Delvers LLC: Obligations Incurred Read online

  Contents

  Title

  Copyright

  Dedication

  Foreword

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Chapter 10

  Chapter 11

  Chapter 12

  Chapter 13

  Chapter 14

  Chapter 15

  Chapter 16

  Chapter 17

  Chapter 18

  Chapter 19

  Chapter 20

  Chapter 21

  Chapter 22

  Chapter 23

  Chapter 24

  Chapter 25

  Book End

  Author's Note

  SOO Introduction

  SOO1 Chapter 1

  SOO1 Chapter 2

  SOO1 Chapter 3

  Goodbye

  Delvers LLC: Obligation Incurred

  Delvers LLC Book Two

  By Blaise Corvin

  Delvers LLC: Obligations Incurred

  Copyright ©2017 by Blaise Corvin

  All rights reserved.

  No part of this work may be used or reproduced in any manner whatsoever without written permission except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles or reviews.

  Dedication

  This might be kind of weird, but I want to thank my dog.

  Seriously. Hear me out!

  I’ve been through a lot over the last nine years, and my terrible, grumpy puppy has been with me for every step. Sure, she’s antisocial, she hates women (which makes dating problematic), she’s mildly special needs, she can be utterly disgusting, and requires a little extra care…

  But she’s also unfailing loyal and protective.

  I love this dog with my whole heart.

  She can’t read this, and she probably won’t be with me much longer, but thank you, Lulu. Thank you for being my best friend. Thank you for being my family. I will always love you. You’re like the daughter I will never have.

  You left an enormous, positive impact in my life. I will always, always remember you, and hopefully, others will as well thanks to this dedication. I hope you’re with me for a a few more years, and I plan to make them count.

  -BC

  Foreword

  Hello readers! This book is the second of a series that I would classify as a subtle LitRPG Fantasy adventure.

  You might be curious what LitRPG is. The acronym literally means, Literary (or Literature) RPG (Role Playing Game). These types of stories have been extremely popular in Russia and other countries. They’re just now making an impact in the West!

  LitRPG is usually a funky mix of Fantasy and Sci Fi. The types of stories can vary, but what most LitRPG novels have in common is some clear method of progression (like leveling up) as well as a setting that most gamers can immediately relate to.

  I really had a lot of fun writing this book. If you’d like to visit my web serial website, the URL is http://blaise-corvin.com/

  I also have a writer’s note in the back of the book with a whole mess of links as well as a few reading suggestions. If you’re on Facebook and would like to join a LitRPG group, the link for the LitRPG Society is here: LitRPG Society Group on FB

  I hope you enjoy your time on Ludus again with Henry and Jason!

  Mirana Summons

  Jason was nervous, even with a longsword riding on his hip. He gaped at the ornate hallways of the Mirana Government Building, which he thought actually resembled a palace. His friend Henry was walking next to him as they both followed their young friend Bezzi-ibbi, his mother Henna-ibbi, and his birth mother Banna-ibbi. Jason had no idea why both of Bezzi-ibbi’s mothers had come with them but his father, Hajim-ibbi, had stayed behind.

  Mo’hali customs and leadership roles were weird. Every time Jason thought he had the Jaguar Clan figured out, he was proven wrong.

  Their whole group was wearing fancy clothing. Since Jason and Henry were adopted members of the Jaguar Clan, they wore the same fine robes of black and green as Bezzi-ibbi and his mothers. They all bore weapons as well. The fact he was allowed his sword had surprised him at first, but then Jason reasoned that, on a world where people could use magic, trying to control bladed weapons would’ve been fairly silly.

  Of course, Mo’hali Heroes could suppress magic in an area if they were near the same strength as a mage or stronger, but Jason was beginning to realize just how rare Heroes were. He snapped himself out of his wandering thoughts and began studying his opulent surroundings again. His group was silent as they followed their guide, a friendly, long-faced Terran woman in her middle years.

  Jason absently noted that their guide was wearing the same red uniform as every other Mirana city worker. The black pants, red shirt, and red vest were unchanged with the exception of different badges sewn on the chest. He reasoned the badges noted rank, or position, or both. Their guide’s bobbing ponytail was a welcome distraction to avoid thinking about darker, more upsetting things.

  The whole group was still reeling from tragedy.

  It had been two weeks since Henry had discovered George Jacobs dead, murdered, and the rest of the farming village slaughtered. Since then, Mareen had thrown herself into providing the villagers proper burial, paying off their debts, and hiring investigators to discover who had killed her grandfather and friends.

  So far, they’d gotten no new information back. In fact, one highly recommended investigator had disappeared altogether. He wasn’t turning in reports anymore.

  Mareen had even called in a favor at the Adventurers Guild, putting out a notice that her grandfather, the late adventurer Thato Jacobs’ father, had been murdered. A large number of adventurers had been shocked and tried to help, not least because it had occurred so close to the city. The fact the murder had actually been part of a full-fledged massacre had not been advertised, but some adventurers had found out anyway.

