AN: I hope everyone had a Happy Easter. Going in, I was all, "What are you talking about? Easter is later in the month." Turns out it was super early this year. And sometimes it's in March! How is this the first I'm hearing of this!?
Anyway, I made Deviled Eggs, as is tradition around Easter. They turned out pretty good and I had about nine of them over the course of two days.
3000 Reviews. 600 Favs and Follows! WOOT WOOT! Thanks for all your support my faithful fans of My Craft!
This is technically a Tuesday I'm publishing this on, but it's been a while since a Chapter than I feel like I should get this out as early as I can. It took a lot of time to type it up and I'm not entirely satisfied with how it's gone, but for what it is, it works. Maybe I'm being over-critical. let me know what you think of it.
Disclaimer: I don't own Minecraft. If I did, I'd make armor disappear when you go invisible.
Chapter 183
SusCo
[New Northern Division HQ]
An arrow sunk deeply into the floor where Spring had been a second ago.
"Would you mind holding still?" Mox called down, perched atop the highest shelf of Heads in the Depository. She pulled back on the crossbow's mechanism and loaded a fresh arrow before aiming down the sights. "I want to test the damage on this thing."
"NO!"
Another twang as the taut string was released. The arrow flew forward, but Spring had already ducked behind one of the Head chests. Mox simply loaded another one.
"You can hide as long as you like. It'll hardly help." Another arrow struck Spring's cover, Mox having fired it more out of boredom than anything. "Won't be long before our ruckus attracts more cultists. Did you even have a plan beyond not getting found out? Take too long and you and that walking booger won't be getting a Head out of here."
"Shut up and come down here to fight!" Spring tried to goad her into action. He couldn't fight her when she was out of reach like this.
"Winning isn't about fighting all the time." She stepped carefully along the shelves, a crossbow in one hand and an iron mattock in the other. "Sometimes it's just about running out the clock for reinforcements."
Spring clicked his tongue, crawling behind shelves as he heard Mox's voice getting closer. He pulled out his bow and tried to take a shot, but Mox lazily sidestepped it, her stormy grey eyes tracking Spring constantly. He wouldn't be able to surprise her or hit her while she was on the topmost shelf.
The Carmen clones were hard at work following Spring's command. They moved through the shelves, breaking apart chests and gathering them with Heads before dumping them in the Ender Chest. They had to have been at seven-hundred Heads. Spring just had to keep Mox busy until they got the full thousand-and-one.
"What Hybrid did you want to turn into?" Mox asked curiously. "It's what you're stealing the Heads for, right? Must be something powerful if you're willing to betray the Endward Cult for it."
"I'm not betraying anyone!" Spring shouted. "I gathered at least that many Heads. They're rightfully mine! I'm just borrowing them for a little while, but I'll earn them all back. With interest!"
"I have no interest in your interest." She answered indifferently before firing another arrow. It cut off Spring's path and forced him to backtrack. "I'm protecting 4Blite's investment. These Heads are his, not yours."
Spring raised an eyebrow in confusion. What was Mox talking about calling them 4Blite's? His subdivision was the worst at keeping quotas and gathering Heads. Calling them his and not the Endward Cult's made little sense.
He could understand protecting the Heads to make more Hybrids, but then why emphasize the one Lieutenant over the whole cult?
"Who's in there!?" Someone shouted before the Depository door swung inward. Spring paled when he saw five cultists enter with swords drawn. The distraction brought about from the Bounty Day had just run out. He backed away from the door and hid himself behind a new shelf.
"I know I heard someone. Ember said this place is off limits." One of the cultists commented.
"Hey, look at this." Another of them approached the shelves. "Some of the chests are broken and… and there are Heads on the floor! Someone's taking from the inventory! They might still be here!" The cultist shouted orders before they all started fanning out. Mox kept her mouth shut, hiding amongst the top shelves.
"Carmen, are you done yet?" He hissed to the surroundings, hoping for one of the three clones to hear him. "We can't stick around any longer." He waited a moment, listening to the cultists spreading out along the aisles of Heads. "…Carmen?"
He craned his neck, searching for her dark red and black skin between the shelves, but found nothing. No sign of the Hybrid.
"Carmen? Carmen!" He dared to call out a little louder. Still no answer. He felt bewilderment before a rush of anger came over him. "Are you kidding me!?"
She left him! Grabbed her Heads and left! Why was he so surprised? She had kidnapped him and only needed him for the Heads. She could get the rest by herself, so he was no longer needed. Why stick her neck out for him when he was a killer?
"Last time I trust a Hybrid—Agh!"
Spring gripped his shoulder where a glowing arrow was sticking out. A spectral arrow fired from overhead. At once, his body developed a bright white outline that practically glowed in the dark.
"I see an outline over there!" One of the cultists shouted. The voices started converging towards him and Spring had to retreat further. Hiding was useless with his body glowing like a sun. They could even see him through walls and shelves. He was screwed.
"Damn, Mox. Damn, Carmen." He hissed before reaching the end of the Depository. Cornered.
"Hey, I got him! I got… Spring? What are you doing here?" He slowly turned around to face the pair of cultists staring at him. "I thought you were missing. What are you doing in the Depository?"
Spring mouth worked uselessly as he tried to think up an answer to satisfy them. Nothing came out, however. Instead, the silence stretched on, the cultists gathered, and their expressions morphed into deeper suspicion and mistrust towards him.
"Spring_Fever, explain yourself. What are you doing here?" They demanded.
He felt like a cornered rat. How far would killing them get him? Stealing Heads was one thing—easily remedied in a month of hard work and some villages—but killing other cultists was something only 4Blite could get away with. If he did something like that, they'd brand him a traitor and order his 'liberation'.
"You want to be questioned by Ember instead?" They threatened. "She'll get the truth out of you in a heartbeat."
"No… I…" He trailed off as he had nothing else to say. He could feel his heart pounding in his chest. Fingers curled around the handle of his blade, his eyes darting to each of the grunts. He knew one or two of them by name and they knew him. He didn't know if he could end them.
"Put away your weapon, Spring." One cultist commanded decidedly. "We're taking you in until we get to the bottom of this." He stepped forward and Spring tensed, knowing he'd have to make a move soon. They were blocking the way out and he'd have to get through the five of them. Not to mention Mox was still lurking—
The floor exploded between Spring and the cultists in a shower of stone bricks and lava. Spring covered his eyes as the lava spray singed his clothes and scalded his skin. He could feel powerful tremors as something large and dark red grew out of the lava veins under the floor.
Cultists screamed and shelves crashed as something heavy leaned on them to pull itself out.
"What is that thing!?"
"Shoot it! Shoot it!"
Spring had a moment to step back before a large shadow loomed over him and seized him. The cushy give of what grabbed him was familiar and pulsed with warmth and life.
"Holy shit, Carmen!" Spring shifted in her hand as she brought him up to her face and smirked down.
"Did I make you sweat, cultista?" She teased in her vibrato before shooting an annoyed glare towards the cultists shooting at her. She shielded Spring with her body before throwing out a giant arm and ripping down the shelves upon shelves of chests. Heads, chests, and bits of wood rained down upon the cultists, burying them alive in a heap of debris. "Muy fuerte!"
She was astonished by her own strength. Anyone could break blocks with their bare hands. It was slower than with tools, but every Crafter could do it. Carmen, with more mass behind her actions, could break blocks on a larger scale. She wouldn't have had much opportunity to do that in a bedrock cell, but here, she could go nuts.
If they weren't causing a ruckus before, they certainly were now. The splintering shelves were deafening and would likely bring down the entire Northern Division on the two. They needed to escape.
Carmen seemed to have other ideas. She bent over the detritus, her large, glowing eyes tracking the Crafters buried underneath like ants. She raised a fist and hovered it over a pair of struggling cultists. Her expression was deadly.
"Carmen, what are you doing? Forget killing them! We need to get out of here!"
She shot the tiny cultist a bland look. "Are you sure? Not even one?"
"Yes!"
After a second of consideration with disappointment clear on her face, she straightened up and stepped over the cultists she trapped under debris. Once again, Carmen showed her willingness to kill despite being a chef at heart. Did she even realize a difference in her behavior? It was like killing was her first instinct, like she was a… Mob…
Spring looked up to the Hybrid holding him with a fresh sense of worry. Was this a side effect of Hybridization? A Mob's first instinct was to kill Crafters. Was the Mob DNA giving her a taste for killing? What was he to do if she became overwhelmed by the desire for blood?
"I guess this is what happens when you leave a job to the grunts." A measured voice commented. Spring and Carmen glanced up and spied Mox on a shelf higher than Carmen could reach. She loaded her crossbow and fired it at the giant Hybrid. It sunk into her forehead and made her wince slightly before glaring up at the annoying imp.
"You remind me of an araña, up in her little web." Carmen's vibrato rumbled.
"If araña means spider, you're not far off."
Carmen lifted Spring up to her long, dark red hair and tangled him up in a strand of it, thereby freeing both her hands.
"And here I thought the giant walking booger abandoned Spring to die." Mox tried to buy time as she reloaded her crossbow only to pale as the giant Carmen bent down and sprung twice her height in a leap fit for a Magma Cube. The out of reach shelf was not so out of reach anymore. Carmen's eyes were level with Mox as she clasped her fists together at the peak of her jump and reared them back with a glint in her orange eyes.
