JUDICATOR JANE 6 - CHAPTER 19 (Patreon)

The Smuggler

The door to the inn slammed open with a bang, wood creaking in protest as Jane stormed inside. Her dress hung in tatters—ragged, acid-scorched, and soaked through in patches. She looked like she’d fought a sea monster and lost... which, to be fair, was technically half true. Never in her life had she missed the resilience of her Emberweave Inferno Gown more.

The innkeeper looked up from behind the bar and snorted. “What happened to you?” he asked, a crooked smirk tugging at his lips.

Jane didn’t dignify it with a story. “I need new clothes,” she said bluntly, stepping further inside. “Is there a shop around here?”

He shrugged. “I’m the shop too. Got a few things in the back. Dress for three silver, or shirt and pants for five.”

She grit her teeth. Three silver. That might as well have been a hundred. Her stomach twisted—not from hunger this time, but from the realization settling like a stone in her gut. Her bag, money, provisions, the golden mask—everything was sitting somewhere at the bottom of the ocean, swallowed up with the remains of the coralwyrm.

“Right,” she said tightly. “How generous of you.”

Money was starting to become an issue. She needed funds. The village in the valley hadn’t used a monetary system, but out here—gold was just as valuable as anywhere else. And she had none. Not unless…

“Do you know where the nearest Dirthian bank is?” she asked, keeping her voice steady. If she could access even a fraction of what was in her holdings, money wouldn’t be a problem for a very long time.

The man blinked. “Dirthians?” He scratched his stubbled chin. “Never heard of ’em.”

Jane’s eyes fluttered shut. Of course you haven’t. “What about dwarves?” she tried. “You know—short, stocky, guys who live in the ground?”

He shook his head like she was crazy. “Listen, you want the clothes or—”

“What would a bumpkin like you know about the Dirthians?”

Jane turned, the voice cutting through the tension like a blade. A woman lounged at one of the nearby tables, feet propped up, one brow arched lazily. Her black hair was braided tight against her scalp, and her arms were covered in spiraling tattoos and her ears lined with silver piercings that caught the light. Her expression was equal parts amusement and challenge.

Jane looked down at herself and—yeah, I guess in this torn, salt-stained dress, I do look like I belong to this dilapidated village. But still.

“Bumpkin?” she said flatly.

The woman didn’t blink. “You mentioned Dirthians. Think you’re worldly because you’ve talked to a few merchants at the docks?”

Jane narrowed her eyes and activated Piercing Gaze.

Xian (Level 64)

Human

Class: Pirate (Rare)

Strength: 53

Agility: 91

Constitution: 56

Intelligence: 72

Luck: 8

Health: 560/560

Fun Fact:

Cruising the coast like a seagull with contraband, Xian makes a living ferrying goods from places they shouldn’t be, to other places they shouldn’t be. Sure, it’s basically being a glorified UPS driver with better tan lines—but slap on a sword, yell “arrr” a few times, and suddenly you’ve got a backstory all the kids are lining up to hear on Halloween.

Pirate? Jane hadn’t even known that class was a possibility. The woman across from her raised an eyebrow pierced with three golden hoops, a slow smile curling on her lips as she waited.

Jane cleared her throat. “Uh… I have an account with them. So I’d like to get some money.”

Xian leaned back with a laugh—full, rich, and just short of mockery. “You have an account with the Dirthians?”

Jane’s cheeks flushed. “What’s so funny about that? Anyway—where are they?”

Xian shook her head in disbelief. “So let me get this straight. You’ve got an account with them... but don’t even know where they are? How does that make sense?”

Jane walked over and dropped into the seat across from her, dress still cold and damp. “Just humor me,” she said, voice flat. “You clearly know more than anyone else in this town.”

Xian studied her for a beat—eyes scanning, weighing. Then she gave a half-shrug and pulled a belt knife free with a flick of her wrist.

“Alright. Why not.” She stabbed the table in front of her with a dull thunk. “Here’s your little seaside mudhole—just about as far north as a coastal town can get.” She stood and dragged the knife in a long arc across the circular table, before stabbing it again in front of Jane. “Here’s Integra. The Dirthian city, on the opposite side of Kaldara. Right under the Mandala of Beauty.”

Jane rubbed her chin, staring at the two gouged points in the wood. “Okay, but what about the Dirthian Bankers Guild? Like, specific branches. I don’t need a whole city—I just need the closest spot I can access my account. Somewhere I can make a withdrawal.”

