Chapter 200: Billy gets back to Business
Baron William of Gadobhra dressed carefully. This was going to be an important meeting, and he wanted to look his best. He was dressed all in leather from an Elite sedge beast called Ironhide. True to her name, the beast had been a challenge to damage and the fight had resulted in four dead contract workers before Bob managed to put her down. Several of the workers had received rolls of 'Ironhide Leather' out of the Loot Chest. Billy had paid them handsomely for the material and had his local leather workers work with the village seamstress to produce outfits for he and his Baroness. The result was black leather knee-high boots, tight leather pants, and long-sleeved leather coats. The black leather went well with the red ruffled tunics and black vests they wore under their coats.
Each also had a well-used cleaver hanging from their belts. Layla had suggested the addition, liking the symbolism.
Layla was already dressed and observing the city through a large telescope Billy had bought and installed. It had cost him over one hundred gold pieces, but he had claimed it was needed for his 'planning', and paid an artificer the exorbitant sum to produce one quickly. Billy wasn't as fixated on the city anymore, but a telescope has many uses, like watching to see who is doing what in your city. Today they had some unannounced appointments with a few of those people. She descended to the first floor where Billy had poured two glasses of wine. They drank, Layla put a large sledgehammer over her shoulder, and they headed deeper into the city.
Rufus was carefully making his way into the city, a large chest on one shoulder and a heavy pack on his back. After seeing how much the contract workers could lift and carry because of their special abilities he had put a some of his points towards a Core Skill that worked the same way. It had become essential on his early morning deliveries of parts that McTeeth needed. Today he was delivering springs and gears for some of the traps, along with sharper blades made of the new steel alloys they had available in the smithy. He was very careful about how much he pilfered when the other workers in the smithy were busy, and made sure to pay for most of his other raw materials. It all belonged to the Baron in the end, so really, it wasn't stealing. He and McTeeth were just moving around raw materials and resources. If a few hundred gold ended up in his hidden chest, that was just repayment for his hard work. And besides, he knew McTeeth was getting at least three times as much as he was. It was a win-win-win-win situation for himself, McTeeth, the Baron, and the creepy voice that McTeeth talked to in the big castle.
As he rounded the last pile of rubble, he was surprised to see the Baron standing in his way, resplendent in black and red. Baron William was smoking a cigar, and practicing smoke rings. "Morning Rufus. You're working hard I see."
Rufus nodded his head in the best bow he could make with his heavy load. "That's exactly right, sir. I'm delivering parts to McTeeth for the project you and he have going up at the castle. I'm always glad to help out a guild mate and yourself, sir."
Billy blew another smoke ring. "Good to see my workers putting in some overtime. But now that I think about it, you aren't one of my workers, are you? You shouldn't be doing such hard work for no pay. We should make sure you get taken care of."
"That's right sir, I'm a regular player. But I'm learning so much working with your people that I don't mind putting in the overtime. The crafting levels I've gained are really worth a lot more than the labor I put in. No need to worry about me."
A voice behind him sent a chill down his spine. He realized that the Baroness was behind him, holding a large sledgehammer. "Oh, but we do worry about you Rufus. And we want to make sure everyone gets what they deserve. The Baron has been working so hard lately, sometimes things slipped by him, but I've reminded him of a few things that need to be straighten out."
Rufus smiled at both of them. "Hard work is always a great thing. Speaking of that, I should deliver these parts, McTeeth really likes to keep to a schedule."
Billy and Layla flanked him. "Well then, we'll escort you. We wouldn't want to see you delayed by a hungry monster of some sort." Rufus found himself escorted through the ruined buildings and up the steps of the castle. The Baron stopped at the top and pulled some paperwork out of his sleeve.
"Here, this is for you. It has payment for all those hours of overtime you put in working in the smithy. It also has a few charges attached to it for the cost of the metals you used that weren't accounted for. It looks like you might owe me a little bit. Something like 310 gold pieces. Dark Steel doesn't come cheaply."
Rufus looked at the paper. It was very detailed and was written on a piece of heavy parchment with the ACME logo on it.
