Chapter 12

  Titan rubbed his sore shoulder. He still saw a scar down the back of his left forearm.

  He sighed as he stood in the Redemption shop. Hank herded him over toward a display and station with weapons.

  High powered rifles where on display on the racks behind the salesman.

  The salesman was a tall dark hair man with a goatee and dark none descriptive eyes. His name tag attached to his leather vest said Rick.

  Rick gave Titan a nod. Titan held out his hand to the hand and they slapped hands and shook before letting go.

  “What’s up brother? What kind of piece are you looking for?” Rick asked.

  Titan grimaced. “I need something that can give me an edge in a pinch or blow shit up so I can run away.”

  Rick nodded his head. “You getting jammed up to much and need something with stopping power.”

  “Yeah. By my big brother Hank says I should look into a high caliber rifle.” He said.

  Rick nodded. “I got you young blood. Two options.” He said.

  Rick reached behind him and removed a compact rifle from the rack placing it on the display case between them.

  “This is a starter rifle. This is to get you going and your brother Hank can help you learn how to use it.”

  Titan nodded his head picking up a moment before he put it down.

  “What’s the second option?” Titan asked.

  Rick reached down inside the display case and took out a long nose pistol with a wood grip to it.

  “This is the M1P9 The Judgement. It fires one round at a time of magical rounds at close to mid range.”

  Titan picked it up. Both Rick and Hank pointed the nose down.

  “It’s unloaded but you must be careful handling it.” Rick said.

  Titan nodded carefully placed it back down. “Okay what’s the price range for the bullets?”

  “Ten gold coins a piece for each round.” Rick said.

  Titan was silent for a moment. He glanced at Hank but he said nothing watching him.

  “What’s the reliability of the weapon after consent use?”

  Rick smiled. “A hundred years warranty and up. You only use it for a final judgement or quick escape.”

  Titan sighed. “How much for the M1P7 and rifle?”

  Rick smiled. “Fifty Gold for the pistol. 150 gold coins for the rifle. You can pay it down in installments or buy one item down at a time.”

  Titan sighed. “What do you suggest?” He asked.

  Rick nodded his head. “If your an assassin rogue you should buy the rifle first. If you’re a classical rogue then buy the M1P7.”

  Titan nodded. “I can give you fifteen gold now and the rest when I clear my next dungeons or the value of it in items.”

  Rick held out his hand. “Deal.”

  Titan took his hand and they shook hands.

  “Can I see your ID real quick?”

  Titan got out his leather wallet and presented his Rogue government ID to him.

  Rick paused staring at Titan’s ID before he quickly handed it back.

  Titan then handed over the gold coins and took the case.

  Rick held up a hand and presented a case rounds to him. He took out a red bullet.

  “The red is fire. Blue is water. Green is earth. White is air. Each round uses up focus points. Understand?”

  Titan nodded. “The more bullets I use the quicker I lose focus. So I can only use one bullet at a time.”

  Rick nodded. “If you’re quick enough run before you get jammed up. Never use all four in one fight.”

  Titan nodded. “Right. So for each element there is a tactic you can use?”

  Rick grinned. “Yes. The main tactic would be escape. Fire is used to burn enemies and create confusion. Say you only hand a single water round in a dungeon?”

  Titan frowned. His mind pictured being in a closed in space like a dungeon and then firing the round off.

  Unlawfully taken from Royal Road, this story should be reported if seen on Amazon.

  He imagined a strong power stream of water firing off from the nose to a simple puddly as a best scenario.

  A thought came to Titan. “Have you flooded a dungeon with a water bullet?”

  Rick grinned. “Yes. I have. Luckily I could swim and hold my breath long enough to get out of the dungeon.”

  Titan nodded his head. “Damn. Okay. I have to think about the environment as well before I use a round?”

  “Yes. You don’t use a round unless you absolutely have to. When you aim it at someone it’s a final judgement.”

  Titan stared at him. “One shot can kill?”

  Rick nodded. “Yes. One round. One kill. One judgement. You miss it costs you time and a round.” He said.

  “I’ll need to practice. Do you have any blank bullets I can purchase?” Titan asked.

  Rick nodded and placed two bullets on the counter. One bullet was brown. The other was purple.

  Rick tapped the brown bullet. “This one is to memorize the first shot. The purple is meant to sharpen Psi focus. I’ll add them to your tab.”

  Hank put down five gold coins on the display. “We’ll take em.”

  Rick nodded to Hank. “Be sure to practice in secret or an old dungeon.”

  Titan closed up the case with the weapon and put the bullets and weapon case in his magic bag. He shook Rick’s hand before.

  Titan turned away from Rick and headed for the door.

  “Catch.” Rick said.

  Titan blinked and held a dagger in his hand. He looked at the dagger.

  The dagger was a treasure. It had a purple jewel in the base. The ebony blade shined to the point of glowing.

  “Ah you interested in a job.” Rick said.

