You wake up the next morning with a dry throat and a bad case of morning breath. Price of drinking cheap beer. You crawl out of your bed, put on your armor. Thankfully your moderation last night means that you are only slightly groggy and you are fully awake by the time you leave your commandeered room in search of something to eat.

You decide on mooching some food from the princess. She always has good stuff and you are feeling really hungry today.

In the short time you have come to know her, one of the things you learned about your employer is that she is a very punctual person. Armed with your watch, it is all too easy to coincide your visit with her breakfast.

"Good morning Wolf."

"Good morning Princess."

You greet her back before once again inviting yourself to her breakfast table.

"Is this going to become a habit, Wolf?"

"As long as you allow it."

"I guess this is what I get for feeding a stray."

You are too busy shoveling strips of jerky and egg into your mouth to reply.

"It seems someone had a fun night."

"Do I look that bad?"

"Actually no, you look as normal. Except your breath stinks like something died inside your mouth and I just saw your Scorchlander friend puking her guts this morning."

You wince in sympathy. It probably sucks to be Ezra right now considering how much she drunk last light.

"Coincidentally, this means I will have to find someone else to replace her in the group I am taking to the meeting."

Makes sense. Hangovers and fighting really shouldn't be mixed.

"Here you go. Try this."

You take the cup she offers. It warms your fingers and you can see a bit of steam wafting up from the liquid inside, carrying with it a bitter aroma. Taking a careful sip, you shiver as the hot liquid travels down your throat, dispelling any lingering traces of sleep.

"Is this... coffee?"

"One of my favorite blends."

Wow, coffee is a luxury on par with chocolate, especially a high-quality blend such as the one you are drinking. Honestly if this is what Princess drinks every morning then you should mooch off from her more.

"You are not going to dock my pay for this are you."

"It is my treat, for this once."

You take another sip.

"You realize this is how drug pushers work right?"

"Is that so?"

"Yep, I am totally addicted to this. Since you are the one responsible, you must from now on share your coffee with me."

"Sounds to me you are just trying to mooch off more coffee from me."

You sip from your cup instead of replying to such baseless accusations.

"And since you are here, you can be useful and go and ask the medics if Morena is fit for duty. Since Ezra is out of commission she can be her replacement."

"Sure. I am going to need a refill though."

"Go ahead but the next one is coming out of your pay."

You salute her, refill your coffee then quickly retreat, having imposed on your employer's hospitality more than enough. Now, it is time to be useful once again.

You find the room where the medics have settled in easily enough. With a fresh cup of coffee in your hands, you walk past by the medical personnel and through a curtain before finding the person you have been searching for.

"Good morning."

Valentine lifts her head from the medical diagrams spread on her study, taking in your appearance.

"So you finally decided to visit. I was starting to think that I might have scared you off."

"My apologies. Kinda have been busy. But I have come bearing gifts."

You offer her the cup of coffee you have been carrying. She carefully takes it from your hands before pulling down her surgical mask and taking a sip.

"Mmmm. Delicious. I am guessing this is from our employer's own stash."

"Yeah. She was in a sharing mood."

"How nice of her."

You watch as Valentine puts down the cup and returns to her diagrams.

"So what are you up to?"

"Cross-referencing anatomical diagrams of mutant human strains."

While the terminology mostly goes over your head, you manage to figure out the gist of what she is saying, a quick glance at the diagrams itself helping you figure out Valentine's current efforts. What is more, your basic knowledge of first aid along with your knowledge of vulnerable spots provides you with some insight into the diagrams themselves.

"So you are comparing the anatomies of different types of mutants right?"

"Indeed. I am currently studying various internal organ maps."

"Kinda explains why none of the organs in the right place."

"Oh? You can tell."

"For some. Like that heart is on the wrong side and I am seeing an extra lung down there."

"Good eye."

"Then there is the matter of that stomach fused to liver."

"Two of them actually."

"And lastly that extra long bit of intestine going into the left leg."

"That is actually the reproductive organ."

"Really?"

"Yeah, despite what you may have heard most of the mutations are malignant and either lead to early death or crippling health issues. But putting your surprising biological knowledge aside, I feel like you have another reason to be here."

"Well, I am also supposed to ask you about Morena."

"Who?"

"The Shek girl I brought to you."

"Ah, her! I cleared her for duty yesterday. She has made a full recovery."

"That quick?"

"What can I say? I am good at what I do."

"So she is ready for combat."

"Yes."

Huh, you were expecting at least a week before Morena's return to combat.

"Now if that is all?"

"Yeah. I should better go back and report to Princess."

I will be here if you need me."

You return to your employer and inform her that Morena is cleared for combat. She of course then saddles you with the task of collecting both Nines and Morena and bringing them to her room.

