Chapter 30: (2/2)
Lenny approached him. "So Josh, what do you think? It's more efficient than going at it alone, right?"
It really wasn't but Josh still adopted an impressed expression. "It was an eye-opener for sure!" As in, he expected better from them.
"Of course, haha. I and the boys are going to a bar to celebrate, wanna co?"
"Of course! Count in!" Josh enthusiastically replied.
They surprisingly headed to the H district. "Wait, aren't most places to eat and drink in the G district?"
"Haha, most of them yes. But it would be unrealistic to have all of these in one area. After all, eating is a core component of life. It is the sa for convenience stores. There are a few allowed in every district. Usually, it would be extrely hard to get a permit for that, but the H district is special. No one really cares about drinking there so… Anyway, the owner is a good friend of ours since we are regulars there. We even have our own table haha."
That certainly made sense. Josh ignored so much about the city. Not that it mattered too much. He had ti to slowly explore it. He felt like a tourist discovering an entirely new world…actually he was haha. They soon reached the .
"What's with the na?"
"Hehe, he lost a bet and had to put that. At first, it was a joke, but it sohow beca real. Honestly, you'd be surprised by the number of official nas that began like that. With the advent of the Tower, people needed a place to relax after the grueso Climb. They were perfectly fine with leaving their seriousness in the Tower."
They headed in. As soon as they entered the tavern keeper shouted: "If isn't the , you bunch of handso bastards! Ah, Lou is as cold as always haha. Ah, who's this? A new face? New mber?"
"Haha, we'll see. He shows potential. We just ca back from the Tower, now we want to Celebrate!"
"Roger that, I'll bring you guys so drinks. Just make yourself at ease."
For so reason, there was no other custor in the entire establishnt. What were the odds? They sat at a big table in the corner by a jukebox. The old-style looking kind, except that the interior was clearly new.
Lenny fiddled with it a few monts before a cool lody started playing. One that sounded very pleasing to the ear and relaxing. He gave a smile to Josh before sitting again. Then ca the food and the drinks. While it was pretty ordinary hot dogs and beer it was nice.
The hot dogs tasted wonderful. The kind that you know is kinda trashy but still delicious. anwhile, the beer had a very rich taste, one that was very peculiar. While it definitely wasn't good it wasn't bad either. Lenny kept encouraging everyone to drink and be rry, especially Josh.
Josh complied quickly. Chugging it all to the satisfaction of his new companions. Then it was more partying and dancing. At so point, they even had fun trying to throw chips into each other's mouths.
Josh clearly was flushed red from the alcohol and was talking as loudly as a drunk could, the sa could be said for Lenny. At so point, the other bid them farewell. They were going to sleep early for tomorrow's work thus leaving both n alone. That is when Lenny took out a pendulum and a contract.
Swinging it in Josh's face he uttered calmly: "Joining us is the best opportunity for you, you should take it. We will welco you as a family because that's all is about."
Josh suddenly stood up intoxicated, pouting and slurring his words: "No! I want to Climb! I wanna be the very best Climber like no one ever was!"
"Yes, we'll help you do that.", Lenny coaxed.
"No! I want to Climb right now! Actually, I'm going! Hahaha! You coming?", Josh bolted away laughing childishly.
Lenny sighed before following him. Soon they entered Floor 8 once more. As soon as they were inside he turned to the giggling Josh: "You can drop the act, now."
"What?"
"You are pretty good at acting drunk you could have fooled even . Honestly, I was sure you drank the whole thing, with everything mixed in it. But, you clearly don't know how to act drugged. Drop it. Tell , what made you suspicious of ?"
Josh sighed. "I already was when I first ca, but then you insisted I drink and sohow I only t with three additional mbers of the guild. Why is that?"
"The others are all weaklings and drug addicts. Couldn't really show them, right? But hey, at least they are decent workers. Give them a constant supply of Firgone and they'll do anything. Without it, they'll be back to their useless selves after all. Well, that and how addictive it is haha."
"So you drug people, make them addicted, and exploit them afterward?"
"Pretty much. But hey, the official version is that I give them the opportunity to join a great guild. We are all a big family after all."
"So you tried to drug and failed yet you still followed here? Aren't you worried at all?"
