The Systemic Lands

Chapter 54: Day 135 (3) – Viewpoints 4

Ken

I sat with Tyrese inside the new building. We both watched Michael leave. I waved my hand and my assistant left with the accountant when Tyrese shooed him away as well.

“So, that was something, at least he isn’t becoming more unmanageable.”

“I might be more worried about you, cutting taxes?” Tyrese asked.

“We would never do it. It wore him out quick enough. But he isn’t wrong, this place will heat up.” I considered all my options. Handling that insane killer was just one of many difficulties I had to deal with.

“Well, we have already hit carrying capacity. Unless you plan to go out there, he is one less mouth to worry about and he does like to throw crystals around.”

“Then we need to start purging unproductive people.” Tyrese winced at that, but now wasn’t the time to sugarcoat things.

“I have been doing that, but even with the hard workers we have no one wants to go beyond the simple monsters. What a stupid idea to have no taxes on 50-point crystals.”

“What, the chameleons, giant spiders, and super slimes aren’t easy?” I sighed with disgust. The fact that Michael was so easily able to survive proved the goddess herself, Lady Luck was smiling upon him.

“Too well hidden, in large groups, and immune to the skills we have. Even without skills they are a pain to kill. There is some progress, but the equipment loss and attrition make it unattractive.” I already knew all of this, but Tyrese liked to vent, and I didn’t plan to stop him.

“Not the scorpions?”

“They sound even worse. At least the other monsters can be clubbed or stabbed. His stats must be insane to use the skill as much as he did in the fight. With all the crystals he brought back it is probably worse. He has around 400 at least if I had to guess.”

I quickly did the math in my head. “That is 439,000 points. That is… a lot.”

“Well, you are welcome to tax him,” Tyrese suggested.

“And end up like Carlos, no. You don’t poke sleeping bears, lest you get mauled. Getting between a bear and its children, even worse.”

“Hah, I thought this job wouldn’t be that hard once Roger handed everything over to me. He had the right of it. Live a comfortable life as a Captain and let the Boss deal with all the shit.”

“The problem with being in charge, is that you are in charge. Still, he is a good example to showcase and show that it is possible to survive out there, if nothing else,” I said, neither of us believing that Michael was a good example for people to follow. We sat in silence for a while.

“You think he will come back?” I asked Tyrese.

“He will definitely show up and make a mess of things. Just need to aim him away from us while we work on our alternatives. You think other cities have it as hard as we do?”

“Maybe, I still have trouble wrapping my head around this place. Rule by the strongest would be a blood bath. Hard enough to control things right now.” I was silent for a bit before speaking up again. “We are probably looking at warlords. A group of strong people enforcing their rule.”

“I wonder. To get really strong a person has to be away from the city to get crystals. One can’t run the place and get stronger. Well maybe if they were strong and then enslaved everyone. But…well, at least he didn’t do that.”

“I still don’t get why Carlos made the decision he did. Why poke the bear?” I was curious and wondered if Tyrese would let something slip.

“Pressure from the Guild. He thought he could manage the situation. In the end he chose to risk his relationship with Michael rather than the relationship with the Guild. He thought they were stronger overall.” Tyrese shook his head at that.

“I know all of that, but he had to know that guy is crazy. Like serial killer crazy,” I said.

“That…he didn’t realize the risk. None of us did. All those people against one person and they still lost. It is like a man with a gun, and we just have sticks. Even against other skill users he would have just cut them down.”

“You sound sure of that.”

“The upgrades have a real impact. We also know he invests in all the upgrades, not just Body. Who knows what the rest do?”

“No progress?”

“With what crystals? Just rebuilding from what happened has been expensive. Paying people is expensive. Everything is expensive. Now there are more expenses. You have to be struggling as well?”

“Bread is a super luxury along with butter. At least food doesn’t go bad. Anywhere else I would be labeled a pioneer in food for learning how it works here. Now, I am just a baker.” It was a sore point. The sheer level of genius needed to make fluffy bread in this place was Noble prize winning.

“Well, you are a member of the Triumvirate. Where do you think he comes up with these names?”

“He is well read at the very least. He is smart in a way I don’t get. Gamer knowledge maybe, or just an innate understanding?”

“Or that Ruth pulling him back. I had hoped she would be a moderating influence on him, it might be working.” I heard a slight inflection in his voice. How interesting.

“I thought it did,” I replied, careful not to reveal what I had just picked up on. Tyrese, you are a century too young to even start thinking about scheming.

“He does things at his own pace. He won’t be led around by gambling, women, power, or anything else. Can’t believe anyone can be that driven, but there are all types of people in the world.”

“You are telling me we have an upright serial killer?”

“Something like that. God, I wish there was something to smoke,” Tyrese complained.

“Restoration didn’t work?”

“It helps, but the craving is deeper than the flesh. If beer wasn’t so expensive… any luck, there?”

“That is a whole other headache. So many beer crafters, no metal crafters. Getting the right equipment is a pain if the store doesn’t have it.” Alcohol was an ongoing project that was a struggle. It was where I was sinking all my profits into. I needed the tools to make the tools to make the equipment. “That reminds me, the expense for today’s meal.”

“How much?”

“Six hundred.” Tyrese turned to look at me and just stared. “It costs quite a bit to get everything set up, I have to make money.”

“A hundred a person?”

“Yes.”

“File it with Ben. We can put it as a general expense, not counting towards anyone.” There was another long stretch of silence as we sat there thinking about how things were only going to get worse. It was depressing that Michael killing people and causing a general panic was able to put off the problem for a while. It almost made me thankful for him, almost.

Just needed him to go through and clean house every couple of weeks. The constant influx of people was a massive strain that had no easy solution. Well, I always wanted to be President, or the Elected Representative, this was my dream come true. It sucked a lot more than I thought it would unfortunately.

