Chapter 20. A Pact.
Silas lined up his sights on the lion guy, but something caused him to hold his fire. Looking closer, Silas could see that Gritvart wasn’t under any threat, and instead was trying to sell something to the lion-like humanoid. Lowering his weapon, Silas walked toward the merchant.
“Oh, hey, Silas, come over here and meet Laknaf,” Gritvart said when he spotted Silas and Buster approaching.
“What is this, a human?” the lion guy, Laknaf, asked. He was huge, easily over seven feet with a physique that would put a pro bodybuilder to shame. He wore a metal breastplate and an armored skirt that resembled a kilt. Leather sandals covered his feet, but Silas could see openings in the bottom of the sandals for the claws that were peeking out between his toes.
As far as weapons, Laknaf had a pair of curved swords belted about his waist, and over his shoulder was a leather harness with a half dozen javelins attached. An oversized, rectangular shield was also strapped to his back atop the javelins. The overall look of his arms and armor reminded Silas of a Roman soldier.
“Name’s Silas Ward, pleased to meet you,” Silas said. This Laknaf hadn’t been hostile yet, so there was no reason not to be polite.
“Silas Ward, I am Laknaf, war leader of the Shonau pride,” Laknaf replied, with an air of authority, as if Silas was somehow supposed to know what a Shonau was. He did recognize that a pride was a group of lions, so Silas figured the System language thing was doing its thing and trying to translate into words he could at least recognize.
“The Shonau are one of the competitors in the pit, and your new neighbor,” Gritvart said.
“So, your headquarters is the one across from mine?” Laknaf asked.
“I think so, unless this place has expanded and they added new rooms,” Silas said.
“The Shonau will have the honor of defeating Bhalkur. Our people have never been in conflict, so I will make you an offer, Silas Ward of the humans. Remain out of our way, and I will keep my warband from attacking your people,” Shonau offered.
“Well, I have a personal score to settle with this Bhalkur, so while I can’t agree to stay out of your way, I can agree to at least not actively interfere with your people if you’ll do the same for mine,” Silas countered.
Laknaf stared at Silas, and Silas refused to look away, gladly joining in a staring contest. The tingle of mana brushed across Silas’ mind, but after his bout with Bhalkur in his dreams, it was only a small effort to resist. A System prompt confirming he had resisted something tried to appear, but he waved it away, not wanting to be distracted.
“Humans are inferior to the Shonau, but I sense the heart of a warrior inside you. There is no need to begin conflict between our people. I will accept your offer, Silas Ward of the humans, up to the point we engage Bhalkur directly. When that time comes, he will die at my claws, not at the hands of a human,” Laknaf said.
“Fair enough, though I’m not sure when that’ll actually happen,” Silas said.
“Perhaps we can share what knowledge the System has granted to our peoples. This merchant refuses to do anything without payment, but we’re warriors on the hunt, and sharing information about the prey we seek is an honorable task,” Laknaf said.
“Woah there, big guy, you can’t expect me to give the sauce away for free. I’ve been more than generous with both of you, but if you want to dig deeper, I have to charge you. Even if I was daft in the head, and willing to get kicked out of the company for giving away information for free, the System won’t let me,” Gritvart complained.
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“What do you mean, won’t let you?” I asked, curious how the System would restrict a merchant like Gritvart.
“Just like I said, if I were to try and give you anything other than basic information on the pit, or the System itself without paying, I’ll lose my merchant class and have half my experience drained. On top of that, GEE would rescind my certification and I’d be left on my own with nothing to my name,” Gritvart said.
“Hm, you should count such a result as a blessing. Break from the weak life you live now, forsake the merchant’s path and forge a new one as a warrior. It will bring honor to your people and pride to your heart,” Laknaf argued.
“Bah, you guys are all into your warrior stuff, but no self-respecting goblin would pass up a merchant class. Sorry, you two are going to have to either figure things out on your own, or pay up,” Gritvart said with finality.
“Laknaf, I agree with your offer, we should compare information on Bhalkur. Do you want to start, or shall I?” Silas asked.
“A question first, has your world been inducted yet?” Laknaf asked.
“If you mean does everyone have the System, then no, it’s not something that’s happened to my world. I have been inducted, and so has Buster here, but I’ve never heard of anything else like this happening before,” Silas said.
“My world as well is new to the System, though some of our warriors are being called to fight on other System integrated worlds. They are called the summoned beings, and their presence will help to usher in the System,” Laknaf said.
“I’ve not heard about any summoned beings, and I’m frankly not all that excited about our world merging with the System mumbo jumbo. We were getting along just fine without it. Hopefully, me being here is a one-off kind of deal and the System will leave us be,” Silas explained.
“Perhaps your world is changing, and you just haven’t noticed yet. As for my people, we embrace the challenge as it draws near. The only problem is that our world is linked to the pit, and if I am not successful, the forces of Bhalkur will invade. As strong as my warriors are, we cannot hope to stand against Bhalkur’s endless forces without the power the System offers,” Laknaf said.
“We’re in the same boat. This pit was linked to a portal in my garage. Some nasty gnomes came in and trashed the place until I blasted them. Now, I’ve got to deal with Bhalkur as well, or we’re going to have who knows what invading,” Silas said.
Silas thought about it, and normally, he’d be confident that Earth could defend itself against a fantasy army. If the portal remained open to admit Bhalkur’s forces, it would probably also leak mana into the world, and that stuff could wreak havoc with all of humanity’s technology. Silas felt that Earth would be lucky to survive on its own if the tech all failed, but add a monster invasion, and they’d be doomed.
“What has the System given you as your current task, Silas Ward?” Laknaf asked.
“I’m supposed to gain control of the first layer and defeat the guardian so we can descend to the next layer. Do you have the same task? Maybe we could join up and work on the guardian together,” Silas said.
“Hey guys, I can pipe in here. There’s some information I can dish out without a coin or two. I may have even mentioned it before, but in case one or both of you didn’t know, you’re both on the first layer of the pit, but an instanced one that’s unique to your people.
“So, yeah, same layer, but different. When you hit the second layer, you’ll be grouped with others, and any more than that, the System won’t inform me of,” Gritvart told them.
“Thanks, Gritvart, I appreciate that. Maybe when we get to that second layer, we can meet up, or at least watch each other’s backs if our fellow competitors are a bit squirrelly,” Silas offered.
“I’m not willing to yoke my people into any alliance before I get to know you and your kind better. For now, we will agree to no conflict between our people and see where we go from there,” Laknaf countered.
“I can agree with that,” Silas said, holding his hand out to shake. Laknaf reached out and clasped wrists, shocking Silas a bit with his strength. He wasn’t trying to show off, but Laknaf’s strength was intense. Silas wondered what his actual Strength stat was, but before he could even think of asking, a System prompt appeared.
The System has witnessed the agreement between the Laknaf of the Shonau Pride, and Silas Ward of the humans of Earth. Both factions have agreed to a non-aggression pact that will last until they confront Bhalkur directly. Should either party break this agreement, serious penalties will be imposed by the System.
“The System has heard us, Silas Ward. I wish you success in your current hunt, and will look forward to hearing of your progress,” Laknaf said.
“Likewise, Laknaf, stay safe out there,” Silas replied as the Shonau made his way to the portal room, much to Gritvart’s disappointment as he tried, without success, to make another sale.