The Way of the Clan 8

by Dem Mikhaylov

  “Stop!” I put up a conciliatory palm, looking at the powerful wizard hanging over me. “Wait, do not kill me. Everything was done for the common good. In order to raise the spirit of sailors! After all, did the spirit rise?”

  "Well, personally my spirit sank below the waterline!" Roared Malice. “But the rest - yes, they were laughing. And at the sight of me they pressed their hands to their asses and tried not to turn their backs on me! Ver-ry cute! I look under the water - the achilots are looking at me suspiciously... and I want to boil them down to their native element! I will tell you - after the end of the great sea trip, several fatal meetings await you, Rosgard. And just so that you know, humorist - in the world of Valdira there are very real Sun Beams! Fluffy, yet the size of a tennis ball, with eyes and long ears!”

  “Fiddlesticks…”

  "I will make you catch them! The villain…”

  “And imagine that one day, after the great sea expedition, how you will sit somewhere in a shady old park on an oak bench with a comfortable back and, covering your eyes, enjoy a peaceful day. And suddenly your ungrateful and careless pupil Rosgard will appear before you and give you a great gift ... hm?”

  “Hmm ... “Malice instantly turned from an angry, enraged dragon into a deeply thoughtful thinker. “A great gift ....” He smacked his lips, repeating it aloud, as if he were hearing these words the first time. “A great gift ...”

  “Truly,” I willingly supported him. “A great gift ...”

  “Hmm ... for example, a special spell?” His suspicious eyes stared at me.

  “Maybe,” I nodded “Maybe a map leading to something as special as the Outland. Or the magic of an ancient. Or a mighty artifact... As a gift to the mighty and wise wizard Malice, who, with such patience, instructed Rosgard. When the world will hear that you were the teacher of the Great Navigator himself, everyone will look at you with even greater delight...”

  “Words sweetly sculpted,” Malice rubbed his chin with his fingers.

  "I remember kindness," I added. "And for the kindness you show me I cry with gratitude. Not with the Baroness. I understand how many things you had to abandon for me - I am talking about your personal affairs, not for the clan. Therefore, I will definitely pay you back. Something special.”

  “Okay. I will postpone the expedition to the Mountain of Mortal Torment and hunting for sunbeams,” Grumbled Malice, already much more mildly. “Now let us see your spine, loser. I will see if I can make a man out of you.”

  Obediently giving Malice access to view my stats, I crossed my arms over my chest and began to wait stoically for the verdict. Then the half-orc guard quietly came up to me.

  “And what about me?” Bloopy the Wise asked, with stunningly bright hope in his eyes.

  “What about you?” I looked at him with suspicion, preserving my stoic position.

  “A great gift... I will be sitting on an oak bench after the great trip, enjoying life... and then you'll come ... and say - as you are my old and true friend, are you doing well? Do you want to get a great gift? Hm?...”

  “Hardly,” I confessed. “I'm sorry.”

  “And if the gift was not very great? Medium-sized?”

  “Also hardly. Do not even be over encouraged. I'm not an Easter bunny to you...”

  "Get away from my pupil, green bucket of slime!" Malice grumbled threateningly, carefully examining my characteristics.

  “And me?” I heard a voice laced with a familiar hoarse threat. A friend — one I had not heard from in a while — said: "Where is my gift the great?"

  I could not stay still anymore. I turned and looked back.

  Whisper himself!

  Next to him, Bom. Immediately interjecting:

  “No great gifts for anyone, boss! If there is no one to give them to, give them to me! And by the way – You are the Navigator?!”

  And of course, in fact - this was my first official presentation as the Great Navigator.

  Rosgard the gaming legend had become an even more valuable figure on the game board. Why was I having such randomly poetic and unusual thoughts? Oh, this was not me - I read those words clearly in the greedy flickering eyes of the giant half-orc Bom standing in front of me, literally rubbing his palms.

  "Boss, how could you?" Said Bom, easily taking my light nod as a mute confirmation. “And for how much have you sold yourself? Tell me frankly, tell me the amount of the transaction. For what amount did you sell your soul to the most malicious clan of Valdira?”

