Hero Stories: All or Nothing!

Hmm...which cat should I choose? Number two has won three in a row, so I guess it's a safe bet...

No, four! Number four! I've got a good feeling about this one!

Everyone else will be thinking the same as you. If you want to win big, you need to think outside the box!

But number four's win rate...

Life is all about taking chances!

Alright, fine. 30,000 on number four, please!

Has everyone placed their bets? Then we'll begin...

And cat number two wins again!

...

...I...have some things to do. I'll see you la...

Stop right there! Are you trying to escape!? More importantly, why didn't you use your own money instead of getting me all worked up!?

I already lost all I had this morning. I'm penniless.

And I might have encouraged you, but you're still the one who made the bet! Don't pass the buck!

I would have bet on number two if you hadn't said anything!

It's too late for regrets now! You just have bad luck, get over it!

I knew you'd be here gambling again, Cermia.

Remember the big deal you made about being able to pay me back by today?

Ah, well, that's the thing, Nonori... I was gonna hit it big this morning and pay you back...

No excuses. You can't put this off any longer.

Hey, Cermia. When are you going to be paying me back?

She borrowed money from you too, Nisa? She really is useless...

Ah...well...uhh... Heh...

If you keep doing this we'll just have to go ask Carrot for the money.

Ah, no! She can't know about this!

I'd prefer that, too. But if you keep avoiding your debts you don't leave me with much choice.

Pay me back the original amount within three days or I'll make sure you never set another foot in Savara again.

Your life's a hard one too, huh?

*whining* What do I do... At this rate, Carrot is going to find everything out...

Oh, I thought you were finally here to pay me back, but you're looking for even more?

Sorry, but I'm also in a bunch of debt.

Who can I ask for money, then...

If you keep trying to put it off the interest will only keep growing.

You need to work hard and earn the money yourself. I thought the Orders paid quite well?

I already spent all my money for this month and it's too long until the next payday.

I know! I should start accepting requests like you guys! Let me join your mercenary company.

Join my company? You want to be a temporary member until you earn enough money?

Exactly! If I'm in a mercenary company I can go find jobs to do in the market.

I owe you guys money anyway, so you gain something from this too.

It would be good to have us there to make sure she worked properly and didn't waste her money elsewhere, but...

I have a bad feeling about this...

Great, then we've all agreed! I'll go find some jobs in the mercenary district!

Whatever can get me the most money in the shortest time!

Are you the mercenaries who applied for the escort job?

They don't look very trustworthy. We can't get caught on the way...

We don't have much choice. We have to get out of here before anyone tracks us down.

These guys seem a bit suspicious...

Who cares? As long as I can get plenty of cash, danger doesn't bother me.

Same!

Speak for yourselves...

Alright, let's go. We don't have much time to get to Shuba Desert.

Wait! Stop there!

Where are you taking this cargo? Can I see some identification?

Dammit, did they already find us?

That's why I kept telling you to hurry!

What's up?

Cermia? What are you doing here?

Just, uhh... Earning some extra pocket money for a rainy day.

Working a second job is against the Order's rules!

Oh, don't be such a stickler. Just look the other way for once.

I'm going to help these nice businessmen out and earn myself some extra money. Would you mind letting us leave already?

I'm afraid I can't do that. They look exactly like a couple of criminals we're after.

Wait, what did you just say?

Don't say I didn't warn you...

Uh... Really? I see. I guess I definitely can't hand them over to you now...

Are you saying you intend to help cover up a crime?

All I'm saying is I signed a contract to help these guys reach their destination safely.

Ah! Cermia drew her sword! She really looks like she means business...

Then I have no choice but to fight and arrest you all!

Urk...

Alexa!

Sorry, Alexa! But my situation is fairly urgent right now.

Alright, let's get out of here quickly before reinforcements show up!

Oh, my... Elson, Alexa, what happened here?

Cermia helped a couple of wanted criminals escape from the Order!

We tried stopping her, but she's too strong...

Cermia...?

*sighing* She was quiet for a while, but I guess she's back to her old tricks...

I'll track them back down. You two stay here on standby.

Aha, you're more than meets the eye, aren't you! You didn't even run away after finding out who we were.

Now that's loyalty!

I only fought alongside you because I didn't want to get arrested for no reason, but I have no intention of getting caught up in trouble.

This is as far as I go. Come on, Armin. Let's go back.

Huh? But...

You're quitting just because of a little danger? Really?

