Space Relics (Galactic Archaeology Book 1) Read Online Free PDF

6
    Aristocrats were easy to predict, especially when they were in a port that didn’t have as many amenities as their home starbases. The only place Lord Baylor would sleep in was either the Argonaut or the most expensive suite. He wasn’t used to the Argonaut and he didn’t know if there were secondary security systems that could attack him in his sleep, so Rick only needed to wait for him in the local mayor’s home. Lord Baylor was going to pressure him onto lending him his house, and the mayor wouldn’t have the guts to say no. After all, who could say no to a lord who could crush anyone with his little finger?
    Breaking into the mayor’s home was easy: Rick only needed a couple of digital lock picks, a pair of silent sneakers, and a bit of luck. While he waited, he tasted everything in the mayor’s liquor cabinet and his imported snacks. They weren’t more than overpriced rubbish that anyone could buy on Earth, but these came with designer boxes. Real aristocrats never bought any of those, but the mayor tried too hard to look wealthy.
    Lord Baylor didn’t take long to arrive. The door clicked, and Rick jumped from his seat and stuck his back to the wall. The lord entered and inspected the room around him with a half-sneer. He was forcing the richest man on the port to sleep outside of his own house, but it still wasn’t enough for him.
    Rick walked behind him and pressed his malfunctioning gun against one of the lord’s temples. “I’m pleased to see you again, Lord Baylor,” he said. “Next time, we need to part on friendlier terms to save us the uncomfortable reencounter.” He couldn’t stop himself from smirking; catching a nobleman by surprise had to be a new one. The man hadn’t even seen it coming.
    “Richard Lewis.” Lord Baylor’s voice was tense, but way more relaxed than he should’ve been, given the circumstances. “I didn’t expect to see you again… so soon.”
    “I had to leave the expedition in a hurry. My main benefactor tried to rob our greatest finding and wanted to get us all killed. I’ve had to chase after him. A pretty tiring and frustrating experience, if you ask me.”
    Sometimes, dealing with the upper classes felt completely natural, even when they were about to get uncivilized and violent. Life amongst the lower classes was simple and direct: everyone said and did whatever they thought. The upper classes had requirements of behavior and manners even when they were with their mortal enemies. It was tiring at times, but a victory tasted much sweeter when your enemy had to bow at you and greet you politely. Seeing Lord Baylor’s tense jaw and uncomfortable expression wouldn’t have been the same if he’d showed his fear.
    “There’s been a complete misunderstanding,” Lord Baylor said, trying to keep still. “Did you think that I’d run to take the artifact without paying? No, not at all. I was going to get a professional valuation to pay you faster.”
    “Don’t bother,” Rick said. “You won’t convince me that you’re anything but a stealing rat. But don’t worry; I wouldn’t kill a nobleman. I’ve just come to get what belongs to me, and I’ll be happy to leave.”
    “Richard, I think I should warn you of something,” Amy said through the intercom.
    Just when he was starting to enjoy his victory? Not likely. She was always far too pessimistic; she didn’t get that humans needed to taste their success every once in a while.
    “Amy, I’m a bit busy right now,” Rick said. Lord Baylor glanced at him, confused. “No, not you. I’m talking to someone else.” He shook his head to turn the intercom back on. “Why don’t you wait for a while and I’ll get back to you?”
    Amy had always been too careful with risks and probabilities of success. To her, having a 10% chance of being unsuccessful meant that it wasn’t worth it. If Rick had stayed at home whenever risks were involved, he’d have starved on Earth. He had to jump in and take action;