"Now… Now I'm not a merciless man," Blackbeard said. "There's always a test, to get into the Crooked-Tooth men, you see. Just because I'm impressed with him, and see his potential, doesn't mean I can just let him wander in, aye? The men have got to see what he's capable of as well. We can't have weak men calling themselves Crooked-Tooth. So, I'm thinking we can maybe solve all our problems at once, aye? No reason that anyone needs to be left feeling wronged by this. Everyone can get what they want. What do you say, Usar?"
"What are you suggesting?" Usar asked, shifting uncomfortably, well aware that he'd been thrust into the position of responsibility for all the men that they'd brought with them. There were sergeants amongst them – men that should have been taking command. But in the face of Blackbeard, they remained as silent as new recruits. 'Damn them,' Usar cursed silently. He wasn't paid enough for this.
"A little game. We like games, don't we fellas?" Blackbeard said, his men cheered in agreement. "Bloody games are the best. What do you say, newcomer? Are you fond of games of blood as well?"
"Depends," Vol said grimly. His left arm was completely out of commission, and his Yarmdon Thrill had worn off a while ago. He was not in his best shape. Far from it.
"That's the right answer," Blackbeard said. "Well then, let's see. Moesh, what do you think would be a fair test for our new recruit here? How many of these guardsmen do you reckon you could take?"
"'Ow many? I reckon I could take three whilst pissing, and four would be comfortable. But that welp you've picked up's got arrows in his arm. I don't fancy his chances. I'd be impressed seeing two men go down," Moesh said, whilst scratching his scraggly beard.
"What about you, Nootka, what do you say?" Blackbeard pointed to another of his men. This one spat a large globule of phlegm before replying.
"I could take five of this lot. They're already pissing themselves with fear. But aye… Three with arrows through the arm – I'd be impressed with that. Would help get rid of the scent of milk about that young fuckin' face of his. Can't take a lad seriously lookin' as young as that," Nootka said.
"What are you planning…?" Usar asked, only to be ignored.
"Well then, lad, you've heard from a couple of my most senior men. How many of this lot do you reckon you can take?" Blackbeard asked. "Keep in mind, we're all you've got. You're as much of a hostage in this as they are. If you're useless to us, you're dead. The only way to win your way with men like us is through strength."
"And why would I want to win my way with men like you?" Vol asked. Blackbeard had guided everything so far, practically forcing Vol into the position he was in.
"You tell me, boy. What are you looking for? Gold? Glory? Looking to get stronger? Tell you, you're not gonna find that in none of these towns. All you're looking to find is a hangman's noose. There'll be a bounty on your head now, and no opportunities but a life on the run. Seems to me that the Crooked-Tooth Raiders are a better option than someone like you could hope for, eh?"
Vol, despite wanting to hate Blackbeard for all his conniving, could not shake off that argument. It was exactly what he wanted. He needed an opportunity. He needed greater battles. This running through the woods and sparring with minor lawmen, it would not turn him into the monster that he needed to be to beat Oliver.
The System promised him strength, but he needed the time and the opportunity to make use of it.
!! SYSTEM ANNOUNCEMENT
QUESTLINE UNLOCKED!
GAIN CONTROL OF THE CROOKED-TOOTH RAIDERS!
QUEST STEPS… LOCKED
QUEST REWARDS:
- SQUADRON BUILDING (BASIC)
- ???
Vol nearly cursed as he heard the System's announcement running through his head again. He was struck by a sudden realization. It was not Blackbeard that had strung all this together, it was the System. The System had guided him to this very place and time, just as it had guided him to Nookhaven and to Lydia's shop. He dragged him to wherever there was conflict, and progress to be made.
He should have felt angry at that, but he didn't. The System had resurrected him, and the System had sworn to give him the strength to kill Oliver. He would have eaten soil for decades if that was what it asked of him.
Other men, it was hard to bow his head to any of them now, and accept their orders, now that he'd been given his first taste of freedom, and now that he knew his own strengths… But if it was the System who gave him the orders instead, commanding him to follow Blackbeard, at least for a time, then he didn't mind so much. They were the orders of a God. A being that had saved his life, and a being that promised him the greatest thing that he could imagine. That was something that he could follow willingly, even into the most horrific of places.
!! SYSTEM ANNOUNCEMENT
QUEST OF QUESTLINE 'GAIN CONTROL OF THE CROOKED-TOOTH RAIDERS' UNLOCKED!
EARN THE RESPECT OF THE CROOKED-TOOTH MEN!
GAIN ENTRY INTO THE CROOKED-TOOTH RAIDERS BY SLAYING NOOKHAVEN GUARDSMEN
0/5 GUARDSMEN SLAIN
REWARDS:
STRENGTH +1
WEAPONS SKILL +6
AGILITY +2
STAMINA +3
ADVANCED REGENERATION (ONE-TIME USE ONLY. UPON REMOVING ARROWHEADS VESSEL WILL SPEND THE NEXT 48H WITH 5X NORMAL REGENERATION LEVELS)
And just like that, Vol's decision was made for him. Unable to feel his arm, he gave a bloodthirsty smile.