The Systemic Lands

Chapter 60: Day 150 (4) – Bravery

The rest of the questions were fairly pointless as people were tired after everything that had happened. I noticed they were forming small groups talking to each other. I kept an eye and ear out in case anyone made an attempt on my life. That was when someone asked me a question.

“I know it isn’t allowed, but I would respectfully ask a question of the Champion.” The man couldn’t be any older than 18. His face barely had any hair on it. So possibly new arrival or young enough not to grow any hair. I was leaning towards option one with how much muscle he had.

“Since you asked respectfully, I will allow just you.” I was bored and was curious what made this kid brave enough to dare ask me any kind of question. Still, I didn’t want people bothering me too much.

“Champion Michael, will you take me on as an apprentice?” He then bowed towards where I was seated. Everyone got silent and looked at me and how I would respond. It was amazing how so many people could get quiet so suddenly.

“You will probably die in pain and screaming. It would be hard and difficult. I won’t go out of my way to save your life over mine. I have had three people follow me out into the wilderness, two gave up after a while, the third is hanging on through sheer willpower and determination.” I could give Ruth credit. Those meerkats were really annoying and a bit dangerous.

“I won’t accept any back talk or disrespect. I won’t be cruel or unkind, but you will not receive any handouts.” The kid kept up his bow.

“Champion Michael, I am not smart. All I have are my two hands. I was a linebacker in football, so I can probably hold a shield and am willing to learn. But I don’t want to starve to death or die in a building here. I need to get home to my family.”

“None of us are getting home in my opinion. But I am a pessimist, so feel free to ignore that depressing opinion of mine. Very well, I accept you and only you. Since you were brave enough to speak up in front of all these people.” I also needed someone to pull the cart. Congratulations Ruth, you just got off cart duty.

“Come here and we will discuss things while they finish up with their questions.” The kid came over and I pushed out the chair next to me at the table out with a foot and gestured for the kid to sit. Brown hair, and he was in good shape.

“So, when did you arrive?” I asked.

“Today.” I almost burst into laughter at that. “I saw other people coming back inside, so I joined them to see what was going on.” The sheer guts this kid had reminded me of me.

“Daring of you. Your name?”

“Tom Horn.”

“Alright, Tom. You spend your points yet?”

“No.” I noted a guard had already cleared off the crystals I had set on the table. Tyrese was efficient, I had to give him that. I had 885 5-point crystals left.

“A guard Captain earns 20 crystals a day. I figure that with the risk but also your lack of experience, that is a fair wage, any issues with that?”

“No sir.” I didn’t feel like a sir, but I wasn’t about to object to the respect he was giving me.

“You will be given an advance of 500 crystals for 25 days’ worth of work. The only way you get out of it is if you die or repay me. I can tell you the first outcome is far more likely.” I could see the fear on his face with how he winced, but he just nodded.

“That is 2,500 points and you have 100 points already. You need five reinforced packs for 500 points, 5 copper flasks for 500 points. You then need to spend 500 points to stuff the packs with fruits, vegetables, and the flasks with water. Spend 500 points on a copper sword. 200 points on a circular wood shield. I would suggest buying two basic wood clubs for 20 points as well.”

“The remaining 780 points are yours to spend on what you want. I leave that up to you. I recommend getting a restoration first at the store, before buying anything to fix any hidden issues you might have.”

“I thought you wouldn’t be giving me anything?”

“You need to eat and be able to defend yourself. Your hands won’t do against monsters. I doubt you will be fighting, but if it happens, better you have some chance than none at all.”

“Thank you, sir.”

“Remember that you said that. I doubt you will be thanking me later. I will go with you to purchase items, so you aren’t taxed or robbed.” The questions were coming to an end and Tyrese went back up. People quieted down before he spoke.

I noticed Laura enter and make her way towards the front. I wonder what she had been doing that was more important than this event? Something to keep in mind.

“We will now move onto the auction portion of today. This auction is for the dungeon clear, tonight. You will get a skill. You will be escorted by a team from the Red Dawn to ensure you get a skill. The starting bid is 2,500 5-point crystals and a minimum increment of 50 for all bids. If you wish to bid, stand up and clearly state your bid.”

“There will be no hand waving or anything like that to prevent confusion. If someone is already speaking let them finish their bid before you speak. There will be no threatening of any kind. If a threat is observed the person making the threat will be permanently expelled from all future events.”

“Now we will open the bidding at 2,500 5-point crystals.”

“2,500,” Laura bid right away, clearly and loudly.

“2,550,” a middle aged man with a small group near him bid.

The bidding continued after that between those two groups.

“2,900,” Laura bid, and I saw her wince.

“3,000,” the man bid again and turned to smirk at her. Tyrese looked at her, but she didn’t speak.

“There is a bid of 3,000 for skill from the slime dungeon. Going once.” He let the silence hang for a bit. “Going twice.”

“350, 50-point crystals,” I looked up in surprise at Ruth.

“That is the equivalent of a 3,500 5-point crystal bid,” Tyrese said. That is why everyone should just use points in my opinion. There was a strong silence throughout the room. “Going once, going twice, sold. To the Lady Ruth for 350 50-point crystals. Please present payment immediately.”

She walked up and set down a pack on the podium. Tyrese looked inside and nodded. He glanced at me and didn’t bother to do a full count. “The auction is now closed, and we will move to voting for the Elected Representative. There will be two chests, please deposit your crystals into the chest of the person you are voting for.”

