by Han Yang
“Ah, good recovery. Assuming I buy the load of horse dung yer selling about yer memories. I’m in my sixties. I’ll start to go downhill like mom in about another sixty years. She is nearly two hundred.”
“You the next boss?”
She shook her head. “Yanica and Stervi will lead Langshire upon the Mistress’s passin. Good folks and will rule just as wisely as she did. Do you really want to leave Langshire?”
“The view from my apartment is nice.” I tried to stay upbeat and positive even if I was still internally livid and grouchy. “Where ya takin me?”
“Oh… How interesting, adapting already. The high intelligence score alludes to such a skill. I’m taking you out of the torture slash imprisonment floor. We can go to the casino, the pleasure pools, or to the restaurant.”
I liked all three of those options. “Food first please, Ginli.”
“You need to understand something that I think has missed your detection. Have you noticed all the extra looks you garner, from myself included?” She asked.
“I… I know I’m decent looking,” I admitted.
“Yeah, well, in Langshire newcomers are like a kid seeing a new toy. Plus… we’re all desperate to find that winning combination.”
I shook my head, entering an elevator behind her. “Ya lost me.”
“Babies. Babies. And Babies. Can’t have em. But… a dashing new man who’d be a great father type…” She tapped a few buttons, before yanking a lever. Ginli rubbed the knob seductively. “You catchin on?”
“I believe I am. Except, no kids for me and I got other goals right now,” I admitted. Before she could ask I continued. “I want to get properly geared for the wilds. Building a team seems nice. Figure it’s best to focus on a small number of trustworthy adventurers. Oh, and I’m starving, assuming I wasn’t robbed, I should have enough for a meal.”
“Yeah… You’ve been out for almost a full day.” The doors opened with a bell chiming. We stepped out and into a gorgeous restaurant overlooking the city. A waiter led Ginli through a section of seating where I was gawked at. “Ignore them. You’re an unknown with minor upgrades that have almost no leveling.”
I simply couldn’t ignore the stares and gasps though. Nor could I bypass the fact I saw Leon, Joana, and what was likely Lei, enjoying a meal at a table with two empty seats. I grumbled that I’d been predicted so well.
I set my bottle down beside a plate of succulent white meat that wafted a glorious smell.
“Sit,” the waiter ordered.
“Manners makeith the man,” I said, earning odd looks before I launched into greeting the others.
I spent the three minutes complimenting Lei on her lovely dress and poofy white hair. She deflected my charms but was amused.
Next, I told Joana her blue and white summer dress with minimal buckles and clasps was delightful. Even was bold enough to say it made her eyes sparkle.
Finally, I thanked Leon for the adventure and for making supper. He told me it was lunch with a wincing smile. I was handed a purse with coins in it, loving the sound that jingle made.
Seating myself I dug in without much care for manners at that point. I was starving. Ginli helped carry the conversation until I finished off a third helping of this delicious white meat.
“Thank the chef and what do I owe for the meal?” I asked, loosening a belt.
There were head shakes at my question. “Everyone eating here is doing so at the grace of the Mistress. That was your crocodile meat she bought and then fed you.”
“I’m not thanking her,” I grumbled and they chuckled.
“She was doing her job by ensuring you weren’t a spy. You passed. Being sour will only sour you,” Ginli said and there was an awkward silence. “I’ve offered Ms. Joana to go shopping with us and she accepted.”
I gestured to Leon “I was -”
“Can’t get you the deals she can. I’m a minor competitor the others view with pity. She’s the Mistress’s daughter. Even Joana being seen with you both will have people swarmin my shop.” He withered under his wife’s scornful gaze. Apparently, he did get in trouble for our adventures. “That I’m gratefully stuck in. Go, have fun,” Leon said.
I huffed, swigging whiskey while I thought. I squinted my eyes at Ginli. “I appreciate this gesture. What do you want?”
“It is less about what I want, and more about what the Mistress does. Stirring the pot by adventuring with the hunky new guy, and the reject will be fun. Then, assuming I save your life a few times, babies.”
