Ch 5 - Too much of a good thing (1/5)
Patrick: How was your first real job, Emilia?
Emilia: It was fun.
Emilia: And I finally got my own shoes, too.
Patrick: You fainted once but you are only 14. No one will blame you for that.
Liz: I think you do have some talents.
Emilia: Really?
Liz: You used your blade to pierce between armor pieces. That requires precision. I suppose you had to use such a style since you lack raw strength.
Patrick: Like I told you before, master the wakizashi.
Liz: He's right. You won't be like me or Mau, but you can still be a decent fighter in other ways.
Patrick: I will be heading over Free trader outpost to report in the job. Liz, Emilia, Gynn, I am taking you three this time.
Mau: Okay, boss. We will be chilling out at the house.
Kyle: It was a decent run. Plenty of money we made. Time to soak myself in liquor.
Free trader receptionist: Hoi, Patrick and BJs!
Patrick: Yo, where is the girl?
Free trader receptionist: On holidays.
Patrick: Oh well.
Free trader receptionist: I already received words from Zill. Good job.
Patrick: Already? Darn, he's fast.
Free trader receptionist: Merchants are fast.
Free trader receptionist: Alright, here is a small bonus for satisfying your client.
Patrick: Thanks.
Free trader receptionist: I don't have any jobs for you right now. Things are relatively stable out there.
Patrick: Good for the general people, not good for mercs like us.
Free trader receptionist: Take some break. I will let you know when something comes up.
Roughly 1 year passed. The BJs went on few merchant escort jobs and everything seemed to be going well for them.
And one day...
Patrick: Okay, guys... This is huge. No, it's bigger than huge. I don't even know the word for it.
Emilia: Enormous?
Patrick: What does that mean?
Emilia: It means: very large in size, quantity, or extent.
Patrick: Been reading books again, I see.
Liz: Boss, on the topic?
Patrick: Oh, right! This is huge. If we do manage to get this job done, we will be rich. Some of you might be tempted to retire.
Ceras: Boss, just spill the beans. What's the pay and what's the job?
Patrick: A small group of merchants are very displeased with how the Holy nation handled a smugging operation they were invovled in. Long story short, they wish to found a small independent village.
Ereck: The pay?
Patrick: They aren't going to pay us anything at the start but they have promised to pay us 250.000 cats.
Ceras: Holy marco. That's more than enough for me to retire even when it's split up.
Emilia: 35.714 cats for each of you.
Gynn: Holy shit...
Kyle: Ohhh, yeah. I can retire on that. Invest in a business and get me a wife... Ohhhh, yeaaaah.
Emilia: There must be a catch though. The payment seems to be way too good.
Patrick: Yeah, the merchants want us to protect their new village while they construct it.
Mau: Doesn't sound too hard.
Emilia: Are the Holy nation aware of the merchants' intention?
Patrick: They didn't tell us that. We actually have to meet them in Eyesocket for more info.
Patrick: So, guys, let's head out! To Eyesocket!
Patrick: Alright, you guys stay here. I am going to go in there alone and meet the clients in private.
Liz: Take Emilia with you, boss.
Patrick: Huh? How come?
Liz: She's smarter than any of us. This mission sounds tricky. We might need someone smarter.
Mau: And it sounds like it invovles politics. Nothing good comes out of anything involving politics.
Emilia: ......
Patrick: Alright, Emilia, come with me.
Tako: The BJs? Patrick, I assume?
Patrick: Yes. I thought there were three of you.
Tako: Yes, but only I am here. The other two are waiting at the spot we plan to build a village.
Patrick: Alright, fill us in and we will decide whether to go for it or not.
Tako: We had a smugging operation going on. It was going well until a high noble of the Holy nation decided that he wanted the whole bees instead of a piece.
Emilia: Are you saying that the noble took a aprt?
Tako: It was his idea to begin with. He promised that he would make guards to turn a blind eye on the operation. He'd get a piece of profits in the end.
Emilia: Hasn't it occurred to you that maybe the noble never intended to let you have any pieces?
Tako: ... Maybe.
Emilia: Patrick, this is too dangerous.
Patrick: I see where you are coming from, Emilia, but it's 250.000 cats!
Emilia: Is he even capable of paying that much?
Tako put his big bag down on ground and unzipped it slightly to show the content of the bag.
Tako: Yes, I can. The noble has yet to have any cats.
Patrick: Holy shit, that bag is full of cats!
Tako: We've run away with all money.
Emilia: And the noble wants you.
Tako: The holy nation has branded us as criminals. We are wanted in the Holy nation and United cities.
Emilia: And Dead cat?
Tako: Dead cat is willing to take us in but there is a condition.
Emilia: Go on.
Tako: We must stay low for few years.
Patrick: Wait. Hang on a sec. Are you expecting us to protect you for "few years" ?!
Tako: No, of course not. We need the BJs to protect us while we set the village up. Once we establish a proper village, Dead cat will send us a group of "mercenaries" and claim the village as their own. We would be protected by Dead cat after that.
Patrick: What do you think, Emilia?
Emilia: Sounds plausible. The Holy nation will send bandits in definitely to stop them from constructing a village.
Tako: Which is why we need you guys.
Emilia: It's not going to be easy which is why he is offering us that much money.
Tako: But it's worth it. You pull this off and you will be good for life. I don't think all of you will make it though.
Patrick: ... What?!
Tako: But, listen, the less of you survive, the bigger share you will get in the end.
Emilia: ......
Tako: We have enough building materials to start. We will be bringing in extra merchants to bring in more materials. All we need is a week max. Probably 3 days but a week max.
Patrick: ......
Patrick: Alright, guys, I talked to them and it's a deal. And I've seen 250.000 cats in person.
Ceras: Holy fuck.
Kyle: For real?!
Gynn: I am glad your pants are still dry, boss.
Mau: Hehe.
Liz: And Emilia's opinion on this?
Ceras: Does it matter? It's fucking 250.000 cats!
Emilia: It's going to be very hard. That's all I can say at the moment.
Ceras: Of course it's going to be hard! Otherwise, they wouldn't pay us that much!
Ereck: Damn, I am getting an erection just thinking about the money.
Ceras: Hahaha!
Patrick: So, you wanna go for it, guys? This will probably be our last job together. I am sure some of you will retire after this.
Ceras: Yeah, boss. I am up for it. No pain, no gain.
Kyle: Agreed with Ceras. I am in.
Ereck: Of course, I am in. Only a fool would miss such a chance.
Gynn: The chance of our lives, I am in.
Mau: Sure.
Liz: Fine.
Patrick: Emilia?
Emilia: I don't get paid, do I? Not that I care. I owe you my life, Patrick. I am in.
Patrick: Don't worry, girl. I will give you some from my share.
Liz: And mine.
