Chapter 298: Guild Buildings
Jace pulled his Spectre Knife out of his sheath and threw it at the sniper. There was a crackle through the air followed by the knife smashing into the head of the stunned sniper. Who went limp a moment later. The knife sticking out of his head, he should have probably shot them but he did not want to scare the Princess.
Bang!
On the other side there was a loud gunshot as Nila shot her own sniper. He looked back to see a headless corpse falling out of a window. Jace sighed and shook his head. There was no point in him throwing his knife.
He then made sure only his squad could hear him. "Ulin and Uti, go retrieve my knife and scout the path ahead." He then turned to the High Priestess who was already standing while the Princess was pulling herself up, "I apologize Princess Phila and High Priestess but under my duty to protect the High Priestess I am cutting this parade short." He then moved to the side of the float and made several hand signals. The troops from the Venture understood and the float picked up speed.
He brought both his hands back to his rifle as he stepped forward and looked around cautiously. "Spectre Jace does this," The High Priestess informed the Princess who was still wrapping her mind around what just happened. "The first time I met him he threw me out a window in the name of my safety. Very undignified."
"So... he has not changed? I suppose he is all business when it comes down to it." Astella joined in. "How exactly are we going to explain this to the people?"
"Someone tried to kill both the Princess and the High Priestess. There is not much to say." Jace chuckled as he kept a look out. They were already getting close to the building they would be holding the negotiations at. It was fenced off with mercenaries guarding it. While the structure itself seemed to be some type of gathering hall with a large open ground floor while the upper floors were actually larger and built like they could take heavy duty weapons fire.
"The negotiation building we are going to is actually part of a new business idea that the princess has decided to pursue." Benze was the one that spoke up. Clearly feeling nervous in the situation. He seemed less combat oriented and more focused on business, but there was something off putting about the man that Jace could not put his finger on.
"Umm... yeah." The Princess pulled herself out of her shock. "I was actually making several groups called guilds where common services could be provided. This building we are going to be doing the negotiations at is the future home of the Mercenary Guild where groups and individual mercenaries can be hired for a variety of legal tasks." She explained nervously as the float got closer to the gate.
"I figured the military would be open to hiring them." The High Priestess pointed out.
"No, the Princess has the right idea." Jace pointed out, "By the time we are done there will be people of various militaries who we could not employ in the military. So they will likely use their skills, giving them a possible way to do what they specialize in is better than letting them become pirates or rogues."
"That and it allows veterans who do not know what else to do to get themselves some form of work. Even if it is on station bodyguard work." Astella joined in as the front of the float opened up and she pulled the princess up and out the front of the float.
The High Priestess followed her out. Then Nila jumped down after her. Then Benze hesitated for a moment before jumping down. Once again Jace felt something was off as he jumped down as well. As they moved to the building he raised a hand and made several hand signals made for his Cerberus squad.
Then he moved into the building and stepped next to the electronic panel and sealed the door. He then turned to the others who had stopped for a moment. "Which room are we going to?" He asked as he walked up to them. They looked to the Princess who took a deep breath and then nodded before looking around.
Finding what she was looking for in the form of a well dressed man that appeared to be a butler. "My lady! Are you alright! Should we call off the negotiation? What should we do?" The butler hurriedly asked. His panicked behavior seemed to put the Princess at ease.
"No." Her answer was resolute. "We are continuing with the negotiations. So take a deep breath to calm yourself then escort us to the room that has been set up for the secure meeting." She sounded a lot more calm and composed now that she had someone else to calm down.
The older man with graying hair took a moment to breathe before nodding to himself. "Okay, please follow me." Stepped to the side and composed himself, he began walking proudly as he led the way.
They all began following him. Nila stayed near the High Priestess. While Astella stayed near the Princess. At the back was Benze and Jace was following behind him. Benze had clearly become aware that Jace was watching him, because just for a moment the mask the supposed Free Trade Troupe member had on slipped as he looked at Jace and frowned.
He followed the group to the back of the room and up a pair of extravagant stairs to the second floor of the building. Where they began entering a room. Jace was the last one inside. So after they entered he closed the doors and stayed standing by them.
"Welcome to the negotiation room. The walls are reinforced and we have all of the things we might need to make a traditional human contract. I apologize but we are not completely aware of the Victorium traditions so we did not prepare anything." The Princess declared as she waved her hand at a table that was set up with a set of paper and pens along with data pads.