Chapter 45

The New Business Venture

When tragedy strikes that is when you find out how strong the members of a community truly are. Our town of Crossroads had been dealt back-to-back tragedies. First a group of exceptionally high level regressors came through and destroyed the town. Next, the guards who had been dealing with corruption amongst their ranks were also devastated when the toxic mine that they were guarding collapsed in on them. I managed to save the lives of everyone, not just healing the damage from the collapsing mine, but also removing the toxic build up, but there was still a toll to pay. The guards who had already been forced to consume barely above standard Detox potions and elixirs, were all slowly going blind.

Even Gul Basine, my temporary magical healing instructor, and the person who served as my Doctoral Examiner, had no clue on what to do for the citizens who were all slowly going blind. All this did was make it so I was met with a new quest update.

Quest Update: The Toxic Nature of Crossroads: You have found that the guards of crossroads have been slowly poisoned for so long that their bodies are no longer able to combat what they have been exposed to. Find out what made all the guards go blind. Reward: variable.

Yeah, it is odd as I think this quest is somehow being tailored specifically for me. First, I can heal my own toxic poisoning by now, that is assuming that it would have been to much for my Regeneration to handle in the first place. Second, the major concern, going blind is not really a true concern of mine, as I am already blind. I am making it a mental note to go down and check on the toxic mine, but only once things in this town have settled.

As you can no doubt guess by now, I decided to stick on as the healer for Crossroads.

There were many compelling reasons, first Zero was still recovering. While he would have gone with me, I knew he would have done so at half strength. Again, I chalk that up to more of game shenanigans, but it was still effective. Second, the moment I accepted the role of being the true lead Healer for Crossroads, I was met with a series of messages.

New Mage Guild Access acquired: You now have full access to the complete restricted section of the Mage Guild’s Library.

That had been enough for me, books and more books available to read. MUWHAHAHAH!

Also don’t judge me for wanting to read it is one of my passions, the fact that I now have free reign to read every book in a Mage Guild’s library only makes this moment extra special. While our library is small, apparently if I stay on with the Mage Guild as a Healer, I can take trials where I prove myself, and then can get promoted to a bigger city with more books to read. As it is, I can already sense a number of books that have different skills, or at least the way to unlock different skills available. This is perfect, a chance for personal growth, new incentives in the form of skills, basically my own mini-Arcanarus University, while getting paid.

Oh, that is the other thing, I apparently will be getting paid for this position. As it stands, I have asked for my money to be held in a trust by the guild, what this means is that barring minor spending limits, I will have gold to my name, but be unable to spend it while the gold is gathering interest on my behalf. Again, I think this is more system shenanigans as that is exactly one month after my Broke flaw will lapse, meaning as soon as this one-year contract is expired, I will be able to reap the full rewards of my time as a paid Healer for the Mage’s guild, which is apparently a set wage and a percentage of the healing revenues that come in from paying customers. So not only can I withdraw up to 100 gold, my current maximum, but all my extra money will go to me once this is over.

Of course, the money and books are just a start of what this new position offers. As a respected member of the community, I now have voting rights to how this town will be developed.

Town Building Notification: Lucky’s Card Hall is requesting the rights to build a gambling hall in your town of Crossroads. As you are now seen as a pillar of the community, you are granted a vote in whether this establishment will be allowed into your town.

Yes, I am now a partial city planner, in that I can help direct and build different buildings, I can also help with the placement of such facilities.

Note: The placement of Lucky’s Card Hall will be important to determine its overall influence on the city. To have it at or near the heart of the town will increase taxes generated by up to 10%. Having the gambling hall near the heart of town will also require the hall to provide up to 15% of the city’s policing force, along with 25% of the cleaning crew to make sure the area is clean of litter and other debris. Gambling halls overall have a +15% in Contentedness for residents, while also generating a -10% for Morality of your town residents.