Greater risk means greater reward! It's basic economics!

This isn't a crisis, it's an opportunity!

I'm staying with Cermia.

I have a strict code. I finish the job I've been paid to do no matter what.

And like Cermia said, it would take at least half a dozen other jobs to earn as much as this one.

Do what you like, just don't come crying to me for help when it blows up in your face.

Have you three stopped arguing now? We should get going...

But first!

A job is a job, but you never told us anything about the danger involved. We demand additional hazard pay!

Doubling the original amount should just about do it.

D-Double...?

Just give it to her. You saw her fighting earlier, if money is all it takes to stop her turning on us, give her as much as she likes.

*gulping* Okay, fine... We'll double the original amount.

Nice! Then let's go!

Hmm, Iseria should have met up with Alexa by now...

She should be showing up any second...

Halt.

Uh-oh... It's the vice commander of the Order of the Sword!

Well, I guess we should have probably seen this coming after running away from those knights earlier.

Assisting in the escape of wanted criminals is a serious offense. Stop now and hand them over.

And what if I don't want to? When have I ever listened to you?

You never change, do you?

Are you complimenting me on my consistency?

*sighing*

What do you think, my criminal chums? Fighting the vice commander sounds extremely hazardous to me.

Why don't we say...eight times the original payment?

Are you insane!? If we give you that much we won't have any left for ourselves!

If you say so. Iseria, you can have them.

Ugh, fine. We'll give you whatever you want.

Alright, then. Carry on your way while I deal with this stubborn little Elf. I'll be right behind you.

Hmm, do you get the message now? Let's call it here.

Eh? You're not going to keep fighting?

Why bother? I'm not going to get anything from it.

Now that we've been seen fighting the vice commander of the Order of the Sword, our price will skyrocket.

That's why you were so confident. You weren't even planning on fighting properly from the start.

I don't think the same can be said about her, though...

Cermia, I'm not playing. I have no intention of letting you go peacefully, so take up your sword again.

Don't get so worked up. I get it, you're old and uptight.

I'll return it when everything's done, so just let me go this time. You owe a debt to me too, remember?

A debt? Since when did you lend others money?

No, I'm talking about when she first came here. She struggled to adapt to Human society, so...

Don't you dare say another word.

If you let me go...

...

Just get this over and done with before any more crimes are committed.

Of course, just leave it to me.

Why do I feel like we've been scammed?

I'm sure that wicked woman would take even my left kidney given half a chance.

Right... Fingers crossed that the Elf knight killed them both.

How unfair. We risked our lives to protect you and here you are wishing we were dead.

...! When did you get here!?

You were saying something about a wicked woman?

Don't worry, I'm not sensitive enough to be offended by that.

Now hurry up, our destination isn't much farther.

And with it, my big payday... *chuckling*

A lot happened, but we got here safely. Eventually.

We did as promised. Now it's your turn to hold up your end of the contract.

Fraudsters, the both of you!

Fraudsters break their promises. As far as I can remember, we've kept every promise we made to you.

Exactly! You still have a head on your shoulders and not a single item has been lost.

You have it in your hands already. Now hurry up and give it here.

*sobbing* My precious money...

I. Said. Give. It. Here!

W-Wait, if you pull that hard...

Hey, your stupid bag ripped open! You should keep your money in something tougher!

Whatever, we've given you the money we owe you. We'll be going now.

Ugh, dammit. The coins are scattered all over the desert now.

It's your fault. Stop grumbling and pick them up before they get buried in the sand.

Hmph... I hate this.

Even if we didn't find all of it, it's still a lot more than the original fee.

I bet they planned to throw our money everywhere like this from the beginning.

Do you want to go after them?

Of course! Don't you?

I'm satisfied with just the money. This is the most I've ever earned, even if it isn't exactly eight times the original amount.

They gave us all their money and ran off. I don't think they would have anything else to give us even if we found them.

But I need exactly eight times as much to be able to pay off all my debt!

And if there's one thing I cannot stand, it's people tricking me and running off!

I'll make them rue the day they took me for a pushover!

What if she comes after us?

It's going to take her forever to pick up all that money. She'll never be able to catch up with us.

We have insurance anyway, there's no need to worry about an...

I-I-I-Is that... Is that her coming over that dune!?

I think so... How did she catch up with us so quickly!?

A tracking device, of course!

You knew we weren't going to give you the money properly?

