“Move. Two guards are walking the grounds. They’re to your left twenty meters and heading toward you,” Lucinda said, using the sound transmission device to talk to them.
The three men returned to their building as Lucinda watched from the sky.
The lord’s compound had a series of gardens with different plants and paths. There were private areas where the lord could entertain guests as well, making it a beautiful place. But with the complicated design, it was more for the guards to cover and there were hidden nooks.
“Jump behind that bush to your right! Patrol!” Lucinda called out.
Roska and the others jumped to the side, but rolled and used the dirt to soften the fall and the noise. All of them were wearing any light armor or items that improved stealth.
The guards walked by a few moments later.
“Getting chilly, man,” one said while yawning.
“Yeah. I can feel it in my bones. Winter must be coming.” The other sighed as they continued on their way, trying to waste the time left in their watch.
They moved through the gardens toward the building that they suspected Jasper and the other traders were being held in.
“I can confirm our people are in there. I see some familiar faces on the second floor. Main entrance—there are two guards in the alcoves. There are four on patrol around the house and there is one posted at every entrance way. I don’t see a way to get in,” Lucinda said.
“I have an idea. Get Night Terror to come down. I want to give him a message to deliver,” Roska said.
“On it.”
Night Terror landed on top of the bush they were hiding behind and cocked his head at Roska, who held out a piece of string and paper she had written on.
Night Terror offered his foot and Roska attached it. He took off and headed up high, circling the building.
“He got Jasper’s attention. He’s opened a window for him and he’s taking the message. He’s nodded and is moving into the building, talking to the others,” Lucinda relayed.
“Have him circle, look for an open window with the light off,” Roska said.
“He’s making a hold gesture,” Lucinda said.
“Let’s wait,” Roska said.
“He’s writing something,” Lucinda said.
The tension in Roska’s body only increased each minute that they lay in the garden, certain they would be found the next second.
“He’s written a note and is showing it to Night Terror. ‘Why not take over the trading city, threaten the city lord and get him to write a binding contract or oath to be our front man, do our bidding? Frees us and gives us control.’”
Roska sat there in the bushes, thinking on it. It makes sense. This area is heavily guarded because of our people being here, but the lord’s manor, there’s not many guards moving around. Those big bay windows—if we can find out where he is, then we can ambush him and force him.
“Use the note—point to the letters and ask, ‘What level is the lord?’” Roska said.
It took some time to get Lucinda to use Night Terror to point to letters to convey the message.
“Fifteen and a decent fighter, he says.”
“Get Night Terror to circle the lord’s manor and see if we can find him. Relay to the others,” Roska said.
***
Lord Aditya was working in his office, going over the latest information from his doves. He had created a large network to know what was happening with the different parties that he worked with. There was no knowing if one of them wouldn’t try to stab him in the back for even the slightest gain. He also had reports on the different groups of note in his trading outpost, the other trading outposts, and the tracking doves who were trying to trace back where Jasper and his people had come from.
Aditya rolled his feather pen around in his hand. A smile appeared on his face. “It’s been awhile since I’ve found such a hard target to deal with.” He laughed to himself, feeling melancholy. He had been similar to Jasper in a lot of ways. The difference was that he had the strength to back it up. Jasper might have a decent level, Aditya thought that he had been in a few fights here and there, but he wasn’t someone who looked to fight and hone his combat skills.
Aditya was confident he’d defeat him; with his people, their gear, and his backing, he was confident he wouldn’t take a loss. He hadn’t in twelve years.
He reached for the next report when he felt a chill run down his back and a knife slid across his neck. He froze as his heart accelerated, seeing the hand holding the blade and feeling another on his shoulder.
“Lord Aditya.” A woman’s voice came from behind him. “Best not to shout. I’m just here to trade.”
“Whoever you are, the people behind me will come after you,” Aditya said with confidence. His eyes focused on the doors, as if to summon the guards on the other side.
“You are rather resourceful, which makes you useful. Don’t make me think otherwise.”
“Useful?” He tried to turn his head but found the blade move slightly and cut his neck. He winced at the pain and stopped moving. Aditya was starting to feel as though he were out of his depth.
“Indeed. We need a broker and you seem to be the right man for the job. My boss has said so, at least. You will sell our goods, buy our supplies, and keep our names far from it. Of course, we’ll make you and your people make an oath.”
“You—!” The blade again pressed against his neck and drew fresh blood.
“Don’t test me. I’m only here because it will save my boss time and help people I care about.” The woman’s voice chilled.
Her hand on his shoulder tightened and the Mana in the room started to circulate angrily. He felt that he didn’t control his life anymore.
He had been in a position of power for a long time; he had forgotten this feeling. Now he knew it: the dry mouth, his heart pounding heavily as his body wanted to break free.
It was the fear of death, knowing that he tread a thin line between it and life.
“Okay, for ten percent—” he started, trying to tone down her anger.
Two people stepped out of the shadows: one with a crossbow, the other holding daggers.
