Chapter 433: A bunch of Menaces

“It sounds like you aren’t interested,” Alex said, waving his hand dismissively. “Don’t worry about it, then. I’m sure we can figure out some other use for the giant magical energy source that you’ve been begging for.”

“Whoa there!” Mite exclaimed, darting over before Alex could turn away. “You haven’t finished introducing me properly! Introductions are important! A society is built off its connections, you know!”

He thrust his hand out to Vil.

She looked down at it. Then she glanced over to Alex. She fortunately didn’t seem too offended at Mite’s brash nature. If anything, she looked more amused.

It was clear she was checking just how far she was allowed to push this. Alex gave her a small shrug. At this point, she was going to have to integrate into Mirrorwane at some point. Letting her handle herself was the best option. She didn’t strike him as the type that would need any help in a situation like this anyway.

“I’m Vil,” she said slowly. “And you are—”

“Mite,” he replied. “The resident bioengineer. Smartest one in town.”

“Only one in town,” May called.

“Shut up!” Mite called over his shoulder. He looked back to Vil, his eyes glinting. “So… about that energy source. You usin’ it?”

“I am,” Vil replied. Then a small grin flitted across her lips. “And I’d be willing to part with it. For the right price, of course.”

She shot another look at Alex and Claire.

Claire shrugged. Alex did the same.

Sure, Vil had already promised them the energy source. It technically wasn’t hers to sell anymore. But Mite was going to have to learn to be a bit more civil at some point or another. Nobody got anywhere by being rude. So long as she didn’t rinse him too hard, it was all just banter that would hopefully get him to at least try to be a bit nicer.

“What kind of price?” Mite asked eagerly.

“Well, it needs a bit of extraction,” Vil said. “Nothing too crazy. How about… you’re an engineer, yeah?”

“The town’s only bioengineer,” Mite said. “No other options, really. I’m the sole person you can count on to do this. Just name your price.”

“Can you make me a house?” Vil asked. “A small one, somewhere out of the way? Assuming the town has room for that.”

They both looked to Alex and Claire.

“Fine with me,” Alex said. “We have space in spades. Just don’t make it huge.”

“A house? That’s easy,” Mite boasted through a grin. “I can make that no problem. Give me that energy source and it’s all yours.”

“Then it’s all yours,” Vil said. She paused for a moment. Then she grinned. “Provided Alex gives it to you.”

“Huh?” Mite asked. He looked over to them. “But…”

“She already promised us the energy source,” Alex said through a snicker. “Which I would have informed you of in a few moments. But don’t let me get in the way of a deal. Consider it done.”

Mite opened his mouth, raising a finger. He stood there for a moment. Then he let his hand drop, his shoulders slumping.

“Goddamn it.”

“I’ll draw you up a design,” Vil said, clapping him on the shoulder. “Looking forward to it.”

Mite stood there speechless for a second. Then he let out a sigh.

“Yeah. Great. Awesome.” He glanced over to Alex. “Can we go get the thing now? Or is there anything else I need to know?”

“Not much,” Alex replied cheerfully. “It’s strapped up to be a bomb, though. So do make sure you don’t blow Mirrorwane up, yeah?”

Mite squinted at Alex, clearly trying to tell if he was joking or not. Then he shrugged. “Yeah. That seems easy enough, actually. Who made the bomb?”

You could be reading stolen content. Head to NovelPhoenix for the genuine story.

“I did,” Vil said.

“Good. Then you’re coming to help me. Houses aren’t free,” Mite said. “And could I get Derek as well?”

Alex shrugged. “If you can find him. Seems he’s off hunting shit in the forest right now.”

“Good enough,” Mite said. He rubbed his hands together eagerly. “I’ll be back soon enough. I can’t wait to get this thing. I’ve been waiting for another energy source for ages.”

He strode off. Vil hesitated for a moment longer. Then she strode after him. The two slipped through the crowd and headed off toward the town gate.

“You think it’s fine to leave them alone?” Alex asked in a low tone.

“No,” Claire replied. She looked to Rhyss. “Keep an eye on Vil. Just in case.”

“Of course,” Rhyss replied, inclining his head.

“I’m sure it’ll be fine, though,” Claire added. “After all, they’re getting Derek. I don’t think anyone would be stupid enough to try anything with him around. And it certainly seems like Vil should fit in quite well. So long as the System hasn’t affected her too badly and she doesn’t try to betray us, she’ll be a good addition to the town.”

“That much I can agree with,” Alex said. He grinned. “At the very least, I get the feeling it’ll be interesting.”

Claire nodded.

