We Hunt Monsters 14, page 64
“Stop commenting. I knew this would be expensive going in. Now shut up and let me enjoy myself,” Keith snapped back.
“This leaves the three options near the bottom,” she continued, unaware of their silent conversation. “The Orichalcum, Mithril, or Adamantite packages.”
Keith saw the names of each, along with a number set beside them.
Orichalcum had a 14.5 next to it, while Adamantite had 33.5, with Mithril being at 24. He didn’t know exactly what these numbers meant, but he suspected they were the charge per night. If these were in large gold bricks, he was walking out of here. He might want a nice vacation, but he wasn’t going to be shelling out such ludicrous sums of money for leisure. If it came to it, he’d just go back to his bunker and maybe explore the private pocket space it came with, even if it felt less like a vacation.
“What exactly do they include?” Keith asked, noting that even the base Bronze package had the number 5 next to it.
“Well, starting with the Orichalcum package, you get full access to the big island, including the Orichalcum lounge with the fine selection of delicacies and experiences that come along with it. In addition, you receive a private villa in lieu of a room at the main hotel compound. This, of course, comes with your team of private butlers, transport, and around-the-clock request service for anything you may desire.
“The Mithril and Adamantite packages are for the truly exclusive who wish for complete privacy, even from other guests. We have many islands surrounding the big one. At Mithril, you will get your own small island to yourself, including all the amenities from the previous packages as well as transport between your island and the big one, if you should wish to travel.
“The Adamantite package comes with a larger private island with your own manor. Indoor/outdoor living with perfect weather guaranteed by our weather mages on staff. You’ll have your own staff, of course, disconnected from the other islands. You may invite whomever you choose, but no one will come bother you without express verbal and written permission from you. You’ll have your own security force, obviously, and the very finest we have to offer.”
“She really does know how to upsell, doesn’t she?”
“These prices,” Keith said, tapping the list. “What currency does this denote?”
“This is the price per night in small gold bricks,” Greenie said, her professional smile slipping just a bit.
So, if he were to take three nights at the highest level, it would be just over ten large gold bricks. That was an absurd amount of money, an amount he never would have dreamed of spending just half a year ago. Now, with nearly ten thousand large gold bricks sitting in his pocket and tens of thousands more in investments, items, and owned land, he didn’t feel nearly as bad about spending it, even if it was enough to build his own island paradise with every ridiculous feature he could think of.
“Not a bad plan to put in the works, don’t you think?” Tac asked. “Maybe after all of this is over, you can find yourself a contractor willing to do the work.”
“Tell me honestly,” Keith said, looking Greenie in the eye. “You know I want privacy, so I’m obviously going to choose the private island option, but is the difference between Mithril and Adamantite really that big?”
“Without a doubt, s- I mean, Keith,” she quickly corrected. “All of our facilities are top-notch, but there are still some that are better than others. Adamantite is the best, and there’s a reason for it.”
“Very well,” Keith said. “We’ll go with that option, then.”
“Excellent,” Greenie said. “Now, how will you be paying?”
Keith began pulling large gold bars from his inventory and stacking them on the table.
95
Keith stretched out in the bed, arching his back and yawning as he woke from a peaceful slumber. Greenie had left several hours ago, telling him to make himself comfortable while she arranged everything. Apparently giving a bit of notice before picking the most expensive option was preferable, but they could still have everything ready to go within a few hours.
“Wow. Making a bunch of poor staff slave through the night, just so you could live a little fancier for a day,” Tac said. “Talk about pompous and arrogant.”
“Tac, if you don’t shut up, I’ll put you in a timeout,” Keith said, as he got out of the bed, sliding his feet into the softest slippers he’d ever felt.
Apparently, everything he used here he got to keep, which was a nice perk considering how much he was paying. There would be clothes supplied for him on the island as well, though for now, he threw on a robe and headed for the bathroom. A small tray of snacks had been left out, and he spotted a note placed beneath the tray.
