Modern Weapons Cheat in Fantasy World

After speaking personally and privately with Merchant Kelly, Marcus left and caught up with others.

"So, what is it?" Seraphine asked.

"Just a job offer," Marcus honestly said. "Merchant Kelly wants something transported to a different place and I’ll get paid."

"Is that so? It must be the one where you’ll cross the Forest of No Return," Seraphine said.

"How did you know that?" Marcus asked.

Seraphine didn’t answer right away.

She simply looked at him for a second, then let out a quiet breath.

"...Because that’s the only job he’s been trying to push lately," she said.

Marcus frowned slightly.

"What do you mean?"

Selene crossed her arms.

"It’s been circulating around," she added. "Word spreads fast in the Guild. High pay, high risk, and no one wants to take it."

Kael let out a short scoff.

"Forest of No Return isn’t a place you just walk into," he said. "Even high-ranking parties avoid that route."

Liora shifted slightly, holding onto the strap of her bag.

"...People who go in there don’t always come back," she said quietly.

Marcus glanced at them one by one.

"Yeah, I got that impression," he replied.

Seraphine stepped a little closer.

"And you still accepted it," she said.

It wasn’t a question.

Marcus gave a small nod.

"Yeah," he said.

Selene raised an eyebrow.

"...You didn’t even think twice?"

Marcus shrugged slightly.

"I did," he said. "But the offer is good."

"How good?" Kael asked.

Marcus looked at them.

"One hundred million kinah."

That got a reaction.

Selene blinked.

"...For one job?"

Kael let out a low whistle.

"Alright, that explains it."

Even Liora looked surprised.

"...That’s... a lot," she said.

Seraphine didn’t react the same way.

Her gaze stayed on Marcus.

"Half upfront?" she asked.

Marcus nodded.

"Yeah."

That made her pause for a second.

"...Then he’s serious," she said.

Marcus tilted his head slightly.

"You’re not surprised?"

Seraphine shook her head.

"No," she said. "Kelly doesn’t overpay without reason."

Kael crossed his arms.

"Meaning whatever you’re transporting is either very valuable... or very dangerous."

Marcus gave a small nod.

"Probably both."

Selene glanced at him.

"...Do you even know what the cargo is?"

Marcus shook his head.

"Nope."

"That doesn’t bother you?" she asked.

"A bit," he admitted. "But not enough to walk away."

Kael smirked faintly.

"Yeah, that sounds like you."

Liora looked a bit uneasy.

"...You’re going alone?" she asked.

Marcus nodded.

"That’s the deal."

Selene frowned.

"That’s not a deal, that’s a gamble."

Marcus shrugged again.

"Same thing sometimes."

Seraphine stepped closer, her expression more serious now.

"Listen," she said. "The Forest of No Return isn’t just dangerous because of monsters."

Marcus looked at her.

"Then what?"

She held his gaze.

"It’s unpredictable," she said. "Terrain shifts, visibility drops, and you lose your sense of direction faster than you think."

Kael added,

"And that’s if something doesn’t jump you first."

Marcus let out a small breath.

"Good to know. But you guys are overthinking it. I have other means of transportation and you have witnessed it," Marcus grinned.

"Wait, you mean to use that flying machine?" Seraphine asked.

"Yup," Marcus confirmed. "Look, the reason why you have to go through the Forest of No Return is because the other route takes longer."

"Ohw, that makes sense. Well, good luck Sir Marcus. I guess this is where we will part ways?"

Marcus looked at her for a second.

"Yeah," he said. "Looks like it."

There was a short silence after that.

Not awkward.

Just... the kind that comes when people realize things are about to change.

Selene shifted her weight slightly.

"You’re really going alone," she said again, like she still hadn’t fully accepted it.

Marcus nodded.

"That’s the deal," he repeated.

Kael let out a quiet breath and scratched the back of his head.

"Well... can’t say I’m surprised," he said. "You’ve been doing things your own way since we met."

Marcus smirked faintly.

"Something like that. So, you guys want to have lunch before we part ways? Come on my treat, I don’t care about the prices."

Selene raised an eyebrow.

"...Now that I believe," she said.

Kael let out a short laugh.

"Yeah, after hearing one hundred million kinah, I’m not saying no to free food."

Liora looked between them, then gave a small nod.

"...Okay."

Seraphine didn’t answer right away.

She looked at Marcus for a second, then sighed quietly.

"...Fine," she said. "But don’t go overboard."

