A Single Move is All It Takes

[Arius POV]

'What do we do?'

This a thought that probably everyone had as we sat down at the dinner table to eat a few cookies to ease our sorrows. Even though they look delicious, I felt the cookies were flavourless. Finally, after a long silence, Grampa Edward decided to speak up.

"How bad is it?"

"Probably the worse possible scenario. Here, I got a copy of the guild mission."

Pulling out a piece of paper and placing flatly in front of us, we started to look through it.

=====================

Guild Mission

Issued by A Representative of Count LeMonc

Task: Follow the orders of the Count and return peace to the neighbouring towns and villages that have suffered from murders.

Includes

-Killing animals, investigations, fighting bandits, and/or other situations

Eligibility: Any Adventurer of copper rank or above.

Reward: 50 Guild medallions for Copper-ranked Adventurers, 150 Guild Medallions for Steel Ranked Adventurers. For Adventurers who are silver rank or higher, pay will be privately discussed.

===================

"50 Guild medallions!"

"Yep, because of these amazing rewards over half the adventurers have signed up for the guild mission."

"Ahh, doesn't that mean we won't have any more customers?"

"It seems so."

As we sat there all depressed, we kept thinking about a way out of this situation. I couldn't help but feel sad again, I couldn't think of anything that would help. Reaching for another cookie, I realize a truth that truly puts the nail in the coffin. There were no more cookies left.

"I guarantee that it was that Kaiser guy that did this. He's a bad guy, I hate him."

*Sigh*

"Yeah, it's probably him that did this but his goal probably wasn't to kick us out."

"?"

"While I don't know exactly, it would cost him a large sum of money to issue this guild mission and pay the adventurers. After living for so long in this city, I know I know for sure. He hates to waste anything. He wouldn't waste that much just to kick us out. He probably has a much bigger goal to accomplish but could take care of us as a by-product."

"So we're not even important to him."

Hearing what Grampa Edward said, I felt so powerless at the moment. That guy, Kaiser, didn't even take us seriously

'Is this why Lorraine left with her master?'

Smashing my hand on the table, I stand up and start walking to the door.

"Arius, where are you going?"

"I'm going to prove him wrong."

"What?"

"I'm going to prove Kaiser wrong! I've said it before and I'll say it again. I'm going to prove him wrong. I'm going to make him regret not taking us seriously.

"Arius!"

With that, without looking back, I quickly run downstairs and head out the door. As I ran, I kept looking around for something, anything! But I simply couldn't find anything that would help.

Haaa haaa haaa haaa

Catching my breath as I leaned against the building, I looked to the sky and wonder what I was doing.

"Dakria, do you know of a way to fix this?"

'Based on the information, I have presently there isn't a method to fix this situation where everyone is happy.'

"What? Haaa haaa haaa, Dakria, what do you mean? Is there really nothing I can do?"

'If you let me finish then you could have something to do! So shut it!!'

'Yes, ma'am.'

'*sigh*I have two methods that are a lot harder or you wouldn't do simply based on your character.'

"Based on my character? Come on just tell me, I'll do it."

'One option is to ask your master to buy all the items, by far the easiest solution and with you being his apprentice, the success probability is over 80%.'

'NO! I can't do that, what's the other option.'

'*sigh* I already knew that was going to be the outcome. The other method is to find you're customers instead of waiting for them to come to you.'

'What do you mean?'

'Supply and demand, right now you have too much supply and not a lot of demand so you need to find more customers. Thankfully this is an economic hub so there are a lot more sources of income than simply adventurers. For example, the merchants that have shown up in town, look to your left.'

Listening to Dakria in my head, I turn to my left to see a line of horses pulling a few carriages. On both sides of the carriage, there were guards walking and looking around in case of anything. Then they suddenly stop as a thin man pops out of one of the carriages and the guards start moving boxes from the carriage into a store.

'Merchants will buy things in one place before moving to another to sell them for more. while normal copper and steel-ranked items might not catch their eye. A rare engraved item might.'

