All of them are strange to me. Each and everyone of them, that's why I choose them. Because they are different. They all want to survive. Like me.
Mercenary work is always tiresome. At least, that's how I see it. I'm not really the kind of guy who pays attention to mercs all that much.
Floor 7 was the most difficult so far. I was leading the raid group this time, we were under manned. Not too badly. Although I figured that hiring one or two more mercenaries for the job wouldn't be too bad. Most of them hung around the town of beginnings like it was a pub. So, off I went it search of one.
The moment I stepped in to the Town of Beginnings, I instantly remembered everything that happened on the day of launch. I saw kids playing in the street, they had probably logged in with a parent of guardian, and welder being watched by the daycare that the town had hosted. The streets were narrow. The alleys were narrower. Lined up with cobblestone the roads go forth in to every direction. Player merchants peddled gear and rare items at an expensive price. The aroma of bread filled the streets, making me a little bit hungry. Flynn told me that she'll have dinner ready by the time me and Cole got home. "You think the guy we're looking for will be here?" Cole regarded me as we entered the town. "Yes, he should be. Just look for the orange mercenary." When I said that, Cole became more unsure of our journey I was sure, "Do you think his outfit is orange, or his cursor?" I silently hoped that if this was the mercenary I was told about, his cursor would be orange, and not his outfit. "I'm not sure Cole, we'll see when we get there."
The town square was exactly like how I remembered it to be. The entire place was filled with players. Some were laying around on the benches, others were trying to negotiate for better deals with the shop keepers, then were the players that lined the walls, completely geared with the best items from the current floor dungeons. Within seconds I spotted the player who I was looking for, the orange player. Orange cursor, black hair, and the black coat. Just like he was described to me.
"Hey Brady, is that the guy?" I only smiled and nodded at his question, for we were about to meet the best mercenary in all of Aincrad.
"fifteen hundred Col is my starting price," his hair went down to his shoulders, and covered the majority of the left side of his face. Hiding his brown eyes. There was a slight glint in them, like he had seen a lot so far over the course of this past year.
"You're Daemon, if I'm correct. Which if I am, then I know about your cursor. And just exactly who you are." I had heard so much about this character, 'Daemon'. He wielded a katana is his right hand, customary for someone of his type. He had on grey boots, long dark pants, and fingerless gloves. He wasn't exactly the sort of tank type samurai that you would expect a katana wielder to be, he was more like the agile stealth type. I bet his sneak was decently high.
He regarded me as if I had said something that made him sick, "What could you POSSIBLY know about me? My cursor? So what. PKs happen, it's a part of the game weather you like it or not. It's just the circle of life."
With that said, I knew that he was who I was looking for. He was the kind of guy to say one thing to protect something else. "You haven't PK'd yet. Your cursor is orange, not red. It's obvious to me who you are simply because I have spoken with some of your previous clients." he crossed his arms in front of me and looked around, checking to see if anyone was watching us, he nodded and without looking at me said, "Ok, follow me, we need to talk."
I did as was instructed of me. This was not someone who I would want to displease yet. We followed him in to a familiar alleyway. It was dank, filled with shadows from the two buildings that Blocked the sun. Before we entered, Daemon did a double take, and made sure we weren't followed. As soon as he was positive that the coast was clear, he turned to Cole and I, he bowed respectfully, "I am Daemon, but you already know this. Might I ask who you and your associate are?" I returned the bow, as was custom in his culture, he respected mine by speaking my language, and I will respect him by honoring his greeting, "I am Kotani, of Raid Intentions. This is one of my members and trusted friend, Cole." Cole bowed at the mention of his name, "It is a pleasure to have you speak with us."
"Anyways, Daemon, I have come to you because I have been alerted by colleagues of mine that you are the best when it comes to hired help. Is that true?" he nodded with a smile, "I can do anything, and will do anything. For the proper price, that is. Even if that includes PKing. But I try my hardest not to, if possible."
"Care to explain your cursor to me? I have heard numerous stories, but I would like to hear it from the horse's mouth. So to speak." he shifted his position, leaning against the wall, "Of course. Everyone want's to know about it."
"It was just another job," he started, "Something was stolen from my client, a sword he had gotten from a monster drop had been... Misplaced... From his guild's storage. It didn't seem like anything special, it wasn't really, but he was paying me good money to find and kill the thief." he patted his sides, I'm guessing to check the contents of them. "it only took me two days to find him, I can't even remember his in game name anymore. He was younger than ms, obviously just wanting something cooler looking than his barbed longsword."
"So, once you've found him, what did you do?" I only ask because Cole had not heard the story, and had wanted him to hear just exactly what this mercenary was about.
"I stabbed him. Just once, I spared his life, he was no threat to anyone. I went orange immediately. In return for sparing his life, he gave me the sword, and I went on my way." he pulled at the cuffs on his coat, readjusting them for his comfort. "The pay I received was substantially good. 15 thousand. That's ten times what I typically charge. He said that it was better that I didn't kill him. And that it was dumb of him to ask me to do such."
I nodded slowly and turned my head slightly to look at Cole, and a silent agreement came over us. "So, 15 hundred? We want you to join our raid party for the boss fight at the end of this month. Can you do that?"
Daemon had thought for a little bit, before smiling and extending a hand, "I'll do it for free, this time. As long as I can join your guild. And you call me whenever you need my help!" I returned the smile and shook his hand with excitement, "Of course. And by no means are you restricted to us, you can work freely as you see fit." he swiped open his menu, and scrolled down to what I would assume was his friend's list, only because a request had popped up on mine and Cole's screens. I accepted mine, and invited Daemon to the guild.
After he accepted, a tiny 'congratulations' message appeared on the left side of my screen alerting me that Daemon had accepted my request.
Daemon was the type of person I was sure that I had wanted on my guild's roster. Someone who looks out for others, and knows how to handle himself.
Only four more members before the boss fight, only 16 more days until the thirty first.