The Case of the Creepers Read online

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  Copyright © 2018 by Hollan Publishing, Inc.

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  Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data is available on file.

  Cover design by Brian Peterson

  Cover photo by Megan Miller

  Print ISBN: 978-1-51073-190-5

  Ebook ISBN: 978-1-51073-196-7

  Printed in Canada

  TABLE OF CONTENTS

  Chapter 1: The Great Treasure Hunt

  Chapter 2: Preparations

  Chapter 3: Goodbyes

  Chapter 4: Some Call It Luck

  Chapter 5: Have You Seen a Creeper?

  Chapter 6: Rain

  Chapter 7: Not in the Nether

  Chapter 8: Suspects

  Chapter 9: Facts or Rumors

  Chapter 10: Missing

  Chapter 11: Back on the Hunt

  Chapter 12: In the Jungle Temple

  Chapter 13: Desert Discoveries

  Chapter 14: The Case of the Creepers

  Chapter 15: Player vs. Player

  Chapter 16: The Show Must Go On

  Chapter 17: We’re All in This Together

  Chapter 18: Inventory

  THE CASE OF THE CREEPERS

  1

  THE GREAT TREASURE HUNT

  Edison carefully placed a ghast tear into the awkward potion and began brewing a potion of Regeneration when Billy rushed into his bungalow.

  “You won’t believe it!” Billy exclaimed.

  “I won’t believe what?” Edison asked. Without looking up, he finished brewing and then said, “By the way, I’m done with my final batch of potion. Would you mind helping me at the stand? I have to be there soon.”

  “Yes,” Billy replied, “but don’t you want to hear my news?”

  “I’m sorry, I do. What is it?”

  Billy’s voice was energetic, and he grinned as he spoke. “The Big Treasure Hunt is happening! I can’t believe it! It’s really happening!”

  Billy and a few others had an idea. They wanted to start a big treasure hunt that would take place all across the Overworld, in all other biomes. They’d invite an array of treasure hunters who would participate in a weeklong treasure hunt. When the week was over, they would all meet in Verdant Valley. There they would tally up their treasures and present the best treasure hunters with awards.

  Following the event, they’d set up an area where everyone could trade, since there would be abundant treasure. Although there was a lot of support from the committee that was formed to help create the event, the planning had taken a long time, and Billy thought it would never work out. He was surprised when all of their hard work paid off and the treasure hunt was scheduled to happen. The idea that the treasure hunt was actually happening made Billy ecstatic.

  Edison was thrilled for his friend. “This is the best news ever! When does it take place?”

  “Next week. It’s the only time when all of the treasure hunters were available. I have to get ready and prepare. I don’t have a lot of time, and I need to have a stocked inventory to be able to gather treasure from around the Overworld. All of the participants have to travel to every biome and dimension.”

  “Even the End?” asked Edison while placing the bottle of potion into his case.

  “Yes, even the End,” Billy confirmed.

  “Wow, I hear that’s a tough dimension,” said Edison.

  “I’ve heard that too,” Billy replied as he picked up one of Edison’s cases and helped him set up his potion stand in the center of Farmer’s Bay. There was a small line of customers who were anxious to get their potions.

  The first customer addressed Billy before he asked Edison for potions of night vision and swiftness. “Congratulations, Billy. I hear there is going to be a great treasure hunt. I am so glad you will be representing Farmer’s Bay. You are an excellent treasure hunter.”

  “Thank you.” Billy’s cheeks turned red.

  The next customer also congratulated Billy. He was so flustered by all of the attention that he nearly spilled a potion on his khaki shorts.

  “Are you okay?” asked Edison.

  “Yes,” Billy said. “I guess I’m just distracted by all of the attention.”

  Edison said, “This is your day, Billy. You made this happen. You should be proud of yourself.”

  “I am, but I’m also slightly nervous,” he confessed. “There are biomes and dimensions I’ve never been to.”

  “Really? I thought you’d been everywhere.” Edison was surprised.

  “Yes,” Billy’s voice shook when he said, “the End.”

  “I’ve never been there either. I do want to see End City. I hear it’s incredible.”

  “Incredibly dangerous,” said Billy.

  “True, but I bet you’ll get lots of good treasure there.”

  Billy paused and then asked Edison, “The competition allows you to bring one person as an assistant. Would you like to come with me?”

  Edison knew how much this meant to Billy. He also knew that he should help Billy because Billy was such a good friend. Edison remembered when Billy was his assistant in the Alchemist Olympics and spent weeks in Edison’s bungalow timing Edison as he brewed potions. Edison knew he wouldn’t have won a medal if it weren’t for his friend. However, he didn’t want to travel around the Overworld, especially not to the End. He wanted to work at his potion stand in the center of Farmer’s Bay during the day and brew potions in the evening. He was conflicted.

