If watching closely, one would notice there was a figure moving between bars and taverns as they continued to explore the settlement. After a while of walking she found herself walking through the doors of another bar to find that even with it still being early there were still a number of visitors. Making her way to a secluded part of a corner as she looked around for a while. It didn’t take her long to get up again and sit down across from an old man, slowly sipping the liquid he had in his glass. Without saying anything, she waited patiently for him to finish his cup.
Quietly looking around the dim environment, one could find a number of people enjoying their alcohol or non-alcoholic drinks with a bunch of sandwiches of different makes. Even with the sun outside shining through the glass, when making the windows they used a tinted version while still giving light. The glass would dim the blaring effect that would leave most with an uncomfortable feeling while drinking. With the combination of the magic lanterns with a softer glow, it gave one a comfortable feeling while still giving enough light to enjoy yourself.
Being a new settlement, while the basic start was to build a wall or defensive line, the insides would slowly be built up after. Without having a dungeon nearby, the increase of wild creatures made it so that these settlements, if not protected by walls, could easily be knocked down if they weren’t protected. So it often became the first thing built. Even if it was unexpected and the town hired the Adventurer Guild to set up a branch here to have adventurers constantly clear up the surroundings, it was still custom to make sure it was protected with a wall first.
The most common thing one could find in these branching settlements was travelers, where travelers came and went, so did crime. This also meant it was very easily picked off by bandits. To combat such attacks, they focus on the chance of an outside attack, coupled with the captain of the guards. The captain position was normally a Grade C or higher. For an outpost made to deal with the future expansion of roads and population growth.
With the perimeter giving those of the lower grades the advantage from those attacking outside, those inside would have to deal with a Grade C or higher. In this way these settlements were protected. This opened up new lands and work, at the beginning there wouldn’t be anything but bars and taverns outside what the owner of the settlement decided was required to increase the population of the settlement and the road leading to and from the settlement. While bars in already built places were often only for drinking in. Places like these can serve as a place to have lunch while on break, before going back to work.
After slowly sipping his beer, the old man slowly looked up. “What can I help you with, miss?”
So came the reply, “I need supplies.”
With raised eyebrows, he began to reply, “What makes you think an old man like me could do…”
Before he could finish, a bag of coins was thrown on the table. Even if it was a rowdy place like a bar, even if it was lunch hour and most of the people in the establishment weren’t drunk, such a noise was loud and attention grabbing. While the entire place didn’t all look over, the few tables nearest looked over. Those further away seemed to notice something also drawing their attention.
Not expecting such a thing to happen while enjoying himself, the old man was slow to react. Finally realizing the attention they were drawing, he quickly swept the bag off the table before getting up. Moving quickly, making his way to the stairs. Steadily following after him, she was soon ushered into one of the rooms on the upper floor.
After looking around a bit, she spoke without much patience, “I need supplies for an exploration.”
With an odd expression, the old man spoke, “What makes you think I can g…”
Once again, before he could even finish, she reacted by walking up, grabbing the bag of money and turning to leave. Yet before completely leaving, the old man finally reacted. Again with a delayed response, “You young people are always so impatient. What do you need?”
Halfway out the door, turning around and giving him a look before closing the door. Raising his eyebrows slightly, the old man hardened his face. As if to answer him in response, a soft voice reached his ears, “Laboratory.”
This time with no delay the old man's face changed from a hardened look to a surprised one. While laboratories were not exactly rare, they were also not exactly common. A few of the largest ones to be discovered were known to the public, five in fact. Even so, with the passing of time, two of the laboratories were completed. The other three were so publicly known that after the passing of time, the Adventurer’s Guild had to set up a requirement to enter.
Most might find this strange, but it was commonly accepted after the facts were pointed out. Of the five most commonly known, any one of them alone was responsible for the death of over tens of thousands of people. While not every one of those thousands of this count can be blamed on the laboratories themselves. Regardless, human and others blood coats the walls of these places deeply. This was also due to the fact the newest one was discovered over a thousand years ago.
Most laboratories were discovered and kept secret. Even the ones that were completed are only known to the ones that completed it. While often asked about where the finished product came from, the Adventurer Guild can’t demand this information. Even when they do find out, they often don’t disclose this information. While this might seem strange, even diabolical.
This story has been stolen from Royal Road. If you read it on Amazon, please report it
To further discourage those that really shouldn’t even be going into a laboratory in the first place, they often hide this information. While the profits that can be made in a laboratory is enormous, it is more often not a payday but a death trap. On top of that now there is a chance that the laboratory was already discovered and cleaned out. As expected, with risk and no guarantee of spoils, this did discourage a lot of people.
After 4,500 years of history, laboratories have given rise to groups of people that specialize in gathering supplies for exploration teams. These groups are oftentimes hidden in plain sight. While being secretive of their own professions, often only using it as a side business. While there are those that do it publicly, the better ones are those that are hidden. Why, might you ask?