Xian blinked. “Banking branch?” She snorted and dropped back into her seat. “What’s that supposed to be? I’ve never seen a Dirthian outside of Integra. No one has. And I've never heard of any kind of traveling bankers.”

From behind the bar, the innkeeper barked out, “This ain’t a lounge. If you’re not paying or staying, get out.”

“Shut your hole, Andwar!” Xian snapped over her shoulder. “Maybe if you paid for some entertainment for once, you’d have room to talk.” She muttered something about backwater hospitality, then turned back to Jane, gaze a little sharper and more thoughtful.

“Maybe you’re not from around here. Let me guess,” she said, “you’re from the northern wilds?”

Jane exhaled. “Something like that.”

“Figured. Not many folks from the south get a level like yours unless they’ve fought a battle or two, and you don’t have the look of a Mandala slave. Defeated a few monsters from the wilds, haven’t you?” Her eyes gleamed with something close to respect. “You wouldn’t happen to have any rare Materials from them, would you? Trade’s been thin lately.”

Jane slumped back with a sigh, rubbing her temples. “No. I lost my bag—and everything in it—somewhere out in the middle of the ocean.” Her voice was flat, deadpan. “I was… looking for the Traders.”

Xian arched an eyebrow. “Lost your bag in the ocean? That’s a new one.” She shook her head, then leaned forward. “Well, if it’s the Traders you’re after, you’re about two months too late. Haven’t seen one in a good while.”

Jane’s eyes snapped to her.

“Used to be,” Xian continued, “you couldn’t find a port without at least two of their ships crowding the docks. But now?” She flicked a finger toward the window. “Coast is empty as this village. Every city from here to Dahl’s dried up. Nothing but locals, fisherfolk, and people like me pretending to be merchants.” She leaned back, looking bitter. “The Traders were my best buyers, too. So, you were looking to sell something, were you?”

Jane groaned and slouched in the chair, her head tipping back to stare at the rafters. If I can’t find the Traders, I can’t cross the Green Sea… If I can’t cross the Green Sea, then there's nothing to stop Pogg from running rampant. She winced, stomach turning. What am I going to do?

Suddenly—CRACK!

Wood exploded in a violent crash as Taltorius burst through the slatted remains of a boarded-up window like a backyard baseball rocketing off a kid’s bat.

Jane sat bolt upright.

He floated into the room casually, a little trail of splinters and sea breeze following him. Completely oblivious to the chaos he just caused, Taltorius hovered directly over their table.

“WHO IS THIS?” he demanded, his one eye fixed squarely on Xian.

In a fluid motion, Xian shot to her feet—chair scraping backward, curved sword flashing free from her belt. Her tattoos seemed to come alive as her entire posture shifted to one ready for battle.

Jane groaned, throwing up both hands. “Wait, wait—he’s with me. Don’t worry about it!”

Xian didn’t lower the blade, but her eyes narrowed. “With you?” She scanned him, her face going pale. “That’s a level 1816 demon!”

“Yeah, yeah,” Jane muttered, waving a hand. “Long story. He’s bound to me, don’t ask. Just—Taltorius, back off and stop freaking her out.”

Taltorius drifted back a pace dismissively. Finally, he settled himself daintily on the edge of the table with a meaty plop.

Xian slowly sheathed her blade, keeping her eyes on him the entire time. Then she sank back into her chair, exhaling through her nose. “Bound to you,” she muttered. “So you’re a Demonologist.”

“No comment,” Jane said flatly. “Taltorius, meet Xian the Pirate.”

Xian’s eyes flicked wide again. “How did you know—”

“Y-you better pay for that!”

The voice came from the far side of the room. The innkeeper was peeking out from the kitchen, red-faced and trembling, finger jabbing at the shattered window.

Right. Back to money.

With the Dirthians half a continent away and her bag at the bottom of the Green Sea, Jane’s thoughts turned to more immediate concerns. Unless she bullied or stole from the villagers there was no way she could secure provisions for the trip back to the valley.

I still want to keep a low profile. I’m not robbing a village just to get a couple dried fish. She raked her fingers back through her hair, trying to think.

Her hand hit something solid.

Wait a second.

She pulled both Arcanite Hair Clips free and placed them carefully on the table in front of Xian. “Here. Take a look at these. Will you give me something for them?”

Xian reluctantly peeled her eyes off Taltorius and reached forward, picking one up. Her eyes widened. “What in the world… Hair clips?” She turned one over, inspecting the glittering metal. “Who in the blazes would use Arcanite for a fashion accessory?”