You find Nines busy running maintenance his crossbow. He doesn't question when you tell him that Princess has a job for him. Morena, you find testing her healed injuries. Much like Nines, Morena also falls in line without any questioning.

Afterward your return back to your employer's face with both of Nines and Morena in tow. Your employer informs them both of the meeting she has planned and her need for an armed escort. Nines agrees quickly enough once she offers extra pay. Morena, on the other hand, looks to you first before accepting.

Rest of the time inside the warehouse is spent preparing. Morena dons a heavy chainmail coat and a layer of partial plate over it. On her back hangs a massive plank sword and from her belt hangs a mace and a cleaver.

Nines equips his armored dustcoat under which he wears a leather hiver vest. His sidearm is a katana though you doubt he is very skilled in its use. Hopefully, between you and Morena he shouldn't need to use it.

Unlike the two, you yourself don't need any extra preparation since you spent most of your waking hours in full gear minus the helmet. Instead, you watch over the two and check your watch until time for the meeting arrives.

Princess joins you at the gates to outside. After making sure everyone is ready, you leave the safety of the warehouse and into the crowded streets of Stoat.

You take the lead, clearing the way. Princess follows after you with Nines right at her heels and Morena brings the rear. All of you are alert for any possible ambush or assassination attempts.

None comes and you safely make it to the bar where the meeting will take place. You enter first but once inside, Princess swiftly overtakes your, leading the party towards one the tables near the bar counter.

You spot nothing out of the ordinary as you follow after Princess. All you see is the usual bustle of a crowded bar, groups of drifters and mercs seated at every table. You nonetheless keep your guard up.

Your employer comes to a stop in front of a large table occupied by three armed mercs.

"Mr. Delt I presume."

The man at the middle nods. Seeing this is the right table, you pull one of the empty chairs for your employer which she gracefully takes.

"And you must be the one who wishes to hire me and my men."

"Indeed. I am in need of a few extra swords and your group came recommended from many different sources."

Two more armed mercs come out of the crowd and join the trio you are facing.

"Is that so? I hope then you have enough cats."

"Price is not an issue. I am prepared to pay double your usual retainer fee."

"Well that is a mighty generous offer and we would love to accept."

A movement from the crowd catches your attention. You quickly turn around, your hand on the hilt of your sword.

"Except we already got a better offer."

And suddenly find yourself surrounded as all the drifters and mercs inside the bar stand up from their seats, drawing their weapons. A quick glance behind shows at least fourteen men between you and the exit.

"I mean double pay sounds nice."

Nines has already raised his crossbow and Morena is not too behind in drawing her own sword, uttering a curse in Shek tongue.

"But living like kings for the rest of our lives sounds much better."

You look around for another exit, only for the crowd to start closing in...

"After all, you are worth enough cats for everyone in this bar to live the rest of their lives in luxury. Even your own men."

...tightening around you like a hangman's noose around the neck of a victim.

"Aren't you, my lady Schnee?"

The crowd comes to a stop few meters away, forming a wall of steel and flesh around the table.

"Now, why don't you show everyone your pretty little face?"

Wordlessly, your employer raises her hands to the hood covering her face and pulls it back, revealing snow-white hair, pale skin, and light blue eyes.

Weiss Schnee. Head of the Schnee Trading Cartel. To your knowledge, she has first appeared on the scene two years ago when she purchased her charter from the Traders Guild and only a year after purchased her title of nobility, elevating her to the status of Trader Noble. Her meteoric rise had been a hot topic back then, talked about in every bar and tavern inside the Great Desert.

This is the woman who hired you, whom you are tasked with protecting.

Which makes you wonder what is the idiots before you are thinking since moving against a noble inside the borders of the empire is a literal death sentence.

"I see. But could you answer a question for me first?"

You employer asks of the mercenary before her, showing no sign fear or distress. Her calm demeanor helps you center yourself even as you scan your surroundings for a possible escape route.

"Sure."

"It is true that you could get a large enough ransom for me. But how do you plan to spend any of it? Surely you must realize that your actions will make you enemies of the Traders Guild. Every single person here will end up with a bounty high enough that you will be hunted throughout the world. So what is it that makes you so confident that you and your friends will live long enough to enjoy any kind of ransom you may get from kidnapping me?"

That is a pretty valid question. Traders Guild, after all, is one of the pillars that support the empire and major economical and political powerhouse and its reach extends far beyond the borders of the empire, into both the Holy Nation and the Shek Kingdom. No simple commoner can hope to escape their retribution and these men must realize that fact. So why?

"I am afraid that is a secret my Lady Schnee though one you will soon discover."

