Chapter 186. Knock Knock.
Returning to my personal space, I was a bit annoyed at my rating for the summoning. I hadn’t received a below average rating in a long time, and I felt that I had done as well as I could have given the situation I was dropped into. Being whacked in the chest by a cyclops within seconds of arriving doesn’t leave you a lot of options for the coming fight.
I couldn’t control what the system did, and there wasn’t exactly an appeals process for their decisions. Stuck with the results, I checked the rewards chest to see what I’d gotten.
Reward Chest.
New Inventory.
1. Copper coins, 715.
2. Silver coins, 91.
3. Gold coins, 1.
It was only coins this time, and a lot fewer of them than I’d received from the previous summonings. I’d just have to make up some ground on my next attempt. The return gauge had also barely moved, it was just under 50%. That meant another two or three summonings before I could go home.
Melvin was back in the training center fighting against his usual nemesis, the flame elementals. I stopped and watched him for a bit, and I could feel he was having fun with the fight. He seemed to enjoy testing himself against the most difficult foes he could find. I was all for that; it would make him a better companion when I had to bring him out to fight.
The match was interrupted by a knocking sound from the main room. I rushed out to see what was happening. Melvin ended his training and followed on my heels. A system prompt appeared, along with a new door at the far end of my personal space, right where the door to Somhagen would normally go.
Several requests have been made to either purchase outright or lease the existing expansion for your personal space. You may make an agreement with one of these interested parties, or you may deny them all. Any terms negotiated between yourself, and the interested parties will be documented and enforced by the system.
Each party will make their presentations to you in person. A temporary portal has been installed in your personal space to facilitate these presentations. There are a total of three interested parties. Please note that all summoning activities will be placed on hold while you make your decision on who will be allowed to utilize the expansion space.
“Melvin, I don’t know if you got all that, but it seems like we have visitors,” I said. Another knock on the door was heard and I walked toward it, only to turn back and rush to the armory. There was no promise from the system that these folks that were coming to visit would be friendly, so it was best if I grabbed my gear before opening the door to them.
It didn’t take long to equip everything, but the knocking on the door became more frequent, and a system warning appeared.
Please be advised that you must resolve these requests in a timely manner. To ignore them will be seen as a grave insult to the interested party and may result in future hostilities.
“Got it, I’m answering the door now,” I said to the system. Not sure what to expect, I opened the door, and stepped back. As soon as my hand touched the wooden door, it disappeared, and in its place, a swirling portal appeared. With the Grulnok figurine ready to summon I waited to see who would step from the portal.
“Hello sir, my name is Gimblewalt and I’m here to offer my services during the pending negotiations,” A gnome in a bright green business suit said as he exited the portal. He wore a top hat and had a monocle over one eye. Impressive mutton chops that were dyed the same shade of green as his suit gave the gnome a comical appearance. If it wasn’t for his completely stoic expression, I would have figured him to be a comedian or a crazy person. Carrying a large attaché case in his left hand, the gnome offered his right for me to shake.
“Hi, I’m Rico. Sorry, but I’m not quite sure what’s going on here, or even how you found me. What’s this about offering services, I thought I was going to hear some people that wanted to rent or buy part of my personal space,” I said, more than a little confused.
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“Don’t worry lad, there’s no way I would be here if the system hadn’t approved my presence. I’m here to offer my services in the coming negotiations. Of course, I demand adequate compensation for my time, but I’ll represent you to the best of my substantial ability,” Gimblewalt said.
“I don’t know if you can answer this for me, Gimblewalt, but I was under the impression that my personal space wasn’t so easy for people to find, and visit,” I asked.
“Yes, Rico, I can answer that for you, but I won’t unless you hire me as your personal counsel,” Gimblewalt said, making a show of adjusting his monocle and brushing some imaginary lint off his brightly colored suit.
“What kind of compensation are you looking for?” I asked. I was still confused, but if this gnome really could become a personal attorney or something like it for these negotiations, I’d take all the help he could get. The only problems were how much this was going to cost me, and if this guy was as good as he claimed.
