The princess finally stopped crying as Fay silently asked her. To tell everything about herself and the island. And the princess agreed.
The princess was from a kingdom in the central side. Where it was a hub for trading for everyone. Everyone was happy and the income of citizen was increasing due to the governance and immediate attention to minor details but the king.
But one day the Priest from the Round Table packed their bags and left to the south to engage in a large battle.
And Noone returned. As as the priest left diseases rate started ramping up. And the apothecary seeing business started charging high rate for medicine. The king emptied out it's treasury in order to stock medicine for many.
But medicine have to be taken in repeated doses and due to not being able to afford that much. The Kingdom went under.
As it was then attacked by Beasts of the Abyss.
Those who could fight fought will all their might and strengthen just to keep the crumbling walls of the kingdom standing strong. Until their inevitable demise.
Jealous of their status and kingdom other kings didn't even raise a wink when they requested reinforcements. They pretended to be deaf. And let Time deal with the rest.
One by one the brave men of the kingdom lost their lives while the weak ran far away.
Finally the walls crumbled under their own feet. And the beast consumed everything crops, lands, walls, money, houses people everything.
And they left to consume something else. As they left bandits saw this place as a haven and looted it to the ground.
And any survivors sold as slaves.
As discussed before this world has a big bandit problem. Variius bandit organization roam around the land. Because it is a very profitable business. As the world decays the public can do nothing but plunder. What does the Foundation do about it then.
Easy massive recruitment, providing safe jobs and homes and benefits for joining them as well as security and guarantee of zero discrimination.
This is what their salesman says though.
A very tempting offer like a journey to heaven. As always terms and conditions are there.
The journey to the Foundation is a very harrowing one. If one makes it till the end. He receives more than before. But the journey itself is ruthless.
Crossing many rivers, mountains, fog filled forest without losing the way , battling beasts of the Abyss and bandits along the way. While keeping an adequate supply of food and water.
Only those foolish enough try, those smart enough see between those lines and don't try.
The princess was caught in the plundering and was sold here. Where after determining her worth and her lineage she was sold in the merchant's market.
Fay :
You must have suffered a lot. Take as much time as you need. You don't need to become a prisoners anymore.
We are here.
Princess :
My father and brother are still trapped please save them.
I'll give you everything I have and know about the island.
Jay :
I will try my best but I need everything important.
Princess :
My brother and father are trapped in an underground prison directly below the palace. Everyday for trade the palace gates open and slaves are bought out. The rejected material is assessed and once again put into cages. And if they are not fit they are thrown into the black light area.
This is everything I know.
Jay :
Do you have anything in the royalty. Since your a princess how do you prove your lineage.
Princess :
You must have a royal seal or emblem of your family a proof that you're representing them.
Jay :
Anything else?
Princess :
There was something about to prove it with your blood. The guards were taking once outside our cell. But I couldn't make sense of it.
Fay :
If this is a early modern renditions of the world then they must have a way to test DNA of a person. Maybe that's what they mean.
Jay remembered his rule of Raizon maybe he could take advantage of it. After all at one point he was a King. A mediocre one at that. A King who absconded his duty to the citizens of Raizon. Atleast he named his successor.
For Jay even the highest position of a King was binding him to this world even more. Jay had a question once. What if Jay got a reason not to leave this world maybe out of Love, Revenge or Obligations. This would bind him here for a long while. And for someone who wants to wake up he is doing everything he can.
The Final Key is within reach. Jay is slowly getting desperate. Everyday his mind tells him to steal the key. But he doesn't. He is exercising extreme patience. Make the world reach its proper conclusion. This is what X wants that's why he has turned his focus from Power to Reputation is what Jay believes.
Jay :
Do you have your family crest with you.
Princess :
No my family crest was taken away from me when I was taken here. For them it ewe like a medal to collect. Without my crest I am nothing now.
Princess started tearing up once again.
Jay looked at his watch and it was almost time to meet at the Bar. So he once again stepped out of there. And as he passed by the reception the receptionist was looking at him with eyes of suspicion. So much that he decided to check the room himself.
As slaves have no rights instead of knocking the door the receptionist with his spare key directly opened the door to witness a girl calming down another.
Driven by lust he tried to lay his hand on them. And as his hand reached them. From behind Jay grabbed his collar and dragged him outside the inn and in the gap between alleys.
Jay put on his persona.
Jay : extreme anger.
What were you trying to do to my merchandise. Do you even know how much that one thing has cost me. With that money I can buy your entire in and run it for myself.
Receptionist at first had a comeback ready to be spewed from his mouth but then he remembered that he is currently a paying customer and other inns were watching him.
Reception :
Sir you're misunderstanding, I was just trying to provide them with service.
Jay :
Don't make me cut your tongue off. If you make a move in the it's you and me then.
Two guards who were in patrol duty fired a warning shot and both of them stopped.
Guard :
Cease this conflict or prepare to face consequences.
Jay decided to take a stand.
Jay :
This man here tried to lay his hand in my merchandise. It's his fault if they are traumatized by this.
Guard :
Laying hands on merchandise goes against Rule 51 of the inns. Penalty : Death.
The guards raised their guns to shoot him but Jay intervened.
