章 295: Arrival: Jarvis
His surroundings could be described in one word:
Noisy.
He appeared right in the middle of a bustling city. Players and NPCs walking freely, chatting amongst each other. Shouts from the side trying to gain attention for their business.
"Get them hot! Fresh steamed buns!"
"Cheap equipment! Low supply!"
"Free appraisal! Looking to gain Proficiency!"
"High tier potions! Currently doing a sale!"
Aiming to escape the noise Jarvis headed down a random alleyway. After stopping to collect himself he examined his surroundings.
The alleyway would fit the description of a murder scene. Barely any visibility, random objects scattered across the floor, and a person slumped against the wall.
. . .
Wait a minute.
Jarvis approached the unmoving figure, kneeling down he spoke, "If you're alive say three."
"Cheese?"
"Close enough, are you alright?"
"Ugh, no. However if you could be so generous to lend me some alcohol, I'll be much better."
He inspected the figure, it was a scruffy person. Short hair that reached the middle of their neck. Faint green highlights at the tips. They were covered in worn rag, almost looked like a thrown-out carpet.
They were small, and not much else could be seen due to the 'carpet' covering them. Yet he could guess that the person was quite small, perhaps frail.
Jarvis pursed his lips, "Are you sure you're old enough for that?"
"Ha! I bet I'm older than you!"
Jarvis contemplated, he had a strange feeling that something may happen if he completed their request. Reaching into his bag he pulled out a jar of aromatic wine, he usually kept delicacies of all types on him at all times. Just in case he came across a creature who preferred a certain type of treat.
He placed it next to the figure, who snatched it up and drank half of it in a single gulp. They smacked their lips in satisfaction, "I expected some cheap stuff, but this is actually quite good!"
"I don't carry low quality stuff on me."
"Haha! I've never tasted this before, what is it?"
"Something I had made to order, doesn't have a name."
"Oh? You've got some good taste then."
"I took good care of those plants."
The figure took smaller sips, savoring the taste.
Jarvis asked, "So, what's your story?"
"I wait here for some poor soul to take pity on me."
"Quite the boring story."
"Heh, I'm afraid if you want to know about me. It'll cost ya."
The figure shook the empty jar, indicating the price for the info.
Jarvis wasn't to be fooled however, "Oh? You're telling me you aren't going to pay that back?"
"Fair play Mister. Then, my name's Kiro, as for the reason I'm out here. I just wanted a drink."
"You're in quite the poor state."
"The people here are ruthless! All smiles and pleasing tones, until they realize you just want some leftovers for free. Then they kick you to the curb."
"This place seemed to be the place where money flows."
"Indeed it is, your worth is equal to the thickness of your wallet."
The figure shuffled, "Anyway Mister, you smell funny. Where you from?"
Jarvis was taken aback, "Really?"
Kiro laughed, "I didn't mean it like that! You smell foreign."
Jarvis nodded, "Sharp nose, I'm not from these parts. Happened to stumble across this place."
"Quite the place to stumble across, don't you know where this is?"
"No idea."
"Well then, welcome to Doru City! The central city of trade."
"You seem to know a bit."
"Knowledge gets you around Mister."
"Hmm, Doru City. There's a faint smell of sea. Sea Trade?"
"Now who's the one with the sharp nose? You're right, Doru City is place right in the center of The River of Hame, the main reason for why it flourishes!"
"River?"
"You really aren't from these parts Mister, weird. . . The River of Hame, more specifically it's a body of water that splits the continent in half. It's wide enough to allow hundreds of ships pass without touching."
"A continent split in two, incredible."
"It was said to be done by a furious beast, with one move it cleaved the continent in half."
"It seems like you know more than a bit."
"I've traveled across the most of the east side of the continent. Heard stories and such."
Jarvis suddenly had an idea, "Then how about this, wanna be my guide around for a bit?"
"Ha! Only if you pay me in that wine Mister!"
Jarvis pulled out another jar and tossed it. Kiro caught it and held it close, "Leave it to me!"
Kiro waved their hand and the jar disappeared into smoke. The jumped to their feet and asked, "Where shall we go?"
"Out of this place, I would like to clear my head."
"Follow me then!"
Jarvis followed Kiro out of the city. Now that they had gotten up he was able to see more of them.
Their outfit was simple, a cloth shirt and baggy pants that stopped at the middle of their shins. A pair of sandals on their feet as they walked across the city.
As he followed he watched his surroundings. As people exchanged words, money, and goods. He caught a glimpse of the money they used to trade. It was a few shapes. Some triangles, some squares, some hexagons. However they all had a circular hole in the middle.
He then asked Kiro, "What's the money they use?"
"It's called Sent, the worth of a Sent is based around how many edges it holds. So a circle Sent would be worth the least. But an Octagon Sent would be worth far more."
"So a Triangle Sent would be worth a little more than a Circle Sent."
"Yep! Each Sent is worth about ten of its lesser. So ten Circle Sents is equal to a Triangle Sent."
"Seems like a mouthful."
