Aditya saw Jasper out and then looked at the scroll: there were Alchemy concoctions—true Alchemy concoctions, not items from an apothecary—formations, weapons, armor, and spell scrolls.
“These would be trump cards for older nations, but these are things that I can get with enough money. The prices are high, but I have time and my income will only increase with the city expansion. It’s about time I expanded the guards again, yes indeed.”
***
Jasper read through the information that Aditya’s doves had collected on Elan as well as the information from the traders from Alva and their associates across the First Realm.
He had started the Silaz Trading House by himself. He had been an adventurer of a large mercenary group but when he found his wife, he wanted to put that behind him. So he left, turned in his weapons and started trading in monster cores. He knew the ropes from being a mercenary.
Knowing the different fighting groups, he traded weapons and armor for monster cores at a better rate. Then he sold the monster cores to higher powers at a profit.
He expanded his operations to even more outposts around the Beast Mountain Range to acquire monster cores, then he had set up a headquarters in Chonglu. It was one of the largest hubs around the Beast Mountain Range, with the Blue Lotus bringing in a high number of nobles and powerful figures.
There wasn’t any other city that was close to the Beast Mountain Range and had a Blue Lotus location, making it ideal.
He was smart and although the Silaz Trading House mainly dealt in monster cores, they also sold weapons and armor as well as maintenance services.
Many others had tried to replicate his business model and they had done well, but not on the level Silaz had achieved.
“There are several hidden companies that he controls, such as those dealing in furs and meats. He also has several trading caravan services—hires out the mercenaries who are tired of the Beast Mountain Range life, gives them some training, a contract and a job. It’s highly lucrative due to their levels. Several mercenary groups have him as a silent partner, giving him a constant flow of monster cores and beast parts. He has also groomed a group called the Twelve Mediators. If someone crosses him, attacks his caravans or his different businesses, then these people will appear, dealing with the issues and disappear once again. He must have a training facility hidden from people’s eyes…or maybe it is part of the mercenary groups that he controls?” Jasper reached over to his tea and took a drink, looking over the cup and the paper in front of him at the building opposite as Elan Silaz left the trading house’s Vermire location and greeted an architect.
“Now he wants to move into regional auctions,” Jasper muttered to himself. Silaz’s background was not shallow and it had hidden depths.
I can make conjectures at every turn, but I need to know what he’s actually thinking. For that, I need an oath or a contract that allows me to ask him questions freely. Jasper leaned on the arm of his chair, holding his chin. He has been requesting to meet with the head of the healing house. That would give me an opening.
Jasper sent a message to Jen.
A few minutes later, she called him back. “Do you know how busy I am?” Jen complained.
“I only need you to bring him in for a meeting. I don’t need you to be there for it,” Jasper said, drinking his tea.
Jen let out a sigh. “Okay, I’ll get it set up, but you owe me one of Jia Feng’s own meals!”
Jasper nearly choked on his tea.
“Something wrong?” Jen said in a sweet voice.
“Can’t it be someone else’s food—like Diana’s? She’s a mid-Journeyman—and that tender roasted meat she makes is amazing!”
“Three meals from anyone else and tell her I want my special!” Jen said. It was as if she had regained all of her lost energy.
“Okay, okay, I’ll see to it,” Jasper acquiesced, thinking about all the work Jen had been piled under.
She was the Healing Department Head, managing things back in Alva and also managing everything at the Alva Healing House. She only had a few more months before she had to head back to Alva. One of the rules that the department heads and councilors had to obey was returning to Alva every six months at the least and remain there for a month to deal with any issues that had appeared.
Jen was already over that number but Erik and Rugrat had allowed it.
“Deal!” Jen closed the channel before Jasper could say anything. “I should’ve asked if he can move any of the items we’ve had shipped to us from the Fourth realm.” Jen grunted in complaint. Vermire had become a powerful trader so it was easy to move supplies into the city, which were now stockpiled underneath the healing house and the Lord’s manor, being transported undercover to teleportation formations hidden in the forest with ammunition and supplies needed by the army coming out and being sent to the totems and to Hersht where members of the army would transport supplies through the realms.
“Everything is complicated now. I wonder what they want with Elan Silaz?”
***
Elan Silaz felt something was up when he got a message from the head of the Alva Healing House. He had requested the meeting but it was only a day after he had talked to Aditya. He probably pulled some strings to show his ability off and then he can change the contract to his benefit.
Elan got out of his carriage and looked at the healing house.
He entered the door, seeing people coming in, being assessed, and healed in just a few moments before they had to go to collections. Two large and powerful guards stood there. They wore the emblem of the Alva Healing House as their only adornments. They looked simple but Silaz’s senses told him that even his Mediators wouldn’t be able to take them down.
He couldn’t even read their level.
The speed that people were processed through the healing house was much faster than any other healing house he had seen.
Other healing houses deal in one or two powerful and rich members with a high retainer. Here they work on numbers, getting people through quickly. The profits wouldn’t be any smaller, but it means more work. It also means that they get all kinds of cases from different people.
