Eric nodded in satisfaction, pulling out five extra silvers from the ether, and in very short order, Velvet was showing Eric not only how to assemble each type of boxed crossbow, but the basics of proper maintenance, cleaning, even how to replace the steel cables in a pinch. Then it was learning how to properly sight each of them at the sandbag target range Velvet maintained between the stores and the stone wall of the cavern. But not until after he had Eric show him his bow stance, then subtly shifting Eric's shoulders and feet, while pointing out the differences between using a crossbow's scope and the bow's peep sight.

Much to Eric's surprise, he found he really did enjoy the smooth draw and release of the bow, once Velvet had maximized the tension for him, the arrows streaking for a target at a respectable, but still very visible, speed. He found the practice almost meditative, all his arrows after the first four hitting within just a couple inches of one another, pleased at the message popping in his interface.

Compound Bows successfully integrated at Rank 6!

He supposed it made sense. He had learned the basics years ago, mastering the basics of proper form and breath control with a far more difficult bow that had been far harder to draw and sight. And even if most of the reason why he was enjoying this so much more than the lessons Vincent had insisted upon was because of his massive boost to Finesse and Perception, at least part of it was simply because the compound was just such a pleasure to draw and release.

Of course, he most definitely had an ulterior motive, wondering if training up the bow would grant him a similar boost to Perception and Finesse as hitting Journeyman status with crossbows had. Because after all the hyper-intense training he had put himself through, he'd never say no to free stat points.

But the whole time Eric was testing each of the crossbows, he couldn’t help but appreciate anew the similarities between those weapons and rifles, in terms of kick and the speed of the projectile with its flat-line trajectory and the sharp twang of the string, almost a crack. Of course, all things were relative. A rifle was far louder, even muffled, the bullet far faster, and the trajectory far flatter. But the high-powered crossbows he had purchased from Velvet had far more in common with rifles than bows, and he'd put gold on that assertion, if anyone was willing to wager.

Eric couldn’t help but smile, overhearing Velvet’s whispered words as he took over sighting and inspecting each of the crossbows before getting the okay from the shopkeeper, making sure he was performing all the steps correctly.

“That kid totally played me, Alice. He did, didn’t he? I mean, sure, I’m up a gold and five silver, but my entire stock of crossbows! Fucker even grabbed a compound, after acting like I’d forever lost his sale.” Velvet chuckled softly. “Damn glad he’s not setting up shop down here… he isn’t, is he, Alice?”

Alice snorted. “He met the prices you offered, and you guys shook with my power active. He never said he wouldn’t buy the bow, once the deal was made. By the way, that’s 330 quarrels you owe him. You going to tell me you have 330 spare crossbow bolts?”

Velvet groaned. “Shit, Alice, you know those go first! But yes. I do. And I’m dipping into my own private stash!”

“You are. And you’re heading to Freetown for a fresh start with gold and silver in your pocket, and with a lot less inventory to worry about.”

"What does that boy need with all those crossbows anyway? I mean, seriously. Where the hell is he even putting them?”

Eric could sense Alice’s shrug even as his forefinger caressed the trigger, delighting in the satisfying kick that didn’t affect his aim at all as the bolt streaked through the air, just an inch above the bullseye.

“How the fuck should I know? He’s clearly some type of archer. Maybe he has a class perk?”

“Thirty crossbows?”

“Thirty-one. And I'm firing lightning bolts from a foot-long stick of oak. You tell me which is stranger.”

“Fair point. Hey, kid, your bolts are tracking high!”

Eric smirked, pretending he hadn't heard the first part. "Yeah, I know. They're all going exactly where I want them to, since I'm trying not to split my own quarrels."

“Ah. Alright then.” Eric could sense him turning back to Alice. “He’s storing them away fully cocked and loaded. That will mess up the accuracy and tension in all sorts of ways, if he leaves it like that indefinitely.”

“And yet, somehow I think he knows exactly what he's doing," Alice quipped, earning a rye chuckle from Velvet.

