"It has horses, horses and unicorns and a bunch of mythical creatures. I don't blame you for being curious, but kind of the wrong time for it. Scorpion is also impatient, but he does understand time and questioning." A small tip pops up to help the NPC stop from breaking the fourth wall. It reads: Scorpion is also known for his willingness to duel players if they're high enough level. (Horses, unicorns, pegasi, dragons, wyverns, griffins, hypogriffs, bat horses, other hybrids I may be forgetting or intentionally leaving out due to rarity.)

Konkoshi smiles, "Well I know what I'm doing next then."
"Oh boy can you tell us where we might find the horses, bat horses, pegasus, unicorns, or maybe a hybrid," Akimi asks knowing Konkoshi would not be comfortable until he was on horseback.
"Thank you now you're free to go," Dachi gets up, "and keep the tea you've earned it."

"Horses, pegasi, and unicorns are usually roaming around Windsoar Plains, Northeast of here. Hybrid locations vary depending on the hybrid. Bat horses are usually around mountains or Scorpion's territory. I suggest giving that bridle back before he hunts you down." The bandit advises warily.

The trio nod going back to Scorpion.

As the game so kindly warned about dueling habits, Scorpion is in a duel. The NPCs have made way for it, some watching. Derek is standing at half health, watching Scorpion closely as he returns to whatever it was he was doing. As much as the duel seemed friendly, the expression on Derek's face suggests otherwise. Scorpion does take notice to Dachi, Akimi, and Koncoshi, greeting them as warmly as he'd ever greet anyone- a nod of the head. He isn't known for kindness, but he sent them on a quest so it's only fair.

Konkoshi watches the duel curiously. If he ran into this new guy or challenged Scorpion it'd be useful to have. The other two watch as well to try and learn something or at least wait it out.

It's hard to see, but given good vision and talent at spotting minute details Scorpion's weapon, a sickle it seems, is coated in poison. Derek's health, once given a good look, is visibly draining. It's draining too quickly to be solely the poison, but the answer lies in the glowing red at his legs. Red coding, which has Scorpion's attention as well, has him bound in place. A white flag symbol appears, signaling the end. Scorpion, knowing the tampering has ruined the duel, tosses Derek a vial. The vial cures the poison, but is no match for the coding and the damage from that. Scorpion then turns away and walks over to the three. "Informant gathering, eh? Handy. There's nothing more to see." And he's correct, as whoever has interfered with the duel via the red coding has stopped. It's gone, and Derek has retreated to his pals- Garroth and Kirito.

Konkoshi hands Scopion the bridle, "If you don't mind my asking where did you get the bridle? More imprortantly I was told it was cursed why is that?"
Akimi walks over to Kirito, "Excuse me but you look familiar have we met before?"
Dachi goes over to Derek, "Are you alright?"

"Neither of those are your business." Scorpion hands the money reward over after taking the bridle back without need of using the cloth to touch it. He doesn't need to say why it's corrupted for anyone to guess he's the source of it.

"Not that I'm aware, unless you were part of SAO's first mess." (First mess- the SAO logout glitch from the anime. The second mess- an entirely different mess that replaces the after hand of the first mess. This is to make sure that's known and remembered.) Derek has long used a potion to heal his health. As much as Kirito's fine with talking, there was also a small discussion interrupted. "That's our confirmation," he says offhandedly to Derek and Garroth. Derek shakes his head, then replies to Dachi. "As fine as I'll be, but it's significantly better than becoming a torch until being left with one health point." They know more about the occurrence of coding, seeing as it was their topic of discussion.

"Acctually we were,'' Akimi says as Konkoshi walks over, "So have you seen the horses yet or any horse variation?"
Dachi nods, "So that coding was someone tampering with the game?"
Konkoshi looks at Kirito, "Long time no see Kirito. You probally don't remember us but floor 78 boss fight. Man was that a challenge. So friends of yours?"