Chapter Two
The Capital
"Re-Estize. The city of prosperity. Capital of the Re-Estize Kingdom and bastion of civilization on the continent. Our continent. We've gathered here, Noble, Mercenary, Soldier, Adventurer, Commoner, and Royal alike to withstand the menace we could not face alone: The Monsters.
Across the northern mountains our armies are fighting the monsters to a standstill... For now.
But the monsters aren't the only threat...Not by a long shot.
With our armies on the monster front, our closer enemies have become bold. The Slane Theocracy sends it's spies into our lands, and it's assassins lurk in every shadow. Our neighbor the Baharuth Empire is chomping at the bit to invade our border towns, and we can't let the home front collapse.
Demi-Humans on our frontiers have become emboldened and entire villages fall to their menace. Our enemies thrive on brutality. They will never stop.
But here in the Re-Estize Kingdom we will rise again, and we need you to turn the darkness back into light.
Who knows? Maybe you can be the next Hero of our Kingdom?"
-Excerpt from the Re-Estize Royal Army recruitment pamphlet-
In his flight over the vast land of the Re-Estize Kingdom, Android 17 confirmed his nagging suspicion about his situation once and for all. This was not Earth. Of that he was now completely sure of. The landmarks and mountain ranges conflicted with the data and geographical locations Dr. Gero had programmed into him in his moments of lucidity between his mad attempts at killing Son Goku.
This meant that Son Goku probably wasn't in this world either. Though it was not like he could know that, as he could not sense energy. However, this left another mystery in his mind. How did he get to this strange world? Had Cell been defeated? It nagged him to an extent, but it wasn't paramount to find out at the time. Right now he needed to figure out where he was and what the situation of this world was. If space travel was possible and affordable, he might be able to find his way back to earth someday, as his lifespan had been considerably extended due to his cellular do over and the infinite energy generator the doctor had grafted into him.
He didn't know how long, but he very well could live for two hundred years, or possibly even much longer. It was a harrowing thought that he may live out two hundred or more years in a world without the necessities and luxuries of the modern age. As the lands passed on below him in a checkerboard fashion as the fields and meadows in large squares of land drifted past, there was a certain peace to it. They looked akin to green and brown boxes all lined up against each other with farmhouses, barns and little villages that shouted in their own way that the land within their wooden fences and stone walls was very much theirs and not to be disturbed.
After a while, the plains, fields, and meadows gave way and the land became thick with lush forests and rolling hills. Android 17 even began to see strange creatures that were neither dinosaur nor human in their own habitats. Some were fought by groups of humans with archaic weapons like swords, maces, quarter staves and even some that commanded magical powers.
The villages began to get larger, and roads became much more common, including the occasional carriage and cart traveling to whatever destination the riders had planned for.
There were more and more people that traveled the land the closer he got to civilization, yet the little hope he had growing in his heart for some greater technology seemed to be utterly fruitless. This country truly was archaic in every sense of the word.
It seemed to be a cruel joke, and Android 17 entertained the thought that his might be Hell for a moment, but dismissed it quickly.
Hell was not this forgiving. Hell did not afford such freedoms. Hell was likely much much worse than this old ages land.
Passing over several large towns and small fortress cities, something grew in the distance and Android 17 had finally succeeded in his mission.
As he flew at a blistering pace, he came across a huge sprawling city that appeared in the far distant horizon. Even from his great height, he could make out the massive stone walls with their giant buttresses and towers that each held hundreds of patrolling and alert guards. This city was very much the stunning example of a Royal capital, as even from such a height, Android 17 could make out the magnificent flags and shining towers inside the capital.
For a moment, he pondered landing on the ground and entering through the gates, but that would be tiresome, and seeing the long lines of travelers, merchants, and citizens going in and out of the massive silver gates he could be stopped and denied entry. A swiftly moving deep blue river traveled through the eastern side of the capital where dozens of broad masted boats drifted and sailed in and out of their own specially carved entrances and exits in the walls.
The vast city extended for over four miles, perhaps even more, and many buildings had risen over five to eight stories, which was massive for such a country where the prior highest he saw was barely three with the occasional four in the closer towns.
As he flew high over the city, he stopped just below the clouds and looked down at the complex and carefully planned mazes of streets and roads that crossed through the city akin to a mass of pipes and machinery that created one large working machine with all it's quirks and intricacies.
The city consisted of several districts.
On the outer rims closest to the walls, the buildings were shoddy, and the paths were mostly dirt. Carts and wheel barrels were pulled and pushed around by people on the streets, and occasionally a few men and women on horses would ride though and past from the gates to the second district closer to the middle. Pigs and chickens trotted through the street, and there were many fights and brawls happening in that district.
