Seeing the number of herbs slowly ticking down Moros realised that he had to make his escape plan. He was seen as the guide to these kids lusting for murder without having the qualifications to do so.
Certainly, it was also not intended that he let them kids do whatever they wanted on the planet of Avarosia. He did not believe any of these monsters could harm the human monsters, but the mere thought of what would happen if they did…
He did not even want to imagine the potential consequences he would face if this scenario came into play.
For that very reason, he needed to find a way to escape out of the central guild without the clerks, body-guards or whoever was present noticing him.
Else he would be screwed in possible ways a human could imagine, except that one pleasant one.
Just running away from the scene was not an option, with his body being in this state riddled with injuries it would be a wonder if he could stand up to run in the first place.
Leaving him with no other option than consulting a dear friend who would help him out of this scenario in some shape or form. Which brought him to another point, his lack of friends. There were only 2 people he could imagine asking such a question.
The first being Malissa, but having to explain how he got injured, why and how he became the guide of the kids would take ages. With him not having the time and energy to explain all the details surrounding his fate, it was pretty clear that she was not an option.
The other option was his dear friend Poppycock and his dear friend was not exactly the type of person you would want to be associated with in a public space.
He kiiiinda was seen as a terrorist for bombing a place or two, which did not give him the best kind of reputation. Moros had never seen him do anything like that, but he did not deny it either.
They both lived their best life not asking what the other had done and was doing.
The problem with Poppycock was that he needed to convince him to come save him…and the guy was not exactly the type of person who would save Moros from the bottom of his heart, no he wanted cash.
Moros needed to provide information or pay him enough money.
It was rather fortunate that he had stumbled into this secret dungeon, since finding a new dungeon location was always a great way to make lots of money. One filled with goblins might never be the most lucrative, but it should be enough to get him out of the central guild place one way or the other.
Not willing to waste any more time, he simply shot his friend a message via the magical visor.
"I need a favour, will exchange for a new dungeon location."
Moros did not have to wait long before the reply came.
"What kind? What is it worth?"
Conversations with Poppycock were always kept to the absolute minimum. Moros loved how to the point their exchange was. Now, he asked for what he needed his help and how much money was involved. The higher the potential cut, the bigger the risk he was willing to bear.
"An extraction from the Central Guild, plus a distraction. A Goblin dungeon, uncleared. No rare monster spotted."
"Dangers? People involved?"
Moros pondered for a second, the potential dangers lay in the people that would be waiting for him and the kids. Bodyguards of rich families would certainly be present, guild clerks too. Police, or other officers were out of question, too low the danger of the world to warrant such a response.
"Rich families involved, their kids present. Bodyguards 100%, officers 50/50."
The reply did not come immediately. Moros knew that his friend was comparing the risks to the potential reward. After all the calculations were done he would get an answer whether or not he was taking the job or if Moros could get ready for prison.
2 minutes passed before Moros' Magical Visor popped out the message of Poppycock.
"Making a loss here, I am sending you an escort. Let me know when it shall start."
Moros glanced at the herbs count and prepared himself mentally for whatever was about to go down in the central guild.
[19800 herbs had been collected]
"I will send you a message."
[19850 herbs have been collected]
Moros forced his mind to be as concentrated as possible, since it was not yet time to lose focus. Not yet, when everything was just moments away from being dangerous and filled with risks.
He did not even look at the herb counter anymore, he just waited for the notification of the magical visor confirming that the quota of the herbs had been reached and that the teleport back had been initiated and he did not have to wait long.
[Gathered amount: 20000/20000]
[Mission status: Success]
[Summary of events: The descendants of the renowned families have shown remarkable persistence and prowess in battle to secure the herbs. Additionally, they displayed enormous tactical understanding by spreading out to create a wide net to create a bigger search radius for the herbs. As such the evaluation of their efforts is to be given the highest grade: A+]
[System suggests the guide to not sleep on the job, as his efforts should be seen as a role model for the children of the next generation]
[Initiating teleport sequence]
"Go" a simple message was sent seconds prior to the teleport.
Closing his eyes, he was assaulted by a loud wave of noise as loud children screamed full of joy, running to their bodyguards and nannies.
"Find him, find the imposter," yelled the clerk, who should have done a much better job. Otherwise, Moros would have never been in this kind of situation to begin with.
For the time being, Moros was saved, buried deep amidst the small sea of happily chatting kids, lying on the floor. His blood dripped on the floor, creating a true lively scene for the clean-up crew this place has.
Seconds went by in a flash, the crowd of kids thinned. All eyes scanned the room, they were looking for him. They were looking for Moros.
"Where is my escort? Where is my escort?" Moros' thoughts raced, he held his breath. He was trying not to draw any attention, he could and should not be seen here.
But more and more seconds passed and there were fewer and fewer kids that stood between the bodyguards and his weakened, injured body lying on the floor.
Suddenly, glass breaks, from the ceiling, something wrapped in cloth appears.
A loud explosion, the bodyguards throwing themselves at the kids, shielding them with magic from any harm. A distraction occurred, enough for another device to explode.
This time a sea of thick fog filled the central guild, making it impossible to see more than a few centimetres.
Moros felt happy, his shoulders relaxed and he knew that he would get away from any responsibility. Leaving it to Poppycock was the best thing he could have done in this situation.
Without him…he did not even want to think about it.
A man danced through the fog and haze, dressed in black garments, he appeared more like a reaper than human. Spotting Moros with ease he vanished again, only to appear behind him.
A knife at Moros' throat.
"Name," a cold voice commanded.
"Cheap Fucker," the answer weak, spoken with much effort.
"Identity confirmed." The knife was removed and Moros' body was picked up without any trouble.
The magicians had started to blow the fog away with wind magic, but the man already had extracted the two of them, by bursting through a window and running into the get-away mana vehicle parking at the street.
Moros was simply thrown onto the backseats and the car speeded off into an unknown direction.
Poppycock sat on the passenger seat puffing in his pipe.
"You do really get into all sorts of trouble, huh?" he did not expect Moros to answer, since this was not the first time he had to bail him out. Though he certainly did not expect it to be under these kinds of circumstances.
"The info better be worth it, or else my friend here, will take his cut out of your body parts, capiche?"
Friends were friends, but on the black market, money meant money.
While he did like to help his friend, he could never do it without receiving something of value in return. His friend here would never move if he did not get compensation.
"So, do tell me Moros: how did you come to find a dungeon?"
He handed Moros a drink and slipped in an unknown pill.
"You know the drill, swallow it and if ya lie, your heart goes boom."
Moros did not speak and simply swallowed the drink whole. This was not a lie, he knew that money was the only thing people of their kind did not joke about.
Moros pushed himself up with great difficulty and began to speak.
"It was like this…"