Layla laughed. "And don't worry about bringing the gold to us. Jorges collected it from the little chest you had buried under the brick pile."
Rufus sighed. He was going to have to hit McTeeth up for more money. That was always a challenge. But it was hard to argue the point with the Baron and Baroness when he was caught in a delivery, and they already had his money.
Layla was whistling as she paced off a distance and consulted a small map. She found a spot in the wall, tapped on it, and then swung the hammer hard at the castle wall. It was a low blow where the wall met the floor. Instead of rebounding off the marble block, something cracked. She hit the same spot three more times, shattering the door to a hidden area. "You can have the honors Billy."
The Baron cleared the debris, and pulled out a small chest. Opening it, Rufus saw it was filled to the brim with gems and gold. He realized it was going to be much harder now to get some money out of McTeeth.
Billy knocked on the large door and it opened. "After you, Rufus. No worries, it's safe right now in the front lobby. You and I and The Baroness and Mr. McTeeth are going to have a small talk, and renegotiate out deal."
The Baroness smiled at him, causing his heart to miss a beat. "And then the Baron and I are going to go make a small visit to The Pit. You and McTeeth are invited to come along."
"NOOOO!!! That was my gold! I earned it fair and square!...mostly. Mine! Gimmee!"
McTeeth could be excused for being upset. He had been working for weeks to clear the traps on the second floor and improve them, with a promised bonus for finishing the work. Rufus was had been bringing the last of the needed parts. He'd planned to leave town after that. Find new people to scam, build up a real crew of thieves, maybe buy a hideout. But that wasn't happening without a lot of money. And his money was in a chest tucked under the arm of a grinning Baron.
"No, I don't think so. I have a use for this nice little chunk of treasure. And it certainly can't be yours. You told me over and over how you were barely breaking even doing all this work. This must be some hidden treasure from centuries gone. Of course, if you want to have a chance at earning some of it back, you can take a little trip with me to take someone else's money."
McTeeth quit struggling, and Rufus relaxed his grasp on the small thief. "Who's money? How much?"
Billy motioned to the other five thieves listening to the conversation. Every one of the five were enjoying the show of McTeeth not winning for once, and wondering how to be a part of this next scam.
The Baron motioned to the other thieves. "We'll discuss it after these other gentlemen leave the castle. I don't like my secrets spread around."
As the five players started for the door, things happened. Alonzo lost his head to a scything blade. Burt was strangled by the statue he was standing next to. Teddy was crushed by a falling stone. Celia fell as the tile she was standing on disappeared. Only a small red-haired girl called Ferret wasn't killed. She leaped towards Burt as a jet of flames came out of the floor and singed the back of her hair. As Burt was flailing, she grabbed his belt pouch and quickly ran to the door, evading another deadfall and stealing Teddy's Boots of Stealthy Sneaking off his feet, which were the only part of him not covered by the stone that had crushed him. As she exited the castle, she waved. "Got to go, nice meeting all you fine folks."
Billy spoke to the empty room. "Was that really necessary?"
"You wanted them out of the castle. I was just helping. And they were here to test traps anyway. I was simply making good use of them as they left."
"It's disappointing that one got away. But I note that the fire jets make a small noise as they activate which may have warned her. I'm sure Rufus would love to work on a solution for that?"
Rufus nervously walked over to the trap and looked at the mechanism. "Yeah, I can fix that. The fuel lines aren't set up right, and that would cause the small delay between the fire starting, and the noise of the pump starting up. That's what alerted her."
"Splendid. Good lad. I look forward to testing them. You probably want to bring a friend with you when come to adjust them."
Billy grabbed Rufus by his collar and pulled him away from where he was starting to take apart the trap. "That's for tomorrow. For today, he's got a little mission for Rufus to go on with me."
"I suppose I can be patient. Off with you. Go play with your friends."
"It's just us now, tell me about the job." McTeeth was eyeing the box under Billy's arm, but one look from the Baroness was all it took to dissuade him from trying a snatch and grab.
Then Billy surprised everyone by handing the box of treasure to McTeeth. "Here, hold this bit of bait. We're wandering over to the Pit. Someone there owes me money, and we're going to take it from them."
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