Then her gaze sharpened. She set the clip down slowly, like it had grown fangs.

“Listen, I’m not going ask where you got these,” she said, her voice lowering. “In fact, I don’t want to know. If you swiped them from some noble or made off with a few souvenirs after escaping your masters, that’s your business.”

Her expression softened. “Lucky for you, stolen goods are my specialty. Sure—I’ll buy.”

Jane perked up. “Great! Yeah, I know Arcanite’s rare and all, so… I was thinking, maybe five gold?”

Xian didn’t blink. “One copper. For both.”

Jane blinked. “…What?”

Xian shrugged. “They are certainly valuable. I’m not sure exactly who would buy them, but someone from the Mandalas might take an interest in such a frivolous use of materials.”

“I’m not giving these away for one copper!” Jane shot back. “One night at the inn costs a silver itself! You should give me at least a few gold!” 

Xian appeared confused. “I’m not sure why you’re complaining. One copper is a good price.”

Meeting her eyes, Jane tried to tell if Xian was joking, but from all appearances she was perfectly serious.

What the heck is going on…?

A creeping suspicion slithered down her spine. Jane quickly pulled up her System information, flipping to her Advanced Stats. Her eyes darted across the fields.

She didn’t have to look far. There, right at the top, was what she feared.

Bartering: 0

A big fat zero. Just like every other Advanced Stat on her sheet.

“Stupid System!” Jane shouted toward the ceiling, shaking a fist. A few of the inn’s patrons looked up at the outburst, then returned to their mugs.

Thinking back on it, since her time in Alur, she had never actually tried to sell anything. But, I’ve bought plenty of stuff in the past… Even just last night she had paid for the inn and a few meals. What’s the difference? 

She slumped forward, burying her face in her hands. “Now how am I supposed to buy food?”

“FOOD?” Taltorius blared, popping up into the air. “IF IT IS SUSTENANCE YOU SEEK, THEN LET US COMPLETE THE QUEST THE HUMAN BESTOWED UPON US!”

That drew Xian’s attention immediately. She straightened in her chair, eyes sparking. “Quest? You met the Loremaster?”

Jane gave a tired nod. “Yeah, we met him… unfortunately. You’ve heard of him?”

Xian scoffed. “Of course I’ve heard of him. Everyone’s heard of the Loremaster! Getting to him’s half the challenge—through a forest full of high-level monsters—but the rewards for completing his quests? Supposedly they materialize right out of thin air.” Her eyes narrowed, intrigued. “So? What kind of quest did you choose?”

“Choose isn’t exactly the word I’d use,” Jane muttered. “I’m supposed to ‘Liberate the human slaves of Kaldara’ essentially.”

Xian barked a sharp laugh. “By the Maker… What kind of ridiculous quest is that?” Then a gleam sparked in her eyes. “Well—the reward for something like that must be monumental. What would you get?”

Jane didn’t flinch. “A lifetime supply of green curry.”

Xian stared.

Then burst out laughing.

She howled, throwing her head back, pounding a fist on the table until the wooden legs creaked in protest. “Stop! You’re killing me! Just curry?! You’re risking your life to free half the continent and you’re getting the same thing I ate last week?!”

Jane crossed her arms. “It’s complicated.”

Taltorius chimed in, utterly sincere. “THE TWO MOST CRUCIAL FACTORS IN SURVIVAL ARE FOOD AND SHELTER. IF THE HUMAN IS TRUE TO HIS WORD, I ASSURE YOU WE RECEIVED THE BETTER END OF THE DEAL.”

Jane didn’t even look at him. “That’s not the worst part. If I don’t do it within a year… I lose both my thumbs.”

That sent Xian into another laughing fit. She nearly fell out of her chair, tears streaming down her face. “Oh Maker’s tits—! That’s the dumbest thing I’ve ever heard! Why would you ever agree to that?!”

“I didn’t agree,” Jane growled. “It doesn’t matter. How many slaves are there in this stupid place, anyway?”

Xian blinked at her. “…How many? Half the population of Kaldara is enslaved in the Mandalas! You better kiss those thumbs of yours goodbye while you still can.”

Jane dropped her head to the table. “Of course. Because why not?”

After taking a few deep breaths, she sat up again, rubbing her temples. “What are these Mandalas anyway? I’ve heard the name a few times.”

Xian gave her a sideways look. “You really are from the boonies, aren’t you?”

Her gaze flicked to the Arcanite hair clips still lying on the table. A spark of curiosity flashed behind her eyes.

