Chapter 27 – The Desert Ambush
Tyler stood over the remnants of chaos in the bar, exhaling slowly. The last of the fake rcenaries had fled or fallen. He walked among the unconscious bodies, collecting whatever gold he could find. It wasn’t much — just under 300 gold — but it would do.
He walked back to the bar and handed the small pouch to Farnak.
“Here. For the damage,” Tyler said.
Farnak blinked, surprised. “That’s… more than fair.”
“And by the way, that Paradise Drink? Phenonal.”
Tyler turned and exited the bar, Milo at his side. The heat of the desert air hit them imdiately.
Milo looked sideways at him. “Tyler, I think we’re getting into a complicated and dangerous situation. Should we just leave and tell King Wing about the rcenary guild being a hoax?”
Tyler raised a brow. “Are you an idiot, Milo? I’m pretty sure King Wing already knew about the rcenaries being a hoax. He knew he was neither getting reinforcents nor his money back.”
Milo frowned, then widened his eyes. “Then why would he— oh!”
The realization hit.
Tyler nodded. “Yes. He intentionally gave us this impossible quest. I think the guard was right— he’s suspecting us. Or at the very least, trying to keep us in check.”
“So he gave us this quest just to scrutinize us. Since we always succeeded at clearing bandit camps, he gave us a task that couldn’t be completed in any way.”
“Exactly.”
“So, what do we do now?”
“What do we do? Obviously, we’ll do what the quest tells us to do. It might be an impossible quest, but it’s worth trying.”
By now, word of the bar brawl had spread through Dustville like wildfire. Tyler and Milo had unintentionally developed a reputation. rchants who previously avoided eye contact now greeted them with cautious respect.
Tyler took this opportunity to gather intel. rchants spoke freely about how the so-called rcenary guild had extorted them. Tyler learned of the dune bandits’ most active periods — primarily targeting lone rchants traveling at dusk or after nightfall.
“They always strike when it’s dark,” one rchant said. “The rcenaries who are paid to protect us just vanish the mont danger appears.”
That gave Tyler an idea.
He returned to the bar and approached Farnak.
“I need you to travel north today.”
Farnak stared at him. “Well, I was planning to get ingredients for my bar… but why today? It’s going to be dark soon.”
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“That’s precisely why I’m asking you to go now.”
Farnak narrowed his eyes. “It’s dangerous to travel at night— you know, because of the dune bandits.”
“Okay, I’ll keep it short. I want you to be bait.”
Farnak recoiled. “What bait? Why ? I tried to save your life back then and now you’re endangering mine? Why should I do this?”
“You’ll be compensated.”
“No amount of compensation is worth risking my life for strangers I just t today.”
“Three hundred gold.”
“Are you seriously—”
“Four hundred.”
“There is no way I’m acting as bait—”
“Five hundred.”
Farnak groaned. “You’re impossible. What do I have to do?”
Tyler smirked. “You should’ve been like this from the beginning.”
Tyler outlined the plan:
Farnak would travel north after dark, carrying visible goods and gold. He would be accompanied by two ‘rcenaries’. Unless extrely lucky, he would be ambushed by desert bandits. At that mont, the rcenaries would abandon him — as was tradition.
“Wait, rcenaries again? I don’t have any gold now. How can I even hire rcenaries when you beat up all of them?”
Tyler grinned, pulling out two familiar grey wizard hats and cloaks. “They’re standing right in front of you.”
Milo crossed his arms. “We are the rcenaries?”
Farnak blinked. “So, when the bandits attack—”
“We’ll leave you alone and flee,” Tyler said seriously.
“What do you an? That’s exactly what the regular rcenaries do!”
“Exactly.”
“So you want to get all my gold looted by them?!”
“Yes.”
“Are you serious?!”
“Yes.”
“I’m— I’m out of this. I don’t know why I even decided to hear you out.”
“Listen.”
“No, I’m not going to—”
“Listen, please.”
“No! I’m not risking my life for this madness. Please leave my bar imdiately.”
“Listen, please.”
“Do you hear yourself?! You want to enter a suicidal mission. Sorry. I’m not helping anymore.”
“One thousand gold.”
Farnak froze. “Please leave imdia— what?”
“A thousand gold. You’ll receive it after the plan succeeds. But first, listen.”
Farnak rubbed his temples. “Huh… I don’t even know anymore. If I die, I don’t get any gold, right?”
“You’ll be completely unhard. So just listen.”
Now, partially convinced, Farnak sat down and listened.
Tyler explained.
When the dune bandits approached, Tyler and Milo — disguised as rcenaries — would flee. Farnak would voluntarily surrender his valuables. The bandits, expecting the usual scam, would hopefully let him go.
Once Farnak returned to Dustville, Tyler and Milo would follow the bandits’ trail to their hideout. There, they would eliminate the group — slowly and strategically. If possible, they would also take down the leader.
Once done, they would recover the looted goods and gold, return to Dustville, and pay Farnak his full hazard compensation.
“Sounds like a neat plan, right?” Tyler said, rubbing his nose proudly. “Ever since I ca to this world, I feel like I’ve gotten smarter.”
“That sounds incredibly risky! What if they kill ?!” Farnak protested.
“That’ll probably not happen. Rember— this town and its rchants are their golden egg-laying goose. I doubt they’ll kill anyone useful. And you, Farnak, are quite the known face among them. They’ll treat you with a bit more care.”
“I have to agree on the danger part,” Milo added. “We don’t even know the current strength of the bandits. We can’t be overconfident.”
“See?! Even your [Companion] thinks it’s extrely risky!” Farnak cried.
“That’s why you’re getting a thousand gold. You can ask Milo— I’m usually a miser. This is being generous.”
“Ah! I don’t even know anymore. Let’s just get this over with. If I survive, I’m settling down in the south, sowhere peaceful.”
“South, you say?”
“Yes. It’s quiet and mostly cut off from the rest of the continent. Fewer travellers. Fewer problems.”
Tyler grinned. “Sounds like an interesting place to visit.”
Farnak recoiled. “Oh god no! If you show up, I’m sure you’ll drag trouble with you to that peaceful haven!”
“Aww man, I’m offended. You’re acting like all the world’s problems are my fault. I’m only helping you because you need help. I could leave this dusty place any ti I want.”
“Never mind. Just… get this over with soon.”
“Now that’s more like it. Co on, Milo. The sun’s about to set. We’ve got a rchant to escort.”
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