Shin was making his way back to his cart, his mind awash with ideas of running a store in the northern kingdom. He had declined the offer to change his class. His uncle had done so much for him that he felt accepting would be an admittance of his inability to make his way through the world on his own. Alice had also explained that he should get a class that would help him protect Eraven. He was now regretting being such an idiot and declining the offer of a tutorial, certain that if he had at least done that he wouldn’t be nearly as lost as he was now. Classes differed in rarity and he only knew how to become standard classes like merchant, soldier, priest, adventurer and scribe. None of which would give him the ability to stop an invasion.

He had no clue what sort of protection he was supposed to offer. Despite his certainty that he would be furious and stubbornly refuse to play along if not for gamers mentality, He still wanted to protect his home. If the people coming were like Jakob, things wouldn’t be that bad, but the words “invasion force” that Jakob had written began to clammer for prominence in the forefront of his mind. If it was physical protection that was needed, just one soldier would be useless and if it was a different type of invasion, like those of the dopplegangers it wouldn’t matter how strong he was.

Resolved to learn more about invasions he quickened his pace to his cart. He could see the final light of day fading into night. The only clear source of light being the road, illuminated by his navigator skill. Sparing no time for pleasantries he rangled his horses and set off for his bosses office.

He was relieved but equally nervous that his boss was clearly still in, his tell tale rotund silhouette could be seen lighting the lamps at the front door from a while away before retreating back inside. Trying not to get his boss’s attention Shin rode into the stables beside the building, pretending to just be a regular cart returning from their trip. After a while of procrastinating, making sure to take his time to make the horses comfortable, he packed his travel pack. Attaching it to the back of Jordy (his new horse) in case things went awry and he couldn’t purchase Wren and Jass. Being positive was good and all, but being overly positive was positively stupid.

Finally ready to eat his bag of worms, he made his way into the office. The door, heavy against his efforts, gave way. The hallway was dingy with the soft flickering light of a lamp being the only illumination. Shin gave a sigh at the sheer filth that surrounded him, the smell of old hay and horse dung potent in the air . He made his way to the office at the end of the hall, every step on the wooden floor released a groan. “Seriously?!” he thought, giving a death glare to the floor boards. It felt like the bad omens were mocking him.

Two knocks resenated in Wagu’s office. The door aggressively swung open “Noel, I swear if you haven’t got everything on the list… oh, it’s you.” Said Wagu (Shin’s boss). Wagu was glaring at Shin, his body was almost as wide as it was tall. His many chins in a constant contest for real estate on his neck. The sight of his portly boss would normally have sent a shot of submission through him. Respecting your boss was a must in their society, however, Shin felt no such pressure today. Wagu pointed at the chair across his desk and both swiftly took their seats. “Good evening sir, I have finished the tour of the kingdom.” he reported, hoping that Wagu would be too tired to question the lack of passengers.

“Where have you been!? I went through all the trouble of giving you this job and on the first trip. The first! you arrive late!?” Wagu spluttered. “Go feed the horses and report back to me” He continued, waving his hand dismissively. “I already have sir.” Shin explained. The response came as a shock to Wagu, deepening the frown lines on his brow. “And you didn’t report to me first? Do you have any clue about etiquette boy?” Wagu accused. Shin just remained motionless trying desperately to maintain his deadpan face. He had scarce interactions with his boss but had heard of his foul personality. Trying his best to play along Shin attempted to look meek, a survival strategy he developed to deal with petulant customers.

Since the reaction he wanted wasn’t forthcoming, Wagu pressed his advance on shin. “A cart driver must always know their place and perform their duty with grace! Let this be a lesson for you.” he continued, slight bits of food and spittle flying out of his mouth and brushing by shin. Causing him to further restrain his reaction. “Although, I wouldn’t expect an orphan to have learnt anything about etiquette. Given the lack of proper upbringing” He venomously sneered. At this Shin sighed to alleviate some of the tension he had built up. He was trying his absolute best not to laugh at the man.

All the build up in his head combined with the Gamers mentality suppressing his negative feelings had made watching what he feared playing out turn into a comedy from his perspective. The contradiction of a slothic lump preaching about “Grace” had nearly floored him. “I will try my best to learn from your example sir. I agree that I don’t seem to be cut out for this line of work. I think it is only fair that I resign and leave.” He said. Wagu was surprised but pleased at Shin’s sudden shift to surrender, However Shin trying to quit would be a problem for him. He had already organised another trip for the following morning.

“I am a generous enough man that I will forgive you this once. Although, I will hold on to your payment for the last trip for being late and give you half of it back if you do a good job tomorrow on your next trip. Seems fair, no?” Wagu said, quickly shifting his attitude to not scare his new verbal boxing bag away. Threatening payment was a common, but frowned upon, practice in the Autumn kingdom that held no water in legality, it was just that the nobility didn’t care enough to do anything about it. Only willing to get involved if it affected their coffers.

[Quest :

Wagu is withholding your payment for a failed trip. He has offered you half payment on the completion of your next trip. Guide the group designated by “Wagu”.

Reward : Payment, Half of the payment for your last trip.

Failure : You will be fired, Affinity with “Wagu” will decline.

{Accept?} {Decline?}]

Confused by the appearance of a text box, Shin quickly scanned it. He was slightly ticked off. If he didn’t manage to retrieve the platinum coin in time, things wouldn’t be as simple as they were now. Living hand to mouth was the norm among the commoners and withholding pay could make the difference between a free life and indentured servitude. Wagu was clearly trying to strong arm him into servitude. By only paying half he would be forced into a cycle of taking any jobs Wagu offered in order to avoid an even worse fate if it weren't for his uncle’s backing.