"Magma Cubes stick together, araña."
The fists fell in a crushing hammerblow that demolished the shelf Mox was perched upon. The Plague fell down and was lost amongst the debris as Carmen landed on both feet with a tremor that shook the base. The sudden rise and fall had Spring's insides feel like they were freefalling, and he found himself clutching at Carmen's hair like a safety tether.
Carmen gave a satisfied huff at the pile of debris Mox was buried under before glancing up at the Depository's ceiling.
"Hold on tight, cultista." She said as if he wasn't already. "We're making an emergency exit."
"I don't like this ideaaaaAAAAA!"
With another mighty leap, Carmen jumped onto the tall shelves and used them like ladder rungs to get close enough to the ceiling. Then, with her free arm, she rammed through solid stone and broke through to the surface. Snow and cold air drifted in while Carmen enlarged the hole with her arms.
Below, Spring saw black-capped cultists stream in by the hundreds. It was hard for them to miss a giant lava girl trashing the place. They pulled out bows and directed fire at her, but they were no master archers like Abyssmal. The shots kept missing or else didn't have the force to reach them.
Carmen's feet teetered precariously on the shelves as she worked. It looked like she could slip and fall at any moment. By whatever miracle, she didn't, and she was able to enlarge the hole enough to squeeze through and pull herself to the surface.
Then she lumbered away. The tremors of her footfalls shook the tundra as she made for the spruce forest. Cold wind blew through her hair and chilled Spring to the bone, but he didn't dare tell her to stop running. The cultists would be out in force before long. They needed to put as much distance between them as possible.
Carmen's dark red and black skin was a stark contrast with the icy white of Lazuli's tundra. Being a giant also drew the eye, so it was important for her to split as soon as they hit the forest.
"Where the hell did you go?" Spring yelled in her ear. "I thought you left me with Mox!"
"No soy una serpiente. I'm no snake." She rumbled in her vibrato. "I stopped gathering Cabezas at seven-eighty. The chests are where we dined in the Nether." Spring felt his heart plummet. After all that, they still didn't have enough Heads. "I called my other clone, rápidamente. She got in the same way we did and we merged." She heard Spring's weary sigh and frowned. "I had to get you out, cabrón!"
She had a point. It was either that or get taken in for questioning. He had to admit, seven-hundred-and-eighty Heads was better than none. He wasn't angry at her as much as he was at Mox for interfering.
He had no right snapping at Carmen after she came back for him. She rescued him when she could've gotten all the Heads and worried about herself. It was mostly because she still needed him to gather stuff for her, but still…
"…Grassiaz." He mumbled as quietly as he could. Though, tangled in her hair, he was right by her ear.
"It's gracias." She sounded exasperated. "And de nada. I still need you, after all. Don't worry about owing me. A deliciosa cena on you will more than suffice."
An idea suddenly hit him as they reached a snow-dusted spruce forest. "…Actually, wait, split up here."
Carmen slowed her lumber and lowered Spring to the ground before splitting up into her four normal-sized clones. The cultist then started scanning the icy ground.
"What are you looking for?" One clone asked.
There, at the base of a tall spruce, he happened upon a trio of verdant bushes dotted with red.
"Out of some cosmic humor," Spring snarked dryly, "the Bounty Day showed me a new type of food." He could hear the breath escape the four clones in an awestruck chorus as he reached down to the sweet berry bush and picked a handful of berries. He winced when he brushed his hand too hastily and pricked his finger—the bush had sharp thorns. He sucked on his finger before turning back around.
"Here. As thanks for saving me—"
He never got to finish as he got swarmed by clones grabbing for the berries in his hand, all of them chattering excitedly like a gaggle of wild turkeys.
"NEW FOOD!"
"My taste buds are ready to receive!"
"Do I detect a mildly sweet aroma?"
"Alimentame! ALIMENTAME!"
Spring vaguely wondered if this was what it was like to throw birdseed to pigeons and having them swarm you. Minus the biting.
"Hey, I'm not on the menu! Pick your own berries!" He threw the handful in the air and the clones jumped unnaturally high and caught them in their mouths like trained dogs before cooing in delight.
"Mmm, dulce! A mild tang!"
"The cool weather has transferred to the berry's flesh! Refreshing!"
"They're so pequeña, I could gobble them up like cookies!"
"This would go magníficamente with some bread! Like jam on toast, berry panqueques, pastels—"
As the clones went back and forth over food ideas, Spring sat down in the snow and popped one in his mouth, enjoying the lull in excitement for what it was. The sweet tang of the tiny fruit enveloped his tongue and he let out an appreciative hum.
"Spring! What is your critique on this new food?" One clone asked after watching him swallow one.
"…It's sweet." He said lamely. "And… red."
The clones blinked blankly at his lackluster response before going back to the opinions that truly mattered: their own.
Just shut up and munch your berries, Spring. He thought to himself, popping another into his mouth.
[Cobb]
I nibbled on my quill with a far-off look in my eye, and with Mobs of the Bounty Days laid open on the table before me. I had already filled in everything I gleaned off of the Phantoms. Now, I finally had something else to write about: The humanoid Mobs of my latest Bounty Day vision.
The crossbow archers with the gray skin, the mad axe men, and the bull-rhino-ceratops that could turn an iron golem into a slag heap. I vividly recalled their features and behavior from my visions, though I was still struggling to put a name to their big-nosed faces.
Lenz was off in his own corner, fiddling with tripwires. He was attempting to build what he saw in his vision—a crossbow. The archery tool appealed to the archer in him, while the tripwire hook appealed to the redstone engineer in him. If crossbows could fly and be piloted through the air, he could die a happy man.
I wanted to see what else the Bounty Day brought—maybe ask around the populace to compare visions—but being a wanted criminal kind of put a damper on that. Truth be told, I was stuck waiting on Baltic to arrive with those Potions of Invisibility before I could freely move about Daymonte. Until then, Lenz and I kept to our seedy inn room.
And when I mean seedy, I meant seedy. Filthy and falling apart, the kind of place you'd expect murders to take place. It was as bad as the Taamba Kaata Inn, but at least that place had the excuse of getting besieged by irate citizens. The Tavern on the Sparks was in a poor location—near the bottom of Daymonte's chasms—and it looked like the owners didn't feel bothered to keep it clean or well-kept. Traffic was low around that part of the Kingdom; No one to impress.
At least the rate was cheap. One emerald for the room for as long as we liked, no questions asked. No room service, the bathroom was a smelly hole in the ground, and they only provided a water bucket as a makeshift shower, but it served our purposes as a decent hideout. No self-respecting citizen, guard, bounty hunter, or cultist would come there looking for King_Cobb.
"Cobbert?"
"Yeah?"
"I have to go to the bathroom."
"So go."
Lenz's tinted gaze strayed to the smelly hole in the ground before shooting back to me pleadingly.
"Please do not make me."
"I'm sorry! You pooped fine in the woods, what's the problem?"
"The problem is that it is a hole in the floor that smells like rotting feces! Which, I can only assume, is what is currently down there!" He pinched his nose closed. "Would it have killed them to install plumbing?"
"Just hold it until Baltic gets here with his potions. Then we'll find you the cleanest bathroom in Daymonte." I jotted down a few more details about the Mobs I had witnessed, still no closer to a name for them. "Crossbowers? Nah, that's stupid…"
"Fortunate that tripwire hooks are a staple of my redstone engineering kit. I had them in my ender chest for ages." Lenz smiled as he tinkered with them. "They are quite simple to craft. Iron ingot, stick, and a plank." He rearranged some string and sticks on the Crafting Table but huffed in annoyance. "Nothing. Am I placing these right…?" He shifted things around.
"I need to tell the guys about what I saw. Those new Mobs decimated that village." I said aloud, thinking about those bull-rhino-ceratops that savaged and ravaged those golems. Ravaged…
I quietly penned in a fitting name at the top of the page entry. Ravagers.
"Tripwire Hooks! I got it!" Lenz cheered as he held up the tool he had been laboring at for most of the afternoon. It looked just like what the Mobs wielded in my vision, but up close, I could see it was like a smaller bow mounted on a short stick. There was also a grip for stability and a metal tip for aiming. Some sort of contraption—a product of the tripwire hook included—was rigged to pull the string back, then release it once an arrow was loaded. "Three sticks, two string, a tripwire hook, and an iron ingot. Uses less than a traditional bow, but it costs iron. The crafting shape is the same as a shield."
He brought up the crossbow and eyed down the sights. It was light enough that he could hold it with one hand. He aimed at the door before loading an arrow.
He got it stuck. The string wouldn't budge and I saw him wince as the taut string dug into his finger. He glanced awkwardly at me out of the corner of his eye before he brought the crossbow low and anchored it to the ground with one foot. Then he pulled back the string with both hands, loading an arrow. This time, the string pulled back all the way and locked on the tripwire mechanism. An arrow was loaded, and he brought the weapon back up with one hand, his finger on the trigger.
"Cumbersome to load, but the tripwire maintains the tension for me."
