Ruthless (The Completionist Chronicles Book 5)

by Dakota Krout

  “Wait, you saw her already, right? She came to get you.” Poppy looked past Joe into the dining area. “Everything okay?”

  “Yeah, just… it’s early. Hadn't had my coffee yet.” Joe hedged, not wanting to explain his current sour attitude toward Jess.

  “Well, let’s get going.” Alexis saw that Joe was floundering and evidently decided to help him out. “How’s your day so far?”

  “Oh… ah, between this wall going up and the work I did getting the Arena set up for the Kingdom, I’m sixty points away from leveling up my class. I can build practically anything and level up. So, pretty pleased with that. Otherwise? Uhh… good, I guess?”

  “Great!” Alexis saw Jess and waved her over. The group made their way to the strange star-shaped Greenhouse and walked past the double guards at the entrance without needing to wait in line. The perks of an early-riser.

  You have entered the Evergrowth Greenhouse, a building owned by Joe of the Wanderer’s Guild. There is a 70% collection tax imposed on all goods harvested. Caution! There have been reports of Weeds in the area.

  “Oh, they figured out the tax system?” Poppy blinked away his notification.

  “Yeah. I transferred administrator control over to the guild a while ago. They figured this out yesterday, I think?” Joe waved at the notification that had appeared in the air for all of them. “They had been trying to collect by relying on the honor system, but…”

  “Wasn’t working very well?” Poppy smirked at his bald team leader.

  “Not at all! I couldn't believe the estimates they were showing me.” Joe rolled his eyes. “For how rare spatial bags and such are supposed to be, a bunch of people sure seem to have them.”

  “How does the tax collection work?” Alexis plucked a head of lettuce out of the planter, watching to see if a chunk of it would suddenly go missing. It did, and she had to scramble to catch the suddenly much-reduced vegetable as she stepped out of the doorway. “Ah. Yup, system just takes it.”

  Jaxon nodded at the head of lettuce, seemingly still waking up. “What an interesting way to make a chop salad! I wonder if it can do shapes?”

  The group delved deeper into the building, which had its own subtle spatial magic. There was far more space on the inside than the exterior would suggest, and the entire greenhouse was filled with a rich, earthy scent. They made it into the last wing of the building when Jess pointed out what she was after. “There! Those are the rare fruit, ‘Floodwater Grapes’! They are apparently really hard to get outside of here, and usually only grow in very specific areas. Super delicious, and a rare ingredient for winemakers! You would never guess it though; they are really prolific here, for some reason.”

  Joe gulped when he saw the sheer number of grapes in the area. They had taken over a ten-foot by ten-foot space, and the vines were coated with thick grapes. He started to wonder if he had made a mistake by placing the glass that increased fertility in the growth rack. “Yeah… maybe the soil is just really full of… nitrogen, or something?”

  Chapter Two

  “Joe!” Mike called out just as Joe was swallowing a grape. The bald man had to pound on his chest to force the grape out of his airway. It landed on the ground with a wet *splat* and deflated like a sad balloon. “You okay there? Sorry about that; I’ve been practicing my stealth.”

  “I can see that. It's fine.” Joe managed around a cough. “Hello, Mike. What’s going on?”

  “Ah! Yes!” Mike whipped out a paper and handed it over. “We’re finally getting ahead on the layout of new buildings and planning. Here is the layout and the order we are hoping to build the buildings in.”

  Joe took the paper and looked over the list of desired construction, wincing as he saw some of the more complex designs. “Hey, I’m really happy to do this, but there are a few things that I am going to need. I recently found out that my skills are less effective when working out issues with pure math, and was informed that being taught properly would make everything work better.”

  “What are you trying to say?” Mike gestured impatiently for Joe to make his request.

  “I need classes on architecture,” Joe explained easily, getting a furrowed brow in return. “Here is why: I can scan a building, or I can work from existing blueprints. I can scan a building and make alterations to the blueprint, but if I screw up, I won't have a working blueprint anymore. That almost happened with the greenhouse, because I didn’t know what I was doing on a few fronts. Also, I can't make my own blueprints from scratch. If I could, I could fix some of the glaring issues I see with this list.”