No, even from the start I had no intention of letting a couple of easy paydays like you go free.

I was planning to use the tracker to come find you when my money ran out, but I didn't expect to see you again so soon.

I guess you were too stupid to realize. You thought if you were lucky that I might not find you.

Y-You!

We won't let you abuse us any longer! We hired someone new to protect us!

Mwahaha! That's right! Who will be facing my wrath?

What!? You again!?

What are you doing out here? Why are you not back in Sandcat Stadium?

I need to earn money because you made me lose all of it!

If you don't want to get hurt, leave now. As an apology for earlier, I'll let you go.

Never! I'll starve if I don't get my money from these guys!

Then I guess I have no choice. Don't say I didn't warn you.

Now he's been dealt with...

Wait, what!? When did they run away!? They really are merciless...

Who are you calling merciless after what you just did to me!?

I was already sad about having no money, but now even my body is ruined...

Stop overreacting, you're making me feel sorry for you.

If you feel sorry, could you at least give me a little money?

You know I'm not in a position to be giving away money. But pity is free.

I assumed so. Good people don't exist anywhere...

It could be worse. The next fortune is always just around the corner!

Anyway, I should go after them.

*panting* How did we end up like this? All we wanted was someone to help us get to the Shadow Market safely...

How did we end up in more danger from her than the actual authorities!?

It's too late for regrets now. We'll have to deliver the goods another time and get out of here as soon as possible.

I have a feeling she'll keep chasing us to the edge of the world itself.

*sobbing* Can't we report her to somebody?

Don't be an idiot, we're also wanted criminals!

She's acting like this because she knows we can't do that.

Hmm, is that them over there? They really are slow.

They're wasting their time. Hopefully this time they will admit they're wrong and apologize.

Not that I would forgive them anyway.

...

...

*chuckling*

...We've lost. We'll give you all the money we have. If that's still not enough, you can take all our goods.

Aha, well that goes without saying, of course!

You owe me extra for the hardship you caused by repeatedly making me chase after you.

What more do you want!? We've already offered everything we have!

You still have your lives.

...What!?

This whole thing has been very difficult and boring, so I'd like to at least gamble a bit as a reward.

As you say, you've already given me everything you have, so what else do you have left to wager except your lives?

Th-Th-That's crazy!

If you don't like to gamble, you can just hand me your lives now. That's no fun, though...

I told you we should have reported her earlier!

Why waste your time regretting your choices once the results are out? Just give up and accept it.

Alright! Heads, I'll let you go free. Tails...

L-Look! It's that Elf from earlier and some knights!

Help! Please, arrest us!

You're those criminals from earlier? What's going on here...?

I expected this.

Cermia, that's enough. We'll deal with them from here.

Excuse me, but we hadn't finished talking. If you don't mind.

There will be no more turning a blind eye from me, either. If you're going to continue being a nuisance, I will have to take action.

You can't let me off just this once?

Do I need to repeat myself?

Fine, fine. I'll stop. No need to look so serious.

By the way, I was only kidding about taking their lives. I just wanted to scare them for being such a pain.

So, uhh...what exactly is happening?

She helped these criminals escape and then she attacked you...

Cermia always pulls these kinds of tricks when she runs out of money.

She pretends to save some criminals so she can extort them. When she's bled them dry, she hands them over to us for the reward.

Who knows, she was probably the person who alerted the authorities these two were in Savara in the first place.

Exactly. I thought I recognized a couple of familiar faces while walking around the mercenary market...

I knew I could hit the jackpot if I played my cards right.

I've told you time and time again, even if they're criminals, I can't allow you to take their property in such a cowardly manner.

Oh, come on, you don't need to be so hard on me.

What exactly is going on between these two...

I wish I could tell you, but Iseria begged me to keep it a secret.

Stop saying things that can be so easily misunderstood.

Anyway, it's a shame, but I guess a certain reward for capturing some certain criminals should cover the rest of the money I need...

I definitely heard you got quite a lot of money from capturing some criminals.

So why am I still waiting for you to repay your debts?

Well, the thing is, I was still just a liiiittle bit short of what I needed, so thought maybe I should take my chances with a bet and...

Lost every penny!

...You really are useless. I guess that doesn't leave me with much choice...

Huh? Where are you taking me!?

I was going to lock you up and force you to work.

I'll let you go once you've repaid your debts.

What!? No! Please! Let me go. Just this once!

I'll definitely pay you back this time!