“…Maybe I misjudged you,” she muttered. Then, with a shrug, she reached into her weather-beaten satchel and pulled out a folded sheet of thick, yellowed parchment.

She unrolled it carefully—a hand-drawn map, rough but surprisingly detailed.

Jane leaned forward, eyes sharpening with interest. The shape of the landmass was a pretty close approximation of the western continent she had seen from the surface of the Netherrealm.

Finally, something solid to work with.

“Look, we’re here,” Xian said, pointing to a mark on the northeastern edge of the map.

She moved her finger downward, tapping a tiny inland dot far to the south. “The Dirthian city you’re interested in is here.”

Then she motioned to eight large circles spanning the center of the map in a two-by-two grid. “These are the Mandalas. Each one represents a faction of the nobility. Up north you’ve got the Mandala of Power and Humility. Far south—Beauty and Honor.”

She sat back and raised a finger. “Don’t get any ideas about traveling through them on foot. If you’ve never stepped inside a Mandala before, it can be a very disorienting experience.”

Jane studied the layout, her brow furrowing. If she really did want to get her gold from the Dirthians, it was going to be a major pain in the butt.

Xian leaned forward. “So. Be honest. How are you in a fight? With a level like that, I’m guessing you’ve survived more than a few battles. If you’re serious about heading south, I might be convinced to let you tag along. A little extra muscle is always welcome.”

Jane’s eyes narrowed. “How long is the trip?”

“Month, maybe longer,” Xian replied. “It’s not a straight line—but it’s safer to travel by boat. Mandala nobles don’t care about the sea, so it’s mostly quiet, and your time in the Mandalas would be minimal.”

Jane nodded slowly, but her mind was spinning. A month. That's far too long. I told Melindra I’d be back in a week or two… This was supposed to be a quick recon trip. No way, I can’t be gone for a month.

Something immediately felt familiar about the situation—shaking her head, she recalled escaping Dawnskeep after the royal celebration. She had needed to make a choice there too—and ultimately decided to go into the Great Woods. Wait a minute… The memory snapped into focus immediately. One of my options was to visit the Dirthian capital of… She bolted forward, her finger snapping to the Dirthian city marked on the map.  “Integra.”

The memory hit her like a bell ringing in her skull. The Dirthian banker from Dawnskeep—his words returned in full clarity.

“Miss Jane, I have been instructed to deliver a message from the Dirthian High Council.” 

Jane tilted her head, “Oh? Are they the rulers of the Dirthians? Or just the bank?” 

“Er, yes. Well, they are one and the same. But I digress, you’ve been extended an offer from the High Council to visit the Dirthian capital of Integra. It is quite rare, quite rare indeed, for a human to receive such an offer.”

“Oh really?” Jane asked, “Is it close? I heard the Dirthians live underground.” 

“It is quite far away. The journey would take several months to be sure. But yes, it is underground. The Dirthian roads stretch beneath the surface of Alur and crisscross the realm,” he responded hesitantly. 

Jane ran a hand across her mouth. The Dirthians! They have a way back to Arcadia! Her mind snapped into focus. Not only did that potentially provide a means to return, but she wouldn’t have to worry about sea monsters, other weird ocean stuff, or the impracticality of shipping an entire race across the Green Sea. Right, I can just get all the demons to Integra, and then we’ll just walk straight through the tunnels back to Arcadia!

She looked up at Xian. “Let’s say I did want to go through the Mandalas. Straight south. What kind of trouble would I run into?”

Xian gave her a sidelong look. “Trouble? Well, for one thing, there’s a war going on between the Mandalas right now. Largest one in the last hundred years.”

Jane blinked. “Which ones are fighting?”

Crossing her arms. Xian smiled. “Which ones? All of them. They’re all at war. It heated up just last year. And I assure you, if you step foot into any one of them, with a level like that you’ll be snapped up by the first army you meet.”

Jane’s eyes narrowed. “Have you heard of any Legendary class holders in the Mandalas?”

Xian let out a sigh. “You float between topics like a butterfly. It’s a wide world out there, but not that wide.” She shrugged. “So no. Not unless you mean in tavern tales.”

Jane sat back, mind calculating. She didn’t care about these Mandalas, or whatever was going on between them. But she did undoubtedly have the largest army on the continent back at the valley. And if there are no other Legendary class holders out here… That would certainly simplify things.

She stared at the map with renewed focus.

Yeah. If we make a beeline straight for the Dirthian city, I’d like to see anyone try and stop us.