The first was the area of the city Danielle had died in.
My map had been kind enough to include places I’d been before buying it, which meant I had an easy path to get there. Walking was a little inconvenient because it was on the far side of the city, but I was confident in getting back in a reasonable amount of time. I did consider finding a place to deliver a message… but I didn’t think I’d need to.
What I did do was keep the brigandine and greaves equipped. The boost to my walk speed alone was useful, and being able to run for up to four hours without getting tired would probably be useful if I got caught. I still haven’t really figured out what my ‘top speed’ was, but I was pretty sure it was faster than the average person. Well, without skills anyway.
I actually considered that as I walked in the direction of the gate leading towards the shadier part of town. How would I get away from someone using Sprinting? I could maybe take a bunch of sharp turns. Traction will make it easier if I wanted to use it too, but I really need more practice with it…
There was also the spells I had. Shadebolt had been stronger than I’d thought, but that might have been stats related. I still didn’t really understand how things translated. Or, maybe it was because he had his mouth open and I hit his brain?
I shuddered and absentmindedly ran my fingers through my hair. Zaion had given me a rinse, but I likely wouldn’t really feel clean until I got a shower. I could still vividly see the look on his face a microsecond before the spell triggered. Then the vivid detail as it ruptured like a rotten fruit.
I’ll need a really long shower… I was starting to think a high Intelligence was going to be a curse, rather than a blessing. Maybe a few drinks would help…
It took around a half hour to get to the gate I needed. There was still the steady stream of people coming and going, with the usual inspections of goods from those driving carts or wagons. I got in line to leave still only keeping a vague eye on my surroundings.
And then I felt someone with their hand in my pocket. I snagged whoever it was by the wrist, but it felt like trying to hold a fish covered in oil with two sticks. They slipped free from my grasp. When I turned to look, all I saw was a small figure dashing through the crowd. I didn’t care enough to make a big deal of it, I kept everything important in my Spatial Closet, and I’d long since given up keeping that hidden.
I did take the hint the universe was giving me though and started paying attention. Some criminals would not be as easy to scare off, if that’s even what I did.
The guard at the gatehouse wasn’t anyone I’d met before, and they waved me through after I showed my adventurer ID. And like that, I was in the worst parts of town. I let my feet guide me as I took a couple of turns, winding up back where I’d first woken up.
I thought coming here would feel important, but I was a little disappointed. The last time I’d been here my emotions had been a little muted. The blood hadn’t bothered me, still didn’t really. I’d realized it was more the gore that started to turn my stomach.
But the alley was empty of the dark red stains that had splattered it. Someone had cleaned it all up. If I didn’t have the map pinpointing it, I probably would have missed the spot I’d woken up from. I stared at it, reliving my first moments.
And then I left.
It wasn’t important anymore, over a month later. Not to me anyway. It was just a random alley, and while I would love to ‘thank’ the person who’d killed Danielle, they were unfortunately low on my priority list. If I had clues, maybe I’d be more concerned, but I intended to leave it to the authorities.
So, I went to my next destination. And this time, they were actually open for business. “Wait… it’s called the the Gemstone Stache? Greg doesn’t have a mustache though…” I shrugged and went inside.
The tavern was crowded, with all the chairs taken up the sound of lots of people talking all at once hit me like a gust of wind. I almost left to come back later when it was calmer, but I saw Greg behind the bar talking with someone and figured I could at least get a drink and say hi.
I slipped through the crowd, a few people making way after they felt my armor poked them. When I got to the bar, I managed to find an empty stool and hopped up onto it. Greg finished up his conversation and headed over, grinning brightly as he recognized me. “Well, it’s good to see you not covered in blood, girl! How’ve you been?”
“I guess I made an impression,” I had to be a little loud because of the general noise. “How are you, Greg? How’s Martha?”
“Business has been great, which means I’ve been great!” Greg said with a laugh, “Especially with this swarm business. We’re getting adventurers stopping by in droves. Half this crowd is coming back from killing bugs.”
