3. Old Devourer

Amir logged on after some initial complaining and now the three of them, Amir, including Reina and Layla were standing in the bazaar. They were currently in Arsent, the capital city of The Galactic Trade federation. Lore wise anyway, in reality it just meant the largest city in the game. There you could find anything you needed and the Bazaar was one of the coolest in game trade hubs. It ran 24/7 and the auctions could lead to amazing gear for a low price if you were consistent. But more importantly everyone peddled wares there and you were bound to find something out about whoever you wanted for the right price.

“Alright, I canceled on some guys and they’re pretty pissed at me, so what is this about?” Amir sighed.

“You can play your silly other game later—” Reina started, but was immediately cut off.

“Don’t call it silly alright! We’re trying to go pro and…” Amir stopped. “It’s important right?”

“Yes, we’re hunting Aufhocker!” Reina stated bluntly.

“Oh, Aufhocker huh, yeah that’s—” Amir began rubbing his temples. “Are you fucking out of your mind?”

“No, I have a plan!”

“What plan?”

“We saw Aufhocker buying ammo and the guy at the counter mentioned his Hepheastus’s name, so Reina thinks we can find out how to hunt Aufhocker through him,” Layla explained. Then she glanced over at Reina expectantly.

Reina reached out and pat Layla’s head and got a cute laugh for her efforts.

Amir pinched the bridge of his nose. His avatar in the game looked very similar to how Amir looked in real life. His dark complexion and hazel eyes were basically exact. Even his hair had the same braids that Amir normally donned on his head. The eyes and facial structure were a bit off though. Amir definitely took some liberties to make himself a tad more handsome, but he was a good looking guy either way. He was shy though and didn’t get out as much.

“His hephaestus's name is Old Devourer,” Reina stated.

“Who? I’ve never heard of him.”

“Me neither,” Layla added.

“That’s why we will figure it out, let’s go!”

The three of them headed off in the direction that Reina may have arbitrarily chosen and walked up to a symbiote auction house. At the counter they were greeted by a woman that had an elf-like look to her. She had long ears and green eyes, with matching green hair. Her chest was also huge and Reina couldn’t help but notice a trend. Most of the people in charge of drawing in customers were women. It was pretty obvious why.

“Hey, we have a question,” Reina began.

The woman looked at her and bowed lightly, “How can we at the Brilliant Pegasus auction house best serve you today?”

“We were wondering if you have anything for sale from a Hephaestus named ‘Old Devourer’?” Reina asked.

The woman shook her head. “I can’t say I’m familiar with that moniker. Allow me to check our listings.”

The woman browsed through some menus before concluding that they had never had a listing for anyone with that name. Reina thanked her for her assistance and they left.

Amir’s arms were resting behind his head, “That was a dead end, huh?”

“It was just the first location, we got plenty more to check out, someone is bound to know something,” Reina said.

“Didn’t you ask the guy that initially mentioned the name at that shop you saw Aufhocker?”

“We did, but all the guy said was that Old Devourer was a great smith, a true craftsman that carefully selects who he makes stuff for. Said he knew him when he was a new player and the guy was always rough around the edges, but he hadn’t seen him in over a year now since he got really good and started working with Aufhocker,” Reina answered and looked a bit annoyed.

“I see so he didn’t have contact information or anything?”

“Nothing.”

“I mean, we shouldn’t let that bring us down. This could be the hunt of a lifetime after all,” Layla said cheerfully.

“I’m still not convinced this is even possible.”

“Why do you say that?” Reina pondered, though she knew the answer.

Amir sighed. “I’m not trying to burst anyone’s bubble, I’ll help y’all regardless but lets be real here. We find this Hephaestus even if he helps us for some reason, which, why would he? I still doubt we can take down a guy who’s had numerous hunting parties come after him.”

“Even so, it’s worth trying.”

Amir glanced at Reina and felt terribly sad. He threw his head back and faked the best smile that he could. “Alright, alright, well let’s just do our best then. I have an idea, let’s ask him,” Amir said pointing to a golden haired man with an eye patch. The man’s hair ran down his back and the symbiote he donned sparkled with the same golden sheen that his hair held. Everyone around knew who he was. Bressamarouth, The Collector. He had a shop where you could only sell him things. He sold nothing. But he would purchase anything that struck his fancy.

The three of them approached his stand and waited their turn. Luckily it was a slow day. As they approached the glowing man, he peered down at them with a smug and satisfied expression.

