The Systemic Lands

Chapter 30: Day 50 – Challenge

I had really pushed myself the last two days, managing to get 355 and 380 crystals respectively. I really pushed into the wolves as fast as I could. If I had someone picking up crystals, I might not be able to double my speed, but hitting 500 wouldn’t be out of the question.

I made my way back to the plaza and saw Evaline waiting for me. She quickly spotted to me and came over. “Good morning, Michael.”

“Evaline, how are you today?” I asked.

“Doing alright. Heard you became a big spender for a bit.”

“For a bit, but that way lies trouble. It was a fun break that I needed. But there is the grind. Always more grind,” I muttered. It was mentally exhausting to do the same thing day after day and not make a mistake.

“That’s what you call racking up the crystals?” she asked.

“Gaming term for killing monsters over and over. Now what is going on?”

“Well, the inn has opened. Costs 30 crystals a night, but you get dinner, wiped down with a wet cloth, a clean bed, and a door with a guard. Basically, it is the high-class brothel at the moment. Oh, a hair cutting salon also opened that isn’t owned by the Red Dawn.”

“Carlos muscle in?” I asked.

“They pay a fifty percent tax like the brothel does in exchange for protection. Right now, it is 10 crystals for a full cut.”

“How good is the hairdresser?” I asked.

“Alright, they use two copper knives, so it is a bit rough and scary, but no one has bled yet. If that happens, they offer a refund and 10 crystals as an apology. But you can’t move around. Have a guard to watch things and confirm.” I nodded at that.

“People are also worried about the blue slime area with the new arrivals. Carlos has made clear that any murderers found will be executed and that people can try the brown slimes. A group also went into the dungeon, they didn’t come out.” Well, that was what happened to brave people, they died. It was unfortunate. I guess I would get to be the only front liner still.

“Anyone I know?”

“Probably not. They told everyone they were going to surpass you, and then died. That was when the guards started talking about how you went in there and returned. So, there is a lot more respect and fear of you now.” I nodded at that. So, Carlos’ men didn’t spread it around that I had entered a dungeon, interesting. I hadn’t meant to keep it a secret, but it rose my opinion of Tyrese’s crew by quite a bit.

“What else?”

“Isn’t that enough? Really there isn’t anything else. Just some small-scale drama between groups but nothing serious.” I frowned at this. I knew people were plotting, but she had nothing. People were always plotting. It was concerning she had nothing. That dungeon dive was also fairly sudden for groups that were supposedly lagging behind.

“What is Carlos’ income, best guess?” Evaline gave me a small smile.

“Wondering when you would ask that. Right now, he takes in about 1,000 crystals a day. He is spending about 300 crystals a day on wages, and another 600 on expenses. The last 100 he is using up himself every day.”

“That…that isn’t that much. I mean it. I was expecting that number to be around 4,000.”

“You…you shouldn’t base your expectations on what you can do.”

“If I did that, I would estimate 40,000.” I could only shake my head. That just gave me confirmation that running this place was its own kind of grind. I wouldn’t want to have to put my fate in other people’s hands to get things done.

“There are only so many blue slimes. The boundaries are fairly well known, and people don’t want to risk them.”

“Anything from the deadlands?” I asked.

“People are staying away from there. But there have been deaths from wolves and brown slimes at the border of the blue slime forest.”

“Anyone catch a slime spawning?” I asked.

“No one wants to stay out there in the forest at night and they don’t come back during the day, so no. Anything else?” She really was impatient today. She should be giving me information, not be having to pull it out of her.

“No that’s it, here.” I paid her 20 crystals. She really was a good investment in one regard at least. Learning all this myself would have been such a hassle. I went up to the guards at the pillars and there was a nervous looking man besides the Captain there.

“This him?” I asked.

“Yes, found him myself. You are going to do a good job, right Alex?”

“Uh, yes.”

“Hmm, I hope so for everyone’s sake.” I pulled out 50 crystals. “20 for her tax, 20 for your effort, and 10 as a tip for your men working so hard.”

“Thank you Sicario.”

“You will need food for five days and a reinforced pack,” I said to Alex.

“Um, well you see…um, I don’t have any points.” I looked at the captain and he rubbed the back of his head in embarrassment.

“The cost is coming out of your share and you can keep it afterwards. That is a hundred and forty points for the pack and food. I will consider food part of your pay. So, a full day of work to pay off the 100 points. If you can’t work and don’t repay me, I will give 100 crystals to the person who brings me your head. Understand?” He paled at that and nodded. “You need to say you agree, you can walk away now if you want, no consequences, but if I spend points on you, you better work.”

He looked at the captain who glared at him, then at me. “I accept.”

“Alright then.” I walked over to the pillars and cashed in 685 crystals for 3,425 points. I spent 96 on a restoration, 40 for food and water for myself, 100 for a reinforced pack, and 40 for food for my helper. That left me with 7,951 points.

“You aren’t staying for the arrival?” The Captain asked as I put everything away. I paused to consider it. I wasn’t that interested.

“Carlos is expecting me?” I asked.

“He has mentioned it. There is a meeting this morning.”

“Alright, I will be at the meeting. I will also be back here five days from now. To either pay you or have a conversation.” The captain nodded a bit nervously at that.

“Come.” Alex quickly followed after me. “We will be around here until after the arrival, then leaving for a while. You are staying with me the entire time unless I say otherwise. Questions?”

“Um, what am I doing?”

“The captain didn’t tell you.” Alex shook his head. “Use words, I won’t always be able to watch you.”