“Yeah, kids doing something right, besides having a mug perfectly suited for the apocalypse. The fucker’s a natural. Pretty good at crossbow maintenance as well.”

And the latter part was unquestionable true, Eric thought as he popped up his interface, looking at the handful of messages waiting for him.

Congratulations! For getting the best of a Pod survivor with the Mercantile Profession, you have unlocked the Persuasion skill! Whether you’re buttering up a mark, hustling for a bargain, or brokering a cease-fire between nations, the art of Negotiation is the art of the deal. Synergized with the Acting skill, it can even (potentially) allow you to emulate the Silver tier Persuasion skill!

Negotiation fully quantized at Rank 3! It looks like sitting in on all your mother’s conferences and hostile takeover sessions has finally paid off!

Synergism detected! The best negotiator can play his role to the hilt! Though you'll never be an A-list actor, you can deliver your lines a hell of a lot better than the average rube! Not that you'll ever believe that, with your mother and sister's pristine performances echoing endlessly in your head!

Acting fully quantized at Rank 2! Given your background, it’s strange that this isn’t much higher!

You have assembled, fired, and calibrated multiple makes and models of crossbows. This, plus you’re earlier attempts at modifying your armor and weaponry, has unlocked the Repair skill!

You have achieved Novice Repair at Rank 1! Repair skill includes basic item repair and maintenance, jury-rigging, and moderate weapon and armor enhancements.

Maximum potency to skill rank conversion in effect!

You have assembled, fired, and calibrated multiple makes and models of crossbows.

Your intuitive feel for your chosen weapon now transcends that of all but the most elite of athletes, hunters, and assassins. In other words, those who can level up, just like you!

Congratulations! Crossbow is now Rank 12!

“A pleasure doing business with you,” Eric said to the bemused-looking merchant sometime later, who still looked like he didn’t know what had hit him when Eric shook his hand after storing the crossbow bolts and handing over the coin.

The merchant let out a rueful chuckle. “If I had known you were going to clean out my entire store...”

Eric winked. “I know, right?” he chuckled softly, before his speculative eyes went to the bow. “I gotta admit, though, I did like the feel of that compound in my hands. Smooth as butter, totally different from the longbow I couldn’t shoot for shit, this time last year.”

Alice’s bemused smile hardened. “Eric, we’re kind of pressed for time.”

Eric winced, suddenly realizing that maybe he had overplayed his hand in more ways than one. Alice had known him for less than a day, gone out of her way to help him, and not only was he playing off her connections, he had taken hours of her day away leaving her to chat up Velvet while he sighted and fired multiple crossbows.

He knew he’d be straining a tentative friendship if he wasn’t careful, especially considering that half of her patience was probably due to him agreeing to being a part of whatever heist she and her co-conspirators were planning. People that might be waiting for her. And here he was, eating up her time.

“You’re right,” he said, dipping his head in respect to Alice’s unspoken expectations. “So I’ll cut right to the chase. No hustle, no game. Just a chance for you to do the right thing, Velvet.”

Velvet’s wry smile turned to a smirk. “Really. And what would that be, my clever little archer friend?”

Eric solemnly pulled out a second gold Krugerand, to the hiss and gasp of the pair before them.

“How many of those do you have, Eric?” said Alice, forgetting herself for a second.

Eric shrugged. “That hardly matters, does it? What matters is that if you, Velvet, agree to supply the twenty best candidates here in Junk Town with twenty of your best hunting compound bows, along with, say, ten arrows each, and lessons sufficient to make sure they’re trained in the basics and can improve and maintain their bows themselves… men who will be able to defend the town from assholes that would otherwise love to cut down a thousand sitting ducks...then I’d consider this a gold coin well spent.”

He swallowed under the weight of their joined stares of disbelief.

“Wait, you’re seriously giving up a hundred silver for the sake of a town you only arrived at today?” Alice asked, exchanging a look with Velvet.

