Chapter Ten


    “Why the test?” Ambrose asked.


    He was sitting at the bar now as Strider turned, pulled open a drawer, rifling through it.


    A moment later, he turned and presented Ambrose with an honest-to-God badge. It was a simple bronze star with BHG engraved into it. Underneath it read ‘D-Grade Hunter,’ it was nestled onto a black pad that could be slid on a belt or hung from a necklace.


    He used [Retributions Gaze] on it.


    [Bounty Hunter Guild D-Grade Badge. This badge designates the holder as a member of the ‘Bounty Hunters Guild’ and authorizes them to pursue D-Grade bounties or specially approved bounties.]


    Strider nodded at the badge.


    “Don’t lose that. Can’t claim bounties without it, you hear?”


    His eyes glazed over for a moment; they cleared moments later, and he refocused on Ambrose.


    “You have access to the Guild’s page now. Think of it like a bounty board.”


    Before Ambrose could ask his question again, Strider held up the folder, tapping it.


    “Lots of folks don’t bother considerin’ a situation. Trigger-happy idiots, who don’t bother thinkin’ things through, see? We don’t want that in the Guild. Folks who sign up with us they gotta have know-how and some discernment. It’s a simple test, ain’t hard to solve, but ya’d be shocked how many don’t bother looking at every folder. Pick Torrin n’ move on.”


    Strider shook his head,


    “Don’t need folks like that.”


    Ambrose couldn’t disagree.


    “What can you tell me about the bounty on Earth, the one worth two hundred and fifty-thousand SC.”


    A non-committal grunt came from Strider’s throat.


    “He has an awful lot of folks lookin’ for him.”


    Ambrose raised an eyebrow,


    “Other people on Earth, you mean? How many hunters on Earth do you have?”


    Strider shrugged, pouring himself a shot of golden liquid, which he downed.


    “Dunno. There’s a few. A forerunner from your world was in here the other day.”


    Ambrose let out a frustrated growl, Unauthorized usage: this tale is on Amazon without the author''s consent. Report any sightings.


    “Surely you can tell me something about this guy? Doesn’t the guild get a cut of the bounty?”


    Strider paused, glaring at Ambrose.


    “Do I look like an information broker to you, boy? The guild charges a fee to have the bounty posted. We’ve already gotten our cut. We aren’t here to hold your hand, newly integrated. Best ask your questions a little more politely if’n you don’t want to end up a red stain on the floor. As for the dungeon, it’s in your world; it’s called Arkoth. That’s all I know.”


    “How do I get back?”


    Strider moved a hand under the counter, flicking a small black stone at him a second later. Ambrose caught it deftly.


    “Stay frosty, kid.”


    Ambrose shook his head, leaving the saloon and activating the portal home.


    _______________


    “Uhh, guessing it went well?” Troy said.


    Ambrose glared at him.


    Then walked out.


    Andrea was rubbing her temples when Ambrose walked into her office. She looked up as her door opened. Deep bags were under her eyes.


    Ambrose paused,


    “What’s wrong?”


    Andrea blinked at him as if she hadn’t heard him. He repeated himself.


    She let out a bone-weary sigh, slumping in her chair.


    “It’s not that anything is wrong per se.”


    She gestured at the computer.


    “Do you have any idea how much work is in this tiny box? Yesterday, we had one hundred new people join Avalon. We have to screen each one and do our best to make sure none of them mean any harm. Then, we have to find a place for them to stay. This isn’t a huge deal; we make more housing. But some of them don’t want to do anything. It turns out that when you give people everything for free, there’s no incentive to work.”


    Ambrose shrugged,


    “So use the Knights and kick them out.”


    Andrea glared at him, and her voice gained a mocking edge.


    “Just throw them out, he says as if it is that easy. Some of these people have kids, Ambrose. Sure, those that don’t are easy enough to get rid of, but it doesn’t solve the other problem people. As if that weren’t enough, we have people upset at those who have more than just the basics, the business owners and adventurers who go to the mainland and find things of value that they sell, etc.”


    Ambrose opened his mouth, but Andrea bowled over him, working herself up.


    “Look, I hate politics as much as the next person, but this is reality, Ambrose. We have to pick a path.”


    Ambrose wasn’t a fan of this kind of thing. It was beyond him and straightforward to his mind.


    “I like our System. Those who want to find their own way and have ambitions to earn more can. Those who want to be provided for can be; all they have to do is help. If they don’t want to, kick them out, and keep their kids.”


    Andrea stared at him, mouth open, eyes horrified.


    “Separate them from their kids, Ambrose? That’s horrible.”


    Ambrose felt his face harden,


    “Is it? We told them what was expected, we gave them a choice, and they chose to be this way regardless. I’m not letting anyone hold their kids in front of them like a shield against the consequences of their decisions and then make us out to be the villains. Any parent that does that shouldn’t be a parent. Give them an ultimatum and enforce it.”


    Andrea shook her head, slumping even more.


    “I guess you’re right.”


    Ambrose chuckled,


    “That, and I’m a cold-hearted bastard. Is there anything else?”


    Andrea flicked a hand,


    “There’s always something, but I can handle those.”


    Ambrose gave her a thumbs up,


    “I’m going to be off exploring a local dungeon. I might be gone for a bit. I wanted to let you know.”


    Andrea’s head bobbed in a tired nod.


    “Thanks. And Ambrose?”


    Ambrose paused, his hand an inch away from the door knob. He turned, raising his eyebrow at her.


    “Yes?”


    She stared at him, compassion in her eyes.


    “You aren’t a cold-hearted bastard, you know? You’re a leader. Leaders have to make hard decisions.”


    Ambrose smiled at her. Darren’s dead body ghosted through his mind. Alice’s dead eyes. Jenny’s vow to kill him echoeing around him.


    “Or maybe it just takes a cold-hearted bastard to be an effective leader. Take care, Andrea; I’ll see you later.”


    Andrea watched him go, her face pensive, a thoughtful frown curling her lips.


    Andrea wasn’t sure if anyone else could see it, the burden on Ambrose’s shoulders. Ever since the orc raid, he had been more directly involved in Avalon’s affairs. He just cared more than he previously had. He made a point to talk to people, learn their names, and inquire about their lives.


    More than that, he did make the difficult decisions. He didn’t shy away from doing the hard things, what needed to be done. She knew Darren’s death hung around him, like a poltergeist within his mind.


    He was always going to the school, trying to reach out to Jenny, and it was a stab through his heart when the girl wanted nothing to do with him.


    Andrea looked at the computer, the cursor blinking on the monitor.


    The work never ended.