Marcus went to bed and woke up to get some breakfast that was something akin to continental breakfast at a hotel or buffet style as he got scrambled eggs, sticky rice and some kind of onion pancakes over a savory gravy before he left to head towards Javier’s.
As he sat down Khaliun walked over to him and sat down in front of him as he ate his savory pancakes.
“Hey, I want to apologize for how I acted yesterday. I overreacted. It was uncalled for and I hope you will continue to patronize us.” Marcus gave her a soft smile and laughed.
“I have seen more dangerous reactions from my Uncle Charlie after Sunday dinner. Its fine. I was just a bit overwhelmed. I am new here.” She gave him a no nonsense nod.
“You have to be more careful from now on. People know you have cleared a dungeon and people will start to seek you out.” He raised an eyebrow confused before she continued.
“Slayers and Mercenaries tend to be on the lookout for talent and can be…aggressive about acquiring it. Things like press-ganging are common. Being kidnapped and dropped off in a team of other talented people under someone more than 10 times your level and forced to follow orders.“
“That sounds like slavery.” She shrugged.
“It can be. Those that are press-ganged are generally speaking paid and….entertainment is provided. After a while people even forget they were press ganged. 5-10 years with the same people has a way of holding you together. Regardless of circumstances. I am sorry I did this to you, but anyone with an Identify-Lens would have found out. “ He shrugged.
“What’s done is done. Is there any way to hide my information from people?” She shook her head.
“This is the one thing that is always true. Identify-Lens never lie or can be manipulated with other Lootgear. As a token of goodwill I will knock off 5 silver off any room you purchase here.” With that she stood up and walked away back towards the frontend of the Inn.
Time to get the day started.
He walked out and past Jason and tipped him a silver before walking over to Kenny and gave him another silver to tell him where Javier’s shop was. With a sweet smile told him it was in the Southwest Roots section. While he walked the city he noticed just how diverse the people are. He was having trouble trying to figure out how these people breed and made others that looked like them.
As he walked he noticed just how big this place was. It had to be well over 250,000 people here in the city alone and probably another 50,000 people in the surrounding villages as well. The streets were made of what looked like old bark as he dodged people riding around in these magical buggies and made his way to Javier’s.
This place was much smaller than Takanaka and it was also inside the interior wall next to several other shops as well.
As he entered he noticed there were less than a dozen people shopping from various goods like fishing poles to toothbrushes. As he walked up to the owner he looked to be some kind of latino looking dwarf with long black hair and a short but trimmed beard.
“Welcome, welcome, This is my shop. What can I do for you?” Marcus looked around before he spoke.
“I am looking to unload some resource boxes. What's the going rate on them?” Javier's eyes went wide as he smiled and said. “Sir, I very much doubt someone like yourself has a resource box but regardless I will humor you. The going rate is between 5-6 gold pieces depending on who you ask. I would personally offer 5 gold marks for one.” Marcus looked around again before speaking again.
“So if I go to a different vendor they would say the same thing?”
“Maybe a little higher or lower but still in the same ballpark.”
“Ok then I will be back-”
“OK. That’s fine, the going rate is 10 golden marks. “
“So then you won’t mind if I go an price check-”
“Just go sir, I doubt you have one anyway. I am done-” He mouth dropped as he pulled out a resource box.
“You mean something like this? I can go and shop around I guess-” The latino dwarf man ran around his desk and motioned for him to come to the back as he pointed to another european dwarf looking person to watch the register.
As Marcus walked to the back with the man he looked around and noticed he was in the man’s office.
“Listen, now that I confirmed that you actually have one, we can actually do business. They are quite rare as alchemists and crafters will pay a premium price for them. As my son is an alchemist I would like to purchase one. I can offer you a little under two platinum marks.” Marcus thought about it for a second before speaking.
“Have you brought one before?”
You might be reading a pirated copy. Look for the official release to support the author.
“Yes, earlier this year but yes.”
“How much did you pay for it and I would like to see the receipt if possible.” Javier smiled with a large grin before he pulled out two platinum marks and showed him the receipt. With the confirmation he asked if he could get them in 180 golden marks and 200 silver marks. Which Javier did without much of a problem. In total he was given a total of 900 Gold and 1000 silver from Javier. He stocked up on various toothpastes and toothbrushes, more fresher soaps and deodorants and some travel rations.
