Chapter 180 - 180

The next morning the foreman of the renovation crew comes to inform them that the house is ready. The bedrooms upstairs have been equipped with the essentials, including hammocks, and the main floor is left bare to be used as a store. 

That's good enough for Cain, all they really need is a spot to place the travel Inscription so everyone can go back and forth. That's the best part about linking the houses, you don't need a huge amount of space in any one location for everyone to have a chance to enjoy it. 

Leaving everyone else alone, Cain goes to inspect the work that was done and get the circle set up so that the others can come visit, and so the Char can come collect the Gnomish children when they show up. 

He's only been there a few minutes when the neighbors come to say hello. Well, the word hello might have been involved anyhow. 

"So, you think you can just beat people up and steal prime real estate do you? Understand this, punk, there's no way any shop you open in town is going to survive. We'll make sure of that." The merchant next door, an old human man with an extremely large gut sneers.

"Yeah, we've had our eyes on that property for years, ever since the Nut Up Guild took it from those upstarts who thought they could muscle in on our jewelry business." His equally hefty wife agrees, draped in Gold and layers of gaudy clothing much too heavy for the day's heat.

According to the sign on their shop, they belong to something called the Port Rattle trade alliance. It isn't a Guild, and neither of them has an interface, but it might be influential. 

[What can you tell me about the Port Rattle Trade Alliance] Cain sends in Guild chat hoping Carlos is awake, but on the outside he simply smiles at the sweaty merchants. 

"Oh, hello and good morning neighbors. There's no fear of that. I was thinking of using the place as a mercenary hangout. You know, to hire security and extra bodies to do dungeons with. I know a lot of demons and Dark Fae you see, and they're not as strict on the morality as some others are. I'm certain the city has at least some need for them." Cain responds to their threats happily and their faces turn even more angry. 

"You don't sleep here do you? Mercenaries tend to party to all hours of the night, it might get a little loud." Or if he has his companions play the part, they don't need to sleep at all. 

[They're a small trading alliance from the Northern Continent. Don't even bother walking in, they're just scam artists, using a description altering ability to make junk look valuable, taking advantage of the fact system modifiers are hidden.] Carlos responds in chat. 

[Would anyone miss them? They're kind of rude.]

[Probably not, except their own ship, but they use shopkeepers without a system so you can't declare war on them] 

Carlos has a point, becoming wanted criminals in the best strategically located resort town would be a disaster for them right now. 

The neighbor across the street, labeled as a mercantile store, which to Cain looks like a convenience store, has come out to watch the entertainment. 

"Watch your mouth, transfer. We've got connections too if you know what I mean." The man makes an odd gesture like he's flashing gang signs which perhaps he is. A small group of traders selling fake gear is a good candidate to be part of a low level gang. 

The gesture has brought over a couple rough looking types from a nearby alley, and the mercantile shop owner brings out a lawn chair to get comfortable. Cain isn't sure what side he's on, but he doesn't seem eager to get involved. 

"Good morning gentlemen. If you're here for the hiring board, we're not set up yet." Cain smiles at the gangsters, noting they're both poorly dressed, but with expensive looking jewelry, and flagged by the system as being more than 50 levels lower than him. 

With that in mind, Cain rolls up his sleeves, showing off the red bracelet required by the city guards and stretches to highlight the fact he's significantly larger than either of them. 

"Shaping up to be a lovely morning though isn't it?"

[More information for you boss. The shop they're in is rented from the Northwind Fleet. A multinational group that buys up properties everywhere. To the point most nations limit how much they're allowed to purchase. They're also insufferable White Knights. No criminality or mistreatment of women in their rentals is tolerated.]

Well, it's good to know they're just tenants, and not a long standing local family. 

"Say, that's a unique accent you've got there. Where's it from? The northern continent? You're certainly not local." Cain turns and smiles at his neighbors, like he's just making small talk. 

"They've been here round about 8 years now, innit right cuz?" Comes a heavily accented drawl from behind Cain. If he recalls correctly, that's a bakery supply store, selling all sorts of imported dry goods, due to the lack of local production in the desert. 

Looking over his shoulder, Cain sees a large Orc with a scar across his mouth and one missing front tooth, the big one that's more like a lower tusk should have been beneath that scar. The effect gives him a permanent half smile, but it looks genuine at the moment. 

"Morning, I'm Cain. Guild Master of the Darklight Host." Cain smiles back at him. 

"Ghazzul. You sound like you're from the Beginner Valley. Do you know my grandson Ghaz? I hear he's a right important person there these days." The Orc asks Cain curiously. 

"Ghaz Senior, the mighty leader of the Yellow Tusk Guild? A friend of mine actually, and he made quite a name for himself during the last War with the Ogres, but it's his wife who's the scary one." Cain jokes, making Ghazzul laugh.

"Ah Gillian, what a woman she is. How's their boy doing?"

"Found himself a woman named Morgan, who is shaping up to be just as formidable as his mother. They're a good pair. If you want to go see them one day, let me know and I can get you near them." Cain informs the Orc, watching the two overweight humans get more and more upset that they're being ignored. 

They stomp back inside their shop, waiting for customers, and the two young thugs disappear back into an alley, seeing the confrontation end. 

"What I wouldn't give to have a Record Keeper handy." Ghazzul snorts, spitting towards the jeweler's shop.

"What good would that do? I've got plenty of sources of Dark Holy Flames if that's what you need." Cain suggests. 

"Nay, that damnable feathery Demon can cleanse all effects, not just buffs. One range of its hand and their entire shop would be worthless." The Orc gives a nasty laugh and the man across the street joins in, before nodding at Ghazzul and going back inside. 

"Looks like I got in the middle of an ongoing feud." 

"Only a little. You know how it gets near the docks, plenty of business brings plenty of crime and the scammers with their hired stooges. I'd put something around the property, a ward or some such if I were you. Keep the wannabe gangsters from breaking in to steal, since these shops don't get the protections a Guild House does."

He's got a point. Maybe Cain should try out the new abilities that Symbia got, to create a guard force and curse the property. Even a few Lesser Golems his level would be plenty of deterrent. But the thought of messing with his neighbors is irresistible. A few Golems on Guard is only the beginning. 

[Misha or Lickity, can I get some Guard Uniforms? I want to try out Symbia's ability to create a protective curse on the property, with some guards and such.]

[Want me to send some armor for them too? I've got Elven Guard Armor here in the shop] Carlos suggests. 

[Sure, 4 sets should be enough. And 4 uniforms, if someone can buy or make them right quick.]

[Symbia says she's got them in stock, we'll bring them over.] Carlos sends back. They must have been having breakfast at the inn. 

"I'll come see you in a bit, we'll need some supplies for our other Guild Houses we just can't get locally." Cain nods to Ghazzul, who grunts his agreement and heads back inside. 

Cain isn't waiting until the others show up to mess with the scammers though. He calls for a cloned pair of Record Keepers, which have to crouch to fit in the front room. 

"Well this is uncomfortable. What might you need Summoner?" The two headed, blue feathered and winged humanoid asks. 

"I want you to dispel all spell and skill effects in the shop next door. Including the ones changing item descriptions."

"The ones on the shopkeepers too? They've got a charm effect on them that draws people in and makes them seem trustworthy."

"Definitely including the ones on the shopkeepers. And if they bring them back up right away, do it again until they stop trying." Cain instructs the Demon.