Squad Games [Squad Building LitRPG] [Book One Complete]

Looking at his accounts, Lothar realised that his company's relocation to Kuthenia couldn't come soon enough. He'd bailed Gal'azu out, paying his mercs to defeat the Sargassian invasion. Without him, Amotken and Eyota would have won. And was there a whole lot of gratitude for that? Not really. He knew he owed something to the people of this realm for his success. But those debts had been paid off.

He checked his mission list, keen to know what tasks were left before he was free to leave.

KILL WYNTER BLAIR

FORCE RAIMY MOLLEKER TO GET MARRIED

RECRUIT ARMY FOR GENERAL FEI

Wait a minute, where has the Raid Deepwood Dungeon mission gone?

This was the first time a mission had disappeared like that. Was I supposed to do that before killing the Sargassian princess? And if so, how was I supposed to know?

Lothar went looking for Rosalind. In an unused room of his house, he had her working on the chest of potions his crew had found in the Crimson Palace. The Baron had helped her to get the thing open without incident, despite it being heavily trapped.

"How is it going?"

"Good, almost done. I have each potion catalogued, and I'm adding labels. It's the safest way to deal with them."

"I see. Healing potions, and the like?"

"There is one healing potion. But there is a full range here. I can go through them with you."

"Alright. Not now, though."

"Well, one is poison, for example. It's really quite important they don't get mixed up, and that they're treated with respect."

"I see. Thank you. I'm just not in the mood for potions right now. The Deepwood Dungeon mission has disappeared, and I—I don't know. I'm in a bad mood."

Rosalind put her hands to her hips and studied. "We need to get out of the house. Boris needs to speak with us, remember?"

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Lothar didn't really want to speak with One-Eyed Boris, either. But he was aware that he wasn't really in the mood for anything. "Alright."

They met Boris in the shop he still owned on Goldsmith Street.

"Business good?" Lothar asked him, as Boris sat them down in his office.

The place seemed a little overrun, with boxes of merchandise stacked in one corner, and parchments scattered across his desk and on the floor. Boris poured three glasses of something strong.

"Yes, thanks to you, Stiff. Don't think what you've done for us isn't appreciated. I've recently agreed what should be a lucrative trading deal with Hargony. Amongst all that, I've been carrying out this task Foberoy assigned me."

"Thank you."

"You're welcome. It's the least the council can do after your sacrifices." Boris fetched a pile of parchment and put a monocle to his eye. "Now, then. I have here the names and addresses of the ex-Silent Warriors who have signed up for your company. One hundred and twenty-one souls in all. They are ready to take your orders. Here," he said, handing the paperwork over.

"That many?" Lothar wasn't sure what to think. The Rotten Apples had become a real merc company.

"You're setting out soon?" Boris asked.

"Aye. Fei needs us urgently, and my outstanding tasks are all but done."

"Well, good luck." Boris looked around his office, his one eye blinking.

"Is there something else?" Rosalind asked him.

"Well, I need to upsize. A room above a shop isn't working any longer. Since Stiff here is leaving his property for a while—"

"—You're looking to rent it out?" Lothar finished for him.

"Yes. Seems like it would benefit us both."

Lothar thought about it. There was no reason not to. It would only be lying empty. "I'm happy to do it."

"Great. I'll fetch The Reckoner. Get a contract drawn up."

Lothar tried to hide his terror at the idea. "Will that be necessary? An agreement among gentlemen would suffice, would it not?"

"Even better. Save us some expense. Very good of you, Stiff."

There was a knock at the door. One of Boris's henchmen poked a head into the room. "I have an Alinko outside by the name of Negedu. Very insistent."

"One of mine," Lothar told Boris. "Is it alright?"

"Of course."

Smoke entered. "So, this is where you're hiding?"

"You have news?"

"All the news. All at once. I've found Wynter and Rake. At the same time as I found that merc captain you were so interested in."

Lothar glanced at Rosalind, going a little red. "Meaning?"

"Meaning Blair and Molleker didn't take long to join a new company."

"Anke signed them up?"

"Yes, and all three have just returned to the city. Went straight to the house of our illustrious mayor."

