Chapter Thirty-Nine

Pulling a Tooth

Tooth watched the dungeon minions working on Dev’s mana collectors. They weren’t automatons. Dev had bequeathed them fuller personalities, and the crew laughed, joked, and became irritated with each other as a regular work crew would do. Twelve of them were hard at work digging holes, putting the harvesters in place, and then filling in the ground while making certain that everything was level.

The truth was that Dev was opening the ground and then sealing it in around his metallic poles. The grey mist that accompanied such endeavors was camouflaged by actual dust that the men were kicking up while they did their business. It was as covert as they could get, and was much better than simply growing them overnight. At least this way it looked like an everyday bit of labor. The one thing that no one had caught onto was the fact that the collectors were piled up behind Nix’s book store, and the pile never seemed to get any smaller. A casual observer would never notice that the number of metal poles that had odd-looking gems adorning one end never got any smaller.

The men went behind the store and never took more than five at a time, which they loaded into Q’uillen’s cart, which Tooth had rented for a fair price of twenty gold for the day, and took them back to the street to be placed every twenty feet from one another. While they were doing that five more collectors made their way into the diminished pile. Dev had fussed over replenishing them like that, but Tooth had told him that no one stood around and watched people do hard work when they might be asked to help. In the initial first minutes of the project, people had stood about watching with some interest, but the crowd had dispersed and folks had gone on their way when they realized nothing more exciting was going to happen. Goulcrest might have been strange and filled with odd people, but even the weirdest of them had better things to do than sit around and watch paint dry or poles to be placed in the ground.

Tooth suspected that attitude would shift once the people saw the great gems collecting mana and shining like small suns. An illuminated night might make the place feel more like a city and make more people active at night. Of course, most people tended to be preparing for the upcoming raid. They just couldn’t get over how considerate the bandits were in telling folks when to expect them. The people of Goulcrest had very low expectations of surviving, but they still appreciated being given a chance to prepare for the assault anyway. Tooth swore to himself that he was going to do everything in his power to keep them safe.

That he had a particular merchant that he had an impetus to protect had nothing to do with his vow. Well, not much to do with it. OK, maybe it did just a little, but he still cared about these people. Discounting Nix, which wasn’t easy for him to do, Numblee and Q’uillen came to mind as good people. People who mattered to him. There were dozens of others such as the people who merely wished him well as he walked down the street, or merchants who sold their goods at a fair price. The townsfolks of Goulcrest were far from saints, but they were honest hardworking people who deserved better than to have their throats stepped on or even cut by a handful of people in power.

Tooth came to the realization that the constable, who had been a decent man who wanted to protect the citizens under his charge, would have been killed and dumped into the crevice that he and Dev now called home. It had only been a matter of time for him. He wasn’t shocked to learn about all the things the mayor was involved in once Dev had gone through everything in Chozen’s head.

That man had been a basket case. Dev had decided that while it was in their best interest to keep things the way they were it might help to deter the mayor’s criminal ambitions if his suddenly timid and skittish assistant was no longer a bundle of nerves, but instead was calm, collected, and confident. The old Chozen would revert back to normal whenever he was in the company of anyone but the mayor. However, if he and the mayor were alone or with someone who would not know the clerk, then Chozen, the calmest man in Goulcrest would manifest. With luck, it would drive the mayor bat-crap crazy. Dev could be a real bastich sometimes. Tooth had to respect that.

Besides, someone like the mayor didn’t deserve velvet glove treatment. That man was a piece of work. He had his hands in everything, and he didn’t care who he hurt or what got destroyed if it meant enriching his pockets or holdings in some way. Chozen knew practically everything the mayor did; the man had an eidetic memory and kept detailed files on everything he and the mayor had done in his memory fortress. A psychologically developed stronghold that he used to retain mental notes. Chozen, for all his faults, was very efficient.

Tooth saw no need to oversee the installation of Dev’s mana collectors. He had better things to do for the town. He had mentally conferred with Dev and the core had agreed that if the merchants went along with it then it would not only help them, but it would also give Dev a much-needed boost in numerous frameworks for numerous buildings, and all the items contained therein. It wouldn’t really cost them much with the new mana harvesters working, the trick would be not to imbalance the town’s economy.

As much as he wanted to go and see Nix Tooth decided that the place to start would be at Numblee’s place of business. Numblee was a respected merchant, and if he went along with it then most of the others would as well. Besides, if he went to Nix’s shop, he’d end up there for hours. He waved at people as they called out his name, some thanked him for rejuvenating the park, others were just being friendly. He couldn’t believe that in a town with such corrupt leaders that there could still be so many good people living here. It bothered him that they couldn’t really do much to initiate change for fear of revealing themselves. Right now, Goulcrest was happy to have Mister Tooth in their ranks, but discovering that there was a dungeon right under their feet would be a completely different tale.

Tooth had pushed Dev to take over the town for one simple reason. Every humanoid or sapient creature that could use some sort of dungeon energy, any energy that a dungeon could use to fuel itself, actually increased the amount of energy the dungeon got just by being inside its confines. It was the main factor that caused dungeons to lure adventurers to their location. The presence of delvers inside boosted the energy output that they got. A blood dungeon would get more energy from the blood spilled inside of it based on how many intruders were in its depths. Thus, solitary adventurers were discouraged from going it alone by being killed, thereby setting an example that others would not follow. Delving was meant to be a team sport.

Dev’s grab of the whole town gave him access to more “guests” than most dungeons ever saw at one time, and so far, the risk to the core had been minimal so it had been a worthwhile gamble. The only time that Dev lost that little bonus was when people went into a building that he hadn’t built. It was considered to be “outside” of his boundaries even though every structure was well within his confines. Tooth was going to do his best to change that right now.

