383: Volunteers (Patreon)

As the General gathered himself to speak, a nudge came over local.

Who do you think the leak is? Wu asked him.

I don’t have enough information to make any real judgements, he replied. Why? Looking to solve the mystery?

Actually, I think I’ve already got it in the bag. The Patriarch only has one heir. If Edrin dies, who will be in line to inherit? Presumably Zoryth, or one of his daughters.

Nicolai let out a quiet snort, eyeing the uncle. Isn’t that a little predictable? Maybe it’s the butler.

Maybe, she replied. But in my experience, the obvious answer is usually correct. I’ll be gathering evidence. Maybe I’ll recruit your help when the time comes to present it. I don’t think he and his daughters will take it quietly.

Watch your back, said Nicolai.

‘Braxil have not the manpower to threaten us alone. They will seek to avoid open conflict,’ the General was saying. ‘However, if we are tied up with Morvain and they see an opportunity, I would expect them to make a move. It would be best to avoid any skirmishes, as the rot they control will begin to spread through and weaken our undead. If we do fight them, we should look to overcome them immediately with overwhelming might, paired with sound tactical execution on all fronts.’

‘Overwhelming might!’ echoed the Patriarch, slapping his fist into his palm with a meaty smack.

‘Morvain may be saying just the same thing about us,’ murmured Edrin.

The General shrugged. ‘We do not have the rot Braxil possesses. They could take us more slowly. No need to put themselves at such risk.’

‘Have you all considered,’ spoke up a new voice—Junko—‘making alliances? What if you joined up with Braxil?’

The Patriarch sneered. ‘Their leader, Balsgon, is an arrogant fool who thinks himself a great schemer. He would just string us along while looking for an opportunity.’ His expression turned abruptly polite. ‘But perhaps you could help with that, great summoner. If you were to call up something impressive while we were visiting him, he might see some sense. Perhaps our Diplomat can weigh in on this.’ He looked over to the one with the Role of Diplomat, Lin Yue. ‘What do you think?’

‘Even if we aren’t able to engineer an alliance, this sounds like an excellent opportunity for a surprise attack,’ she said, smiling. ‘There is certainly no harm in trying. The abilities my Role grants me are equally good for either.’

‘Very good,’ said the Patriarch, nodding, smirking.

‘You want me to go to negotiate, then attack them? I’m not going to help with that!’ said Junko.

The Patriarch stared at her, for the first time seeming taken aback. ‘What?’

‘If I call up Striker or another summon to impress them, then that’s what it’ll be for. I’m not going to attack them out of nowhere.’

The Patriarch scowled at her, his tentacle beard twitching irritably. The General frowned grimly. The daughters exchanged glances, hair stirring. Zoryth steepled his fingers and raised a smug eyebrow. Edrin, in contrast, looked vaguely approving.

‘And when would you be willing to use your summons?’ asked the Patriarch.

‘To defend the House from an attack,’ she answered.

‘Are you aware that you have signed an agreement saying you will do as I command?’

‘I guess. But if that’s the kind of command you’ll be giving, then we can tear it up right now,’ she said, scowling back at him.

The Patriarch eyed her a moment longer, then, showing a surprising amount of restraint, simply nodded.

‘We’ll discuss it when the time comes. Either way, my House is very pleased that you decided to bless us by claiming a Role here, honoured Hero.’

He nodded, smiling once more, as did all the other nobles. The Players in the room observed this show of blatant favouritism in thoughtful silence, while Junko shifted with obvious discomfort.

‘In any case, until next week no claims may be issued against bell towers,’ said the Patriarch. ‘Thus our main objective will revolve around the nearby empty Sector. Tell me, Players, how aware are you of how this city functions?’

There came a few answers, as people mentioned what they knew: generally that they were in a Sector and that there were other Sectors. But by and large, the Players were uncertain as to what those other Sectors were like.