Forgetting the fact that a finished product if sold for gold could easily reach millions of gold, just the failed products. Which are often in the number of hundreds if not thousands can be sold for hundreds or thousands each, if it is a special one it could reach tens of thousands. One must remember that failed products are treated as such and while the entire laboratory is filled with traps. Failed products are found in the middle sections of the laboratory. One doesn’t have to reach the deepest and most dangerous reaches to find them like a finished product.
With all this money at stake. Would you be willing to go to a public place that deals with selling exploration supplies on the off chance that those watching in the shadow notice what you’re doing? Without having to do anything because information was leaked. They just have to wait for you to complete the exploration yourself to take your hard-earned rewards. Even if you fail to complete the laboratory, so long as they follow you to the entrance, they can just sell the information of the location.
While hard to find, if you know who to look for you can easily find them throughout the human territories, and beyond if you are very well-informed. These secret dealers will gather the supplies and give them to you in a way that is fittingly. While more expensive, it is the common norm, while dealing with situations like this. Of course, these are the same types of people that have dealings with the black markets. Like illegal work, oftentimes legal work can benefit you if done in secrecy.
It also had to be mentioned that all the risk was on the individuals. Not only did they have to risk being found out. They also needed to complete the laboratory to a certain degree to even get anything out of it. And that was not already cleaned out. As for the black market supplier? This was pure profit, no refunds.
After reclaiming the bag of gold coins and inspecting its contents for a while. “It will take time, do you want them here or closer to your destination?” While this could be taken as a probe for information, true professionals have their tentacles spread throughout the lands. The supplies would be gathered and placed in a location more convenient for the customer.
“Do you have anything closer to the east?”
As if to study her, the old man inspected her from head to toe. With further deliberation, “Green River or Eastern Florence?” With a bit more hesitation, he added, “Or would you rather have it outside the human territories?” After finishing, the old man looked a little unsure if he should have added that last part.
As if unexpected, surprises surfaced on her face, “Can you do Fork Town?”
With a slightly more relaxed face, he replied, “You can pick it up in two months.”
After getting the fine details out. She turned to leave. Just before she could leave, she was interrupted when the door opened halfway, “How did you find me? If I might be so bold to ask." She paused slightly before grabbing her right sleeve. As she left, the old man looked down at his own sleeve and realized one of his cuff links had caught on the edge of his outer robe. Thus, it became possible to see a round black shield if one looked close enough.
She didn’t immediately leave the settlement. Visiting a few shops, she quietly left through the west gate. The sun rose and set a few times. Each day, everything in town and the surrounding area was as peaceful as it always was. As if everything that happened to her was completely unimportant. While it was a big deal to her, a single pebble can’t cause much of a stir in the ocean.
After three days. At a rather secluded house, two human silhouettes could be seen in the garden.
“Well then, was everything taken care of?” He asked with a bit of interest.
“Yes, we have two months to make it to a town called Fork Town, a small trading hub that can be found just outside the human territories right next to the forest. Isn’t it about time we talk about where this place is? All you have told me is that it is east of here.”
“Before that, shouldn’t you introduce yourself? Even on the contract, you never put down your real name. At least give me something to call you.”
She didn’t immediately answer, he was playing oblivious to the fact he already knew her name, but she didn’t want to see his smile. Turning around, she spoke softly as if trying to make it harder to hear, “Jessica.”
“What a beautiful name.” While about to continue to make small talk, seeing the expression on her face as she turned around, he decided against it. With a soft sigh, “The notebook isn’t exactly clear. While saying to the south in a forest, all I know are a few things to look for. Outside a forest in the south, I also have no idea. I have already gone through Saint Esteban’s Rest, but I failed to find the landmarks. While I started checking Tyr's Forest, I only checked east of Florence.”
Speaking with a bit of exhaustion, “After moving north, I was about to begin anew. Only an old friend sent word he was coming by and had news for me. After deliberating I decided to wait for him, luck being on my side, he brought me word of you. After waiting for you for a month, finally you showed up in such a way that made everything very easy.”
After listening to this description, she looked over with a heavy glare as he implied before that it was him watching, but now it appeared to not be him. If not for the fact she had already signed an agreement, she probably would have attacked him. But it was never too late to get revenge if one waited for the right opportunity.
With a few deep breaths, “We can continue to search through Tyr’s Forest while moving out of the human territories. After making our way out we can then move over to Fork Town, if we find it before then we can then decide what to do after picking up the equipment. Else, we will just move the equipment to a location convenient until we find it. What do you think about this?”
Without a word, John only nodded. Rather silently, they moved down the path until they turned on a side road before moving off track as they started to move southeast through the woods.