Chapter 126: Preparations are necessary

"Why the long face?" Samira asked as she descended the stairs and saw that the day had already broken. Monica was calmly washing the dishes, while Strax, sitting at the breakfast table, had his arms crossed with a pensive look on his face.

"The mission's been delivered," Monica said without turning around, focused on her tasks.

"So, what's it about?" Samira asked, sitting at the table beside Strax.

"Finding a spy," Strax commented, taking a sip of coffee. In front of him, an invisible screen displayed crucial information.

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"A reputation system? Make your name... This sounds like that crappy game that was released full of problems... Why now, all of a sudden? The more reputation, the more fame, the more fame, the more problems... This isn't good...

It's a disguise to create future issues," Strax thought as he refocused on Samira, who was eating a toast.

"Do you have friends in Eldoria?" he asked, and Samira's eyes turned to him, intense.

"Damn! It's in fucking Eldoria?! Damn!" Samira said, clearly upset.

"Do you have problems there?" Strax asked, noticing Monica also sitting at the table.

"Don't tell me you have issues with someone from that place. It's the damn black market," Monica said, leaving Strax even more confused.

"How do you know that?" he asked, looking at Monica, who shrugged.

"I used to send letters to a slave supplier. The former Lord Stainhardt wanted to buy some slaves to work in the mines back then. Well, he bought a few," Monica said, and Strax was speechless. He didn't even know she had such a thing... Damn, this woman was like a living encyclopedia!

Strax sighed. As the leader of this group, he had much to think about regarding what to do at this moment. He looked at Samira, who still seemed nervous about having to go to Eldoria.

"Are you okay? You seem more nervous than usual," he finally said, breaking the silence.

"Eldoria isn't a common place. It's the heart of trade, guilds, adventurers, mercenaries, and the information center of the continent of Talassia. Besides, it's the center of the underworld, the black market... The problem is that... well, I'm not very accepted there after I fought with someone..." Samira said. After the brief explanation, she looked at Strax.

"I'm afraid that just by being with me, I'll cause problems this time," she said, making Strax's eyebrows furrow as he looked deeply into her eyes after the insinuation.

"Who cares what they think of you? I'm not leaving you here alone, and that's non-negotiable. There's no time limit for this mission, so even if it takes a while, I don't care. You're coming with me, no matter what. I'm not risking having another wife kidnapped." Strax said, almost piercing the girl with his words. Possession swept through his heart, feeling there was no other way.

"This man... irrational..." Samira thought with a long, tired sigh, still upset but agreeing. "I have some friends and... adversaries, let's say, but I can handle it. We'll need to be extremely careful..."

The leader hesitated for a moment before answering. "We don't have all the information, but we know it's an object of great magical value. The buyer's identity is confidential, but we know several factions are interested in it. This makes our mission even more crucial."

She nodded, understanding the gravity of the situation. "So, our main focus will be this artifact. We need to ensure it is protected at all costs."

The leader agreed. "Exactly. Let's review our positions and coordinate the final details of the operation."

Those words were enough to make Cristine question various things, one of which crossed her mind... "Would the master be interested in this?" she pondered. "Well, it doesn't matter... I'll have a lot of work. Should I let him know I'm busy? Well, Carlos will likely serve just fine." She thought as she returned her attention to the discussion.

Over the next few hours, the team discussed every aspect of the security, from guest verification to contingency measures in case of an emergency. Cristine, attentive to every detail, made mental notes and contributed suggestions to improve the plan's effectiveness.

Finally, the meeting ended. The leader stood up, signaling the conclusion. "Remember, the security of this auction is our responsibility. We need to be prepared for anything. Be ready to act in ten days. Good luck to all."

"So... I have to go to that damned city," she said as she left the meeting.

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NOTE:

I had recommended that those who pay for the Tier wait until Friday to resubscribe, this recommendation still applies, but I came to say that along with a price adjustment I ended up opting to have not just one, but two new Tiers.

(I had warned at the beginning of the novel's posts that after the third month I would adjust the prices, following my main novel and I would make the first volume completely free)

Adjustment:

TIER 1 - 02 CH for 1 Coin -

TIER 2 - 05 CH for 250 Coins -

TIER 3 - 10 CH for 500 Coins -

TIER 4 - 15 CH for 750 Coins -

TIER 5 - 25 CH for 1250 Coins - (20% discount = 1000 Coins)