I partially spurted my whiskey. “Uh, what?”
Joana and I were beet red. I was blushing, she was flummoxed.
Ginli was casually calm. “Adventure for now. Trust me, I’m an asset. We can talk about the far off chance you might give me a baby down the road. I… I’m… nearing a point where I’ve tried just about everything.” She shivered from saying those words.
“Oh.” I softened, seeing actual pain in her expression. “Yeah, life sucks. Make lemonade when life gives you lemons. Am I right?” She gave me a puzzled look. “Yes, give me some sweet deals on upgrades and let’s go adventure. I’ll make no guarantees about the baby stuff, but not dying sounds nice.”
There was light laughter from the table, easing the situation.
“Ah, thought you’d like the idea.” Ginli jabbed a finger at Joana. “She said you’d hate it.”
I halted Joana before she could finish. “Whoa. Hold yer horses. I trust this basic babe.” I winced at the phrasing. “Merely talking about yer gear, not your personality or looks Joana. Both of which are amazing.” She blushed with a huff, holding in her reply. “Joana stays at my side and you’ll treat her like a sister.”
“What kind of sister?” Ginli asked.
“Uh, well. My perception may be low but… I… well. Joana and I were kinda gettin to know each other. You eye me like a tasty snack. I just want you both to get along and not fight over my affections.”
Joana cleared her throat. “You want us to work together as a team like a family.”
“Ideally, that would be wonderful.”
A mischievous grin spread across Ginli’s face. “I accept.”
Joana was torn. She looked everywhere and nowhere at once. I placed my human hand on her arm, calming her. Her blue eyes locked to mine and at that moment I realized she longed for me as more than a friend.
“Ugh, I accept,” Joana managed.
“Perfect. Shopping!” I said, frowning when Joana gulped the whiskey.
I probably should have halted the situation when I saw Joana’s parents with dropped jaws in shock. They did exchange goodbye waves with me.
When Joana set the bottle down, I left it behind. Eager to get to shopping I offered to escort the lovely ladies. Joana accepted my left elbow with hesitation and Ginli happily accepted my right. There were a lot of stares when we walked for the elevator, and I didn’t care.
When the door closed to take us down for the adventurer’s market, I felt much better about Langshire. Sure, my interrogation sucked, but it was over, and two lovely ladies stared at me oddly. Instead of bugging them, I decided to enjoy the feeling of whiskey soothing my soul and the joyful rumblings of a full stomach.
The day was young and I was excited to see a market for adventuring gear. In hindsight I wish I’d realized what I’d done back at dinner or asked those ladies what was bugging them.
CHAPTER 10
“Uh… say again?” I asked as we rode atop a big steam wagon.
I couldn’t believe how smooth the mighty contraption was. The hiss of steam, whine of servos, and clanking of gears had me smiling ear to ear. A city of steam, flickering lights, and metal. Lots and lots of metal decorated every facet of the city.
I sat on a bench seat beside both ladies. The ride was supposed to be short and Ginli decided to drop a truth bomb on me while we were in the middle of main street.
“I swear I heard something about sister wives, but the din of happy people, or the
whiskey warming my blood had me mishear you,” I said waving at a group of ladies pointing at us.
Ginli lowered my arm, shooting the women a scornful glance.
I saw Joana flushing red in a nervous way so I wrapped my arm around her. When I pulled her in for a hug she shocked me. She scooted closer, snuggling into me. Ginli saw this and scooted to nestle into my right side.
Uh… What!?
I was confused, by a lot. Sure, I realized Joana and I had openly flirted and were building a chemistry. I also knew there was an old me that would be ecstatic by competing affections, but I’d changed.
Not only was I kinda liking the idea of a relationship, I wanted to keep my life less about lust. Not to mention, I’d just shaken off a rough interrogation as a facet of earning trust. Things… were different here. Treading cautiously held its merits.
I actually did have secrets I was hiding. So when two gorgeous ladies snuggled into my sides, I felt like a fat mouse between two hungry lions.