As you can no doubt guess, I am going to vote for this building. It should be noted that the main person who can vote down such an establishment is the morality police, which I am apparently the defacto leader of, as I am the town’s new official healer. Apparently healers, are generally seen as spiritual people, and I am a Spirit magic wielding healer, so everyone naturally assumed I would be the sticking point for this motion to go through. I had fully been willing to vote the establishment in, even going so far as to beg them to build it in the open lot right next to our Mage guild hall, this would mean we would get the maximum revenue increase, along with the maximum protection, and cleanup benefits the hall offered. I was fully onboard, so imagine my surprise when they came to visit me.

***

Brring.

“Hello, whom are you here to see?” The Mage’s Guild receptionist asked.

“I am here to see the Healer of this fair town.” A gnome said, in what had to be the worst imitation of a crime boss I had ever heard. The gnome was not alone, as he was flanked by two muscle bound guards at his side that all but screamed of wearing enchanted magical suits.

“Um, she is right over there, though I would ask that if you are going to see her, then your friends stay out here.” The receptionist said, her tone denoting that she felt this was not a social gathering, nor a medical consultation.

“That’s fine,” the gnome once again said in their deep mobster voice.

Snap.

Yes, he actually snapped his fingers, then he continued the cliched role, “boys, why don’t you stand here and make sure we are not bothered during our consultation?”

With that, the two guards took up position on either side of the door, while the gnome entered my little wing of the guild hall.

“Hello, how may I help you, sir?” Zero, my familiar and acting receptionist asked.

“Yes, I seem to be having an acute case of affluenza, I need the doctor to see if they can help me.” The gnome says, patting their hand over their chest.

Hearing that, I of course, just shake my head, as I don’t think he knows what that means.

“Um, right this way.” Zero says, looking over the small gnome, but ultimately deciding to direct him to an examination table.

Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere.

Once at the table, there is an awkward pause, as most of the tables are regular height, meaning for regular humans, elves, and generally taller people.

“One second, let me get the stool.” Zero says.

“No need.” The gnome says, as he jumps onto bed with a dazzling showcase of skill and precision.

Of course, the move showed me that he had an arsenal of magical tools and weapons strapped to his side. While we generally don’t make our patients get rid of their weapons, having so many does seem to speak to a degree of paranoia.

“Here you go, for your troubles. Why don’t you go take a lunch break, you look like you could use one.” The gnome says, then hands Zero a stack of gold coins, and before you ask, I know due to the sound and the markings on the coins.

Holding the coins in his outstretched clawed hands, Zero just looks at the stack for a moment, then back to the patient. “Um…” He begins, but I cut him off.

“Don’t worry Zero, this patient is correct, you have done more than enough for now. Go get yourself a lunch and then come back.” I say, coming from my spot in the back. Of course, with my vision range, and my heightened Perception, I have been able to see all of this.

“As you wish.” Zero says, taking the gold and then pocketing it somehow. I still don’t know what he does with gold he is given, whether he places it in some pocket dimension, or what, but he is like a black hole when it comes to coins.

As I walk out from the back, I am covered in as much gear as possible to cover my face and hide the fact that I am still showing signs of my bloodline curse, this has been enough so far.

“It’s funny, but I thought you would be taller?” The gnome says as he stares at me.

“I could say the same, but that would likely come across as a cheap shot.” I say to the small gnome who would barely come up to my mid-thigh if we were standing next to each other.

“Hehehe. Good one. I like you, you are just as the Guild says.”

Silence.

He pauses, letting that statement linger in the air for a moment, seeing that it is now up to me to continue this conversation, I do. “That I’m a good healer?”

“No, the other guild.”

At that I know what he means, someone has apparently been speaking out of turn for the Thieves Guild. Still, I can’t let him get me to admit my own criminal contacts, so I try a different route. “That I am an Adventurer who will explore any dungeon or tower without ever scoring a true kill. That I am a Mechanical Engineer who has brought in plans that will revolutionize mechanical suit engineering.” By that last one, I am of course referring to the schematics I brought back from my first dungeon run, where I spent months learning from goblins.

