17 Congratulations

Connor and Miles got off their quad bike. After taking their backpacks that were hung on the back of the bike, Connor unsummoned it. As they started walking towards Carcer, they observed the gates of the city. Several people were standing guard, they were not even standing straight or checking the people going in and out. One of them was even drinking something that looked similar to wine. Which, it was. Probably. Connor sighed. This was going to keep them busy for quite a while.

….

As the guards were looking at some of the women going in and out of the city, they noticed two youths approaching the city with some sort of equipment that looked pretty fancy. One of the guards quickly ran towards them.

"Stop right there. What is your business in Carcer?" the guard asked. It wasn't everyday someone with equipment as fancy as theirs come to Carcer on foot, the guard was unable to determine if they were nobles or not, the equipment they were wearing was not something a noble would wear, in fact, it was not something he had seen before.

"We are just travelling, enjoying the wonders of the world, you know?" Connor replied in a cheerful way.

The guard frowned. 'Wonders of the world, in Carcer?' he thought as he sighed. These people were crazy but there was no reason to care, as long as he could take some copper home, he was fine with everything. Another guard quickly joined in as they were talking. Seeing this, the previous guard suddenly froze and nodded. The guard did not have any positive characteristics. The best thing he could show off with would probably be his weight.

"I see you are doing your job Robin, who are these people?" he laughed, accidentally spitting a few times. The guard called Robin quickly reported their previous speech to the heavily overweight man. He quickly smiled towards Connor and Miles before leaving. 'That was weird, he usually never comes out when he can barely walk with that huge lump of fat.' Robin thought. Considered to him, Robin could pass as a strong man in his early adult years. But he was reporting to that fat lump instead. After that Connor asked a few extra questions. Finally, Robin allowed the men in.

….

"Commander, we are receiving too much attention." Miles said to Connor, they entered the city a few minutes back and were now walking through the streets. Connor looked around and noticed many eyes were on them, well, more like their equipment. After frowning for a few seconds, he smiled.

"Awesome. If they decide to come and disturb us, it will only help us to advance in our plans faster than before." Connor said as they continued walking. Connor felt bad inside while he looked at the citizens of Carcer. Most of them wore tattered clothes and even that might be the best option they had. Children didn't even get to wear much. Most of them were naked, playing with small ball-like toys, screaming and yelling at each other in the streets. The buildings some of these people lived looked like they were about to collapse, the shops that sell foodstuffs was so different than the ones in Westland, even the products they were selling looked nothing like the ones in Westland. Connor wanted to go to the nearest inn to gather some information and find a place to stay, they did not have any money for the time being, but Connor planned to make use of his Equipment Store to maybe produce and sell few items to ensure they have some money. He blamed himself for not taking the coins those bandits must have had after killing them.

As they have arrived at the inn, Connor had an eerie feeling, they were definitely being followed. He smiled and walked through the door. If anyone wanted to attack him, they would just give him free reputation points which he would welcome more than anything. As he was about to head in someone suddenly shouted from behind him.

"Hey kids!" a man yelled at Connor and Miles there were four other men near him encircling Connor and Miles.

"Give all your equipment and coins if you want to live." the man in the middle said, taking out a dagger from his back and waving it towards the duo.

Connor looked left and right, every single person in the surroundings were watching them but no one even thought about intervening. This was basically a daylight robbery! Seeing Connor looking left and right, the man sneered.

"There is nowhere to run kid, just give everything you have and we will let you go." he said.

Connor sighed, or at least that was how it was seemed from outside.

'Even though I don't know if you exist, thank you, Gods of Allunia, for bringing even more reputation points to my doorstep.' it was his real reaction to this event. Connor moved his right hand to his pistol holster and unlocked it. Men who were watching him were not afraid at all. He wasn't carrying any swords and even if he did, they numbered five while they were only two. As Connor was about to take out his pistol another shout was heard. This time, it was a female voice rather than a man.

"Hold it right there!" she yelled towards the men holding daggers. Behind her was a group of men and women holding shortswords, daggers, knives, several other types of small cold weapons. The group had twelve people running towards the men holding Connor and Miles.

'Huh? Gang fight?' Connor was surprised, one second he was being robbed, one second there was a gang war about to erupt. At least that is what he thought.

The man who was holding the dagger and yelling at the duo to give all their belongings to them was the first one to drop his weapon and run, followed by his companions. There were more than ten people charging at him with weapons, he did not even care about the dagger he had left behind in the slightest. The group quickly walked towards Connor and Miles.

"Are you guys okay?" a young girl said, as she eyed Connor and Miles. She looked to be in her mid-20s had a dark brownish hair. Her clothes were not tattered as the others but it was still far from perfect.

"Jeanne, you can't make us go after everyone all the time." a young man stepped up behind her and started talking, he also looked to be in his mid-20s and he was carrying a sword. He was breathing roughly, obviously tired because of the way they charged towards just a minute ago.