The woman behind Aditya leaned forward. “I lied. This isn’t a trade—it’s a takeover.”
One of the people, the one with the daggers, sheathed a blade and stepped forward, putting a contract on the desk in front of him.
His eyes nearly bulged out as he saw the words on the contract. “I—”
“Now, Aditya, you made us come all the way here. Wouldn’t it be rude if you denied us this small request? You will benefit from it greatly. Who knows? If you do well enough, our leader might fix your leg.”
She let that hang there as Aditya’s entire body tensed up.
“He can heal limbs?” Aditya asked.
“He can,” she confirmed.
She had no reason to lie.
Aditya truly had no other option left.
“I, lord of the Vermire Trading Outpost, Lord Phillips Aditya, swear on my life and the Ten Realms to abide by the following contract...”
Chapter: Creating a New Ally
Blaze couldn’t help but laugh and shake his head as the council listened to the latest report that was relayed from Vermire Trading Outpost.
“Seems that Jasper’s not got a small amount of ambition,” he joked, looking to the others.
“From prisoner to owning the lord of the city—not a bad trade at all.” The worry in Elise’s features softened as she smiled and sat back in her chair.
“Damn, I owe him a drink. To be thinking of trade and the dungeon even when he’s wrapped up in the middle of it all. He put off his rescue to see that Roska and her people would have the opportunity to get Aditya.” Taran laughed, draining away his tension.
“I wonder what the expression must be on his face. We should be getting a message from him soon,” Blaze said.
***
> Jasper was sitting in the house he and the rest of the trading party had been imprisoned in. He looked up at the knock at the door.
One of the merchants moved toward the door; the others all prepared weapons.
The door opened to reveal Lord Aditya, with a forced smile on his face.
“I am sorry for the inconvenience, Mister Jasper, to you and to your people. If you ever need anything from me, then I will be more than happy to help.” Aditya bowed deeply to them all.
Jasper’s sound transmission device lit up as he got a message from Roska.
“Very well.” Jasper stood and took a ring off his finger. “See that these are taken care of. I will be back in two weeks.”
He passed it to Aditya, who accepted it and bowed again.
Jasper leaned forward so only Aditya could hear him. “Shame we had to do business like this,” Jasper said as he walked past Aditya.
“Pleasure doing business with you!” Jasper said normally again as he walked out of the open door behind Aditya.
Aditya was doing all he could to keep a smile on his face as he moved out of the way and let the rest of Jasper’s party leave the house.
***
Aditya felt as if his guts were twisting. He wanted to monopolize all the opportunities that Jasper had held, but now he found himself under the thumb of Jasper and his people.
He had been too overconfident, thinking that there was no one who would challenge him. Instead, he had run into a wall, with Jasper’s mysterious allies appearing and forcing him into a contract that was unbreakable.
He was holding onto the hope that the woman had given him when she talked about someone who would be able to return his lost limb.
He had learned a lot losing his limb, but still he hoped that there was a way for it to come back. Healing concoctions helped and regrew some of it, but there was too much demand and too little supply. He had even started to take in apothecaries and group them together, pushing them to advance their Alchemy so they might be able to make something to help him.
Blessing or a curse, only time will tell.
“We’ll be seeing you soon.”
Aditya shivered as he heard that woman’s voice again whispering in his ear. He jumped and looked around but he couldn’t find anything.
“Lord Aditya, do you really want to let them go? Do you want us to follow them?” Pan Kun asked.
Aditya wanted to lash out but instead took a breath. He was now under someone and he didn’t need to lose his loyal followers.
“They are not to be touched. Treat them as if they were someone from one of the major alliances from now on,” Aditya said in a deep voice, his eyes finding Pan Kun’s.
Pan Kun’s expression turned pale as he bowed to Aditya. “I will pass on the word.”
“Go,” Aditya said. The energy started to leave his body from everything that had happened that night.
Pan Kun seemed to understand that Jasper and his people were not those to be messed with.
Aditya sat down in a chair, touching his neck. It was tender and there were a few bloody lines on it.
He moved the ring that Jasper had given him in the other hand. He pressed some of the blood on his finger to the ring; Jasper had removed his binding on it.
Aditya looked inside and nearly dropped the ring. There was clothing, armor, crossbows, bows, swords, shields, armor, healing poultices, food stores, uncut gems, formation plates, high-grade monster meat.
The items were all of the high-Novice grade and there were a few low-Apprentice-grade items as well. They weren’t high-quality luxury goods, but normal people couldn’t afford them. Only basic adventurers, mercenaries, soldiers, and crafters would be able to purchase them.
Aditya laughed at himself and pulled out one of the swords. He looked it over and moved it around. Then he pulled out a shirt, then a bow.
“Damn. Just where do you come from, Jasper?”
***
Erik and Rugrat were walking through the desert with the five others they had found in the Desert Spiritual Palace.