Breakfast is available at your leisure. Simply exit the room and ring the bell. Someone will be along to help. This goes as well for anything else you may desire.
~Greenie
“Well, that’s nice,” Bob said, helping himself to one of the puffy, cream-filled pastries as he set the filigreed card down and continued to the bathroom.
It had been around ten when he’d reached the front entrance, and when Greenie had left, it had been close to eleven. He’d gotten a solid six hours of sleep and felt refreshed and energized to take on the day. The bathroom was even nicer than he’d been expecting, which was saying a lot. A porcelain tub large enough to fit three, gold spigots, and so many soaps he didn’t even know where to start.
“Crazy that this is just the waiting room,” Bob said as Keith turned the water to his preferred temperature.
He was going to let it fill a little, then drain the tub as the porcelain cooled the water, but to his surprise, the tub began warming itself as soon as the hot water began to run, making it unnecessary. The tub also filled very quickly, so much so that it was full in under three minutes, just enough time for Keith to get out of his clothes and find the appropriate towels.
“Ahhh!” Bob sighed loudly as he sank into the water next to him. “This makes being forced to wake up at five in the morning completely worth it. Though, mind you, I’d have much preferred to sleep in. For future reference.”
“And miss the breakfast menu?” Keith asked, reaching behind the tub to a small pocket where a series of menus sat.
Apparently, this place knew its clientele well. He had to wonder where One or Two Star guests stayed if they had to wait for their rooms. There was no way this place was going to let them leave and potentially change their minds, so they had to have accommodation or somewhere to sleep. He decided to ask whoever came to help him this morning, as he was sure Greenie would be fast asleep by now.
“Hmm,” Keith said, shuffling through the menus. “Looks like they have two for breakfast, a sweet and a savory.”
There were a variety of options on each, and apparently, he could order whatever he wanted. For the next half hour as the two of them soaked in the tub, they came up with their order, though he had to veto several of Bob’s choices. They were going to a tropical island, and he didn’t want the monkey to be comatose before the day even got underway.
Dressing in a clean and very fluffy robe, Keith went to the door and found the small bell waiting there for him. He rang it and closed the door behind him. He hadn’t taken more than two steps away from the door before a knock sounded behind him.
“Talk about speedy service,” Tac said as Keith turned around and opened the door.
“I was expecting someone else,” Keith said as Greenie’s familiar face came into view.
“Why would that be?” Greenie asked.
“It’s late,” Keith said with a shrug. “Thought you’d be off by now.”
“I would not dream of leaving until you departed for the island,” Greenie said. “Now, is there something I can help you with?”
“Breakfast for one,” Keith said. “An update would also be nice.”
“Of course,” Greenie replied, pulling out a small notepad and pen as Keith gave her his and Bob’s orders. “I’ll have an update as soon as I return.”
Keith nodded, heading back into the room and taking the time to get dressed and do a few stretches. Once again, she wasn’t gone nearly as long as she should have been, returning less than ten minutes later with their entire order, rolled in on a cart and covered by a series of crystalline domes.
It didn’t stop there, though. She then proceeded to move a couple of smaller tables together, fitting them seamlessly into a larger one, which she then covered with a shimmering cloth of blue and gold. Then she laid everything out, arranging it along with cutlery and his beverages to all be within easy reach.
“My contacts on the island assure me that everything will be ready for you within the next couple of hours. As such, we will have transport to the island ready to leave in an hour and a half. Someone will knock on the door when it has been prepared, but you may feel free to take your time. No one would dare to rush you. Is there anything else you need?”
Keith shook his head, and Greenie bowed her way out.
“Don’t you wish you had all this food to share with some hot lady who also happened to be good company, instead of a food-obsessed monkey?” Tac asked, as Keith and Bob dug into the delicious breakfast.
