League Principality, City of Hollowfall, Inside an Inn
1st Year of God, Wednesday, 4th Week, 2nd Month Of Noah.
Criiii—!
The creaking of the wooden floorboards woke Riley up, as someone's heavy footsteps could be heard moving up the staircase. He instinctively dug under the wyvern feather pillow and pulled out his silenced Glock. Flattening himself against the wall beside the door, he waited, every muscle tensed.
A knock on the door soon followed.
"It's me."
Riley quietly lifted the wooden latch, and the door swung open, revealing Mason, who slipped inside and quickly shut the door behind him.
"Whew, it's scorching out there," Mason muttered as he removed his leather armor and sword belt, placing them on the room's small table before pouring himself a drink.
"What did you find?" Riley asked, glancing out the window as he returned his pistol to the safe. The sky outside was a mesmerizing blend of purple and red as evening began to settle over the city.
"The streets out there stinks, and I mean that literally," Mason replied, downing the cup of water in one gulp. "I bribed some city rats and cutthroats, but they tried to ambush me on my way back."
"You dealt with them?" Riley asked, sitting down on his bed.
"Yup. But damn, these guys have the strength of bodybuilders despite their fragile appearance. Fucking magical superhumans. I would've been overwhelmed if not for my military training kicking in. But we lost some contacts because of it," Mason sighed, fanning himself with his large-brimmed hat. "On the bright side, I picked up some chatter at the local Adventurers Guild. Seems the Kingdom of High Tarxan is offering a reward for retrieving Queen Melian's corpse somewhere near where our nation is based."
"That could be a problem," Riley murmured as he got up, picking up his outer garments and began dressing quickly, transforming from a disheveled sleeper to a well-to-do merchant. "But no matter, they'll be blown to oblivion if they even try to get close to our Motherland. Anything else?"
"Yeah, there are more jobs for gathering medical herbs than usual," Mason recalled. "Also, there are a few contracts for mercenary work, up to three months."
"What's the job scope?" Riley asked, now fully dressed.
"Mostly convoy escorting work, but the job's out at the city named Woschester," Mason said, adjusting his seat. "I checked with the girl at the counter and she said it'll take roughly three five-days on foot or two by land dragon."
"And the pay?"
"A deposit of 10 silvers, and a gold coin upon arrival in Woschester," Mason explained. "The girl didn't know what the cargo is, but she suspects it's military supplies. Apparently, the nation's military is building some kind of outpost south of here, saying there is a sign of Orcs roaming in that area."
Riley nodded thoughtfully. "Got it. Get some food and rest. Polites and I are heading down to the Gentlemen's Club to gather more information."
"Got it, Boss!" Mason grinned as he leaned back in his chair and stretched. "Watch your back, streets aren't so safe, especially at night! Man, you get to have all the fun!"
"Rank has its privileges!" Riley gave a wink and left the room, making sure Mason latched and locked the door before heading downstairs.
He was dressed in a finely tailored gray coat over a high-collared white spider silk shirt that was all the rage in this world's fashion with a pair of black breeches and knee-length boots. In his left hand, he held a sword cane topped with a piece of blue mana stone, and his Glock rested snugly in a concealed shoulder holster while he held a top hat in his right hand.
He gave a polite bow to the Inn motherly matron, who smiled back at him, and he left the inn, stepping out to the stone-paved streets of Hollowfall, where he was greeted by Polites, who stood with his arms folded near the door.
"Are you sure your old friend is in there?" Riley asked.
Polites nodded confidently. "Absolutely."
With that, the duo set off down the dimly lit streets as their footsteps echoing softly in the night.
The street lamps, fueled by glow moss, cast a dim but sufficient light across the cobblestone streets, enough to navigate by foot during the night. However, as Mason had earlier complained, the smell of the streets was pretty bad that prompted Riley and Polites to call for a carriage instead. Polites whistled sharply at a coach parked along the roadside, and the driver quickly brought it over to them.
They climbed into the enclosed coach, and the driver shut the door behind them.
"To the Clubs and Royals," Polites instructed. The driver nodded, took his seat, and snapped the reins of the Land Dragon, which looked like a Velociraptor, harnessed to the coach.
The Land Dragon snorted in irritation before pushing off the pavement with its powerful hind legs, pulling the coach forward with a slight jolt.
Riley leaned closer to Polites, keeping his voice low. "So, you've made contact with someone there?"