  “Stop it!” Malice said in response, taking a short break from the study of data. “You are trying to jump too high for the newbie, your job is to be a mule – carry loads and wave your ears to drive away flies, but not to inquire the amounts from senior officers of the flagship. Where do you see the most malicious?”

  “Just look at your nickname,” advised Bom serenely, defiantly looking at the second word flickering over the head of the battle mage. “Or are you the malicious but not the most ones?”

  “Guards!” Barked Malice, instantly entering his role. “We have a riot brewing! The ass is roaring! Drive him to the galleys, sat them on the paddle and chain them up!”

  "I was right," muttered Bom sadly. "Anyway ... and still. Ros, I am asking about the amount here. In Valdira’s money. I do not care about the money that you got in the real world - that is up to you. And do not tell me the deal is not done yet — otherwise we would not be floating in the middle of the sea on this pile or garbage…”

  "I will wring out your tongue!" Bloopy protested, not wanting to hear insults against the giant flagship.

  “What did I do? Just don’t say that you think we are fluttering along the crests of the waves on a yacht.”

  Bom was insufferable. He looked like an indestructible cliff. What was unusual - he completely lacked piety before such powerful and famous players. Many people knew Malice. In many respects, this character was famous — his game biography was long and amazing. And Bom, still quite a newcomer, somehow did not give a damn. He looked at Evil as an equal to himself, and looked at the others with such a haughty face and with such an expression that even arrogant elf kings would be envious.

  Whisper ... Whisper had something in his hands. Something like a very old cloudy lens from a telescope. He twisted it with great interest, even with greed, wiped the glass with a sleeve, breathed on it every minute and often jumped, saying:

  “Get em, Bom! Go on! That is right! Cut them down!”

  “But you quickly concluded the deal,” the ass shook his head, continuing to resist. “Why the hurry? It is like someone picked you up with their sharp claws and tightly squeezed ... surely not? The one who suffers from insomnia most of all? Did she sink in her claws?”

  "Ah ..."

  “Hey!” Vulnerably declared Malice, letting everyone know that the time of amusements had ended. “Speak another word, I will incinerate you! And then I will desecrate the ashes.”

  "Sure. And we will begin to carry out your deep-concealed erotic orders," said Whisper disdainfully, hiding the lens inside his pocket.

  “Yes, everything ... turn it to dust…”

  “So,” I hastily intervened. “My teacher is very angry with me. Give us a little time. And then we will talk. I want to ask many questions. The grave thing, by the way — if only in a few words?”

  "The grave of the Immortal? Oh! Many have laid down there,” Bom rolled his eyes expressively. “But their deaths cost the money that we earned. And not only money. Also some perfectly good items. Ready to redeem them, if you give consent. We found no objects, only scattered coins…”

  “Ros!,” Whisper interrupted, put his hands on my shoulders and saying profoundly: “You are my friend! I am a true loyal friend who would never give you up in trouble! I am with you! Why, I will tear out any dissenter’s eyes!”

  "Hah,” I scoffed thoughtfully. "Well, then. I will get back to you soon ... the bald genius and my daughter catch fish and achilots just around the corner. They sit on a sleeping mamm
oth. Bom, the Sleepless take the whole catch for themselves, except they throw back the achilots…”

  “Huh?!” The roar of Bom sounded like the ominous rasp of a saber-toothed, which had emerged from the cave.

  The green-skinned player turned and walked away, hurrying to the woolen ass of Kolyvan, muttering something furiously under his breath. Whisper went quietly behind him. Apparently, he was going to enjoy the spectacle, Bom tearing down those who were taking our fish “for free."

  "Who is he?” Grumbled Malice. Shaking his head, he asked: “Do you see your characteristics?”

  “I do,” I nodded, carefully looking through a long list of figures expressing my achievements and aspirations in the digital world.