  “Issues? What do you mean?” Mike looked at the paper Joe held as the problems were explained.

  “Here. It might make sense to have cattle and such, and it makes sense to have a butcher. It makes sense to have a tanner as well, which is why I think you want these three buildings to be together, right?” Joe waited until he saw Mike nod. “Right, well, you want these three buildings near housing, so people have easy access to fresh meat, leather armor, and whatnot. But how will the tannery and butcher not stink the place up? How will the cattle not keep everyone awake at night? Also, they stink too, so add that to the first part of the ‘cons’ list.”

  “Ah. Perhaps the city planner is still a little too used to Earth, and-”

  Joe cut Mike off. “That’s actually perfectly acceptable here. I’ve seen a blacksmith that has a sound-dampening enchantment, and I think that is something I will be able to do as well. Eventually. But if I could get classes in architecture, I could create soundproofing for walls, or filters for the smell. All of this could be added afterwards, of course, but until it was fixed, people would be very unhappy.”

  “Hmm. You may have a point.” Mike took a long look at the paper, clearly trying to think through different ways of setting the area up. Finally, he sighed. “Alright. I’ll see what I can do, but you’re going to have to meet me halfway. Since it’s beneficial to your class, I’m gonna ask you to pay-”

  “Mike.” Joe gave him a flat look and gestured at the protective outer wall that hadn’t existed the night before. “I haven't asked you for rewards, because we have a deal. Tell you what… you can finish that sentence, or you can repay the fees of the four people in my Coven that work with me on rituals. They get paid per ritual completion.”

  “As I was saying, I’ll see what I can do.” Mike winked at Joe and flounced off. This was very out of character for the ex-military man, so it forced a chuckle out of Joe. “I’m glad that Towny McTownface now has a solid fallback location! Thank you, Joe!”

  “Glad you’re having a good morning, Mike!” Joe called after the whistling Sub-Commander. Joe looked at the sheet again and grimaced. As far as he could tell, everything listed was set for maximum efficiency… on Earth. In Eternium, there were magical equivalents of things that would allow for the same amount of processes to be done in only two-thirds of the space. That was how millions of humans had lived in a single city before they had Shattered the Wolfmen race. He decided to take a look at who was doing the planning, and if they were actually doing research like they should.

  When Joe reached the general hangout area, the mood was far different than it had been only minutes before. Joe looked around, and saw that people were eating and drinking just fine, so he had no idea why things were so grim. He sat next to a stranger and offered a smile. “Hey! What’s got everyone so down? Things haven't been this, uh… depressed… since the notification that Earth was closed to us.”

  “You haven’t seen the…?” The man looked up, almost excited to be the one to share the bad news. “It’s pretty fresh news. Guild’s in trouble. Someone posted our location to the message boards, then told everyone that we have unlimited food and supplies that we are hoarding and refusing to share. Clearly a lie, but there are going to be a lot of people that believe it anyway. The thought is that we are going to get swarmed by hungry or angry people soon.”

  “Yikes, that must be recent. I just got done talking to the
Sub-Commander, and he was in a great mood.” Joe looked off toward the Guild Hall. “Well… I mean, that doesn't really change much for us, does it? I’m sure the guild was prepared for this…?”

  “Joe!” Mike came running into the dining area, spotted Joe, then sat down heavily across from him. “Something just happened that we were totally unprepared for! We need you to come-”

  “Mike.” Joe leaned forward and banged his forehead on the table as nervous chatter started up all around them. “You have horrible timing.”

  A short while later, Joe and the other guild officers were assembled in the Guild Hall. Aten entered the room, and everyone stood from their chairs. Joe followed along a beat later, confused as to why the group was acting so militaristically. He hadn't needed to stand at attention when someone entered the room since his military days.