"Yeah," Polites replied. "Don't worry, he's more of a close friend to me."
Riley nodded but remained wary. "I hope you're right."
As the coach rattled along the uneven streets, Riley's thoughts drifted to his home city, a place of cleanliness, smooth roads, and bright lights. The contrast was stark as he glanced out of the small window, taking in the grimy, dimly lit surroundings of the unfamiliar city.
After a bumpy ride, the coach came to a halt in front of a large row of imposing stone and brick buildings. Polites handed payment to the driver while Riley stepped carefully over a pile of dragon poo, grimacing at the pervasive smell. Together, they made their way toward a three-story brick building surrounded by an ornate wrought-iron gate. Two footmen in green uniforms stood at attention by the entrance, giving the pair a scrutinizing glance before bowing and opening the gate.
Polites, with his usual nonchalance, sauntered up the walkway leading to the building. A bronze plaque on one of the pillars by the door read, "Clubs and Royals Gentlemen's Club."
As they approached, a doorman greeted them with a polite nod and held the door open, welcoming them into the warmth of the club's interior. The soft glow of candlelight bathed the richly adorned hallway, where the scent of polished wood and tobacco replaced the foul odor of the streets.
A servant approached and offered to take Riley's coat, but he declined, preferring to keep it on. The servant then guided them toward the main hall.
The hallway they passed through was richly decorated with paintings of battles and adorned with the trophies of slain monsters, a testament to the club's distinguished members. Riley barely spared them a glance, his focus already on the task ahead as they entered the large, opulently furnished hall.
Inside the hall, dozens of reclining chairs were arranged in clusters of two or four, each accompanied by a small round table. The air was thick with smoke from various pipes, and the scent of rich liquor filled the room. Polites scanned the crowd, his eyes locking on a particular group engrossed in conversation. Among them was a fat man in the group, who's attention was divided between the conversation and the grilled wyvern leg he was gorging away.
"I'll do the talking here," Polites whispered to Riley, who nodded his head. Turning back to the fat man in the distance, Polites approached him.
"Hello my friend," Polites strolled straight to the fatty, who paused at eating the leg, and his greasy mouth broke into a wide smile as he recognized who it was.
"Polites Lodess!" the man exclaimed, pausing mid-bite. His greasy lips curled into a wide smile as he set down the wyvern leg and hastily wiped his hands on a napkin. "As I live and breathe! How are you, and what brings you here?"
"Arther Etororio," Polites greeted, grinning as he gave the big man a hug. "I am fine, my friend. It has been years since we last met. How have you been?"
"Oh, it's only been one year, two months, and... four days since we last met each other," Arther replied, his grin widening. "I'm doing quite well, as you can see!" He gestured to his sizable belly and let out a hearty laugh.
As usual, Polites was amazed by the mind of his fat friend, who seemed to have a memory unmatched by any other.
"Yes, and you've grown even more since the last time," Polites teased, eyeing Arther's round, cheerful face, double chin, and bald head. The man's tailored shirt was so large it could probably serve as a tent for two to sleep in.
"And who's this?" Arther asked, turning his attention to Riley.
"This is Simon Riley, a friend of mine," Polites introduced.
"Nice to meet you, dear sir," Arther said, extending his hand. Riley shook it firmly.
"Likewise," Riley replied. "So, how do you know about Polites?"
Arther laughed, slapping Polites on the back. "We went way back, worked together in the army before it disbanded."
"And these," Arther continued, gesturing to the others at the table, "are my partners in crime. The skinny one is Lyo Yonder, next to him is Qoum Bishop, and that is Cesta Blackwind."
"The four of us run the North Star Trading Company," Arther said proudly. "A simple, modest trading business." He paused, looking curiously at Polites. "But wait, how did you find me?"
"Well, I was just in town, and was looking around, and found out about you from the merchant district," Polites explained, he didn't really expect to find someone he knew before, and Arther used to be his unit's quartermaster. "I found out that you like to hang out here, so here I am."
Arther gestured for Polites and Riley to sit down, and servants quickly brought over additional chairs.
"Drink? Food?" Arther offered.
"I'll take a mulled wine," Riley said to a nearby servant, who nodded and went to fulfill the order.
"So, how's business?" Polites asked as they settled in.
"Not bad, not bad," Arther replied. "What about you? What are you up to these days?"