  Truth be told, Jason had actually been expecting to be summoned somewhere for questioning. He wasn’t entirely sure how law enforcement worked on Ludus or in the country of Tolstey in particular, but a massacre right outside the Mirana city walls definitely had to be of interest to somebody. The night Henry and Mareen had discovered the carnage visited upon Mareen’s grandfather and friends, Aodh’s nearby family, the O’Breens, had alerted the Guard.

  However, while Jason had felt he might get questioned by the Guard, he had not expected to be summoned by Mirana’s governor.

  Aodh and Mareen both had been invited to the audience as well, attendance optional, but neither of them had chosen to come. Mareen was buried in responsibility, but the way her eyes were puffy every morning made it obvious that she was crying every night. Henry looked haggard too, probably doing his best to comfort his girlfriend while working through his own grief. Jason felt heartbroken, but at least he hadn’t seen George’s remains.

  He could go without that image in his head for the rest of his life. Thank God for small favors, he thought.

  Aodh hadn’t come out of his room much for the past week. The boy was listless. Jason honestly didn’t know what to do to raise morale for the members of Delvers LLC, the adventuring company he owned with Henry.

  After walking down multiple corridors that all looked the same, they came to heavy, metal-bound double doors flanked by masked, spear-wielding guards. The guards were Mo’hali, both of them rabbit-race, and Jason wondered if at least one was a Hero. He figured if the Jaguar Clan could get pet Heroes, rulers probably could too.

  Casta, their guide through the Mirana government buil
ding, pushed open the doors and ushered them inside before vanishing down the hall.

  The room was not as opulent as the rest of the building, it was actually fairly plain. It reminded Jason of a generic family room on Earth, with the addition of a large desk in the corner and a solid-looking table against one wall. A few cozy couches with sofa tables sat in aesthetically pleasing locations. A few other tables made for handy flat surfaces. Tasteful artwork lined the walls.

  Two people in cloaks were sitting on the vintage-looking Earth-style couch to one side. Two Mirana Guards in red uniforms stood at the far end of the room. One, a young Terran man, stood stiffly, eyes darting around. The other Guard, an Areva woman with dusky skin, seemed bored and picked at her fingernails.

  The last person in the room, a Terran woman with blonde hair in her late 30s, sat at the head of the table. She had sheaves of paperwork before her and muttered as she flipped through a document. She wore a white halter dress with embroidered red flowers. Her red lacquered fingernails tapped on the table as she read.

  It didn’t take Jason long to figure out the woman at the table was probably the governor of Mirana. She was thin with pale skin, an upturned nose, low cheekbones, freckles, and a well-defined chin. Her hair was gathered in a bun on top of her head with two thin bronze knives stuck through to keep it in place. An ornate staff leaned against the wall. The fact it was white and decorated with flowers made its owner somewhat obvious.

  Jason decided the governor looked like an irritated librarian with a big, solid stick within arm’s reach. The thought didn’t help his nerves.

  Without looking up, the governor said, “Right on time. I appreciate that, especially since nobody in this God-forsaken place has wristwatches. Do you know how hard it is to schedule anything around here when nobody ever knows what time it is?

  “The two Mirana Guards are Captain Haili and Lieutenant Boone. They have my full trust, and I believe one of you has met them already.”

  Henry cleared his throat and waved, “Nice to see you again.”

  Lieutenant Boone nodded. Captain Haili continued to pick at her fingernails. Jason watched the scene with interest, especially with how Bezzi-ibbi’s mothers remained quiet and still. In Mo’hali culture, the guards were acting very rude. This behavior would not be tolerated at the Jaguar Clan House. Jason was fascinated by how the Mo’hali women adapted to the situation. Of course, he realized Mo’hali merchant Families would have to be skilled in multiple social settings or they wouldn’t have been so influential and successful.

  The next exchange proved Jason still had a lot to learn. The governor briefly glanced up before shaking her head and rolling her eyes. Her voice cracked out, “Henna-ibbi, you put those claws away right now! This is my house, and you are not allowed to go rampaging around because someone hurt your feelings or insulted someone’s honor. You want to show honor? Calm down.

  “Besides, Captain Haili is probably older than all of us in this room put together, so even by your own standards, she can act however she wants. Plus, I had to beat her at chess on a bet just to get her to come here. You are not allowed to attack her. Besides, she can probably beat you up.”

  Jason was aghast, but the governor didn’t stop there. Her flood of words continued, “You there, boy! Jason, right? Close your mouth or you might catch flies. You just came from Earth? The US? How much does gas cost now? Actually, never mind, I don’t want to know.

  “You know, when that charlatan Dolos abducts new people, it actually makes being stuck on Ludus worse. Every time I hear about home, it’s like I just got trapped here all over again. But you know the worst part? I had a husband once on this planet, and before he died, it seemed like every other woman around was angry at me. They thought I was selfish, that I was ‘hoarding’ him for myself. I’m afraid to get married again or I might get run out of office. This world is a hellhole full of crazy people.”

  Captain Haili sighed and said, “You know, this is one reason I hate coming to these things with you, Maryanne. All you ever do is complain about Ludus like somehow we’re not all stuck here too. You moan about missing electricity and ‘television’ like your primitive, backwards technology can even compare to the Empire I left behind. You should quit whining before I stick my boot up your butt.”