  Current character level: 127

  Strength - 29

  Intelligence - 250

  Dexterity - 17

  Stamina - 105

  Wisdom - 176

  Available for distribution points: 155

  "It does not look very encouraging," I said cautiously, avoiding giving positive comments. What if I have a real tragedy on my hands with the final figures, and I am happy like a cretin?

  "It is not so bad," replied Malice, calculating something in a small elegant notebook. "Interest. We need interest. There is still a lot of work ahead.”

  "Your work," I added, knowing well that all responsibility rested on the shoulders of Malice.

  "I had plans for four small adventures, same as those in the ruins of Mirny. However, the BB changed our course. So two adventures fell away – we would pass those islands at too great a distance. Teleports of powerful enough, but our intelligence reports that there are other ships nearby. It would not be fun if the Great Navigator gets caught the moment he consumes the jade giant's brain ...”

  "Consumes the giant's brain," I swallowed.

  “Yes, in the form of fruit the size of an apple. It is ugly, and squeaks plaintively ... But all the same, we do not get to go there. And the second island is even farther. Also gone. Ros, can you be here at night? I understand that the load is wild. But we need more free time. We would have more freedom with teleporting. We must take what we have.”

  "Not a problem," I said immediately. "I will try to snatch a couple of hours of sleep in the evening. All night I will be free. But it will be dark...”

  "No matter what, it'll still be dark. If everything goes according to plan, then we will have time to visit a couple of places. And get five hundred mana as a gift and two percent of it for a period of two months.”

  “Sounds great.”

  “And looks great in the figures, too. Do not distribute the points yet.”

  “Got it.”

  "Your specialization ... you have to try to change it. Let me think about it.”

  “OK. I will touch nothing, and will not twist my little hands. Malice, but where would we go at night? If it is not a secret.”

  “To the brothel, cretin!”

  "Then I am off, I am a family man," I snorted, understanding that the wizard was joking.

  “Then hold on to your family better,” said Malice, serious for a moment. “We will go to the brothel after the end of the campaign. Together with the family. On an excursion ... like to the aquarium, or the zoo. And we will poke our fingers at them and the wives will explain to the children: they are nocturnal butterflies. They have a wide range of habitats, leading mainly a night life...”

  “For such an excursion your wife would break your head. Especially when she realizes, that you know too much about the way of life of the night butterflies. So, where are we going at night?”

  "Two interesting places. The first is the Nest, or otherwise - Karst caves. The lowest level. One monster lives there, riding a giant white steed — that is the proteus we need. In living form. The main thing is that you catch it. The dungeon is weak, created for beginners. Wet and dank.”

  “Karst Caves,” I grinned in surprise. “Hmm ... so that’s where the bunny-boys...”

  “What was that?”

  “Never mind. And the second place?”

  “To the south-west of Algora there is another small dungeon. There are monsters there — Gyhle runts, dark midgets. They are vile and weak. They set up a smithy there; they set up weapons of revenge, preparing for war and all that. But we do not care - we need the item. In short, prepare for loud knocking with hammers, and the blacksmith’s oven.”

  “I got it.”

  “Both places are complex. It is necessary to have time to arrange our visit in the style of a mad steam engine racing at full speed. If we keep within the schedule – we will try to visit the third place. So get some sleep, get yourself ready. I will get the team ready.”

  “Take mine,” I immediately suggested. “If the difficulty level is low - then my team will cope with it easily.”

  “Your team ... Oh, I already heard about it! And about the grave of the Immortal and about the salt golems, and the many other unpleasant situations!”

  “So what? Goals are what we are trying to achieve!”

  "And the ruin was all around you ... all right, to hell with you. I am going too. Plus I will take the Paladin you already know. And your team in addition. But consider this - if they are screwed, then I immediately teleport them far away with the help of a spell, and then we call our specialists from the Sleepless clan. We are not joking around here.”

  "There will not be any problems," I promised. "I hope."

  “You hope?”

  “Certainly there won’t be.”

  “Right. Where's the box with your damned stuff?”

  “Huh? Oh! On the bridge in the corner.”

  "I will go and take a look again. And you will tell your team about the planned voyage.”