Here in the second district the roads were a mix of cobblestone and dirt, and the buildings were made of stone and wood. Also, there were the breakout of shops and lawns. Small carriages and horse drawn carts were much more common here. Guards now were seen lounging at chokepoints and even further towards the middle of the city were large white stone walls that separated the noble districts that were much larger with paved roads and opulent buildings far removed from the squalor and filth of the outer rim.
Then, in the very middle of the city, higher up was the Royal castles and the Royal districts, which were segregated from the noble districts. Shining white castles and immaculate roads reflected the bright sun that shone down upon them and men and women of high status walked to-and-fro in gardens and lawn parties, while opulent carriages embellished with gold and brilliant coats of arms rolled through the streets led by sets of beautiful horses.
Deciding that he should probably go to the second district first, then the noble district afterwards if he couldn't get help there, Android 17 descended down to a fairly quiet corner of the second district on a street that was flanked on either side by modestly shrubbed gardens. He had seen a large building were dozens of people came and went, with weapons and armor donned. Anywhere where there was a large traffic of people would probably be a good start on finding about the world he had found himself spirited away to.
Touching down on the dirt road, Android 17 found himself somewhat relaxed. He liked the quiet more than the bustle of urban streets. Cities reminded him of when the mad doctor Gero abducted him, and that wasn't very pleasant to him in the slightest. Walking towards the large building in the path from his memory, he came across a wide street where men and women milled about in all sorts of clothes and armor.
Some had swords, bows, staves, wands, croziers, crossbows, flails, and even a woman in thick green robes had a large green scythe that seemed to glow with a sickly putrid liquid at the long curved silvery blade.
Several of the combatants turned to look at Android 17 as he approached, and many of them were taller than him. However, seeing that he was unarmed, a few turned away. However, some were still cautious and others were giving him a look over and taking notice of his appearance, probably wondering if he was a prime target to be robbed later.
Entering the large building through the wide open front doors without a trace of any nervousness or trepidation, a few adventurers had gained a good impression of him, whilst others were wary.
This branch of the Adventurer's Guild was one of the more Rough-and -Tumble ones, where there were dozens of iron and steel plated adventurers, even ten mithril adventurers were sitting amidst the throng of weaker riff raff.
Quite a few eyes fell on him as he walked down the open isle in the middle of the large guild that was lit brightly with steel chandeliers and oil lamps that burned bright on alcoves in the wall.
The smell of Alcohol, sweat, blood, and cheap meats wafted from all around, tingling his nose with the unpleasant scent. He momentarily scrunched his nose and frowned, but made his way over to the counter where a bubbly brunette woman in her mid twenties who wore a black suit that looked like a mix of a suit and blouse, and had a steel nametag over her left breast of her jacket stood silently reading a open book that was likely full of record and information.
Android 17 couldn't read anything, which had quickly become a serious problem for him. Sure, he could understand what people were saying, but the words on paper, stone, wood and steel did not translate to any language he knew.
There was a young man in front of him, hardly older than seventeen in a small chainmail hauberk, and steel studded chaps. He had short brown hair that was ruffled a bit, and a tanned skin from being out in the sun so much daily. He began talking to the receptionist about commissions before placing down a paper on the countertop.
"Clearing out Hillsbury cave huh? I didn't expect an Iron plate adventurer to try that one out. Very well, you can do it, but the suggested party size is two to three adventurers" The receptionist said, giving the young man a warning indirectly.
The young man chuckled embarrassedly at the reminder and his grass-green eyes glinted with a youthful vigor.
"Well, you see after what happened in the last party, no-one wants to join me. Hahaha" He finished with an self depreciating awkward laugh.
The receptionist sighed.
"Yeah, that does make sense. However, I'm sure you'll find someone eventually" She finished sympathetically before shooing the young man away and motioning to Android 17 who was looking around behind him at the interior of the guild building around him.
He stepped forward and stood in front of the woman at the counter which was covered in various books, pouches, scales and measuring equipment.
"Hello" Android 17 greeted the lady with a small nod.
She looked up from her book and gave him a polite smile, her green eyes flashing with a bright interest.
"How can I help you today Sir?" The lady asked, giving Android 17 a chance to speak.
"I'm new to this city and I want to find work. How do i sign up?" Android 17 asked. He needed money, and work was the only way he could reliably make it. Sure he could just steal from someone, but he was feeling rather sentimental at the moment, and Cell was a real wake up call to him.
He wanted to try doing things the right way, even if only out of curiosity for a while, and if he really couldn't make money the proper way, then he could just do it in unsavory ways. In a city this large, there surely was an underground full of violence, bloodshed and treachery.
Given his particular strengths, he was sure he could find a job though, regardless of it's legality.
The woman looked him over, and after making a simple nod she gave him a few options.
"Well, you could become an adventurer partnered with our guild and gain all the privileges that come with our support. It's enticing, no?" She asked, giving a knowing smile.
Then she told of the other option after letting the first offer marinate.
