Editing Rune Soldier Louie:Volume1 Chapter2 (section)

===Part 4 – Thieves Guild===

“Five thousand silver coins, that’s my lowest price.”

The information broker said, with an obvious grin on his face.

“No one has found the remains yet. Can you imagine, that place is probably filled with countless treasures.”

“Yes, I can imagine——there being no treasure!”

Merrill said bluntly to the information broker.

The Thieves Guild operated in an underground bar, they were currently in a small room.

Merrill was trying to negotiate the price of the information.

“We will only give you money once we have found the treasure, deal?”

Merrill tried a different approach, though they risked losing the deal entirely.

“You know what? I don’t like gambling.”

The broker said bluntly.

(Damn it! He won’t take a risk!)

Merrill said inside herself.

“Just pay the price that I’ve given you. I’ve already discounted it from the price of seven thousand silver coins. Or——”

An insidious grin appeared on the brokers face.

“If you have no money, you can spend the night with me……”

Upon hearing this, Merrill pulled a dagger and immediately put it towards the broker’s neck.

“I want you to see the sun come up tomorrow, you’ll shut up.”

Although the broker was still smiling, Merrill had nothing but murderous intent on her mind.

Since she received combat training in the thieves’ guild, Merrill knows how to handle all types of opponents, her skill and speed with a knife is unheard of. However, in terms of overall experience, she is still not mature enough, if she was to fight anyone who wasn’t in the thieves guild, she’d probably lose.

“That’s a great sense of humour you’ve got……”

The broker said, his face now tense.

“I’m not joking.”

Merrill’s face now became calm, as she put the blade back into her sheath. She was wearing loose clothing, so her chest was a little exposed.

“You seem more like a ''Cat'', than a ''rabbit'', if I say so myself.”

The broker said in a teasing tone.

“Well, now I’m a bear.”
 
The broker sighed.

Rabbits and cats are jargon used in the thieves guild. Cat refers to thief, and bear refers to a an adventurer.

There are also more terms used in the thieves guild, for example ''dog'' refers to someone being a spy for the royal family, ''fox'' is someone who is a fraudulent liar, and brokers are generally called “rat”. ''Rabbit'' refers to someone who works in a brothel.

“This is nonsense. Cat’s like you are really rare.”

When Merrill was a baby, she was thrown away by her parents, a homeless couple found her lying on the street and took her in, but they sold her to the thieves guild when she reached five years old.

From the moment she arrived she was forced to pay for her own freedom. If she had chosen to become a ''rabbit'', there would be no way out of the endless cycle of prostitution. Therefore, after a careful assessment, she decided to become a ''cat'' and take the thieves guild training. They were really impressed with her skills, and in just one year she earned her freedom.

To everyone in the thieves guild, she will always be a ''cat''.

“I’m not doing it for money……”

Merrill murmured.

One year ago, Merrill found herself needing money, she was almost penniless. So she joined the ranks of adventures, seeking money and treasure.
 
“Alright, I’ll cut you a sweeter deal, how does four thousand sound?”

“Broker……”

Merrill looked up, her big round eyes staring right at him.

“Are you thick in the head!?”

He seemed very angry, he stretched out his hand.

Merrill took out a few gems and carefully put them in his hand.

“Although they aren’t top quality, these stones should be enough.”

Since she was running low on money, she used precious stones for payment instead of money.

“Wait until the end of the bidding, then I’ll give you the information.”

“I know.”

Merrill then turned to leave.

She went to the door, and was about to open the small handle of the door, but she suddenly thought of something, she then turned and faced the broker.

“What’s wrong?”

“I forgot something.”

Merrill smiled at the broker, then winked.

“Oh, thank you.”

“Little Merrill……”

All of a sudden, he started laughing, he then raised his right hand in response to Merrill’s thanks.

“If you were like that more often, then maybe the price would be lower.”

“I don’t want to bargain that way!”

Merrill shouted, then she kicked the door open and left the room.


<div style="text-align: center;">* * *</div>


“So, did the negotiations go smoothly?”

The following morning, the three female adventures including Louie came to the cottage. They asked this question because they were preparing to leave.

“I you already know, why ask?”

Jenny said coldly.

The red-haired warrior woman was holding her right eye, the bruising was fairly obvious, and there was also signs of swelling. That was from yesterday, the result from Louie’s punch.

She looked at Louie, seeing the scar she left him yesterday, it looked very painful.

Even so, he was still excited.

“We’re finally going on an adventure……”

Louie had mixed feelings about this whole ordeal.

He really wanted to cry out in pain, he thought about doing it, but he didn’t want the girls to think he was a bigger fool than he already was.

“Yeah, don’t bust my leg this time.”

The thief girl looked at Louie with contempt in her eyes.

“We are looking forward to see if you are truly a hero.”

Melissa said, sounding very superficial.

(Well, just you wait and see.)

Louie said inside himself, he then looked down at his waist.

A sword was hanging by his waist, he brought it with him this morning.

He spent a lot of time choosing the right sword, Louie didn’t want just any old sword. Finally, he choose a long-handled straight double-edged sword, it was like this sword was made for him.

It could be said that the sword became his travelling companion, a trustworthy friend that he can always rely on.

After waiting a while, the entire group had all their equipment ready.

“Off we go!”

Genie loudly announced.

The adventure had finally begun.