Chapter 3

“Talos, you have enough contribution points to upgrade your rank,” said the guild receptionist girl as she went through his paperwork. “You’ve only been here a short time but your speed in completing the quest is simply astounding. Please let the receptionist know when you plan on taking the rank advancement quest. The Gold Rank advancement quest takes time to prepare.”

“Alright, I will let you know when I take the advancement quest.”

“Thank you for your hard work. I look forward to seeing you again.” Talos took the reward and walked out of the Adventurer Guild.

“Look at him, he probably thinks he is a hot shot or something,” said an unsavory adventurer.

“He needs someone to show him the ropes and teach him how things work around here,” said a disgruntled adventurer who sits across from the unsavory adventurer.

“I know a few people,” said a knife-wielding punk adventurer sitting adjacent to the other adventurers.

“We should gather some guys and teach him a lesson as his seasoned seniors in the field.”

“Sounds like a good idea. Upstart runts need to be taught how things really work and be brought into the fold.”

“So how about this…” The three adventurers whisper amongst themselves in the corner of the tavern.

It didn’t take long before groups of people started following Talos. Talos noticed their flimsy attempt at following him and was able to lose some of them in the alleyways. One attempt to pincer him in an alley didn’t amount to much, as a punch to the face knocked the attackers unconscious. Talos was far more skilled than the assailants, who quickly folded to Talos’ punch.

“You Bastard!”

“Die!”

“You’re dead!”

“Is that really all third rate thugs can really say?” Talos punches another assailant in the face.

“You think you’re hot shit!” Those were the last words the street thug uttered before a punch to a face that sent him flying.

“You have no idea who you are messing with, boy.” Those were his famous last words before he was sent flying by an uppercut.

“Seems like this is only going to be escalating. They aren’t even worth the trouble” Talos rummages through their wallets only to find the thugs that ambush him don’t even have that much money. He couldn’t turn them into the authorities as they weren’t criminals and didn’t have a bounty on them.

The ambush happened daily, which annoyed Talos as the thugs weren’t even worthy of being punching bags. Talos became more ruthless as the more thugs came after him. At first, he merely knocked them out and took their money, but as they started to show up more frequently with empty wallets. It irritated Talos enough that he started asking the thugs who were ordering them to ambush him.

“Like I will tell you!” It didn’t take long before he started talking.

“The boss is one of the local gangs. You were an upstart novice, so hazing was ordered to put you in your place. The boss is connected, so even the Adventurer Guild can’t do much. Neither could the Knight Patrol, since their higher ups and even Nobles are connected to them.” The heavily bruised face adventurer spoke with a swollen black eye and a defeated look.

“Now bring me to your base”

“Like hell I will. I might as well die. That’s the fate of anyone who betrays the boss.”

“We have a dead man then.” Talos gave the beaten thug a death stare.

“Ha! You can’t do anything to me. They will throw you into prison for murder.”

“No one will find your body outside the castle walls.” Talos takes out ropes and ties up the thug.

“Hey, wait, you don’t mean…” Before the thug could finish, Talos stuffed a cloth into the mouth and Talos hoisted up the thug like a sack of potatoes. He jumped on the house and made his way towards the castle wall. The thug realized what was happening and tried to struggle but his effort was futile. Talos knocked him out to stop him from struggling.

By the time the thug gained consciousness, he was tied up to the tree, far away from the capital. He looked around and realized he really was in the wilderness. Below him, a campfire where Talos was grilling some skewer meat. The savory aroma tempted the thug, who hadn't eaten for quite some time. Weak from blood loss and hunger, he could feel his resolve beginning to crumble.

“Alright I’ll tell you. Just get me down.”

“Any longer and I would have fed you to the monsters” Talos swung his hand and the rope cut and the thug fell on the ground.

“You wouldn’t” The thug clearly became frightened at the thought of being hounded by a monster while being hung on the tree. “Goddamn it.”

“So where is your boss and why did they target me”

“The boss is at the West Gambling Hall. Orders come down for any novice adventurer who rises through the rank too quickly. You catch the attention of many people in the capital. Envious adventurers with connections want to put you in your place.”

“Too many people have too much free time on their hands.”
“Can you blame them? A new guy shows up and starts surpassing them in rank. Piss off a lot of people because you don't know how the world works.”

“So how does this so-called world works”

“You really don’t know anything do you? You gotta pay your respect to the boss. Pay your dues and follow the order of your seniors. You get what I mean. The world runs on order, and an upstart shaking it up ain’t good for anybody”

“Sounds like it needs a punch in the face”

“Psh… You may be strong, but the boss has a lot of men under him. Even you won’t be able to punch your way out of that. Now if you know what is good for you, you’d better let me go and maybe I will put in a good word for you.”

The thug thinking that he had gained the upper hand, the thug grew pompous. “Now offer me some food, I’m starving”

Is this guy for real? He doesn’t have any situational awareness, does he? “Time to teach you a lesson on how the world works” Talos landed a blow to the thug’s jaw, sending him spinning through the air. Talos tied him back up the tree, dangling like a good bait for the monsters that roam the forest.

“There is still time before the gate closes. I should get back before anyone get suspicious about my whereabouts.”

“Hey” The frightened thug yelled to get Talos' attention. “Don’t leave me here. I don’t want to die.” The thug’s cries faded into the distance as Talos disappeared into the darkness.

“Don’t leave me here!” The thug’s voice began to whimper as darkness crept in and the fire burned out. “No… Don’t... No!!!” The darkness closed in and gorged on the dangling bait.