When they were still D rank adventurers their rate for escort missions was 6k gold coins. Meaning that now they were a C rank adventurer party their charges were meant to increase by more than double.
"Although it is a simple escort mission I say we should leave it at 12k gold coins. It isn't up to the charges for C rank escort mission and there will be no need to compensate us for any extras that may occur." Blake said to Arnold.
"I agreed to your proposal." Arnold didn't waste to agree to Blake's terms. He knew that Blake reduced the charge out of his goodwill to the Winchester family. So just like Blake, he couldn't say no to a free gift.
Since the payment was settled and the contribution points were to be determined by the association after the commission, the group left for the Winchester manor where the packages were to be picked up.
Soon they arrived at the manor gate which bore the insignia of a crowned shield that had a 4 leaf clover at its center.
When they went past the gate, they crossed the fantastically geometric hedges and got to a fountain with a 3 faced sculpture of a shield with a 4 leaf clover, and on top of them was a crown that spouted water from its tips.
Once the carriage stopped, Arnold left the carriage to make preparations for the mission. Not long after 2 empty carriages parked right in front of the fountain and soon rows after rows of servants carrying crates made their way out of the mansion to the carriages.
It took less than 30 minutes for both carriages to be filled up and for Arnold to return to the carriage they were in.
"Everything is ready, shall we?" Once they gave Arnold the signal that they were also ready, he tapped on his special communication amulet and the 3 carriages began making their way out of the Winchester manor.
Blake's party was located at the carriage at the center to enable them easily monitor and take action in case they were attacked.
Unlike the carriages of Earth that needed to be protected by bodyguards on horses and other contraptions, those of Infinite realm were quite different.
They possessed defensive mechanisms like barrier arrays and energy attacks powered by the carriage's energy core. Also, they possessed detection arrays, concealing arrays, tracking jamming arrays and so on, to make sure they had control of their environment and didn't get ambushed.
[This just confirms our suspicion that the Winchester family wants to rope in you guys, especially you.] The system said to Blake. It was now clear because he had won the team test and on the same day they were giving him a gift. It was as if they were monitoring his every progress.
'That is why I don't ask for favors and why all my actions are not siding any noble family.' Blake said to the system as he kept on monitoring the carriage's radar.
'I wonder if Tessie is aware that we are on a commission from the Winchester family.' Brian asked in their mind link.
'I doubt it. It's not as if they need to get permission from her to have deals with us.' Blake said. 'Also, the less she knows of our deals the better because things like this can make our relationship with her awkward.'
"I agree with Blake." Castiel thought.
It didn't take long, the 3 carriages made their way out of the mid-region and into the slums. If there was somewhere something was to go wrong, it was here.
For 30 more minutes, the pressure was high as the carriages made their way through the streets of the slum.
"Just another turn and we will arrive, but first we have company." Arnold informed the trio, but that was when the sound of heavy metals dropping to the floor was heard.
It turned out that a group of 20 bandits had blocked the road with what looked like spikes contraptions to prevent carriages from moving any further.
"We are under attack." Blake said with a deep frown on his face. Why would they be attacked when they were just some minutes away from their destination?
"Let's see what they have to say." Arnold seemed unbothered as he looked at the display of the bandits.
"We are from the Black scorpion gang and we already know there are 3 adventurers in the middle carriage. All we want is 10% of the contents from the carriages and no one gets hurt." The hairy bare-chested man who seemed to be their leader announced.
"10 percent! That is daylight robbery." Brian exclaimed, but he got 'isn't that what they are doing' faces from both Blake and Castiel.
"Are there any specifics on how you want them to be taken care of?" Blake asked Arnold as they were about to step out of the carriage.
"They haven't displayed any intent to kill. So try not to kill any." Arnold replied.
"Alright, guys let's get this over and end this commission." The carriage door opened and the trio stepped out.
'So what are we looking at?' Blake asked the system as he scanned through the bandits that were mostly above 30 years of age.
[Just 10 champions and 10 warriors. No artifact in sight. These guys are just small time bandits.] The system reported to Blake after running and analysis on the bandits.
"Kids?! Hahaha!" The hairy bare chested bandit burst into laughter.
"They were aware that they were passing through the turf of the Blake scorpions and they still had the guts to hire kids as bodyguards? Seems you take us for granted, time to show why we control this side of the slums. Get am!" The leader bandit shouted.
The 10 warrior level bandits charged at the trio while the champion level bandits began charging different spells to attack them.
"I must give it to them. They are quite organized for bandits.." Blake said as he activated lightning reinforcement and Ebony and Ivory appeared in his hands.