1621 Merits
The group, filled with elation, made their way toward the nearest pub, eager to continue celebrating their reunion and engage in a lively conversation. Gerri, with his characteristic exuberance, had his voice above the clamor.
"It's such a joyous occasion! Drink for everyone! On Me!!"
His words seemed to have ignited a wave of merriment among the gathered crowd, transforming the atmosphere into one of boisterous revelry. Laughter and cheers echoed throughout the pub, filling it with an infectious sense of joy.
Just as they settled into their seats, however, their newfound delight was interrupted by the arrival of another enforcer, urgently summoning their captain.
Gerri, visibly irritated by the untimely interruption, addressed his companions sternly.
"I will deal with whatever this is quickly. Don't any of you dare leave while I'm gone!"
With that, the group was left with four members: Emery, Thrax, Chumo, and Morgana. All of whom hailed from Earth.
When he noticed that Chumo had interest in the only woman present, Emery quickly introduced her as someone from Earth. But to his surprise, the former responded with a note of caution.
"You should be really careful. She is essentially an illegal migrant from the lower realm world, and she supposedly needs to undergo processing."
Emery let out a sigh as he nodded his head, acknowledging the validity of Chumo's words. However, he couldn't help but feel concerned about his friend's tone. The man seemed different from the person he remembered from their shared past.
Curiosity piqued, Emery posed a question that had been in his mind to Chumo. "So, why did you decide to become an enforcer, Chumo? It doesn't seem like something you would like to do."
Chumo's response indicated that his decision had little to do with personal preference. "It's for the Magus Alliance Merits," he explained curtly.
As a citizen of the lower realm within the Magus Alliance, Chumo had to accumulate a certain amount of Alliance merits, 2,500 points, in order to obtain a pass for his return home. And despite having been working as an enforcer for three months, he had only managed to earn a few hundred merits.
Emery couldn't help but find himself perplexed by the situation. Even though he knew that killing the elves would earn a sum of Alliance merit points, he did not realize that he needed them to secure his own passage home.
If he remembered correctly, killing one Crescent Moon elf only gave 100 merits. That meant Chumo would need to either kill or capture 25 of such figures to fulfill the requirement.
It was such an incredibly demanding task, he thought.
Thrax interjected, providing some context that actually 2,500 merits was considered a modest requirement. Chumo might have received a dispensation due to the fact that his current situation was against his wishes. In comparison, the Thracian said that for someone like him who had chosen to remain voluntarily, he would need to earn 10,000 merits to secure a pass back home.
"10,000 merits?!" Emery exclaimed, his astonishment evident.
Basing his thoughts on the knowledge he knew, the number seemed overwhelmingly large, which in a way was true. However, Thrax chuckled as he attempted to assuage Emery's concerns.
"Don't worry," the Thracian reassured his friends. "I've fared quite well on the battlefield, so it wouldn't be that much of a problem for me." With a confident grin, he displayed his statistics to the group.
[Thrax]
[Alliance Merit: 14,210]
Emery and Chumo exchanged surprised glances after they saw what was written. Thrax's impressive merit point honestly surpassed their expectations.
With a chuckle, Thrax explained that the merits were not solely his own but also included contributions from the Terra warriors and Lord Izta's wives. They all apparently had pooled their resources, hoping to secure passage home for them.
"With these, we can all get back home!" Thrax's announcement filled Emery with a sense of excitement.
For Emery, going home meant more than just reuniting with the body he left behind; it also meant the possibility of regaining all his lost memories.
Meeting his two friends had already sparked the recollection of Julian and Klea, and now that he could finally recall them Emery yearned to return more than ever.
However, his anticipation couldn't help but waver when he noticed Chumo heaving a heavy sigh. Concerned, Emery turned to his friend and asked, "What's wrong, Chumo?"
In response, Chumo removed his mask, surprising everyone as what was revealed was a face that was wrinkled and pale. Before Emery could say anything, he spoke first.
"The toxin couldn't be completely removed. This means I can't go back home yet... not like this," He confessed with a touch of resignation in his voice.
Emery's heart sank upon learning that Chumo had been enduring constant pain from the toxin for the past four years. But at the same time, this revelation only further fueled Emery's determination to find a cure, and his thoughts turned to Annara.
"Actually, I'm here looking for someone. Do you remember Annara?" Emery inquired, hoping that Chumo might possess valuable information.
Chumo's expression quickly changed as he responded, "Yes, what about her?"
Emery proceeded to explain how he had ventured to the Darkness Institute in search of something left behind by Zenonia, only to discover that Annara was missing.
The mention of Annara seemed to trigger a contemplative state in Chumo.
Sensing that Chumo held knowledge, Emery interrupted his thoughts and implored, "You know something, don't you? Please, tell me."
Chumo hesitated for a moment before confirming, "Yes, it was us who caught her at the institute."
"You did?" Emery's relief was palpable, but it was short-lived as Chumo added a somber note.
"Unfortunately, there's nothing you can do for her... She has been sentenced for her crime."
Emery's shock was evident as he exclaimed, "What?! When is this happening? How...? I need to stop it!"
Chumo's response, however, was firm. "No, you don't. She's a killer, and she must pay for her crime."
The previously pleasant conversation abruptly shifted into a tense and suspenseful atmosphere.
Emery's mind raced, grappling with the idea of Annara facing a death sentence. He couldn't bear the thought of losing another friend.
Just as the weight of the situation began to overwhelm Emery, Gerri arrived, his voice booming with curiosity. "Damn! What's going on here? What did I miss?"
Emery and Chumo turned their attention to Gerri, their expressions reflecting a mix of worry and urgency. It was clear that the revelation of Annara's fate had changed the course of their conversation, plunging them into a state of deep concern and a burning determination to alter the impending tragedy.
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