“Really?!” I said, genuinely surprised. There must have been at least forty or fifty people in the place. Even as I thought that, more came in even with a couple leaving. “It is pretty lucrative to do, I’m surprised you aren’t trying it.”
“Me? Ha, no I gave that life up. Martha’s the one out there swinging her shield at them.” He leaned in close, “Apparently the big ones can have huge crystals inside of them if you’re willing to dig, which most people aren’t. She’s making almost as much as the bar is.”
I whistled, “So is someone else cooking then?”
“Oh, yea. We actually bought someone from those vultures with a decent cooking skill. Took off the collar and offered her a job. She sleeps in the room you did.” He said, shrugging, “We went through three before someone stayed.”
I blinked, and noticed the notification for the moderator panel going off.
Quest Discovered
Slaver
You have identified someone breaking the rules of Veldern. Punish them for their crimes. Authorized for Level 1 Punishments.
“That’s… really nice of you.” I smiled hesitantly.
“Hey, we make sure they weren’t a violent criminal or something first.” He said defensively. “We’re just doing what we can to save who we can. Isn’t that one of those things adventurers just do?” Greg asked, and I honestly couldn’t disagree with him.
“Well, how much for a meal and a drink? Something besides ale or beer if you have it.” I said, ignoring the quest prompt for now.
“Do I have something besides beer, she asks.” He said loudly, and several people laughed loudly. “Girl, I’m married to a dwarven woman! I could make you a different drink for a year and not even touch the strongest stuff. I’ll get you something.”
He walked away and I let out a sigh of relief. I checked over the details and internally grumbled. The Tier 1 punishments were all relatively tame compared to the Tier 2. It was all fines and extended debuffs to stats. The one I thought interesting was the exp penalty option. I opened it and tried to set it to zero.
It, worked actually. It even brought up a prompt.
Unauthorized use of content: if you find this story on Amazon, report the violation.
Moderator Punishments are subject to review from the Chief of Security.
Would you like to proceed?
I blinked. Who? I had someone I could ask, but I wasn’t certain if I should send him a message.
Fuck it. I sent him a message.
Zeratus, oh lord of secrets. Who is the Chief of Security, and would they go easy on someone buying slaves to set them free?”
Moderator Thorn
I finally used my new nickname too, which actually sent a little thrill through me, which was followed by a wide smile when a girl with fuzzy ears and a bushy tail set a small bowl of stew and bread roll in front of me. Greg wasn’t far behind, holding a tall glass full of orange liquid with a straw.
“Here you go, a Screwdriver. An important part of every dwarven lass’s breakfast, according to my wife. Says she’s been drinking them since her twenties, however long ago that was.” He snorted. “Been with her over a decade and I still don’t know how old she is.”
I laughed and the guy next to me wagged his finger at Greg, “And you’re never supposed to ask. That’s how you get slapped, or worse told to sleep elsewhere.”
“You can’t blame me for being curious!” Greg said. He and the man started getting into an animated conversation that I tuned out. I was distracted because I’d gotten a response from Zeratus.
Dani, I’m the Chief of Security. And I’d probably reward them. Send it to me.
I shrugged and focused on the window asking if I wanted to proceed. I selected Y and it got sent off. Greg paused, furrowing his brow, but went back to his conversation. He was comparing Martha to brewing liquor and trying to decide how old she was based on his liquor selection and their aging process.
“- while a good bourbon will taste exquisite after about eighty to ninety years old.” He said, holding up a square glass bottle with a fancy cap on it. “She’s always said she’s young for a dwarf, and they are at age of maturity around sixty-ish.” He waggled his hand from side to side, “Give or take.”
“Nah, she’s closer to that red verity you’ve got. She’s got the temper to match the heat from it, so maybe the two hundred range?” The man next to me said.
I laughed and took a sip of my drink. It was sweet with a hint of sourness, and I couldn’t even tell there was alcohol in it. I could smell it, though with my high Perception. I wonder how high his drink mixing skill is?
I got another message.
There are a lot of entries for them. They’ve been doing this for a while. I’m sending them a reimbursment for the crystals he spent through conventional means and a blessing. I’ve set the events to go off the next time they do it. Good work. Enjoy the reward.