Marcus smirked.

"No promises."

They didn’t go far.

Just a restaurant a few streets away from the guild. It wasn’t the kind of place Marcus would’ve picked before, but now, with a pouch heavy enough to change his situation completely, it didn’t matter.

They took a table near the window.

The place was calm. Midday crowd, nothing too loud. People talking, eating, going about their own business.

A server approached, and Marcus didn’t hesitate.

"Just bring your best dishes," he said. "Enough for five."

The server blinked once, then nodded quickly.

"Of course, sir."

When the server left, Kael leaned back slightly.

"...You’re really treating this like a farewell meal," he said.

Marcus shrugged.

"Something like that."

Selene looked at him.

"...You’re not even nervous," she said.

Marcus thought about that for a second.

"Not really," he said.

That answer didn’t sit well with them.

Seraphine noticed.

"You should be," she said.

Marcus met her gaze.

"I am," he replied.

That made her pause.

"But not enough to back out," he added.

Kael let out a quiet breath.

"...Yeah. That sounds more like it."

The food came not long after.

Plates filled the table quickly. Meat, vegetables, bread, and dishes Marcus didn’t even recognize. The smell alone made it clear this wasn’t cheap.

For a moment, none of them spoke.

They just ate.

Liora was the first to break the silence.

"...What are you going to do after this job?" she asked.

Marcus paused slightly.

"...Not sure," he said. "Depends on how it goes."

Selene scoffed lightly.

"With that kind of money, you could retire," she said.

Marcus shook his head.

"Not really my style."

Kael smirked.

"Of course it isn’t."

Seraphine watched him quietly.

"...Then what is?" she asked.

Marcus thought for a second.

Then shrugged.

"Keep moving," he said.

That was the simplest way to put it.

And somehow, it fit him perfectly.

They finished the meal without rushing.

No one said it out loud, but they all knew.

This was it.

When they stepped outside again, the air felt a bit different.

Not heavier.

Just... final.

Marcus adjusted the pouch at his side.

"Alright," he said. "This is where I head out."

Selene nodded.

"...Take care."

Kael gave him a small salute.

"Try not to crash that flying thing of yours."

Liora gave him a small smile.

"...Come back."

Seraphine didn’t say anything at first.

She stepped forward, just a little.

"...Don’t underestimate the forest," she said quietly.

Marcus nodded.

"I won’t."

***

Meanwhile, in the outskirts of the city of Saint-Haven. Marcus deployed his Black Hawk helicopter.

Marcus stood a few meters away, watching it.

Still not used to it.

No matter how many times he used the system, the way things just... appeared never felt normal.

But he didn’t dwell on it.

He stepped forward.

The side door slid open, and just like before, the crew was already inside.

As if they had always been there.

One of them looked at Marcus.

"Sir," he said, acknowledging him like this was routine.

Marcus nodded once.

"Listen," he said. "We are heading back to base."

The crew didn’t question it.

"Understood," the pilot replied.

The crew moved immediately.

The pilot adjusted controls. The co-pilot ran through checks. The door gunner secured his position, scanning out of habit more than necessity.

Marcus stepped aside.

The rotors picked up speed.

Louder now.

Stronger.

The helicopter lifted slowly off the ground, rising just enough to stabilize before angling away from him.

Marcus watched as it pulled forward, then gained altitude.

In seconds—

It was already moving fast.

Leaving the outskirts of Saint Haven behind.

Leaving him alone again.

The sound faded quickly.

Until it was gone.

Silence returned.

Marcus stood there for a moment longer.

Then exhaled.

"Alright," he muttered.

Now it was just him.

He reached into his pouch and pulled out the folded contract from Merchant Kelly, glancing at it one more time.

Forest of No Return.

High risk.

High pay.

Marcus folded it again and tucked it away. This is going to be an easy mission for him.

About an hour later, they arrived at the headquarters. The helicopter touched down on the helipad and the crew opened the door for Marcus.

He stepped out of the helicopter and his boots touched the ground.

Marcus stepped away from the helicopter as the crew began their post-landing checks, already moving like he wasn’t even there anymore. To them, this was just another operation.

He adjusted his jacket slightly and started walking toward the main building.

He didn’t get far.

"Welcome back."

The voice was familiar.

Marcus stopped and turned slightly.

Elaina stood near the entrance, one hand resting lightly against the frame, her posture relaxed but her eyes already on him.

"Yeah...it’s good to be back."