Nicolai listened with interest. Through the scouting of his drones, he had learned of the six large exits from the Sector, and had been able to see over the walls to the city beyond, largely composed of more hexagonal, walled Sectors. But there were invisible barriers stretching over all those walls, blocking him, as well as everyone else here, from exploring any further.

‘Some of the Sectors in this city are alive, some are dead, and some are simply empty,’ said the Patriarch. ‘In those which are alive, the level of population varies. This particular Sector was empty, until my House and the other Houses arrived here. Ultimately, six Houses cannot share one Sector. We will fight, to decide who takes it. Once this House War is resolved and one House seizes dominance, then it will become a true, alive Sector. A peaceful place, where people living in more dangerous areas of the city will come to.’

He looked to Junko as he added, ‘Some might say that by giving their all and helping to win this House War with as little loss of life as possible, all of you Players are doing a great deed.’

She frowned back at him, unconvinced.

‘In any case, this Sector is surrounded by others. Two of them are alive, already claimed by a House or battled over by Houses. One of them is empty, and free for the taking. The other three exits all lead to the Dead City, a stretch of Sectors with broken walls, claimed by the monstrous and the damned. A dangerous place, but with treasures to be found. As to the empty Sector, it is abandoned, but full of valuable things. Were we able to get the gate open, we could start claiming the bell towers and the old compounds within it. Doing so would be very quick and easy, and for each bell tower a House controls, so grows their strength. We have learned—and the other Houses have also learned—that there are keys to the gate, and to the old compounds within the empty Sector, that have been lost in the Dead City.’

The Patriarch leaned forward after saying all this, looking carefully around the table, and he steepled his fingers in a manner similar to his brother. ‘All that said, I have a job for any who are interested. I want some of you to go into the Dead City, and seek out these keys. The dangers are significant, I won’t hide that. But those willing to volunteer can be assured of significant rewards as payment for the dangers they will face, and if they are successful, even more so. Not to mention the treasures you might find out there, which of course would be yours to keep. You must return by the end of this week. I can issue tokens which will allow—’

‘We can do that,’ broke in Serrin excitedly.

‘Yes,’ said Junko, nodding. ‘Absolutely.’

‘We’re your men,’ said Marlowe.

‘And dog,’ added Maverick.

‘I can also help,’ said Nicolai, waving one hand.

‘I’ll go as well,’ said Yue.

The Patriarch eyed them askance, as did the other nobles and Players.

‘You are all friends,’ mused the Patriarch, after a long stretch of silence. ‘I knew it was so for you four,’ he said, with a nod to Junko and co, before looking between Nicolai and Serrin, ‘but I hadn’t expected you two to be involved with them. Tell me, how is it you know one another? Are you all allies, who chose to join my House as one?’

‘Not until recently,’ said Nicolai, and he gestured to Serrin. ‘Me and him know one another. As to the others, we met them shortly before they came to take part in the trials. Actually, it was because of us that they decided to join this House.’

‘I see,’ said the Patriarch, eyebrows raising. ‘Another benefit you have brought me. This will not go unnoticed.’

The group turned faintly irritated looks on Nicolai, clearly unhappy that he’d taken credit for their joining.

‘If you would consider rewarding me, then reward them instead. I am doing well enough,’ said Nicolai. ‘I wish only the best for my new friends.’

‘I had not intended to send any assassins to the Dead City,’ murmured the Patriarch, stroking his chin. ‘And you are the Prime Assassin. The ability of your Role will be largely useless in the Dead City. There is no Restriction. You would be much more useful here. I am fine with the champions all going together, and even one of my spies. But you…’ He looked to Nicolai. ’I do not think it would be a good use of you. I have heard that that other assassin, Severin, has joined House Morvain. I’m sure you remember what he said to us before he left. Morvain are our closest enemy. They are the strongest House in the Sector, they hunger for my towers and the Gambling House, and their Prime Assassin hates my new Prime Assassin as much the Morvain hate me. No, I will need you here, to deal with him.’