"Foberoy?"

"Indeed."

"What in Gehenna are they playing at?" Lothar turned to Rosalind and Boris, but they looked nonplussed. "I'm going straight over. I need to get to the bottom of this. Excuse me, Boris."

"Of course."

"I'll come with you," Rosalind said, getting to her feet. She nodded at Smoke. "Good work."

"Wondered when someone would get around to mentioning that."

The trio in question were leaving the mayor's house at the same time as Lothar and Rosalind arrived.

"What in Gehenna is going on here, Anke?" he demanded, gesturing at the pair.

"You're going to have to be more specific, Stiff."

He pointed at Wynter. "She's one of yours now? She attacked one of mine."

"Oh, that. I've sorted it all out with the mayor. And no, Wynter and Rake aren't mine. But we're all in the same guild now."

"Same guild? What are you talking about?"

"The Guild of Adventurers. I was led to believe you'd heard of it?"

Guild of Adventurers? Larik's little project. This trio has signed up? Wynter and Rake smirked as they watched him figure it all out. Treacherous little shits. Then it struck him. That was why the mission to the Deepwood had gone. They'd taken it from him.

Their eyes went wide, and their hands went to their hilts. It was only then that Lothar realised he had Slayer half out of its scabbard.

"Stiff!" Rosalind said, grasping his arm.

"Stiff. Rosalind." Urkal was at his front door, a frown on his face. "Are you coming in?"

Lothar met eyes with Anke. She was cool as ever. Already playing her games and running rings round him. Patience, Stiff, he told himself. They'll all get their just desserts. At the right time.

He strode towards Foberoy, forcing the mayor to backtrack to get out of his way. The three of them sat down in the mayor's office, where Lothar refused the offer of a drink. "Just tell me what the fuck is happening."

"I had a productive meeting with Anke. She says she knows you from Hargony?"

"Out with it."

"Stiff!" warned Rosalind.

He swallowed. Took a breath. "Sorry."

"It's alright," said Foberoy. "I've been a bit riled up myself recently. But the good news is, Anke persuaded Raimy to return. The marriage is going ahead."

"Oh, I'm pleased," said Rosalind.

Lothar just festered.

Foberoy gave him a pensive look. "Anke also told me about Wynter Blair's attack on one of your mercs. Blair has agreed to pay a wergild for the offence." He lifted a bag of coin from under his desk and held it up. "You'll make sure the girl gets it?"

Lothar stared at him. "A wergild?"

Rosalind took the bag. "I'll pass it on."

"Yes, a wergild. Perfectly legal, and it avoids a blood feud. We need to keep the peace in Gal'azu. Do you understand, Stiff? I can't have you getting embroiled in a vendetta with them. Anke has behaved perfectly reasonably. She's done me a big favour. You too, since it was you who let Raimy escape."

"I don't give two shits about Raimy."

"Well, I do. He's about to become my son-in-law."

"And you think Anke doesn't realise that? I want Blair dead."

"Well, it's not happening. She's paid her fine, and that's that. You're off to Kuthenia soon. It'll be more than useful to have another company here—or guild, or whatever they want to call themselves."

"That's true, Stiff," Rosalind said. "Let them have their little victory. It doesn't change anything."

"Can't you see what's happening here?" he asked Rosalind. "Anke's taking over. She can't be trusted. We need to deal with this now."

Rosalind and Urkal shared a look. "Taking over?" she repeated. "Stiff, the council has just recruited you more than a hundred warriors. You have the best mercs in Gal'azu. You have wizards on your payroll. There are less than ten of them. They're no threat. As the mayor says, it's good for Gal'azu to have two companies."

"Good for Gal'azu? When are you going to take my side?"

"It's not all about you, Sauer," said Foberoy. "We want a land of peace and freedom. Not a land where one man gets to be the judge and executioner of everything and everyone you deem to have crossed you. Take your company to Kuthenia and let me worry about Gal'azu. I'm the mayor of this city. Not you."

Lothar got to his feet. "Right. I will. Won't bother me if I never see this place again." He stormed out.

All things come to an end, he told himself. Goodbye Gal'azu.