Lost in the Game

Day 42: level 2, day 12: Security

Shadow had just arrived back to town from his nightly excursions, and was settling into his routine that had been going on for a month when the first piece of news found it's way to him while he ate breakfast. It was one of the more well known information brokers he dealt with, and she slid three pieces of paper over to him.

"What's this?" he asked her as she usually didn't give him things.

"Nothing worth charging you for, just some interesting things going on in the darker workings of floor 1 while most everyone focuses on floor 2 now." she said taking the serving of food she had long ago learned was his own creations.

"You know that stuff doesn't interest me." he said as he ate his own fold in thier quiet corner of the market before most the stalls were open. Not many of the businesses here could afford the shopkeeper like he could, no matter how much business he sent thier way. He however looked at the papers and realized they were PC Bounties, and they were open which meant kill them as many times as possible.

"Seems a few of the Guilds are getting together, and the meatheads think they can institute a collection tax on everyone else as well. The lower level characters have really felt the screws, and are banding together. Thought you should know before it gets out of hand." she said as he finished his food and stood up before throwing a gold on the table for her.

"Seems my day just got interesting." he said wryly as he took the bounty sheets and went to his store and began working. It never took long to display the new stuff, especially after he had already maxed out his profession and skills again for this level of the game.

Before he knew it, it was 10 in the morning, and his official time for opening the store to those customers who couldn't necessarily afford what he sold, but had heard from others it was the place to strike a deal. He had many who would bring him thier loot they couldn't use, and would give him a deal in return. He had found it a good model, because they would always remember that when they needed it most, someone was there to help them.

He had just finished and was in the middle if selling some gear to a mid level player, all if it massive upgrades compared to what he had, and so far he was only charging the man about a third of the marked price as he could tell this one would go far. He heard the door open, and the shopkeeper program instantly welcomed the newcomers who promptly ignored it.

Shadow had been planning on leaving them to stew for a few hours, when the leader of the small group walked up to the counter and interrupted his sell.

"I need to see the proprietor of the establishment." the man said rudely.pushing the kid aside.

"You can wait your turn just like everyone else." He replied as he moved down and focused on what he was doing.

"Do you have any idea who I am?" he demanded knocking the pile of gear to the floor as Shadow took a really.close look at them. It took a moment, but he remembered the 500 gold piece bounty on thier head to be captured dead or alive.

Shadow signaled the kid to go look at the merchandise some more while he dealt with this, and used one of his shopkeeper abilities to pick the mess up all at once and set it on a back counter. "What you want had best be damn important, otherwise there will be consequences for your rudeness." Shadow said as the two goons went into his racks while he secured the shop. It was an enchantment of his, and part of the security to ensure he was not robbed.

"I am Lieutenant Grimline of the Green Lotus Guild. You are fortunate to have been selected for our security, for a low fee of 20 percent of your transactions to support the strike group that we are helping to form." he said full of authority.

Shadow smiled as it seemed the reports were finally true for once. He laughed heartily as he heard this 'great' news before he looked at him again. "Sorry gents, I must have misunderstood you. Cause to me, it sure seems like you are mistaking me for someone who is easily bullied into doing things." he said with a smile plastered to his face.

"Let me make it easy for you crafter, you will pay, or we will make sure you pay. Understand now?" Grimline asked as he dropped an expensive potion onto the floor and he casually watched his dozen or so customers pick up different blunt weapons like they were examining them to purchase.

Shadow nodded as he grabbed a poison dart in each of his hands, and looked at the man as he casually flicked them intonthe necks of the two goons. "I understand perfectly now." he said as he leaned forward and looked at him while the customers caught the now paralyzed goons and lowered them to the floor before stripping them of everything they had and putting it all on a nearby counter. "You and your band of goons have a death wish, thinking you could come in here and do whatever it is you want." he said with a smile as the mans face paled a bit.

"It just so happens to be your lucky day however, and silly me, I never got the opportunity to properly prepare for your arrival. So let me tell you what is about to happen." he said before Grimline slammed his hand on the counter.

"No, let me tell-" he began to yell before his own scream cut him off as he looked at his hand.

"Eww, didn't see that one coming." Shadow said as the dozen customers surrounded the goon who was smart enough not to look around at who exactly was standing behind him.

"Ok. Since I didn't see that coming I will give you a couple options and let you pick one. Option 1, you empty your inventory onto that counter there. Walk over to that door carrying one of your goons over there, and quietly go down to one of the cells and await your guildies to show up to rescue you." Shadow said as the man grimaced in pain.

