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It's a hard-knock life being a mercenary. Moving high-valued items from place to place won't even let the people guarding the carriage sleep even a wink. Bandits are everywhere to steal these high-valued items at the expense of their lives and the lives of others.
It's the year 1948, three-years have passed since the world war concluded and the people are busy to stabilize both the individual and the whole country's economic depression. This made people gone lengths just to have a means for survival. This is where people opt to get odd jobs done with higher risk. Well... higher the risk, higher the return isn't?
Today is especially different for the life of the high gross earning mercenary in town-- Naib Subedar. The man is of average stature, but a little bit smaller in comparison to the British men all around him. He has this brunette hair tied up neatly and a pair of olive eyes which was usually covered by his popular moss-green hoodie that gives of his identity- The Mercenary. He is a well-known mercenary by the commerce faction especially those groups of people that supply goods to the Royal family. But before he became known as a Mercenary, he's been well known as an agile Indian combatant when he was still among the British Soldier. He did his best to meet the British men eye to eye as he was heavily discriminated against because he's of different origin.
War has long been over and he has nothing left to do, but not until the fliers scattering around the city looking for able mercenary took his interest. This is where his skills of being a soldier were put into good use. He is quite surprised as well because being a mercenary gives him more fortune than being a soldier. His skills made him famous to the capitalist's faction and infamous within the bandit's.
Even after India was liberated from British rule in 1947, Naib insisted to still be at service to the British people by being a mercenary. Well, ever since he was a teenage boy, he was recruited as a British soldier fighting for his colonizer's cause. He only brought his father's Gurkha as a remembrance of his Indian descent, hoping he would not forget who he is.
It has been years since then he was recruited, or rather forcefully recruited. Maybe his family already forgotten that they have a son oceans away. He is just hoping that his sacrifice won't be in vain. He just hoped that his family was really given a good life in exchange for him being on the battlefield. All he was thinking of is that his beloved country was finally freed from the colonizer's grasp. A year already passed since Indian liberation but he can't bring himself to go home. The time he spent here makes him more of a British than an Indian. He is losing it. What makes him snap out of it is the familiar scabbard that houses his precious Gurkha.
Guilt still haunts him. He does nothing to help liberate his people. All he did was to be of service to the colonizers. He thinks he has no right to rejoice together with them. He labeled himself a 'disgrace'. As he grimaced from these thoughts bubbling inside his head, he reached to his side and clutches the familiar scabbard to sway all his negativities away. This is a special day with a special offer from his client after all.
He finally snapped out from his thought when the client said the final 'words'.
"Naib Subedar, I can trust you with this right?"
The mercenary was perplexed with his client's request at the trading port. The client was heavily guarded from both of his sides and with lookouts scattered around. Naib thought that this is no ordinary job he'll be accepting.
The client said that it was a very important invention and the latest discovery from America that was requested by the Royal family to have. He felt like a courier since he'll just be guarding a suitcase that contained the 'important' invention and travel by foot and commute. This made him curious about what was inside that made it so important to recruit him. He was so sure that it was not a diamond since the client said it was an 'invention' which makes his curiosity skyrocketed too. What he usually guards are precious minerals like gold and gems, silks and furs, and arms trading. Well, since the client gave a handsome amount for this 'thing', he must do his job protecting it.
As soon as he left the trading port, Naib feels eyes watching him from the sides. So it really was an 'important' thing. Naib snickers as this was a challenge he longed to have. His military instinct kicking in as he turned a fast turn on an alley to lose track of those people sneaking behind him. He gets to an elevated spot to scout the area and identify the situation he was in.
"Pfft. Amateurs." Naib said under his breath.
The bandits are scattered visibly around that just makes Naib shook his head in dismay.
"I'll give them -0 in reconnaissance, and 1 for trying. Needs more practice if they want to keep up with me." Naib continued with his route to the palace to deliver the goods as soon as possible but it seems like people are eager to get a hold of these 'good' he was protecting. Just how important was this to hire many people to counter just 'one' person who'll be delivering it? And to boot, they easily caught wind of the information that the transaction would be held today. Naib furrows his eyebrows out of irritation.
"Ha. It would not be easy it seems. Well, the client told me to take my time and strategically deliver it safely to the royals. I think I need to divert my way then and reschedule the delivery. Home it is then."