His finger clicked, the string released, and the arrow shot forward and embedded itself into the wall. Just as destructive as a real bow. Accuracy would require further testing—
"It has a bit more power."
My eyebrows lifted. "What? You can tell?"
He nodded before bringing the weapon up to eye level and eyeballing down the groove. "The sight would be an improvement to accuracy if I was not already a keen eye. As is, there is no difference, but in power, I believe the crossbow is a hair superior to the bow. The trade-off being the reload speed." He tugged sharply on the string but couldn't budge it. Once again, he had to bring it down, anchor it with his foot, and then pull the string with both hands before the tripwire mechanism locked it into place and loaded an arrow. "A fully drawn bow can deal five Hearts of damage. The crossbow could probably do five-and-a-half. The time it takes to load is not worth it." He fired again and the arrow struck the exact same point as the first. "A shame. Though, I suppose it will benefit those suffering from inaccuracy. It can also shoot fireworks, though I hardly see any difference between that and setting them on the ground."
A sharp knocking at our door interrupted Lenz's musings. I could have listened to him talk about archery for hours (much more engaging than his redstone spiels), but we had a visitor. I hid behind the bed while Lenz readied himself at the door. Just in case they were unfriendly.
The door swung open and revealed an empty hallway. Lenz raised an inquisitive brow until a gentle hand patted his shoulder.
"It's Baltic. Let us in."
Lenz stepped aside and I poked my head up, getting the distinct impression that our cramped room was growing more cramped. I felt a body or two press into me and nearly bowl me over before the door finally shut. Then floating milk buckets started popping up out of nowhere.
Twelve sips later and our seedy inn room was full of Paragons.
"You couldn't have left some of you at your place?" I complained while jamming an elbow into somebody's ribs.
"We ran into complications." Trenay attempted.
"Like…?"
"The usual. Cultists." Perry grumbled. "We dealt with them."
"Only there was nothing 'usual' about them." Doyle added. "They were some of the escapees from Ringwood. Tough little buggers."
"We couldn't stay there and risk another attack. We snuck out under the cover of invisibility." Baltic explained before handing a few Potions of Invisibility to me. "There. You can use those to go out and stretch your legs."
"Can we stretch our elbows and get outta this broom cupboard they call a room!?" Heather snapped. "And don't even get me started on that disgusting odor! This place is seedy!"
"The seedier the better." Aurand noted. "The cult won't think to look for us here."
"How did they locate you anyway? Did they notice me or—pah, pft, pah!" Lenz spat as the cramped room brought Z7 and her curtain of hair into his face. "Can we continue this conversation outside!?"
"We don't know when the cultists started tracking us, but they wouldn't have passed up Lenz if they saw him. He would've been a lone target—easy pickings." Dwight reasoned. "Better to target him than the twelve Paragons. I doubt you were spotted."
"But the cultists know we're here in Daymonte." Trenay surmised. "And they'll keep searching." The dramatic statement of fact would've had more impact if her body wasn't being squashed between Aurand and Wing.
"What did Carys have to say about you getting jumped by cultists?" I asked.
"We haven't told her yet. She's in the middle of a raid right now." Luis grimaced. "We haven't even told her the bad news."
"What bad news?" Lenz asked.
"We couldn't get her order from SutsCo." Wing climbed atop some Paragons to get some breathing room. "Her order got stolen, so now she's stuck on the waiting list until the employees at SutsCo get her her stuff from… wherever the hell they seem to be getting it."
"I'd kill to know the secret behind that place." Dwight murmured, to which Trenay echoed with a nod. "Corporation's a monster."
"Help me out here. This is the first I've heard of SutsCo." I piped up. "What kind of things do they sell there?"
"I admit I am curious too." Lenz chimed in before his face got crammed aside by Z7's hand.
"R droo kzb zmb lu blf gdvmgb vnvizowh gl ovzev gsrh illn irtsg mld. Nzpv hlnv illn!" Her long purple hair whipped around wildly.
"SutsCo has a lot of interesting merchandise that can't be bought anywhere else." Trenay explained enviously. "They have Lingering Potions, Tipped Arrows, Chorus Fruit, Wonder Wings, Pocket Boxes…" The words had little meaning to me without further elaboration. "…And then they have rare building materials too. Purpur blocks, End Stone, Glowsticks—"
My eyes widened without me being fully aware of what I had just heard.
"What… what was that last thing?"
"Glowsticks?"
"Before that." Lenz spoke urgently. So he heard it too, then.
"End Stone." Dwight said. "It's this pale material you can make into bricks and—" He stopped short, his gaze fixed on Lenz and I as we shared a look. "Hey, wait, hold on. I know that look."
At once, the other Paragons focused on us despite my dismissals.
"What look?" I tried.
"That look!" Dwight shoved Paragons aside as he pointed to my face. "That's the same look you guys share when you know something we don't! You had that same exact look with the killer rabbits and again when we were talking about Hackers and Bounty Days! You guys know something!"
"We know many things." I spoke evasively. "For instance, Lenz just found out the recipe for crossbows, and I learned about some new potential Mobs."
"I'm not talking Bounty Day visions; I'm talking privy to a secret you're not telling us!" Dwight accused with a dramatic finger.
"…He's right." Trenay supplied, leaning in and staring at me. "His eyes are darting. That's his tell." Her gaze then shot to Lenz. As if by command, Z7 lifted his tinted glasses to reveal magenta orbs tinged with discomfort at being scrutinized. "Aha, they both know something. Something that has to do with End Stone, perhaps?"
It had everything to do with End Stone. That was the material exclusive to the End—the very dimension it was named after. We dug through enough of it to have the name burned into our skulls, and when we escaped we handed it off to the only guy who would take it—a humble stonemason in Daymonte. From his delight, it was quite the rare stone. Nobody had ever seen anything like it.
So then how did SutsCo have it?
Did the mason go into business with them? If so, he would've run out of the material by now; we didn't give him enough to make a market out of it. Something was amiss. They had to have a reliable source of End Stone somewhere.
So then… was it possible that the End Portal in Herobrine's lab had been uncovered?
The thought made me panic that someone else was snooping through Herobrine's stuff. What if they found some dangerous research material in his lab? Just the thought of another Creeper Hybrid like the one we encountered made me want to go down there and check that the place was still secured. Herobrine's lab was a secret for us and us alone.
"We don't know anything." I answered honestly. Truly, we didn't know how SutsCo came to possess End Stone. But one look at Lenz and I knew, we were going to get to the bottom of it. Minecraftia's safety could very well depend on keeping Herobrine's secrets locked away in that underground lab.
Sadly, the Paragons didn't seem to buy it.
"You're hiding something." Trenay scrutinized us closely. "Something to do with SutsCo. Do you know where they're getting their merchandise? The Pocket Boxes and Wonder Wings—do you know how they're making them?" She was enthusiastic in her questioning.
"We don't even know anything about Pocket Wings or Wonder Boxes or whatnot." It was difficult to back away from her in the cramped room. "Give us some space, alright. We want to get out of this dingy room and go have a look around town. Let's go, Lenz."
"Ah, r-right." He made to follow but Z7 grabbed his shoulder.
"Gvoo fh blfi hvxivgh." She insisted through a curtain of hair.
"Rg rh mlg z hvxivg!" He fired back in Jibberish. The language eluded me but his floundering was unmistakable.
"Cobb, if this is important, you should really tell us." Baltic tried. "Maybe we could help."
"It's not important." I tried to get them off my back. "It's nothing, alright? Just drop it."
"So then where are you off to?" Heather folded her arms, looking unimpressed.
"…We have our own errands to run." I said with a tug to free Lenz from Z7's grip. "So if you'll excuse us—"
Before I could get out the door, I felt Trenay lock arms with mine.
"Come to think of it, we're in desperate need to resupply. Think I'll join you two on your errands. Anyone else?"
"Count me in." Doyle raised a hand, as did the other two assassins.
"R xlfow vzg." Z7 darted back in and took a spot at Lenz's side, linking her arm with his in much the same fashion. It wasn't a prisoner escort, but it felt like we were being strong-armed. They weren't going to leave us alone to do whatever we had planned.
"The errands are really boring!" I tried lamely. "I mean, like, really, really, really boring. Drilling through a tree boring!"
"Can't be any worse than staying in a smelly room." Heather and Luis tagged along.
"Wouldn't want you two getting jumped by cultists or guards either." Dwight smirked. "Think of us as your bodyguards. We'll follow you wherever you go."
"Unless, of course, you'd like to tell us what you plan on doing?" Trenay added with an innocent flutter of her eyebrows that made me think of Jade. The sharp spiking pain in my chest was unmistakable and I grit my teeth. "Something wrong?" She noticed.
"Nothing." I hissed. "Fine. Tag along. See if I care."
"Glad you see things our way. Anybody else want to come with?"
"Hm. Follow a pair of chumps or stay in a filthy room?" Perry tapped his chin, his tone dripping in sarcasm. "Tough choice…"
"Invisibility up, everyone." Baltic ordered, the Splash Potions flying and people vanishing. "Link arms. Cobb and Lenz will lead."
Any notion of slipping away while invisible was lost as Trenay and Z7 tightened their respective hold on our arms. Nothing left to do but bring them along.
"We'll be going to the marketplace." I announced. "That's our first stop."