Shin did away with his meek act, straightening his posture, finally letting out the laughter that he had been stifling. The threat of being fired appeared trivial given the platinum he had stowed away in his pouch and amplified with the lack of an emotional response to Wagu’s bullying. “Haha, I’m sorry. I don’t mean to laugh at you. It’s just that what you are doing is way too obvious” he managed through his chuckles.

The response not matching his expectations made Wagu grow irate “How dare you laugh at me. I am your boss. Get out of my office Now!” he shouted, hefting his arm up to point at the door. The strain on his face only furthering Shin’s merth. “I’m sorry, I’m sorry.” Shin apologised, raising his hands in a placating gesture. The anger directed at him having no effect caused Wagu to become concerned, a gleam of worry flickering in his bloodshot eyes.

Managing to catch the uncertainty Wagu’s eyes gave Shin an idea. He took a moment to compose himself and consider what he was about to do. “Tell me Wagu, how many people do you employ?” he asked. Judging by Wagu’s reaction, He was right on the money. Wagu began to lose the anger that had coated him just a moment ago, the worry causing him to shift uncomfortably.

Knowing that the uncertainty would soon drop, Shin wanted to press slightly harder to cement their current balance of power. “You see, given your standard of living and the amount of money you say this branch of Rakkets makes, some people became a bit curious… and I’m not your apprentice. I’m theirs” He said in the most authoritative voice he could muster, leaving the statement to linger. He wasn’t certain what had Wagu so rattled but had learnt that saying less was more effective when you were talking out of your arse. It was a sales tactic, often used by fake alchemists, that he had learnt to beware of after the “love potion” incident.

There was a long silence in which neither talked and they just looked at one another. Shin worried that it may have been too much, agitated he gripped the armrest of his chair to still his nerves. To his surprise it creaked under the force of his grip, finally giving out under the pressure of his strength and snapping. The loud crunch of the wood could be heard clearly in the deathly still room, Startling Wagu. Shin only then recalled that his stats were effectively double those of someone his age and settled down, hoping that Wagu wouldn’t notice his surprise at his own strength.

Wagu seemed to realise something and quickly changed his approach “My apologies for my temper sir, I have five employees at the moment, not counting yourself of course. I always pay them properly so there's no need for the Tax Order’s involvement.” he said, looking like a kid that had been caught stealing a candy apple. Shin couldn’t believe that Wagu was buying the act but didn’t dare press any harder, “Quit while you have a head” being a harsh life lesson all the commoners had learned. The cracked armrest already felt like a step too far.

Trying to maintain his entertained air and shifting his face to give more of an air of arrogance; he wanted to close this off before things got complicated. “Well, I’m sure we can come to an arrangement” he said with a forced smile, rubbing his fingers together in the universal gesture for money. He couldn’t turn back anymore. This new development clearly being what Wagu was expecting.

“Of course, I’m sure that we can sort something out” Wagu blurted, happy with the offer of an escape hatch. Shin had no Idea how these sort of scenarios proceeded and stuck to his guess of “less is more”. Choosing to just sit and sneer at Wagu. Without a word, Wagu presented a pouch, eager to be free of this situation. Shin didn’t dare to actually inspect the pouch and continued to stare at Wagu, clearly making the rotund man more nervous. “Well you see, this is all I can offer for now. Tell your master I will provide a bigger pouch next year…” he said in an attempt to alleviate his discomfort.

Shin didn’t want to push the issue too much but was well aware that any extorter worth their salt wouldn’t settle for what was offered and it would likely give him away. “That’s only enough to alleviate my master's concerns.” he said, using Wagu’s words against him to add more realism to the situation. “Tell you what, I have come to like the horses that I’ve been driving for the past two weeks...for no pay.” he continued “That’s ridiculous! Those horses cost three gold a piece!” Wagu shouted, already frustrated that he was being extorted. Shin reached for the pouch and inspected the contents, making sure to appear disgruntled at the meager amount of five gold and fifteen silver.

“Tell you what, you’re already short of the money my master told me to accept from you. Being such a gracious man myself. I will cover the shortfall and only take two gold and the horses. Unless you are no longer willing to make a deal?” Shin threatened, hoping that the deal would be too good to pass up for the greedy man. The implied threat of the Tax orders justice and getting to keep the majority of the money jolted Wagu into action. “Of course, of course. Please take them.” Wagu beamed, glad that his temper hadn’t landed him in jail.

.

.

.

Minutes later Shin left the office two gold and two horses richer, a foul taste in his mouth. He knew that if he demanded fair treatment for the employees Wagu would catch on immediately, luckily the bureaucracy was well known for their corruption. He was aware that if he had been caught impersonating a Tax officer he would be sentenced to death on the spot, however, his Gamers mentality seemed to brush that concern aside with ease much like his natural discomfort lying. Logically speaking, he still disliked the act and the looming threat of discovery weighed heavily on his mind. But even that was eventually swept under the numbness of his skill’s effect.

Walking over to the stables to retrieve his ill-gotten gains, he desperately tried to feel ashamed but a sense of enjoyment was overcoming him. The shot of adrenaline released for getting away from consequences was a new thing for the risk averse boy. There were two carts aside from his own in the stable, which gave him an idea. He quickly hid a gold coin under both of their seats. It was well hidden enough that Wagu wouldn’t find them and the next people to ride them for some duration would feel the disturbance and check.

Thinking slightly better of himself he rode off to an inn, he was well aware that the people that lived around him in the slums would sooner slit his throat than pass up the opportunity to steal Jass, Wren and Jordy. He would have to organise something more permanent for them tomorrow. Moving would also save him the risk of Wagu realising what had happened.