Eric shrugged. “Sure, why the hell not? I mean, come on, Alice. How many games have you played, wishing you could do more than just level up and complete the main quest line before grinding for ever-better gear. How many times have you wished you could actually be the hero of a real family or community in need?”

Eric winked, tapping the varnished wooden counter with his coin. “Seems to me that this little coin gives both me and Velvet here the chance to be heroes. However fucked up the cards we were dealt in the past, or might be dealt in the future, at least in this one singular moment, we can choose to act with grace.”

He paused with a smile that quickly grew strained as the pair continued to stare, and he wondered just how stupid his words had sounded to them, before Velvet rolled his shoulders and shrugged. “Sure, kid. Why the hell not? Let’s you and me both play the game of life like we’re fucking paladins, and not a pair of idiots in way over their heads.”

The shopkeeper smirked at Eric and Alice’s expressions. “What, you kids think you’re the only ones who played World of Warblades 2.0, just because you got combat classes? Twenty bows, arrows, and lessons for whatever twenty men and women the mayor thinks most suited to town militia, beyond the double handful he has training with spears and storm troopers armor."

Eric smiled and shook the man’s offered hand, gold exchanged for a promise, and a bit of honor for both of them, he supposed.

“Did you actually play a Paladin?” a curious Eric asked, earning a laugh from Velvet.

“Hell no. I was a Dark Hoard Black Orc Assassin, through and through.” He sighed, shaking his head. “I sure as fuck am no longer playing for those assholes, though. Not in real life. It’s Light Alliance all the way, now.”

“Damn right,” said Alice, her look of consternation turned to a bemused smile. “You’re just full of surprises, aren’t you, Eric? Well done, the both of you.” She turned to Velvet. “I know I can trust you to keep your mouth shut?”

Velvet solemnly raised his hand. “Scouts honor. Our archer friend’s quirks won’t leave my lips.”

Alice nodded before turning around, silky dark hair twirling behind her. “Come on, Eric. I’m afraid we don’t have time for a power nap, though. We got places to be.”

Eric dipped his head. “I totally understand.” He couldn’t help turning around and flashing Velvet a snarky grin, pumping his fist as he headed out the door. “To the Paladins!”

Velvet laughed. “Stay alive, kid. Pleasure doing business with you.”

“Will do my best," he said, tipping his hat at Fat Sam, jolting him from his doze, the man's book and bardiche dropping from slack fingers with a sudden clatter. "Don't get your hopes up too high, Sam. The dame grabs the diamonds, and Striker gets two taps to the chest. He doesn't die, though. Lee Grisham primed the book for a sequel that we'll never see."

Fat Sam’s eyes widened with genuine sorrow, before he scowled. “Fucker. You just had to tell me.”

“That’s what you get for snoozing on the job,” Eric said with a smile. “Ciao, baby.”

“He’s fucking right, Sam,” Eric could hear Velvet shouting when he shut the door. “I don’t care if Liz loves your lazy fat ass. If you’re sitting on my dime, you can damn well keep awake! Fuck it, you know what? Get rid of the chair.”

“But Velve, I mean boss… you know I got a gimp leg!”

Eric and Alice shared a look before their laughter had more than a few people looking their way. But not with hostility, Eric was relieved to see. More like surprise to see such levity in such grim times.

Alice winked, looping her arm through Eric’s once more. “Come on, Eric. It’s time for you to meet my brother, and for all of us to make a hell of a lot of gold.”

“Sounds good to me,” Eric said. “I’ve done my good deed for the day. Now I’m all about the fast cash.”

Her throaty laughter made his cheeks flush and awoke hungers long suppressed. But he kept certain treacherous thoughts in check, knowing that life for him could never be the way it had been before. Yet there was no question that he and Alice vibed on some level. She certainly made a cool friend. And the thought of being a part of an actual real-life heist in the post-apocalyptic wasteland of a city above, of leveling up and being faster, stronger, and deadlier than he could ever have hoped to be outside of his favorite games, sent a thrill of excitement coursing down his spine.

It almost made everything he had been through worth it.

Almost.

It was definitely time to hear about this score.