“I don’t mean to sound conceited here, Tac, but I could literally have brought anyone here with me. Last I checked, there were more than a few people vying for my attention. I came here alone on purpose.”
“Yeah, I got that,” Tac said. “I just don’t understand it.”
“You never did,” Keith said, then proceeded to ignore him as he enjoyed his food and the blessed silence along with it.
He was lounging back on one of the larger couches, having allowed his mind to go completely blank, when a knock came at the door. He was up in an instant, Bob startling a bit from his spot next to him. Apparently, the monkey had been dozing off.
Greenie stood by the door, professional smile in place.
“We are ready to take you to the island whenever you are ready,” she said with a bow.
“Come on, Bob,” Keith called as he moved into the hallway, Bob waddling after and covering a yawn.
Despite them obviously being underground, it still somehow felt like daytime, light filtering in from somewhere to make the space feel more open and airy. They followed Greenie back out into the main lobby, where a couple more people sat along with their own helper staff. He noticed that the people he’d seen last night were no longer there and wondered if they were already on their tropical retreat.
“There’s normally a couple of ferries that go to the big island,” Greenie explained. “They’re designed to transport up to twelve passengers at a time. Each of the private islands comes with its own smaller ferries, though, so we won’t be leaving through the main gates.”
Sure enough, going around the counter, Keith saw an arched doorway with a pair of closed and carved doors. Greenie took a left, pulling a key from somewhere and unlocking a smaller side door and holding it open for them.
Stepping through, Keith was surprised to find himself in a lift, one every bit as opulently decorated as the rest of the space. Greenie stepped in after them, closing the door. Then she inserted two more keys into hidden slots in the walls and pressed the only button on the wall.
“We’ll be descending a hundred feet to one of our underground coves where your transport will be waiting for you,” Greenie said as the lift descended. “From there, you will navigate a series of underground channels emerging out into the sea at an undisclosed location hidden from the public eye. The trip from there to the island should only take about twenty minutes. Whoever is serving you on the ferry will explain things in more detail.”
They reached the bottom just a few seconds later, and the lift doors slid open. When Keith had been picturing an underground cove, he imagined a dark, wet cave with moss-covered stones and perhaps a single pier. What he saw instead was a well-lit cavern that was completely dry, free of moss or lichen. The walls and ceiling – made of granite – sparkled and shone in the reflected light.
The pathways were made of polished stone, though with obvious ridges and divots to help with grip as it descended to the pier, which was anything but old or rickety. Docked alongside it was a small boat, and standing onboard were two people, one dressed similarly to Greenie, albeit in a blue suit rather than a black one. The other was obviously dressed for combat, in form-fitting armor with a massive crossbow slung over one shoulder.
“This is where I do the handoff,” Greenie said as they reached the end of the pathway. “They have been briefed on your preferences and will act accordingly. If you liked my service, please make sure to leave me a good review when the time comes. It was a pleasure serving you, Keith, and I do hope you get to enjoy your full three days as you wished.”
“Thanks for everything,” Keith said, as Greenie straightened, gave him another of her professional smiles, then turned and headed back up the path.
“Do you get the feeling she didn’t like you very much?” Tac asked.
“A bit,” Keith said. “But then again, she’s probably tired after being up all night waiting on us. Plus, I’m sure she’s made plenty off upselling us. Also, this is her job, and she’s a stranger. I couldn’t care less about her opinion of me.”
“Well, it should matter,” Tac said. “Come review time, her superiors will want to know how she did, and feeling like your caretaker doesn’t like you is a big no-no when you’re shelling out this kind of dough.”
Tac did have a good point, now that he thought of it, but Keith decided to reserve judgment until later. Maybe this was how all the people here would act. Despite all their upselling and fancy talk, they might be bitter that they themselves weren’t privy to such wealth, and having to watch the unachievable come through day after day could definitely wear on some people. Then again, if that was how Greenie felt, she probably shouldn’t be in this line of work.
