Chapter 69

Lunch was steaming bowls of hot chili. Not just hot temperature wise either. The outside of each bowl of chili was colored either green, yellow, or purple.

Aiden noticed Jay looking at the bowls in confusion. “You like spicy foods? If not then take a green bowl. If you like spicy foods take a yellow. If you want to challenge yourself and you really love spicy heat, go ahead and try a purple bowl.”

There were far more green and yellow bowls than purple ones. Jay took a yellow bowl full of hot chili and added a few spoonfuls of sour cream before taking a cup of shredded sharp cheddar cheese and sprinkling it over the top of the bowl.

“You done yet?” a starving M'redith asked in exasperation as she watched him get his bowl set up just the way he wanted. As he moved to the next station she took his place and M'redith took a purple bowl and just sprinkled some sharp cheddar on top, not really worrying about presentation, appearance, or restraint.

Aiden raised an eye at M'redith's small mound of cheese that she had heaped on top of her bowl of chili but wisely kept quiet.

Norri took a green bowl and the small group of friends looked over at her. “What?! I don't like spicy foods!” Norri said plaintively.

Jay shrugged with a grin, “No worries. Plenty of other students with green bowls. It isn't a challenge or anything – just lunch.”

Aiden grinned and shrugged. “You don't see me taking a purple bowl do you?” He pointed at his yellow bowl.

M'redith just grinned, “I love spicy foods. Eaten them my whole life. Do NOT try and keep up with me if you don't love spicy foods. It'll just end badly for everyone.”

Norri felt a little better with her bowl selection and everyone moved to the next station. Tasty biscuits made of a savory mix of cheddar and onions. They'd make a nice counterpoint to the spicy chili. They each took a couple of biscuits and moved to the next station to get a vegetable. The veggi of the day was bright yellow sweet corn that had been brushed with salted creamy butter.

Dessert was a bowl of sorbet balls, each ball a half-inch across and made up of a soft sorbet, the flavor being different for each small formed ball. They must have used a tool to form the balls Jay thought because each was smooth and without markings.

“Mmmm. I love the food here.” Jay said happily. Jay couldn't imagine how amazing Eden would be to game players on Earth based off of the way food tasted alone. Eden really did a great job with the way food tasted and Jay found it indistinguishable from the real thing. If anything Eden food tasted better.

The group found a table and again various diners moved out of their way as they walked through the dining hall.

They ate their food in silence, especially M'redith who was starving after all the healing she had undergone recently. She ended going up for a second bowl while Jay and friends were still working on finishing their first.

Once they'd finished dinner they moved on to dessert and everyone traded sorbet balls until they each had only the flavors they preferred. They finished their desserts with nothing left on their plates.

They were sitting back in their seats with full bellies when the normal noise of the dining hall quieted down as two full armored Guild guards wound their ways through the tables drawing closer and closer to Jay.

The first guard appeared almost bored but maintained a polite bearing. The second guard was all business and kept one hand on his sheathed sword while looking at the surrounding students. He wasn't holding it as if he were about to draw it but instead used the pommel as if it were a handrest.

Aiden whispered to Jay, “Are we in trouble? That guard looks like he's about to draw.”

Jay felt something familiar about the way the guard had placed his hand on his sword. It reminded him of the way police officers on Earth would sometimes rest their hands on their weapons when standing near others.

“We're ok I think, he's just practicing good weapon retention.” Jay whispered to Aiden who didn't understand what Jay meant. “I'll explain later.” Jay insisted.

“Excuse me,” the first guard began politely once they had reached Jay's table. “Jay,” the guard said in a polite tone, “Your presence has been requested by the City Watch. Your presence is not optional. Would you please come with us?”

Jay nervously stood up and collected his things. He hadn't done anything that he could think of that would warrant the attentions of the city watch but he also knew that sometimes you didn't have to do anything to get the attention of law enforcement. Sometimes it just happened.