Jeanna gave him a stern look and started talking. "Keith, you can't leave these poor people alone only to be robbed by thieves, remember, we need to protect all who we can." Jeanne said to Keith as he pointed to Connor and Miles mid-sentence as she mentioned 'poor people'. Connor found this amusing, instead of being mistaken for mages, they were now being viewed as poor people. He looked at his clothes first and then took a look at theirs, Keith noticed Connor's actions this resulted in him wearing an irritated expression.

"Poor people? Look at their clothes and equipment. Did your brother cloud your judgement? Look, Jeanne, I am just trying to protect you, everyone is here to make sure you are safe." Keith said as he turned towards the group of men and women.

Connor and Miles were just listening to their conversation and did not say anything for quite a while. Connor locked his holster. He glanced at Miles and his pistol holster to see it unlocked. He pointed at it and said, "Keep it that way, for now." Miles understood Connor's intentions and moved his right hand near the holster.

Jeanne and Keith were still arguing about how safe the streets were, how Jeanne's brother had changed her and that she was constantly risking her life to save others no matter the cost. Connor was starting to get annoyed so he decided to speak up.

"Uh… hey guys, thanks for the assistance I guess?" Connor said, but his thoughts were the exact opposite. 'Why, why, why my dear unknown Gods of Allunia? Why did you give me a chance to get reputation points and took it away immediately?' he wanted to cry out of anger.

Jeanne turned her head to look at the source of the voice and the source of the heated discussion between him and Keith. "Yea-yeah. You are welcome, who are you by the way? Your equipment is something I have not seen before." Jeanne said.

"Connor. I am a traveller. Nice to meet you, miss... " Connor replied while smiling and indirectly asked.

"Jeanne Goldburn. Nice to meet you." Jeanne answered, her words had a hint of wariness. She then turned towards Miles, waiting for him to introduce himself.

Miles understood but instead of answering he turned to look at Connor with a questioning gaze. Connor nodded at Miles, seeing that he had received approval he then turned to Jeanne to introduce himself.

"Miles, I am a traveller and a member of Sentinel."

While travelling towards Carcer, Connor and Miles planned their future actions although it was more like Connor talking and Miles nodding, they managed to finally create a plan before they arrived. One of those steps of the plan was to publicize Sentinel and make their names known in the city.

"Travelers? Do you have a place to stay?" Jeanne asked, she did not mind about Miles mentioning the faction he's a member of because she had not heard it before and assumed it was sort of a traveller group. In the end, it was common for travellers to group up to ensure their safety.

"No, we do-" as Connor was answering Jeanne's question a loud shout was heard.

"JEANNE GOLDBURN! WHY ARE YOU PREVENTING MY BUSINESS AGAIN?"

Everyone in the surrounding area quickly turned their heads towards the voice. The voice came from a brawny, tall young man. The man had a group of more than 10 men behind him, armed with various weapons.

Connor faced Jeanne and pointed at the man and his group. And asked a question with a single word.

"Friend?"

Jeanne spat on the ground. "Friend my ass, that psycho is the leader of Talon gang. It was probably them who tried to rob you earlier, Mugging is their main source of income."

"Alright, that is all I needed." Connor said in a cheerful manner.

The enemy group was more than 25 meters away from them. Connor could utilize all his strength. He unslung his rifle, checked the magazine and readied his weapon. Connor turned towards Jeanne and the group and said with a slightly loud voice. A face that was full of happiness.

"Cover your ears."

'Probably non-existent Gods of Allunia, I take my previous statement back. I love you.'

Jeanne and her group were wondering why he had asked for them to cover their ears, he was playing with some sort of a black stick in his hands.

Connor aimed his rifle at the group and pressed the trigger rapidly.

<You have successfully eliminated the enemy leader. You have gained 15 reputation points.>

<You have successfully eliminated the enemy, you have gained 10 reputation points.>

Connor was happy because he had received his most favourite notification. One by one, he went through the people of the Talon gang. Every time he pulled the trigger, one more man fell down. Everyone in the surroundings were shocked, someone was in the middle of mass murder! It did not take long before several screaming women were heard. However, deep down, most of the people were happy. People who were suffering were the ones who made them suffer for a long time. Every time they would open their stalls, go to their work, get paid someone from Talon gang would end up in front of them to ask for a fee for their protection in these dangerous streets of Carcer.

Out of everyone who was seeing this scene, the most shocked ones were Jeanne and Keith. They were the closest ones to Connor and Miles. Jeanne looked at Connor and Miles, one of them had a wide smiling face while murdering other people with his stick while the latter had an expressionless look.

A few seconds later, every single man on the other side of the street fell down and a stench of blood started to radiate. Most of the citizens had already fled from the area.

Suddenly a notification popped up in front of Connor.

<Congratulations Connor Ironheart! You have been promoted to Lance Corporal (LCP)!

Unlocked: Weapon Selection - You can now use different weapons found in the equipment store, as your rank increases more weapons will be unlocked.

Unlocked: High Mobility Multipurpose Wheeled Vehicle (HMMWV) - A four-wheel vehicle that can seat up to 6 people.

You can now recruit up to 4 soldiers.>