I sleep soundly, and wake up feeling somewhat refreshed, I look up at the worn out roof. I smile to myself another day I will spend doing a job most people don't want to think about. I think back to last night the job went well, but somehow I feel slightly unsatisfied. I think over the few years I have hunted I feel like my skills have sharpened, and perhaps it was time that I challenged myself a little. I get out of bed, stretch, get dressed, comb my hair, and grab something small to eat just a snack should be fine for the morning. I look in my mirror to make sure I at least looked like I was a functional member of society. Staring back at me was a young man with long messy blonde hair, red eyes, a dark black coat, and white baggy pants. The small place I live in isn't big at all really just one bed, a table, and a bathroom that is about it. I head to the front door grabbing my gun, and the bullet pouch I keep on my belt, and head outside.
Once I get outside I notice a little piece of paper still near the door, I am a little uneasy, but decide to pick it up. Once I pick it up I notice the piece of paper is torn at its edges, but upon closer inspection I notice their is a symbol in the middle of the small paper. The symbol looks like a J with a line going diagonally across the J. I crush the piece of paper up, and stash it in my pocket. I am pretty sure I have nom idea what that really means, but I will just assume they got the wrong guy, and move on with my day. I walk down the street to go back to the bounty office, so that I can start my new job right away. The office is packed at this time with hunters looking for work, so I usually wait a few minutes for the riff raff to dissipate. The office is open 24/7. but new bounties are posted everyday at around this time 8:00 am.
Once the crowd dissipates a bit I squeeze in to the front desk to have a look for myself, and above the desk new bounties have been posted. I would like to note their are two sides to bounties in this city one is marked in a red background, and the other in a light blue background. The first in the red background is the devil bounties these bounties are the bounties we have a stake in. Devil bounties are for criminals that are a harm to the city, and are what the local government pay hunter to remove. The other side marked in blue on the other hand are a list of names for people the city considerers assets. These listed names are influential people that the city has deemed protected, and if they are harmed, or worse killed the city will go after the culprits.
Bounty hunters stay out of angel bounties, and instead the city sends out experts that deal with those who harm these "angels." They are known as tax collectors, and are federal agents sent not by our local government, but the federal government of Zalcrum where our little hole resides. The tax collectors are fierce, and will stop at nothing to hunt their pray down, and make them pay with their life if they harm "angels." I spot a man with tired eyes, a little over 28 I would say, long greasy looking black hair, and a black mask over his face. On his black coat their are the letters ZDC which stands for Zalcrum Debt Collector. That is a debt collector he shows up to survey the angel board, and see if he has any targets that have sinned against the angels.
The angel board will also have names on it, and will also have bounties just like the other board, but the bounties are against whoever messes with an angel. These collectors aren't super densely packed though, so normally you might only see one, or twos every morning. I focus on the board on the left the devil board I glance through a couple D tier jobs, but decide I would try my hand at at least a C tier job since they pay better, and I could use more of a challenge. I look around at the C tier jobs lets see we got "Iron Jaw" Reginald with a picture of a tough looking bald guy with what appears to be a iron jaw to replace his lower jaw. Seems too strong I look around some more we also have "The Faceless" Sigmund, with a picture of a red knight looking over the sea with a pile of bodies behind him. What the hell is up with these C tier bounties, how is this guy C tier this man looks like he could carve an army in half with one swing.
Getting a little worried I spot a bounty to the right of Sigmund that catches my eyes, the picture is of a girl around the age of 18. The picture is distorted a bit, but shows a girl with what appears to be mostly rags on holding up a small knife to a man on a horse. The bounty reads "Blood Thief" Marie, and has a bounty that reads only dead the bounty is worth 10 gold pieces. I am not sure yet why the bounty reads only dead, but for 10 gold pieces I grab it without hesitation I am glad nobody else saw this one. I should point out only one bounty hunter may do a job at a time, so as to not step on each others toes. I read the description on the back.
Marie Goldchild is 19 years old she was last seen in the Red Zone outside of Brafton City, she has blonde hair, and green eyes. Marie is very dangerous when you spot her proceeding with caution is a must, and it is advised to kill her as fast as possible. Marie is not to be taken back to Brafton City her death is the only thing that will give you your reward keep that in mind. Marie has committed the deadly crime of robbing shipments to, and from Brafton. The people she has robbed are confirmed to be dead by reports making Marie a C+ tier kill target. One should also note that her ability is unknown at this time.
-Bounty Office
I finish reading, and am a bit confused I wonder why the bounty office wants her only dead, plus the description is concerning in its own way. I consider putting the bounty back, but I figure the gold is too good to pass up, and I did say I wanted a challenge, so I put it in my pocket. I walk out of the bounty office the main question I have now is how I can find this girl in the red zone. The red zone is what we call places outside cities since these locations outside the city are lawless wastelands. The description didn't say exactly where this girl is located, so I would have to go hunting for information. I head to my usual local bar south of the bounty office called the "Seven Domains Bar."
I walk into the bar I see people drinking, laughing, and gambling with each other the bar is always pretty rowdy even in the early morning. One of the best ways I have for information here is the bar tender who is a sort of information broker around here. I grab a few silver out of my wallet, and take a seat in my regular spot. The bar tender Isaac is a large tan man with well defined muscles, he is bald, and is missing a few fingers on his right hand. Issac gives me a stern look, "The usual kid." I give him a nod placing a silver coin on the table he hands me a shot of whiskey, and places it close to me. I pull out another two silver place it on the table for him to see, and pull out the wanted poster I got earlier placing it next to the silver.
Issac takes the two silver coins first, and then glances down at the wanted poster he usually wears a poker face, but his face seems to get intense when he sees the picture. The bar keep Issac has a daughter at home he has told me she lives in another city since he is now divorced, so I think seeing Marie makes him think of his own daughter. Issac's face returns to normal he glances back at me, "Kids too young to be living like that such a shame. I do have some information for you though let me see your map." I nod back at him, "Yeah I don't know her story, but hell she's a murderer, and money is money you understand." I pull out may map of Brafton it includes the city, and a few miles outside the city into the red zone.
Issac studies the map, and gestures for me to look where his finger is pointing the location is near an abandoned mine about a mile or two away. Issac speaks up, "Listen kid this mine used to be owned by the city, but was closed a few years back when local bandits took it over. I hear a couple weeks ago the local bandits were wiped out likely by our little killer here. Local travelling merchants came in here a few days ago, and suggested to me that she was still living in the old mine. They said she tried to rob them, but that isn't much a surprise only one way to survive in the red zone is by killing, or stealing." I raise an eyebrow that was good enough information, but I still had one question. I inquired, "Thanks Issac you always have good info, but one more thing do you know her ability?" Issac sighed, "That's the thing anyone that gets close enough to see her face ends up dead, so no I really can't tell you." Great some criminal I choose maybe this would be a bit over my head, but oh well the pay will be good once this is all over.