“What’s up with both of you,” I said. Ginli raised my right arm to tuck herself into my shoulder, enjoying my blush. “I goofed didn’t I?”
“Maybe,” Joana eked out.
Ginli patted my leg. “Doubtful. This makes it cleaner. Telling a love interest to treat a different love interest as family.” She paused for effect. “Means, if we accept, we can’t fight and have to support each other.”
“Oh, that's wonderful. I don’t like fighting, and working as a team is awesome.” I waved to a passing family with a baby. A venturebot stood guard and I saw the steam machine rocking a blunderbuss in an epic pose with a foot propped up. “So cool!”
“You got lovely ladies under your arms and you're wowed by robots. Men,” Joana said and Ginli teamed up with her to giggle. “You understand that if we cross a line from friends to more it's done so as -”
I interjected by pulling her in tight. “No I don’t, and let’s not worry about that for now. I… I still have so much to learn. You girls can be patient right?”
They huffed with pouts that turned to smiles quickly, telling me I had diffused the situation for now. I needed the help, and I actually liked Joana’s company.
At the same time I need some sweet, sweet deals that Ginli could unlock. Her other perk was that having an upgraded badass on my team would be epic in its own rights.
The steamwagon rolled to a halt at an upper section of the city. The sound of metal blades clanging rang loudly in the air. A fenced area had a large arched opening.
All things Wilds!
“This is our exit,” Ginli said, extracting herself to hop down the wagon.
I followed her, timing my exit to avoid a horse with a cart. Joana bumped into my back, apologizing even though she didn’t need to. I could tell she was flustered and nervous at seeing the place. I grabbed her hand, crossing the street in a hurry to avoid traffic.
Guards went to block Joana but Ginli warned them off with a flick of her wrist. Ginli paused on the inside of the pavilion area, letting me soak in the sight.
The middle held a food court with vendors back to back down a long strip. In the afternoon sun the gruff looking adventurers ate at steel tables on circle seats. There were a half dozen training pits on the left that people clashed in. On the right were a few shooting ranges with dirt piled high as backstops.
All this was boxed in by buildings whose openings faced the food court. The back wall was shops of all sorts. The left wall was warehouse buildings for guilds and the right was similar buildings for mercenary companies. When I looked at the back side of the wall we just entered, I saw nothing but advertisements for joining either mercenary or adventuring guilds.
Not far into this private section was a square thick post that held stick up notes for quests and bounties. Ginli left to peel three notes off while I continued my studies.
Steambots were keeping the place tidy and I only saw a few venture bots. There were puffs of steam from cooking stations, carts moving goods, and weapons firing.
Ginli waved a hand in front of my face, catching my attention. “So… You're on team Patrica now. Langshire is not a gentle, loving place.”
“Ya think.”
Joana shook her head, saying, “We’re in this together now. There are factions inside the city. Now that ya are being seen with Ginli, the Rooki and Gerbas factions will be somewhat hostile.”
“As in bad guys to me?” I asked.
“It doesn’t work like that. We can’t have open warfare on the streets and competition is not only human nature, it's good for business. Ah… here is a prime example.”
A muscly man that reminded me of a dwarf stomped over. He had intricate upgrades, fancy weapons, and about the most awesome beard I’d ever seen.
“I challenge ye,” the man shouted at me.
Ginli rolled her eyes. She whipped out a readiness checker, pulled down my boot, and stuck the device in. When it pinged she presented the device to the short man with the heavy scars. He slammed his belly, laughing at my scores.
“Never mind, cometh back when ye become a man.” His laugh sent away the crowd that was on edge, eager to see a fight.
When he sat back at his table, Ginli showed me my stats.
GEARNIX READINESS SHEET
Name: Bradley
Origin City: Ocarna
Race: Human
Gender: Male
Resident City: Langshire
Rating: 9.5
Strength: 9
Endurance: 6
Perception: 5
Burst: 5
Luck: 10
Reflex: 10
Charisma: 13
Charge: 77%
Healing: 1
Intelligence: 17
Melee Combat: 12
Crafting: 0
Aim: 5
Dexterity: 7
Steambot Mastery: 0
“Can I see mine?” Joana asked before I could ask a few of my own.
