A Game

Quick Author's Note: If it wasn't obvious already, I haven't uploaded anything in a couple of weeks. I had to stop writing for a bit due to health problems, but I'm back now. But if things go according to plan, I'm moving out from the apartment and into a new permanent house some time around the 14th. But we only have the apartment until the end of this month so even if I'm not out by the 14th I'll be out at the end of the month. That being said, I'll likely have to stop writing for a couple of days due to the move. Once things are settled I plan to resume my Monday, Tuesday, Thursday schedule, but there might be days where I miss an upload due to health problems. Normally I'd write this in the Author's Thought at the bottom, but not everyone reads that. Enjoy the chapter.

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After leaving the sewers, Astur and the others return to their broken car to discuss their plans moving forward.

"Do we even need to rob the treasury anymore? I mean, we took the suitcase full of money and there's what, at least a million in it, right?" Ystur asks.

"What are you talking about we still need someone to take the car to be repaired so we still need something to do in the meantime. The best way to kill time is to rob the County. There's just one problem, that job has recently become significantly harder," Astur says, opening the car's glove box revealing a few small spiders, "You really have to make things difficult for us, don't you?"

Beneath the city, a seductive voice echos throughout the empty sewers, "My, you found my little ones quite easily Miss Astur. Your ability to gather information is most certainly no less than mine. It hasn't even been an hour since I sent the detective and his teammates away."

"Would you consider joining us in the Holy Oulvgar State, Illsrvati? We could use someone with talents like yourself. Even ignoring your skills in both weaving and espionage, my Nation would welcome you. If I'm not wrong, the reason you work in the black market is that the people of this world identify you as a Mystic, thus barring you from any proper job. Although you aren't a Demon like most of the Mystics of Vopal, the uninformed Humans likely classify all Spirits as Mystics and not just Demons."

"You are mostly right, Mystics can't get a proper job in most of the Nations on Vopal, especially ones like myself that can't disguise ourselves as one of the Beastfolk. But a major reason for my current occupation is the high pay. Due to the nature of my work, the authorities usually turn a blind eye since I'm rather useful for their work, like that detective from before. I know your place has been accepting all the Spirits and Demons who can make the trip to the Sea of Trees, they are mostly optimistic youths trying to carve a place in a world that shuns them or the old who hope they can use the last years they have serving a greater tomorrow. But you see, people like me are a bit more sceptical, from a logical perspective, you and your people shouldn't be able to win against the Crusaders and the propaganda from the Humans only serve to push this idea. But things have shown to be different than what anyone had thought. Although they cover their losses up and claim to be winning, I know that you've pushed back your enemy and forced them to rethink their approach to this war. Your presence in this city only further proves that your side has the lead and have earned the privilege to relax in enemy territory. But I still have my doubts, so lets play a game," Illsrvati suggest.

"Go on," Astur nods.

"As you know, I've tipped off the police about your plan to rob the County Treasury, I want you to successfully complete your heist against the increased security. The way you do it doesn't matter, stealthy sneaking in and out leaving the guards none the wiser or forcefully breaking in and fighting your way through, so long as you steal from the treasury and escape then it's your win and I'll make my way to the Sea of trees to join you. As for if you lose, well, I don't think I need to explain what happens to thieves after they get caught."

"Sounds like fun. And I was planning on going ahead with this idea anyway, regardless of you tipping off the police. I don't doubt my success, but what if we fail to steal anything and get away safely?" Astur asks.

"We can consider it a draw, and we maintain the status quo. I'll simply keep observing your war from the sidelines."

"Then you should get ready and pack your things since you'll be joining us in the Sea of Trees soon. Oh, and do you know where we can go to get our car towed and repaired?" Astur asks.

"... Really?" Illsrvati asks.

"Really."

"Well, Alright, give me a moment… go south and take a right to reach the central road and move east for and take a left on the fourth street and there should be a repair shop that can also tow your car. As long as you pay enough money you can skip ahead of the queue and get your car pushed to the top of the shop's priority. So long as you're offering a higher price than the person before you then you can keep your priority spot and get your car repaired within one to two days."

"Ok, then we'll make the heist once the car is repaired," Astur says.

"You realise I'm going to tell the police, right? Just what is going through your head to give away such information for no effort?"

"Then tell them, I'll welcome the challenge. I don't believe it to be possible for me to fail at something so simple. You can even just tell them it's me and not those bank robbers and allow the military to roll in," Astur leans back in her seat with a wide grin.

Meanwhile, in the back seats, Kretea and Ystur are whispering to each other.

"Did you hear that something isn't right, Mom would never want to make things more difficult than it has to be," Ystur says.

"Maybe she's trying to show off or something. It could be she's really treating this matter as a game and is trying to beat it on the highest difficulty," Kretea says.

"There's no way… that actually sounds reasonable."

Astur goes on for a few more minutes, bragging about her genius and lies about her unrivalled gaming talent, which confirms Kretea's and Ystur's previous thoughts.

"Miss Astur, I won't go so far as to directly announce that it is you who intends to rob the Treasury. It would be a problem for me and many others if the military and the crusaders arrive and engage in urban warfare," Illsrvati interjects, putting a stop to Astur's rambling.

"Fine, then we'll be seeing you again in a few days," Astur grabs the spiders in the glove box and tosses them out from the car. Astur turns back towards the two behind her, "Let's head to that repair shop and get this over with, I'm starting to run low on my Elizabethium."

"Elizabethium?" Kretea and Ystur question.

"The energy I get from teasing Liz," Astur claims.

Kretea doesn't dwell on it and accepts the concept while wondering if she can use that energy too, but Ystur sees it for the bullshit it is and ignores it.

"What are we going to do after the car is towed? We have been living in it for the past couple of days," Ystur asks.

As she is leaving the car Astur says, "Did you forget already? We still haven't collected the rest of the money from those bank robbers. It goes without saying that we are going to the hotel they are staying at. We've got plenty of money thanks to the one from the sewers."

"You mean money that you blatantly stole from Illsrvati," Ystur mumbles. As she follows Astur and Kretea out from the car, a thought pops into Ystur's head, "Given the amount of money she lost, It's no wonder Illsrvati ratted out Mom's plan to steal from the Treasury…"