LOOT DROP Chapter: 21

  “Outside of a window you destroyed and a merchant stall, the damage to the market place was fortunately very miniscule. But, I will have to charge you with public disturbance and destruction of private property,” Crimson said, the manager looking at Fisk with eyes behind tiny glasses.

  “Charged? I'm the victim!” Fisk replied, “Hell, Faith did nothing wrong and she got struck by an attack!”

  “I know. But you've driven away hundreds of immortals, the lifeblood of the local economy. Before they arrived, this town was nothing more than a mining outpost. Now it is bustling up and coming trade hub with goods and wares peddled from all the neighboring towns including the Republic of Artharva. The merchant guild is in an uproar and even the magistrate has taken notice. As a member of our organization, leaving you unscathed would be bad for our public image.”

  Fisk frowned, “So… what does this mean?”

  “It means I have to fine you, but, judging from your gear, I doubt you have the necessary funds to compensate.”

  “This is bullshit,” Fisk scowled.

  “Bull… shit?” Crimson replied, “I'm unfamiliar with that term. In any case, the fine is fifty-thousand fluers.”

  Fisk's eye twitched, “Or, counter offer, you point out the shops that have a problem with me and I'll burn them to the ground. All those people saw me and Faith get attacked and not one said or did a damn thing.”

  Crimson's face fell neutral, the woman blinking in silence, unsure if Fisk was being literal.

  “You must not be very familiar with the immortals,” Crimson said, sighing before her brow furrowed, “I don't like it either, but this is the way things are, even the government is weary of drawing the ire of the immortals. Imprisoning them doesn't work, killing them doesn't work, fining them doesn't work either as whatever fine we give them is paid quickly.”

  “So ultimately I'm being used as a scapegoat.”

  “I'm sorry,” Crimson said, “It's a hefty sum, the merchants and suppliers are the backbone of our economy but I do have an out, something suited to your skills.”

  “An out?” Fisk said, looking down at the piece of paper slid across the table.

  “There's a griffin that's been terrorizing a shipping lane through the atlas plateau, you hunt that griffin and not only will your debt be cleared, you'll have the patronage of every merchant in the region, better prices too, maybe even a medal.”

  Fisk picked up the paper, the difficulty of the mission rated S. However, that wasn't what caught his attention the most but rather the location of its territory.

  Well… isn't this lucky… Fisk inwardly growled, the location of the griffin being the same as a token he needed to hunt.

  “Why not send the immortals after it if it's causing so much trouble?” Fisk asked. "Or better yet, if its such a problem, why doesn't the government handle it."

  “We have, but no matter how many times they challenge the beast, somehow it always manages to get away. The monster is dangerous, and the magistrate is weary about wasting lives.”

  “So… Let me get this straight, you want me to fight what is basically the equivalent of a flying lion to absolve myself of a debt incurred because I-the victim, was attacked?”

  “Would you rather be imprisoned and working in the mines? No one likes it when the status quo is upset, and your recent incident has done a lot of upsetting.”

  “I rather not be being screwed over,” Fisk scowled, snatching the paper off the desk and rising to his feet. “But let it be known, I ain't happy.”

  Stolen story; please report.

  “I know, but, perhaps this will improve your mood,” Crimson said before, reaching from below her desk to reveal a tray of what appeared to be cookies.

  “Cookies…?” Fisk said, looking down at the charred bits of dough.

  “Do you not like cookies?” Crimson said, her titanic hands tightening around the cookie tray, causing the slab of metal to bend.

  “I… I fail to see how a burnt overcooked cookie can help ease my simmering anger about being screwed over, penniless, and tasked to kill a monster from Lord of the rings. What? Why do you look like you're about to cry?”

  “No… reason. Since you obviously have poor taste, there's also this,” Crimson said sullenly as she tapped a bell on her desk, summoning one of the receptionists dragging a cart behind her.

  “What is this?” Fisk asked, noting the armful of weapons, armor, and knicknacks piled onto a wooden cart.

  “Your spoils, everything collected from the Immortals you vanquished,” Crimson replied.

  “Wait… you're telling me… they drop loot?!” Fisk said, nearly yelling.

  “It takes some time, but when an immortal is killed sometimes items they once possessed appear where they were slain,” Crimson said. "You really don't know this?"

  “Oh… is that so?” Fisk said, unable to hide the smirk on his face, fortunately, he wore a mask that obscured his insidious expression.

  Wait…

  Fisk frowned, realizing the times he'd killed players where he could have gotten loot.

  “As their vanquisher, anything within is yours to take, whatever you don't want will be remanded to the merchants and magistrate,” Crimson said as Fisk leaned over to look at his spoils.

  “I see…” Fisk said as Crimson got up and prepared to leave.

  “I'll leave you too it,” Crimson said, leaving the office with her tray of cookies in hand.

  ****

  “Tch, just my luck,” Fisk frowned, eyeing the heap of broken weapons and armor that were of no use to him while the items that were still usable were locked behind level caps that Fisk didn't meet.

  However, there were a few potions, some crafting materials, and miscellaneous items but out of everything, only one item stood out the most to Fisk.

  [Mystery Egg][SSR]

  -An Egg bearing the offspring of a mystery creature. A chicken? A Dragon? A Dog? Anything could be within! Love and tender care will surely bless the holder with a faithful companion!

  Fisk raised his brow as he held the rainbow colored egg aloft, it's sheen casting a glare that hurt his eyes.

  “Huh… so this is what that Sonichu creep was offering to get them to attack me,” Fisk said before opening the forums to look for information regarding the griffin.

  However, the moment he did he was greatest by a steady stream of complaint posts.

  -Dozens killed by One Leg!

  -One Leg is a judge!

  -Never hunting an NPC again!!!

  -NPCs too strong Please Nerf!

  -Playet Killer on the Loose!!!

  -Let this be a lesson.

  -Panthet Miniboss not respawning?

  -Looking for Party to attempt Griffin hunt.

  -How can I recover my gear?

  “Hmm. Looks like something good came of this after all…” Fisk said to himself, his eyes combing over the plethora of complaints from players unhappy about their recent run in.

  Maybe I should hunt some players… Fisk said to himself, before looking at the pile of useless items beside him and then opening up the search bar to find information on the griffin.

  According to the forums, the griffin terrorizing the trade route of the atlas plateau was considered a region boss, a monster with high stats requiring teams of players organized into raids to subdue.

  Fisk frowned, reading the posts about the griffin raid. Apparently, one couldn't kill the griffin, as once dropped to one percent HP, the beast would activate a special skill, granting it invincibility before flying off, allowing the players to raid its nest for loot which would be the end of the quest.

  How the hell am I supposed to kill it then? Fisk frowned, Nevermind killing it, how do I fight it?!

  Fisk opened his skill menu, his Skill Capture ability now reverted back to its original form.

  “If I still had that Judge's attack…”

  The gears in Fisk's head were turning, an idea, sinister in nature but suited to his needs blossoming in his mind as a smirk settled on his face on what to do with all the discarded items.

  Fisk rose from the chair, grabbing the cart and dragging it out of the office with Faith waiting in the adjoining room for him.

  “Oh! Are you done?” Faith asked, following in step with Fisk. “Where are we going?”

  “To make some money and con an immortal into commiting a crime,” Fisk said, exiting the back office of the guild hall into an empty room where no player was to be seen.

  "Wait? What?" Faith let out, following Fisk who was smiling ear to ear.

  Outside, Fisk opened the forums once more, this time, making a post.