Crossing the sewers made me recall the day I became Leon Maxwell. I hadn't had any sense of nostalgia since that happened two weeks ago. Those memories weren't good either… In any case, the other members of the group were already cleaning an area where we were going to stay for a while so that we wouldn't get sick or bitten by big ass rats.
When we were done, morning had arrived, the place still smelled like piss, but it was going to improve little by little. Hopefully, Diran sealed the ducts that made shit and piss pass close by, so that should help a bit.
"Let's rest for the day and then talk about business at night. We have some jobs, so we will need to complete them as soon as possible to gain game here."
We unpacked our stuff and began to prepare the makeshift beds. I was getting used to become an owl, but I still felt like I was missing out a lot of things happening outside. Still, I was looking forward to working as a thief and making some money to buy stuff… I probably should look for some magic relics in town tomorrow.
While I had around eight hundred gold coins, they will vanish soon since I was only a grunt in the guild and I would only get minor jobs, Diran could only show that much favor to me when I only proved my skills as a warrior instead of a real thief.
'Healing potions are a thing, but I guess I can sell my services as a healer for them as well… maybe I can even do that outside. I would need to increase my MP, though, and increase the rank of the healing effects in the Healing skill tree.'
If healers were rare in that world, they probably would ask a lot for their services, too. Potions were a thing, but their quality could be dubious. Healing was a lot safer, and I also could make some contacts by asking for low prices. The only problem was if I ended up having to heal my enemies and those who were hunting me down… that would cause me trouble since I wouldn't be able to deny that.
With so many decisions weighing on my mind, I found myself lost in thought over the past few days. Each choice seemed to spiral into a new set of possibilities and consequences. Despite the time I spent thinking and planning, it felt like my efforts were never quite enough to resolve the web of considerations before me.
The constant mental strain began to wear me down, and as the hours ticked by, my focus waned. The physical exhaustion from our recent activities, added to the mental fatigue, made it increasingly difficult to stay sharp. Eventually, I surrendered to the overwhelming need for rest.
I collapsed onto my makeshift bed, my thoughts still swirling as I drifted off. When I awoke, it was already evening. The transition from day to night was seamless, almost as if I had merged with the darkness itself. The realization hit me: I had truly become a night owl, adjusting to a world where the boundaries of day and night had blurred.
"Hey, I am hungry. When are we going to eat? I hope that you are not planning to eat here."
I barely had time to scratch any part of my body when Serana complained. Since she didn't leave my hair for a week, I was starting to lose my bad habits. Even though my body wasn't mine, technically, I still did some things that came by instinct, like scratching my balls the first thing after waking. I wonder if that would ruin the reputation of the real Leon Maxwell.
"... Soon enough. It seems that some people already left the hideout, probably for work."
While I was stretching my arms, Diran showed up. He came from the exit of the hideout, so he probably went to check things outside, or he followed someone who had accepted a job.
"Hey, are you ready to work?"
"What can I do that is very profitable?"
"At your rank, there isn't much, but after completing ten simple odd jobs, then you can get better deals."
Odd jobs for thieves certainly aren't odd jobs… but it was fine since it would increase my opportunities for the future.
"Some of us left to look things for the hideout, while others left to do some jobs. The jobs I had that you could accept were to look for some herbs out of the town, send a message to another branch of the guild, or steal some weapons from the guards in the town who are trying too hard to make a name for themselves."
"It doesn't look like the first two options are related to the jobs that you received yesterday."
"They aren't, but it needs to be done."
I thought that Diran would want to keep me close, but it seemed that he wanted to give me a lot more freedom than expected. Still, the only real work for a thief seemed a bit too much for someone of my skill level… stealing equipped weapons? That would grant a lot of experience, but it also would be pretty dangerous without some tricks.
"I can help with that if you make sure that we eat four times a day out of here."
After hearing Serana's proposal, Diran didn't say anything, he was probably counting on that from the beginning. Still, I didn't want to ower her any favors and while she was weightless, I wanted my privacity back.
"Maybe I should just look for some herbs, and I want to improve my alchemy skills, after all."
"The client is paying fifty gold coins for each weapon that you steal from them."
"... Are they such high-quality weapons?"
"They have basic enchantments, yes."
I wanted an enchanted sword, too, and while I didn't need one agaisnt the guards the other times, I figured out that things would be harder against the beastkin. Having better gear was never a good thing too…
"All right, accept the job. Still, to think that someone would want to disarm the guards… are things really fine here without any authority?"
"They are, in places like this, they can rely on people like us to punish those who deserve it."
"And those who don't deserve it."
"As long as the price is high enough, yes."
That didn't sit well with me, but I already had too much on my plate to worry about the problems of others. Before I left the hideout, Diran took a moment to brief me on some crucial details about the guards I might encounter.
"Listen," he said, his voice low and serious, "these guards move in groups of three. They're not your average run-of-the-mill type; they're stronger and more skilled than the typical city guards. They're a cut above, and you'll need to be cautious. Now, while no one would bat an eye if you took them out, don't expect any special gain from it. In fact, doing so might attract unwanted attention from the various factions that are looking for you. They're already on high alert, and any sign of trouble could make you their next target. Discretion is key here."
Diran's words lingered in my mind as I prepared to leave. The reality of my situation was clearer now: while my skills were improving , they needed to be employed with caution. Any overt action could jeopardize my safety and complicate my plans further. Staying under the radar was not just a preference, it was essential.