"And what will you be doing there?" Trenay was persistent.
"We will be visiting a humble stonemason."
Trenay paused, expecting some sort of punch line. When none came, and we started leading them out, she spoke aside to Baltic.
"Did I mishear or are we visiting a craftsman of rocks?"
[Lenz]
I would give them this, the Paragons were determined.
The whole invisible walk over, Z7 hugged my arm tight enough to numb it. Trenay was likely doing the same to Cobbert, and I could hear the rest of the Paragons' footsteps keeping pace. There was no opportunity to exchange words with Cobbert about Herobrine's lab or the End. The Paragons would not leave us alone until we divulged what we suspected about SutsCo.
Meanwhile, we required a bit more information on the mysterious company before we could make any assumptions. Hence, the visit to the stonemason.
We were launched up the narrow trampoline towers via slime blocks and found ourselves deposited at one of Daymonte's marketplaces. This one was established on one of the Kingdom's many stone bridges that crisscrossed over the intersecting chasms. It went straight into the chasm wall and formed a cave, from which dozens of stalls and storefronts were nestled. The place was bustling with life as many Crafters were seeking out items having to do with the latest Bounty Day. The Testificates were likely raking in the emeralds.
Only… they looked markedly different from how I remembered.
I felt Z7 stop as she too ogled the Testificates and their new look. One of them, whom I knew by his stall sold arrows, wore a distinct brown bowler hat with a feather stuck into it. He also had an arrow at his belt and a quiver on his back. As far as I could remember, the only big-nosed beings that wore a hat were Witches.
And he was not the only Testificate with a new look. There was one with a golden monocle and a satchel at their side, another with a red sweatband and a thick, white apron, and another with large metal goggles that made me jealous.
The Crafters crowding them were equally surprised by their new duds, though the Testificates were soaking up the attention (and emeralds) and posing fabulously while they did so.
It had to have been the Bounty Day which changed them. They did not act any different—nothing I could notice—but aesthetically, they got an upgrade. And, judging from the surprised exclamations from the Crafters crowding them, the trades they offered had been upgraded as well.
"Dude! This Fletcher is selling tipped arrows!" One man shouted exuberantly, attracting attention like a magnet. "Only SutsCo sold them, but these are way cheaper!"
The crowd shifted and swarmed the Testificate with the arrow in his cap. I thought he would be ecstatic over the business until I noticed his harried face. He turned to Crafter after Crafter after Crafter, pulling out tipped arrows and taking emeralds as fast as he could, yet there was always more. They all vied for his wares and he could not appease them fast enough.
He tossed out flint, arrows, tipped arrows, emeralds, bows, and the newest crossbows, yet the Crafters were never satisfied. He cried out under the smothering tide, his fellow Testificates calling out in concern.
Then, I saw some Testificates getting kidnapped! A quartet of Crafters were hauling off a Testificate with glasses and a red book on his head. Apparently, he sold valuable enchanted books. Red-capped guards had to step in, even while dozens of other Testificates were getting chased for wares too valuable to share.
The only stalls vacant of shopaholic Crafters were the Leatherworkers and Masons. They watched the chaos with a sort of detached relief. Their wares were not as sought after, but they were not getting kidnapped or harassed.
"This is nucking futs." Dwight accurately surmised. "Testificates are getting shafted by this Bounty Day."
"It's a drastic shift in the economy." Baltic remarked. "Crafters have grown accustomed to the sort of trades Testificates offer. Now, things have opened up. More options. More on offer." A purple-robed Testificate cowered as he was herded away from his stall. "More chaos. The Kingdoms will need to set up a new system for trading with the Testificates. I only hope Jillian's on top of things in Nitebane."
"Should we not do something?" I ventured, wincing invisibly at the distress of the Testificates. "They are being manhandled."
"Oh, you'd like that wouldn't you." Wing said. "Well forget it. You aren't using them as a distraction while you and Cobb slink away to do… whatever it is you're keeping from us."
That had not been my intention in the slightest. Testificates were people, and people were in trouble. It was my first instinct to want to help them. Especially when they were being fought over as dogs would with slabs of meat.
"Look at them. They're being claimed and shipped off like slaves." Cobbert said.
"That may be," Baltic began diplomatically, "but what do you suggest we do? No Testificates are getting killed. We can try and break this up, but then what? Would we have to guard the Testificates forever? This is the responsibility of Daymonte's guards, not us. We also can't just go around killing people without earning the ire of the Kingdom and exposing ourselves to any watching cultists."
All good points. That still did not make me feel any better about abandoning them to be fought over. The only comfort was that the guards were taking steps to disperse the crowds. If things went on like this, they might even have to establish a queue for entering the marketplace, or else mandate a lockdown until they can devise a fairer system for the fought-over Testificates.
"At least the Masons are free." Trenay commented before huffing. "Alright, Cobb. Which Mason is the one you're looking for?"
"My Mason isn't a Testificate." He elaborated. "He's a Crafter, and he'll likely piss himself if he sees me. I'm wanted in ten Kingdoms."
"So you need to meet with him secretly. Away from prying eyes." Doyle spoke decidedly. "We can arrange that."
"Hey, whoa, no no no. This guy's cool. I don't want you threatening him." Cobbert warned. "Lenz can ask the questions in my stead."
"What if he runs? Or attacks us?"
"The guy buys and sells rocks. He's not going to kill you."
"Cobb is right. We'll opt for diplomacy." Baltic agreed. "We'll give Lenz a chance to ask his questions—"
"And we'll stick around to watch!" Trenay interjected.
If Cobbert was visible, I imagine he would be looking sourly upon Trenay. Nevertheless, he led on.
Past the crazed shopaholic mob, we moved towards the more deserted part of the marketplace. Here, Crafters were glaring bitterly at the Testificates commanding all the attention. Emeralds were flowing like water for the big-nosed beings while the Crafters were left to dry.
There were also some beggars dotted around the stalls. Destitute Crafters asking for charity with their hands held out in supplication. Most predominant among them were Jibbermen and Jibberwomen.
"Ullw, kovzhv… (Food, please…)" I translated from one of them as we passed. All the times I visited the marketplace for arrows, I never once listened to their begging as if they were words. It never crossed my mind that they were capable of communicating.
They were only on hard times because Crafters thought they were beyond reason. Their garbled names and words were perceived as defects. Awkward pieces that could not fit in society. Vagabonds left to rot like garbage.
I detached from the invisible group long enough to offer a quarter of my steak. The Jibbermen and Jibberwomen were startled by the food that seemed to float, offered by my invisible hand. However, hunger won out and they accepted before greedily devouring it.
I then saw some floating pumpkin pies being offered in addition to my steak. They were handed out gently along with some kind garbled words. Z7, invisible, had a silent conversation with each of her less fortunate kind before seemingly leaving them.
It was surprising to see one of Carys' assassins offering such charity. I was more used to seeing her offering a dagger between the ribs. The journey from Ringwood to Daymonte had given me enough opportunity to see how dangerous she was. It was a bit refreshing to see that, deep down, she had a kindness to her.
It reminded me that the Paragons were not as cold and vengeful as their leader. They were their own persons. All of them.
Not wanting to be left behind, I hurried back to where I thought the invisible group had gone. There were hardly many stonemasons in the marketplace; it was a dead profession. So it was sound reasoning that the only stonemason stand run by a Crafter was the one we were looking for.
The stand in question was bigger and more akin to a stone shack. Only the front had a wooden counter and fence posts, the sought mason sitting comfortably within. The rest of the shack was accessible via a door, but was most likely for storage. The 'I'll check what we have in the back' variety.
Neither Cobbert nor the Paragons revealed themselves to the mason by the time I got over there. Instead, they spoke in hushed words.
"…eah, that's the guy."
"He doesn't seem very noteworthy."
"What part of humble stonemason didn't you understand?"
"Pretend all you like. He must be important for you to want to meet him." Trenay argued.
"Should I reveal myself?" I asked.
"Yeah. Go ahead. I'll stay invisible and whisper my questions."
"Let's not all turn visible at once." Baltic advised, handing out milk buckets to only a few. "We don't want to startle him."
"Assuming he really is just a humble stonemason." Shroud sighed. "Alright, Z7, do you want to take this?"
Silence.
"Z7…?" I could hear Shroud feel around for the long-haired assassin. "Is she even here? Hello?"
Did she get lost after giving those beggars food? It was possible. None of the Paragons seemed bothered by her disappearance. Apparently, it was par for the course with her.
"Guess Aurand and I will stand watch." Shroud decided. "Go ahead and turn visible."
At his command, we drank our milk and dispelled the invisibility. Myself, Baltic, Trenay, Aurand, and Shroud. The sudden appearance shocked the stonemason into standing to attention.
"Now don't go giving me a heart attack!" He clutched his chest. "Why the invisibility? Come to ogle at the loser merchant? Well? Go ahead and have a gander." He spoke defiantly.
"He was kinder last time." Cobbert murmured, still invisible beside me. He then told me what to say.
"We are not here to make fun of you." I repeated, hands help up placatingly. "We are customers come to ask your professional opinion on some stone."
"Truly?" He asked in a moment of excitement before scaling it back. He was still wary. "Why the invisibility, then?"
