Earth: The Second

Black Claws

That adventurer, still holding his right feet while groaning once in a while. He received this pain, right just before he going to give that brat a lesson. Yes, the brat with brown hair and a dirty shirt who just going around, spouting nonsense about the Adventurer.

“Dammit, I bet he is one of those people from the outskirts! They have to be taught a lesson!” the adventurer continues to grumble, while his companion chooses to not comment on anything.

Right now, they are waiting for the rest of their team, who are just taking an extra quest to fill their pocket. It’s nothing difficult, and they are expected to assemble in front of the guild right around this time.

Eventually, the two of them caught a glimpse of familiar people.

Three adventurers, one woman, and two men, approaching them while carrying sacks.

“Boss! Finally, you come!” cried the Weird Hairstyle as he tried to walk to those people, his foot is still in pain. 

“What’s up, Toby?” said the middle of the group, a male within his thirties, wearing armor mixed with leather and steel. He carrying a broadsword on his hip.

“It’s those damn people from the outskirts! I just going to teach a boy a lesson to not mess with us, and one of them suddenly punches my foot!” the Weird Hairstyle, which his name comes as Toby wailing to the guy who seems their leader.

The Boss just giving him a sigh. “Just let me finish this one task first, OK?” as he and his companion walked into the guild, Toby and his friend have to wait.

A moment later, the group had finished their business and sitting together at a round table made for a group of adventurers to discussing their plan and strategy. Toby’s companion, which apparently named Oddy, tells the rest of the crew what happened previously in the afternoon. 

He tells that this one kid is suddenly approaching someone who just comes outside of the guild. He screams and insulting him, said the adventurer is an evil job, and won’t shut up about it. That is where Tobby wanted to interrupt, he wanted to teach this kid a lesson, but this mysterious man, for some reason hit Tobby, right in the middle of his attack.

The Boss is listening, honestly, he wanted to add more punishment for Tobby who tends to do whatever as he please. But he started to put attention to this mysterious person who is able to see between Toby’s kick.

Even among them, Toby is one of the people who have the best endurance. He is a fast runner, and the whole condition of his body makes him a perfect asset for a job that demands physical abilities. Such as fighting.

If he is able to hit his fast-moving foot, could this person able to do more on the battlefield?

“I’ve heard stories about this one adventurer who able to beat up a bear only with his fist.” The female of the group started to speak. Not like his companion, who filled with muscly-person. She is the most slender one, with an outfit that gives a huge advantage on agility. Her weapon is a twin dagger, the weapon of choice for people who worked as Thief or Assassin.

The rest of the crew looking at her with confusion.

“When we just arrive, people around the town already talking about it. It seems that in the past few days, there is a carriage attacked by a wild bear. One of the passengers seems strong enough to kill the bear, using only his fist. One of the hottest rumors in the city right now,” the girl takes a sip of her beer.

“What about that man you talking about Toby? Do you know him by any chance?” asked The Boss.

“No… It could because I’m too focused on the brat, but as far as I remember, I have never seen that face or that hair before,” said Toby.

“Now, this is getting more interesting. I want to see this person as soon as possible! Hahaha!” he let out a huge laugh, and drink his cup in one go.

“So we are going to headhunt today?” asked the woman.

“Nah! Not yet! The ‘majesty’ has scheduled a meeting with us today. Luckily, we have finished our quest right on time. Kaina and Boran, you guys are going to accompany me again.” 

“Eh? but I’m planning to repair my equipment right now,” the Thief woman named Kaina letting out a big sigh, showing her disagreement.

“You can do that later! What about you Boran?”

Boran is the shielder who wears a metal helmet all the time and rarely taking it off, even during a conversation like this.

“Even if I say no, you will still push around, isn’t it, boss?” he said. 

“Of course! That is why I am the boss!” again, he let out a big laugh.

Oddy and Toby, on the other hand, seem did not agree either. They are told to stand by yesterday, and now they have to wait again?

