Tycoon May: Chapter 34 (Patreon)

Chapter 34

“Are you sure you want to do this?”  Sam looked more serious than Grant had ever seen him acting.  “This isn’t a small thing you are talking about.  Spreading rumors and subverting the Houses from a distance is one thing, but directly confronting Tycoon May and his mother is a completely different task.”

“I’m sure.”  Adria frowned, causing Grant to notice for the first time how upset she truly was by everything that happened.  Tears were trying to form at the corners of her eyes, and she trembled with rage.  “They tried to kill us.  All so they can hold a little extra power.  They need to answer for that.”

Evander let loose a grumbling chuckle.  “Yeah, I bet they’ll love giving answers to our questions.”  He rubbed at his chest, where a crossbow bolt had pierced him.  “And if we don’t like their answers, we can return the favor.”

Sam shook his head at the pair of them.  “Ah, you really don’t know what you’re getting into.  The keep at Forteresse Mere is almost impregnable, and there are a ridiculous amount of guards, cultivators, and Vassals there to provide security at all times.  It would take a beast wave of epic proportions to even challenge the walls.”

“We aren’t trying to take the city.”  Adria clenched her fists, her knuckles turning white.  “Just the keep, where Tycoon May and his mother sit like spiders in their opulent web of deception.”

“I like to smash spiders.”  Evander thumped Grant with a heavy open-handed slap.  “What do you say, Grant?  Would you like to smash some insects with us?”

<Spiders aren’t insects, they’re arachnids.  Insects have six legs, not eight.  Don’t be an idiot like this guy.>

Grant shook his head and smiled.  “I’m in, under one condition.  I get to fight Tycoon May.”

“We should worry about who gets to fight whom when we’re actually inside the keep.  Right now, it’s just a bunch of talk.”  Adria broke up their little circle with a glance at Grant.  “There’s a few minutes until we roll out.  Why don’t you use them to get cleaned up?”

“Yeah, you stink.”  Evander waved a hand in front of his face.  “Were you rolling around in fertilizer or something?”

“Or something.”  Grant gave them a wave as he walked away toward the stream.  “I’ll be quick.”

After scrubbing himself clean in the nearby stream, Grant rejoined the group as they started to leave.  He watched as the scout rode away, taking a different route than the one they had used to return to the city they had left.  It would take him longer, but traveling by himself would make up for it.

<If he doesn’t get eaten, that man is about to bring anarchy to this District.>  Sarge chuckled, only sounding a little bit evil to Grant.  <I can’t wait to see what happens next.>

“Do you really think it will be that bad?”  Grant vaulted back onto his perch on the rear wagon.  Evander was healed enough that he didn’t join Grant this time, instead roaming along the right side of the wagon convoy.  “Would one thing like this bring down hundreds of years of culture and government?”

<It’s a foundation-shaking revelation.  House Thursday has been working with other factions to make sure they hold all the power, and anyone with half a brain will see that controlling food is how they do it.>  Sarge gave a mental shrug.  <Don’t underestimate the anger of people in large groups.  Almost every civilization is only a few days from absolute chaos, no matter how proper or right the average person thinks things are at the moment.>

“As long as it gives me a chance to confront Tycoon May, I guess it doesn’t really matter.”  Grant settled back into the sacks of grain, trying to get comfortable.  “We’ll fix the District later, after I defeat Regent December.”

The two of them settled into a companionable silence, watching as the stubby trees slowly grew taller as they traveled.  An occasional monster appeared as they neared the next city, but the Wrecking sisters handled everything before it could get too close to the wagons.  For regular cultivators, they were both very capable.

Eventually, the convoy came within sight of the next city.  Even the animals seemed excited at the thought of sleeping within the protective walls, and they made the front gate well before it was dark enough to warrant them being closed.

Grant groaned as he hopped down and walked to the front, where Sam and Adria had set up a small table as wagons rumbled past into the city.  When he got close enough, he saw that they were passing out small pouches of Time to the members of the convoy.

“Ah, for everyone who is staying on, you can either take your coin now, or wait until you leave at your final destination.  We’ll keep track of how much you’re owed.”  Sam had to pay off most of the guards, since they weren’t staying with the convoy, but almost every wagon driver didn’t bother.  Instead, they watched as Sam made careful notations on a notebook laid out in front of him.  Grant took his Time, even though it would only be a drop in the bucket when he cashed in his Metallica.  “There’s a bonus for you in there, since you went above and beyond.”

“Thanks!”  Grant looked past them, deeper into the new city.  “Any idea where I can turn in some goods for contribution points?”

“Sure, but I wouldn’t do it in this city.”  Adria pulled Grant off to the side so Sam could continue dealing with the other members of the convoy.  “You might have some problems getting full value for your goods, especially with your badge being only Tier Two.  If I were you, I would make sure I traded them in at one of the bigger cities, closer to the capital.  Corrupt officials have to hide better there.  Not in the capital itself, though.  They’re the worst at Forteresse Mere.”

“That… makes sense.”  Grant thought about what he had been through turning in his Metallica at other places.  “I guess I’ll wait then.”

“Anything else you’re looking for?”  Adria looked over Grant’s gear.  “Maybe an armorer?”

“No, I’m good, thanks.  Any armor I would want would be so expensive that I wouldn’t be able to increase my citizenship Tier.”  Images of Tycoon May’s armor flashed through his head.  “I have a plan to get something better in a different way.”

“Well then, I guess I’ll see you later.  Meet us at the far gate tomorrow morning.  Sam and I both think it’s a good idea to get an early start, especially since we’ll be spreading rumors about Tycoon May and his mom while we’re here.”  Adria waved to him as she walked away.  “Don’t get into too much trouble while you’re here!”

<Man, she just jinxed the crap out of you.>  Grant grimaced in agreement with Sarge.  <Now, you’re going to immediately have to escape from a burning city as angry mobs do their best to burn you at the stake.>

“Thanks, Sarge.  I appreciate your vote of confidence.”  Grant started to walk deeper into the city, looking for a place to stay for the night.  “But I’m pretty sure I can manage not getting into trouble for less than twelve hours.”

<Whatever you say, Grant.  Whatever you say.>