Their group’s name was Thantis Traders. They worked the area around the Hersht Desert. They made most of their coin going to the smaller settlements, offering their skills, buying specialty items from the smaller groups and then moving to the cities to sell them at a premium price. Feng Yi was an apprentice level smith and had an anvil and magic flame that allowed him to repair and work on different weapons and tools people brought him.
Cai Dan was a tailor who could fix clothes and leather armors as well as make new clothing and robes for the villages they visited.
The other three were true traders. Well, Ru Xie mostly tagged along and did odd jobs. Liao Ah and Ru Guo were their appraisers; they sold their services, bought and sold items.
They were just coming back from the villages where they had sold nearly all of their food and water in return for rare metals and gems as well as sculptures and antiques that people in Taeman would be interested in.
“So you’re from Taeman city?” Erik asked.
“Yes, originally. We’re actually one of the trading groups under the Ekeem clan. They’re one of the five great powers in Taeman city. There is also the Gu clan, the Aldair clan, the Luo clan, and the Xi conglomerate,” Liao Ah said proudly.
“So, are you someone from the Ekeem clan?”
“No. It would be better to say that they gave us a loan at the beginning and give us a place to sell our goods with ease. It is a good way for a clan to make residual income without having to do much.” Liao Ah shrugged. “It’s good money and it pays for our costs.”
Erik nodded. People needed to survive. As he went through the Second Realm, the people weren’t all that different from those in the First Realm or on Earth. Sure, they thought about becoming adventurers, to ascend the realms, or becoming a business leader or celebrity. But it was one thing to hope to become those people and another to step out and actually become one.
Those who were in special sects and clans started life with the thought and goal to ascend and become stronger, but to the normal people who didn’t have a great backing and were simply born into the Ten Realms, fighting to become stronger, going against their overlords? These kinds of thoughts didn’t come into their heads. They just wanted to live their lives, pay their dues and move on.
Erik looked back at Rugrat, who was talking with Feng Yi, not giving up any opportunity to increase his knowledge.
Ru Guo was with him; apparently she knew something on formations as well.
There wasn’t a clear goal in ascending the realms for them; they just wanted to do it because they could. It would be dangerous; it would be hard; they might not make it out alive. That was part of life. At least they were doing what they wanted, not holed up and hiding because they weren’t willing to try to follow their dreams.
Sure, Alva Dungeon was hidden away from everything and everyone, but they wanted somewhere to go back to. Just because someone had a home on Earth it didn’t mean that they couldn’t travel anymore, to expand their horizons. It meant that they could appreciate their home and their adventures that much more, knowing that they had a place that they could exist and call home.
“Is there a Blue Lotus there?” Erik asked.
“Yes. It is the largest in the six surrounding cities. With the five powers in Taeman city, it is a hub of trade and travel. There is a headquarters of the Beast Tamer Guild there. The truly rich and powerful can hire the guild and travel across the desert to the forest towns and beyond without needing the Ten Realms totem,” Liao Ah said excitedly.
Chapter: Entering Taeman City
There was still a day’s travel to go until they reached Taeman city but they could already see signs of the city. There were more beasts in the air with people traveling on them. When they were on tall sand dunes, they could see other groups heading to and from the city.
In the distance, they could see the beast tamer’s tower, wh
ich stood out as a tall beacon to all.
The Thantis Traders were all excited and talking to one another. Under Erik and Rugrat’s care, they had recovered fully.
Erik and Rugrat were sitting on a sand dune, looking at the tower.
“So, the next part, get a second Mana stone,” Rugrat said.
“They have a Blue Lotus there, so if we sell all of the extra crap we’ve got, we can exchange for at least one Mortal-grade Mana stone. Though we won’t have enough for two.” Erik looked to Rugrat.
“Don’t even give me that look. We came here together—we’re leaving together.” Rugrat threw a rock he had found in the sand without looking back at Erik.
Erik smiled and threw a rock he had been moving in his hand. “So, time to make some coin again?”
“I feel like us being broke but not is a running theme.” Rugrat grinned and looked over to Erik.
Erik let out a snort. “Redneck rich!” Erik threw the rock in his hand as if skipping it off a lake.
“Damn, I miss fried chicken, watermelon, mudding, and range days. The things I would do for a PBR.” Rugrat shook his head.
“Things I’d do for a gas mask,” Erik muttered.
Rugrat pushed him. Erik laughed as he sat back up.
“All right, well, you’re better with the whole bartering shit and I have a bunch of work to do. With the collapsible smithy, all I need is a plot of land. I can go to the outer reaches of the city, somewhere that there ain’t a lot of people around, and get to work. First, we’re getting you a good set of armor,” Rugrat said in a firm voice.
Erik wanted to argue that they needed to get back faster, but he was touched by Rugrat’s words and the feeling behind them. “Thanks.”
“What? Can’t let you go running around without a Nipple Chafer Three Thousand!”
Erik let out a groan and folded his hands. “Don’t punch him—you want to, but just calm it.”
Rugrat threw some rocks as Erik recovered from his strength-gathering prayers.
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