The ten collectors trudged into the bustling city of Arenia, the capital of Ared, their carts creaking under the weight of their loads.
Each cart was packed with cages, and within them, the imprisoned lamias shifted uneasily. Just from the looks one could easily tell that these collectors were not kind to them, as they looked like they were already half dead with their expressions. They were not fed or given water through out this whole journey.
And few of them were already dead, but still these collectors brought their bodies since it would fetch some good price for their organs and other body parts.
The sight of the lamia drew immediate attention and not the good kind.
"Ugh, look at those monsters," a merchant sneered, clutching his wares as though the lamia might spring from their cages.
"Quick, get out of the way!" another barked, pulling his child behind him. "Don't even look at them; it'll bring bad luck!"
But not everyone reacted with disdain. Among the crowd, a few sharp-eyed magic item dealers lingered, their gazes appraising. They whispered amongst themselves, excitement glinting in their eyes.
"Those scales would make exceptional enchantment components," one murmured.
"The venom too," another added. "Rare ingredients are hard to come by these days. We need to get our hands on these monsters-"
The collectors paid no mind to the chatter or the glares. Their weathered faces were set in determination as they guided their carts through the streets toward the Adventurer's Guild. They were not ordinary collectors, and their purpose was more significant than simply just hunting one or two monsters. This was a mission ordered by Count Percival himself to eradicate a whole tribe of monsters.
As they reached the massive stone building that housed the Ared Guild, the crowd thinned. Even the most curious spectators hesitated to approach the guild, knowing it was a place where power and danger often converged.
It was the building where all the important stuff in Ared happened. It had a division to register people who could live in the commoner and nobility districts. It had a simple bank that gave the ability to store money. It was also the place where people could sell monster materials and their hunts and get the money.
Collectors were the name given to these private mercenary groups that hunted monsters. It was common to see collectors in all most all the nations since monster materials were rather valuable for any nation, but at the same time, Ared collectors were not allowed to do business other nations unless they take permission from the relevant officials in those country.
These people had strict rules because not all of them had friendly relationships with each other.
The doors swung open, and the collectors marched inside, their boots echoing against the polished stone floors. Guild officials, dressed in sharp uniforms adorned with the guild's crest and Ared's national symbol, turned their attention to the tired looking collectors.
One of the officials, a stout man with a neatly trimmed beard, stepped forward. His eyes scanned the carts and their contents, and he gave a curt nod of approval.
"The best of the best," he said, his tone respectful. "We've been expecting you. Count Percival's request has been fulfilled, I see."
A tall, broad-shouldered collector named Garrick stepped forward, his voice deep and steady. "These are the lamia from the count's territory. As requested, we captured every last one we could find. Less casualties on our side."
The official's brows lifted, clearly impressed. "Less casualties? Remarkable. It seems the count chose his collectors wisely."
"Count didn't choose us, we took this job because we knew we can do this" Garrick replied, his tone carrying a hint of pride. "We specialize in handling dangerous creatures. Our group Pale hunt and.."
Garrick looked at other groups and mentioned all of them one by one showing he was indeed not going to hog all the prasie to his group.
Another collector, a wiry woman named Elisa, stepped up beside him. "But this isn't all of it. There's another group still en route. They should arrive by tomorrow."
The official nodded thoughtfully. "Understood. In that case, we'll hold off finalizing the payment until everyone is accounted for. The guild will ensure the reward is divided fairly among all parties involved."
"Good," Elira from Pale Hunt said. "We trust the guild to handle it. No shortcuts or favoritism."
"Of course," the official replied smoothly. "Now, if you'll follow me, we'll begin processing the paperwork. Count himself has given a special reward for anyone that successfully finish this task."
The collectors watched as guild workers moved to unload the cages from the carts. The lamia inside hissed and recoiled, their eyes darting nervously. Some of the workers hesitated, clearly uneasy handling the creatures, but under the stern gaze of their supervisors, they continued.
Garrick turned to his team. "Get some rest. We'll need to be ready when the second group gets here.We will finish this and get some good rest."
"About time," muttered a younger collector from Pale Hunt named Silas, running a hand through his messy hair. "My legs feel like they're about to fall off."
Elira smirked. "Maybe next time, don't volunteer to pull the cart when the horses spooked."
Silas rolled his eyes but didn't argue. The team dispersed, leaving the guild workers to their tasks. Outside, the city buzzed with rumors of the captured lamia.
"Did you hear? They're selling those monsters to the guild," a baker whispered to his customer.
"Good riddance. The count's been having trouble in those parts for years," the customer replied.
Not far away, a pair of magic item dealers stood in a shadowed alley, speaking in hushed tones.
"We need to get in on this auction," one said. "If the guild is planning to sell materials from those lamia, we can't afford to miss it."
"Agreed," the other replied. "Start gathering coin. We'll need every last bit if we want to outbid the competition. We might also need to start gathering nobility sponsors."
Back at the guild, the collectors reconvened in a private lounge reserved for high-ranking guest of guild and specialists. A roaring fire warmed the room, and mugs of ale were passed around.
Garrick leaned back in his chair, his expression thoughtful. "The count's paying handsomely for this, but I can't shake the feeling that there's more to it than he's letting on."
"You think it's political?" Elira asked, sipping her drink.
"When isn't it?" Garrick replied. "The lamia have been a problem for years, sure. But why now? Why'd he suddenly decide to clear them out? I feel like he wanted the materials more than getting rid of those monsters. I don't blame him to be honest. He will get ten times more money from this than he spent."
Silas shrugged. "Does it matter? We did the job, and we're getting paid. That's all I care about."
Elira shot him a sharp look. "It does matter. If there's more going on, it could affect us. Better to know than to be blindsided later."
"Elira's right," Garrick said. "We'll keep our ears open. For now, though, let's focus on getting the rest of the team here and wrapping this up."