The Harsh Realities of a Pre-Modern Society – Part 3

“This is the worst.”

“You’ve been saying that ever since we returned from the quest. Find something else to say.”

“Fine. By the name of Yzara, the Demon Queen, I curse every single human in this city and vicinity.”

“That’s more like it, but still a bit overly dramatic.”

With a combination of the Debuggun and our magic, we had successfully repelled the Slime tsunami that hit us, and after finishing the job and collecting our spoils, we scrammed out of there. The quest ended up paying fourteen bronze, with the guild taking half of that because of our outstanding debt. After selling the Slime drops, we managed to get just ten Bronze. That was enough for a decent meal for both of us, which we were partaking in at the Guild’s mess hall.

Naturally, Yzara wasn’t the least bit happy about it.

“At this rate, we’ll never be able to get those fifty Gold coins.”

“Why are you so gung ho about this? Surely we can take our time.”

“Normally I’d agree with ya. But next time it won’t just be Slimes.”

We both found it odd that so many Slimes decided to attack us at once. Normally, they were solitary creatures. After asking some other adventurers about it, they all said even infected Slimes didn’t act like that. The only conclusion is that they were sent specifically to hunt for Yzara.

“Because of all the cullin’ around Adaville, they pro’bly only managed to source Slimes this time, but stronger and stronger monsters will start showin’ up. I wouldn’t be surprised if a bunch of griffin or somethin’ attacked us while we were out there.”

She does have a point, I suppose.

We were still fairly weak. There was no way we could handle a griffin like the ones that attacked the Airdrake. Even if these Restoration quests did pay well, we’d be here for months before we got the fifty Gold.

“Sigh. Isn’t there any way we can get money quick?”

“Hmm.”

Arcforge was designed so that Polis—the Hero-founded cities—were the mid to late-game objective for most players. Getting an economy going within your own Polis was the best way to get a significant amount of funds. And of course, my status as a Hero allowed me to fund a Polis myself.

Founding a Polis, huh…

“Oh, I know!” Yzara said, interrupting my thoughts. Her fake green eyes were sparkling in a way I hadn’t seen before.

“What’s your great idea?”

“Listen to this! We’ll create a company that focuses on going out on expeditions to collect some legendary treasure.”

“Okay, and how do you intend to find these supposed legendary treasures?”

“That doesn’t matter! All we need to do is get a bunch of rich investors to fund the expeditions. We say we’ll pay ‘em their money back plus 10% interest.”

“And when they come knocking asking for their money?”

“We just need to get more gullible investors to lend us money to pay the first ones! When we get the fifty Gold, we pay the Diviner and scram!”

That idea is looking suspiciously pyramid shaped.

“Again with the crimes? That’s the evilest thing you’ve said in a while.”

“What about this is a crime? These investors know their capital is at risk. It’s their fault from trustin’ this pretty face.”

Pretty face and a golden snake tongue.

“Either way, rejected. I don’t want to scam people. Just thinking about it—” But I held my tongue.

“Ah…!” Yzara said, her voice stopping in her throat. “Right, ya’re scammed before. Sorry I suggested this.”

She remembered? Now that’s a bit shocked.

“It’s fine. So you do get it’s a scam, though.”

“Eh-eh,” she said, sticking out her tongue cutely.

Still, she had a point. If we did nothing and stayed the course, we were at risk of getting attacked by the White Death-controlled monsters again.

A Polis… a hidden treasure… wait…!

“That’s it!”

Yzara raised an eyebrow at me. “Did ya figure something out?”

“Sure did. Be right back.”

I went to the Guild’s reception to purchase a hand-drawn map of the surrounding areas and borrowed a pen from them. Thankfully, it contained the location of every existing Polis that survived the White Death invasion.

“Here’s where we are,” I said, pointing at Adaville. “And over here—”

“(Wait),” she suddenly whispered. “(Don’t say any more. We have company.)”

“Huh?”

I looked directly into Yzara’s eyes, burning with an intensity I rarely saw in her. “(To my left. Don’t be too obvious about it, but there’s that guy from the guild earlier today.)”

I slightly moved my head to my right and indeed, that sleazebag from earlier was sitting two tables away from us, staring very conspicuously in our direction.

Since when had he been there? Had he heard our conversation?

“(Ugh. This is why I can’t stand those sorts.)”

“(You think he’s just keeping tabs on you?)”

“(Maybe. It could be somethin’ worse, though. Either way, it’s best we don’t discuss anymore in public.)”

Yzara briskly stood up, and I followed her, taking care to not look at the guy anymore. We made our way back to our inn, where Yzara proceeded to start shedding her outfit in front of me without any reservations the moment we got to our room.

“What? Ya have a kink of watching girls undress?” She asked after getting the first layer out. She had bought new clothes with the little money we had—a sort of loose-fitting tank top udnergarment—instead of the Demon Queen outfit she had on previously.

Can’t say I wasn’t a little bit interested in seeing her with it, though.

“Nah. Just questioning how little regard you have for me as a guy.”

“Bah. Ya wouldn’t have done anythin’ even if I got naked right here.”

Ooof. That was a critical hit.

“Anyway, what did ya figure out?”

I moved on to the desk and unfurled the map I had bought earlier. “Here, on the Hardos Mountains…” I said, pointing to the east of the map, “There’s a big gemstone deposit.”

“Ya sure?”

“100% certain.”

I wasn’t directly involved with the map’s creation, but I remember that during testing, a lot of my peers founded a Polis on those mountains precisely because it was so rich. According to the map, there used to be a Polis there too—probably a remnant of when Arcforge was in beta—but the area had been abandoned entirely since.

“If that used to be a Polis in the past, wouldn’t the gems have all been mined already?”

“I’m sure there are still some left. And I can always learn a skill to help us find them.”

“A skill?”

“Yeah.”

There was an Earth Magic skill that let you prospect for precious metals and gems. The basic skill wasn’t that great, only telling us if there were some precious stones nearby, but it would be good enough. We could get that skill taught to us in the Miner’s Guild.

There was just one tiny problem with this plan.

“There’s a Cave Dragon guarding the main cave entrance. I’m sure that guy has come back in the past one hundred or so years.”

“And ya expect us to kill it? Or do we just sneak around it?”

“Nah, nothing of the sort. We just need to hire some mercenaries.” A grin rose on my face. “And I have the perfect people in mind.”