  With the look of an extremely busy wizard, Malice hurried to the bridge, busily circling warriors and sailors on the way, those who were completing the preparation of the flagship's decks. During the time, we were talking, many different pieces, gizmos and incomprehensible things that could not be counted had been brought up. The deck turned into a real labyrinth.

  On board, several groups were training. In the literal sense of the word - groups bristling with weapons and consisting of an "exterior" of powerful knights and “interior" of doctors, battle mages and others began to run around the aisles in different directions. Judging by their actions, the attack could have come from either side, and not just horizontally but also vertically.

  "Hello, Frodo," a golden-haired gnome rushed past me, carrying an enormous two-handed ax with ease.

  "Who's this Frodo?" I was indignant. “I am Rosgard!”

  “Don’t be offended,” a passing player said, carrying a barrel on his shoulder with the red inscription "Do not open!"

  “Why not?” I had not understood anything yet...

  "Do not pay attention. We have many here who highly respect the work of Professor Tolkien. Everyone knows about Bilbo, Frodo and the others. And so Malice nicknamed you all,” sighed half-orc, installing the barrel in a special nest carved into the frame of a large catapult. “And he himself is the wise Gandalf. He's like an old and wise powerful magician leading you to a great goal ... he leads, and you just follow ... he speaks to everyone with such importance, and strokes his bare chin ... Plus, with our glowing Eye on the spire of Barad-gadur…”

  “Hm... well, then ...” I began. “Wow, brave one. But he would not risk nicknaming the Black Baroness as Gollum, perhaps?”

  “The Baroness,” said the surprised half orc. “She is ... hmm ... hmm...”

  "Uh-huh!" I nodded, "Gollum! Gollum! My pre-ee-e-eecious ... I will go...”

  Leaving the player to mutter something about Sauron, in a few seconds I was already next to the shaggy mammoth. Previously, he had been quiet and peaceful. Now, above the deck, there was the furious roar of an enraged half-orc, holding in his hands a big fish with silver scales:

  “And for it, only twelve gold coins?! Are they stupid?! Lost sight of the horizon of honesty? The spleen of co
nscience burst and had to be removed?! The whole clan lost their minds?”

  "Our buyer announced the standard price..." said the player-man, with the name of Aroza Azora. “It is fair.”

  “That is a wholesale price! And this is pure retail!” Bom pointed his thick finger. “And we are on a war campaign! The goods are sensitive… and it is alive! Still alive! There the bearded men are fishing with nets! And here, the teenage girl works alone! Where was her father looking! Oh ... ah ... we will not talk about her father. Operators! ...”

  Strongly offended at "where was her father looking," I vindictively said:

  "It is a hobby isn’t it darling?"

  “In our time even a hobby could bring money!” Cut off Bom. “From now on, I appoint the prices!”

  “And who are you?!” Aroza Azora was indignant.

  “Sales Representative! The official and only one! All transactions - only through me!”

  "And if we do not take them? Will they be thrown overboard?”

  "I will find someone to sell it to! Do not protest!”

  “Let us discuss the prices...”

  “We will not discuss them. I will name prices - and you will listen.” The unhappy fish shook violently, splashes flying in all directions. “So, let us look at the magical vat together. Do you see that black small fish? For this one, our fish trust asks for only twenty silver pieces ...”

  "What fish trust?"

  "Listen, listen ..."

  Sighing, I climbed onto the furry back of the mammoth. Reaching the nape, I sat down immediately behind the backs of our enthusiastic anglers.

  "Papa!" Chirped my daughter in greeting. “Watcha doing here?”

  “I came to send you to school for noble maidens...”

  “No…”

  “Egh ... Well, anglers, would you like to go on a couple of adventures at night?”

  "Interesting?" Both asked with greedy curiosity.

  “Orbit.” Tragically closing my eyes, I took a pause for a couple of breaths. Then I continued: “I have recently found out where you live. And I have enough money to come to your house, come into your room, open the lid of the cocoon and ... further details are not for children. My daughter becomes more and more like you every day.”