I drum my fingers across the table wondering how best to begin. "I'm not exactly opposed to the job," I finally blurt out before the silence becomes awkward. "Nor do I have any problems with...your people...or what you all are trying to accomplish. But I'm going to need a lot more details."
The revolutionary nods his head amicably with a small grin. "Of course. Have you been following the news about the war currently being fought in Centaurea?"
My eyes tilted upward as I tried to think. I'd seen the country listed on the maps of South Blue I'd studied but I wasn't aware of any major incident going on. I thought I saw it's name on a headline the other day but I didn't actually read the article. "Let's say that I'm a little behind on current events."
Whatever Korka thought of my answer, it didn't reach his face. "I'll spare you the grimy details. but the short of it is that we're winning. Just... not as quick as we'd like. Wars are costly and supply lines need to be maintained. When pirates raid one of our ships It can hurt us pretty bad. That's why I'm currently out hiring some extra help."
"Not to be rude but isn't your...I'm going to say 'organization'... full of heavy hitters on its own?" I had to ask. "What could you possibly need bounty hunters for?"
Korka lets loose a tired sigh and casts his eyes to the side. "Our organization operates globally so we're always spread a bit thin. Our best personnel in South Blue are either preoccupied with keeping the Marines off our back or they're actually on the front lines in Centaurea. Plus there's been a...setback..in West Blue and we've had to divert some of our resources in that direction. We've got plenty of funding, just not manpower."
I leaned back in my seat and raised my brow skeptically. "If manpower is all you need you could take that 2,500,000 and hire a dozen men to do the job. Probably more. I still don't see why you're offering it to me."
Korka snorted as though I had just said something particularly dumb and leaned back himself, mirroring my posture. "Sure, for 2 million I could hire 10 men, 15 men, maybe even 20. Wouldn't even have to leave the room to do it." The officer spoke, swinging a hand out to gesture at the miscreants spread throughout the tavern. "But they'd be of poor quality. Totally helpless against any actual threat. Pretend for a moment that you're me and it's your ship you need to hire protection for. Your choice is between either a few dozen pieces of fodder OR three to five truly competent individuals. Which door do you choose?"
Now it was my turn to nod. "I guess I see your point. You still haven't answered my question though. Why me? I'm not famous. I'm small-time. I've only captured one bounty that's even really worth mentioning."
Korka looks at me slyly. "Town rumors say you took down a corrupt Marine officer."
"Rumors can be false." I rebutted. They weren't in this case. But y'know. He can't know that for sure. "Come on. Just hit me with the real reason."
Korka huffed in irritation and gave me a level look. "Fine. You want the truth? I'm scrambling to find a last minute replacement and you're the only one around that I can see. If you turn me down I'm going to have to go with the cannon fodder route whether I like it or not. The last of my ships needs to set sail tomorrow morning and that deadline absolutely cannot change."
"Ships?" I questioned. "As in plural?"
"Three ships. Three teams. The first two left yesterday night but the last one, The Marjhan, still feels...just a bit too vulnerable. Even with me traveling on it." Korka paused for a moment as a fierce scowl developed across his face. "I was supposed to rendezvous with this pair, -a brother-sister duo- here in Yeutton and negotiate with them to be the final team members."
Korka poured himself a drink and stared at the auburn liquid. "The two of them weren't super impressive but they had been pulling in bounties ranging from one to five million pretty consistently over the past couple years and consistency has to count for something. I really thought they'd be a nice finishing touch on the group I had gathered but unfortunately they decided to blow me off last minute."
"What happened?"
Korka shrugged and then drained his glass in a single swallow. "The oddest thing really. Two days ago they called me up, claimed they'd gotten a better offer, that from now on their names are 'Mr. 12 and Miss Saturday', and that I shouldn't contact them again. Then the pricks just hung up on me." Korka takes another pause to refill his drink and pours myself one as well. "What the hell do you suppose that's about?"
"No idea..." I lied, bringing my own glass up just for a sip. "So...backing up a moment, you said three to five individuals? Not counting yourself, who would I be working with?"
"Tell you what." Korka announced as he rose to his feet. "Why don't you meet me at dock #6, nine o'clock tomorrow morning and come meet them yourself? I'll even give you 20% of your pay up front."
The Revolutionary extends his hand towards me and adopts the same smile he used back at the beginning of our conversation. "Deal?"
A few seconds pass as I wait for the familiar 'Ding!' of a new quest to appear but oddly enough it never does. Whether that's a good omen or a grave sign I can't be sure.
Regardless though I find my hand reaching upwards to clasp with his.
"Deal."
I watch the man leave and after a minute or two make my way towards the bar one last time where Bill seems to be preoccupied rearranging the colored bottles on the backwall display. I knock on the wood twice to get his attention and drop 15,000 on the bar. "Everyone's drinks are on me tonight. Thanks for all your help these past couple weeks. Best of luck to ya Bill."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Do you enjoy reading? Visit my site on Tiendup! There you will find the advanced chapter in PDF format, ready for your convenience.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
https://fictiontopia.tiendup.com/