Their public sentiment would be much higher of course. I would think that the people would blame them for the attack by the Zatan Confederation, but there isn’t any animosity. They have become a pillar of Vermire, with a strength that is only less—no, maybe on par—with Lord Aditya’s.
“Mister Silaz, please come this way.” A man wearing healing robes and a mask led Silaz to the top floor of the healing house. “Only you.” He looked at Silaz’s guards.
Silaz smiled and waved for his guards to wait outside. Time to make a leap of faith. Maybe I’ve really found out a connection to Domonos, Yui, and Qin.
The man opened the door for Silaz.
“Elan Silaz for you, Department Head,” the man said.
“Thanks, Kyle.” A tired woman’s voice came from inside.
Silaz entered a double office. On one side, there was a woman standing up and looking at a number of books on her shelf.
The door closed behind Silaz as a formation activated.
Silaz grabbed his communication device in alarm, turning for the door. His fist was gripped and wrenched around his back; his other hand grabbed too. He was unable to fight back as two chains were applied.
“Don’t be too rough with him. I am a healer, Jasper,” the woman said, still looking up information.
“I just want to have a private conversation with him—don’t want any guards in the way,” the man behind Silaz said as he pulled up on the cuffs and forced Silaz into the room.
“Guards!” he yelled out and struggled. “Guards!”
“They can’t hear you, sound formation or something.” The woman looked up at him and then the man behind him.
“I don’t want to hurt you, Mister Silaz. I just need to ask you some questions, privately. Qin sends her regards,” Jasper said.
Silaz relaxed as he looked
at the woman, who was jotting down notes, and back at Jasper, turning his head. “Qin’er?”
“Yup. But I have to do my job, so…” Jasper dropped him into a chair and attached him to a chain in the floor. “Let’s start negotiations!” Jasper moved around in front of Silaz and sat down.
Silaz tried to access his Mana, but he wasn’t able to. He felt as if his Strength was being sapped as well. It was no wonder it was easy for Jasper to wrestle him into a chair.
“First, I will need an oath from you on the Ten Realms that you will tell the truth, according to my wishes.” Jasper pulled out a contract and held it in front of Silaz.
He stared daggers at Jasper before he checked the contract. Everything seemed to be in order. If he didn’t say the truth, then he would be electrocuted, the Mana in his system acting against him so Jasper would be able to visually see that he had lied.
“I agree to the contract,” Silaz said. The Ten Realms confirmed the contract, covering it in golden energy and then covered Silaz. He felt chains, stronger than the ones around his wrists, tighten on his very soul.
“Your name is Elan Silaz, correct?” Jasper asked.
“Yes,” Silaz said.
“You have three sons and one daughter?”
“Yes.” “What are your intentions with coming to Vermire?”
“I wanted to find out more about my children. I have seen them, but I don’t know where they have gone. I’m guessing that you’re the power that they are learning under?”
“I guess, kind of?” Jasper shrugged. “Why did you offer people to Aditya?”
So they control this city. He wouldn’t tell anyone that lightly.
“Qin hinted to me that the people she was learning from needed people and Mana stones, so I looked to find people and Mana stones,” Silaz said. “I just want to be able to see my children more often. I am a trader. I can trade in things that Aditya can’t.”
“Are you looking to attack the people teaching your children?”
“Not unless they are hurting my children.”
“So you came here looking for information on your children, rattle the tree and, well, essentially have this meeting. Do you want to become part of the power teaching your children?”
“Pretty much. I am looking to see just what kind of people are teaching my children. If they are people I can work with, then I will. If they aren’t and my children are fine, I will go separate ways. If you are treating my children badly then I will do everything in my power to bring you down.”
Jasper was unaffected by his words.
“Sounds like Elise is going to have some competition,” Jen said from her desk and stretched.
“If he goes to the other realms. Okay, Mister Silaz, I will give my recommendation that you be given more information. This conversation didn’t happen. Domonos and Yui aren’t in this realm but Qin is. I’ll have her meet you and bring you over to our headquarters. I will need an oath that this conversation will not be repeated to anyone else,” Jasper said.
“I swear on the Ten Realms with my life that I will not repeat the contents of this conversation unless you allow me to,” Silaz said. A golden glow appeared around him for the second time.
Jasper released Silaz, deactivated the formation, and used his sound transmission device.
Elan rubbed his wrists.
“Are you done yet?” Jen asked from her desk.
“Mister Silaz, are you free tonight? Qin can meet you tonight. You will need to make one more oath at that time.”
“Yes, I am,” Silaz said.
“No guards. Meet me here,” Jasper said.
***
Qin exited the teleportation array, finding her father and Jasper standing there.
“Dad!” She hugged her father. It had already been a number of months and seeing him, she realized just how much she had missed him.
“Little Qin’er.” His tone softened.
“You better not have beaten him up!” She pouted, looking at Jasper.
“I wouldn’t think of it. Your brothers could kick my ass all over the dungeon!” Jasper laughed.
