Fallout Game Merchant 2.0-Chapter 163: Bounties

As Six’s Pip-Boy dinged again, he checked his latest reward and grinned.

’Seastone, huh?’

That was a hell of a find. A mineral that could nullify supernatural abilities? That had a lot of potential, especially considering some of the things he’d encountered across different invasions.

Rebecca peeked over his shoulder.

"Seastone?"

She raised an eyebrow.

"Never heard of it."

Six flipped the chunk in his hand, feeling an odd sensation—almost like the energy around him dulled slightly.

"It’s rare, and it cancels out powers. Could be real handy if we run into someone who’s a little too tough for bullets."

Boone crossed his arms.

"Sounds useful. Any plans for it?"

Six smirked.

"Not yet, but I’ll figure something out."

Raul chuckled.

"Knowing you, boss, it’s only a matter of time before you weaponize it."

Six pocketed the Seastone chunk and stretched.

"Alright, we got things to do. Let’s see what other trouble we can get into."

Rebecca rolled her eyes playfully.

"You mean what trouble we can cause."

Six just grinned.

"Seastone from my world, it’s also stronger than diamonds"

Roger added his two cents.

Six turned to Gol D. Roger, who stood with his arms crossed, a wide grin on his face.

"Stronger than diamonds, huh?"

Six flipped the Seastone chunk in his hand, inspecting it more closely.

"And it cancels out supernatural abilities. That’s a hell of a material."

Roger nodded.

"Aye. Back in my world, the Marines use it to keep Devil Fruit users in check. They forge weapons, bullets, and even prison bars out of it. Anyone with powers can’t do a damn thing against it."

Rebecca whistled.

"Damn. That means if we make weapons out of this, we could screw over anyone who relies on supernatural abilities."

Six smirked.

"Sounds like something I need to mass-produce."

Roger chuckled.

"Good luck with that. Even in my world, Seastone is ridiculously rare, and only a handful of skilled craftsmen can properly shape it."

Six cracked his knuckles.

"Well, lucky for me, I don’t need a craftsman. I have an entire production facility and an engineer for a father. And I also have a Dispenser that creates ammunition, healing items, Small patches of mineral, and repairs items for reason for some reason?"

He pocketed the chunk.

"Time to see what Viktor can do with this."

Boone gave him a knowing look.

"Let me guess. You’re thinking armor-piercing rounds."

Six grinned.

"That’s the first thing I’m making."

________________________

Six’s guide walked over to a tanned man with a large black beard and gave a salute.

"Major Dhatri, these men have come to see you on a matter pertaining to the Fiends."

Dhatri gave a weak salute in return, his exhaustion evident. He sighed before turning to them.

"So, you heard about the bounties then?"

Six and his crew nodded, and the Major continued, rubbing his temples.

"Before I give you the details, you should know what you’re getting into. Unless you’ve been sleeping under a rock for a few years, you probably know about the Fiends—chemmed-up, savage animals with no regard for human decency or morality."

Six crossed his arms.

"We know. We’ve dealt with the Fiends before."

Dhatri scoffed.

"Yeah, you’ve fought the regular Fiends. The ones I need dealt with are anything but regular. If you go in unprepared, I won’t be sending anyone to collect your mangled corpses."

"We’ll prepare depending on the target."

Roger said, appreciating the warning but unfazed by it.

Dhatri shrugged.

"Fine. There are three targets: Violet, Driver Nephi, and Cook-Cook."

"What are their bounties?"

Six asked, ignoring how ridiculous their names sounded.

"Violet is worth 3,000 caps. She’d be worth less, but she’s been breeding and training attack dogs for the Fiends, making her a real problem. Driver Nephi is a leader among them, but his real claim to fame is the sheer number of NCR troopers he’s killed—his bounty is 4,000 caps from various sources."

"And Cook-Cook?"

Rebecca asked, noticing how Dhatri’s expression darkened at the name.

Dhatri clenched his fists.

