Proofread by: ... me again. Did my proofreaders abandon me? No-no-no. Why do I always pick worse case scenario? Maybe they just got hit by a truck and died? Right?

The door to the King’s private office was opened, as his majesty left the room. Guards lead by old Blackwood quickly got closer and inspected delicately monarch looking for some possible anomalies. In the end, king and his mysterious spy spent quite a lot of time inside, and as the other man was a stranger to guards, they needed to check if King wasn’t attacked, poisoned or affected in any other way. They needed to start with checking if the person before them was actually their king, and not some set up usurper.

“Your majesty, if you would allow…” “Hands off, old fart! I am completely fine. Both on body and mind. No need wasting time and resources on those absurd health-checking bullshit. You will see yourself after I would get on the dancing floor! I am going to hunt all those young ladies and dance hell out of them!”

Grouchy? Check. Annoying? Check. Cocky? Check. Overconfident? Check.

“Easy boys. He is our king.”

After those words rest of the guards put back their swords as their grimaces softened.

“Come on, old friend, who would even want to pretend to be old, smelly me? Pretending to be Senate member would benefit them more. Stupid mages.” King pouted “What happened to your opinion that mages are fun?” head of the noble house raised his brow “Nothing. They are fun. They make things happen, bringing some actions into monotony. They are just too greedy. Every year I am losing my power over the kingdom. Bit by bit. Council grows stronger. Ahhh! How much I would give for their little mistake?! The one that could let me tax them! Or to have some greater authority during their meetings! A right of Veto would be nice...” “Sire, I only wish to remind you that you reduced the taxes in order to get potions supplies for the army, in the end, we are in a state of war. You agreed to not interfere in their meetings and gave them the ability to create their own laws because you asked for…” “Really? Nooo! What are you saying, Blackwood? That I have no idea what I bargained for and the price I had to pay?” “My lord, you acting like a douche. Again.” Old knight smiled with corners of his lips “At least this is something those bloody mages will never steal from me. I can be an asshole all I want… Anyway, Blackwood.” “My lord?” “We will have another guest of honor. My old friend will come for my daughter party.” “A friend? Of yours?” this was Blackwood times to have his share of fun with a king. “… what a time to be alive to think that someone would like you, my lord.” “Yeah, yeah. Touché. Now shut up and listen. Bastard has one ugly face, burning mark, he will be carrying few magical trinkets keeping a little illusion on him. I want guards with onyx to stay away from him. One, he would scare my guests with his face, two, he is quite sensitive when it comes to his own image.” “… I get that this is an official version you want me to spread, am I right?” Blackwood was a warrior, but he was not an idiot. If some higher noble really was supposed to come he would know about it sooner.

King raised his brow looking at the head of guards.

“A few hours ago a spy that can change his appearance infiltrated the castle and met with the king, and now some noble covered in illusions came out of nowhere. Coincidence? I think not.” Noble answered peacefully the question that never left king’s mouth. “… fear not, my king, I will spread a word.”

The only answer from Arthur the Grey, first of his name, called Wise, King of Neira was a loud…

“TSK!”

Indeed, despite the party, a king had a bad mood. Bad indeed.

Branch of Rosewood merchant family.

“… so how can I help you?” a fat man called Abram asked me. On his face, a warm smile was plastered, yet behind his lazy, blue eyes, I saw sharpness and cunningness. He started negotiations already.

By saying he put himself in a better position from the start. A subtle hint – you came to me, I am the one who can agree or not. Many fresh-negotiators wouldn’t even notice that they were manipulated from the start. But, not with me those silly tricks.