As soon as Naib went back to his flat, his tracks were halted as his top one client who always does recruit him to be their trading company's mercenary was just standing near his door. He was as good as his 'boss' now because of how often they were in business together - Norton Campbell, The Prospector. He has this tall stature and a large body built that was just right for someone who is prospecting caves to mine precious minerals. His droopy pair of onyx eyes and wavy black tresses just gave off a vibe of a hardworking man working 'til late at night. And until now, it was evident that the prospector didn't get a wink of sleep yet.
Naib was confused with how and why the prospector was out from his 'cave' where he usually lingers most of the time, looking and studying his stones.
"Ah... Subedar, finally you came home."
"Do you have a business with me again Campbell?
"Hmm, Yes I would li--"
"Let us enter first. I have no time to explain why, but we needed to"
Naib made sure that he was not followed to his flat. It would be terrible since he still has the item that they wanted but he needs to get inside as soon as possible to make sure everything is under his control.
"Hmmm, humble abode you have here Subedar, it's my first time being inside too."
"Thank you, Sir."
"Let me just put down these documents, I've been holding them for too long that my hand's going numb"
"Sure thing, just let it rest by my study table"
As Norton was on his way to drop the stacks of documents he has on hand, he keeps sneaking a glimpse of the mercenary. He looks so uneasy that it is bothering him too.
"Subedar, you looked.. perplexed. Is there something wrong?"
"Well, Sir. Not to sound rude but, it is none of your business. It's just that the job I got earlier is a little bit complicated"
"Oh. Okay then. Is it because of that suitcase you have? "
Naib's clutch on the suitcase tighten.
"To be honest, it is. It was an 'important' invention but it seems like it was not 'highly confidential'? A lot of people have been following me just to get it. They probably know what it was."
"Be careful then Subedar. I would not want you to get hurt."
Naib's eye widened by what the prospector just said. Is he on his right mind? This is what the mercenary thought as he was still processing what his top client just told him. A flush just came across his face as he digested what he heard from him.
Norton catches the mercenary's reaction and averted his gaze away from him, feeling shy of what he just spouted out of nowhere. Maybe I need to get some good sleep, lacking it makes my mind muddled. The prospector thought to himself.
"Well, thank you for your concern, but I won't be needing it. You know well that I've been on the battlefield for almost thirds of my life. Threats are not new to me." He brushed his index finger over his nose just to assume a confident stance to the prospector. The prospector chuckle upon seeing how Naib reacted with confidence.
"That's good to hear, you're our most trusted mercenary and we wouldn't want to let anything happen to you now that the business is booming."
The mercenary squints his eyes from what he just heard from the prospector. He felt quite stupid from expecting something much more.. like a concern to a comrade, friend, or even as a human being. But what could he expect, it's 'business as usual'. On the other side, Norton felt stupefied of his reply to the mercenary. He is really out of it. I must make haste to my business with the mercenary or I might spout non-sense again. The Prospector realizes that he'd do stupid things if he still did not take some rest.
"Ehem, the thing is I've been up all night and I verified the mineral content of the Golden cave. It would be hauled up two days from now on and we already have a buyer of it. The Royal Reserves Bank. One ton of gold would be delivered and we would be needing you as the head of the mercenaries that we also hired."
"So this is why you physically visited me as the information was quite confidential?"
"Yes, I wouldn't want to risk for the letter to remain undelivered or accidentally read by others."
"Okay Sir, that was noted."
"Hm. Okay then, we'll talk again about how much you'll be paid for this. See you in two days then Subedar. Have a pleasant day."
"Likewise Sir"
With that, the prospector makes his way out of the mercenary's flat to continue studying the materials he left on his study. The mineral content of his other discoveries was still not recorded.
"Hmm, I feel like I'm forgetting something..." Norton muttered to himself.
"Oh, right. I needed to get some shut-eye first." He could set aside work first as it could wait for later as soon as he's back to his office which was also his home too. He needs to take some rest to be able to think clearly. His conversation with the mercenary previously just showed that he was not in his right condition to hold proper conversations.
As Naib looked over his windows checking whether Norton already made his way safely out of his range, he heaved a breath out.