"Easier to sneak past the crowd outside." Trenay explained away before striding forward and extending her hand to shake. "Trenay. Pleasure to meet you." The two shook, the stonemason slightly bewildered at being swept up in her pace. "My associates and I would like to speak with you privately about a mutually beneficial business arrangement. If you would be so kind as to indulge our selfish request…?"
She covertly slipped four emeralds into the mason's pocket. A look of dawning understanding came over him and he quickly stepped aside to present the door to his stone shack.
"We can discuss business more privately in here. Come. Come. I wish to hear the details of which stones you would like."
He ushered us inside while Cobbert stuck to my left, ready to help guide the conversation. The inside of the shack was cramped with a pair of furnaces in one corner and a few double chests in the other. Most mysteriously was a stone slab with a thin metal saw blade along the base of the wall.
"I see you've noticed my stonecutter." He spoke proudly. "A product of my latest bounty day vision. The recipe is three stone in a horizontal line and an iron ingot atop it. And the wonders it can do!" He nuzzled it affectionately, which caused the whirring metal saw blade to come dangerously close to cutting his face open.
"Uh…" Baltic raised a finger to stop him but the mason was already away from it.
"It can make slabs, smooth slabs, bricks, chiseled bricks, stairs, walls, pillars, and polished stone from any individual stone of the same type." He boasted. "Before, the recipe for making them was cumbersome and required an exact amount of stone. Many rocks were left over and wasted. But now, I only need to cut a single stone to yield the shapes I desire." He smiled happily. "This will change the market for stonemasons, and I have the Bounty Day to thank for it. The Stone Gods must be smiling upon me."
"That's great. Anyway." Shroud coughed and I took that as a sign to move the topic along. Cobbert whispered some words into my ear and I repeated them.
"You seem to be a great purveyor of rocks."
"Oh, there's no better in Daymonte." The mason boasted. "Even those latest Testificates would be hard-pressed to match my stock."
"You have every kind of stone?"
"Yep! Every kind!"
"Even End Stone?"
The mason made a strangled noise between a gasp and a cough, his face going pale. The Paragons noted his intense response while also taking interest in what was being discussed. I felt Cobbert's hand close around my shoulder.
"Don't give him a chance to recover. Keep pressing." He insisted before whispering more words.
"So do you have End Stone?" I repeated.
"I… ah… th-that is a stone I'm not familiar with." He stammered. "I don't have any. I never had any." He wiped his forehead as he began to perspire under our combined scrutiny. "Whatever rumors you heard were false."
He was growing agitated. "I heard from a trustworthy source that you, at one point, had a store of End Stone."
"End Stone can only ever flow through SutsCo!" The mason snapped. "If you want it so badly, I suggest you take your business there! Otherwise, I can't help you!" He suddenly went rigid, his eyes dilating worriedly. "I think you've overstayed your welcome. Kindly vacate my stand."
"…I'm afraid we can't do that, sir." Trenay spoke lowly before jerking her head in the mason's direction.
In an instant, Shroud had his blade drawn and pressed to his neck while Aurand moved to block the door. Cobbert hissed some kind of outrage, but Trenay ignored him and walked right up to the mason.
"What is this!? You intend to threaten me for something I don't have?" The mason scoffed. "While I admit to being one of the more accomplished stonemasons in Daymonte, I'm afraid I can't help you! Now, if you need some diorite or andesite, I can provide, but this is certainly no way to ask for a favor!" he struggled in Shroud's grip.
"You know more about the End Stone than you're letting on." Trenay reasoned. "It's plain on your face."
"I never had it!"
Cobbert whispered hurriedly into my ear.
"We know you took some off a Crafter's hands." I repeated, stunning the mason into silence. "He unloaded all the End Stone he had to you. What happened to it?"
"How'd you…?" The mason's eyes narrowed. "Only one person traded me those peculiar rocks. Before SutsCo's meteoric rise, I was the only one to have them." He glared. "Did you hear this from King_Cobb? Are you his cultists? Did he send you?"
"Why don't you ask him?" Trenay smirked at his confusion.
Seeing little point in remaining hidden, Cobbert drank his milk and reappeared like the rest of us. The shock at seeing an Endward Cult Executive (or a supposed one) had the mason go weak in the knees more so than Shroud's blade to his neck.
"Oh my God. Oh my God, you've come back to kill me." He sobbed.
"What? No." Cobb waved his hands. "Ugh, look, we're not going to kill you."
"You take me for a fool!?" The mason screamed. "You're cultists come to kill me!"
"Nobody is going to kill anybody." Baltic assured with hands raised. "We have questions we'd like answered. That's all. After that, we'll leave you in peace."
"I don't believe you!"
"You think I'm a bad guy?" Cobbert asked derisively. "Me? I gave you free rocks, man. We're Rock Bros."
It was clear he was clasping at straws, trying to appeal to whatever this humble mason valued. It was a lame excuse and it made the Paragons roll their eyes, but to the mason, it seemed to resonate.
"Rock Bros?" The mason pleaded, tear welling in his eyes.
Cobbert balked. "…Yeah. Rock Bros."
"…You're really not gonna kill me? Or torture me?"
"No. Shroud, can you let him go? You're not helping our image with the blade at his neck."
Shroud looked to Trenay and Baltic. At their silent nods, he relinquished his hold on the mason and sheathed his sword. The mason swallowed thickly and touched his neck, his legs giving out and falling to the floor.
"There. No threatening." Cobbert held his hands up peacefully. "As ridiculous as it sounds, those wanted posters of me are fake. Or at least, I'm being framed by powerful forces."
"By whom?"
By the same people we are working beside. I thought ironically. Thankfully, Cobbert did not voice those thoughts and instead opted to ask his questions.
"I gave you a ton of End Stone a couple months back." Cobbert repeated. "You yourself told me it was unique. Rare." He waited for the mason to nod before continuing. "SutsCo is peddling the same rock. Did you sell it to them or…?"
"To them? Ha!" The mason exclaimed. The adrenaline of the situation was still coursing through him, making him speak boldly. "They didn't come to do business! They came to slap a non-disclosure on me and threatened to sue if I didn't play ball! Damn near ruined my business until I got them off my back!"
"What do you mean?" Trenay asked.
The mason sighed, realizing he truly wasn't going to get hurt. "I really shouldn't be talking about this—those SutsCo guys might sue—but for a Rock Bro…" He gazed trustingly towards Cobbert.
"Oh, the best of Rock Bros!" He nodded back enthusiastically. "Older than boulders."
The Paragons and I just shook our heads in disbelief at the interaction. Talk about laying it on thick.
"Then I suppose I can tell you my tale." The mason leaned against the back wall. "When you first gave me the End Stone, I admit, I didn't know what to do with it. I couldn't make it into bricks or slabs or cook it at all. I could only hang onto it as a novelty among the stonemason circles."
"Then the first Bounty Day passed. I received a vision of transforming the stone into bricks! And I could! It provided a bleached color palate similar to sandstone but unlike any other. Customers were interested, one thing led to another, and I was finally able to sell them off. But carefully. I only had what little End Stone you granted me, and not everyone was eager to start a decorative theme with a limited supply of bricks. Something like nether quarts or polished granite would have been a safer choice." He ended his tangent swiftly. "Bottom line is that I was selling the End Stone on the side without problems."
"Then SutsCo got involved." He grimaced. "That company is a monster. They rose overnight and make so much money. They started in Exter, but they established a location here in Daymonte not so long ago. They sold their own End Stone, separate from what I was peddling."
"They had their own source, you mean?" Cobbert asked.
"They had a larger supply than what you unloaded." The mason rubbed his chin with a scowl. "The worst part was when they heard the rumors that I possessed End Stone and was selling it. Suddenly, I'm getting visits from some SutsCo upper management goons claiming the stones are their property and that I can't continue selling it. They also demanded to know where I got it. I told them, but they were skeptical hearing I got it off an Endward Cult Executive."
"Alleged Executive." Cobbert corrected.
"So what'd they do?" Shroud asked.
"Lawyers got involved." The mason replied. "They threw a lot of legal jargon at me that I could barely understand, but they had the backing of the guards. In the end, I had to hand over all my End Stone and sign a non-disclosure pact forbidding me from divulging where I got it from. Otherwise I'm sued and screwed."
"But you just told us. Doesn't that mean you broke the agreement?"
"They didn't care whom I got it from, only where. I'm not violating any agreement saying I got it from King_Cobb." He shook his head. "It's pretty obvious that SutsCo doesn't want anyone finding out where they're getting their merchandise from. They're willing to bury the truth in as much litigation as they can heap so long as they control the monopoly on Wonder Wings, Pocket Boxes, Chorus Fruit and the rest."
"They want it for themselves. Got it. One last question." Cobbert said. "Did they ask anything specific in regards to where you got the End Stone? Any key words that struck you as odd?"
"Actually… now that you mention it, yeah." He nodded as the memories came to him. "They asked if I found their stronghold. They also were wondering how I passed through the bedrock."
"Through bedrock?" Baltic raised a brow. "That's impossible. Nothing can pass through bedrock. And what's this about a stronghold?"
"Beats me. I told them as much but they kept asking those two questions until I struck a deal. Haven't dealt in End Stone ever since."
