NOVPUB“That’s the bit,” Melissa said with a grimace. “It’s… not one that I would normally be pushing your way. I think it might be a bit below the Menagerie’s standards, per say. I don’t want to insult you or—”
“Just tell me the job,” Arwin said through a laugh. “I really don’t care what it is. If I don’t want to do it, I won’t do it. I’m not going to get pissed at you for being the messenger. Especially when you’re only doing this to try and help us out.”
Melissa coughed into her fist and gave him an embarrassed nod. “Right. Well, it’s an escort job. Kid that fancies himself an adventurer. You know the type. A boy from a poor family sets out to make a fortune and dig himself out of the slums. He pulls it off. Gets a whole boatload of gold and fame to his name, then grows older. His kids get comfortable and used to the rich life. They sit on the cash and have kids of their own… but the grandkid isn’t satisfied. He’s grown up in wealth and wants a purpose in life. But he’s grown up hearing stories about grandpappy. This kid isn’t going to settle for anything less than the best.”
“So he decides he’s going to be an adventurer even better than his grandfather,” Arwin finished. He didn’t exactly know the type, but it looked like Melissa was speaking from experience. She came from a wealthy family of her own. Something told Arwin that she might have related to whoever this grandkid in question was. “I see where you’re going with this. And what does this have to do with an Expert Tier dungeon? How rich is this family?”
“Rich,” Melissa replied. “And in good connection. They’re nobility. The actual court structure was abolished a long time ago of course, but they’re about as close to it as you can get.”
“Family name?” Arwin asked. “Would I know them?”
“Blacktongue.”
Arwin squinted at Melissa. “Seriously? What are they, supervillains?”
“What’s a supervillain?”
Arwin shook his head. “Nevermind. That name doesn’t exactly inspire confidence, though. They seem kind of… evil. Why dealings did they have with the Kererus Coalition, and why is it that you’re now in contact with them? I just want to make sure I understand what is being asked of us.”
“It’s the kid’s parents,” Melissa said through a sigh. “They want to make sure he’s safe on his first trip. They were in talks with the Kererus Coalition, but after your team completely trounced them in the Proving Grounds, I managed to worm my way in through an internal contact. I want access to their crystal mines.”
Crystal Mines? What kind of crystal? And damn, Melissa. Already moving in on the Kererus Coalition… looks like they were right to be worried about you.
“Care to enlighten me on these mines?” Arwin asked. “Crystal is kind of a generic term. I assume there’s a reason you want in.”
Melissa nodded. She reached into a pocket and pulled out what looked to be a small blue shard of glass. Faint white energy shimmered within it. She held it out to Arwin, who took it from her palm and examined it.
There was power within the stone. Arwin was certain of that. But the power wasn’t the power he feared. It didn’t have anything to do with the Devouring Prism. This stone seemed more like a natural store of energy than anything nearly as powerful as the Prism had been.
“These things are instrumental for potion making. They infuse ingredients with a magical preservative that allows potions to maintain their efficacy over long periods of time. Basically everyone who makes potions uses them,” Melissa said, excitement entering her voice as she spoke. “Individually, they aren’t too pricy. But there’s huge demand and scale for them. It would be easy for us to expand if we started distributing them.”
“I see,” Arwin said. He tried not to laugh at the eager expression on Melissa’s face. “I don’t know much about potions, but I can tell you’re confident in this. But there’s one thing I’m not sure I follow. Has this kid we’re meant to escort ever gone into a dungeon?”
“No,” Melissa said. She deflated like a balloon and blew out a weary sigh. “I know where you’re going with this, and I agree. It’s absolutely moronic. But the parents are adamant. They want his first dungeon to be Expert Tier so he has the best chance of getting a really good class.”
Arwin’s brow furrowed. “That’s not how it works.”
“Trust me, I’ve tried to tell them. It didn’t work.” Melissa pinched the bridge of her nose between two fingers as memories slipped behind her eyes. “They’re dead set on this. Their little brat has to go through a Tier Four dungeon and emerge victorious. That, of course, means with all his limbs intact.”
That certainly complicated things.
“Can—”
“You bundle him in a bag and keep him strapped to your back the whole time?” Melissa guessed. “No. He’s got to deal the finishing blow to at least one of the monsters. End of story, he needs to get a class in the dungeon.”
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“Lovely,” Arwin said. “And do his parents realize that nobody is guaranteed a class from fighting? It’s easy for people to delude themselves into thinking they want something that they don’t truly desire. If this kid is only following his grandfather’s steps and has no other reason to become an adventurer, there’s a good chance that the Mesh won’t give him a class.”
Melissa nodded. “Yeah. I think you can see the problem. You’d basically be doing glorified babysitting for a noble kid, but you have to take the brat through an entire Expert tier dungeon rather than just sitting at home with him. It’s demeaning.”
“It’s not how I would normally choose to spend my time,” Arwin allowed. “But you’re confident that this deal would be of significant importance?” 𝓷ℴ𝓿𝓹𝓾𝓫.𝓬ℴ𝓶
“If it works out, yes. We could practically double our income overnight. I’m in a pretty good bargaining position right now because no adventuring team over Adept would take a job like this — and the Menagerie is probably the most famous one within the Adept tier after that tournament. You’re all the rage right now. It’s practically perfect.”
