Ester ran on ahead back to Krysta to get permission to see Scarlet, to report their findings. The possibility of Krysta being over run was a truly grim out come, and they would need to prepare for the possible scenario.
After escaping from the densely packed jungle, the team broke out into a run. Rea started to lag behind, being a squishy mage, so Shoga carried her on his back until she caught her breathe. They made it back in record time, but were stuck in line until they finally got into the town. The haggard team hastily made their way to the guild hall and found Ester standing at the front waiting for them.
“She’s waiting just in side for you.” He told Shoga. Shoga clapped a hand on Ester’s shoulder and thanked him as he went in.
“So, what do we do now?” Rahl asked.
“We should probably wait for him at our usual table and see what happens.” Answered Ester
Rahl went ahead and ordered some mead as the team slumped in their seats in silence, taking glances at the stairway that lead to the upper floors where Shoga and Scarlet went up earlier. The sound of their silence drowned out by the unsuspecting merriment around them. Nearly ten minutes later did Shoga finally come back down, along with a grave looking Scarlet who gave Alex and the others a quick nod before she headed out the front door.
Shoga sat down with a sigh and grabbed a mug that was left for him.
“What happened?” Asked Rahl.
“Miss Scarlet is going to tell the village leader the bad news. They will likely decide what to do with information that critical. Good news, is that we got paid for the information.” Shoga’s grin didn’t quite reach his eyes as he placed 2 gold coins on the table, making the other five scoot forward in their seats to see the coins.
“That much?” Questioned a surprised Sylvie.
‘Is that considered a lot?’ Alex’s sense of worth might be a bit skewed due to the amount he currently has clinking around in his inventory.
“How do we split it?” Alex asked, genuinely curious.
“Evenly of course.” Shoga stated as if it was the most obvious thing in the world. “Which is about 33 silver each, and the spare can go on our tab. We have more time left in the day, should we head out and try and get some experience from some of the roaming monsters?”
“Shouldn’t we wait for Scarlet to get back?” Asked Alex. Shoga shrugged.
“We don’t know how long that will take. So it might be best to get some extra experience while we can before word gets out.” He explained, getting agreeing nods from every one else.
“And supplies.” Added Alex. “People will likely panic buy if and when word gets out.” Alex has seen enough of that when COVID hit.
“That shouldn’t be too much of a problem as long as the Nexus stays active.” At Alex’s questioning glance, Shoga clarified that not only was it the reason the town was deployed so fast on a newly integrated world, it also acts as a transportation and teleportation hub. A nexus crystal is the life line of any nexus frontier town or city, with the ability to trade and purchase goods along with long range teleportation. Its how different worlds, factions and gods get their foot in the proverbial door to a newly integrated world. The greater system blocks any other attempts to access a world before, during and shortly after integration.
“Though,” Butted in Sylvie while tapping her chin in thought. “If we do run into a shortage, and word gets out that the town is in need of supplies through the nexus crystal, other merchants might up their prices.” This got a snort of derision from Rahl and a grumble about 'snobby rich bastards.’
“Wouldn’t put it past em.” Alex agreed.
“Point taken.” Admitted Shoga. “We should get preparations out of the way then. Lets meet up back here in about two hours.”
___
An hour into Alex’s shopping time, the mayor of the town held a compulsory and urgent town meeting in front of the town hall within the hour, cutting his shopping time short.
He then followed the gathering crowd into a large open park to see a hastily erected podium and stage for an aged,graying gnome to stand at with Scarlet at his side. Alex found his team grouped with other adventurers within the crowed.
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“That sure was fast.” Commented Alex as he approached the team.
“Hey Alex.” Greeted Rahl.”Get much shopping done?”
”Plenty, what about you?” Rahl grinned before pulling out a one handed hammer and shield from his inventory to show Alex. The other 5 appeared to have upgraded their gear as well from their starter gear. “What about you? What you get?” Questioned Rahl.
“Namely food, water, and lots of soap and toiletries.” Rahl scrunched up his nose at hearing that.
“Toiletries?” Alex shrugged at his question.
For the next 15 minutes Alex’s team mates discussed their plans as well as what they managed to get with their pay before an amplified voice rang out around the area, causing every one to quiet down and face the podium.
“May I have your attention please.” Spoke an older male gnome standing atop a high stool. “Thank you. Something urgent has come to my attention.” Murmuring broke out, questioning what could be so urgent to hold a compulsory meeting. “It is to do with the recent increase of monster activity we have been having within the vicinity of the town and farm land.” He motioned to Scarlet. “Our local adventurer branch leader has more to discuss on the matter, please give her your undivided attention.”
”Thank you mayor.” Scarlet faced the crowed with a grim look. “I’ll be blunt. There has been sightings of a massive increase of large insects monsters within the jungle due North East of here. Their presence has been pushing out other species of monsters into the plains towards Krysta. It is believed at the current rate, we may witness the towns first monster wave.”
“Now now, Before you all break out into a panic, we have debilitated a plan of action with the other branch leaders within the town.” Placated the mayor. His words seemed to ease the tension a bit.