My eyes widened when the quest completed.
Moderation Quest Complete
+1 Tier 1 Class Level Token
+50,000 PEC per Year
What the fuck?! I barely stopped myself from saying it outloud. I did the math and I was now getting around 416 PEC a day. I didn’t know why, and I wasn’t going to complain. I did swear softly when I noticed that my Class EXP was full after looking at my status. I quickly got my next two levels and distracted myself from the probably thousands of lost experience with my stew as I reviewed my status and moderator control panel.
Name: Danielle Rosecrest
Age: 18
Race: Human
Class: Royal Sneak 5
Total Level: 56
Class EXP: 200/1300
Experience Bank: 20,653/128,000
Unspent Attribute Points: 15
Statistics
Physical
Strength: 30
Dexterity: 35
Agility: 39
Endurance: 43
Constitution: 41
Mental
Intelligence: 46
Insight: 44
Charisma: 39
Perception: 47
Magic
Mana: 30
Mana Control: 30
Mana Power: 30
Skills
Assessment: Tier 2, Rank 4
Cheap Shot Tier 1, Rank 4
Dancing: Tier 1, Rank 8
Deception: Tier 0, Rank 3
Gardening: Tier 0, Rank 1
Fire Manipulation: Tier 0, Rank 4
Freerunning: Tier 1, Rank 1
Light Armor: Tier 0, Rank 4
Mana Sense: Tier 3, Rank 14
Mathematics: Tier 2, Rank 13
Riding: Tier 0, Rank 2
Small Blades: Tier 0, Rank 3
Speed Reading: Tier 1, Rank 2
Sprinting: Tier 1, Rank 2
Staff Combat: Tier 1, Rank 2
Swords: Tier 1, Rank 6
Throwing: Tier 1, Rank 6
Tonfas: Tier 2, Rank 7
Traction: Tier 1, Rank 7
Two-Weapon Fighting: Tier 2, Rank 2
Wind Manipulation: Tier 0, Rank 5
Unarmed Combat Tier 2, Rank 6
Traits
Attentive Student
Aura of Authority (Disabled)
Backpacking
Bullet Hell
Experience Absorption
Experience Conversion
Extrinsic Mana Manipulation
Flight or Fight
Honor thy House
Intrinsic Mana Manipulation
Juggernaut Charge
Mana Bank (.5 EXP per hour)
Mana Conduit
Mana Control Range Increase
Misdirection
Moderator’s Veil
Monstrous Force
Night Vision
Noble Birth
Noble Pursuits
Overcharge
Personal Armory
Personal Library
Regeneration
Second Chance
Second Wind
Seven League Gait
Spatial Closet (Tier 1)
Treasury (56 EXP/Day)
Spells
Healing: Tier 1 Rank 7
Scan: Tier 0 Rank 3
Shadowbolt (5%)
Functions
Calculator
Encyclopedia
Inventory
Local Map
Map
Notes
Quests
Classes (Total: 56)
Noble - 30 (Max)
Outdoorsman - 20 (Max)
Sneak - 5
Trainee - 1
Titles
Royal
Insecticide II (Levels Acquired: 14)
[Moderator 3312883-E6 Control Panel]
[Name: Thorn]
[Role: Moderator Class NM-02]
[Processing Access: Green]
[Combat Rating: Low]
[Judgements in Good Standing: 3]
[Complaints: 0]
[Salary: 150,000 PEC per Year]
[Active Exemptions: EXP Taxation, Simplified System Interface]
[Inactive Exemptions: Stats Limitations, Spell Target Locks]
[Active Abilities: Moderator’s Veil]
[Inactive Abilities: Trajectory Vision, Spectator View]
I wasn’t going to complain about more stats, though I was a little worried about how much the +2 to Agility would affect Sprinting. I had a number of abilities that directly worked off of stats now, and I still haven’t practiced them enough. Unless… would Moderator’s veil help with that?
It was something to think about as I listened to the crowd around me, not really focusing on any one conversation. I ate my stew and drank my screwdriver. And I let myself relax a little.