“And the Menagerie will be getting some of that income as thanks for our work?” Arwin asked, arching an eyebrow.
Melissa cleared her throat. “Er… yeah. Of course. I was thinking we could supply you with some of the Crystals.”
“You’ll take it up with Rodrick,” Arwin said. “I’m sure he can come to some form of agreement that’s mutually beneficial for us. I don’t know how much demand we’ve got for crystals, but maybe Esmerelda wants some. But money… never going to say no to that.”
“So that means you’ll do it?” Melissa asked eagerly. “You don’t mind?”
“Well, I need a few more answers first. How big is the dungeon? Do we know anything about it?”
“The Blacktongues haven’t had their forces delve too deep into it yet. They don’t have adventurers skilled enough to take an Expert Rank dungeon and they don’t want to outsource to just anyone. They’re too worried good adventurers will loot the place.”
Arwin’s eyes narrowed. “What does that make us?”
“Famous,” Melissa said through a snort. “And I’m pretty sure they’re planning on you only clearing a small portion of the dungeon. They figure you can clear the early bits easy enough and get their kid the class, but you won’t be able to make it all the way to the end.”
Understanding bloomed within Arwin.
“Ah. I see. So they’re using the access to the dungeon as the bait to get us to agree, expecting that we’ll call things early before we get to the good stuff. And, in the process, their kid gets to acquire his supposedly more powerful class and has bragging rights that he did an Expert Ranked dungeon as an Apprentice.”
Melissa nodded. “Yup. That’s it in a nutshell. So… interested? Because we’ll have to do this pretty quickly if you are. I need to strike while the iron is hot, so to speak.”
“How quickly?”
“Today.”
Arwin’s eyes widened. “Today? That’s not much prep time. This isn’t just a random weak dungeon. It’s Expert tier. Are you sure the parents don’t want their kid getting killed?”
Melissa just shook her head. “I don’t know. Really, I don’t. It’s a mystery. But if we don’t take them up on this, then they’ll replace us. You’re the best option they have. That doesn’t make you the only one.”
“Right, but why are they moving on such a tight timeline? It seems odd,” Arwin said.
“Some noble shit,” Melissa said with an exhausted sigh. “It’s all about posturing. There’s a big party coming up, and I think they want their brat ready to show off by the time it arrives.”
“Do they realize that their kid could die? This is a dungeon, not a playground. Nobody can guarantee safety inside a dungeon, and that goes doubly so when we’re rushed.”
“Trust me, Arwin. If I could have beat any sense into their heads, I would have. I’m not saying I think this is smart on their end. I don’t want to be the reason a kid dies. But if you’re confident we can pull this off, then it would be huge for all of us.”
Arwin chewed his lower lip. The demands were pretty intense, but he’d been working with Wallace and Koyu nonstop for several days now. The list of potential clients still wasn’t quite done yet, as Rodrick was still vetting them.
It had been a long time since he’d gone out and stretched his abilities — and he still hadn’t truly had a chance to put Caldera to use. An Expert Tier dungeon wasn’t going to be a cakewalk. But they didn’t have to clear it. They just had to go as far as they could.
“If everything goes to plan, do we get continued access to the dungeon?” Arwin asked.
Melissa nodded. “That’s not hashed out in the deal yet, but I’m confident I could arrange for that. I don’t think they have much confidence that anyone will clear it soon. Especially not an Adept Tier team.”
Another part of the reason they want to hire us, I take it. We’re strong enough to hypothetically get the kid his class, but not clear out their precious dungeon. That is somehow both clever and stupid at the same time. Impressive.
Melissa said the dungeon was only stabilized enough for a 4 person party. The Mesh would probably start throwing too much at anything bigger. That means I can bring three. Me, Olive, Anna. That would probably be the best combination. I’ll have to ask them if they’re willing to do it.
If not, Anna could be substituted for Esmerelda — assuming I can find her. Rodrick or Kien could take Olive’s spot. We have options, and this is a big opportunity. They’re vastly underestimating just how much we can do, Adept Tier or not.
Arwin thought for another few seconds. He didn’t love the idea of putting a kid at risk, but if his idiot parents were going to go ahead with it regardless…
I might at least be able to put the kid in some armor that’ll keep him alive and have him sit back for the whole fight. I might be the best chance he has at not dying.
“We’ll do it,” Arwin said finally.
Melissa’s eyes lit up. “Thank you! Then I’ll introduce you now. He’s waiting. Figure you should get to talk to him before you head out tonight.”
“You brought him?” Arwin asked, aghast.
“Well, the Blacktongues did. They sent a mage with me to get me here faster, and the kid insisted on coming. I had them wait in an inn across town. Figured it was wise to keep things separate until you confirmed you were interested.” Melissa turned on her heel and started down the road. “I would brace yourself.”
“For what?” Arwin started after her, shaking off his surprise.
“The kid,” Melissa replied after a moment of pause. “He’s a little… odd.”
