"Now, hold on Terry, let's not be hasty. Mr. Pete might have underestimated you, he might think you're not suited for this field of work but I'm not going to do that. I know a mind as brilliant as yours always has a place somewhere with us. Tell you what, I have a meeting with Mr. Pete and you can come with me. You can have a face-to-face with him and give him your proposition. Who knows? Maybe he might realize his mistake, and… compensate you more than enough for the inconvenience he's caused you. What do you say?"
Professor Terry pretended to think about it as Crazy Terry shouted Say yes! With a fake sigh, he said, "Fine. Yes, I will tag along with you. After all, you have been kind to me."
Mr. Ekrem smiled.
"When will your meeting be? I'm afraid I can't stay here too long."
"It will be soon after he's done with the mercenary transfer bidding," said Mr. Ekrem.
"Oh, that's today?" asked Professor Terry.
"Yes. It is one of the most anticipated events, before the whole Giant even I'm sure you've heard of. The broadcast will be up any moment now."
As he said that, the big screen at the wall opposite the bar and the screens behind the bar turned on to show the broadcast. The music at the dance floor died down and everyone stared up at the screen with excitement and anticipation.
"Relax," said Mr. Ekrem. "And enjoy the show, Terry. It will be over with soon enough. Would you like something to eat in the mean time."
Say yes, say yes, say yes! Instructed Crazy Terry. He realized that hadn't had a proper meal in a while.
Professor Terry pretended to think about it again. "I guess I could eat right about now. I was just going for dinner after this anyways…"
"Excellent. I'll have the best of dishes delivered here, unless you'd like to eat in the lounge?"
"Here's fine," said Professor Terry. "The crowd's excitement here is something that has piqued my interest."
"As you wish," said Mr. Ekrem and snapped his fingers to ask the waiter to come here.
Ask him to get some tacos, or some pizzas, instructed Crazy Terry.
I'm sure an establishment like this will not serve such bland foods.
Bland? I'd take a pizza over all the fancy rich people food like couscous. What the hell is a couscous?
Couscous is a tiny pasta made from…
"So what do you think?" asked Mr. Ekrem. "Any particular mercenaries you're rooting for?"
Professor Terry shook his head as he jerked awake from thought fighting with Crazy Terry. "Hmm, I haven't really kept up with the transfers. I can't even remember where La Messiah was?"
Mr. Ekrem laughed. "Of course, everyone knows La Messiah, he's still at Real Catalonia in Barcelona. The man is the sole reason that their new nation's economy is booming. He really is the best of the best."
"I see," said Professor Terry looking at the screen. The presenters had finished the introduction and the camera now transitioned to a wide circular hall that was drenched in golden light that sparkled off the huge chandelier hanging from the ceiling. An overhead shot showed large brown leather chairs dotted around at equal distances around the center, which was where a large stage stood connected to a walkway that protruded from closed red curtains.
Professor Terry recognized Mr. Pete immediately from the overhead shot because he was the smallest person there. He remembered him as the middle-aged man suffering from dwarfism, but who still gave an air of authority that he had seen from no one. He had never seen someone pick on him for his size and he sat among the other mercenary group leaders in the ring as an equal.
"How did these things go again?" asked Professor Terry to distract Mr. Ekrem's attention as he immediately made a go for the appetizers that the waiter had served onto the bar table.
"Oh, well, basically mercenaries will walk up to the stage and the leaders will each have a bidding war on them. Naturally, the one with the highest bid will have the said mercenary join them."
"Will the mercenary not have a say in where he wants to go?" Professor Terry asked as he chewed on a dynamite prawn while resisting Crazy Terry's wild attempts to abandon all social convention and chow down on the food.
Mr. Ekrem laughed. "Of course, he will. But…" He moved in closer, and talked in a low voice. "Between you and me, the mercenary and the group he will be joining is already decided when the bidding commences. Even the contracts are signed beforehand. This is just… for show."
"I see."
"Yes, bidding war broadcasts like these help the Lodge make a fortune. There's even a whole gambling ring built around the transfers that take place, and well, some of the Lodge members are… unofficially, leading this ring."
Professor Terry nodded understanding what Mr. Ekrem was saying. "Interesting. Perhaps, someday, I could be a part of this ring."
Mr. Ekrem laughed. "Perhaps someday, if all goes well with your meeting with Mr. Pete," He then pointed to the screen and helped himself to some food too. "Oh, look. It's starting."
He didn't need to say it because the crowd cheered when the first mercenary walked through the curtains. He was a large, burly man with dark brown skin and a very prominent moustache. He was shirtless and wore only a white gleaming loose trouser known as a shalwar. Alongside him walked a thin, short man with thick glasses and a black and white suit that he seemed to be very uncomfortable in.
"That's Muneeb Butt," said Mr. Ekrem proudly. "My scouts found him in a small village in Pakistan. The man was from a dying breed of fighters known as phelwans and he managed to kill an old Indian respawner, that had killed many in their set of villages. He killed him many times and the respawner failed to end him every single time."
"And now he abandoned them to come here?"
Mr. Ekrem smiled. "Yes, and I fear he feels bad about it but his brother there managed to convince him to sign up with the Iron Hearts, i.e. of course, when he saw how much we would be paying him as an agent. He's ours now and I can't wait for him to prove everyone wrong when he shows them what he is made of."
Sure enough, a small bidding war ensued and Mr. Pete managed to win it. The phelwan walked back up the stage as his brother bowed in front of the cameras and followed him back.
"So the bidding is only for free agents?" asked Professor Terry grabbing a plate of skilled cod and eating it with a fork.
"In the start, it's only free agents that sign up for the Lodge," said Mr. Ekrem. "But at the end of the show there'll be bidding on that want to transfer, with a starting price set. These tend to create the most drama, especially with rumours circulating about falling outs and betrayals."
"And like all the other transfers, these have already happened."
"Of course."