"Oh, just working as an adventurer and problem solver," Polites answered casually. "Got any jobs for me?"
"Hmmm," Arther exchanged a glance with his partners, who remained impassive. "Maybe," he said thoughtfully, "But let's not talk about work here! Come, drink up!" He raised his glass of wine, and the servant returned with the mulled wine for Riley and Polites.
The night was filled with laughter and old war stories as Arther and Polites reminisced about their past, recalling funny moments from their time working together. Riley, content to let the two friends catch up, quietly sipped his drink, not minding or even bothering on talking with the other three people beside him or offering only the occasional nod or smile.
As the evening wound down, Arther gave Polites his address and insisted they meet again soon. "Come and find me at my company next time," he said with a wink. Polites assured him he would, and the two friends parted ways.
Back at the inn, Mason greeted his captain at the door. "How was it?" he asked, stepping aside to let Riley in.
"We are meeting him tomorrow with the elf to talk business at his office," Riley replied as he stripped off his coat and boots. "Damn, I am tired."
"I will take the first watch," Mason offered. Riley nodded, already half-asleep as he collapsed onto his bed.
The next morning, after a simple breakfast of bread, soup, and sausages in the inn's dining room, the group split up. Mason headed for the Adventurers Guild to gather more information, while Riley and Polities made their way to Arther's address in the bustling merchant district.
They soon arrived at a large store with an equally large warehouse behind it. The storefront was busy with activity, and the two men entered, making their way to the clerk inside.
"Hi, we're here to meet with Mr. Etororio. I have an appointment with him this morning," Polites said in a casual tone.
The clerk hesitated. "Please wait a moment... Sir?" he asked, clearly unsure.
"Polites," came the reply, as he casually began to take a look around the goods offered by the store, while the clerk headed upstairs to inform someone.
The store was well-stocked with many different items, offering everything ranging from household items like cutlery and plates to traveling supplies such as crystal lamps and camping gear. There was even a section dedicated to buying mana stones and monster materials.
A few minutes later, the clerk returned to Polites' side. "Sir Polites?" he said in a more formal tone now. "The Master will see you."
"Master?" Riley raised an eyebrow, but Polites only smiled and followed the clerk upstairs and were led into a large, well-appointed office where Arther sat behind a sturdy desk that looked built to support his considerable weight. The room was tastefully decorated with paintings of sailing ships and fierce monsters, while a plush sofa and tea table occupied one corner.
"Good morning!" Arther cheerfully greeted them warmly as the clerk bowed respectfully and quietly exited the room, closing the door behind him. "Please, have a seat." He waved them to the sofa, where Polites settled comfortably. "Tea?"
"Thank you," Polites replied, accepting a cup of tea. Riley politely declined, choosing instead to stand beside the sofa.
Arther took a sip of his own tea before cutting straight to the heart of the matter. "So, what's your true purpose here? You didn't just coincidentally appear here, did you?"
Polites gave a small shrug, smiling wryly. "Honestly, I didn't expect to find you here, but since I did, I could use your help with something."
Arther leaned back in his chair, curiosity piqued. "If it's within my means, I'll help. What do you need?"
Polites took a thoughtful sip of tea before answering. "You know you've been traveling to a lot of places to trade, right? We need you to take us somewhere."
"Oh? And where might that be?" Arther asked, his interest growing.
Before Polites could respond, Riley stepped forward and spoke in a direct and serious tone.
"We want you to take us to the Free Trade City of Aquarius."
Arther's jovial expression dimmed slightly, and he placed his cup down carefully. "Aquarius, huh? That's no small request. What business do you have there?"
Riley exchanged a glance with Polites before answering. "We're looking for information that's crucial to our mission. Aquarius is the best place to find it, and we need someone with your connections to get us in and out without attracting too much attention."
Arther considered this for a moment, his fingers drumming on the armrest of his chair. "Aquarius is a hub of all sorts of activity, some of it less savory than others. It won't be easy, and it won't be cheap."
"We're prepared for that," Polites replied calmly. "Name your price."
Arther leaned forward, his eyes narrowing shrewdly. "I'll take you there, but in return, you'll owe me a favor, one that I can call in whenever I see fit."
Polites and Riley exchanged looks again, this time with a silent agreement. Polites turned back to Arther and nodded.
"Deal."
Arther's smile returned, wider than before. "Excellent. We leave in two days. Be ready."