In the tavern, Melanie, the new barmaid, was rushing from table to table, her feet barely touching the ground as she tried to keep up with the endless orders. Just yesterday, she'd been dreading her first night as a slave to the Sons of Valhalla, and now here she was, slinging beer in a mediaeval-style tavern in the middle of the wasteland called the Wasted Land Tavern.
"Girl, get us more beers!" one of the guys at a crowded table yelled.
"Yeah, two more over here!" another table called out.
Behind the bar, Gus, the grizzled bartender and ex-Earth’s Children member, was just as swamped, pouring beers as fast as he could. People were lining up, grabbing them almost before he could set the mugs down. Alexander had done a great job setting up the place, but the crowd tonight was something no one had expected. There was no time to iron out the kinks.
Two of the guys, Dirk and Mason, both rough around the edges, and pounding back beers, bumped into each other in the crowded space.
"Watch where you're fucking going!" Dirk snapped.
"Look, shit stain, you spilled my beer," Mason shot back.
Dirk didn't hesitate—he swung his sword, aiming for Mason's head. The crowd around them tensed, watching the fight unfold.
Tables and chairs flew everywhere as the fighters jostled for position. Beer was spilled and if security didn’t get there quickly, blood would be spilled as well.
The bouncer, Roy, who had been through more than his fair share of bar brawls on Earth, jumped in with his partner. He'd seen a lot of bar fights on Earth, but swords were a whole new level of trouble.
"Stop fucking fighting right now!" Roy yelled.
‘How am I supposed to stop a fight non lethally while sharp chunks of steel are flying around? This is fucked. I should have taken a job as a hunter. I would at least get coins for fighting!‘
Jack, his partner, didn’t waste time. "Hit the button, man!"
"Oh yeah, right!" Roy fumbled for the security tablet, pointed it at Dirk and Mason, and hit eject.
BERZOP!
The two troublemakers shimmered and dissolved into particles, teleported out of town as the crowd let out a collective sigh of relief.
The friend/foe system had external tablets that they sold for this exact reason. They weren’t cheap though at 20 mana coins a unit.
“Ok everyone fights over, just enjoy your beers. If you need to fight, get out of the fort or into the new arena.”
‘‘‘
At the vending machine areas, the bustle of activity was evident as groups of people lined up, eagerly scanning through the array of choices. The machines, sleek and glowing with bright blue lights, offered everything from basic necessities to rare, luxury items. The crowd murmured with a mix of excitement and mild frustration.
"Twenty percent more than what I'm used to, but damn, they have everything," said a man as he scrolled through the options on the machine’s screen.
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"Yeah, greedy bastards," another replied, chuckling, "but it’s not like we’re going to pass up on these upgrades. Look at this—real coffee beans! Haven’t had a decent cup since the apocalypse hit. It was crazy how much I’ve missed it in the morning."
A woman nearby chimed in, “And check this out—actual hot showers. We can buy tokens for it. That alone is worth the extra coins. I’ll pay anything not to stink like a ghoul.”
“And did you see this? Actual pre-apocalypse movies on a magic tablet,” a younger man said, holding up a small package. “I’ve been dying to rewatch some old classics—feels like forever since I’ve seen a real movie. It’s a shame the tablet dissolves after a week though.”
Despite the grumbling, there was no hesitation. People tapped the screens, confirming their purchases with quick flicks of their fingers. The Portal Crushers might have been charging more, but they knew what the people wanted.
“Still, rows and rows of these vending machines,” another man noted as he gestured around. “At least we’re not stuck waiting forever to get what we need. They must’ve really planned for the rush.”
The Portal Crushers actually hadn’t prepared for the masses, but luckily the number of available PortalApproved Vending machines had increased automatically as the capacity was upgraded.
A woman nodded, “They knew what they were doing. Even if we’re paying a little extra, it’s better than the scraps we could choose through in our own settlements. Besides, it’s not like they’re the only ones who’d raise prices.”
The conversations continued as more people joined the lines, eager to see what else they could get. The machines, once just simple dispensers of basic goods, had become the heart of Fort Bone’s commerce, a place where survival met comfort—for a price.
“Let’s get some better weapons and head out to hunt. We can’t hunt in the area around our own settlement because of those freaking demon dogs hanging around,” Amilii said to her group of people.
‘‘‘
Amber wiped the sweat from her brow, glancing over at Atlas as they navigated the chaos of building Fort Bone’s new facilities. “Atlas, how are we going to handle the cost of all this? These new buildings aren't cheap.”
Atlas, who was furiously tapping away at the now multi-person government station kiosk, watched the flow of coins pouring in, then go out. The kiosk, which had expanded with multiple screens and options, was rapidly becoming the nerve center of their operations. “It’s easy,” he replied, his tone confident. “Every time you approve an idea from one of the residents, just make sure that the building is set to keep 20% of the income as a tax.”
Amber raised an eyebrow, processing the information. “So, as long as we have the coins and the idea seems feasible, we can set it up? That includes the brothel, right?”
Atlas hesitated for a moment, then nodded. “It’s fine, just go ahead and do it.” But as Amber turned to leave, his thoughts drifted.
‘Wait, if I’m taking 20% from the brothel, does that make me a pimp? And what would be my pimp name? A pimp named Atlas? D’Charismatik Crusher?‘ The thought made him snicker.
‘‘‘
Meanwhile, Mohammed, who had been looking forward to this since the morning meeting, was in his element. His first big move was the purchase of an arena, a place where blood pounding fights could take place, and where betting could thrive. As he watched the first few fighters square off in the newly constructed pit, he couldn’t help but grin.
‘I can’t believe they let me set this up. This thing is going to be a huge moneymaker. My experience with SFB team ownership makes this a breeze,‘ he thought gleefully.
Crowds had already started gathering, the air buzzing with excitement and anticipation. The new Sword And Iron arena was quickly becoming one of the most popular attractions in Fort Bone. And with the Medipods ready and operational, Mohammed knew he could push the boundaries.
‘We don’t need to set up death fights—yet. But with the Medipods, we can definitely make these fights bloody and exciting.‘
He rubbed his hands together, already counting the coins that would soon be pouring in.
As the first match began, with blades clashing and the roar of the crowd echoing through the arena, ‘Fort Bone isn’t just a settlement anymore‘, Mohammed thought as he watched the fighters clash in the arena, the crowd roaring with every blow. ‘It’s turning into a hub of entertainment, commerce, and power.‘ He felt a surge of pride, as he watched eager suckers filing in. ‘And I’m right in the thick of it, shaping its future.‘
‘These coins are great‘, he mused, ‘but even greater would be owning this whole town.‘
The idea planted itself in his mind, growing roots. ‘Atlas might be the one with the vision, but why shouldn’t I be the one to control it all?‘ The thought made him smile as he turned back to the fight, already imagining what could be.