While the mason's words meant little to the confused Paragons, Cobbert and I understood what he meant by Stronghold. It also confirmed that SutsCo was getting their End Stone directly from the End. The bit about bedrock must have referred to the bedrock wall surrounding Herobrine's lab. What else could it be?
"Thanks for your time, sir. You've been a big help." Cobbert thanked the mason before going towards the exit. The Paragons were largely left in the dark following what his answers meant, but I could see Trenay's mind working overtime to make sense of it. With the interrogation over, the Paragons joined Cobbert in heading out.
"So you… you're really just letting me go?" The mason wanted confirmation. "If you're going to kill me, just do it now. Don't prolong it."
"No, you're free to go." Trenay glanced back with one hand planted on her hip. "Just pretend you signed a non-disclosure agreement with us. Don't tell anyone about this meeting and we won't have to come back here."
The threat was fairly self-explanatory. Trenay let it linger as Cobbert was doused in a fresh dose of invisibility. The Paragons waiting outside rejoined us, visible, and Witige and Baltic gathered them all to reapply the same invisibility effect.
Cobbert's voice sounded beside me. "Alright, next stop is—"
"—SutsCo, right?" Trenay interjected.
Cobbert paused. "How did you know—?"
"You think I'm unintelligent?" She cocked her head to the side. "I can tell what you're thinking. You want to take a look at the company for yourself. However, I should warn you they're annoyingly tight-lipped. They won't divulge their secrets. Going there might be a waste of time."
"…I'll be the judge of that, thanks." He answered back calmly.
"Then by all means, lead on." She gestured to the exit with a small smirk. "See if I can't work out anymore of what you're hiding."
Cobbert harrumphed before leaving the mason's stand. Trenay went invisible and followed.
It was while Baltic ushered me closer to Dwight and Witige to douse us with a splash potion that I heard a sharp whistle. I turned on the spot and was greeted by a tossed chainmail chestplate that folded over my head. I fought with the loose, clinking armor and uncovered myself to see who threw it.
"Ortsg vmlfts uli blf, orggov mviwormt? (Light enough for you, little nerdling?)" Z7 asked, a tiny smirk visible through her curtain of hair. She then held up the rest of the chainmail set. Had she gone off to buy them? "Yvggvi gszm tlrmt mzpvw. (Better than going naked.)"
"You did not have to buy—" I cut off as she tossed them all at me at once, her Quickdraw reflexes on full display. I tried to catch them all but failed miserably; the armor falling in a heap at my feet.
"Blf'iv hozxprmt lm Jfrxpwizd gizrmrmt. Dv'oo szev gl urc gszg dsvm dv tvg gsv xszmxv. R dlm'g tl vzhb lm blf. (You're slacking on Quickdraw training. We'll have to fix that when we get the chance. I won't go easy on you.)"
She then took her place in line waiting to be splashed with invisibility. I stooped down and picked up the armor while glancing at her distractedly.
It was a kind gesture of her to buy me chainmail armor. It had been a point of contention earlier in the week when I revealed my physique was incapable of supporting heavier diamond or iron armor. Chainmail was the strongest light armor available, but it had no crafting recipe. It could only be traded or found in loot chests. Now I would not have to worry as much about defense. Some enchantments would make it better.
Z7 must have been paying attention when I said I could only manage chainmail. Did she buy it for me because of the charity I offered those Jibbermen beggars? Or was this just an obligation now that we were on the same side?
…Or was it a gesture of friendship?
No other Crafter could communicate with her the way I could. Maybe it meant more to her than I thought. Baltic had pointed out that overcoming the language barrier was getting her to become more open. Cool on the surface but enthusiastic underneath.
Maybe I was thinking too much on what may have been a humble gift.
"Nice to see you two getting along." Dwight's comment startled me as he seemingly came out of nowhere to deliver it. He smirked slyly. "She bought you a full set of chainmail? That's pricey stuff. Especially with all those Testificates being fought over."
I had not considered that either. How did she trade with an Armorer Testificate if they were being fought over in the marketplace? Had she wrestled one away just to get me my chainmail? The thought filled me with a rush of gratitude for the armor and I reflexively held it closer. I would be sure not to squander such a gift.
…
…Was I supposed to get her something back now? As thanks for the chainmail? She had a sweet tooth, so maybe a desert of some kind?
[Cobb]
It was my first time looking at the SutsCo store.
My first impression was that it was flashy. Not just the redstone powered sign flashing its letters, but the purple and cream-colored building materials. One was obviously End Stone, while the other was what they called Purpur Blocks. It stood out against the neighboring buildings of wood and stone. Perfect for attracting attention.
And attracting attention is just what it did if the line of Crafters trailing out the place was any indication. And that was just when the store was winding down. Baltic told me the place was more packed earlier, but the Bounty Day and new Testificate trades had pulled Crafters off the line. That meant we'd spend less time waiting to get into the actual store and go through less invisibility potions.
Being a wanted man sucked.
It was just Lenz going in to ask the questions. He was visible and I was right beside him, invisible, ready to let him know what to ask of the SutsCo clerk.
Before entering the store, I was aware of a faint jingle coming from within. It was only after passing the final threshold that I heard it in full clarity.
🎵If you want the best stuff,🎵
🎵No ifs, ands, or buts!🎵
🎵Don't be a Putz, Go,🎵
🎵Shop at SutsCo!🎵
The catchy music played on loop and emanated from the ceiling. Lenz noticed it too, though he muttered to himself about the redstone involved in getting the note blocks to loop and play the specific instruments that made up the jingle.
Trenay—also invisible—helped steer him towards the clerk. She must have really wanted to hear what questions he wanted to ask. This whole thing was like a puzzle for her, and I could tell she was smart enough to solve it if we gave her too many clues. I'd have to choose my questions carefully so as not to tip her off.
I didn't want them near Herobrine's lab.
"Hello, sir." The clerk greeted as Lenz stepped up to the counter. "How may I help you?"
"I had a few questions and concerns regarding this store." Lenz began. "Before I buy anything I would like to learn—"
"Sorry, sir." The clerk stopped him straight away. "I'm not at liberty to divulge SutsCo secrets."
"I understand the company wishes to keep their suppliers anonymous." Lenz nodded, keeping his cool. "I only meant questions regarding the store's stunning rise in popularity. Background stuff. All perfectly mundane."
"Oh!" The clerk seemed surprised. "Very well, then. So long as the questions don't conflict with SutsCo confidentiality, I suppose I can answer them. What would you like to know?"
I whispered the first question.
"When and where did SutsCo start to take off?"
"SutsCo, or Suts Corporated, started up in Exter at the beginning of August this same year." The clerk explained before gesturing to their stock. "Our exquisite wares attracted Crafters from far and wide. Until today, many of the items you see were unavailable anywhere else."
"You mean the tipped arrows?" Lenz guessed.
"Correct. The Testificates can now trade the same. It will eat into the store's profits." He sighed. "Fortunately, it doesn't look like they can deal in Pocket Boxes or Wonder Wings. Those are our best sellers."
"Yes, those arrows look quite amazing." Lenz gazed at the colorful arrows with interest. I jostled him slightly when he looked too long and whispered my next question. "How old is this store?"
"Not too old. We set up two weeks ago."
"And you already have a line out the door? Impressive."
"Ours is a stock you can't find anywhere else." The clerk smiled. "We used to have a waiting list on Pocket Boxes until recently. Our supply has gone up and has become more stable. Wish I could say the same for the Wonder Wings. Just last night I had to give away valuable store credit because their reserved wings got stolen."
"I suppose asking about the wings' availability is out of the question?"
"You'd suppose right."
"Fine." I thought carefully before whispering my next question. "You have locations in every Kingdom?"
"Just seven at the moment, but we're working on eight." The clerk looked somber. "The Ringwood store had to be scrapped before it could begin, but it's looking like we'll have a location in Nitebane by mid-November."
"And which store location is largest?"
"Exter, naturally."
"How is it compared to this one?"
"This one isn't the smallest—that title goes to the ones in Lazuli and Oak Docks—but it's not one of the largest either." He wiggled his hand. "It's kind of in the middle."
That had been the answer I was looking for. This store wasn't the largest, nor was it the smallest. Herobrine's lab and the End Portal were within this Kingdom's limits, yet they didn't take full advantage of it. They got their End Stone directly from the End, yet this wasn't the first store to rise to popularity.
It didn't start in Daymonte, but in Exter. This was an important point once you factored in transportation. If you wanted a reliable source of water, you'd camp right next to a river. It wouldn't make sense for the first SutsCo store to emerge in a Kingdom far from the End Portal.
And yet, SutsCo had access to the End somehow. That was undeniable despite there being one stronghold and one portal.
Unless, of course, there was another.
What if the stronghold structures were like villages and spawned in certain underground areas across Minecraftia? What if there was one near Exter and the SutsCo people had found it? Their rise coincided with the first Bounty Day I triggered.
One thing was certain, these SutsCo people had a serious operation on their hands. Seven store locations going on eight, hundreds of employees, millions of emeralds worth of merchandise, and a legal team ready to silence anyone who tries to sell the same stuff. Were the Testificates even safe selling tipped arrows with SutsCo as competition?