Sam

“Hey Laura.” I came back from the wolf forest and greeted the Union Coordinator.

“Sam, good to see you. How were things?”

“Fairly good, got 220 crystals today.” I pulled out half and put them in the chest. “Anything new today?”

“He showed up.”

“Who?” I asked, trying to think of who it could be.

“The Champion Michael.” My heart skipped a beat at that.

“In the city, or here?” I asked.

“Both. He listened to my complaint about the skill auction, but then left right away. New community building as well. A meeting hall. Going to be the seat of the government.”

“Ken, that guy is trouble,” I muttered. It was a struggle just to get by and improve and the guy was a parasite.

“There was something else he mentioned. That the minimum take we should be getting was 400 crystals per person. Suggesting people spend the night out there, I don’t see any other way.”

My heart chilled. “You mean a cart and staying at the edge of the area?” I asked.

“Yes. A long-term expedition. You are the best we have here. If you don’t step up…I don’t know.” Laura let out a sigh.

“No help from our Champion?”

“Told us not to die.” I snorted at that. “You and two others. We set up a hunting camp out in the grasslands. Full on farm for ten days.”

“We have the crystal reserves for that?” I asked.

“It will be tight and a huge investment. A huge investment. As big as this building. But the returns, well it should take off a lot of the pressure.”

“I need to think on it,” I said.

“You have until tomorrow. After that I am asking someone else.”

“Got it, got it.” I stepped out of the Union and made my way into the plaza, basking in the sun. I looked over at the new building to the North where a crowd had gathered.

I stood a distance away and just watched. Suddenly the crowd parted. Like the image of death itself. The victor of both battles that had occurred here in the plaza. I still remembered the screams from the second battle as the people melted and shuddered at the memory. I could almost see the blood and acid pools in my mind. With the place magically repairing itself, it was all washed away except my memories.

I noticed a woman next to him. It took a moment to recognize her due to her short hair. They were headed in my direction. No one else was near me, why were they headed this way?

He paused directly in front of me as my brain kept drawing a blank. “Not going around?” Ruth asked.

“Well, he looks like he wants to say something to me. Or shit his pants. It is hard to tell honestly.”

“I… I… I didn’t do anything!” I shouted. There was utter silence at that.

“Okay? You are standing in my path for a reason. You challenging me?” No. No! NO!

“NO! I mean, no Champion. Um, I was just standing here watching.”

“Tell me, any troubles here in Purgatory? Everything running smoothly?” My brain was going a mile a minute. Why was he asking me this?

“Yes, I mean everything is alright. A bit hard to earn crystals. The tax is rough.”

“Would you be willing to risk your life for a chance?”

“What are you doing?” the woman asked him.

“He looks reasonably strong. Strong enough not to die instantly and pull a cart.” Why did everyone want to put me on a cart. I could almost cry from the absurdity of it all.

“I…I am already working for Laura and the Union,” I finally said.

“A shame. This was a once in a lifetime opportunity. Well, you might get another or just drop dead, life is fickle like that.” He then walked around me with the woman following him. My heart finally felt like it would calm down now that he had left.

I turned and watched the two walk away. What just happened? They paused at the building next to the Union. Oh, that was his building. No wonder he ran into me. I was such an idiot, being afraid and confused over nothing.

I looked down at my worn clothing, and barely holding together sword. I couldn’t just keep coasting along. My dad always said, the only constant was change. I turned and made my way back to Laura thinking over who I would want to join me for the expedition.

Ben

I looked over the accounting book again as I did the count for the taxes this evening. I had to do it all, count, keep track, and disburse. Thankfully, I had packs prepared with the necessary expenses each day ready to be paid out. I just counted out the total and then one of the captains distributed the pay.

I had suggested moving away from daily pay, but Tyrese refused that suggestion. Too big a risk the guards would get ideas to earn outside their pay. Wanting to lower taxes, insanity. If anything, they were already good where they were.

Anymore and people would revolt, any less and our current operations couldn’t be maintained. The simple fact was that crystals were a currency we didn’t have any real control over. I also noted that Ruth hadn’t paid her taxes. I pointed this out to Tyrese, but he had told me to drop it.

I had been tempted to speak up, but after what happened to Carlos…no, I wouldn’t put my neck out there. Michael was crazy, melting people like that and grinning at their screams. I remember hiding and then it was over. Roger stepped down and Tyrese took control.

The only good thing was that I was the only one who knew how to keep things running. Tyrese might be in charge, but I kept the lights on. I looked at the small pouch with 60 crystals. I was slowly going to build up my strength, far more quickly and secretly than these other idiots.

If power came from skills or at the end of a sword, then I would not leave myself as helpless as I felt during the Second Battle of Blood. The screams, there were so many screams.

This place wasn’t purgatory, but hell itself made manifest where the basest of human desires ran rampant. I pulled out my cross and held it up to my lips. It had been a more common action as I prayed for strength. I was like Job, being challenged by hardships.

I needed to keep the faith and not give in to hatred or temptation. The fact that I had to do the accounting for the brothel and the casino made me see how sinful this place truly was. God helps those who help themselves and I would no longer cower in fear. I would build up my strength for the days to come.

I finished my counts and marking up the accounting book. At least I could see the pillars with no tax when I went to inspect new options. Secretly cashing in my points and purchasing upgrades. I just had to bide my time for the right moment, if I could get the entire reserve all at once, then I could just avoid a difficult fight and I would triumph over the rest of these idiots.

Faith would see me through this trial and faith would make me strong. I put everything away and locked the room. The challenging part would be moving the chests when the time came, but I was sure I could figure something out.