"Glad no one followed him. I'm afraid if the bandits followed me, they would think that I transfer the suitcase to him." Naib gasp upon his realization that he's overly concerned with that raven-haired man. He shrugged his head.
"Goodness, he's of larger stature than me, what am I getting worried for? Right. I'm just concerned about my boss's welfare... he gave a huge sum of compensation too. I don't want to lose this client." Naib nods his head in agreement with himself.
"Haaah... Its been a long day. Maybe taking a bath would do to freshen up." As the mercenary completely undresses himself, he takes a look again at the suitcase that was just resting on his center table.
"I.. need to get you to the bathroom with me too." He thinks he is being paranoid again, but it is better to be safe than sorry right?
Naib went to his bathroom and sat on his toilet seat, still holding the suitcase on his hand. His curiosity wanting to look at the contents inside.
"If I'm holding something so precious, at least I have the right to verify what it was right?"
Naib assured to himself. Well, it was to make him not feel bad about looking at it too.
He unclasped the side of the suitcase and as he deeply breathes in and out, he flipped the suitcase and revealed small, peculiar machinery.
"Hmmm, there is nothing special to it." Naib lifted the small machine and put away the suitcase on the cabinet by his side. He looks at it and inspects the machinery that just perfectly fits his hands.
"It says here that it was Polaroid Land Model 95.., is this some kind of military equipment? As I remember when I was still a soldier, Polaroid was distributed as an anti-glare mechanism on the battlefield, but it was in the form of goggles. This thing has a single and a very small lens to it. " Naib continues inspecting the thing and what caught his eyes is that it has a button. As he continues racking his brain on what the thing was, a light bulb suddenly lightens as he figures out what it was.
"This is a CAMERA! But.. what makes it special? What I know is that the Royal family already owned one?"
One question answered leads to another question popping. Naib is getting irritated thinking what value has this invention had to spend so much money and resources on it.
"Wait, I can't see any roll of film. What I knew about the camera and photos is that it was being processed inside a dark room.. but it seems like there is nothing here. Not even a roll of film enclosure."
As Naib continue to fidget the camera, he accidentally pressed on the button and in an instant, the camera produced a snap sound. Naib became perplexed with everything that is happening as he saw a small piece of a black film slowly getting out of the camera.
"Oh my goodness! So this is what makes it special out of all the camera there is." Naib slowly gets his hand on the black film and snickers.
"What a waste. I thought it would instantly develop, but it seems this was a failed creation?" Naib swayed the hand that was holding the thin black film back and forth as he chucked at the absurd invention with a highly-priced mercenary fee.
Naib brings the camera back to its suitcase, excluding the film that was just used by him earlier. He wouldn't want that to be included because the receiver might think of it as faulty. Also to hide the fact that he checked with the product out of curiosity. He finished his quick bath and took the suitcase and the film out of the bathroom.
Naib threw the film to his study table and go on his way to his small chamber. He locked in the suitcase again under his floorboard's hidden storage. It's better for it to still be secured even upon knowing what was inside. He let out a chuckle again as he finds the good not worth being highly prized for what it can offer.
"Okay, time for a shut-eye. I will deliver this tomorrow, and the next day after it is Campbell's errand."
THE NEXT DAY...
Naib knew so well how to traverse the route to the Royal palace short and quick. This makes his job much easier as he lost all those people that were following him yesterday. The only challenge he needed to deal with is not to be seen getting inside the Royal Palace.
He hid as soon as he felt an ominous presence surrounding near the palace gate.
"Pfft. Desperate needs, desperate measures" The bandits intend to just ambush Naib near the palace's area.
"They are not good at thinking, aren't they?" Naib asking to literally, no one as he shook his head. He felt stupefied dealing with them now. His hopes of encountering a very good opponent were shattered in a blink of an eye. He sighed exasperatedly.
"Okay, time to re-route to other hidden entrance from the garden. Good thing the Royals set that up for a high-valued item transaction and I was permitted to access it."
As Naib was verified by the royal guards, he was astonished that the crown-prince was the one waiting for him by the gates.
"Mr. Subedar! Thank you very much for delivering this safely. Waiting for this feels like forever."
"The pleasure is mine, your highness. If I may, I will take my leave now."
"Yes, you may. We'll ask for your service again, our highly trusted mercenary and soldier."