“Follow,” I said and got up. I went over to Tyrese and Ruth at the podium as the election chests were set up.

“That made a splash,” I told Ruth.

“Just glad the price wasn’t run up more.” She looked at Tom but didn’t say anything. “Could use you instead of Red Dawn for the dungeon, no offense.”

“None taken, but no discount. We should clear the dungeon tonight.”

“It has reset already?” She didn’t know. How interesting. The mental note described it as a 10-day cooldown, but it was not a hard timer. Rather it was tied to the arrival. Amazing what you can learn from just listening to people talk around you.

“Yes, I want to move things along as well. I don’t want to stay in the city. Unless you have a reason to?”

“No, I am good to leave. Thought you were looking forward to your bed.”

“Hmmm, I was, but I think leaving is a better choice.”

“Thanks for agreeing to help me,” Ruth said. I then looked over and nodded at Tyrese.

“Good luck, hopefully people get off their asses,” I said much more loudly.

“Thanks, I can only hope. Well time for the election, you voting?”

“No, because as the Champion and a member of the Triumvirate, I think it would be appropriate. As long as it is conducted fairly and orderly, that is the important thing.” I could also block stupid people from wrecking things if they were elected, since all major decisions required all three of us to agree.

“Any idea on when you are returning?”

“Hopefully a long time from now. But it is a matter of how impossible the monsters are where I explore. The East is impassable for now, so will try some other directions.”

“Well good luck, anything you find will be a big help.” He held out his hand and I shook it. Once that was done, I turned and walked out of the Meeting Chamber. All of that took way too long. A good reminder why I hated being stuck in Purgatory.

“Who is he?” Ruth asked.

“A brave soul who volunteered to be the new cart puller. So, you are off cart pulling duty. Didn’t you see him speak.”

“No, just got there in time for the auction. New arrival?” At least she didn’t lie about when she arrived. I considered asking her, but that would show a lack of trust. A trust she had earned.

“Yes, name’s Tom. Going to drag the cart out and get his supplies purchased and loaded up. Then we can go after the dungeon. Bold move at the auction.”

“Yes, yes it was. Thank you for letting me reach this point.”

“Hmmm, well you certainly made a strong statement with how you paid. Reinforced my speech hopefully.”

“You need more cheer in your life. As you will learn Tom, Michael here is all doom and gloom.”

“Don’t listen to her, I am a realist with a side bit of pessimism.”

“Exactly.”

“Okay,” Tom said still getting used to the team dynamic. Better make things clear now.

“Out there, my word is god’s word. If I say do something, you do it. You can ask why later but do it. No hesitation or back talk. Ruth here may ask you to do things, but she can’t order you around.”

“Even as his senior.”

“Get your own cart pulling apprentice.” She sent a pout in my direction which I ignored. “She does bring a lot more positivity to the team dynamic, you will find your own stride to cope with this place.” I began to unlock my front door.

“I guess I will wait for you to finish up and then we can go,” Ruth said.

“Not voting?”

“Ken is going to win. It would have been closer, but after your speech he will win hands down. The open voting means a representative can keep people in reserve to vote for them if necessary. He has enough people in reserve to vote for him if it appears close. You don’t seem concerned.”

“Yep, but I don’t care. Tyrese has it set up fair enough with what we have here. Perfect is the enemy of good enough. If you care enough to complain, then you can fix it. I don’t want to deal with election procedures. That sounds as fun as hugging a slime. Alright, grab the cart and let’s go.” I told the last part to Tom.

He grabbed the cart while Ruth went off to her room. We went over to the store and the guards waved us through. I made sure Tom purchased the supplies I had listed out first and then turned in my remaining crystals, putting me at 19,449 points. I then waited while he browsed the options himself.

“Champion Michael.” I turned to see three men and one woman in a group. One of the men had spoken to me. I noted that three had clubs and the man speaking to me had a club. I turned to look at him and didn’t say anything. There was a long period of uncomfortable silence where I just stared at him before he spoke up again.

“I was hoping you might be willing to let us join you.” I looked over their group. If I had an organization or company, I might consider hiring them. But I was a grinder and explorer. More people than what I had would slow me down.

“The issue is the amount of work and effort I would have to put in and there is no benefit for me. Unless I am mistaken?”

“You took on him.” The man pointed at Tom.

“Yes, because he was brave to step forward first. Second place is just the first loser. You have been here for a while if you have a sword, what twenty days?” The man looked to the side. “Thirty days then.” I shook my head. “You have a group and team dynamics already. I couldn’t count on you following my orders without question or hesitation. For those reasons, I suggest you look elsewhere.” I looked over at Tom who was still going through the store.

“Why can’t you help us a bit?” The man complained. I slowly turned back to look at him.

“Are you insulting the generosity I have already shown by sharing information?” I asked him calmly and loudly. Everyone nearby immediately went quiet and stared at us.

“No! I didn’t mean it like that.”

“Then how did you mean it?”

“Just…I…I am sorry.”

“I accept your apology, go and don’t bother me anymore.” The group left and Tom was finished. He had gotten a pair of boots and fine socks. Those were very good choices in my opinion. He put them in the cart and looked at me.

“Let’s go,” I said, and we returned to my building.