Ginlin nodded, accepting her hand. “So, you don’t get to see mine until I trust you more. But for you, sure, exposing your stats will not harm anything and actually help the situation. That was Gorbi. Gorbi is a Rooki sergeant. There are competitions to earn the most H by day, week, and month. Mistress gives tax breaks to winners.”
“Oh, so if I do really well they might kill me in my sleep?” I guess, trying to understand what she was getting at.
She inserted the device letting it gain Joana’s information. “Uh… murders tend to happen in the wilds. Between competitors anyway.
“You haven’t earned a mark of death from an opposing faction, which happens after intense slights or you get caught stealing kinda deal.
“Mainly just know that now you're seen with me, there may be a problem and you may develop a rivalry.”
The device beeped. I peer over to see Joana’s scores.
GEARNIX READINESS SHEET
Name: Joana
Origin City: Korvi
Race: Human
Gender: Female
Resident City: Langshire
Rating: 6.2
Strength: 5
Endurance: 8
Perception: 9
Burst: 4
Luck: 4
Reflex: 9
Charisma: 4
Charge: 33%
Healing: 1
Intelligence: 14
Melee Combat: 4
Crafting: 1.2
Aim: 6
Dexterity: 8
Steambot Mastery: 7
“Ha! I beat pretty boy in aim,” Joana said triumphantly. Ginli shook her head in an amused way. “I know, he needs work. We can help him right!?”
“Absolutely.” Ginli tucked away the device, giggling with Joana.
I smirked, liking the fact they were teaming up on me. They were literally two damsels from opposite walks of life and I brought them together.
“What do you recommend?” I asked. Ginli held out a hand. “Uh…”
“Yer coins dat Leon gave ya. I already kno
w what ya got in the bank,” Ginli said patting her palm.
“Really?” I asked and she nodded. I handed over the purse.
Ginli peered in and said, “Five bronze. Hey, honestly that’s decent coin for a single trip into the wilds.”
“Mom made Dad give us an extra coin each,” Joana admitted and I frowned. “He’s stubborn and won’t take it back. Said it was part of helping us get better.”
Ginli walked for the back wall, skirting the eating area to pass by the training pits. “You only have the blunderbuss and that shit sword. Rest was returned to Leon. I suggest selling the buss and gettin a better one. Then skip buying a sword as yer melee. Add a steamblade instead.”
“Uh, what’s a steamblade?” I asked. I hadn’t seen one yet.
“It's a finely crafted sword with a sharp edge. The handle is built with Gearnix parts and the hydrox adds a thin application of steam power to the blade. Really helps cut through bone or chitin enemies. The consumption is low, getting lower as you upgrade. Expensive though because it's a crafted custom,” Ginli mentioned.
“What about a venturebot and nice longrifle?” I asked.
“In given time. Sure. The goal for now is close range. If you can’t properly defend the area around you, who cares if you can shoot a thousand yards. Buy a basic -”
Joana raised a finger and Ginli paused our walk for the stores. “Are we going to be setting traps?”
“Ah, I get it. Right. Leon is from a different style. No, we cave crawl.” Ginli patted my shoulder. “You understand what I’m saying.”
“Like a dungeon?” I asked.
“Yea. So, baiting works. And it’s a great way to earn H while hiding. Also, it is a smart way to farm. I think Leon was wise to take ya into a bait and wait adventure. Me… I’m different. There are a few caves around that the wilds slowly replenish. Did you remember seeing me go to the board?”
“Um… you snagged a few listings off the wall.” I mentioned.
“Exactly. I stole all the ones that were decent ideas just needing additional crew. That is my plan, until I feel we’re even. Or we might go to some honey holes I know.” Ginli’s nonchalant shrug had me confused. “Either way it's likely that we’re going somewhere dark and spooky.”
