My Space-Time System

"Mr. James I am calling to inquire if the mission you posted 1 week ago is still valid?" Susan asked the merchant.

Compared to other types of missions, investigation missions were more time crucial. The more time was wasted the lesser the chances of solving the case. This also meant the reward for solving the case had to be increased.

"Yeah it is, but I currently don't have the funds to increase the reward." The merchant said.

"Alright, I shall inform the adventurer who is interested in the mission." Susan said, but as she was about to cut the communication link, the merchant asked a final question.

"If I may ask, who is this adventurer that is suddenly interested in my mission?"

"It is adventurer Zero." Susan explained who Blake was and the investigative feats.

"I heard he was the one that tracked the notorious leader of the creed gang and their hideout?" The merchant asked receiving a confirmatory nod from Susan.

'There might actually be a chance that I would get all my merchandise back!' The merchant was ecstatic by the news and was hoping that the adventurer would accept his request.

…

"I have spoken to the merchant, the mission is still up." Susan said as she began explaining the mission to Blake.

"Mr James was an average wine merchant whose little warehouse had been robbed. When the case was reported to the ash corps, but after 2 days of investigation they were unable to find the thieves nor the stolen merchandise."

'The ash corps is more than capable to locate the thieves, they just felt it wasn't worth it to expend so much resources just for an average merchant.' Blake thought as he listened to the details of the mission.

"The mission has been left  untouched for a week now, but there is a slight issue." Susan said causing Blake to frown. "Due to most of his merchandise being stolen, he doesn't have the funds to pay for the increase in reward."

"I really want to help him. So is it possible to convert my payment to contribution points, while he pays the association's percentage in gold coins?" Blake had no need for gold coins any time soon, so his main focus was on the contribution points.

"We don't normally offer such services, but I shall ask guildmaster Walden." Susan was moved by Blake's zeal to help the merchant.

After a few minutes, Susan was back with good news.

"Guildmaster Walden has agreed to your request but with a condition. The merchant would have to pay a discounted price of the total sum after the mission is complete." Susan reported.

"Fair enough, I agree." If he was to locate the thieves and the merchandise, the merchant would be more than able to pay the fees.

"Before I inform the ash corps handlers that you are taking the mission, is this a solo or a party mission?" Susan asked.

"Hades and Grock currently have matters they are dealing with. So it would be a solo mission." Blake replied.

"Alright, good luck with your investigation." Susan said before ending the communication link.

"Time to get down to business." Blake geared up and left the school for the warehouse located in the northern part of the middle region.

On dropping from his carriage, Blake saw a short and muscular, pallid-skinned man with a pointed chin, ears that stuck out, and a narrow face. He had straight, black hair, large hands, and a thick neck.

"I am adventurer Zero and I am handling the investigation of the robbery that took place here." Blake said as he showed him his adventurer Id.

"You are adventurer Zero?" Mr James couldn't believe that the adventurer that tracked one of the most wanted gang leaders was a 16-year-old. It was only after he saw the adventurer ID that he finally believed.

"I am Mr James, nice to meet you." The merchant shook Blake's hand as they began walking into the storage unit.

"Can you tell me what happened here?" Blake asked the merchant, but it turned out that his story was no different from what Susan had told him.

Mr James, an average merchant, dealt with wines, so he didn't see the need to hire anything above regular guards for such a small place.

'Now I see why the ash corps didn't bother with such a case. There are no leads at all.' Blake thought as he heard nothing important from the merchant's story and that of his guards.

"Alright, time to get to work." Blake gestured for Mr James to leave the warehouse as he pretended to search for clues.

Once he was gone, Blake brought out a map of the city and activated the locator skill.

"Where is my client's merchandise?" His current location lit up, but so did 6 other locations on the map.

"What do we have here?" Blake soon noticed that the 6 locations were all in the eastern part of the middle region.

"6 locations means the merchandise has been distributed or this was a joint operation that the rewards had been shared."

"Looking at the warehouse size and considering that the stolen goods are not magical items, it definitely can't be a joint operation." Blake said.

"It looks too good to be true." Blake chuckled when he noticed something.

On looking at the 6 points on the map, Blake noticed that 1 of the points was at the center of the remaining 5.

One might ask why criminals would foolishly reveal their hideout from their distribution network, but the truth was that without the locator skill no one would have a clue they were connected.

"Time to go check it out." Blake put back his map into his dimensional pocket and left the ware.

"Thanks for the information, I will get back to you shortly." Blake said to the merchant as he left the area and boarded a carriage.

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