  “At ease,” Aten barked, and everyone sat back down. Joe winced at the blatant attempt to place military practice in place, and he hoped it wasn't going to become a ‘thing’. “We’re in crisis mode. As far as we can tell, either the Nobility, or—more likely—a Noble Guild, has released our location to the general population. They are trying to rabble-rouse, and get us swarmed by low-level people. There is a good chance that there will be others in the mix that are here to steal or sabotage us if there is a large enough gathering. Thoughts on how to handle this?”

  The first reply was nearly instantaneous. “Do we know the location of the other Noble Guilds? Let’s make them go public.”

  “We don't.” Aten looked around, gesturing for people to start throwing out ideas.

  “Can we petition the King-”

  “No.” Aten shook his head. “The price of being away from the Kingdom is that we need to solve our own issues, but we don't need to adhere to the strict rules that are in the city.”

  “Why doesn't he do something?” Someone pointed at Joe, who raised an eyebrow.

  “What would I do?” He blinked around the room, finding that everyone was staring at him. “What?”

  “You always seem to have the answer we need!” The same Officer tried to smile, but it looked like it was painted on.

  “Alright… uhh… we go find a hornet nest, poke it, and make them really mad…” Joe trailed off as people shook their heads in disgust. “What? What am I going to do against a giant mob of potentially thousands of low-level people? I’m good at making buildings and taking down very large, very slow, single-target creatures! I don’t do anti-personnel!”

  “You could…” Someone else started, trailing off after a moment. “You know, I don't actually know what your range of abilities is.”

  “Making buildings. Taking down single-target, slow creatures.” Joe spoke in a serious tone while maintaining eye contact. “Everything else is just critical thinking and game logic, guys. C’mon. Some of you were gamers, right?”

  Silence filled the tent, and Aten cleared his throat. “Most of the people gathered here were either in the military before this, or were investment bankers that helped fund the Guild at the start.”

  “Ah…” Joe realized that he had no idea how the Guild had survived this long. “So… I’m sure you all have some impressive skills in logistics, coordination, and long-term planning. Take this as you will, with all due respect, but seriously, Aten? Get some gamers in here. We need creative solutions to this. Game solutions. Stability is great, but I wouldn't be surprised if our location was leaked because someone decided to run a public relations marketing campaign!”

  Hammerwords has taken effect! You have lost a full rank of reputation with someone!

  There was some nervous shifting, and Joe noted a few winces. If there hadn't been a marketing plan, there was one that had been about to go out. “Aten, I’m sorry, but you need to take a look at this Guild from a different light. Stable is good, yes. Smart, even. But we need people who will test the limits of what is possible in this new world.”

  “I thought that was what you were for.” A snide comment sounded out, though Joe didn’t see where it came from.

  “If that’s true, if I am the only one doing this, I need way more resources than I’m getting,” Joe replied calmly, though his blood was boiling. “I also need the authority to make expensive calls, and I need to know what the limits are. Another thing: there’s a good chance that if we start acting like the military, we are going to lose our top guild members. Knock that junk off. Here is how you all need to look at things: the most powerful people in this world are likely going to be min-maxing introverts. They will spend every single day getting better at everything, because this is their dreamworld. Talk to them, get on their good side, and respect them…”

  Joe glared in the general direction the snide comment had come from, “Then, when we give you advice, listen carefully to that advice. It's gonna be strange, but that’s game logic. You treat this place like Earth, and all of us are going to fall behind.”

  Aten nodded seriously, clearly understanding what Joe was talking about. “Fair point. I’ll ask around, but please make yourself available if we need something from you.”

  “That sounds fine, but don't expect me to actively attack a mob of weak, hungry people. I won’t do it,” Joe bluntly told him. “I’ll work on defense, but I’m not taking the fight to them.”

  Aten nodded again, and the meeting continued. “I want to talk about setting up large standing stones around town that are numbered. This way, they can be used as a reference for navigation. Since we don’t have street signs…”

  Joe supported that plan, and the next, and… by the time the meeting was finally over, he was in a foul mood. He went off to find some lunch and sat with the first person he recognized. “Hey… ah… Crim, right?”