"You also could do labor for a noble, or work at an excavation site as a porter or a miner. But I doubt that you want to do that" She finished with an amused smirk.
"You carry yourself like you're destined for greater things" She continued, somewhat carried away by her thoughts and barely hidden fantasies.
"I don't know if you're even aware of this, but not many people have the nerve to come in here unarmed, yet you strolled in here under the pressure of some of the guild's best without even any hesitation. I got to say, I'm impressed. The name's Susie Briggs" She said, leaning forward and sharing her name and observations.
Android 17 stood silent for a moment before answering. He considered using an alias, but if this was truly a different world, giving his name couldn't be harmful.
"I'm Lapis. My name is Lapis. Now, How do I become an adventurer?" He asked before catching himself and asking a question.
"No, wait before that. What does an adventurer even do?" he asked, curious as to this strange profession.
"Wow, my hunch was right. You must be from far out in the hills if you don't know what an adventurer is. Though that's pretty obvious on second thought, seeing by your clothes and lack of visible weapon" The lady said before turning towards another young lady receptionist a few meters away at the other end of the counter.
"Lisa, get someone to cover for me for a while. I might be conducting an initiation. Mr. Lapis, follow me please. Let's talk somewhere less noisy", she said before turning back to Android 17 and motioning with her hand to follow her.
Android 17 was somewhat enthused by this, and gave the lady a chance. He followed her leisurely as she lifted up a hinged part of the counter and walked out into the lobby with him. Taking a right, she took android 17 through a series of doors and offices next to the counter, stopping at an empty office that consisted of a table with three wooden chairs, each having their own maroon cotton cushions on them, a desk, and several gray cabinets that were likely full of official papers and records.
An artificial light hung on the ceiling made of glass and lit by a warmly glowing milky white stone that seemed to be the functional equivalent of a lightbulb from back on Earth.
She sat down and offered the seat across the table to Lapis. To which he sat down and rested his arms atop with his hands clasped, awaiting the information she was likely to give.
After the two settled in, the woman began a short explanation on the duties and benefits of being an officially sanctioned adventurer.
"Mr. Lapis, an Adventurer is in the simplest form, a Man or Woman who takes officially sanctioned and legal jobs for pay from various sources. Be it from nobles, the Royals, Outposts, Citizens, and even farmers if they have the money to request adventurers. These requests are always double checked for authenticity and the money is always collected at the end of the job once someone accepts the request.
Now I must warn you that Adventurers are not to take sides in a war between humans in their official capacity as adventurers. We at the adventurer's guilds are neutral parties and can not be hired for such purposes, and our reputation relies on such rules, else we could not be the continental spanning force we are.
For starters, let's discuss the benefits of membership in our guild. First, we offer equipment on loan to high ranking adventurers, and guarantee the safety of any adventurers we deploy for non combat roles. We also can make sure that bad actors can't hire you to set up an open ambush. Also, as an Adventurer and as your rank rises, you will be exempt from tolls, taxes, border permits, the costs of amenities and at a high enough rank, we will no longer take a cut from any jobs you are offered. Not only this, but we have a very good information network you will be able to access from steel plaque and higher.
What do you say? Sounds good?" She finished, giving him a broad smile.
"This does sound interesting. There's always a price though. How much does it cost to join?" Lapis asked, giving the lady a look of curiosity.
"Five silver for the initiation and paperwork, plus five coppers for the literacy test. Also, whenever you advance a tier in the guild below gold rank, your plaque will be deducted from your promotion test job reward" She explained the cost as precisely as she could.
"Hmm. I'll have to get back to you on that. I have to make that money first before I get back to you, and find somewhere to spend the night" Android 17 said, getting up from the table with a curt nod. He didn't have the money needed just yet. He also had a plethora of other things he had to do before thinking about seriously joining the Adventurer's guild.
This Adventurer's guild did seem like a good idea for him to join, as an information network was a good thing to have, especially for him who was a fish out of water. Also, in the case that he didn't just fly across any border or country, having an Adventurer's identification would be a large boon. Less people would question him on why he was wherever he was.
"Alright, I look forward to seeing you return to join our ranks at the guild" The lady said, also standing up and leading the man out into the lobby again. There was no disappointment or worry in her eyes. Many people came here to learn about adventuring and needed time to either gather the money or come to their own conclusion, as adventuring was a dangerous job that had taken many lives of the foolish, and many that came unprepared to dangerous encounters.
With that, Android 17 made his way back on to the street with a new purpose. To make money and see what this Adventurer life was all about.
AN: So, since I've gotten a few reviews, I don't want to artificially inflate the chapter size by responding to reviews at the end of the chapter, so if you send me a review on an account, check your Inbox as I've likely answered it in your messages or will soon.
For guest reviews, I'll answer at the end if they pertain to the story.