“No, and no. I am referring to someone who has a history of completing some of the most challenging tasks, while never leaving behind any evidence that they were there. I am of course referring to the Ghost.” He says, drawing extra attention to the word Ghost as if it would get me to react. I of course had been expecting this, and using my always increasing Acting skill, I don’t even flinch when my Thieves Guild moniker is brandished.

“Who?”

“The Ghost, the most notorious cat burglar under level fifty.” He states.

I just stare, while inwardly I bristle at the comment, cat burglar, as if that is all I amount to, someone who resorts to petty theft to pass the time. I steal what is required and nothing more, that is a skill dang it.

“What exactly have you come here for?” I ask.

“Well as it so happens, I have a business venture I would like to take. I want to build a gambling hall within this great city.”

“We are little more than a town.” I correct him.

“At the moment, which is why we need to build the infrastructure needed to lure in people. I have a dream of having a high end luxury gambling hall built in this city, to help draw in the people needed to make this a place of business and relaxation. Of course, unfortunately my type of establishments have been given a bad rap.”

“You mean due to the morality hit on the populace, which directly impacts people’s willingness to commit crimes?” I ask.

At that he looks taken aback.

I of course had the alert that someone was willing to put in the gambling hall. I also saw all the modifiers, apparently the further away from the heart of the town the hall was placed, the more it would directly impact the morality. Meaning the further away from the town center, the higher percentage of negative morality we could expect to see in our population.

“Exactly, that is why I propose building this establishment as close to center of where this town will be.” He states before continuing, “there is a lot just at the end of this main strip that would be ideal for our purposes. Since it would be on one of the two main roads, it would not increase the morality penalty, while allowing a perfect spot for future roads to be built.”

At that I nod, as I see his plan. He wants to build the gambling hall at the end of the first street, all but saying it will be the final shop before the second street comes in. This will be an important spot, particularly if he imagines the town growing into that of a city, as he claims.

“That is a lofty goal, and what are you willing to do for this? You know that if you are too successful, you might change the entire landscape of our fair city, building it around gambling and corruption, rather than the four pillars as we have it, currently.” I am of course referring to the four guild halls, which are seen as the four pillars of any community. Also, what I am speaking about, the idea that the city will eventually shift its focus away from the four guild halls to a gambling hall, or other higher end establishments is not unheard of. That is how New Vice City was formed, and likely what this guy is trying to do, but at the grass roots level.

“Well that is why I am here, what would it take for you to first agree to such an establishment being in your fair city?” He asks.

At that, I realize this is a hidden quest that will likely not be mentioned by the system until later. “You want me to compromise my morals, for what, a few perks at your establishment?” I ask, trying to feign being offended.

At that the gnome pauses, “what, don’t tell me you suddenly got a conscience, but yes. Effectively, what would it take for you to vote for this establishment to enter your city’s zoning district?”

There, now I have him. He has just asked to be in the city’s zoning district, which goes far beyond the limits of the two main streets of town. “Well to just get into our zoning district, I would need to ensure the establishment in question met a few of my personal requirements.”

“Go on…”

“First it would need to have a Swapem Holdem table at all times. This would need to be the heart of your establishment, where only the true high rollers would be allowed to go. I of course, would always need to be able to be dealt in, when I had time from my busy schedule.”

“That’s it, a premium Swapem Holdem Table, and you to have access to said table?” He asks.

“There is one other concession I would like for you to make.”

“What?”

“At that table, anything can be bet, money, experience, etcetera.” I say.

“So a true premium no limit table designed for high rollers who have delved the higher floors of the tower and come back with too much money, experience, and time, I like it. Done.” He says, holding out his hand.

I reach out my own hand and shake his hand.