A movement above you, up in the rafters, catches your eye. You slightly tilt your head and raise your eyes. After a swift scan, you spot your way out, hiding on one of the metal support beams that hold up the ceiling.

"You don't intend to ransom me back, do you? No, you are planning on selling me."

Valentine's single eye meets yours as she puts a finger to her lips, making the gesture for silence. Then she twists her hips around, showing you a line of bombs hanging from her belt.

"Perceptive. You truly are a smart woman Lady Schnee. I can see why our employer is so enamored with you."

Flashbangs. If you time it right, you can force your way out of this trap and escape but as it stands, only you are aware of Valentine's presence which means when she makes her move, your friends and Weiss will also be caught by them. This leaves you with two options.

Grab Weiss when the bombs go off and escape with her, leaving Nines and Morena behind to their fates.

Or try to inform both secretly without alerting the mercenaries surrounding you. You are sure that Nines and Morena both know battle tongue as any mercenary worth their salt does and you can try to use it two warn them but a single wrong move might also alert your enemies.

Time to make a decision.

In the end, your choice is clear. You are not the kind of person that leaves comrades behind.

You take a step to the left and twist your body slightly, hiding your true intentions behind feigned nervousness. The sheath of your blade taps the back of Nines' left leg once, then twice, then thrice, forming a rhythm as you manipulate it through the minuscule movements of your sword's hilt.

You only have to repeat it one more time before Nines takes a step back, signaling his confirmation.

That leaves only Morena, whose back is turned to you.

You move as slightly as possible, movement of your leg and hip imperceptible as you maneuver the tip of your sheath towards the back of Morena's inner thigh, where there is no bone plating covering her skin. Then you repeat the same procedure with Nines. It takes her five repeats before she brushes back against the tip of your sheath, signaling her own confirmation.

Both of your comrades are informed of your escape plan and no one from the crowd seems to have caught on. Now the only thing to do is wait for Valentine and be ready.

"Now, I think someone as smart as you must have realized the futility of resistance. If you can tell your men to stand down and come with us, we can avoid any unnecessary bloodshed."

Your employer remains silent. Is she actually considering this? She must realize that this worm doesn't intend to let anyone but her leave this place alive.

Thankfully Valentine acts before Princess can come to a decision, a trio of grey orbs falling from above. You, Nines and Morena immediately cover your eyes and not a single second too soon as bombs explode immediately upon contact with any hard surface, blinding everyone around, including your employer. Yells and shouts fill the whole building.

Weiss stiffens momentarily as you grab her but doesn't struggle as you haul her up from her seat and pass her to Nines who has already holstered her crossbow all the while Morena flips over the table.

Then you advance in the disoriented crowd, not in the direction of the entrance where the crowd is thickest but in the direction of stairs where it is marginally more thinner.

You are like battering a ram that is also covered in spinning blades with razor-sharp edges, shredding everything in your path. Mercenary after mercenary falls before you as you advance, killing as you move forward without losing any speed. Behind you follows Nines, leading a blinded Weiss with Morena covering the rear. You reach the stairway and move up to the second level long before any of the mercenaries manage to recover.

You find five more mercenaries, waiting for you with their weapons drawn on the second level. Valentine comes up behind one and drives a scalpel into his neck, right into the spine. Before others can realize she is there you charge...

Skill and purpose, flawless and firm, moving on a rhythm of your own design. The lives of your enemies end the moment they come into range of your sword.

Your first swing draws a red line, slicing through metal and the flesh underneath. Your enemies barely even get to register the pain before you take your second step, you sword tracing the line back to its origin the movement your foot meets the ground, traveling in what seems to be an instant, leaving split bones and sliced organs in its wake.

It is then they scream, their bodies finally realizing the injuries you have inflicted upon them. All of them fall on the ground, trying in vain the keep their blood and organs inside. There is no salvation for them for death already has them all in her grasp. If only you had time, you would have granted them mercy each.

But you do not, so you can only move past, leaving them to their suffering as they bleed out on the ground.

There is a spark in Valentine's eye as she looks at you. You see admiration, fascination, and lust in that single red orb. She purrs, looking at the carnage you have wrought through only two steps.

"I must admit. You do not disappoint Wolf."

"Are there any more enemies on this level?"

"No. I took care of the rest on my way in."

You look around. Windows facing outward on this level are just too narrow for anyone inside your group to squeeze through except maybe Weiss. Then you will have to move up to the third level. It opens up to a balcony through which you can make your escape.

And you should probably make haste. It seems mercenaries below have mostly recovered as you can hear people coming up the stairs.

"Nines, Morena! On me! Valentine."

"Flashbomb down the stairway."

She pulls out one of the two remaining bombs from her belt before throwing it down the stairway. You hear the pain-filled voices of the frustrated mercenaries as once again they blinded though you have no illusion that it got them all and you have no intention of finding out.