‘Ah,’ said Nicolai. ‘But you said Morvain and the other Houses also know about these keys and the Dead City.’

‘Yes,’ said the Patriarch. ‘So?’

‘So they will be sending their own parties, won’t they?’

‘Undoubtedly.’

‘Then if I go, the problem will be solved. He hates me, not this House. As soon as he gets word that I will be going to the Dead City, then he will want to go too. Considering how unreasonable he is, I’m sure he’ll talk Morvain into letting him go. He’ll probably say their Prime Assassin is going as well, so let me go and I can kill him. Your leak will work to our advantage with this, and even if not you can simply let the information leak out yourself.’

‘You cannot know he will do this,’ said Mavryn, the General, shaking his head. ‘This is pure supposition.’

For the first time, one of the two Junior Assassins chimed in. ‘I don’t think you need anyone else,’ said John. He aimed a thumb at Tanaka, the hacker. ‘Me and him can handle whatever you need done, including that Severin guy.’

Tanaka turned to shoot John a look that, even through the white veil, managed to convey disbelief.

‘You know, if it wasn’t for a little bit of luck, a fluke of bullet trajectory,’ John continued, in a way that Nicolai found especially whiny, ‘I would have been the one who won that assassin trial.’ He nodded to Nicolai. ‘I shot him twice in the head. That’s dead by anyone’s measure. Either he’s got an extremely thick skull or he got very lucky with a deflect, and neither will help with this job.’

‘You’re dead on,’ said Nicolai amiably. ‘I do have a very thick skull. And you can call me the Prime Assassin, though Prime will also do.’ He could hardly wait to kill John and steal his wonderful pistol.

‘He has to come with us, too,’ spoke up Serrin. ‘If he doesn’t go, then I’m staying here.’

‘What?’ said the Patriarch, scowling at the helmeted Hornet. ‘You are a champion, but there is to be no fight for bell towers until the end of this week. There is little point in you remaining here. No, you go, he stays.’ He looked back to Nicolai. ‘As Mavryn says, it is far from guaranteed Severin will follow you.’

‘You said this was something we could volunteer for,’ said Serrin. ‘I retract my… volunteering.’

‘It was something you could volunteer for. But now it isn’t. You’re going,’ replied the Patriarch.

‘Not without him!’ snapped Serrin. Nicolai observed the Hornet’s sudden anger approvingly.

‘The matched pair do not wish to separate,’ murmured Zoryth, and chuckled to himself.

The Patriarch’s eyes narrowed on Serrin. ‘Are you aware of how easily I can give your Role to one of those eagerly waiting outside of this room?’ He sat back, now looking between all of them but focusing especially on Serrin, Nicolai, and Junko. ‘Any of you can have your Role stripped, and you’ll be lucky to become a Soldier rather than be kicked out of the House. There is much to gain for Players who take part in a war, and those who hold a Role will gain far more. You have won your Roles, yes, but holding onto them depends not only on your performance, but your willingness to follow orders. A little respect would be wise.’

Serrin crossed his arms, glaring in mute silence.

The Patriarch snorted, unimpressed. ‘The matter is settled. You and the others will go, but the Prime Assassin will be staying here.’ He glanced between Nicolai, John, and Tanaka, a tiny smile playing around his face. ‘You two Juniors need someone to lead you, after all. And as to what I need handled, you will have an opportunity to prove your usefulness right now.’ His eyes narrowed and turned flat, his features became grim as death himself, his Soul Sense swelled, the weight of a Tier 3’s anger settling over the room. ‘We have a leak,’ he hissed. ‘Someone in this very room is working with our enemies.’

‘We know,’ said Edrin, confused. ‘You said it was being—’

‘And I,’ said the Patriarch, and the anger was gone, replaced by that same sunny good cheer, ‘know precisely who it is, and I want them killed immediately.’