System Change

“My badge?” Derek asked.

Geoffrey snorted. “Of course, your badge. That’s an Onyx Badge. Do you know what a contractor would do to get in good with an Onyx Ranked Adventurer?”

“Apparently, make a very low bid for a shop.” Derek replied.

“And then some.” Geoffrey replied.

“I see…”

“Listen, Mr. Hunt.” Geoffrey leaned forward with his hands resting on his chin, elbows on the table. “I know, and I’m sure everyone else in here knows, that you do not currently have a lot of gold, and that you are new to having an Onyx Badge.”

Damn… I was doing my best to hide my excitement at the bids. Derek thought. “Was I that obvious?” He asked.

Geoffrey smiled broadly. “No, not at all. In fact, you barely had any reaction to the bids while you were here. The reason I know all this is because you are here at all.”

“What do you mean?” Derek asked.

“Well, you chose materials that, while good, were on the cheaper end. You also chose contractors that are midrange in the Employment Center’s big book. That let’s me know that you are not flush with gold. The problem is that badge.” Geoffrey said.

“What about it?”

“Not including the gossip that a someone passed the Onyx Ranked tests in the Adventurer’s Guild yesterday, most Onyx Ranked Adventurers would know some of the benefits that are included in that rank. Now, I’m not talking about actual benefits given out by the guild, but unspoken benefits by the public.” The sleazy man continued.

“Now, when we were all contacted today, we didn’t know we’d be dealing with someone of your status. I can’t speak for the others, but I’m sure they were just as surprised to see that badge on your arm as I was. For your building, if you were a regular person, the bidding would have started at 50,000 or more, and there’s no way it would have gone for below 30,000 unless you brought in contractors who really hated one another. I mean, we are dealing with 2,500 or more square foot.

“Instead, Billy started the bidding at what it would have sold for to anybody else. Unfortunately for both Billy and Lewis here, they do not have the finances to offer you a huge discount. In fact, the best I can do is construction at cost. If Wendy here really wanted to help you, she would have told you to go with someone from the front of that big book they always lug around.” Geoffrey explained.

“Why is that?” Derek asked.

“Simple.” Lewis cut in. “Those guys can afford it. Getting on the good side of such a powerful person is more than enough to cover their fees.”

“That’s right.” Geoffrey shot Lewis a glare. Obviously, he didn’t like being interrupted by the gruff man. “I imagine most of the top guys would have done the job for free, even. Hell, they may even do it with better materials than the ones you chose. Of course, if they do the job for free, the Employment Center wouldn’t get their typical percentage, would they?”

Geoffrey looked over at Wendy. “Wendy, what is two percent of zero gold? I’m sorry, I’m just not that great at math these days.”

Wendy scoffed but did not refute.

“Now, if I were you, I would take that badge and head to one of those bigwigs. You already have a contract guy.” He pointed at Rudy. “So you don’t really need the city’s help in the matter. I mean, really, who in their right minds would be daft enough to offend someone as powerful as you over a measly few thousand gold?” Geoffrey said. “Well, other than the city.”

Derek’s mind was racing. He knew that the Onyx Badge was something only a few people in the kingdom had, but he didn’t think about the hidden benefits. There wasn’t any lay or rules governing them, it’s just the people wanting to get in good with someone powerful.

Derek sighed. I guess this is the part in the story where I lean on my honor and choose to pay full price, not occurring any debt or owing anyone any favors. He thought. “Geoffrey, thank you for explaining everything. As you guessed, I am the person that took the test yesterday. The funny thing is that I basically did it on a whim.” Screw that! I need to pinch a few pennies.

He stood from his seat and reached over the table with one hand. Geoffrey stood and shook his hand. “Billy, Lewis, it was very nice to meet you.” The other two contractors nodded. “Wendy… thanks… I guess.”

Derek and his followers all walked around the table to the door. As he made his way around the table, he placed his hand on Geoffrey’s shoulder. “Geoffrey, would you follow me out? There are a few more questions I would like to ask you.”

“It would be my pleasure.” The man turned and followed behind.