"Well, you don't call them by their shapes. Instead it's referred to their edges. So a Three-Edged Sent would be the correct term. But recently a shorter term became the norm. Now a Three-Edged Sent is a Tri-Sent. A Five-Edged Sent is a Pen-Sent."
"What about the circle ones?"
"They're just Sents."
"So Sent, Tri-Sent, Quad-Sent, Pen-Sent, and so on?"
"Hex-Sent, Hep-Sent, and Oct-Sent."
"Anything beyond that?"
"Well I'm not sure what someone would do with that kind of money. But I suppose there might be something greater."
"What's an average price for goods?"
"That's quite a problematic question Mister. There is no base price for anything, it's all down to how much you charge, and how much the customer is willing to pay. If you have the right charm, you could haggle down a price a few Sents."
"How interesting."
"Now you have me really interested. You seem to know nothing. I doubt the west side doesn't follow the same system."
"I lived in the wilderness for most my life."
"Ah! That would explain a lot!"
Jarvis paused suddenly, his ear picking up a faint noise.
Kiro stopped and looked back, "Mister?"
"You hear that?"
"You have to be specific Mister, there's quite a bit of noise here."
"I'm not sure how to explain it, but I got a feeling I should check it out."
"We're close to the exit though."
"The exit can wait."
Jarvis then followed the direction he picked up the sound from. His gut instinct told him to go in the direction it was coming from. Kiro was momentarily dumbfounded. They stood in place for a moment before realized the one who was paying them was escaping. Not willing to let a source of such fine wine go, they quickly followed.
Jarvis moved through the crowd skillfully, taking care not to bump into anyone.
As he moved through crowds and dark alleyways he eventually came close to the source of the noise. Slowing himself and silencing his movements he crept closer to the source.
He suddenly turned his head and out his finger to his lips. Kiro, who had caught up, was about to call out when they saw Jarvis' motion. Unsure on what was happening, they remained silent and moved next to Jarvis.
A voice traveled through the Alleyway, "Useless! I went through so much trouble to set that up, and you can't even do a simple illusion!"
Jarvis peaked around the corner and saw a neatly dressed man leaning over a small fox. The man suddenly kicked the fox across the alleyway, "I almost got caught because of you!"
The fox stood up and growled at the man. The neatly dressed man smirked, "Still defiant?! You know you can't disobey me!"
The man pulled out a small bead, and the fox crouched in fear.
Kiro whispered in shock, "That's a Kitsune! Although it has a single tail, it's a shock that man managed to obtain its bead!"
"What?"
"A Kitsune is-"
"No I know that much, I meant the bead."
"Kitsune guard a bead which ties to their life. If someone was to get ahold of it, they would have absolute control over them."
"Is it because they threaten their life?"
"Partially, they cannot defy orders by those who hold the bead. Because of this whoever holds one tends to gain the ire of the Kitsune. If at anytime they are free from control."
"I'm going to save them."
"What?! You don't know who that is! If it's some big tycoon in this place you're as good as dead!"
"Then I won't get caught."
Jarvis wink and then whispered under his breath, "Loni."
A small fairy appeared on Jarvis' shoulder. Pointing towards the man Jarvis asked, "Mind blinding that guy for me?"
"I can do that, what are you going to do?"
"Take that bead."
"You're going to steal!?"
"Shh, don't make it sound bad. Just do it on my signal."
"Fine, but I'm not holding responsibility if things go south!"
Jarvis waited as the man threatened the fox with the bead. Clearly getting some sick joy out of it. Jarvis suddenly sprinted forward, "Now!"
The man was startled as he turned, but for some reason his vision wouldn't focus! Everything turned blurry in an instant.
Jarvis quickly tackled them and snatched the bead from their hands. The man shouted, "Wait! Who are you?!"
Jarvis rolled away, bead in hand. Looking at the fox he smiled, "We gotta run!"
Kiro suddenly felt like they perhaps had agreed to work under the wrong employer. Yet still followed Jarvis as he fled. They retreated into a different alleyway, it seemed like Jarvis was quite fond of them recently, and hid.
After waiting a bit to make sure the coast was clear, they sighed in relief.
Focusing his attention on the fox he reached out a hand, "Are you alright?"
The fox was wary, but had no choice in the matter.
After making sure the fox had no serious injury Jarvis placed the bead in front of them, "You can have this back."
Kiro was stunned, "You just gave it back?"
"I'm not someone who forces those to work under me. Seeing a creature such as this be forced to obey, and even abused, hurt me. So naturally I had to save them."
The Kitsune remained still for a moment, before realizing what was happening. They then snatched up their bead and looked at Jarvis.
Jarvis smiled, "You're free now, don't let it be taken again."
The Kitsune stared directly into Jarvis' eyes before hopping away. Jarvis watched as it left, a satisfied feeling in his heart.
He held a fist next to Roni, "Great work."
Roni fist bumped him with her tiny hands, "At least it didn't go wrong."
She then returned into her tattoo state silently.
Jarvis stretched and then looked at Kiro, "Alright, now let's get out of here."
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