“For starters, we will need to do a recall on those out in the forest, fields and farms until the issue is dealt with.” He stated. “Miss Scarlet of the adventurers guild and Miss Leeya of the Healer’s guild will come up with a plan of action. While that is happening, we will need able bodied volunteers to help with fortifying the town in case of a future attack.”
The mayor was pretty good at his job. People didn’t go into a blind panic as Alex presumed would happen, if anything, his calming demeanor (Which might be a skill) along with his well thought out plans helped move every one along like clock work.
Scarlet had called for all adventurers to rally outside of the town, since there are more than the guild could possibly house, which is where Alex wound up with the rest of his team
Joining them are some healers from the House of Healing, who appeared to be very nervous. All healers were asked to gather separately from the adventurers, this included Alex. In a town of just over ten thousand occupants, there were only 96 healers, some of which instead of working at the House of Healing, had their own personal clinics matted around the town.
‘This is just sad.’ Thought Alex at seeing how many healers there are, and some of them aren’t even in the best shape right now. ‘Rahl was right about the lack of healers. And only two alchemists? Jesus.’
“Good to see you.” Greeted a familiar voice, causing Alex to turn to find Ewen. He seemed to be in better shape than last time. “We could not thank you enough for your timely intervention.” Ewen said, gesturing to the other healers. “Things have calmed down since you stopped by and we are well rested because of it.” Ewen said, sticking out his hand.
Alex smiled and shook his hand in turn. “You’re welcome.”
”I heard that Miss Leeya is looking for you. She wanted to thank you personally for your help and wanted to offer compensation for your time.” Alex didn’t expect much in return since it was a volunteer work.
‘Or maybe they want to try and coerce me into joining the Healers Guild or House of Healing.’
In any case, he can deal with that when ever, for now, their attention was drawn to someone who was calling for attention.
‘Must be Miss Leeya.’.
She’s a halfing strawberry pink hair and ruby coloured eyes, much to his amusement and horror, she would what some would consider a Loli, or Lolicon. Dressed in a gold trimmed white robe, she carries around a staff which any modern person would think is a little girls toy, with a pink crystal orb on the end of a metal staff, which was likely used as a focus.
‘Oh god why?!’
“Thank you wall for coming in this trying time.” She started, her voice light and melodious. “ Miss Scarlet has come up with an idea to set up a front line defense out side the jungles perimeter, the line will consist of warriors and vanguard at the front, mages and archers behind them, and us healers at the back to heal and support them.
“What about the rogues?” Asked one person with their hand up.
“The rogues will try and aggravate some of the insects, before joining up behind the forward vanguard and warriors, where they will cull them slowly in a kill zone. Rinse and repeat. We also have some emergency plans in case things go south. Any questions?” A multitude of murmurs broke out but there was no questions.
”Great, we will wait for Miss Scarlet to sort out the adventurers before joining them”
“What do you think about all this?” Asked Ewen nervously. Alex shrugged.
”I'm curious how this will go. I want to see every one in action.” Alex stated, getting a slow nod from Ewen.
“You’re not scared?”
”I wouldn’t say that.” Alex started. “ I’ve already been in some tough life and death situations, so I’m a bit sensitized at the moment. I’m more worried I will fuck up somehow, like freeze up after seeing someone die, or just seeing people die in general.”
“That’s right, you’re an adventurer.” Ewen said with a nod. “I always wanted to be an adventurer growing up.” He said with a wistful sigh.
“What happened?” Asked Alex. “Why didn’t you become one?”
“I grew up…” Alex wanted to question what he meant by that before another voice joined in.
“Hello there!~” Chirped the sing song voice of Leeya. “I take it you are Alex?” She said, studying him.
“That I am, ma-am.” She snorted at that.
“Please don’t call me ma-am. I’m not old.” She said with a dismissal wave before grinning up at him. “I wanted to personally thank you for the work you did for the House of Healing.”
”You’re welcome?” That only caused her to giggle.
“I wanted to offer you some compensation for your time.” She cut Alex off before he could even open his mouth to refute with a stern look. “ You did a lot of good for not just the House of Healing, but the town as a whole. People have been giving us a lot of donations and singing your praises because of your work. And I think it only fair that you receive payment for your time and effort.”
She handed him a small sack of coins. Alex received a small notification that he received 10 gold.
“Thank you.” Leeya shook her head.
“No, thank you.” She said with a sense of finality on the issue. “It’s too bad you’re an adventurer, you could do a lot of good for the town.” Alex shrugged.
“I’m sure I’ll get more done as an adventurer.” Alex went onto explain his reasoning at her look.
“I'm an integrator who some how wound up in a dungeon instead of the tutorial.” Her eyes widened at that as she let out a small gasp. “People will likely be lost, confused and in need of assistance when they do come back from the tutorial. I doubt every one would have had enough time to cope with their lives being thrown up side down, and only a month and a bit doesn’t sound like enough time to get enough development done.” Alex sighed. “As nice as this town is, it would be nicer to find some who I can relate to from my own world.”
‘Plus I would really, really like a chance to scavenge some technology.’ Was Alex’s after thought.
“I understand. I think. Any way, it was nice meeting you, but I should go meet up with Scarlet to finalize our placements.” Alex gave her a nod and she grinned in turn before making her way out of the group of healers and headed over to the front of the Adventurers.