"It's great to be of service to you and the crown. Until my next errand again your highness."
Naib curtsy and made his way back to his flat. That was quick, he thought. Well more things to accomplish the sooner the job was done. As Naib went back to his flat he sat on his study and read the news of what was happening on the Indian continent. He never failed not to buy at the news standee if he saw even one article about his homeland. As he read and skim through the newspaper, a stack of papers that was not usually on his study table was sitting there perfectly. He kept racking his brain on how and why was there a document there until he realized that Norton was just on his flat yesterday.
"Damn, he forgets his documents. Better deliver this fast. He might probably need it. Tss.. not getting enough sleep makes him forgetful. I will tell him to take some rest to lessen these cases." Naib scratches the back of his head out of irritation.
"Ugh, why am I concern now. Right. It'll be bad if this was highly confidential and the bandits get a hold of this. I'm glad he forgets it here." Naib sighed. "Someone should be with him to knock some senses". With urgency, he gets the stack of documents and made his way to the prospector's office in the mine to take it back.
THE GOLDEN CAVE
*Knock knock*
Norton was startled by the sudden unusual knock from his office/workshop/home's door that he doesn't usually get.
"Just a sec"
"Okay, take your time"
Oh. That voice, it was Naib . The prospector thought. A smile flashed on his face upon knowing who his visitor was. He excitedly opened the door and as he looked down before him dawns Naib's persona before his eyes.
"Sorry, that took a while." Norton motioned Naib to enter as he was removing his working gloves from his hands.
"That was fine, I don't have anything to do too, besides, you forgot this."
Naib settled the documents on Norton's study.
"Thank you very much. I didn't even think about it not until you brought this to me." Norton fiddled under his chin.
"Was this document not of the essence that you completely forgot about it?" Naib curiously asked the prospector.
"To be honest Subedar. It is important. That is where the new found gold prospect location was indicated inside the cave. The one that was different from tomorrow's transaction." Naib gasp upon hearing what Norton just said.
"You should be alarmed that this thing was forgotten! What if someone not trusted gets their hands on this? What if it was not me? That is why you should get some sleep and rest so you could function well. I get that you're a genius but lacking sleep would make your mind forgetful." Naib covered his mouth upon realizing he has said too much. This made Norton's lips pulled to the side.
"So you're concern about me, Mr. Subedar. That was very thoughtful of you. Why won't you add to your duty to tell me to rest? I think I'd be grateful." It was evident that this made the mercenary bashful as it was shown how beet-red his face is right now.
"That wouldn't be necessary, I think you've already rested well enough Sir to tease me like this."
"Hahaha, that was my bad. It was not my intention to make you uncomfortable. But It would be great if you do look out for me… for real." Norton flashed a grin towards the mercenary. Naib just let out a sigh.
" Okay, then Campbell. Then look out for me too" Naib flashed the same grin towards the prospector. Norton was taken aback with the smile the mercenary just showed him. He never knew he has this cute side to him too that actually compliments his small stature. Well, Naib usually has this serious or frowning default face plastered. It was rather unusual for Norton to see him like this.
"Well then, I did my job of bringing this back, I guess I'll see you tomorrow Sir. Get some sleep later and have a nice day."
Norton felt warm as the mercenary did look out for him as soon as he dropped the words that he'll be sure to look out for him.
"Have a nice day too Subedar and see you tomorrow."
With that, Naib waved a hand to bid goodbye to Norton. He needed a full rest after all. Tomorrow might be taxing since it came from Norton that it was a high-valued gold trade.
As Naib swings the door out of Norton's abode he was startled with a sudden call of his name.
"SUBEDAR!"
"Wha! What is it?"
"Uh-- better take a good rest okay. Get some good sleep too." Norton flashed his boyish smile towards the mercenary that made Naib's jaw literally dropped. Thay was such a lax smile.. It suits him. Kind of close to a sexy smile. Naib flutters a couple of blinks to be out of being mesmerized by the prospector.
"You bet I will." Naib showed a toothy grin that made the prospector's eye flutter in awe. He's such a cute boy… he still looks like a boy even being in his mid-20s. Naib dashed out, leaving Norton out to his own thoughts.