  “I’m not interested in assassination. Dungeon raiding is risky enough.” Titan said calmly.

  Rick smiled. “You’re interested in money though. Your focus is pretty strong. I bet you could find any treasure in a dungeon if you knew what you were looking for.”

  Titan frowned, shaking his head. “Are you saying dungeons can generate custom treasures if you need it.” He said.

  Rick still smiling shook his head. “I’m saying certain kinds of dungeons can generate treasures for special kinds of Dungeon Crawlers.”

  Titan studied him. “Do you want me to find something?” He asked.

  “Yeah. I want you to find the copy of that dagger. It’s in a treasure dungeon called Southern Wind. You get me it’s twin and you can pocket the loot inside for your own as a prize for beating the dungeon.” Rick said.

  Titan looked at Hank. “What do you think?” He asked him.

  Hank shrugged. “Sounds good to me. I know the dungeon. We need a day to prepare though and you need some rest at home. Let’s talk to Charlie first though.” He said.

  Titan smiled. “Okay. I’ll talk to my guild master. He gives the okay then the job is on.” He said and turned and walked away.

  Titan walked outside of the building. His eyes instantly connected to Charlie who was standing outside frowning.

  “Uncle Charlie.”

  Charlie blinked and shook himself out of his dark mood. He smiled. “Hey Titan. You get your weapon?”

  Titan started to say something but he stopped frowning feeling someone. A Psi.

  “Titan.”

  Titan jerked himself out of his thoughts and walked over. He held up the dagger. “A job offer.” He said.

  Charlie frowned, taking the dagger Titan gave him. “This is pretty. What’s the job?”

  “I have to find the twin dagger in a treasure dungeon that is the copy of this dagger and give it to the client. What do you think?” Titan said.

  Charlie leaned against his van. “Where’s the dungeon?”

  “It’s the Southern Wind Dungeon.” Hank said as he came out of the Redemption store.”

  Charlie frowned. He looked at Titan. “If you take the job. You have to focus on getting the item out. Fighting will not be your primary goal. It's a special type of quest job.”

  Titan nodded. “Alright. I can do that.” He said.

  Charlie stared at him. “That means that if you find the item getting out with it is the job. Your mission will be to get out of the dungeon as fast as possible to get it to your client in a timely manner.”

  “Wait a minute. Why?” Titan said.

  Charlie stared at him. “Southern Wind is a timing treasure dungeon. Go in with a goal to find a particular treasure and get out within a twenty minute window or you lose your item and experience points gained.”

  “Wow. High stakes. High cost. That is a tricky game?” Titan said with a grin.

  Hank chuckled. “It’s a big win if you can get out with the item. The guild can pocket more than a S class handleful of items as a bonus.”

  Charlie snorted. “How does that sound to you nephew?”

  Titan smiled rubbing his chin. “That sounds like a lot of fun Uncle Charlie.”

  Charlie grinned and patted his shoulder. “Good. These kind of jobs are a time base for reputation growth. You do well, you earn more clients and higher pay.”

  Titan slapped his hands before rubbing them together. “Time to make money.”

  Charlie patted his shoulder. “Get it in nephew. I’m taking you home first and I’m going to gather information and the team afterward for the job.”

  Titan quickly got into the van with a grin on his face. Hank was in the passenger seat while Charlie hoped into the driver’s seat.

  “Tell me about this dungeon.” Titan said.

  Charlie backed up the van and then put the van in to drive. “The dungeon is south west from here. Located inside of an industrial building.”

  Titan whistled. “What’s the inside like?”

  Charlie grinned.

  “The inside of the dungeon is a twisted place between our world and the dungeon pocket universe.” Hank said.

  Titan folded his fingers together in thought. “When does the count down begin?”

  “It begins when you find the item you’re seeking. One exit in and out. Ground floor single door in and out.” Charlie said.

  “A red light switch turns on. You have to move quickly to the bottom floor to reach the exit.” Hank said.

  Silence followed as Charlie drove through the street.

  Titan’s lips formed a smile as his mind imagined the place. “Are the monsters meant for a distraction or to protect the treasure?”

  Charlie snorted. “They’re in the dungeon to block you and trick you into a fight to steal your time.”

  “Once you find the treasure it’s a struggle against time. Time is your enemy.” Hank said.

  Titan shook his head. “Still though. All you would need is one team member to get the most valuable item in the dungeon and run.”

  “Did I forget to mention that defeated monsters drop piles of gold coins when you defeat them.” Charlie said.

  “Shit.” Titan cursed.

  Hank snickered. “You try running past mountains of gold coins on your way to the exit. It ain’t so easy.”

  “The dungeon of greed.” Titan whispered.

  “Damn straight nephew. It’s one of the hardest dungeons to conquer in the western region. It has no boss other then your own greed.” Charlie said.

  Titan nodded his head. “No one has been beaten it yet, have they?” He asked.

  “Never.” Hank said.

  Titan’s eyes turned violet for a second as a smile curved on his lips.