32 Special Offers (1/2)
That evening, the airship arrived.
”Is it just me, or is the airship coming more frequently, these days?” Remian asked.
”You only say that because we left late last time.” Charlie snorted.
”Sorry. Did you get in trouble?”
”Not really, no. The amount of goods and profit we brought back more than made up for it.” Charlie cleared his throat. ”The more business the Frontier gives us, the more often we can justifiably come out here.”
”Well, we don't expect a Beast Wave for another week yet, so…” Remian grimaced. He really didn't like the idea of depending on Beast Waves for the economy of Frontier Town.
”Actually, I brought you an opportunity. It's an old survey map, something left behind by a certain Deutero prospector…” Charlie slipped parchment into Remian's hands. ”Apparently, there might, just might be… a mana crystal lode nearby.”
Mana crystals! Remian's jaw dropped.
”Long ago, with the town overrun by gangsters and Beast Waves eating up the survivors, the company wrote it off as a lost cause. But I hear that somebody out here started an Adventurers Guild and managed to recruit some of the most experienced explorers still roaming around the Frontier. They also managed to clear out three of the five gangs.” Charlie mused as if to himself.
”We only took down one with your help. The other two… those weren't…”
”Come now, there's no harm in a little exaggeration. It's for a good cause.” Charlie mentioned.
”What, peace and the glory of mankind?”
”Better. It's for profit!”
”Talk about lost causes…”
Charlie barked a laugh. ”You want it or not?”
”What's it going to cost me?” Remian asked straight out.
Charlie grinned wickedly. ”Twenty percent.”
”Holy…! You're not even going to lift a finger to dig out any of the crystals! All you're doing is providing a map! And you want twenty percent?!”
”Eighteen! This map came at a high cost to the company! There's a lot of blood, sweat and money involved! Don't you think the company wants its cut?” Charlie cleared his throat. ”And of course, I want a little too!”
”Five percent! You and the company can figure out how to share it between you!”
”Fifteen! We'll be the ones taking it to market, after all!”
”Seven! We'll have to escort precious cargo all the way through Wild-infested territories!”
There was a short pause, then Charlie sighed. ”Ten.”
He held out his hand. Remian shook it.
”Wanna know a secret?” Charlie smirked. ”I'd have settled for eight.”
”And how much of a cut does Deutero actually get?” Remian asked.
”Nothing. It's all mine.” Charlie snickered.
”No harm in a little exaggeration, huh? Or some 'harmless' suggestions and implications?” Remian scowled.
Charlie chuckled. ”Dude, don't pretend you aren't happy. We're both going to make a killing with this! Here, I'll throw in this little special something to sweeten the pot.”
He handed Remian a book. On the title it said…
”Basic Combat Magic?” Remian stared.
”Magic Bolts.” Charlie spelled out. ”The raw, non-elemental, pure mana bolts that make up the basis of basic every elemental attack… and how to add those elements in effectively. That Fire Bolt your kids use? That's just one of the modifications of the Mana Bolt. Ice Shards, Stones, Wind Darts, Sonic Bolts… they're all just variants of the same thing. This here brings it all.”