The Systemic Lands

Chapter 23: Day 34 – Preparation

It was the evening of day 34. I had 803 crystals with me, and Carl had 60. We had made our way back towards the plaza, staying in another random building.

“So, first five days. What do you think?” I asked.

“Exhausting.”

“So, you ready for the big leagues?” I asked. He was silent for a while before speaking.

“Not really. Thinking about hunting slimes myself.” I nodded at that. “Not going to tell me off?”

“Like I keep saying. You are free to make your own choices. They might be good choices or shit choices, your choice is on you.” Carl let out a sigh.

“I feel disgusting. The grunge thing you were talking about is real.” I smiled at that. He had lost his suit and wore his necktie as a headband.

“Well, you have graduated from slime college with a minor in whacking.”

“Your humor needs a lot of help,” Carl said, and I shrugged at that. I would take the jokes I could. “This wasn’t the life I envisioned for myself. I went to Cornell Business School, a degree in economics, and I was ready to make a living trading on Wall Street.” He really was a wolf of Wall Street. I smiled at that.

“Really? I mean you look like a nerdier wolf of Wall Street. I should give myself a prize for being so right.”

“This…this, drudgery is aggravating. I really don’t want to risk my life.” I nodded at that and understood where he was coming from. People had become soft. Not that I was much better. The only difference was that I embraced this change and understood, these were some of the key facets that made me thrive while others died or gave up.

“Not like a fairy tale, is it?”

“No, it is messier, smellier, and a lot more miserable than any fairy tale I have ever read. Wiping my ass with pine needles…just no.”

“But it's like an air freshener! Okay, okay, enough bad jokes.”

“I still don’t get how you are able to smile,” Carl said.

“A bad habit, the more I am stressed, the more I smile as a coping mechanism. This place is way too stressful. You can either manage the stress or be swept away by it.”

Carl let out a long sigh and stared morosely at the far wall. The silence went on for a while and I was happy to stay quiet while he thought things over. “It will be dangerous?”

“Super dangerous. More so for me, than you, most likely, but I am not going to lie and sugar coat things. I need someone to hold a torch behind me and not panic unless I am dead on the ground.”

“You have already explained what you want to do, but why? There are other areas?”

“We will go to other areas, but no matter what I pick it will be a gamble. The slime forest seems to by the easy area, so the dungeon is probably easy. No promises though. Embrace the fear and let it pass through you.”

Carl gave me a look. “Quoting Dune now?” A man of culture! Carl had some hidden depths.

“Well, if it's right and works, it is right and works. This entire place is gripped with fear. People fear Carlos. People fear if they will eat tomorrow. I just chose to ignore all of that fear. I still feel it, but I choose to ignore it.” Trying to at least.

“I can’t do that.” There was more silence as we thought over what had been said. “Alright, I am going with you. I can call a retreat, right?”

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“Yes. But there is a fine line between instincts and fear. I will have to invest thousands of points for this expedition, balls of steel.”

“Got it, balls of steel.”

“That should be our team’s name then.”

“No, that is sexist,” Carl objected.

“Well, I don’t see the social justice police around here, do you?”

“Still, don’t like the name.” I rolled my eyes. He needed to loosen up a bit more. Still, my humor was not for everyone. Like a fine wine, it required taste to appreciate.

“Well, if you want something pretentious like Red Dawn, just no.”

“Fine, fine.” After that we both settled in and fell asleep, no decision made on a team name.

The next day we got up and made our way to the plaza pre-dawn. I saw a familiar face while walking into the plaza.

“Evaline, still alive I see.” She looked worn down.

“Yes. Got news for you.” I looked at Carl.

“I pay her for information. Since we are teaming up, you can listen in as well.”

“Thanks?” Carl said more as a question.

“Carlos has purged people not contributing. People aren’t allowed to stay near the plaza unless they pay the tax and are in good standing.”

“He can keep track of everyone?” I asked.

“It was more to clear out the riff raff, more than anything else.”

“You managing, okay?” I asked.

“Enough people know I work for you, gives me some protection, but a lot of headaches.”

“Any other groups I need to know about?”

“No, no other groups. Well, there are slime hunters, but they are struggling. Hard to form a large group and get enough crystals. The Death’s Hand splintered due to infighting and accusations some people weren’t pulling their weight.”

“The eight large group is now a five and three group, both going and claiming to be the true Death’s Hand.” I shook my head at the drama. That was exactly the kind of thing I wanted to avoid.

“What about me?” I asked.

“People shit their pants when they see you and no one wants to talk or joke about you anymore. There is a lot of fear out there.”

“Anyone looking to get even?”

“Not that I have heard of, but people have shut up after Carlos’ purge.”

“He make any more changes?” I asked.

“He is trying to finish healing all his people up. Has put a damper on other expenses. Also, his captains are all wearing red armbands.” Well, that didn’t sound good. Especially since I was owed a debt of 200 crystals. Still, I wouldn’t say anything until day 40.

