Chương 113: Chapter 109 – Bus Driver

Mark approached the west bridge near Beaver Crossing just after breakfast the next morning; they had traveled till dark and then slept in their tents and gotten up early. It had been a long hard trek as they were going across ground most of the way with no trails until they reached the road near the clay pits. Just before he crossed the bridge, he stopped looking at a man sitting on the bridge dangling his feet over, watching the river flow.

At first he did not recognize the man, and then he remembered it was Brian, the bus driver, who showed up with the kids. Mark continued forward and stopped to chat with him. Mark said, "Hello, it's Brian, right?" Brian answered, "Yes, everyone here in town just calls me the bus driver, like I don't have a name thank you for using mine." Mark said, "You don't look happy." Brian said, "I'm not happy. I am not useful; all I have ever done is drive a bus. I don't want to be a farmer or raise animals.

Someone suggested I could train as a smith, and I hate that idea also." Mark said, "Well, Brian, I can't solve the situation you got stuck in, but I can help, I think. How about you follow me and let's come up with some ideas?" Mark continued toward town with Brian in tow. Ava thanked Mark for bringing her along and said she and Chew were going to go build a dam and see if they could make Garrick scream. Mark just laughed all the way to the inn.

When he entered the Inn Dale came out of the kitchen and welcomed him back and asked how his trip went. So he did not have to tell the story twice; he suggested that they have a meeting of the village leaders and discuss it. They scheduled it for just after lunch. Mark also dragged Brian to the meeting with him, and in the meeting Mark explained about what he found, a new instance, two types. Rewards were different, getting contribution points to buy specialty items.

When Mark talked about some of the items on the list, Garrick's eyes glazed over when he mentioned the harbor crane design and missed all the better items after it. The meeting was brief; they agreed with Mark that this would be important. They as a group came up with a plan to send trail crews, surveyors, messengers, and adventurers in the direction of the port. They would need roads constructed, the new outpost improved, and upgrades and new trade agreements put together.

Mark and the other village leaders started to add tasks and requests to the settlement interface. Garrick finally came to and decided he had 3 work crews that could go help with roads and outpost construction. They even sent some requests for lumber and stone that would be needed for the outpost there. When the meeting was almost over, David let the group know he would be out for the next 3-5 days to pick up a delivery of two wagons from Northridge village.

That they were taking 8 horses with them and men to get the wagons and that some of them would stay there to get training on animal care from them. Enjoying the story? Show your support by reading it on the official site. Mark had an idea and started asking about the trip, whether they had drivers lined up for the new wagons, and how urgently they needed to be picked up. He found out there was not a huge rush but sometime this week.

Mark then let David know that he and Brian would come with them and they would go west instead of north and have a few minor detours along the way. David grumbled about it and finally agreed. They would set out first thing in the morning. Brian just sat there looking at him, trying to figure out why Mark thought he was going with that group. But Brian was wise enough not to say anything during the meeting. When the group finally broke up Mark pulled Megan aside and asked about the new bow and arrows he had ordered.

Now that they had metal fixtures, the tech in their bow manufacture had gone way up, and Mark had requested a special order. He found out it was at her office, and they walked over, and she presented him with his new bow. When they were finally alone, Brian asked.

"Why did you invite me to go by horseback somewhere I have never ridden a horse and have no clue how to?" Mark replied, "You know what? I have never ridden a horse either. I am sure it's just like riding a bike." Brian said, "I can't ride a bike either." Mark replied, "No problem, things are magic around here; you will get skills, maybe even I will too, but it will be worth it." Brian said, "I am level two. Other than that first rabbit that was hand-delivered, I have no way to get XP and level to get skills."

Mark said, "I have a solution for that too. That's why I got the bow." Brian said, "You're going to give me your brand new bow?" Mark said, "No way, that is mine. I've been waiting forever for it." He then pulled his old bow out with a quiver full of arrows.

"This is your bow; now it has served me well, and I am sure it will serve you well too." Mark led Brian out of town, and for the next few hours Mark taught Brian how to shoot a bow. Mark was surprised how fast he picked it up. With an hour of practice, he was shooting better than Mark could. They finally went out and found some rabbits in the wheat field. It took a few rabbits before Brian finally killed one, but he was much better at it than Mark.

After a half dozen small animals, Brian was level 3 and had a skill for the bow. They then went back into the village, and Mark showed Brian how to search for and find contribution tasks and how to use the contribution store, and Mark purchased him a tent, bedroll, some trail food, and other items so he would not be empty-handed. Then Mark created about 20 tasks that he then had Brian go in and accept.

The tasks ranged from searching for a new route to the harbor and delivering a message to Fisherman's Point to learning how to ride a horse and the trip to Nortridge village. And then the last task Mark created he named Bus Driver, and it was a task to learn to drive a wagon and make delivery trips between Northridge village and Beaver Crossing. [Task] Bus Driver Learn to drive a wagon. Operate a regular route between Northridge village and Beaver Crossing.

Reward: XP, Contribution points based on route performance. This task will continue until canceled When Brian got to the last job, he about cried. Then he said.

"Are you telling me you're giving me a job? And a route to deliver?" Mark said, "You told me they called you the 'Bus Driver'; now you can tell them yes I am."