  The cleric nodded, his mouth full of sandwich. He swallowed, then spoke, “Hey. Joe, right? Good memory for names.”

  “The bright red robes help.” Joe admitted, looking over the other man’s red clothes and hair. “What are you up to today?”

  “Mm. Lunch currently, then back to testing out my skills,” Crim told him, excitedly clenching his fists. “I just got to level fifteen. Got a beautiful spell: Wave of Flame. It starts enemies on fire, and sends their allies into a directed rage against opponents. Kinda hard to test out of combat, though.”

  Joe sighed and groaned. “Man… can I vent to you really quick? I really have a hard time trusting people with this sort of personal information, but…”

  “I mean…” Crim took a big bite of food and waved at his plate. Around the food hanging out of his mouth, he said, “Captive audience, go fer it.”

  “Alright. I feel like I’m reaching a point in my growth where I’m running into trouble. Specifically, I’m having issues getting all set up and going with new or interesting spells or skills. I’m getting frustrated, and I’m unsure what to do.”

  “Can you elaborate?” Crim quizzed him. Joe couldn't tell if it was because Crim wanted to hear more, or because he wanted to focus on chewing, but either way, Joe decided to go for it.

  “Alright… so… I feel like I’m lacking in abilities and ways to go about learning or doing new things. Everyone else seems to be getting all sorts of cool, unique powers and abilities, and I’m over here spending a week at a time learning a new aspect of what I can do.” Joe shrugged helplessly. “I mean, it makes the skill ranks increase really well, but everyone else just gets abilities when they level.”

  Crim considered for a moment. “Well, what sort of cleric abilities are you getting? If you are picking things that work together, you’ll have an easier time leveling all of them up.”

  “I’ve gotten nothing, man! Everything I do have is basically a skill evolution from level one.” Joe scowled as he thought about his healing skill, Mend, as well as Cleanse. “I keep finding new and interesting ways to apply them, to make them do what I need. You know, great for skill levels… but I was supposed to get Cleric abilities as I leveled, like you are. I guess I messed that up pretty badly somehow.”

  C
rim slowly chewed his bite, swallowed, then spoke.“Uh… I mean… when was the last time you went to an altar and asked for your skills?”

  Joe went as still as stone. Over the next minute, Crim finished his sandwich, then poked Joe hard enough to shake him out of his shock. “Hey. You okay? Did you hear me?”

  “Please tell me that you were making a joke.”

  “What?” Crim started eating his fried vegetables. “You’ve really never gone and asked for the abilities? Why do you think Clerics are always hanging out at altars and such? For funzies?”

  “You’re kidding me.”

  Chapter Three

  Joe stood in front of the altar of Tatum, glaring through the flickering light at the unassuming book-shaped pedestal. “Alright, Occultatum. I know that you gave me hints in the past that I needed to use what I already had, but I really thought that you were talking about ritual stuff, or my Jumplomancer abilities. Would it have been so hard to say ‘Come and get these abilities’?”

  He sighed when there was no answer. There shouldn't be, as Tatum was locked away, but an answer was something that he had come to expect when he was at the altars. Still… this was a class thing, and he should still be able to get his abilities! Joe placed his hands on the book, and said, “Please give me my Cleric abilities.”

  Greetings, Champion of Tatum! Your Cleric class level is considered equal to your character level, as you started as a hidden class! As a Cleric, you gain an ability or spell every third level. Calculating… level is fifteen! You are owed an ability from level three, six, nine, twelve, and fifteen!

  As you are a Champion, and not a standard Cleric, you get to choose the school that your Cleric abilities come from! As Occultatum is a ‘Neutral’ deity, you can choose ‘neutral’, ‘good’, or ‘evil’ aligned abilities from the school of your choice. Would you like to choose your level three ability? Yes / No.