  Billy sensed Edison’s apprehension and said, “I know it’s a lot to ask, but it’s only a week, and think of all of the ingredients for potions you would get when we travel around the various biomes.”

  Edison was embarrassed that he had even paused. “Of course. I am honored you want me to be your assistant. I will make sure we have every potion we need in order to destroy any hostile mobs we encounter on the trip.”

  “Thank you.” Billy smiled.

  As Edison traded his potions for emeralds, Billy kept tabs on how many bottles were left. His blond hair fell in his face as he looked down at the bottles, calculating the remaining inventory.

  “You don’t have any more potions of Invisibility.” Billy looked through the bottles.

  “Thanks,” said Edison. “We should start closing up
the stand soon. It’s almost dusk.”

  On the walk home, Billy rattled off a list of items they needed for the trip. “We have to make sure we have armor.”

  “I have armor. Just give me a list of what we’ll need for the treasure hunt,” said Edison.

  The sun was setting, and two lanky, block-­carrying Endermen walked past them. The duo tried to avoid locking eyes with the creatures, but Billy must have accidently stared at one of the dark mobs, and it unleashed a deafening, high-pitched screech as it teleported toward Billy. Luckily, they were close to the shore, and Billy and Edison sped toward the water. The Endermen met their watery demise in the ocean.

  As they stepped out of the water, Edison asked, “Do we have to go under the sea?”

  “Yes,” Billy confirmed. “We have to go to every biome.”

  Even though Edison had a lot of experience battling the guardians and elder guardians, he still wasn’t comfortable with undersea exploration. Every time he thought about the ocean biome, he recalled the stinging pain when the rays from an elder guardian struck him.

  It was nighttime as they approached Edison’s bungalow. Edison pulled a torch from his inventory and placed it outside the bungalow to ward off any hostile mobs. They entered the bungalow. Billy quickly put the case on Edison’s floor and left to go home. As Edison looked through his potions, figuring out what he had to brew the next morning, he heard a bloodcurdling scream, and Billy hollered, “Help me!”

  2

  PREPARATIONS

  Edison grabbed his armor and diamond sword and rushed into the darkness to help his friend Billy.

  “Edison!” Billy called out, but his voice was weak as four vacant-eyed zombies cornered him beside a tree. They were clobbering Billy, and Edison saw his friend only had one heart left. He rushed to Billy’s side, slammed his diamond sword against the zombies, and splashed potion on the beasts. With one heart left, Billy avoided being hit by the zombies as he leaped toward them with his sword.

  One by one, Edison and Billy successfully defeated the foul-smelling mobs, and Edison handed his friend a bottle of potion to help him regain his strength. Billy sipped the potion and opened the door to his bungalow. When Edison saw his friend safely enter the house, he hurried back to his bungalow and crawled into bed.

  Although his bed was comfortable, he couldn’t sleep. Edison’s mind was racing with thoughts about the treasure hunt. His heart rate accelerated when he imagined the trip to the End. He had only see the Ender Dragon once, and that was in the Overworld, when someone had unnaturally spawned the flying terror, but he had never seen the Ender Dragon in its native habitat. He heard stories about the fire-breathing dragon, how the beast would eat crystals that would increase its health, and how it was the hardest to battle. Once you beat the Ender Dragon you’d be rewarded with a trip to End City, where you would have the opportunity to get some of the best treasures, but you’d also have to battle shulkers. To calm himself down, Edison thought of all the ingredients he would gather when he went on the treasure hunt. He ran through a list of supplies he needed to create potions. Once he returned from the trip, he’d be able to brew some of the strongest potions in the Overworld.

  His eyes finally closed, and Edison drifted to sleep dreaming of standing in front of his brewing stand and crafting a host of potions. He awoke with the sun shining through his window. The light was in his eyes, and he rubbed them. He looked down to see Puddles by his bedside looking for the morning meal. Edison pulled raw fish from his inventory and fed the ocelot. He could hear something rustling outside his window, so he pulled out his sword. He peeked out the window and saw Billy pulling apples from a tree.

  Billy spotted his friend. “Hey Edison.” He smiled and took a bite out of the apple. “Do you want me to pick any apples for you?”

  “Okay.” Edison walked outside and joined his friend.

  Billy had a chest filled with apples, potatoes, and carrots. He looked at the chest as he spoke, “This is almost full. I want to start placing everything in my inventory. Let me know what you want. I need you to be prepared.”

  “We have a week,” Edison reminded him.

  “No, it’s less than a week away, and there is a lot to do,” Billy explained.

  “Yes, sorry,” Edison said. “Let me know what you want me to do.”

  “I will,” Billy said and then added, “I can’t help you with your potion stand today. I have too much to do.”

