Chapter 306: A Simple Job

Rig did not accept the job Ned was offering, yet.

He was considering the job. But not the job itself even though he even didn't hear what it was. He was considering it because it was offered by Ned.

Looking at the two alone, Ned was like a kid and Rig was his uncle just from the towering height of the Wood Rank Hunter that stood nearly 7 feet tall.

Normally, Quest and Job came from the officials of the Hunters Guild, Noble Houses, or someone whose credibility was remarkable: like Master Claire of the Forgotten Pint as Provider of Quests.

Ned explained that the job was simple. He needed information regarding the sewers or undergrounds of the city. Something, or somewhere inside that leads him to either the Canton of Commerce or the Great House of Soak.

And if Quentin was right, he might find what the Hunter's Association were hiding.

"That will be very challenging." Rig shook his head with his hand resting his waist and thought things through. "It was a maze down there. The place where we lived was just the entrance. Anyone sane enough knows that going deeper leads to death. Not to mention the beasts leaving there."

"Beasts?"

"Yes. Sometimes one or two gets lost and stumble upon our quarter. That's where I came in, I slay them for free since that place is also where I lived."

Ned frowned. All this time, he thought that being a Hunter was lucrative enough to support themselves. But hearing Rig took the turn upside-down. Of course, there were thousands of Hunter in Bogblot Region alone, not to mention the Hunter's Exam every year that adds another thousand to the current number. Of course, each Hunter, especially at the lowest Rank, would struggle to find a Quest, a Party, and even a House. It's always a battle for survival.

"All I need is information. Perhaps a map. Or some activity the Hunters or Houses has been doing recently, especially one that concerns an old Goblin."

"Goblin you say... I might find something about that. But it would cost you... but of course. A kid destroying a Mana Stone has more than enough."

"So?"

"How much will you offer?"

Currently, Ned has a thousand five hundred gold coins with an additional of 99 gold coins from Roy.

"How much do you accept?"

Ned, who was frugal enough to not spend a dime if not necessary was asking how much the other party was offering. Normally, the one that gives the job must know how much his reward. Ned shook his head inwardly, but this could be the time to learn what kind of a man Rig was.

"A kid indeed." Rig smiled looking at Ned. He then went back to fold the blanket together with the goods he was selling and tied the ends like a knot until it looks like a bag that he could carry with ease while he walks towards the far-end corner of the muddy market and looked over his shoulder. "You coming?"

Ned followed. None cared about whatever they were doing, whether they were Hunters or not, no one cared about them.

Even this late at night, kids were visible wherever Ned swept his eyes. But these kids weren't playing nor standing idle. One carries a sack of seeds, a pair sat at the corner while they clean a blade with the owner waiting beside them. In another corner, men were bubbling of booze coming out of an inn along with women. But if one would be honest, there were girls not too older than Ned that cater to different Hunters and anyone willing to crack some teacup.

Ned walked past this inn, cutting another corner until they reached an alley where a fire was lit in every corner of the broken-down building.

People circled this fire to take part in a group that needs warming. Although dark, these people nodded to Rig while they glared at Ned.

The two then entered a cracked wall that leads them to the bottom by way of a ladder.

Entering the hole, Ned was received with another glare and murmurs. Sound of dripping water on Ned's right, while cracking fire on almost every corner. It was an underground of mud, and each corner were holes fitting a family of four.

"As long as one contributes in. They are free to stay here." Rig reached for a pair of white stone over the upper part of a cracked wall. Rig then ignited the torch that hung against the wall using the pair of stones.

After a couple of minutes, Ned reached a bigger hole where Rig laid down the blanket he was carrying over a shabby bed. Beside the bed were a table and a lamp of oil.

Lighting the lamp, Rig gestured for Ned to sit over a lonely chair while Rig took the bed.

"3 gold coins if you're only asking for information. Beyond that, I will tell you if I needed more."

"Will that be all?" Under the dancing flame of the lamp was Rig sitting with his back against the wall while Ned kept staring at him. But Ned ran his eyes to the latter's leg then back to the hand, wrapped with a ragged cloth.

"That will be all."

"Why did you bring me here?"

"To show you what life I have before you came. To show you how I'm pleased that you hired me for a job."

"So, you're saying thank you."

"I..."

"Look. Brush off the thought that I am a just kid. It will be better for both of us."

"About that. Who are you really? You weren't from here are you?"

"I am from O'rriadt Island."

"Never heard of it. An island? Was it somewhere Titan's Cay or Scattered Bay?"

"Scattered Bay."

Rig nodded but seemed doubtful as he listened to Ned. Shaking his head, he pulled a plate under the table and offered Ned another bread.

This time, Ned took the bread. It was to show respect no matter the latter's situation. Although Ned eats along with silence as Rig looked at him.

While Ned was eating, Rig reached for the massive crossbow hung against the wall that Ned was too late to discern as it was covered in a blanket the same color of the mud.

It was also the same crossbow he used during the Chance Arrow Game. Cable wires instead of strings, metal cranks instead of wood. Dents that look like scars outlined the grip of the crossbow.

Rig then slung the quiver behind his back with a handful of finger-sized arrows.

With the massive crossbow, Rig was looking like a warrior with a hulking blade slung behind his back.

"Where are you going?"

"Just wait here. There is an underground further down the sewer."

"Then I'll tag along."

"No. Back at the Game, you were good. But this is something you're not ready, yet."

"You said it will be challenging? Then you need help."

According to Rig, there were multiple sightings of a beast that even he couldn't explain as to what they were exactly.

Ned wondered what the House of Soak was doing about this, but as Rig said, no one cares about them since they were from the slums. Not even the city guard was doing anything.

"Then it is more a reason to bring me. I assure you I won't be a hindrance."

As his employer, Rig couldn't argue more.

"I only have a crossbow. If you want, you can have some of the knives I have for trade."

As the one that employed Rig, Ned couldn't argue more.

Rig was a Hunter and salesman at the same time.

Rig offered Ned the knives for a silver per piece, which Ned took without second thoughts. There were four of them.

After leaving Rig's quarter, the two approached a crack in the wall where they needed to bend down to enter.

After entering the cracked wall using a corroded ladder, Rig reached for his crossbow and gave Ned the only torch they have.

Inside the sewer was a canal, flowing with green, and murky, and slimy, and stinking liquid. Indescribable waste floats along the steady flowing canal.

Ned and Rig walked a moss-laden cobblestone.

Rig's muscles were shredded as he aimed his massive crossbow ahead of him.

The only noise they heard was Rig's breathing, a squeaking sound, and the planks of wood hitting each other over the flowing liquid.

Not long after, over the arching ceiling of the sewer, were clinking sounds approaching them. It wasn't alone, but from the sound alone there were at least a couple dozen.

Rig was taken by surprise by the sound coming from above, so much that he released the thick arrow while aiming at the movements of shadow.

This time it was Ned who was surprised as the arrow hit the moving beast over all the darkness. The beast fell on the canal along with its blood, flowing together with debris hit by the arrow.

As the dead beast approached the range of the light of Ned's torch. His eyes simply widened at what he was seeing: spiky head, pincer-like limbs, and dreadful eyes.

"Kruthiks..." Ned mumbled.