Merchant Frost—that was his name, Gerald Frost—took me to his mansion. Apparently, saving people's lives gets you VIP treatment in fantasy worlds. Who knew?
He led me to an armory that would make a medieval weapons collector weep with joy. Swords, axes, bows, even some glowing magical stuff I didn't dare touch.
"Take whatever you need," he said.
I looked at the arsenal, then at my own two hands. "I don't know how to use any of this."
He blinked. "You... you don't?"
"I'm a programmer. Was a programmer. My combat experience consists of Dark Souls, and I died a lot in that."
[SYSTEM ANALYSIS: HOST HAS ZERO COMBAT SKILLS][RECOMMENDED ACTION: ACQUIRE TRAINING OR DIE QUICKLY]
"Gee, thanks for the vote of confidence."
Frost looked panicked. "But you charged into a burning building! You saved those people!"
"That was different. That was just being stupid and lucky." I picked up a sword, nearly dropped it. "This? This requires actual skill I don't have."
[QUEST UPDATE: YOU HAVE 48 HOURS][CURRENT SKILLS: NONE][SURVIVAL PROBABILITY: 3%]
Three percent. Great. The system had downgraded my chances.
"There has to be another way," I muttered, thinking. "Tell me about these Bloodfang Bandits. Everything."
Frost pulled out a map. "They're a group of about twenty men, led by a man called Korran the Cruel. Ex-military. They've been raiding caravans for months. The city guard won't touch them because they're holed up in the Dead Forest, outside jurisdiction."
"Why'd they take your daughter specifically?"
"Ransom. They demanded 500 gold suns. I... I don't have that much liquid capital. My fortune is tied up in trade goods, properties. I offered them 200, but they said if I don't pay the full amount by tomorrow night, they'll kill her."
[SYSTEM ANALYSIS][DIRECT COMBAT: 3% SURVIVAL][STEALTH RESCUE: 8% SURVIVAL][NEGOTIATION: 15% SURVIVAL][ALTERNATIVE STRATEGY: ???]
"What if we don't fight them?" I said slowly.
"What do you mean?"
"They want money, right? What if we give them something better?"
"Better than gold?"
An idea was forming. Insane, probably suicidal, but better than trying to sword-fight twenty trained bandits.
"Information. Opportunity. A way to make way more than 500 gold without the risk."
Frost stared at me. "You want to negotiate with bandits?"
"I want to offer them a deal they can't refuse. You're a merchant. You must have trade routes, knowledge of valuable shipments, connections. What if we could offer them something that turns them from bandits into... business partners?"
[INNOVATIVE THINKING DETECTED][NEW SKILL UNLOCKED: STRATEGIC PLANNING (RANK F)][SURVIVAL PROBABILITY: 15% → 34%]
"That's..." Frost looked thoughtful. "That's actually not insane. I have a shipment of spices coming from the southern kingdoms next week. Worth at least 2,000 gold if sold properly. The bandits would never be able to fence it alone, but with my connections..."
"We offer them a cut. Say, 40%. They get 800 gold, way more than the ransom. You get your daughter back, they get steady income. Everyone wins."
"And if they just take my daughter AND demand the trade route information?"
"Then I'm there as insurance. If they try anything, I'll..." I paused. "Okay, I haven't figured that part out yet."
[HONESTY DETECTED][YOUR TACTICAL PLANNING IS TERRIBLE][BUT YOUR PROBLEM-SOLVING IS IMPROVING]
"I'll go with you," Frost said suddenly.
"What? No. That's—"
"She's my daughter. I won't sit here while someone else risks their life." He grabbed a crossbow from the wall. "I'm not a fighter, but I can point this at someone threatening. Besides, they know me. They might actually negotiate if I'm there."
[PARTY MEMBER AVAILABLE: GERALD FROST][ACCEPT?]
I looked at this middle-aged merchant, clearly terrified but trying to be brave for his daughter.
"Alright. But we do this smart. No heroics. We talk first, fight only as a last resort."
"Agreed."
[PARTY FORMED][SURVIVAL PROBABILITY: 34% → 41%]
We spent the next six hours planning. Frost gave me clothes that didn't look like burned rags. We gathered supplies. Most importantly, we rehearsed our pitch.
By nightfall, we were as ready as we'd ever be.
The Dead Forest earned its name. Twisted trees, fog that clung to everything, and an oppressive silence that made every footstep sound like a drumbeat.
[ENTERING DANGER ZONE][HOSTILES DETECTED: 50 METERS AHEAD]
"They know we're coming," I whispered.
"How do you know?"
"Just a feeling." Actually, it was the system's minimap, but explaining that would take too long.
We reached their camp just as the moon rose. Campfires lit up a clearing where rough-looking men sat around, drinking and laughing. In the center, tied to a post, was a girl about sixteen with Frost's eyes.
Elena.
Frost started forward, but I grabbed his arm. "Not yet. Let them make the first move."
We didn't have to wait long. A massive man—had to be Korran—stood up and pointed at us.
"Well, well. The merchant came in person. Either very brave or very stupid." His voice was like gravel. "You got my money?"
I stepped forward before Frost could speak. "We've got something better."
Korran's hand went to his sword. "Who the hell are you?"
"Marcus Chen. Professional problem solver. And I'm here to make you all rich."
The bandits laughed. But Korran didn't. He studied me with sharp eyes.
"You've got thirty seconds before I feed you to the wolves. Talk."
I explained the plan. The spice shipment. The trade route. The 800 gold they'd make on the first deal alone, with potential for more.
"Why would we share when we could just take it all?" one bandit called out.
"Because taking it means you have to fence 2,000 gold worth of spices. You know how hard that is? You'd get maybe 500 gold if you're lucky, and you'd make every guard in the kingdom hunt you. This way, you get more money and legitimacy. You go from hunted criminals to protected business partners."
[SKILL: SILVER TONGUE (RANK F) UNLOCKED][NEGOTIATION BONUS: +15%]
Korran was thinking. I could see it. He wasn't just a thug—he was smart.
"And what stops us from taking the girl, the information, AND your lives?"
"Nothing," I admitted. "Except that we're offering trust. A partnership. You can kill us and get maybe 500 gold from that shipment, plus a life on the run. Or you can let us walk out, get 800 gold clean, and have a steady income stream. Your choice."
[NEGOTIATION CHECK: SUCCESS RATE 67%]
The silence stretched. Every bandit was watching Korran.
Finally, he smiled. "You've got balls, kid. I'll give you that." He turned to his men. "Cut the girl loose."
Relief flooded through me. Frost ran to his daughter, untying her, holding her.
"But," Korran continued, "I need insurance. The merchant goes free with his daughter. You stay here until the shipment arrives and we get our cut."
[QUEST COMPLICATION][YOU ARE NOW A HOSTAGE][DURATION: 6 DAYS UNTIL SHIPMENT ARRIVES]
"Deal," I said before Frost could protest.
"Marcus, no—"
"Take her home," I said firmly. "I'll be fine. This is what we agreed."
[COURAGE (RANK E) PREVENTING FEAR RESPONSE][YOU'RE EITHER VERY BRAVE OR VERY STUPID][SYSTEM STILL CALCULATING WHICH]
Frost looked torn, but Elena was crying, clutching him. He nodded. "Six days. I'll be back with the shipment."
As they left, I was very aware that I was now alone with twenty armed bandits who could kill me at any moment.
"So," I said to Korran. "You guys play cards?