  “I could have you arrested.”

  “I’m one of the people that arrests people for you and leads the other people doing the arresting. Good luck with that. Now act like a grownup or I’ll douse you with water.” Lieutenant Boone looked incredibly uncomfortable as he stood next to his superior.

  “I’ll call you an elf,” the governor threatened. Her nose twitched.

  Captain Haili narrowed her eyes. “You. Wouldn’t. Dare.”

  Suddenly, the governor grinned and stood up, putting her work down. “You’re right, I wouldn’t. I suppose I should introduce myself.”

  The governor met the gaze of each member of Jason’s group, slowly placing her hands on her hips as she faced them. She effortlessly exuded self-confidence and authority. “My name is Governor Maryanne Holtz. For now, you may refer to me as Governor Holtz or ‘Madam.’

  “I have been the governor, the ruler of Mirana, for over ten years local time. I came to Ludus in my mid-thirties in 1965. I was an art teacher. Now I’ve probably killed more people than the Boston Strangler.

  “You probably noticed I’m looking pretty damn good for an old lady. Well, that’s because I’m an orb-Bonded. True, I’m not wearing a mask like the rest of you”—she gestured at the masks Jason, Henry, and Bezzi-ibbi wore—“but you still aren’t picking up my name or orb information over your left eye. This is because I know things you don’t.

  “And this brings us to why I sent for you to come today. You’ve been conscripted. Congratulations! You just joined the Tolstey Intelligence Agency. I’ve taken the liberty of submitting a discreet request to the Adventurers Guild and already let them know you took the contract. It’s quite lucrative, but unfortunately this means the Guild will not be able to give you any more work or buy any dungeon treasure from you while the contract is active. I apologize, but you really don’t have a choice in this.”

  Henry managed to get a word in edgewise. “What are you—”

  Governor Holtz talked right over him, “Calm down, young man. This will be easier for all of us if you shut up and listen until I’m done.

  “Where was I? Ah, yes. You’ve just been conscripted. While I am the bearer of bad news, I was not the one who came up with this decision. That would be Queen Smrithi, and she—”

  “Is that her first name?” asked Henry. Jason mentally facepalmed.

  “Yes,” Governor Holtz answered slowly, not trying to hide her irritation.

  “If she goes by her first name, why did you tell us to call you by your last name? She’s your boss, right?”

  “Young man, I sincerely hope I’m mistaken, but I have the feeling we might not get along. Your name is Henry, right?” Henry nodded. “Let me make this clear. I am a terribly petty person with a slow, but potent temper. If you interrupt me one more time, bad things will happen to you. Am I making myself clear?” Henry grimaced but nodded, and Jason sincerely hoped his stony-faced friend would shut the hell up.

  From the back of the room, Captain Haili chuckled softly but the governor ignored her. She cleared her throat and continued, “Okay, I’m going to skip some of the other things I was planning to say and get right to the heart of the matter since you seem like simple—I mean, blunt folks.

  “Tolstey is not a powerful country. In fact, we might be the least powerful country on this whole planet. We have the weakest dungeons, the weakest adventurers, the weakest army, and we just don’t have that many people. However, most of the country is run by humans, Terrans, and we have a good relationship with Berber to the north. They’re another Terran-run country.

  “The mountain range between our countries makes it unlikely they’ll ever invade, and we don’t have much for them to bother with here anyway
. It wouldn’t be worth the trouble. The fact Berber keeps nasty groups of monsters from growing out of control and running amok across the whole continent makes us appreciate them staying right where they are, too.

  “Recently, someone has been trying to attack our countries from within. We have a suspicion who is responsible, but we don’t know for sure. And not knowing things is bad.

  “See, Tolstey may possibly be the weakest country on Ludus, but we have an excellent Intelligence network. We know about the war coming between Dolos and his rival. We know all about your exploits and about Delvers LLC, which I think is kind of a stupid name, by the way. Then again, our adventuring group called ourselves, ‘Bedrock Stone Age Family.’”

  Captain Haili snorted and said, “I still don’t understand that reference.”

  “That’s fine, dear, you don’t have to. Don’t try thinking too hard, I’m sure there will be something for you to break sooner or later.” The governor sniffed. “Anyway, the point is that we know most of what happens in Tolstey and on Ludus in general.

  “This means we know all about the massacre at Georgetown farm two weeks ago and the murder of George Jacobs, one of our retired Intelligence agents.”

  Jason was shocked. George had been a spy? If that was the case, what had he been doing out in the middle of nowhere when they’d met him? Then again, the revelation explained the man’s uncommon knack for learning languages and writing everything down. Mareen had all of George’s old books. Maybe they could find some more clues about the man’s past life in them later on.

  Governor Holtz rolled her eyes. “I can already see what you’re all thinking. You obviously didn’t hear me say, ‘retired.’ George served faithfully and was no longer activated; in fact, he quit when his son was murdered and he began caring for his granddaughter. However, we keep tabs on our past operatives. They tend to retire with secrets, and we want to keep it that way. You know, he actually sent me a note endorsing Delvers LLC, which was why I largely left you alone until now.