  Edison nodded his head and went back home. He had a lot of potions to brew before he opened the stand, and he had to get to work. Lately Billy had been helping him brew potions and also helped work at the stand, and Edison missed having his friend by his side. Although there were a lot of customers at the stand that morning, Edison felt lonely without his friend.

  His neighbors Erin and Peyton were also his customers, and he spotted them in line. When they were ready to order their potions, Erin said, “We’re so proud of Billy. Our town chose the best treasure hunter.”

  Peyton said, “I know he’s going to make our town proud.”

  A woman with bright red hair stood behind them. She wore a black shirt and white pants. She asked them, “Do you have a friend in the great treasure hunt?”

  “Yes,” Erin smiled, “One of our very good friends is in it, and Edison is going to be his assistant. Why do you ask?”

  “I’m also in it,” the woman gloated, “and I’m going to win. Everyone knows that I’m the best treasure hunter in the Overworld.”

  “Everyone knows this, huh?” questioned Peyton.

  “Yes,” she smiled.

  “What’s your name?” asked Erin.

  “Sally,” she replied.

  “Well, I’ve never heard of you,” said Erin.

  Sally sneered at that comment and said, “Well, you will when I win the treasure hunt. I’m sure I’ll complete the entire hunt in less than the allotted week.”

  Edison didn’t want to sell potions to this boastful person, but he knew that he had to serve all customers. “I know you think you’re the best treasure hunter, but I just want to know what potions you want to buy. There is a long line of people, and I don’t want to keep them waiting.”

  Sally ordered a range of potions from fire resistance to water breathing. She put all the potions in her inventory and didn’t even say thank you or goodbye as she raced out of the town.

  When the stand was closed for the day, Edison met up with Billy to plan the treasure hunt. “I saw the most irritating person today. Her name is Sally, and she’s also in the treasure hunt. She claims she’s one of the best treasure hunters in the Overworld.”

  “She is,” said Billy. “It’s going to be hard to win with Sally in the competition.”

  “I wonder who she will choose to be her assistant. I can’t imagine anyone wanting to assist her.”

  Billy defended his competitor. “You’d be surprised. She’s very well-known. People would love that job. She’s an expert at finding a temple and never seems to need a map. She once came back from a two-day treasure hunt with ten chests overflowing with diamonds and emeralds. She is fearless. She’s been to the End City multiple times, and she’s always alone. I know many people who would love the opportunity to see her at work. If I wasn’t asked to participate in the contest, I might have wanted to be her assistant.”

  “Well, I wouldn’t,” said Edison.

  The next morning Edison was at his stand, but he was too distracted by the upcoming treasure hunt. All of his customers heard that he would be Billy’s assistant, and they asked Edison all sorts of questions about the treasure hunt. With each question, Edison’s heart raced.

  “Are you going to mine for emeralds and diamonds or just search for treasures?” asked Mike, one of his regular customers.

  Edison didn’t know the answer.

  Another customer gave him advice. “Are you going to the cold biome? If you have to travel to the Nether, you should go to the cold biome first so you could stock up on snowballs, because
they come in very handy when you’re battling hostile mobs.”

  Although Edison knew this, he nodded his head and thanked the customer for the tip.

  The last customer of the day questioned him about the End. “Have you ever been to the End City?”

  “No,” Edison replied. “Have you?”

  “Yes,” the customer said. “When you’re battling the Ender Dragon, the best strategy is to destroy the crystals. You have to stop the dragon from regaining its strength.”

  Edison’s anxiety about taking part in the treasure hunt, even if he was just an assistant, dominated the rest of his week. Every day he’d make little mistakes at work, but by the end of the week, they were becoming quite noticeable. For instance, one day he gave one of his regular customers a potion of Invisibility when she had asked for a potion of Swiftness. She came back and complained. When she was running from a skeleton, she had sipped the potion and was shocked to find that the potion made her invisible! Edison apologized and refunded her all of her emeralds and then gave her two bottles of the potion of Swiftness. Although he had many mishaps, the upside was the week went by very quickly, and soon Edison was waking up and heading to the opening ceremonies for the great treasure hunt. He looked through his inventory for the hundredth time. Even though he knew he was prepared, he was lightheaded and his heart raced. He calmed himself down by going over the list Billy had provided him. Billy and Edison had checked the list several times and he had everything placed in his inventory, but he was still nervous and unsure he was prepared. As he said goodbye to Puddles and stepped outside his bungalow, sweat formed on his brow.

  “Edison,” Billy called out to his friend. Billy was already suited up in his armor, and he was smiling.

  Edison was nervous, but he didn’t want his friend to know. To calm down, he reminded himself that he had become a detective and did a pretty good job of solving crimes with Billy and Anna by his side. Like becoming a detective, this was also just a new adventure.

  He stared at his door for one last time before they left. “Can you believe the next time I open this door, both of us would have completed the treasure hunt and battled the Ender Dragon?”