“Greetings, Keith,” the shorter figure, an elf woman of a race Keith didn’t recognize, said as she bowed at the waist. “My name is Meena, and I will be your head butler while you’re with us. Anything you need or want will be relayed through me to ensure the smoothest and most pleasant stay.”
“That’s a cloud elf, you don’t see many of their kind around anymore,” Bob whispered in his ear as the larger man, a lumbering bearian, introduced himself.
“I am Jurgen,” he said, his voice deep, gruff, and strangely accented. “I head of security on island. I keep you and guests safe. If all go smooth, you do not see me. If things go bad. You see me.”
He spoke in clipped words, as though the language everyone spoke – the System Standard – was unfamiliar to him, which was very strange.
“Please, follow me,” Meena said, giving him a dazzling smile and turning to board the ferry.
Meena was definitely friendlier than Greenie had been, and it was obvious both by her demeanor and how she carried herself. She was unlike any elf Keith had seen before, with light blue skin and hair that shimmered between light blue-gray and white. Her features were completely smooth, and if that didn’t give her away as being young, her voice and mannerisms certainly did. Height-wise, she stood in the middle of the elven spectrum at right around five feet. Her ears were shorter and came to a sharper taper, and her eyes, while larger than human, weren’t as big as some of the others.
“I wonder if they pick the butler based on who books the place,” Tac said, as Keith followed her onto the ferry. “Because she is smokin’!”
Keith ignored the comment, throwing a look over his shoulder at Jurgen. The man was stoic and massive. He was nearly eight feet tall and covered in shaggy brown-black fur. It was slicked back and smooth around his face and arms, but it was clear to see by his feet, which were bare and wide.
He had regular hands, which always threw Keith off when looking at beast-monsters, expecting them to look exactly like the animals from back on Earth, though his fingers were tipped with blunted black claws that had clearly been filed down. The guy must have weighed close to a thousand pounds, and all of it was pure muscle. Despite his stoic façade, Keith didn’t get a bad impression from him, and a single glance at his level told him that the bearian was more than adequate for this part of the world at Level 75. Perhaps not standing at the peak, like some of the other people he knew, but typically more than powerful enough to stop any serious threats.
Meena led him up onto the deck, then around the side of the upper deck cabin, where the captain was hidden behind fogged glass. Keith could see straight through, though, to the bored-looking otterian slumped over the wheel. He looked tired and worn, which was likely why he hadn’t been allowed to come out and do a greeting.
A staircase appeared as he walked around, and Meena led him down and into yet another luxurious and spacious lounge. Several chairs were set up, bolted to the deck, as well as a few smaller tables. Not visible from the outside – which was impressive – Keith could see that all the walls of the lounge facing out to the water were transparent, giving them an unobstructed view.
“Please, have a seat anywhere you’d like. We’ll be departing shortly.”
Jurgen hadn’t come down with them – unsurprising given his role and statement that he would remain invisible unless needed – but that was just fine by him. The space, while nice, might have felt a bit crowded with such a massive figure filling the space.
“Now, is there anything I can get you before we depart?” Meena asked, her smile and bubbly attitude having not faded in the slightest.
“Something to drink would be nice,” Keith said, seeing her smile widen a bit more and her cheeks dimple.
It made her look cute.
“Ah, figured it out,” Tac said. “Looks like she has a few charm-related skills. Probably there to make guests like her more.”
“Anything in particular?” she asked.
“Something light and non-alcoholic,” Keith said, leaning back in his chair and allowing the calm to wash back over him.
He’d dealt with his fair share of people with charm-related skills, and many of them were far more powerful than Meena. None of them were very nice, though, which was probably why hers seemed more effective. He wondered how badly this would affect guests with no resistance to said skills but ultimately decided that he really didn’t care. He was on vacation. Relaxing. No thinking of fighting, his myriad of enemies, or the crazy cultists he’d managed to create instead of a loyal following.