So Jay said goodbye to his friends and left with the guards, students watching Jay pass by with wide eyes. Guild guards didn't usually collect students especially ones eating at the dining hall. Jay had now been collected by Guild guards twice, not a habit he was looking to continue.

Jay and the Guards walked to who knows where and Jay didn't even bother trying to talk. The guards most likely had no idea either why Jay had been sent for.

It wasn't as if the Watch had given the guards the entire story from start to finish. No, the Watch most likely spoke with a Guild representative who then told a direct report to take care of it who then spoke to the Guild's guard shift commander. The shift commander would then have told the patrol sergeant to take care of it. The sergeant then would have told the two Guild watch members to go get Jay with no explanation provided.

So the two guards escorting Jay would have been no help and would only become annoyed at Jay's questioning. Instead Jay kept quiet until they arrived at a familiar meeting house. Jay went inside and sat on a cushioned bench across from a secretary who sat at a desk and guarded a set of double doors behind her.

Jay knew the routine. He'd be parked there for who knew how long a time before the person inside that room was ready for him. Instead of wasting the time Jay took out his Mighty Book and set it on to his lap where it rapidly grew to full size. Jay turned to the section of the Dungeon of Rebirth and started going through the material he had collected.

A half hour later the doors opened and a well dressed Walter stepped in to the room prepared to collect a worried and fidgeting Jay.

Instead he found Jay caught up in his reading as he scribbled down notes as he went. Jay did not appear to be worried at all. He definitely wasn't fidgeting. Walter hadn't been kidding, he really had been held up talking with the man currently inside the meeting room.

“Jay,” Walter started but Jay held up a single finger as he continued to write with his other hand. Ten seconds went by.

Ten seconds is a long pause in a conversation when one person is waiting for the other to speak.

This tale has been unlawfully obtained from Royal Road. If you discover it on Amazon, kindly report it.

Finally Jay cleaned off his writing implement and put it away in its case. He shut the book and smiled. “Now that we've both had to wait, what can I do for you?” Jay said with a grin.

Walter chuckled dryly and offered his hand for Jay to shake which he did, standing before he did so. “Ok, that's fair, you have been here a while.”

“Not sure what you were trying to do but by all means feel free to do it again. I can always use the extra time to catch up on my studying.” Jay said without any heat in his voice. Jay was calm and was speaking with a kind tone, not at all what Walter had expected.

Walter nodded, “I apologize for the delay. I assure you it was unintentional.”

Jay just lifted an eyebrow with an exasperated face but did not reply.

Walter sighed, “You're a popular guy, why don't you come on in.” He escorted Jay in to the meeting room and the doors closed behind them without assistance. Seated at a table was a fully uniformed member of the City Watch. Jay took a seat at the table and Walter sat at the head of the table.

“The City Watch it seems has requested your assistance.” Walter said with a nod towards the Watch member. The man had thick curly hair and a clean cut face. He had chiseled features and large expressive brown eyes. He wore thick leather Watch armor and heavy boots. He reached out and shook hands with Jay as he introduced himself.

“Sergeant Hills, pleased to meet you Jay. I've heard good things about you.” he said.

Walter continued, “They need you to find something for them. They'll bring you to the spot, walk you in, you find what they need, then you should be right back here.”

Jay nodded, “Ok. That sounds agreeable. Will the suspect be there while I am? I don't want to end up on some guys kill list just because I helped out the Watch.”

Sgt. Hills shook his head, “The scene will be clear. Just you, me, and a few Watch members guarding the place.”

Jay nodded. “It sounds doable. What compensation are you offering?”

Sgt. Hills grinned, “Our appreciation and thanks?”

Jay shook his head, “Sorry, but I don't think so. I might be a trainee but I'm not free. Come on Sgt, even you are being paid something right now.”

Sgt. Hills had the good graces to look sheepish for a moment, “Don't want to help out your city?”

Jay didn't take the bait. “Don't want to pay your city's help?”