“I can assist you for the nominal charge of 1,000 gold coins. That fee will also allow me to be on retainer for one year whenever you need my assistance,” Gimblewalt said with confidence as my jaw dropped open in shock over the fee that the gnome was trying to charge.
“Way too rich for my blood, how do I find some other attorney or whatever you are. There must be one that doesn’t think I’m made of gold,” Rico asked. Gimblewalt’s eye twitched at my statement, and I thought I could see some beads of sweat begin to appear on his forehead.
“There’s nobody else out there that…Ahh!” Gimblewalt started to say before holding his head and flopping to the ground in obvious pain. I hit him with a Health Bloom, but it didn’t seem to do much for the gnome lawyer.
“Are you okay? Can I do anything to help, or call someone for you?” I asked, not quite sure what to do in this situation. Gimblewalt waved me back, holding up his index finger to indicate I needed to give him a minute to recover.
“That’s as nasty as they told me at the university. I’m sorry, Rico, I just tried to lie to you. Since you’re a prospective client, the system enforces certain obligations on me. I can’t directly lie to a potential client about other options that may be available. In truth, there is a barrister outside that will make you a similar offer if mine is rejected,” Gimblewalt admitted.
“Well, since I can’t afford 1,000 gold, maybe I need to talk to this other guy,” I offered.
“No, I’ll serve as your counsel for one gold, and the right to use a small section of your personal space as an office,” Gimblewalt blurted out in panic, covering his mouth in shock at what he’d just said.
“That’s a big drop from 1,000, still, let’s bring the other guy in so we can compare you two. I’m assuming I need to get a move on with negotiations at some point or the system will drop the hammer on me,” I said.
“You have some time still; the system is making the interested parties wait while you have an opportunity to seek counsel. I will advise that once you’ve selected one of us, you should get a move on with hearing the offers to use your personal space,” Gimblewalt said. Another knock on the door was heard, and I opened it for the second attorney that was here to offer their services.
“Good day, sir, I’m Evangeline, and I will be your new legal counselor,” A woman said as she entered. She was human, and probably the most beautiful woman that I had ever seen. Dressed in a well-tailored suit, the woman smiled at me and offered her hand. I was unable to reply to her, my voice catching in my throat as I tried to take in her beauty.
That was the strange part, I knew she was incredibly beautiful, but I couldn’t tell you exactly what she looked like. It was like my mind went fuzzy whenever I looked at her. I shook her hand, it felt dry, and I wished that I had some moisturizer to offer her. Nobody this beautiful should have to suffer with dry skin.
“Simply inexcusable behavior! You cannot deceive a potential client like this, why isn’t the system striking you down instantly?” Gimblewalt said, drawing my attention away from the vision of beauty in front of me.
“Huh?” was all I could manage to utter.
“Don’t be a fool Rico, that isn’t whatever you think it is, that’s a damned kobold with some kind of magic device,” Gimblewalt explained.
“Kobold?” I said, confused at what was going on, I turned back to my love, she was just as beautiful as before even if she was really a kobold. No, that wasn’t right, I could feel my mind start to clear a bit as Gimblewalt continued to harangue the young woman, accusing her of horrible things.
As he spoke, my mind cleared more and my defense against mental intrusion started to kick in. The woman before me transformed into a short, skinny, and scaled creature that I recognized as a kobold from my previous battles with them. It held a glowing green gem in its hand that gave off waves of mana. The kobold jumped back in panic when it realized I could see its true form.
“Is there anyone else I can pick to be my lawyer other than a gnome trying to overcharge me or a kobold that’s trying to catfish me with a magic gem?” I said to nobody in particular. Not expecting anyone to answer, I was a bit surprised when the system decided to jump in.
These two potential representatives are your only choices. Should you refuse both, you may represent yourself in the coming negotiations. Please advise the system of your choice. Will you select one of these counselors, or will you represent yourself in the negotiations over the use of the expansion for your personal space?