“My, my, hello my beautifuls! What do I owe the pleasure? I have not seen thee since…oh, what was it, several months ago when thou brought me that mighty bull horn,” Bressamarouth rubbed his goatee as he spoke, it was equally golden and examined the three of them thoughtfully, thankfully recalling the last time they brought him something he wanted. But that was the truth. He would remember anyone without question that added something to his collection, but no matter how many times one introduced themselves or spoke to him, if they gave him nothing of value he would forget them mere seconds after meeting them.

“We unfortunately have nothing you want right now…but,” Reina began and the second she said as much she could notice his eyes glossing over, as if he were already bored with the conversation. Despite that, Reina pressed further, “we will have something interesting though. You see we are looking to hunt Aufhocker, and as you know everything he possesses is most coveted and if we get our hands on anything then…”

“You’ll be sure to sell it to me, yes?” Bressamarouth was suddenly interested again. “Yes, yes, of course, no one could possibly understand the true value and beauty in equipment possessed by the likes of he, the dreaded Aufhocker, my to get the chance to merely hold his glorious rifle, it gives me shivers, chills,” The excited man began to shake with anticipation and smiled happily once more.

“Yes, but in order to find him, we knew we’d have to come to someone that knew all there is to know about beautiful creations,” Amir began to speak next, attempting to butter up his source of information.

“Indeed,” the golden man said, shaking his head in satisfaction. “None know beauty as well as I.”

“Exactly, because of that we were wondering, if you might know anything about an Hephaestus named ‘Old Devourer’, in exchange for such information we’d naturally sell you a piece of Aufhocker’s equipment at a reasonable discount…” Amir laid his intentions bare and made a deal that would pique Bressamarouth’s interest. Despite the necessity of the situation Amir could also tell immediately that Reina wasn’t so happy with the “discount” part of the offer. Regardless she didn’t object as they needed to find a lead somewhere.

Bressamarouth stroked his goatee once again. “You will sell to me exclusively. You will not even consider anyone’s else’s offer. In exchange I will give you the going rate for his equipment but no negotiation as this is our deal to begin with, is that fair?” Suddenly the man’s act was gone and he was speaking normally. This was serious enough for him to no longer role play.

“We accept, if you have good information,” Reina answered. Then got closer to his stand. She didn’t want anyone to overhear their conversation.

“Old Devourer isn’t well known. And yet he is arguably the best Hephaestus the game has. And that’s for one reason. He only makes things that interest him. He won’t work for rich players for money, nor make a normal stand to make an honest living. He’s an artist through and through. He’s made many things in order to level and hone his craft, but he dismantles them all and sells the scraps to make new inventions. But he always makes things for Aufhocker, why do you think that is?”

Reina eyed Amir and then Layla, but had nothing. She couldn’t imagine why he would only work for Aufhocker if he had turned down others that were rich. He didn’t care about notoriety nor money. Aufhocker would give him both of those, no doubt. She shrugged.

Bressamarouth smirked. “I’ve pondered that myself but I have two ideas. Either he’s a good friend of his in real life. Or Aufhocker can access the rarest parts.”

Layla puffed her cheeks. “What do you mean by that?”

“Think about it, schematics, or materials, there’s nothing Aufhocker can’t hunt. Aufhocker brings Devourer materials he can’t get on his own, but he gives it to him for free. Because Devourer refuses most commissions he doesn’t have a lot of money. But he needs materials to make crazy new inventions. In exchange Aufhocker collects everything and Devourer makes him the gear for free as well.”

Reina thought it over and nodded. “I could see how that works, but that’s speculation. Where is Devourer?”

“Nervian Hills,” Bressamarouth answered.

“What? He’s in the heap?” Amir spat. “God damn, that makes sense but…”

“I don’t wanna go there, it stinks…” Layla cried.

“The heap…” Reina ran the words through her head. A Hephaestus with no money that wanted to stay out of the limelight but tinker on toys. Of course he was in the Heap. But that was extremely dangerous.

“Reina we don’t have the money to equip for the heap,” Amir explained the obvious.

“We do, for one of us…” Reina cried over the thought of dipping into the emergency gear fund. But it was there for this reason. “I’ll go alone.”

“You’re quite brave there,” Bressamarouth laughed as he said as much. Then he excused himself, walking into his tent. After a moment he came back. “On the house, consider it part of my investment. No one is usually stupid enough to go after Aufhocker.”

On the counter sat an oxygen converter. It was a key item needed to survive Nervian Hills. Considering the entire zone was toxic. Reina took it graciously. “Thank you, we promise to give you exclusive rights.”

“I look forward to it, try not to die…well, at least not to the heap, let Aufhocker put a bullet in you, instead…” His laughter was so loud that it drew the attention of those walking around. Layla and Amir looked at Reina with conflicted expressions. She really was on a suicide mission.