"Option 2?" he asked through clenched teeth.

"I jab you in the throat with this very entertaining poison dart which will paralyze you in about a second. These boys strip you of every piece of gear and gold you have, and carry you down the stairs to quietly wait for your guildies to come rescue you. However with as much as you two have done recently, I cannot guarantee you make it down the stairs without further injury." Shadow said as the man looked even paler than before.

"There will be consequences for this insult crafter." he said as he walked over to the counter and emptied his inventory before taking off his armor and adding it to the pile.

"There are always consequences dear boy. The key is only doing things that bring good consequences to you. Like supporting the low level players while they get gear and skills to progress. That way when unwanted goons like you show up, they know to help a fellow player take out the trash." he said as he watched them go to the very door the shopkeeper opened and escorted them below. It was 3 cells, each with a door, and that was it.

He walked tonthe door and opened it before he handed one of the kids a gold coin. "Take that to Detail, and tell her to spread the word a Green Lotus Officer and his squad was captured at Shadows and is being held hostage." he said as the kid nodded. "There is another when you get back with her response."

Shadow was planning on closing down his part of the operation for the day, and was amazed at just how much business he had done before dinner when he heard the bell chime again. "Just in time to be helped." he said as he looked up and did a double take as he saw Arthur. "What brings you here?" he asked curiously.

"Can't come and see what you are up to here?" he asked as Arthur looked around and was amazed to see all of the unbound rare drops from level 2 on his shelves. Rumor had spread that his shop wouldn't be able to keep up, yet here he was sith the best.of everything still.

"Same old same old." Shadow said with a shrug. "Buy, sell, explore, craft, repeat." he said with a smile.

"Do I want to know how you even got that?" he asked pointing at the Spear that came from one of the bosses but was not soul bound on pickup.

"Same way anyone else does." Shadow replied with a smirk as he looked at the Guild Leader.

"Need to ask if you have seen someone." Arthur said nervously.

"Now why would you come to me looking for someone. I am no info broker that keeps tabs on stuff like that." he said amused.

"I know, but if what the brokers are saying is true, it could mean a bad fight for more than you." He said honestly as Shadow smiled.

"Let's go get a drink." Lucas said turning over control tonthe shopkeeper and walking out. His shop was one of a few open 24/7 because of this.

"I don't know if we have time." he said as Shadow kept walking.

"Answer a question, and I will decide if we can remain friends after this." he said bluntly as Arthur grew nervous as he nodded. "Why do the Blood Knights care about a low level officer and his goons from Green Lotus?"

"Mutual Assistance Pact. They know about the floor one boss, and asked if we could help intercede on thier behalf." Arthur replied as they got to the outdoor bar and he ordered two of thier house special before he put the 3 pages on the table between them.

The look went from hopeful to stunned as he read all three bounty sheets and the charges, and was amazed at how detailed they were. "Normally I wouldn't have done much as they are actual Players. But coming into my shop and demanding 20 percent of my sales for taxes to support the strike team?" he asked the man across from him who began shaking.

"Can I assume you can still handle yourself?" Arthur asked him.

"Can I assume you can still hold a sword?" Shadow quipped back.

"That is highly misconstruing the intent of the Guild Taxes. It was for members only, not every player. We are supposed to ask for donations from anyone not in a Guild, and offer protection for a share of the profits."

Shadow laughed as he looked at the Paladin and sent him the video link. He also watched the reaction, and could tell by how he was shaking in rage that they had never agreed to anything like this. "How much protection do you think those 3 morons can offer me when I took them down single handedly? Now, either you can question them and determine thier fate. Or I wait for thier goons to do something stupid like attempting to rescue them. God I hope they are dumb enough to try that." he said just as the bell started chiming to alert the Palace Guards.

As they ran past, Arthur got a worried look on his face as it looked like they had all been taking steroids and become a well trained unit. "Those guards look different."

"Sure do don't they? Wonder how many of thier party is stuck in my shop frozen right now waiting for the level 50 Elite Palace Guards to come arrest them?" he asked Arthur with a smile.

"You planned this whole thing?" Arthur asked as Shadow Smiled at him.

"All I did was follow thier suggestion and increase the security of not only my shop but the entire Level 1 Capitol. Since you are all SO concerned with our safety, most of the Merchants banded together to make a Merchant Guild. I had some gold that needed spent, and also agreed to join in spirit meaning that 10 percent of my sales automatically goes to aiding in the defense if the Merchants. Did you know, it only costs 500 gold a month to upgrade the Palace Guards to level 50 Elites?"