Qin smiled as she grabbed her father’s hand and pulled him toward the array.
“He needs to make an oath to Alva,” Jasper said.
“Ah,” Qin said, embarrassed as she let go of her father’s hand.
“Repeat after me: I, Elan Silaz, of my own volition, swear upon the Ten Realms that I will not pass on information about Alva Dungeon to any outsiders. I swear to protect Alva Dungeon, no matter how far I might venture from the dungeon. I swear to uphold the rule of law within Alva Dungeon and to follow the orders of the Dungeon Masters Erik and Rugrat as long as their orders are reasonable.”
Silaz repeated the oath word for word.
“Well, that’s that sorted out,” Jasper said.
Qin led the way to the teleportation array.
Elan had never seen anything like it before. A light consumed him, much like the light he had seen around people heading to higher realms.
The light fell away. They were still in a darker place but lights revealed a much larger rune-covered ground. There were a few people with weapons around the pad. They talked to Jasper as Elan looked around.
“This is Alva Dungeon. Erik and Rugrat made it—well, kind of took it over and then built up everything inside it,” Qin said.
“I thought that they might come from some powerful group—I never thought that they would have made one,” Elan said.
“Take him on the tour. I’ll be in my office. I still have more I need to talk to him about,” Jasper said.
With his oath, Elan wasn’t a danger to Alva anymore.
Qin happily took Elan around the dungeon. They passed through the fields, where plants were growing quickly. They passed the Alchemy garden that looked mysterious, scary, and peaceful depending on the different ingredients one was looking at.
She took him to the academy, showing off her workplace and then took him to the library.
“Egbert,” she said.
A skeleton wearing robes and with blue fires in his eyes turned around as he was reading a book. “No shouting in the library,” Egbert admonished as the book disappeared from his hands.
Even without cheeks and lips, Elan could sense Egbert’s smile as he reached out his hand.
“You must be Elan Silaz. You’ve got three very talented children. Haven’t met the other, but he sounds like a troublemaker,” Egbert said.
Elan coughed and looked at Qin.
“Egbert taught all of us and I spend most of my time in here trying to get information on formations.” Qin offered.
“Wren was a bit of a trouble maker, but he’s doing better. Thank you for helping Qin,” Elan reached out and shook Egbert’s hand.
Egbert’s hand fell apart.
“NoOoOoo!” Egbert said.
Elan jumped back, smacking the bones off his hand. A shiver ran down his spine as he tried to forcefully erase the feeling from his hand.
“Egbert,” Qin admonished.
Egbert cackled as the bones showed runes on them and started to reassemble, recreating his hand.
“Did you see his face! Oh, priceless!” Egbert continued to cackle.
Qin couldn’t help but laugh.
Elan pulled on his jacket feeling another shiver up his spine with the sensation coming back.
“Oh, if I only had tear ducts. Ah, that’s got to be the best one yet!” Egbert rubbed a finger underneath his eye as if clearing tears.
“I’ve got to take him to meet Jasper again. Try to not prank so many people!”
“Oh, I could never promise that.” Egbert chuckled.
Qin led Elan out of the library. He looked at the trading area near the academy, the different buildings and surrounding grounds.
“So you said that you work on formations and spell scrolls,” Elan said, recovering as they walked through the dungeon, reaching a park.
“Well, I do formations mostly. Julilah is better
at the spell scrolls. Formations need to be carved into a metal medium and then have reactants added. Spell scrolls need a cloth-like medium; then, instead of carving anything in, they have a mixture of reactants combined into an ink and then applied to the scroll. We tried to print them in bulk as Erik and Rugrat said, but one needs to inject Mana with the reactants or else the spell scrolls won’t work. With formations, we can have the formation plates pressed or carved by machines and the reactants filled into the carvings. It is good to mass-produce them but their strength is less than if a person did them. And they are bigger, but we are looking at making them smaller. The machine-made formation’s failure rate is lower. Though different materials need a person working on them instead of a machine. It’s complicated.” Qin sighed. “Thankfully, we have been able to get a number of books so that we have a complete heritage from Novice to Apprentice. The simple things are easy, but it is so information-based that passing through the Journeyman level is complicated and a long process, like Alchemy and other disciplines that have a lot of theory behind them.”
Elan understood most of what she was saying but there were terms and thoughts he didn’t understand. “You’ve been working hard,” he said in a soft voice.
“There is still a lot to learn,” Qin said, deflecting his words, embarrassed by the praise.
He pulled her close, hugging her from the side and kissing her head. “So, any boys I need to warn off?”
She pushed him away and fixed her hair. “No!” She pouted. “None of them want to talk to me. Think that I spend too much time working. What do they know? Not mature enough.” Her words trailed off as she played with the cuff of her jacket.
He wanted to know what she was thinking, but he didn’t at the same time. Elan coughed. He had meant to embarrass her as any father ought to and know which boys he needed to watch out for.
“So, your brothers—do they have girls they’re interested in?”
The Fourth Realm (The Ten Realms Book 4) Page 45