Realising I’ve still got my helmet on, I pull it off and set it on the handlebars. “Mind if I ask a few more questions?”
The elder sighs and after getting me to add myself to the chain, proceeds to answer. Lifting and tossing the meat is cheap for the information that I want. Surprisingly, the moment my foot crosses the line into the school, I get a new window, one that I’ve never seen before.
You Have Entered a Safe Zone (École School)
Mana flows in this area are stabilised. No monster spawning will happen.
This Safe Space includes:
A School (+10% Skill Progression)
I soon learn that the guards are the town owner’s and they have been dealing with most of the spawning monsters, patrolling the main thoroughfares. Both École and FH Collins were safe zones and where nearly everyone was crashing these days since it was the only way to guarantee a monster didn’t just spawn in the middle of the night under your bed. Space was a premium though and hygiene levels had dropped since both electricity and water wasn’t working anymore which explained the rather rank smell of unwashed bodies. Then again, I was not complaining - I hadn’t washed in days either.
The meat was for the general stew pot as the regular truck delivery had never made it and a ton of food had spoiled when the electricity died. It was only some quick thinking that had the stores barricaded, with food being served in the cafeteria. The hunters were doing their best to supplement, but with nearly five thousand mouths to feed, they weren’t keeping up and everyone was on short rations now.
While I'm speaking the others catch up and the non-combatants and kids are quickly ushered in by a welcoming committee of delighted looking residents. In the background, I can hear questions being asked about where they came from and of any confirmed deaths. I guess knowing one way or the other is better than not. Richard and the other fighters are dragged away by my ex and her group, a quick glare by me keeping them away for now at least.
Unloaded, the men hop up onto the truck looking grim. The only other working truck they’d found had never come back from a recent trip so they need to get hunting immediately. However, hunting monsters bigger and tougher than you are with our basic hunting rifles could not be easy.
“Jim,” I call to the elder and he turns back to me from speaking with his group about their next hunting grounds, obviously irritated by my interruptions. Hopefully, this will help, “Ran into a bear along the ride-in. I had to kill it and leave the meat. It’s about 45 minutes drive from here on the way to Haines Junction. Might be a bit rotten, it’s been a few hours but…”
“Where?” His eyes narrow, already considering it. Free meat that doesn’t require them to fight is too good to pass up.
“I’ll show you,” I head back to the bike and then stop as a pair of guards appear in front of me, their faces impassive. “Hi there.”
“Lord Roxley would like to have a word,” the taller of the two Dark Elves speaks, hand casually resting on his sword hilt.
“Really now,” I can feel my lips widen and my balance shift before Ali practically shouts into my ear. “Don’t be an idiot! If he wants to, he can ban you from the Shop!”
That would be bad. “I guess I’m coming with you.”
Jim glares at the guards but says nothing, nodding to me to show he understands my predicament. On a whim, I grab the rifle from the holster and hand it to the man. “Shoots just like the real thing, except no recoil. You’ve got 21 shots in there. Try not to break it will you? I expect it back.”
Jim grunts, checking the rifle out as his friends look on in surprise.
“So Ali, you got the locator beacon on that turned on right?”
“Definitely. Still stupid, but these hicks won’t be able to figure out how to turn it off,” Ali smirks.
“Let’s go see your boss then,” I flash the pair a wide grin that doesn’t reach my eyes as I get onto the bike and wave them to lead me. This should prove interesting at the very least.
Chapter 7
On closer inspection, the building that the Shop is housed in is sheathed in some form of reflective silvery material. Spreading upwards in a rectangular block, it dominates the cityscape, jarring in its alienness. As we approach, the door slides open and we enter the foyer which is all black marble and more silver highlights. The moment we do, a System message appears.
You Have Entered a Safe Zone (City Centre)
Mana flows in this area are stabilised. No monster spawning will happen.
This Safe Space includes:
Village of Whitehorse City Centre
The Shop
“Village?” Yeah, the city’s small but that’s a bit of a demotion. I guess the System is only counting System recognised housing.
“Getting a map now John, I’ll overlay with your human maps in a bit so you can see things properly when you put on the helmet,” Ali speaks, eyeing the building we walk in. “Of course, if you got those cyber-eyes, I could just shoot it through to you but you just got whiny about wanting to keep your meat eyes.”
So not the right time. I sigh and rub my temples, wondering for the thousandth time whether there was something in the Shop that’d let me neuter Spirits. Or at least gag them.
We enter the elevators and shoot up to the top floor, the motion completely imperceptible. Heck, the only reason I know we’re on the top floor is due to the 360-degree view that the transparent walls afford me.
“Lord Graxin Roxley, Baron of the Seven Seas, Hunter of Drakyl, Master of the Sword and the Black Flame, Corinthian of the Second Order and acclaimed Dancing Master of the 196th Ball,” the guard announces as we step from the elevator. At my side, Ali translates in his usual helpful manner “Dark Elf, Baron, killed over a hundred demons, blade master and special fire mage, likes to cuddle with men aggressively and is a pretty, pretty dancer.”
The guard, unaware continues his introductions. “My lord, the Adventurer John Lee, Monster Bane and Redeemer of the Dead.”
Interesting. So my Titles actually mean something it seems. While I’m being announced, I take the time to watch Lord Roxley. The man (elf?) is tall, a good 6’ 6” of lithe grace and purple hair that reaches his back. Pointy ears, black skin and purple eyes dominate an angular face atop a military cut swing jacket that’s all in black with hints of purple. Resting easy on his right hip is a sword and across from it on his left a pistol. He exudes easy confidence and charm and a part of me wants to go up and grab his trim butt and see how kissable he really is.
Mental Influence Resisted
The flashing note brings my lustful thoughts to a halt and Ali floats next to me, nodding at my glance, “Yup. He’s putting out a low-level bubble of charisma. Looks like a mixture of pheromones, good genes and subtle body mimicking behavior.” He pauses and then continues, “Still, feel free to jump his bones. I’ll watch and tape it.”
“How come his Status Bar is just a bunch of question marks after his name?” I ignore Ali’s assertions, though a part of me still wouldn’t mind. It’s not as if I haven’t dabbled before but maybe another day.
“Can’t access his information. Something’s blocking me,” Ali says.
“Welcome to the Village of Whitehorse Adventurer,” Lord Roxley says.
“Thank you,” I stand around, trying to figure out what the hell is going on. Why me? The way we were announced tells me something formal is going on here, but what beats me like a white guy the day before the welfare check arrives.
“I must say, I had not expected one so… inexperienced, for one so titled,” Roxley smiles and this one is not at all friendly.
“Yeah. I got… lucky,” okay, downplay might be the better bet here perhaps. Or at the least, close to the vest.
“There is no Luck with the System,” Roxley states and the way he says it, it seems like it’s a quote. He gestures to a pair of lounging chairs and I walk over to join him, waiting for him to sit before doing so myself. Some courtesies I know, though who knows if they use the same forms.