A Priceless Bounty

Chapter 1

Arthur may appear as your average guy, who blends easily with the crowd. You may think he works as a barista in a small coffee shop on the outskirts of the Kingdom Syndril, but he works as an illegal bounty hunter. Surprised? It's not that much of a big deal anyway, Arthur thinks. Or perhaps it is. It doesn't mean he likes it - more like he was forced to be one. He can't stand seeing his ill mother and siblings suffering from starvation and can't stand seeing their neighbors merely ignoring them like the plague after his father's death. It was as if they were only treating them with the utmost kindness because of his father, Arthur thinks bitterly.

So, when a mysterious man in black appears out of thin air and offers him a chance to earn money, he can't refuse, can't he? And even if he refuses, the man dares to threaten him to kill his family in cold blood.

Arthur feels as if a bucket of ice was dumped on him. He stays silent for a moment, then his blood boils. He glares daggers at the man in front of him, his hands curling into balls of fists. He reaches for the man and grabs him by the neck out of sheer fury. The man looks completely unbothered, and calm even, that Arthur wants to choke him to death. He doesn't have a choice, does he? Arthur heaves a sigh, lowering the man. He begrudgingly accepts the offer, guilt worming its way inside him. But. He's doing it for his family, he reminds himself.

They can't live in misery anymore; he doesn't want to see the strained smiles on his family's faces as they accept their fate. And besides, despite the death threat - the man in black is a dozen times better than their fake neighbors and so-called friends.

When the man assigns him his first mission alongside two more bounty hunters, Arthur can't help showing the flabbergasted look on his face. "I - what? - I have to work with two people who I don't know?" he asks, not too excited about the idea of having to work with other people. He doesn't get along with others very well, he cringes. The man nods. "Yes, and you will, whether you like it or not," he says, sipping a cup of tea. Arthur stares at him as if the man has grown three heads.

"Alright then..." he grumbles, slumping in his chair inside the man's drawing room. He has to force himself to socialize with people out of all things. The man puts his cup of tea down on the table. "This is also a test to see if you will be worthy for the job and that includes evaluating your cooperation with your team,"

Arthur slumps in his chair even further, displeased. A thought suddenly pops into his head.

He shifts in his seat. "...if I can ask, who are you?"

The man smiles. "I will tell you when the right time comes...for now, focus on the missions." Arthur decides the man must be on high with all his cryptic words.

Arthur waits at their assigned rendezvous, tapping his feet annoyingly. He glances at the weapon that has been given to him by the man, whom he now calls Master, the man didn't tell him his name, so he requested to be called Master instead. A finely crafted steel sword with a red dragon design with golden linings. The blacksmith must have given it their all, he muses. The dragon's dull eyes creep him out though, there seems to be a strange aura. He hears a peculiar noise that is too close to him for his comfort, and by pure instinct - draws his sword from its sheath and points it to the figure sneaking from behind him.

She's a woman, Arthur notices, whose eyes have widened at his action then - she bursts out laughing, clutching her stomach. Arthur appears dumbfounded. The said woman wipes out tears from her eyes and recovers, grinning.

"Welcome to the team, pal! I'm Rune, one of the bounty hunters you will be teaming up with!" she greets cheerfully.

Arthur snaps from his stupor and lowers his sword, hastily apologizing. "I'm sorry - didn't know - I was in flight or fight mode, I didn't mean to -"