“Alright, here you go.” I handed over 20 crystals. Evaline stared at me. “What you want more?”

“It is hard out here.”

“Then go kill some slimes. I am paying your tax as well and you are using my name. Maybe I should charge you for that, hmm?” I asked her.

“No, it is fine.”

“Good, let’s go.” Carl and I made our way to the pillars where there were five guards. One had a red cloth tied around his arm.

“Captain.” I nodded my head at him.

“Sicario, an honor. They with you?”

“Carl is on my team right now, and I will pay Evaline’s tax.” The Captain nodded as I handed over 20 crystals.

“Carlos wanted us to pass along the message that you shouldn’t worry, and he will speak to you on the morning of the fifth arrival.”

“Pass along my thanks. Also thank you for keeping things clean around here and calm. For you and your men.” I pulled out 10 crystals and handed them over.

“You don’t have to do that,” the Captain said.

“I don’t and as I long as it is not expected and appreciated, I don’t mind. Keeping this place from becoming a blood bath is important and I don’t want to be bothered while in the store.”

“Thank you,” he said, and the other guards also copied him in thanking me. Being seen as a larger-than-life figure meant having the trappings of that persona. I needed a positive reception from Carlos’ men since they ran the things day to day.

It just built on the concept of not insulting the people who serve or make your food. The guards at the pillars were some of the most powerful people besides Carlos and me. If I didn’t pay a tax, that could easily lead to resentment.

So, the tip. It was a minor investment to hedge against future trouble. After spending 50 crystals I had 758 crystals left. Once I cashed them in, I sat at 5,908 points. I spent 2,250 points on 5 upgrades for Perception, bringing it up to 10.

If I was going into a dark cave, I needed my senses at the max. It cost 103 points for a restoration. I then purchased a reinforced pack for 100 points, fire starter for 100 points, 3 torches for 1,500 points, a bundle of wood for 100 points, and food and a new club for 50 points. That left me with 1,705 points.

I put the logs in the pack first, then carefully arranged the torches. The tarred ends of the torches were each wrapped up in a thin sheet of paper so they wouldn’t cause a mess before they were lit. The fire starter was just a copper lighter. The amount of other types of metal and oil in the lighter were miniscule in comparison to the price. Made it pointless to try and salvage something from the oversized lighter.

I still had a lighter from Earth, but I was keeping that as a personal back up. Carl finished up fairly quickly as well. “Here. You are carrying this.”

“What about my pack?” He asked.

“Wear your pack on your front, this one on your back.”

“That is annoying. It will make it hard to move my arms easily.”

“I might have a solution, but no promises. Let’s get moving.” Carl followed me as I left the plaza and made my way to Carlos’ headquarters. Tyrese was on guard duty again.

“Hello Tyrese.”

“Michael, here to steal my seat?”

“I am looking for two to four men to stand guard for me in the forest to watch my stuff while I do something dangerous.”

“Carlos would need to sign off on something like that.”

“There isn’t a captain or someone who wants some easy work?” I asked. Tyrese thought about it for a moment.

“Carlos would need to approve.”

“Can you pass on the message please. I am looking for four guards. Ten crystals each for standing around as guards tomorrow. Also combat bonus for anything more than a couple of slimes of twenty crystals each if a fight happens.”

“Now you even have me interested.”

“I will be back tomorrow morning, anyone interested should be ready about this time. I will pay up front.”

“I will pass the message along. How dangerous is it?”

“It shouldn’t be dangerous, but anything can happen, so no promises.” Tyrese nodded at that.

“I will speak to Carlos and round up some men. Might not be the best though.”

“That is fine. As long as they can hold off a couple of slimes and can be trusted.”

“Don’t worry, I will handle it.”

“Thanks Tyrese, there will be something for you as well if you come through for me.” He just grinned and waved me off. Carl followed me as we moved away from the city.

“Guards?” he asked.

“To watch the entrance. I don’t want anything, and I mean anything coming at us from behind. A bit overkill most likely, but I don’t want to take that small percent risk. A rear attack in a tunnel is asking for death. Today we will try and get 300 crystals. I will save 100 for paying people and you get to borrow 200.”

“Really?”

“Can’t have you wearing glasses for what we are going to do. How much was a restoration now?” I asked.

“1,427.”

“I will make up the difference. That’s about ten days of future pay. Consider it a zero-interest loan.”

“Thanks,” Carl said. At least he knew better than to argue. “Why did you buy the torches and the logs if we aren’t going into the dungeon today?”

“I didn’t think it all the way through and just purchased them,” I said. I could sense Carl staring at me. “I make mistakes sometimes, call it nervous jitters.”

“Doesn’t help my confidence when we go into that hole.” Resist the urge. I couldn’t resist.

“That’s what she said.”

“Really?” I just shrugged.

“Also, you will get a restoration tomorrow morning, which will take care of the pain today. So, you will also get a chance to push your body.”

“I think I am getting abs.” I was still burning off my gut but there was still quite a bit left. Don’t make me jealous now.