"You seem to be in a bind. I bet I can help."
Justinian entered the room while still hooded, hiding his face from the oblivious and stressed-out guildmaster.
"I appreciate the offer, but I’m sure someone as great as you can’t fix it."
Feryll spoke sarcastically, sitting on her chair as she slumped over her desk, pulling her hair as she thought of ways to fix her problem.
"Don’t underestimate me, I may be more useful than you think."
Justinian smiled beneath his hood. Was it finally his time to have a classic adventure while disguised?
An actual adventure and a quest? It would be a good break to ground himself for a while.
Feryll took a glance at Justinian, gauging his physique and posture to see if his words had any weight.
’Really? Does this idiot think he can really help me?’
Feryll raised a brow before deciding to test him. If he really had the skills, then he should be able to easily pass her test.
"If you say so..."
She murmured, but there was danger in her voice, one that Justinian immediately noticed.
SWISH.
She suddenly pulled out a sword, swinging it at Justinian, but of course, Justinian, at this point, was now a one-man army due to his ability.
He grabbed the glass bottle on her desk, a drink that was sold a few streets back from the celebrating capital, and he used it as a makeshift weapon.
CRACK.
He broke the bottle, turning it into a makeshift shiv as he pointed it straight at her neck, faster than she could even move, as Justinian immediately stopped her attack without effort.
"Believe me now?"
Feryll was completely out of words at his skill, dropping her sword at sheer awe and fear at the speed he reacted.
"...Okay, let’s calm down, I didn’t actually mean to harm you."
"I already knew that."
Justinian tossed the broken glass into a bin just beside her desk, seeing the mess he had made.
"I’ll pay for the drink."
"You don’t need to."
Feryll pinched the bridge of her nose, gathering her thoughts.
"I guess there’s no harm in letting you help..."
Feryll took out a small map of Snowkeep, a red circle marked on one of the city’s unexplored forests.
"My shipment of ore was intercepted by bandits... cunning bastards, using the war to their advantage."
"Why didn’t you task the guards with doing the dirty work for you?"
"Hiring the city guards would be expensive, and there’s no guarantee they’ll return alive."
Feryll said bluntly, clearly having no faith in Snowkeep’s military, and she had a good reason not to, up until now, most of Snowkeep was still fairly weak.
Except for Justinian’s personal army, the rest were barely trained.
"I had hoped to hire an adventurer to do the dirty work, cheaper and more experienced, but since you came..."
"You’ll hire me instead."
"You catch on quick."
Justinian crossed his arms, wanting to negotiate the terms of the job before agreeing. After all, he wasn’t here for money; he was here to get their cooperation for future projects to enhance the city.
They were an independent guild after all, Justinian couldn’t just order them unless he was fine with outrage throughout other guilds across the kingdom.
"But instead of money... I’d like to ask for another thing."
"What is it?"
"A favor..."
Justinian raised a finger, smirking behind his hood, his face completely hidden, intentions along with it.
"What is it?"
"Simple, you scratch my back, I scratch yours."
It was a sketchy deal, one that Feryll knew would backfire if she didn’t think of it carefully enough, but if he did manage to clear out the bandits and allow safe obtainment of the stolen ore.
A favor should be a fair offer.
"Fine... but I’ll be coming with you."
"Really...?"
Justinian didn’t expect her answer.
"I need to make sure you don’t run off with my stuff."
"Makes sense, guess we’ve got a deal."
Justinian offered his hand, Feryll taking it into her own and finalizing their deal.
For Justinian, this was hitting two birds with one stone: a chance to explore and adventure, while benefiting his capital; it was a no-brainer.
And if things get dicey? he still has a system to rely on.
"You gonna take off your hood or what? Working with someone faceless isn’t kinda my thing."
"Sorry, but I’ll decline, only after the job."
Feryll snickered, tilting her head. "You’re sketchy, you know that, right? But you’re lucky I’m desperate."
Justinian just shrugged, laughing.
"Then everything’s fine and dandy."