I head over to the restaurant in my usual clothes, a type of long pant, boots and collared shirt with a black jacket over it, the sea winds make the late weather quite cold. I arrive at the Adventurer Society and check in with Bert, turns out the Society is open all day and night.
“G-day Bert, looking to collect the coins Lockness and I made today.”
Bert looks up from some paperwork, “Evening Michael, yes give me one moment.” he replies putting down his pen and bending over to what I assume would be a safe of some kind underneath the desk.
He pulls out a small bag of coins, a receipt and a copy of the now stamped completed job listing onto the desk and crosses his arms, all in those weird glyphs. I really need to learn how to read these things…
“That should be all, for the both of you it came to 10 Gyenebr so between the two of you, you get 5 each. Mr Lockness has already come by to collect his.”
“Gyenebr?” I ask picking up one of the bronze coloured coins, “I’m not too familiar, what's the equivalent to Farmers Rest?”
“Ah, that would be the same amount of Oaikibpeta, 5 Oaikibpeta coins, that can buy you a few nights in a very fancy hotel. You two did good work today.”
Shaking my head at these weird, complicated names I grab the stuff and push into my inventory,
“Cheers, I’m never gonna get used to these names, you wouldn’t happen to know where the names come from?”
“I think, think it had something to do with the ones who first created the currency system back in the day but I can’t remember.” he replies shrugging.
“Eh, no worries, I’ll probs have Number 3 look into it. Gnight Bert.”, “Good night Michael.”
As I leave the Adventurer Society I notice something, a few red dots on the Map Mode, we have Institute nearby approx 35 metres away. I double time it to the restaurant and move into the main dining area, having a quick look around spotting Lockness at a nearby table and sitting.
“Hi mate, don’t look now but we have company incoming.” I whisper into my glass of water as I take a drink.
Instantly looking confused and turning around Lockness has a look “Who are you looking at?”
“Bruh, I just said don’t look. I’m not even speaking English.” I reply exasperated, glass forgotten while burying my head into a folded menu, despite it being upside down which is definitely noticed by the waiter who just came by to take out order.
At a raised eyebrow and a look to me he asks Lock, “Um, ready to order?”
“Yes, can we get two orders of Ghema Syb please, and some more water.”, “Sure, two Syb’s coming up.” replies the waiter taking my upside-down menu from my hands.
“Locky, I saw at least three blips on the Map, Institute were watching the Society.”
“You're really paranoid you know, the Institute building is just a few minutes walk away.”
“Yeah well as the old saying goes, Just because you're paranoid doesn't mean they aren't after you.” After a short pause looking around while checking Map Mode I see no more blips on the Map.
Breathing out and relaxing somewhat I realise Lock had already ordered. “Oh thanks by the way, for ordering.”, “No worries.”
Soon enough after some short talking about today and idle chit chat food arrives, it’s a curry but very mild, like a Japanese curry but a green colour. Also that Ghema is the closest I’ve gotten to Chicken at this point. As we polish off a well earnt meal I keep looking at the Map Mode, no blips.
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Yea I got spooked big time. “Any ideas for the next job?”
“There is one that takes us out of the city I was looking at, a scouting mission. The job is to go to a specific location and find a tracking crystal, and replace it with another one.”
“Whats it for?”, “Tracking” Lock replies deadpan with a serious look on his face before a smile cracks out. “It’s for animal tracking, it takes a record of all the animals or monsters that went through its area.”
I nod my head in thought, that sounds like a good idea to have around villages. Track before a monster shows. “How far is it?”
“There are two nearby, a few hours walk there and back that need doing, the first is already taken but the other one is free. I asked Bertinald to hold it for us.”
“Sounds like a good idea, honestly do not want to go back into a closed in room or tunnel anytime soon.”
We finish our drinks and managed to get some of that curry in a box, not an unusual request it turns out! After agreeing to meet up at the Society building in the early morning I head back toward Dr Raths place and meet up again with him and the clones.
They already filled him in with what we did today and I pay him back the money for the Food Generator, recycler and other stuff he bought for me at Farmers Rest for the Oasis Alpha Team much to his insistence that we didn’t have to.
After heading up the carved wooden stairs with the rest of the clones and Kage we agree that we all would like some sleep and so I and Number 1 share my bed while 3, 4 and 5 sleep on the floor with Koda, Wotjek and the other new Kage sleeping either in their shadow physical form or in the shadows under the windowsill or bed. Each Clone and Kage getting their own blanket and pillow.
---
Waking up after a well deserved sleep we all get up and have a quick breakfast of soupy oats from wooden bowls, as we eat all together at the dining table with Dr Rath I talk with the guys about the plan for today.
“So, as I mentioned last night Lock and I will head out to this scouting mission, Number 1 I want you in Crystal School. I’d also like a resurgence report at some point.”
“Ye Boss.”
“Two, your at the library with Three, You’ll focus on the Power Plans while Three you work on language skills, we do need to learn how to read. Also think of an auto translate function for letters while your at it.”
A groan is Number 2’s only response as he facepalms with the table while Number 3 replies with “Sure.”
“Four, if you can train the new Kage and come up with strategies. Combat, Recon, Comms, that sort of stuff. I’ll take Koda and Wotjek with me today, get them doing recon practice.”
“Yee”
“And 5, you can either help Two and Three, Four or do some small stuff in the area. Help Dr Rath with house cleaning, mapping the city with Map Mode, take a small job at the Society. Whatever.”
“Easy, no worries.”
“Ok, so that just about covers this meeting, we’ll reconvene when I get back.”
Finishing up our meals and bantering with Dr Rath and the others I make my way back into my room to get changed into my gambeson and needle belt. Soon enough I arrive at the Society and make my way to the reception where another man is serving Lock with the job listing he put on hold.
“G-day Lock, Scaron?”
Lock shakes his head a little and turns to me, “Hi Michael, this is Davos. He’s got the job for us.”
Davos is the polar opposite of Bertinald, while Bertinald is older, as large as a barn and scarred arms like cannons, Davos is small, skinny and young. I’d guess late 20s.
“Nice, pleasure mate” I reply, holding out my hand and receiving a shake in return.
“I’ve heard all about you from Bertinald, let me know if I can be of any help.”, “No worries.”
“Righto, where are we headed?” I ask Lock as I turn towards him.
“Basswood Chain, about 20 kilometres north of us. Maps, details and crystal are all here.”
The map shows the somewhat circular city and a large chain of hills covered in trees to the north, another map shows a specific hill and a path up toward where the crystal is located. About 10 kilometres westward of there is a note of where the second crystal Lock mentioned yesterday.
Another page contains a list of details such as why the Crystal is hidden, code to undock the crystal and how to place in the new crystal. All included with the polished quartz crystal which we will replace.