Hidden Quest Found: Friends In Low Places: You have made a deal with a gambling establishment to vote yes, when it comes to allowing the establishment to enter the city’s regional layout. Rewards: Premium Swapem Holdem table, VIP accommodations at said table, and there to be no limit to what can be wagered on any particular hand.

With that, my reward for that portion, just voting to have the establishment within the city was a go. Now it was time for me to tighten the screws a bit.

“Now that we have the fact that you will be able to have an establishment within this zone. I guess the next major question can come down to just three simple words. Location, location, location.” I say.

At that the gnome, looks flabbergasted, as they realize the terms we just established were for me to vote yes. Which we could theoretically vote to have this gambling hall well out in the boonies of this zone, well in the middle of monster spawning areas. While the gambling hall itself would be able to fight back the monsters, not many adventurers would be keen on going to a high end establishment out in the middle of nowhere.

“And just what location do you have in mind?” The gnome offers.

“Well, I guess that all comes down to you. Personally, I don’t like the idea of your establishment being at the intersection of second street. I think that would be a tremendous waste of resources on your part, as you would no doubt spend a lot of time and capital into getting your establishment seen as the new center of the city. Meanwhile that will cause problems and infighting over time. Instead, I have a separate proposal, but it is one that might turn out to be costly.” I state.

“What exactly are you proposing?”

“There are not one, but two lots directly to the left of our guild hall that are open for commercial business. That would be more than enough to set your establishment up as the premier center that you are claiming, unfortunately, it being so close to the Mage’s Guild will mean you will likely at the very minimum need to provide protection services for the guild to be there, along with making it worthwhile to have such an establishment within viewing distance of not just the train station, but all of the future commerce of this city.” I say, this time making sure to use his own word of where he sees this town going against him.

I can see that I’ve got him intrigued by the way his eyes flash wider for a moment as I mention the two open lots right next to my guild hall.

“You are saying, that I should reward you for placing a gambling establishment within walking distance of your Guild hall here? Not only that, but you expect me to post guards to secure this side of the street from vagrants and other riffraff?”

“That will be a minimum for me getting others to buy into your being there in the first place. Then you might need to offer me something that makes it so I take a personal interest in championing this little business endeavor.” I say.

At that, he pauses and looks at me for a long moment, then a long smile crosses his features as he states. “You know, I knew I liked you upon seeing you. Unfortunately I am one of the few who actually likes doing so.” He begins, at this I can almost feel the dagger coming for me, as he continues.

“You see, I have it on good authority that there is a particular Dark Elf that has taken on a blood curse recently. While the guild has of course put a squash to that information being disseminated too widely, it is a well known secret that a certain Shade Touched healer is fighting against their heritage of killing and consuming souls. Going so far as to go full healer even.” He states then stares directly at me.

“So blackmail, you keep my secret for this vote?” I ask.

“What, nonsense. Had I intended to use it as a club, I would have come out with that from the start. Instead, I wanted to offer you something far more beneficial to all of our arrangements.”

“All of us?” I ask.

“Yes, see I can’t have you championing for my cause, only to get outed by blood thirsty elves.” The Gnomish businessman states.

“So what do you propose?”

“Why, simple, I wanted to offer you a way to purge yourself of your cursed bloodline, while also securing my new location.” The gnome says.

At that, I am met with a new quest message.

Quest Update: Friends In Low Places II: You have made the offer of championing for the new gambling hall to be established in the two vacant lots next to the guild hall. In exchange the owner of the establishment has offered to help you with you purge yourself of your cursed bloodline. Rewards: Experience, Possible Cure to your Bloodline, others.

At that message, I pause.

“Do we have a deal?” He asks, once again holding out his hand.

“Deal.” I say, and feel a slight surge of magic overtake me as I realize this will likely force me to go deep into my bag of tricks as a thief, as this is clearly a Thieves Guild initiated quest, which might give me just the jolt of excitement that I need here in this small town.