"5,000 caps. I even chipped in 500 myself. The things he’s done... it’s personal."

Six glanced at his crew.

"Might as well take them all."

Dhatri nodded, his expression hardening.

"Good. But don’t underestimate them. They might be hopped up on chems, but they’re dangerous in their own ways."

Six smirked.

"We’ll be fine. Any last-known locations?"

Dhatri pulled out a map and placed it on the table, pointing to three different spots.

"Violet has a camp west of here, not far from Vault 3. She’s got a pack of rabid dogs, so be ready for that."

"Driver Nephi?"

Boone asked, already looking ahead to the kill.

"He’s been spotted near the South Vegas Ruins. He’s a melee fighter, but don’t let that fool you—he’s got some serious reach with that oversized golf club of his."

"And Cook-Cook?"

Rebecca crossed her arms.

Dhatri clenched his jaw.

"That bastard’s holed up near a ruined farmstead south of here. Watch out for his flamethrower and don’t let him get close to any captives. If you bring his head back, make sure it’s extra crispy."

Six nodded, already forming a plan.

"Alright. We’ll hit Violet first. The dogs might be a hassle, but they’ll be nothing compared to Nephi and Cook-Cook."

Dhatri smirked, despite the dark bags under his eyes.

"You take those three out, and you’ll be doing the Mojave a damn big favor. Good hunting."

Six turned to his crew.

"Lock and load. We’re gonna make this quick."

Rebecca cracked her knuckles.

"Can’t wait to put down that sick bastard."

Roger grinned.

"Let’s see if these ’Fiends’ can handle a real fight."

Before heading out, Six decided to gather more intel on Driver Nephi and Cook-Cook. Knowing their locations was one thing, but understanding their habits, weaknesses, and fighting styles could make all the difference.

He turned back to Dhatri.

"What else can you tell us about Nephi and Cook-Cook?"

Dhatri rubbed his face, clearly exhausted.

"Nephi’s a melee specialist, but don’t think that makes him any less dangerous. He’s got a unique weapon—a massive nine-iron golf club that he swings like a sledgehammer. The guy’s fast and completely unhinged. He’s known for rushing into gunfire like he’s got a death wish. Problem is, he’s skilled enough that it usually works out for him."

Six nodded.

"Any weaknesses?"

Dhatri exhaled.

"He’s cocky. Thinks he’s invincible. If you can bait him into a trap, you’ll have a much easier time taking him down. That, and he doesn’t wear much armor—makes it easier to put him down if you can land a good shot before he closes the gap."

Rebecca smirked.

"Fast or not, he won’t be dodging bullets when his legs stop working."

"Exactly."

Dhatri agreed.

"And if you can bring back that golf club, some of the boys in the NCR would love to see it mounted as a trophy."

Six chuckled.

"Noted. And what about Cook-Cook?"

Dhatri’s expression darkened again, his grip tightening into a fist.

"He’s the worst of them all. A sadistic bastard with a flamethrower and a taste for cruelty. He’s got a thing for taking captives—especially women. He tortures them before burning them alive."

Rebecca’s eyes narrowed dangerously.

"He’s dead."

"Damn right he is."

Dhatri growled.

"Cook-Cook’s armor is reinforced against small arms fire, and his flamethrower makes him a nightmare in close quarters. But he’s got a soft spot—literally. His head is completely unarmored. If you can get a clean shot, take it. And if you can, take out his pet Brahmin, Queenie. That beast is his good luck charm. Kill it, and he’ll lose focus."

Raul let out a low whistle.

"A sick bastard with a flamethrower and a lucky cow? Sounds like a hell of a target."

Dhatri nodded.

"And one last thing—if you take him down, bring back his head. There are people in the NCR who want to make sure it’s really him."

Six stored all the information away.

"Alright, we’ve got what we need. We’ll handle this."

Dhatri smirked tiredly.

"I’ll be here when you get back. Try not to get burned."

With their intel gathered, the team left Camp McCarran, ready to put an end to the Fiends’ reign of terror.