Gamer Reborn-Chapter 490

Jonathan P.O.V.

Joining the city guards was one of the best choices I made. Ever since my wife and I had made the decision to move to Lessis four months ago I knew I would need a job and there was no place for farmers in the city. News of the lizard beast wave scared us into moving to the city and for a few years everything went as we expected.

Now the local Baron had been removed and a new Duke had taken ownership of the land, more than that he was basing his estate no more than half a day's walk from Lessis. The news shook the city. It’s a good thing that his brother, the new mayor, had been part of the guards before, I hadn’t met the man but news traveled fast. I don’t know how he managed to keep food and housing prices level with the influx of people rushing towards the city but I was thankful for it.

It’s on days like this however that I sometimes question my decision to join the guards. Multiple groups are now being led out of the city to escort the quarry workers towards the mountains where a new quarry is to be built.

“Why is this our job?” Sally asks our lieutenant. “We are needed in the city with the large influx of people. The number of incidents are going to keep increasing, especially now before people have had a chance to settle in and it’s more of an us against them mentality.”

I knew exactly what Sally meant. It was being part of the guards that helped the city folk get over my origins, those first two months had felt isolating however. It won’t be so isolating for the new people since they have others who are like them but that would just mean it will take that much longer for them to integrate.

“We’re here because this quarry will be part of our duties.” The lieutenant answers. “It may take half a year but an outpost will form around the quarry, almost like a village. With it being so close to the city it will be our duty to enforce the law there. And don’t worry about Lessis, the mayor has lent a few of House Hearthbound’s retainers to make up for the guards here.”

I could tell from the fondness in his tone that the lieutenant had known the mayor when he was here as part of the guards. It was also great to know that we could question the decisions of the nobles openly like this, we would still have to follow the orders but we weren’t punished for openly questioning things.

“Why not just send their people to protect the quarry and leave us to our posts?” I ask.

“Hahaha.” the lieutenant laughs at my question. “We’re not here to protect them. They sent us here for the experience, for the chance to unlock new Skills. If anything really does threaten this expedition there is not a thing any of us can do about it.”

“I know I’m not that strong but Bruce here is quite something, surely he could manage something.” I can feel myself getting a little worked up at how casually we are all dismissed. I have worked with Sally and Bruce for over two years now and I know them well. Bruce is almost twice my age and at least half again my level. He handles most of the confrontations our patrol gets into easily.

“I didn’t mean it as an insult.” the lieutenant's voice loses most of its amusement, clearly he is doing it just so he won’t annoy us further. “Look towards the carriage.”

I look towards the carriage and see exactly what he is trying to show me. The new Duke and his betrothed are travelling with us. I still find it hard to believe I am only ten years older than him. The man had shaved his beard and despite his large frame his face looked so young almost like he was just barely an adult.

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“You’re saying he’s that strong?” The skepticism in my voice is clear.

“Ajax? I can’t say for sure.” The familiarity with the Duke surprises me. I guess this confirms the rumors that some of the guards had even trained with the Duke a decade ago or so when he was first starting out. “He was strong enough to beat Bruce before he left for the capital but I’m not sure how he’s grown. That’s also not what I meant, look at the older man sitting with them.”

I barely have time to get over the shock of a kid being able to supposedly beat Bruce who was close to level fifty right now, despite that I focus on the man sitting with them and am surprised to see our eyes meet. He is smiling and gives me a small wink before returning his attention to the conversation the Duke and his betrothed are having.

“That badge on his left shoulder.” the lieutenant nodded towards him. “That marks him as a field general during the last war. According to the Warden that means he was at least level one hundred and fifty. If anything poses any sort of threat to him it would crush us.”

That realization leaves all of us in a long silence as we try to comprehend the level of power present here. Even Bruce who has already lived seventy years, most as a farmer who invested heavily into Vitality and Strength looks just as shocked.

“Do you know why we even need this quarry?” Sally asks, she was always the more inquisitive of us.

“You all saw the road leading from the Duke’s manor to Lessis.” the lieutenant answered. “He needs more rocks so he can make more of them.”

“Why not just set up his own operation then. Why make it part of Lessis?” Sally presses, she was always like this, our trainers always said it meant she would make for a good detective if she stuck with the guards. ṘАℕöᛒЁȘ

“Two reasons.” the answer came. “The first, pretty straight forward. It’s a lot faster since all of their retainers are currently stretched thin just getting established. It’s easy to forget but this is a new ducal house, there is a lot more land to cover than just Lessis and they have to spread their presence. And two, it gives opportunities to those who are willing to work for them.”

“How’s that?” Bruce's voice is gruffer than all of ours, unlike Sally and me who joined the guard for a career he joined because it was the best he could do after he was forced to evacuate to Lessis following the beast wave. freewēbnoveℓ.com

“While the House might be short on people for now they aren’t short on gold. They will be paying people well to work here, according to the Warden they will also be providing opportunities and looking to polish any talents they find.” the lieutenant explained. “They have no prejudice against commoners because they were all commoners a decade ago.”

It all sounds a little too good to be true to me but it’s not like there is anything I can do about it. I’ll just have to take care of myself, my wife and my little boy as best I can.

“This isn’t right.” Bruce says as we finally arrive at the quarry. “This quarry is barely started, it needs a lot more work before stones are ready to be carved up and shipped out. We’ll be out here for weeks. I thought this was only a two day trip.”

The words hit me like a punch in the gut. I only brought supplies for four days with me. I don’t have time to wrap my mind around what I am going to do as I see the few retainers that the Duke brought with him hurry towards the started quarry.

“Everyone up and out.”

“Quickly now.”

I look at them and see how progress quickly grinds to a halt, everyone is being herded like they are expecting something dangerous to happen. “Everybody is clear My Lord.” one of the retainers shouts and I see the Duke stand.

He slowly steps down from the carriage but as soon as his feet touch the ground my eyes can barely keep up with him. I’m sure that both Bruce and Sally couldn’t even have followed his movements with their Perception.

The duke says something as he stands at the edge of the small pit that has formed but he’s too far away for me to hear him. He does however bring out a massive sledge hammer with a large earthy gem the size of a plum at the base of the handle and then slams it towards the ground.

The impact that follows is beyond anything I could have imagined and he doesn’t stop. His movement a blur once more he moves around the pit repeatedly slamming his hammer before waiting a few seconds and doing it all again. He does this fifteen different times. By the end even from as far away as I am I can clearly see him heaving for breath but he has a wide smile on his face.

A nod from him is all it takes and his retainers are on the move. They must be using spacial storage as the shattered rocks vanish only for them to go off to the side and deposit them. All that is left by the time they are done are ten large cubic stones that the Duke heads down and takes for himself before jumping out of the new quarry he just created in minutes.

It’s small but there is no doubt that it is now a functioning quarry. He just did more than a week's worth of labor for an entire digging crew in seconds and I can’t help but be amazed.

“My turn now?” The words of his betrothed shock me further as she steps towards the quarry more slowly, a large staff appearing in her hand.