Three old men dressed immaculately in suits sat at a round table. They looked totally out of place.
I decided that I would get straight to the point.
“I’m looking for work. Leo told me you might have some and it might be dangerous.”
Better to get it all there.
The man in the center spoke.
“Under Article 2.543 of the Emperor’s Charter, please confirm if you are an Emperor’s Agent.”
“No, I am not.”
He sensed my puzzlement.
“Hull v Emperor. It’s a case that set a precedent that you must declare if you work directly for The Emperor. It’s one of the few protections left against the system. And yes, your appearance made it more likely I’d ask.”
“Well, I’m not. Tell me about the job.”
“Yes, it will be dangerous. We need something retrieved from Earth’s red zone. It’s an ancient artifact. Five thousand marks. Payment upon delivery only.”
That was a huge amount, way more than we needed. It would definitely bring the end objective within reach. On the downside, payment only upon completion meant that others would take up the offer so there would be stiff competition.
“Yeah, I’ll take it.”
Good, the ladies you were talking to will fill you in on the details.
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