“We’ll do a more proper catch-up later,” Alex called, turning back to face the crowd. “I’m going to go figure out exactly what it was we got from the System and share it with you all toward the evening. Until then — great job. Relax, recover, do whatever the hell it is you normally do. Be proud. We made it past the first wave. Just don’t let your guard down. I still don’t know when the next one is coming.”

A round of murmured assent met him. People dispersed, turning to head back to their normal duties, until the only ones left around them were Orchid, Wess, May, and Aaron.

“Should we be concerned about the newcomer?” Wess asked.

“No,” Alex replied. “But we should be wary. Don’t alienate her. Vil’s previous town betrayed her and pushed her into the Mirrorlands. I don’t imagine she’s feeling very trusting right now. Hostile eyes will only make that worse. But that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t keep your eyes open.”

“Treat her well, but don’t be stupid,” Claire finished.

“Can do,” Wess said. He grinned. “I’m the king of suave.”

“No flirting with her,” Claire said.

“What?” Wess sent Claire a distraught look. “What made you think—”

“Nothing. But you’re probably looking to run her pockets given she came from the Mirrorlands, and you think you’re hot shit,” Claire replied. “Which probably means you think you have a good chance of flirting your way into stealing her spatial ring.”

Wess paused for a moment. Then he cleared his throat. “I never said I was planning any of that.”

“You didn’t have to,” Claire said. “Just don’t. Unless you’re actually interested. Then I don’t care what you do. But you aren’t. I can tell.”

Wess sighed. “You’re a real killjoy, you know that?”

“Can I train with her?” May asked. “If she’s been in the Mirrorlands, I bet she’s strong.”

“Not alone,” Alex said. “But if you bring Aaron or Orchid with you, it’s probably fine.”

Orchid nodded in agreement. “I’ll keep an eye on her as well. I’m used to Outworlder politics. I doubt she’s better at hiding her intentions than they are. Vil’s from Earth, right?”

“Yeah,” Claire said, but she rolled the word over in her mouth more pensively than normal. It was a moment before she spoke again. “I don’t believe she’s actively malicious. But…”

“But what?” Wess asked.

“There was Mirrorlands Qi filling her when we first met,” Claire said. “It didn’t last long. There’s a chance that it was just the last effects of her getting messed with by the System. I don’t know. But while it had her… she seemed mad. Bloodlusted, almost.”

“Well, I guess we know who to point at if people start going missing in the middle of the night,” Wess drawled.

“That isn’t going to happen,” Alex said. “Rhyss is keeping an eye on things. Right?”

“I will inform you immediately of any abnormal behavior,” Rhyss confirmed. “It is correct to be wary of anything and anyone touched by the System.”

“What does that mean we should think of you?” Wess asked through a chuckle. “You’re from the System, right?”

There was a moment of silence as Rhyss simply stared at Wess.

Wess cleared his throat.

“Ah. Right.”

“I will resume my duties,” Rhyss said. “Congratulations on surviving the first wave.”

“Oh, hold on,” Alex said. “Any info on when the next one is coming?”

Rhyss shook his head. “No. Not yet. But I doubt the System would throw a second wave at us so quickly. The difficulty is meant to ramp. Not jump exponentially. That does not mean it is impossible, but—”

“Gotcha,” Alex said. “We’ll just be ready for it, then.”

“That would be best,” Rhyss said.

Then he was gone.

“Lovely,” Wess said. He rubbed at his chin. “Well. Now that Claire has banned me from having fun, I’m going to have go find something more interesting to do. Anyone wanna go kill shit with me?”

“Oh!” May exclaimed, thrusting a hand up into the air. “Me!”

“We were just fighting,” Aaron said.

“But now we aren’t,” May said. “And I’ve still got energy.”

Aaron rolled his eyes. Then he shrugged. “Fine. Let’s go.”

“Great,” Wess said, rubbing his hands together. “I’ll take half the profits.”

“What? No. There are three of us,” Aaron said. “Three ways. Don’t think you get to count May out because she’s young—”

“I wasn’t counting May out. She’s a menace,” Wess replied, strolling toward the Warped Embassy’s entrance with a chuckle. “I was counting you out. What’re you going to do, throw a dice at me?”

“I — what?” Aaron exclaimed. But before he could say anything else, Wess had stepped through the portal.

“Come on,” May said, tugging on his arm. “Let’s show him what we can do.”

“Yeah,” Aaron said, his eyes narrowed. “Let’s.”

The two of them darted after Wess.

“They’re getting on well,” Claire said.

“That’s one way to put it,” Alex said. He shook his head, then grinned. “Well, let’s go check out the Town Hall, shall we? I believe there should be some rewards waiting there for us since we passed the Trial. I’m looking forward to seeing what the System sent us.”