Tooth entered Numblee’s store, Curious Goods, with a friendly smile. The little man sat on a stool behind his counter and was looking at something that he was holding with a long pair of forceps with a magnifying glass. All Tooth could see of his face was a giant blue eyeball. Upon hearing his door’s bell tinkle Numblee put down his optical lens and tongs.

“Ah, Master Tooth. Good to see you again,” the merchant grinned, “I must say that you are looking more, um, robust than before. Are you coloring your hair to impress Miss Nix? If so, I have to warn you that she is not interested in such trivial things as one’s appearance.”

“Let’s just say that being in her company has rejuvenated me, and leave it at that.” Tooth gave him a knowing wink.

“So, how can I help you today? Come to buy something else for our favorite book dealer?”

“No,” Tooth shook his head but kept his grin. “Although I do appreciate the Prattle; she loved it. But I have come to do you a favor. If you can trust me.”

“Favor? Trust? I like you chap, but I hardly know you. My trust, on the best of days, only goes as far as my arm.” Numblee extended his arm and held out an empty palm indicating that he trusted in one thing. Coin.

“Then I think you will appreciate my proposal.” Tooth began to lay out his plan. “I want to buy your shop and everything in it,” Numblee began to protest but Tooth held up a hand indicating for him to listen. “I will only own the store for one night. I will not enter the store, nor will I remove anything from the store. When you return in the morning it will be exactly as you left it. The only catch is that you cannot be inside it, nor leave another living thing inside your shop until you return in the morning.” He produced a gold coin and held it up for Numblee to see.

“Upon morning light everything contained herein, including the building itself will revert back to being yours. At no point will I, nor any conspirator I may know, enter this premises or take any item from it. It will revert to being yours without question or argument.” Tooth pulled out a contract from his vest pocket. “I will sign this and give it to you which will unequivocally state that the building and all the contents therein are yours. In return for your cooperation, I am willing to part with a sum that you name, so long as it is reasonable.”

“And what do you get out of this,” Numblee asked with suspicion in his eyes. He squinted his left eye and opened his right was as wide as possible as he stared at Tooth.

“Me? Absolutely nothing, but I will tell you what you’ll get.” Tooth said seriously. Peace of mind.”

“Peace of mind? How so?”

“I intend to use the time you a lot me to make this building, and the building or home of any other merchant or family in Goulcrest who work with me, more resistant to being destroyed by the coming raiders. If I do my job correctly, they won’t be able to burn it or break it.” Tooth rubbed beneath his lower lip with his pointer finger.

“Why would’ja do that,” Numblee asked incredulously.

“Because, even though I am new to Goulcrest I want the best for its people, and if I can help in any way; I’m going to do it.”

“And whatever it is you are going to do requires that you own what you protect? And I’m guessing that you can’t work your hoodoo if something alive is inside.” Numblee’s forehead scrunched as he thought.

“You just wait right here a moment,” the merchant said as he fumbled on a shelf under his counter. The little man’s head barely showed above his stand. His hand reached up and sat a brown bottle on the top of his sales desk. “If you want my trust, drink that and we’ll see about doing business.”

Tooth didn’t hesitate. He took the tiny brown bottle, uncorked it, and swigged the contents down in one quick gulp. He didn’t feel any different but let out a long and powerful belch that echoed off the walls.

“Oh, bucko, I only meant for you to have a drop or two. That is, er, was, a powerful truth potion that I use on customers who try to sell me suspect merchandise. A dose like you took, and you’re going to be telling the truth all day long.” Numblee looked concerned.

“Ask me your question, I am not afraid.” Toot said with confidence. It was true, he wasn’t afraid, and he was certain that he could be honest with Numblee about his reason for wanting to purchase the store.

“Good to hear,” Numblee said amazed. “Is everything you just told me true?”

“INDEED!”

“And you, nor anyone else will enter my shop?”

“Under no circumstances will I or a compatriot ever set foot in your establishment,” Tooth declared.

“What do you get out of this?” Numblee was certain that there was more to Tooth’s intention than just being nice.

“I, personally, get nothing from this deal with the exception,” Tooth stated as a grin grew on the old gnome’s face, “Of protecting Goulcrest and helping someone I consider a friend.” Tooth did not add that the friend he was referring to was Dev. The whole point to this little exercise was to give the dungeon access to the shops and their merchandise by his absorbing the buildings and their contents and then replacing them, and making sure that the replacements were all enchanted so that the raiders wouldn’t be able to damage the dungeon’s holdings. Dev would even be able to gather energy from the people when they were inside the buildings after that. Dev and Tooth could even mentally communicate with one another when he was inside such an establishment.

“I’m in,” Numblee said. “And I’ll do it for a single gold coin. No point in being greedy when a friend is doing me a favor. I assume that there has to be a sale for you to be able to do whatever it is you are going to do, correct?”

Tooth nodded. He knew better than to talk when he was under the geas of truth magic. He handed Numblee the coin that he’d shown him earlier and the men shook hands.

“I’m trusting you, Tooth, with everything I own. Don’t disappoint me.” The old man squinted an eye and appraised the core companion appreciatively. “It's funny,” he began, “You must be something really special in order to pull this off. I just didn’t think that one of your kind,” Numblee said,

“A Greater WereBear,” Tooth helpfully suggested.

“Would be able to use magic in the way you suggest being able to do.” Numblee stopped and looked up at Tooth. “Did you say Greater Werebear?”

“Of course,” Tooth said with a grin.