Walter waved the two to wait for a moment, “Let's all calm down a bit. We all know that the Guild does not provide labor without just compensation, so let's move right past the 'volunteer yourself for free' portion of the pitch.”

Sgt. Hills grinned, “Always have to try. We'll pay you 25 silver for your trip. Another 25 silver if you find what we're looking for.”

Jay looked curious, “What are you looking for?”

“Can't tell you that.” he said with a wry grin.

Jay chuckled, “Ok. I suppose that really doesn't matter.”

“It doesn't?” the Watchman asked as he looked from Jay to Walter and then to Jay again.

“Nope. I should be able to find it regardless.” Jay said with confidence. “As long as it is valuable and hidden.”

“It's both, I assure you.” Sgt. Hills stated.

“Great, so, settled? Any questions?” Walter asked.

Both Jay and the sergeant shook their heads. They both seemed to be ready to go. Walter stood up and the other two did as well. Sgt. Hill counted out 25 silver which he set on the table and slid over to Jay.

“Excellent! Sergeant would you mind waiting just outside for a moment? I just need to go over some Guild things with Jay quickly before he goes.”

Sgt. Hill didn't mind. He was on duty and getting paid whether he was wrestling a drunk to the ground to arrest him or seated on a comfy chair waiting for Jay. He'd much rather be in the comfy chair. He walked in to the waiting room and sat happily in a chair and leaned back to 'rest his eyes.'

The doors shut behind him and Walter looked over at Jay his entire demeanor changing to a more businesslike manner. “A couple of things real quick. I owe you some money for your last two runs plus a little something special I put together for you as a thank you. Come see me after you finish your business with the Watch.”

“Second thing. I want to offer you some help. Let us just say that I should have paid you more for your runs and I feel badly about that. I'd like to make it up to you by giving you some help you don't even know you need right now.”

Jay wanted to ask questions but Walter was speaking quickly as if they didn't have time for questions.

“You're a member of a real group now I hear. Congratulations. There are already people trying to reverse that decision. Just because your registration went through doesn't mean it can't still be rejected for some technical reason – of which there are many.”

“The Guild does not play around when money is on the line however. The moment you make money for the Guild you become untouchable, your group cast in stone. It's the rules. Until you pay your first taxes your group will be vulnerable. I'm guessing nobody mentioned that though?”

Jay was now very interested in whatever else Walter had to say. He had Jay's complete and total attention. He shook his head. No one had mentioned anything about the possibility of having their group disbanded.

“You were just paid 25 silver. I understand it was just for you and not your group but if you would like we can still treat it as a group activity. You can pay me your Guild taxes and I can have those applied to your membership by the time you return.”

“Guild taxes are 5% of your haul. Normally the System takes it out of your haul and you never even see the money – it goes directly to the Guild. That can be changed in a person's personal settings though. It isn't a large sum but you'd be surprised at how many members have their membership revoked every year due to non-payment of Guild taxes. Now again – you do not have to pay today if you don't want to.” Walter said. He stopped to rub at his leg which had pins and needles from the way he had been sitting a moment ago.

“Technically you don't even owe taxes for what you're doing today. But if you choose to pay the Guild won't say no, and your group will be granted additional protections against unwanted disbandment.” Walter finished.

Jay smiled, “I'm a little curious about the 'owe me some money' part but we can talk about that later when I get back. For now, here, this is from Glimmerhide Group.”

He handed over 2 silver and 50 copper and Jay's group paid their first Guild tax.

Jay didn't know who was working against his group but he'd just made their jobs a whole lot harder thanks to Walter.

“Thank you. I really appreciate this.” Jay said and meant it. Jay needed every last bit of help his group could get.

“Go. Kept him waiting long enough. I'll see you when you get back.” Walter said and shook Jay's hand.

Sgt. Hills stood up when the double doors opened and Jay stepped out.

“Ready to go?” he asked.

Jay stood next to him and stowed away his newly acquired money in his usual coin pouch.

“Let's go treasure hunting!” Jay replied excitedly.