GOLD TRADING
Tomorrow came soon and Naib just prepares himself to go to the Golden cave to board the carriage. He came early to the location and saw various mercenaries also in the mine. So they are the ones that I'll be briefing for this mission. Naib thought to himself. They huddled inside the mercenary tent that the Mining company set out for them. The mission does not start until the sun has gone down. This is to make their presence less attractive.
"Hold your positions and never leave your assigned post. If anything suspicious was found. Report as soon as possible to me and alert the nearby mercenary of your location. Understood?" The mercenaries nodded their head in agreement of what Naib commanded.
"Alright then. Meeting adjourned. We'll meet here at exactly 16:00. The expedition would start at 16:30. The estimated time of arrival would be 18:30at the Royal Treasury as we would be taking a discreet, long, and alternative route. We'll be back by 21:00 if this operation would go smoothly. "
'If it was Subedar, you could entrust your valuables.' That was how the commerce faction refers to Naib. But this time it was quite hard as they're traveling with a total number of 8 carriages. Decoy would not be possible as having a lot would cause so much attention. He was glad that Norton knew the usual set-up of setting decoy carriage that he'll guard to confused the bandits but this time it was not implemented.
However, as an able mercenary, Naib still has shown his flawless performance guiding and guarding the carriage that contained the gold with his all. Few ambush attempts happened but it was actioned upon as soon as possible. Glad they're a large troop too which actually does help. The expedition schedule went exactly as planned and the transaction was made swiftly with minimal bandit engagements. Glad that the mineral extraction and transfer to the buyer were done swiftly so the news didn't get to the bandit's ear as soon as possible. As expected of Norton.
As soon as the group went back to the Golden cave, the coachmen and the mercenaries are all spent. Well, they all went on a bumpy ride. But it was different for Naib's case as he's still full of energy. For him his task this past few days are not that very challenging... Or maybe he's getting used to the job? He doesn't know. His thoughts were suddenly halted by the miner's call.
"Mr. Subedar, Mr. Campbell is asking you to be in his office after you finish briefing the mercenaries about their compensations. He said he'll be glad if you come to him soon."
The mercenary tilted his head thinking why would he be called in, he came up with the thinking that it might be concerned with his salary so he went with haste to the prospector's office. He knocks a couple of knocks before swinging the door open just to see the prospector looking seriously as ever sitting on his office chair.
This made Naib gulped. His anticipation of what was it all about is being heightened. Questions popping on his head whether he did something so unsatisfactory crept his mind. He shrugged his head out of that idea.
Without him noticing, the prospector is slowly inching his way near him.
"Would you please sit here." Norton offers Naib a seat which was totally unusual. Their transactions usually don't require sitting as they are both busy persons, especially Norton, so they made a deal in haste. Naib accepted the offer and be seated on the prospector's sofa. He keeps fidgeting his hand as he was being puzzled with his client's actions today. But what made him stoned to his position is when Norton return from getting a bottle of wine and two glasses and suddenly sat beside him. He's basically hand-spread apart from him which makes Naib's heart rate erratic. He can't explain why but it feels like it'll pop out of his chest. He inhales and exhales to calm himself down.
Norton felt Naib's uneasiness and tried to calm the mood.
"Ehem. In all honesty.. I just wanted to confirm things with you, Naib" Norton showed the black film he had on his pocket, slides it on the table, while still pouring the wine for both of their glasses. A flush came across Naib's face as this was the first time he hears Norton said his name. He felt somewhat closer now to the prospector than before.
"Ah.. That film. So I accidentally sent that." Norton suddenly stops pouring the wine to both of their glasses with what he just heard from the mercenary's mouth.
"Accidentally?" Norton was astounded with the response he heard.
"Yes. I threw it on my study. Maybe it landed in the stacks of your documents?" Naib shrugged.
"I mean..you accidentally.." Norton flipped over the black film and showed a developed image from it "Look at this.."
"My.. My m..my.. My.. Dick…" Naib felt like going exploding now with the words he just muttered. He covered his face out of shame. Norton became flustered too as Naib really admitted it was his. He was so ready for the fact that Naib could tell that it not really his dick.
The prospector covered his wide grin with his hand still spectating the mercenary's panicky face.
"Ah… so what do we gonna do with this now, my dear mercenary?"