As he got more of the basics he needed along with another bag to carry them as he was recommended several other places to get armor. He went to a place called Sigda’s Armory where he was able to pick some normal plate mail for about 120 gold marks as Sigda pulled some armor that she had made down with her hammer and a couple of taps was able to shape it to perfectly fit his body with a matching pair of highly breathable padded armor underneath as well. It was of excellent make as he quickly put it on and left the store after being there for about an hour.
Now it was time to check out this Slayer Corps business.
He was hoping to go to the Slayer Corps and pick up a quest but that probably wasn’t very likely.
As he moved closer to the trunk he realized that the nicer the stores and how much more finely dressed the people were and more guards as well. While Takanaka’s Rest seemed more like a tourist trap this place seemed to be where the really wealthy and powerful people lived. As he got closer he noticed just how tall the center tree was. I mean it had to be well over a mile in diameter and 10 miles tall.
It wasn’t long until he was stopped by a guard and asked to state his business near the trunk he told him he was going to pick up a quest from the Slayer’s Corps before he was given an escort by who he assumed was a rookie or close to it. This as he was quickly led to the place he noticed had sign of a dragon skull with a sword and staff through it. He nodded goodbye to his detail as he walked towards the door. He noticed the two guards who stood out front as he approached and held up his hand before speaking.
“I am looking to take on a Slayer’s Quest. Who would I need to talk to get that done.” One of the guards spoke up and said to see Master Bere and gave a description of a mountain of a man with platinum blonde hair and blue eyes and motioned him inside.
As he moved closer inside he noticed that this place was a massive training hall with a massive ring in the center. There were various people inside of the center looking to be sharpening their fighting skills, as he continued to look around before he finally saw him.
It was a man sitting at a table with several other much younger looking people laughing and drinking. Even sitting down he could tell this man was possibly 7”. Marcus was tall himself at 6’1 but this man seemed every bit of 350 pounds with a thick layer of fat covering probably decades of experience. His blonde beard and tied in a boxed knox on the end and his long blonde hair flowed over his back.
That's the guy.
Marcus quickly approached the man as he began to overhear a conversation about tactics and how to work as a team together. Marcus smiled at the man before a slight head nod and speaking.
“Excuse me I don’t mean to interrupt your discussion but I am looking to take on Slayer quests. Currently I am not a member. I am looking to freelance for a while if you have any jobs.” Bere chuckled softly before standing up and clapping him on the back with such force and speed that even he rocked a bit.
“Welcome to the Corps, friend. We have plenty of jobs here that need doing. What danger level do you think you and your crew can handle.”
“What level would you recommend for a level 8 crew?”
“Depending on your size I would recommend D or at most C. But because this seems like your first mission I would recommend D and go from there. Matter of Fact-” He began to scratch his beard and ponder for a second.
“I have a D Ranked Quest with several lizardkin raiding groups attacking the main trade road between Druid’s Grove and Northwood. From the survivors most of these lizardkin are not that much stronger than base commoners so for each lizardkin frill you claim and bring back to me I am able to give you 20 silvers. If you are able to take down their leader and claim its head that’s worth a golden mark. Does this sound agreeable to you?” Marcus thought for a bit and nodded he would exterminate them all and see how well that would work.
“Yes, I assume I can start immediately?”
“Yes, you want to make sure you pick up health salves from Miki from down the hall. She sells them for fair market price. Once you complete your first quest or in your case come back with 5 or more frills you will become an associate and be offered a better pay rate and better quests. If you do want to become a member you will have access to our trainers that can help you level up any skill trees or even provide insight.”
Marcus nodded and extended his hand as a shake before turning down the hall to the Slayer Alchemist. She had offered him a deal of 5 for the price of 4 health salves for 20 golden marks. As he brought 8 and got 10 instead. As the alchemist explained to him, base healing salves promote healing in that area comparable to actually resting and for the very expensive ones they are several times stronger than your sleeping healing factor. These were around 2-3 times his base healing. Before he turned to leave again. He would stay one more day and then make the day's journey running to the Northwood trade route and begin to investigate there.
Time to slay some lizards.