“You guys are going again boss? What about us?” asked Toby.

“Of course you are going to tend up your wound! Go to the doctor, or masseur, or something! That rich bastard won’t trust us if you come with limp feet like that!” shouted The Boss.

Toby can only accept it, lean back to his chair. 

“Alright, with that settles in, we are going now,” Boss put his cup down, and get up the table. Followed by his other two companions, they are bid Tobby and Oddy farewell, then leave the guild. Those two, on the other hand just sit over there, with nothing to do. Again.

***

Duke Udeka, is the lord of Horundah. His family has tied to royalty, which is why he able to govern this important trade city. However, his action is far from the word ‘noble’. Being a royal, mean that he only knows the world through a silver spoon. Ever since a child, what he knew about the world is just its pleasure, he learns from a young age, that more wealth, mean more entertainment to satisfies his desire. After years of politic-play and whimpering to his parents, Udeka finally found a place where he is free to pursue his ultimate ‘worldly desire’.

his mansion is located right in the middle of the city. He purposely makes that the foundation of the ground around it was lifted by some centimeter, just to show that he has the highest status above all the people of this city. His mansion is also a far cry from the Grand Palace located in the Capital, where the King lived. Udeka just wanted to show off that he has the money to evenly match the fragment of a royalty.

Inside the mansion, the mentioned person himself has just gotten up from his slumber. His bedsheet is dirtied and all over the place after last night he invites two street workers inside his room. This morning though, both of those girls instantly leaving the place, after receiving a huge amount of money.

A head butler comes inside the room, seeing Udeka in the middle of getting up. With his position right now, the Duke looks like a seal who is weighted by the amount of fat in his body. The difference though, is a seal need those fat to continue living, while his master hoarded those fats as mean to satisfy himself.

“Sir, the adventurer group of Black Claws, has come for the meeting you scheduled today,” said the butler.

“What? Oh yeah, those pricks. Give me a second to dress up, and I’ll come to meet them,” said Udeka. His head is still dizzy after drinking and partying last night. He tried to get up, then leaning on the chair and table, trying his best to get all of his clothes from yesterday night.

A moment later, he finished put on a dress. A wrinkled blue vest, and a shirt that supposed to be his daily uniform to work. He does not care to change for a better dress, or taking a bath first since the person who he will meet today is people behind the screen, who did the dirty work for him.

He met the Black Claws group in a guest room, filled with his painting, expensive decorations, and everything that would make someone else envious of him. As expected, the Black Claws group consists of The Boss, Kaina, and Boran, who previously just met Toby and Oddy. 

Black Claws members are sitting on one of the long sofas, while Udeka sits right in front of them.

“So? Finally, have a new job for us, sir?” The Boss is the first to open his mouth. He already used to be the conversation opener in front of the client.

Udeka let a big yawn first before started speaking. “Not really, since the people of the outskirts seem to be more docile lately. It’s a very good thing, although it is kind of boring.”

“And so…?” Boss waiting for the response. Working for this man is dirty, but he has a deep pocket which not everyone able to afford.

“I’m wondering if you can get something else for me,” Udeka continues. “I heard, that you adventurers knew many things about Artifact. Is that true?”

The previous butler, some inside with a tray of tea and foods for all of them.

Boss raises his eyebrows, but still trying hard to speak politely.

“We do know one or two news about Artifacts, but even among adventurers, these things are very rare, and need a huge amount of effort, to get even one of them,” said Boss.

“I want one,” said Udeka briefly. “And you don’t have to prepare too much effort to come inside the ruin. Just take someone who you think has possession of one of those Artifacts,” he continues.

“Well, that would be difficult,”

“I’ll pay you guys three bags of gold,” said Udeka.

“Five,” Boss’s answered by a simple bargain.

“You got it. As long as you really bring that thing to me. I believe even King will be envious seeing one of his Duke own something that equivalent to a national treasure!” 

The fat man, end this conversation, with a big laugh on his face.