve reached level 20.

  You’ve received a free profession level.

  Jack threw his fists in the air, barely able to contain his excitement. Not only had he leveled up, but the XP bar didn’t stop at 20—it crept just a bit beyond, leaving him at the same percentage of progress toward level 21. A small boost, but one that could save hours of grinding.

  To top it off, his high completion rate had earned him additional rewards: a stash of eggs and a free profession level. The quest’s difficulty made the rewards feel that much sweeter.

  Eager to see his upgrades, Jack equipped the rest of his new gear. The bulrush overalls and matching hat fit him perfectly, adding a practical yet rugged look.

  Oh yeah! World, here I come!

  Next came the choice between leveling up bard or beekeeping. He’d been at level 9 as a bard for a while now, and his XP bar was already at 28% of the way to level 10. Beekeeping would grow passively on its own, but bard would still take many hours of grinding.

  Jack made up his mind. The decision was easy.