“Um, no.”

“You are going to follow me and pick up crystals. If you fall behind, you will be eaten alive. So, you better keep up. Understood? I am not looking at you, speak up.”

“Can I do something else, please?” I turned to look at him.

“You already agreed, and I purchased stuff. Unless you can pay me back right now. You have the 28 crystals?”

“No,” he said weakly.

“Then you work or die. You in debt?” I asked.

“Ran up a bit of a tab at the casino. Captain gave me a small loan, now I have to pay him back.”

“How much?” I asked.

“If I last all 5 days, my debt is forgiven, otherwise it is 40 crystals.” Well at least the Captain hadn’t been too scummy, since he was getting a bonus if this guy lasted. If he tried to scam this fellow out of crystals in addition to taking them from me, I wouldn’t be too pleased about that.

“Sounds like you dug your own hole. Now it is do or die. Good news is, either way you won’t have to worry about your debt.”

I stopped outside of Carlos’ headquarters. The guard sitting by the door quickly stood up. “Sicario, welcome. Carlos is asleep at the moment.”

“That is fine. Can I wait inside at the table quietly?” I asked. He thought about it for a moment and then nodded. “Just at the table, otherwise I will get in trouble. Um, your companion…”

“Alex here will keep you company outside. You don’t have to give up your chair, but don’t let people bully him either. He is working for me at the moment.”

“Of course, Sicario.” I turned to Alex.

“This will be a bit, wait here until I come out. After that I am going to the salon, and we are sticking around the plaza until the arrival. Then we are leaving. I suggest you try and rest now while you have the chance.” He mumbled something but I didn’t care what he said and entered the building. I took a seat where I had sat last meeting.

The old woman from last time walked in. “Sorry, I didn’t notice you.” She quickly bowed.

“Just waiting for the meeting to start. Feel free to do your duties.”

“Do you want any water or food?” she asked.

“Both if you, have it.” I pulled out 10 crystals. “For your troubles.”

“Thank you Sicario.” She quickly pocketed them and rushed off. Soon there was a copper cup with water and a small platter of sliced fruit and vegetables. I ate and drank quietly as I waited. Dawn soon came and guards moved about, but I didn’t say anything.

The captains then started arriving. I gave a nod and a smile to Tyrese who returned the gesture. One of the captains, the one who had spoken against me before I think, decided to speak up.

“I was wondering if you would be up for a spar Sicario. To first blood.” Several the other captains were looking directly at me. They probably all were, but some were better at hiding their interest than others. A pack of wolves.

“Alright, you want a spectacle with betting, or you want to do it right now?” He appeared to be flustered as everyone’s attention went quickly over to him.

“Later, with the winner getting half the proceeds, the Red Dawn getting the other half.” I had no issue with this.

“Let’s confirm with Carlos on the best time to have the match and choose a referee, unless you have any objections?” I asked. He couldn’t object to his boss deciding things which was a point in my favor in this dick measuring contest. More stupid drama, I was liking this place less and less.

“Boss Carlos will decide.” I noted how he emphasized the boss part. If Carlos wanted me to use his fancy title, he would have told me. The fact that I used his name showed our closeness, which is probably what he wanted. The moment I started calling him boss, was the moment he started worrying. Or at least that was what I would do in his shoes.

Carlos came down shortly after and we all stood up. “Good to see you all here today. Michael, you made it.”

“Of course, Carlos. I figured this was a good time to catch up.”

“Hah, always so busy. We miss you in the casino. You need to work on your gambling skills.”

“I am afraid that I am not that good at lying. I prefer to cut to the heart of the matter.”

“Heart of the matter, I like that phrase. Sit, sit. Now tell me, what is out there in this new world of ours?” He asked.

“The grassland contains tiny wolves. They are fast and deadly especially in the tall grass. In numbers it would be quite troublesome to fight them. Possibly a large, organized team could get through.”

“I have also discovered another dungeon in the grasslands. I didn’t get close, but it appeared to be ruins or large stones from a distance. My hope is to push either that dungeon or the slime dungeon once I have enough upgrades. Probably around twenty days from now.”

“That long? You must have a lot of upgrades already,” Carlos said.

“Yes, but I am by myself. That increases the pressure on me by quite a bit. I also have to be careful, or I will die. Unless you have found some volunteers to go exploring?” I asked.

“No, no volunteers. Is there anything else?”

“I was challenged by one of your captains. I was hoping you could set the time and location, preferably today. Also, half the betting would go to the winner, the other half to Red Dawn.” I gestured at the Captain in question.

“Ah, it was you, Hamid. You really want to fight him?”

“Yes, we agreed to first blood.”

“Very well. We can set it up for after the arrival.” Carlos then looked at me. “I think 20 to 1 odds for the challenger and 1 to 5 odds for the challenged sound about right.” His face had the look of don’t mess this up.

He was clearly saying the odds were in my favor, someone would have to bet 20 crystals on me to win 1, they could bet 1 on Hamid and win 5. Still, I didn’t want to be on the mega-hook if I somehow lost. Time to hedge expectations.

“I will cover up to 1,000 crystals if I lose, no more.” There were a couple of gasps at that. It was a lot of crystals.

“Good, then there is no problem with those odds. Hamid if you win, that is fine as well. I know many of you would think I would rig this, but I don’t believe there is a need to rig things. If you win, you will also be promoted to Underboss.” There were a couple of gasps at that and glares at Hamid for grabbing the opportunity first. Someone was making a move and using me as a steppingstone, I really didn’t like this.