Jay :
I take my complaints back don't kill him off. He's sorry for what he did.
Guard then out their guns down and left. And the receptionist started begging for forgiveness. Jay took him inside the inn and broke his arm.
Jay :
Maybe now you'll do your job properly.
And left searching for the Revolver bar.
After wandering aimlessly he finally found it. He entered the bar and it was very empty. Except the bartender and Red Fox there was Noone else. This was either a trap or something else.
Jay :
Sly Fox I thought you wojkd pick a more filled space than this.
Fox :
I like this place because Noone comes here. A secret haven for people like us.
Fox :
You know why is the bar called Revolver. Aside from being a gun. It's a good symbol of representing revolutionary.
Jay :
Revolutionaries?
Fox :
The day I saw you I could tell something was similar. I could sense the fires of revolution in you.
Fox :
I'm a revolutionary myself. Working to free as many slaves as I can for years
Jay was suspicious of his setting an empty bar it was like waiting for a confession to happen. So he avoided it.
Jay :
Nah being a revolutionary is not my style. I'm just fine as a money spender. And splurging on the cash I've inherited from my father. I like to purchase attractive items that makes other jealous.
Fox :
That's just one of your sides.
Jay :
That's just who I am in general. In the day a merchant in the night a money spender.
Because money is made to be spent.
Fox :
Okay then, about before would you mind selling me the princess.
Jay :
I bought that princess as a trophy. And trophies aren't so poised to be given without a win.
Fox :
I'll offer you twice of what I offered you before. If you sell her to me.
Jay :
That's pushing it my friend a trophy us a trophy. I do have some attachment to it so I won't give it away.
Fox :
Not even when I have some good information for you. A merchant shouldn't miss this kind of opportunity. It can make you more than what you already had.
Sly Fox threw Jay a bait. And hoped that Jay would take the bait.
Jay :
My ways goes beyond profit and loss it's is about marketing and Public relations. You know long term marketing. One shouldn't be focused on short term profits it should be sustainable marketing.
Fox :
Well I'm impressed by your answer so what do you do anyway. For business to become a man of such words.
Jay :
Well first of all I'm a man who is interested in the affairs of this world and the as I myself am out of this world's grasp.
I offer my premium services as I represent mysekf and my client in front of others while I wait for the other clients to oblige with my client's response.
Most of the time the recipient's intelligence doesn't match a bonas. And for the developing kingdom I supply metals supplied by me.
Fox :
So you're a commission based worker and a metal supplier. If I got that correctly.
Jay :
That was some excellent determination.
The conversation was stalling with Jay unsure and untrusting of the Sly Fox. Jay weighed his choices. Whether to reveal himself or keep himself concealed.
Jay decided to do a minor test.
Jay activated Fear Lvl 3. Intimidation Lvl 3 and Domination Lvl 3.
Jay :
So Sky Fix tell me are you a servant of the regional God.
Do you work under him.
Three active status moves were applied on Sly Fox but he continued to deny it.
Sly Fox :
I'm a revolutionary after all. How can I become related to him.
Jay :
Then I'm afraid you're not the one I'm looking for. I'm looking for someone who can help me get acquainted with the God.
Because I come from the domain of God bearing a message. A revelation if you will.
Now Sly Fox was confused on what to believe. He decided to pry in on the matter.
Sly Fox :
Why a metal supplier comes here bearing the name of God.
Jay :
Then invite a Holy priest on the island where every rule is broken. Seems a bit ironic
Jay :
You know what, I'm tired of this interrogation. I'm leaving.
Sly Fox :
So are you a revolutionary or not.
Jay :
Are you an interrogating officer or not.
Sly Fox :desperate
I'm not.
Jay : Pryes for Truth
How can I believe you?
Sly Fox :
Because I live on this island from before. I have lived on this island before the island poachers arrived.
Sly Fox :
Those from offshore arrived at this island and took hold of it while our God just had to watch. You want proof so badly I'll give you the proof.
The Sly Fox removed his clothes to reveal a brand an mark which only removed after decades. It was a brand indicating slaves.
Jay :
You could also fake the brand right.
Sly Fox :
This is a place where upon slight suspicion even the highest ranked are killed. If I had suspicion then I would have killed you when you entered the island.
Jay :
So you are a revolutionary
Sly Fox :
Glad you understand.. I'm one of the original people who lived in this island. Names is Foz.
Jay :
That's a lie. One would never reveal their name like that.
Sly Fox just gave up.
Fix :
I'm tired of this back and forth too. It's up to what you believe now. Hey boss bring me some fine Rum.
Jay :
What a cheap trick now using alcohol to let my guard down.
Foz :
Boss let it be. I'm done with drinking.
Foz :
Look these are the things I'm supposed to looks for to find someone similar to me. And words I'm supposed to avoid.
Jay :
You're really good at this game.
That's when a guard opened the door and came inside for inspection.
Guard :
There's been quite a ruckus here. Keep your noise down. And pay the fine or else.
Foz removed a gun from his back pocket and shot the guard.
And the guard died.
Jay :
Nice scripting.
Foz :
God dammit.
After two and three rounds of same thing Jay believed him finally.