That was enough questions. It was time to go straight to the source. To see the End with my own eyes.
I told Lenz it was time to go, but he lingered at the counter.
"One last question and then I shall leave you alone." Lenz promised. "Those Chorus Fruit you are selling. Are they sweet?"
That… came out of nowhere. What, was he hungry?
"No," the clerk said, "they have more of a nutty, custardy taste. They also warp you in a random direction, so eat with caution." He rummaged behind the counter before pulling out something different. "If you're looking for something sweet-tasting, you can try this latest Bounty Day treat." He held up a tiny twig bearing three red berries. "Sweet Berries! I got them from a Butcher Testificate, but I'm not a fan of the taste. You can have one if you want. No charge."
"That sounds perfect. Thank you very much." Lenz accepted the berries with a smile before bidding the clerk farewell and exiting the store. I followed.
When we got out and away from the store, I heard Trenay's insistent voice.
"So? Did you learn anything from those questions?"
"I thought you wanted to figure it out on your own." I countered.
"I feel like there's one more clue I'm missing. Which means you have one more location to visit, right?" She guessed.
Damn it. She was clever.
"Z7?" Lenz hesitantly called out, his hand holding the berries he recently acquired. "If you are there, do you want to try these berries? They are sweet…"
Not a second after saying that the berries were lifted from his hand by an invisible force and gobbled up. There was a satisfied hum.
"Bfnnb." Z7 said, still invisible. "Dszg'h gsv lxxzhrlm?"
Lenz smiled. "Xlmhrwvi rg zh gszmph uli gsv xszrmnzro."
"Translation?" I asked the engineer, startling him and causing him to look guilty.
"A-Ah, she liked the berries." He summarized. "So, Cobbert, where to now?"
"Yeah, Cobb, where to now?" Trenay echoed. It sounded like she was right in my face.
"Back to the inn I guess." I shrugged nonchalantly.
"Oh, bullcrap." Perry slid into the discussion. "We know you have one more stop, so just spill it."
"We visited everywhere I wanted to check out." I spoke flatly. "No more leads."
"So then where did you get your End Stone from?" Trenay asked. She seemed to catch that from my inquiries with the mason. "You gave him the rocks before SutsCo was even a thing. So where'd you get them from?"
"From a traveling merchant for three magic beans."
"Cute." Dwight scoffed. "Look, you're not getting out of this."
"So tell us." Perry growled, an invisible hand seizing Lenz and dragging him up. It appeared as if he was floating. "You want me to get rough with this nerd—?"
There was a wincing sound as Lenz was suddenly released. Somebody had struck Perry before I could get to him. They were just as invisible as the rest of us, so Perry made his own assumptions.
"You want to throw punches, Cobb? Then let's settle this elsewhere."
It hadn't been me, but I took the chance to speak up.
"What we're looking into has nothing to do with the Endward Cult. Therefore, we have no obligation to share our plans."
"This is an opportunity to have access to better gear and items." Trenay reasoned. "If you know who SutsCo's supplier is, we can bypass them and get Carys her Wonder Wings."
"Why do I care about running her errands?" I snapped. "Keeping you alive and demolishing the Eastern Division is all I'm responsible for. Anything else is our problem, not yours."
"Cobb." Baltic spoke uneasily. "We're a team. Your burdens are our burdens."
"My burdens are my friends' burdens. And vice versa." I shot back, clutching at my chest. "We're not friends. We can't be seen together. You're my enemy's underlings for Herobrine's sake! There are some things you keep close to the chest and this is one of them. I don't feel like sharing and that should be reason enough for you all to BACK OFF!"
What kind of relationship did they think this was? I was struggling to work alongside them. I had no reason to depend on them. They were no different from strangers to me. That was our relationship. Keeping them at arm's length was professional and would ensure no more Jade situations.
My Heart could no longer forge connections with others. That was a thing of the past.
I could not endure another betrayal.
The Paragons remained silent at my outburst. Quiet and contemplative. Not even the hot-headed Perry had anything to say. Lenz too looked troubled.
"Now if we're done here," I panted out, "I'd like to get back to my shitty inn."
I turned on my heel and marched off with Lenz, uncaring if the Paragons followed us or not. They were nothing but strangers I had to escort. The sooner they accepted that, the sooner we could all move on and finish our jobs.
Later that night, we were ready to move out.
The Paragons had booked their stay at a new inn, away from the one the cultists had ambushed them at. We were still in the shitty Tavern on the Sparks, but we were safe at least. We also packed our backpacks and were ready to move out.
"Ready?" I asked.
"All set." Lenz nodded. "We can get to the Stronghold through the rails under the college. Night classes will be going on, so we will not have to worry about breaking into the grounds." He hesitated for a moment. "Are you sure you want to do this without the Paragons? We have already verified that SutsCo is entering the End from somewhere else. What purpose will it serve us to go back there?"
I can maybe find the person behind SutsCo. I can maybe find Herobrine…
"…I just want to take another look." I said. There's no harm. With any luck, we'll be back before the Paragons notice we're gone."
"Beginner's Luck has run out."
My stomach dropped at Trenay's haughty tone before the slurping of milk buckets followed, revealing twelve Paragons standing outside the inn.
"We had a feeling you'd be sneaking out." Baltic spoke. "So we decided to camp out." He eyed me seriously. "Do you have anything you'd like to share?"
"Look, I'm telling you all that this has nothing to do with you." I said half-desperately. "This is a personal matter that has little to do with the Endward Cult."
Just potentially their long lost Founder in the End.
"You don't want our help investigating this?" Trenay asked. "We could get a lot farther if you'd just let us in on the secret. Unless you have your reasons—"
"I do have my reasons. Least of all being that I don't trust any of you." I said it outright. "This isn't something you need to investigate. It's our thing. Our alliance doesn't extend to—"
"If we were Flawwed_Floyd, Nowhere_Man, and Lost_Soul," Trenay interrupted, the names making me falter, "would you trust us?"
I thought about Floyd and Soul's hatred for the Endward Cult and anything that had to do with it. Would they accept that I was looking for clues about its Founder's whereabouts? Would they understand my burning curiosity to meet Minecraftia's first Crafter?
"…no." I admitted, shocking Lenz.
"So you're just doing this for you." Trenay gleaned. "It's personal."
"…Yes." I nodded. "It's personal. So you need not get involved."
At that, Trenay and a few other Paragons chuckled.
"What's so funny?"
"Maybe you don't know this," Trenay began with a smirk, "but everything's personal when working under Carys. She's always trying to do things on her own. Just like—"
"Don't say she's just like me." I gritted my teeth.
"Carys prefers to fight her own battles and study her own opponents." Trenay continued. "She fights one-on-one and despises when we get involved."
"She keeps thinking she needs to do everything on her own, without any support. She's convinced it's a display of strength... and growth." Baltic added forlornly.
"Doesn't stop us from chipping in, though." Luis spoke with folded arms. "We do what she tells us, but we also do our best to support her. Even when she's stubborn and tries to brush us off with 'it's personal'."
"Fact is, we're not going to accept you shrugging us off." Trenay declared boldly. "You think we're extras, but you've sworn on spite that you'll keep us safe. Well, we're equally obliged to keep you safe and help you out if it means securing your aid against the Endward Cult. That means, we're going with you, to the ends of Minecraftia. So you can either have us tagging along with you, everywhere you go, bathroom included," she joked, "or you can allow yourself to be helped, and tell us what exactly you're trying to uncover."
I felt so exhausted looking at them. They wouldn't leave me alone to do this. They just kept pestering me. What happened to the times where we ignored one another? Why couldn't we go back to that?
The answer was obvious. They wanted to see where SutsCo was getting its stuff. Me? I couldn't care less about that. I just wanted to follow my one lead on Herobrine. I sounded like a cultist wanting to meet him, but I had a few burning questions I felt I had to ask the guy. I read his journal entries, but the ending had a few holes I wanted him to fill in. He felt betrayed by his friends, so he had them killed. His story resonated to an extent with what I was going through.
The Paragons had no interest in finding Herobrine. They would've killed him on sight for founding the Endward Cult.
"This… really isn't a matter for you." I tried. However, I felt Lenz tug on my hoodie.
"Cobbert. I think we should let them help." He decided. "The lab is empty anyway, and getting some of SutsCo's merchandise may prove useful."
"I don't want their merchandise." I argued back. "I just want to look for…" The word caught in my throat. I couldn't say it out loud. I didn't trust Lenz to understand why I had to meet with him.
"I can tell you have a selfish motive. You feel you cannot confide in me." Lenz mumbled. "If you remember, Carys had a selfish motive when she hunted us down to Zeppil. She also refused to confide in her allies. Instead, she lied to them to earn their cooperation." He lifted his tinted glasses and fixed me with a serious look. "Are you going to lie to us, Cobbert? Or are you better than that?"
Oh, so now he was challenging how I stacked up compared to Carys? What an obvious provocation.
Of course I was better than that grim reaper wannabe. I was King_Cobb. I took out a Hacker before it was cool. I fought against evil and outmaneuvered the best guilds of Minecraftia. I could turn a fishing rod into a deadly extension of myself. I was nothing like Carys and I was sick and tired of everyone comparing us and saying how alike we were.