You find the third level to be empty for the most part except for two dead bodies, Valentine's work you wager. You lead the group towards the balcony and look down. It is somewhat a long drop but one you can manage and no doubt Valentine can too. Morena can probably shrug off the impact as well if nothing else but Nines and Princess, they might need assistance.

"Morena! You first! Valentine! Assist Nines and Princess. I will cover you."

Four of them lose little time following your orders. Then you hear a massive thump telling you that Morena reached the ground, a little harder than she may have intended.

It takes some precious time for her to regain her feet and prepare Princess who shrugs of any attempts at help before gracefully jumping over the edge. You barely hear her land.

"Look at that, our employer seems to be full of surprises. Didn't even need Shek to catch her."

Valentine comments.

Nines manage to jump down and land safely on his feet, leaving only you and Valentine on the balcony and not a moment too soon as you spot the first of the enemies coming up the stairs.

"Time to go."

You call out before running to the edge. Valentine jumps off first, somersaulting in the air before landing on her feet. You follow after her...

...and safely land on your feet yourself, absorbing the impact by folding your legs.

You swiftly stand up and find that you have attracted quite the crowd, kept away by Morena and Nines.

"They have jumped down!"

You hear a shout come from the balcony you have just vacated. You turn your attention to Weiss and notice she has pulled her hood back on her head.

"Let's move before they bring out the crossbows."

She nods and everyone once again takes up formation around her, with you at the point, Valentine, and Nines at flanks and Morena once again bringing the rear. The crowd requires a little encouraging by you to get clear from your path. You lead the group through the streets of Stoat and back to the warehouse, taking extra turns and twists to make tracking you harder.

Despite that, the group reaches the warehouse pretty quickly and everyone breaths in relief once you are all inside.

"Trouble?"

Asks one of the mercenaries guarding the gate.

"Not yet but stay on alert. Also, tell everyone else to start packing up, we move out as soon as possible. Wolf, Nines, Valentine, and Morena, with me."

Weiss snaps out orders before heading back to her office with you right at her heels. Once everyone is inside, you close the door and turn your attention to your employer.

"First of all, I want to thank you all. All of you have performed way beyond my expectations, showing loyalty, bravery, and skill. As such, each of you will be rewarded accordingly."

You are about to speak up and deny the reward but then you think better of it. Nines and Morena also risked their lives and they deserve it.

"Second, I want you all to keep my identity secret. I don't want a repeat of what has happened today."

You can't help but agree to that sentiment. If Valentine hadn't been there, you, Nines and Morena probably would have died back at the bar with Weiss becoming a prisoner. You really owe that sexy blue-haired doctor ninja.

"Now, if you don't have any questions for me, you may consider yourselves dismissed."

You watch as everyone else leaves, Valentine blowing you a kiss on her way out. Then you turn your head back to Weiss once you two are alone.

"I am guessing today was the reason you hired me?"

"Not particularly. I was more worried about getting backstabbed or having my mercenaries turn on me. And while I can't say that I enjoyed being cornered like that back at the bar, it is a great relief to know that there are people here I can trust. It will definitely make sleeping easier."

"Then I will leave you to it. I will come and find you when it is time to leave."

You turn around and make to leave before Weiss stops you.

"Wolf. Before you leave, I want to ask something."

You turn your head back to her.

"Today, if Valentine hadn't come, would you have fought for me? Would you sacrifice your own life just to honor a contract?"

"Would saying yes or no really matter?"

Weiss seems confused by your answer so you decide to elaborate.

"I can say yes or no. I know that Nines would say no while Morena might say yes but she is a Shek and Shek are really weird like that."

Weiss nods.

"As for me, whether I say yes or no, you can never really know for sure how far I am willing to go for you until you find yourself in a situation which requires me to sacrifice myself for you. Kinda ironic if you ask me."

"Hmmm?"

"You can never know how far you can trust someone without a situation that requires said trust. That you need to fall first to find out whether they will catch you or not."

"I guess it kinda is."

"Well, if that is all then Princess, I will take my leave."

"It is. And thank you, Wolf."

You raise an eyebrow to indicate your confusion.

"For being honest with me."

You just smile at her before turning your back and leaving the office.

Arc 1-1 COMPLETE

-Defeated a champion in a duel.

-Successfully reached Stoat.

-Learned who your employer is.

-Befriended Morena.

-Befriended Nines.

-Befriended Ezra.

Available advancements:

Attributes: All Core. Fellowship. Ballistic Skill.

Skill: Athletics, Cool, Dodge, Endurance, Haggle, Intimidate, Leadership, Perception, Navigation, Gossip

Talents: Combat Aware, Hardy, Menacing