Miss Nennot strolls upstairs, eyes darting around the room for hidden dangers. A Scout, Olrica Nennot is, like most Meteo City Newborn, a Firm. Medium height, short red hair and sharp features are partially hidden by a strip of cloth, a Copper-Tier head slot item from Farmer's Folly if I'm not misremembering. The dagger at her left hip, likewise, is a drop from the same dungeon, also Copper-Tier.

Looks to me like Rambling Rose is currently farming High Satisfaction Farmer's Folly for gear.

"Greetings, Miss Nennot," I greet her with a polite nod, "I have business to discuss with Rambling Rose, if you're able to represent them?"

Her eyes snap to me from the messy surrounds, "How do you know about that?"

"I have my ways," I smile mysteriously, then repeat my question, "Are you able to speak on their behalf?"

Continuing to glare at me with suspicion, she chews her lip before nodding half-heartedly, "Depends on what you want to ask."

It's only been a few days since launch, so I'm not sure if they've triggered the Main Storyline yet. Best to play some cards close to my chest if I don't want the rewards to be stolen, "In the next week or two, I'll be looking to complete a difficult Quest. I'd like to commission some assistance in it's completion."

Miss Nennot chews her lip, "What's the quest?"

"Whilst I will be keeping the name, rewards, and significance of the Quest to myself, I will say that it involves breaking an NPC out of the City Jail and escorting him out of the city," I explain calmly, her eyes instantly widening.

"What?! You wa- What?!" My claim has apparently short-circuited her brain momentarily, "Are you insane?!"

Expecting a negative reaction, I shake my head with little anxiety on my face, "I should explain that for the purposes of the Quest, the City Guards we will be facing will not have System protections, and will be of lower than usual strength. A competent team of approximately Level 7 players with a suitable plan will have few issues. However, finding people who can perform such clandestine work on short notice is difficult, so I'm looking to outsource some of the work in exchange for appropriate payment."

Still looking troubled, Miss Nennot calms down somewhat, "What kind of payment are we talking?"

I hold up two fingers, "2 Sets of Beginner's Bronze, and one Beginner's Sad Oak Shortbow. Enough to equip your Fighters and your fellow Scout."

She blinks, "...That's almost 4 Stone Gold in equipment. I'll see what the others say."

"That's fine. Please leave your response in the form of a letter with the barkeep at The Golem," I shrug,"I also have a second proposition, for you personally, Miss Nennot, if you'd be willing to indulge me further."

She tilts her head, highly suspicious, "What is it?"

I smirk a little in spite of myself, "A Scout I ran into a few days ago seems rather determined to ignore the warning I gave after our last encounter. I'd like for you to track him down for me."

Miss Nennot smiles, "Ah, now that sounds more my speed. You want him dead?"

"If he notices you, feel free to duke it out, but if possible, I'd like to deal with him myself. His name is Irikis Falk, an assassin-type Scout."

As good as Irikis might be compared to most in the area, he really doesn't stand a chance against actual experts with better gear like her, based off the description that Jade gave of his current status. Getting her to deal with him in my stead may be easier, but it would defeat the purpose if I used borrowed hands.

She nods, "Alright. 50 Stone Silver, and I'll look for him when I'm free. Heard a few rumours about him, so this oughtta be interesting."

Not bothering to haggle for fear of insulting her professionalism, I hand over the stated amount without a fuss, "He's an Infamous player, and from what Jade, my assistant downstairs said when she encountered him at Liggit Mine, the experience value from killing him has increased since my run-in with him, so it's likely he's killed a fair amount of players since his Infamy was reset by his death."

Miss Nennot looks off to the side then mumbles understanding, "Last seen after he died at Liggit Mine. Heard the place got occupied by the Bone Troupe, he a member?"

I shrug, "No idea. He likely had the same intentions of disrupting my business here as that gang of idiots."

She taps her fingers on the pommel of her daggers, "Got it. Anything else?"

Smiling I offer my hand, "Only that if you acquit yourself well, I may have further opportunities for employment in the future for you."

Taking my hand firmly, she smiles, "So long as it doesn't bore me or conflict with my obligations, I'll be open to similar requests for the right price."

---

 

After Miss Nennot leaves, Stone Arsenal is opened to the general public. The gathered crowd is nowhere near the peak of what was seen a few days ago, but a few more than yesterday have turned up to see what this 'finale' of ours is all about. With some token assistance from Jade, we start letting them file in a few at a time.

"I'll need to sell my kidney to afford this set, do you accept payment in internal organs?"

"A full set? I just want a new weapon."

"Bronze for life, our burnished saviour!"

"Out of the way, peasants, this set is the property of the Shadow Dao Transcendents!"

"What webnovel did you steal that name from?!"

"I need this two-handed sword, I don't care if I'm a Scout, I'll Backstab with it anyway!"

"Just what I need to get revenge on those fucking dire bitches. Retribution is on the way..."

That's about the quality of the average customer we're working with here.

Still, a paying customer is a paying customer, so I can forgive their eccentricities so long as they don't cause a big fuss and buy our products. It does take a while to get through the stock, admittedly, but with rumours spreading about what today's special is, we're treated to a steady stream of potential customers until eventually we sell everything.

The final tally for my wealth comes out to a cool 51 Stone Gold. Just enough for my immediate needs with a little extra to spare. Locking the front door behind the final batch of customers, I sigh in relief, "Fifty Stone Gold at last."