As they walked out of the Employment Center, Geoffrey spoke. “Mr. Hunt, what is it I can help you with?”

Derek smiled. “Well, you were right that my current gold balance is quite lackluster. However, I would have found enough to pay for a contractor if I absolutely had to. I hear that storage rings sell for a good amount, and I happen to have more than I need.”

Geoffrey nodded. “I see.” The sleazy man was walking with Derek, shoulder to shoulder.

“You didn’t have to tell me all of that in there. You could have made a slightly lower bid than the other two and left it at that. I would have chosen you, and I would have been none the wiser.” Derek said.

“Until you were.” Geoffrey replied. “Eventually, you would have figured out your worth. What would happen then? Would you hold a grudge against me for not notifying you?”

Derek paused to think. “Actually, I don’t think I would have. Everyone needs to make money to live, and it’s not like treating me well is an actual law or rule, just a consensus. Already, I’m not holding any grudges against the Employment Center, or Wendy. She did help me out quite a bit before you all came.”

“I see.” Geoffrey said. “Then you are better than many.” He ran his hand through his slicked back hair.

“Why do you dress like that?” Derek suddenly asked.

Geoffrey gasped. “Whatever do you mean? Do you not like my outfit? I believe it makes me look like a proper businessman.”

Derek snorted. “It looks like I’m going to see your face plastered on a bench on the side of the road.” He said.

Geoffrey frowned for the first time since they met. “Why would there be a bench on the side of the road?”

“Public transportation.” Derek answered.

“What?”

“Nothing.” Derek waved him off. “Anyway, here’s the deal. Are you still willing to do the job at cost? I’m tired of discussing it today, and you’ve earned a little trust because of what you told me.”

“Of course, but like I said, you will get a much better deal from someone else. Plus, I will have to stick to the materials you requested instead of any upgrades.” Geoffrey replied, rather surprised.

“Good, then we’ll do that.” Derek said. “Follow me to the hotel so we can draw up a contract.” He then looked at Rudy. “Rudy, I expect a decent contract from you.”

“Of course.” Rudy said. “My contracts are always great. I’m alive, aren’t I?”

Soon, they were all sitting at a table in the hotel. Rudy was magicking a contract in front of everyone, and Geoffrey had called his own contract writer to look over the details for him. After some time, Rudy put the final touches on the contract and slid it over to Geoffrey’s man.

The weasel-like man with brown hair and pointy nose took the contract and began reading. The longer he read, the bigger the frown was on his face. Eventually, he looked up.

“Boss, are you sure about this?” He asked Geoffrey.

“What’s wrong?” Geoffrey asked.

“Well… technically, nothing is wrong, but are you sure about the price? Just the cost of materials? Is this a favor? If it is, why are we even making a contract?”

Geoffrey snorted. “Judd, you are making too many assumptions. Is the contract good or not?”

“It’s good. Sorry, boss.” He slid the contract over to Geoffrey.

Geoffrey put his hand on it and injected his mana signature into it before sliding the contract over to Derek.

“We good?” He asked Rudy.

Rudy nodded. “Of course. It’s a pretty basic contract, no special clauses needed for anything. We’re not trying to pull a fast one on Geoffrey here, and I don’t suspect him to try to pull a fast one on us.” He looked at Geoffrey. “Well, I don’t think he’ll pull a fast one on you, at least.”

Geoffrey clicked his tongue. “Now, I do not understand why everyone is always so vigilant around me.”

Like it was arranged beforehand. Everyone at the table, including Judd, Brandi, and Mal, all chimed in at the same time. “Your clothes.”

Geoffrey stared at everyone, aghast. Before long, Brandi broke out in laughter and everybody followed suit.

Calming down, Derek sent his mana signature into the contract and stood. “Geoffrey, I look forward to seeing what you can do.”

Geoffrey nodded. “I’ll have my guys at your lot within the hour. You’re welcome to oversee the building process yourself. Actually, I prefer it. You may see something you want to change, and it’s easier to do so while in the construction process than after it’s finished.”

Derek nodded. “I have to swing by an alchemy shop first, but I’ll be there after.”