Chapter 16: Day 25 (3) – Tears of Blood

Chapter 16: Day 25 (3) – Tears of Blood

It was late evening, and I began to walk back towards the city. I had managed to get 200 slime crystals despite the slightly later start. It gave me hope the next couple of days would net me much larger hauls.

As I approached the gate, I saw Carlos’s group walk up and face off against a group of eight that included Amber at the front along with her two minions. Someone was busy recruiting all day. I stayed behind a tree and listened in, before making a decision. Information was king.

I also made sure to take off my pack while listening, just in case. I didn’t want to be encumbered in the fight to come.

“You don’t know who you are messing with,” Carlos said.

“I think I do,” Amber replied.

“You really want to risk a fight. We aren’t paying taxes to your council. In fact, you have to pay taxes to me. This is our hunting ground,” Carlos said.

“We were here first,” Amber replied. I couldn’t ask for a better line and I knew who I preferred. I stepped out and people quickly looked over to me. If I had to choose between Carlos and Amber, Carlos won every time. I trusted relationships built on mutual interest far more than emotion.

In the end I had four choices. Join Amber, which wasn’t going to happen since I didn’t trust her. Join Carlos, which was what I preferred at the moment. Do nothing, which would probably lead to both sides wounding each other and just making the winning group weaker and resent me. The fourth option was to kill the survivors after a fight.

That was also a losing choice. I had hoped to get groups invested into getting crystals and upgrading the store for me. I hadn’t expected a confrontation so soon. This was a major reason why I distrusted people, situations could happen outside of my expectations and control.

It was time to step up. There was the fifth choice of mediating a peace, but that would just make both parties resent me as well and I didn’t have the strength to take on both groups. I couldn’t be the thing that united both groups.

“Telling lies now Amber. If anything, I am the first person to find this place and understand the risks,” I gave her my crazy grin as I stepped out from behind the pine tree.

“Ah, Michael. We could use your help. This...man wants us to go away. We need to pool our crystals to help everyone and unlock the store upgrade.” I nodded at that and looked at Carlos.

“Two hundred points.” That was only 50 crystals, but he was decisive. He understood what my presence here meant. I could work with a rational person.

“A bit low, but I will give a first-time discount. Back me up.” I began advancing on Amber.

“Five hundred points,” she countered.

“My word is my bond. I don’t lie and I don’t break my word once I give it. Also, you weren’t strong enough to save Ryan,” she appeared visibly stricken at that and I rushed in. Don’t puke. Act!

My swing blew through her guard and hit her in the shoulder. She let out a cry and stumbled back. I didn’t hear a bone break. Kevin came in swinging at me. I stepped back and the swing went wide. Joe came in from the other side with a wild swing and a shout.

I batted his attack aside with my club. Carlos’ men had already rushed forward and were facing off against the extras Amber had brought with her. I didn’t have time to watch as I batted aside a blow from Kevin. I noted Amber was fighting Carlos to my side.

Joe same in with an overhead swing. I stepped back and raised up my own club. He missed and was out of position. I swung down and hit his head. His skull shattered, brain, and blood splattered about. I winced as Kevin hit me in the side, but the blow didn’t break any ribs. It was a weak blow but still hurt as I staggered a couple of steps from the attack.

“Death!” I screamed and began swinging wildly at Kevin. He wasn’t able to maintain his guard and I hit him in the shoulder. He let out a cry and I hit two more times. He collapsed on the ground. I kicked him in the side, and he curled up.

“Don’t let them escape!” Carlos cried out. I had started a rout. These people weren’t used to death and the momentum was on our side.

I ran forward and hit a fleeing person in the back. They collapsed on the ground, and I kept running forward, managing to catch another person when they stumbled. I looked around and everyone else had been caught and the survivors were being killed.

“I curse you!” Amber said before her face was smashed in by Carlos. He led everyone in a yell of victory which I joined.

“Good work,” Carlos said and walked over to me. My side was sore, but it wasn’t as bad as the time Lucas had hit me thankfully.

He was definitely setting up a tax and forcing the useless bums in plaza to farm crystals. “Oh, hey there,” one of the men said.

“Shut up idiot,” another man hissed at him.

“That’s... that’s guy they were talking about.” They all looked at me.

“Don’t bother me and we won’t have a problem,” was all I said before turning and jogging away.

I ran into one more group that day who quickly backed off. Once I got 200 slime crystals, I began making my way back to the city and to the plaza.

At the gate there were two men. One I recognized from Carlos’ group from before. I nodded at the man. “No tax?” I asked just to confirm.

“That’s Killer.” Looks like I had an edgy new nick name. “No tax for you.”

“What is the tax normally?” I asked.

“Half, rounded up.” I nodded at that, pleased I had been right in my guess, but a bit thrown off that Carlos had put his men out here instead of at the pillars

“Carlos still at the building we talked at yesterday?” I asked.

“He should be there, but we are keeping an eye on things here for now.”

“Good work.” I said and made my way into the city. No need to be rude to the guards. I headed for Carlos’ building. There was a guard out front.

“Boss, Killer is here for you.”

“Send him up.” Carlos called out from the second floor. I made my way up and entered the room Carlos was in. He was standing when I entered and smiled at me.

“My friend Michael, good that you are here.”

“Thank you, Carlos.” He smiled at me.

“Ah, here you go, 40 crystals, so 200 points.” He handed me a pack. I didn’t bother to count it. It wasn’t worth the hassle and the disrespect. If anything, he probably added one or two extra crystals, just to see what I would do. That was what I would do.

“Thank you. Any idea when you are upgrading the store?” I asked.

“In a day or so. Wanted to get a few upgrades first, any suggestions?” He asked. I considered my answer and gave him a look.

He was putting me in a tough position. If I didn’t answer, then that would strain things. If I lied, I would eventually be found out which was worse. I didn’t know that much he wouldn’t be able to easily figure out himself within a couple of days with tax revenue. My tax wasn’t crystals but knowledge.

“For a friend, not a problem. Body has the most obvious impact, increasing one’s strength and health. Mind might make someone think faster and Perception might make someone notice things easier. No idea on Spirt and Aura yet.” Carlos nodded at that. Basically, what someone could work out from the names without details. If he pressed, I would say I wasn’t sure which had the benefit of being true.

It was a calculated risk, but there was no reason to rock the boat here. It wasn’t like it would be that hard to figure out with a bit of testing. Trying to hoard knowledge like that at this point was using a fire extinguisher for a forest fire. The fire was already out there in the wild.

“If you do find out, I am curious.”

“Not a problem for a friend. How many upgrades do you have?” Carlos asked. Now that was a bit too direct.

“Enough to get the nickname Killer,” I replied, and he let out a chuckle.