"Did you know that the Tower allows up to a 3-level difference between party mbers? I have Climbed up to Floor 11."
"And?"
"Well, simply put this place is all a ga of numbers you know. I am higher level than you and I have more skills than you for sure since you are classless haha." He then took out the contract again. "Sign it, or there will only be one of us coming out of here."
Josh took it and started reading it. It was basically a slave contract. 90% of the wealth would go to the guild with Josh only getting the scraps. Furthermore, there were no guild benefits at all, ah except for so supply of Firgone. It was literal poison to help calm their nerves and forget their shitty lives.
"Here I thought Gemini's offer was bad, here you are totally topping it. What makes you even think I'd respect such a contract."
"Oh, I believe you will. You could try and break the contract but you'd be blacklisted from joining a guild in the future no matter what. You'd be screwed."
Josh looked at him right in the eyes. "There is no way this is that simple. This is a magical item, isn't it? One that is impossible to breach or sothing?"
Lenny chuckled: "How perceptive. I can't believe soone as smart as you decided to enter a Floor alone with . You can't communicate with anyone here either. You asked why I am so confident, right? Let show you exactly why haha!"
He gestured in the air clearly in order to look cool, then gear appeared on his person. Full gear from head to toe. Earrings, rings, a necklace, everything.
"See this! My worst items are F Rank! This is giving about 50% more power hahaha. Once more, sign the contract or I'll kill you. You know, I wanted to do this the easy way but…you just had to struggle. No matter."
Josh simply started laughing. "HAHAHAHAHAHAHA."
"Have you lost your mind?!" Lenny showed unease.
"How coincidental. I also happen to be in a similar situation. You know with the F-Rank items. Well, that's because F-Rank Imp earrings are actually BiS for a swordsman compared to the E-Rank version."
That is when Josh willed his gear to show up. Appeared on him mismatched-looking equipnt. The difference was that his was pretty much all E-Rank and chosen by Liam directly. Let's just say it had better stat distribution than what one could easily find on the market.
"E-Rank?! Impossible! How did a guildless guy like you ever…?!"
"Oh, that? I did join a guild, well kinda. Ever heard of Draconic?" Josh simply stood there smiling at him with his arms crossed.
The distorted face of Lenny now showed sheer horror. The defenseless newcor turned out to be a dragon in disguise. Lenny simply started running. No word, just a mad dash away. Running for his life. Just as Josh was about to catch up the man took a pearl out before throwing it toward him. What was…. *BOOM*
Apparently, it was a bomb. How?! Technology was supposed to be …. Ah, it was probably an alchemical product or sothing. Still, it didn't cause any damage to Josh at all. The explosion wasn't that strong. Lenny simply kept running. Killing a golem from ti to ti using a well-tid explosion.
Josh realized what the man was hoping for. If he was lucky and got a rare core, he could complete the mission and escape. The city was a lawful zone. He may be busted and his guild over, but he could possibly escape with his life.
At that mont that was all that mattered to the man. He kept franticly going until finally, lady luck smiled at him! He started laughing instantly muttering the exit command and disappearing in a flash of red light.
Back in tropolis C Josh and Lenny suddenly appeared. The latter had a grinning and victorious expression on his face. Josh simply left without turning back. Before long he had reached Dale's place.
"Josh, you are back! How did it go?"
"He truly was scum. His whole ga was to enslave people to work for him with dubious contracts and drugs."
"I see, what happened exactly?"
"Switch the news on, I'm sure it will be there."
Lara in the back heard it and complied. Then on the screen appeared a reporter.
"Hello, I am Don from . Today we have a report of a bizarre Tower-related incident. A few minutes ago, a severed head appeared out of the Tower. As we know death is a very real reality in the Tower. What makes this case special is that the man's party mber could be seen leaving the area without even looking back. This makes so believe that this could be a case of cold-blooded murder. The Black Squad is currently looking for the man to interrogate him and…"
Then ca a shout from the door.
"This is the Black Squad open up! According to article 42-B of the public safety departnt, you are now hereby under suspicion of harboring a criminal! Should you refuse to comply with law enforcent you will be dealt with as if accomplices!"
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