Jade grins from ear to ear, "Fuck yeah, that's a lot of moolah. What you gonna spend it on?"

I rub the back of my neck, "The Guild, obviously. Registering an Official Guild requires a hefty fee in addition to a certain degree of fame, reputation and Citizenship, since you're basically asking the governing authority of the country you're in to acknowledge you and grant you special treatment. It's one of the reasons I chose Meteo City to start in - It's part of the Empire of Stone. Smaller, less developed territories aren't suitable for us when we're starting out at a low level."

She tilts her head, "So does that mean you're going to start the Guild now?"

"No," I sigh, "I don't meet the reputation or fame requirements yet. The most I can do at present is rent a market stall for a day. We won't be able to do much more until I've dealt with my Quest. If necessary, Wolf Lord's Remains can also get me some extra reputation."

Flipping a coin absently, I add on a bit extra, "We also still don't have enough money if we want it to be more than an empty title, nor does three people alone a proper Guild make, even if it is the minimum."

Henna walks over, her face a little solemn. Taking the hint, I shoo Jade off to one side to let the smith speak her piece. She wrings her hands a few times before speaking, "That's everything, then?"

I smile, "For now. How does it feel?"

She grimaces, "Still ain't real happy about all this, I'll admit. But I'll at least survive another few weeks on this, even if nothing sells. There's that."

"Even if it doesn't work out, and I have faith you'll make at least some headway, I'll still be here lend an ear or a hand," I extend my arm, "Our partnership on this scheme at least, is concluded. I look forward to future collaboration."

Expressionless, she stares at my hand before taking it firmly, nodding appreciatively to Jade, "Yeah. Business concluded, friend."

---

 

Olrica

So, that was the famous Silver Nosster, huh?

Interesting guy.

Strolling along to the meeting point, I run the conversation through a few times in my mind's eye, taking note of his posture, eyes, demeanour and word choices, summarising the salient points. All the little things that paint a bigger picture than words alone.

Experienced. Knowledgeable. Scheming. Slightly sadistic. Confident, but calm.

The only real problems I can see with working with him are how he knew who I am, since Rambling Rose isn't supposed to be known to outsiders, and the strangely hungry vibe I got off him when he was looking at me. Not a hint of regular lust or bloodlust, but still unsettling. I'm not really sure what to make of him, but speaking from experience, he's not the type to shortchange a girl on a job.

And you know, I can work with that.

Whether the rest of the team is willing to work with Silver is an entirely different story altogether. I can already see him butting heads with my stubborn ass of a boss.

Turning abruptly left into an alley, I almost bumped straight into him. Speak of the devil and he shall appear, I guess.

"Yo, Hadrian," I wave half-heartedly.

Hadrian glowers down at me, all pomp and puff, "Report."

"Cost an arm and a leg, but they were selling full sets of Beginner's Bronze," I offer, rummaging through my inventory and handing over the items one by one.

"Excellent," He gives a smug smirk that is totally unflattering, "Give any leftover money to Yulo before you log out. I'll see this gets to Astra when we meet up next."

"Mhm. Gotta message from Silver Nosster for the team," I add, "He knows who we are already, somehow."

Hadrian tenses up, "How?"

I shrug, "Iunno. Never mentioned it, he just...somehow knew."

He grits his teeth, "Sonnova bitch, someone must've yapped somewhere, even if it wasn't you. We're not ready to go public yet."

Wiping his face with a palm, he exhales pure frustration, "What does he want? Blackmail?"

"No," I reject, "A job offer."

Letting his arm fall limply to his side, his eyes bore into me, "What kind?"

"Jailbreak for an NPC as part of some Quest he's on. He was light on details, just said he needed competent Level 7s in the next couple weeks. Payment is two more sets and a bow for Harn."

Lips drawing into a thin line, Hadrian turns around, "I'll talk it over with the others. But we need to prioritise tracking down information on the so-called Magpie Demon. It's got to be related to a Quest Chain, if so many NPCs drone on about it. Hell, this Silver man might even be on the same trail as us."

I mentally shrug, such considerations are for the officers to fret over. My mind is rather more occupied on the other job Silver gave me, and one that I feel is probably best kept to myself.

I doubt Hadrian would appreciate me moonlighting for one of his, quote, 'rivals' in the city. Fucking tryhard.

"Uh huh. I'm gonna go take care of some other business, so have fun monologing your evil master schemes alone in a dank alleyway like a schizophrenic hobo," I take a step back and around the corner, ignoring the indignant insults hurled my way, "Later~."

Walking back toward the market, the place with the highest concentration of players besides maybe the Pioneer's Alliance, I start formulating a plan of how to approach this Irikis job. Immediately, my mood brightens as my thoughts turn to the hunt of new prey. A little disappointing that I'm not to kill the poor sap myself, but remembering that slip in Silver's demeanour gives me the impression that watching it all play out is going to be just as if not more entertaining.

Got to admit, I'm curious about what the famous 'Bronzeguy' can really do. Or if all he's good for is moneymaking. If I take a recording, maybe I can make some extra cash off it on the side selling the footage to that blowhard Hadrian or one of the jackasses Silver's managed to piss off.

Unbidden, I start giggling. This is going to be a lot of fun, I can already tell.