It was only out of spite that I turned to the waiting Paragons.
"…I'm only going to explain this once," I gritted out, causing the Paragons to perk up. "So pay attention. Lenz, translate for the Kejoro."
"A secret lab…?"
"An End dimension…?"
"What do you mean you're looking for Herobrine!?"
"I told you I'm only going to explain once." I repeated, a tick mark showing on my forehead. "We're going to check out the End." And didn't that tie in to the Endward Cult's motto.
The only way forward is endward.
"What do you think talking to Herobrine is going to accomplish?" Wing asked. "Assuming you find him, he might just kill you on the spot. Are you willing to die to get your answers?"
"Yeah." I answered without missing a beat, my resolve shutting Wing up. "But it's not going to come to that. I just want to talk with him."
"He might not want to talk with you. The Billionth is prophesized to be his undoing."
"How can you be sure he's in this End dimension anyway? He's been gone so long; most people say he's dead." Dwight noted.
"If I'm right, he's searching for something in the End." I explained. "I'm basing it off what I read from his journals and what I found in his lab. He's after a dragon egg, and I'm pretty sure he's scouring the End for one. Somebody had to build that End Stone bridge out into the Void. I'm thinking it was Herobrine."
"If you ask me, any lab of Herobrine's should've been torched." Perry snarled. "Think about the horrors he performed there. The Creeper Hybrid you encountered could've been the tip of the iceberg. We need to destroy the place, and any research leftover, and any haunting memories that cling there like ghosts."
"This," I emphasized, "is precisely why I didn't want to tell you about it. Whatever your feelings on Herobrine, at least I can acknowledge that he was a force of good at one point." I held up one of the Mob books. "He put real effort into researching the Mobs. The knowledge is all here and it's helped us out more than I can count."
"You're sounding like a cultist there, Cobb."
"For what it is worth," Lenz piped up, "there are no existing research notes in the lab. Everything was destroyed, save the portal."
"And this portal can lead us to SutsCo's merchandise." Trenay hummed thoughtfully. "Many a Crafter has speculated their goods are 'out of this world'. I didn't think it would be so literal."
"So we should go." Shroud said. "We can get our items."
"And allow Cobb to undergo his suicidal meeting with Herobrine? Absolutely not." Baltic vetoed. "He should stay here while we visit the End ourselves."
"This is your idea of helping me out?" I spoke lowly. "You just keep sequestering me."
"It's for your own safety."
"You can't stop me from going anymore than you can find the place without Lenz here." I gripped his shoulder and pulled him close. "The stronghold is booby trapped and the End has dangers only we know about. If you really want to go, you're going with us leading the way."
"We'll be taking orders from you?" Perry scoffed.
"The End can kill you if you're not careful." I warned in a dangerous tone. "The first time Herobrine visited the Nether, he didn't know up from down and was stuck there for five weeks. You want to try that?"
Perry scowled, but remained silent.
"A compromise, then." Trenay agreed. "For this… End excursion… I don't mind having an experienced guide take the reins." Dwight and Luis made to argue but Baltic silenced them with a look. "The decision is ultimately up to Baltic."
The Paragons looked to the aged alchemist who sighed wearily. "I suppose I can't stop you anyway. I shall accompany you, however, to ensure your safety."
I nodded to show I understood.
"Then it is decided." Lenz clapped his hands together happily. "We will be visiting the End together. We will need to gather suitable supplies for everyone. It should not take too long."
"Of course." Trenay nodded. "If this dimension is as dangerous as you claim, we'd best be prepared." She took out a notebook and prepared to jot stuff down. "Tell me, what do need? Armor? Weapons? The finest enchantments?"
"Pumpkins."
"Right. WHUT?"
Inventory (Cobb): 1 Leather Tunic [Dyed Green], 1 Diamond Leggings [Projectile Protection IV], 1 Fishing Rod {Backlash} [Knockback II, Luck of the Sea III, Unbreaking III] {Weak}, 1 Diamond Sword [Sweeping Edge III], 12 Cobblestone, 28 Sand, 2 Glass, 51 Glass Bottles, 1 Stone Pickaxe, 1 Bed, 1 Furnace, 17 Flint, 1 Flint and Steel, 17 Oak Wood Planks, 1 Crafting Table, 1 Clock, 1 Water Bucket, 1 Lava Bucket, 1 Potion of Slow Falling {4:00}, 1 Milk Bucket, 8 Ender Pearls, 14 Coal, 37 Snowballs, 5 Ender Chests, 24 Obsidian, 64 Steak, 30 Steak, 15 Rotten Flesh, 1 Book {How to Kill Stuff for Numb Nuts}, 1 Book {Advanced Mob-Slaying}, 1 Book {Mobs of the Nether}, 1 Book {Mobs of the Bounty Days}, 1 Map {Minecraftia}, 1 Book {Citizenship Information}, 1 Paper {Ringwood Entry Pass}, 1 Paper {Zeppil Entry Pass}
[EXP: 38]
Inventory (Lenz): 1 Chainmail Helmet, 1 Chainmail Chestplate, 1 Chainmail Leggings, 1 Chainmail Boots, 1 Iron Dagger, 1 Shears, 1 Lever, 9 Redstone Torches, 1 Bed, 8 Redstone Repeaters, 3 Redstone Comparators, 18 Blocks of Redstone, 2 Hoppers, 3 Pistons, 2 Sticky Pistons, 13 Cobblestone, 1 Compass, 25 Gunpowder, 1 Bow, 1 Bow [Infinity], 1 Crossbow, 52 Arrows, 11 Jungle Wood Planks, 1 Crafting Table, 7 Ender Pearls, 48 Steak, 1 Splash Potion of Healing II, 1 Potion of Regeneration II {0:22}, 1 Map {Minecraftia}, 1 Book {Airship Piloting 101}, 1 Book {Notebook}, 1 Book {Citizenship Information}, 1 Paper {Daymonte Entry Pass}, 1 Paper {Ringwood Entry Pass}, 1 Paper {Zeppil Entry Pass}, 1 Paper {Akasha Entry Pass}
[EXP: 19]
Inventory (Baltic): 1 Iron Helmet [Protection III, Unbreaking III], 1 Iron Chestplate [Protection IV, Unbreaking III], 1 Iron Leggings [Protection IV, Unbreaking III], 1 Iron Boots [Protection III, Unbreaking III], 1 Iron Sword [Sharpness II, Unbreaking III], 1 Shield, 1 Bow, 1 Diamond Pickaxe [Silk Touch I, Mending I, Unbreaking II], 25 Arrows, 4 Brewing Stands, 1 Splash Potion of Weakness {4:00}, 1 Splash Potion of Fire Resistance {8:00}, 64 Glass Bottles, 42 Glass Bottles, 1 Water Bucket, 59 Blaze Powder, 55 Nether Warts, 30 Soul Sand, 28 Bones, 64 Phantom Membranes, 9 Golden Nuggets, 64 Blaze Rods, 26 Fermented Spider Eyes, 59 Carrots, 58 Melon Slices, 19 Steak, 3 Ender Chests, 1 Map {Paragon Minecraftia}, 1 Book {Citizenship Information}, 1 Paper {Gold Citizenship Pass}, 26 Emeralds
[EXP: 30]
Inventory (Z7): 1 Diamond Helmet [Protection III, Unbreaking III], 1 Diamond Chestplate [Protection III, Unbreaking IV], 1 Diamond Leggings [Protection IV, Unbreaking III], 1 Diamond Boots [Protection III, Unbreaking III], 1 Iron Dagger, 1 Iron Dagger, 1 Iron Dagger, 1 Iron Dagger, 1 Iron Dagger, 1 Iron Dagger, 1 Iron Dagger, 1 Iron Dagger, 1 Iron Dagger, 1 Iron Pickaxe, 32 Cobblestone, 1 Bed, 1 Crafting Table, 1 Furnace, 21 Charcoal, 9 Ender Pearls, 14 Torches, 18 Oak Wood Planks, 1 Cake, 1 Cake, 1 Cake, 19 Pumpkin Pies, 24 Cookies, 45 Baked Potatoes, 1 Bucket, 1 Potion of Swiftness II {1:30}, 1 Potion of Night Vision {8:00}, 1 Potion of Slow Falling {4:00}, 1 Map {Paragon Minecraftia}, 1 Book {Citizenship Information}, 1 Paper {Gold Citizenship Pass}
[EXP: 42]
AN: Get the pumpkins. It'll all make sense later.
This is the SutsCo Arc. Also, the original title of this Chapter was gonna be SutsCo is Sus, Yo. Thank God people told me to change it cuz it was stupid.
We see a little bit of the Bounty Day's consequences. Testificates are being rounded up for their unique trades and the guards are struggling to get a handle on it. I've seen this on the server we used to have for this community. Testificates kept in stalls and designated by labeled signs, kept as slaves to trade rare items with. Kept safe, but denied true freedom.
Admittedly, I did the same on a personal server, but it was down to curing wandering Zombie Testificates and grouping them all together to make emeralds. It was completely humane. Really.
FAV. FOLLOW. REVIEW. PM. FORUM. DISCORD. ELFUDGE COOKIES.