'Oh, you're right. I should do that. Let me just go and-'

'Stop! If you just go up to them, they might mistake you for a robber and attack you. Also-'

"I'll be fine."

Running up the merchant, as I slip past the guards' sight, I tape him on the back to get his attention.

"Alright, hold those things steady-WOAh! Who are you? A thieve?"

"NO, I'm not! I got something to sell you. Do you want to buy it?"

"Hmmm, I'm not interested, kid hurry up and leave."

"B-but they're engraved weapons, they're super cool."

"Ha! I can tell a trick when I see one. Engraved weapons? You've probably never seen one in your life. Guards, bring him away."

"H-Hey, wait I do have them."

Before I could finish talking, the guards picked me up and pull me far away before dropping me on the ground.

'*sigh* I thought this would happen, the rarity of engraved weapons is a double-edged sword. No one would believe that you have one, especially as a 6-year-old.'

"I won't give up, Dakria. One fail is not enough to stop me!"

'*sigh* Seems like you've inherited, my creator's hard-headedness as well.'

...

[Kaiser POV]

Sip

Licking my lips after drinking my first sip of coffee in the morning, I look out the window of my office to see many adventurers preparing to make their journey to the local towns and villages.

Knock Knock Knock

"Come in."

Turning around, the door opens as one of my head guards walks in.

"Lord, the guards are ready!"

"And the adventurers? How many do we have?"

"Lord, we have recruited one hundred and fifty-seven adventurers. Most of them being copper and steel ranked, twenty of them being silver ranked, there's even one party of gold ranked adventurers."

"Looks like we've caught quite a few big fish. Alright, seems like everything is in line. Do you remember the plan?"

"Yes, Lord!"

"No need to lie."

"I don't understand what you mean, Lord!"

"You're breathing a little off, your eyes not as focused as they should. Mark, I've told you before, I don't need a bunch of yes men around me, else my judgement may be clouded."

"I'm s-sorry My Lord, I didn't know you had such keen eyes! This morning I woke up with a cloudy mind, I have trouble even remembering what I ate yesterday night."

"*sigh* Since that is the case, I order to not participate in any combat roles. Let me retell the plan, you shall choose fifty of our men and they will lead the adventurers to the various towns. This way, we will be instantly recognized as the ones who've heard their calls. Each group would have a well-balanced portion of the silver-ranked adventurers."

Taking a piece of paper off of my desk, I pass the paper to the guard.

"This paper shows the last location of all the bandit groups in the area, they're reducing sales and deterring some merchants from coming to town. Take them out with the adventurers."

"Yes, Lord!"

Tap tap tap tap tap

After Mark solutes, we hear the sounds of footsteps fast approaching, by instinct, I see my guard getting his sword ready in case of any circumstance.

Bam!

Flinging a door open, another guard runs into the room.

"Young Lord, there's an emergency!"

Stumbling to my desk, the guard hands me a rolled-up paper. Unrolling it, I read the hastily written words on the paper.

'An S.T.A.?'

Tsk!

"Alright, I'll deal with it immediately. Mark, gather the party of gold-ranked adventurers and two parties of silver-ranked ones to the main hall."

Grabbing a cloak and sword off a stand to my side, I quickly leave the room. As I briskly walked down the hallway, I see a muscular person in a formal uniform walking toward me.

"Young Lord, our guards are in need of new equipment."

"Something important has come up, gets some money from the treasury and figure it out yourself!"

With that, I quickly walk past the manager of our private military with many other things being calculated in my head.

Tsk!

'Nothing ever works efficiently.'

...

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Dakria's Fun Fact: Based on the information stored in my catalogue, I can say with certainty that Dwarves are one of the most stubborn races. Once a dwarf is committed to something, it's very very hard to change their mind. I've heard tales of a certain dwarf craftsman who forged one thousand hammers before he managed to create the perfect hammer for forging.