“Oh, I am more than sure that we can both help each another.” I answered his smile with mine, countering his first move. “… as you are aware, I have opened a little facility of my own. Unfortunately, we are still a very small institution. However, our size is not limited by a number of workers, this can be easily increased but by…” “… lack of alchemical ingredients.” Abram was nodding slightly as if he was thinking deeply about something. “… unfortunately, I am afraid that we may have an agreement signed with alchemists guild that…” he wanted to show how troublesome this situation would be for him. Oh, after hours of nagging he would agree on my little offer, but he would bargain quite a lot “… expires next week.” I ended instead of him. He raised his brow truly surprised, yet he quickly regained control over his expression. It is good to have your own spies. “My-my! Zariel! I thought that detail of our agreement with alchemists was secret!” he said that with a happy tone, though he was most likely not happy at all. “You told that yourself, Syndicate slowly regains its old influence, this also means their spy-net. Oh, don’t get me wrong, we were not spying on you, but on alchemists, and somehow a tiny little birdie could lie his hands on few business agreements…” “This is why you came now? Indeed, I expect someone from the Alchemists Guild to come in few next days to elongate the contract…” “Yhym. But before we would actually start negotiating…” oh, we started doing so with the first seep of whiskey “… please, hear my offer first. How would you like selling the same amount of cargo for more money?” “You picked my curiosity, but now you have my attention.” After a moment or two fatty corrected himself in his armchair. “You see, up until now you were forced to sell herbs for, pretty much, minimal price because alchemy guild was a monopolist. They could say . And you had to sell it to them for 50 coppers because you pretty much couldn’t sell it to anyone else… legally, at least. On the other hand, they could simply order herbs from another place, yes, it would take more time to bring the cargo, it could cost more, cargo could have lower quality… but they were not limited to you… on the other hand now… you could say that you are after the first negotiation with me and you agreed to sell me… let’s say…. 60% of your stock for… 1 silver?... no, they won’t believe it… but let’s say 70 copper.” “…. Why do I think you won’t be buying my cargo for 70 coppers per cart?” “Because I will be buying it for 40 per cart…” “Zariel, I thought we became friends. Friends are not robbing each another!” “Bayley! Ba-yley!…” I said peacefully “… I won’t be buying 60% of your stock either! Maybe… dunno… looking at your warehouses… 20%? In the end, we are still developing.”

This is when man froze and start calculating.

“You… you rat. You sly, ugly rat! You want your competitors to pay for your cargo… You…” he became silent for a moment.

We could officially say that we agreed on 60% of his stock for a price of 70 copper coins, and make this information be heard by the guild. This branch was closest to the capital, were both alchemists guild and my lil drug store would work. If you, as moloch-company, would hear that your competitor would lie his hands on your best (in an aspect of quality and distance) supplier, you would try beating his offer.

I gave him an opportunity for negotiations. I would be buying 20% for 40 coppers, but I would let him sell remaining 80% for at least… 75 coppers? Losing 10 coins on 20% of your cargo to earn 25 on 80%? That was swindle on completely another level.

“They… they won’t refuse! You are still keeping the size of your organization as a secret! They simply do not know how much you could actually produce and thus how much cargo you will need! They will try to give me better offer then you in order to secure more ingredients! You would be buying necessary products with lower price, take part of your enemy supplies, forcing them to look for supplies in the other places, and making them pay more not only for my products but also for transporting it from the other places… all of this while making them think that they have actually landed a blow on you…” “And while making you look like a loyal co-worker for lowering my order from 60% to 20%. You will earn money, got better position for next negotiations with the guild… and you will contribute to the development of your… Friends. And as you said, you always found benefits having this kind of Friends.”

His expression became mixed. I just gave him an opportunity of increasing his income by around than 40% with barely any risk. Yet I knew what he was thinking about. When fortune is smiling at you and gives you a coin, try bargaining for two.

“Don’t be too greedy, Bayley.” “… Still, 40 coin per cart is a robbery! Would barely cover my own costs! What if I would offer you the old Alchemists price? They were robbing me with 50 per cart but as monopolists they…” “What did I say about being greedy? Don’t think only in perspective of coins! Syndicate is coming back, Bayley! Think about it! And when we would be back with all our might we will remember who helped us… and who did not.” His eyes bulged a little “A…are you…” “Threatening you? No! We are friends. You didn’t erase the symbol of the Syndicate from your facility. This matters. A lot….” I got up from my chair and walked to the fat man, circled him standing right behind him. I slowly put my palms on his shoulders and tightened a grip a little, not too strong, yet it still managed to send a shiver down his spine. I lowered my head near his ear “… but… how do you think, as we would be back… how hu-ge reward would you get from Rogue?”

It was supposed to be a little secret. He was working decades ago and to al official sources he vanished.

“H-he is alive!?” “Living and kicking. Oh, when I met him for the first time he looked like a shadow, yet as I came closer I saw he was a man of flesh and bones. Covered in scars and burns, yet eyes, his eyes, so sharp you could swear they were piercing through your skin, flesh, and mind as if he was gazing into your very soul. But, Bayley, as much as I love you, my dear friend, this time I WILL threaten you. If you would even think of sharing this information any further… even to your own boss, wife or priest… You would slip, and fell into a well cracking your spine. Or some brick could fell from the building right on your skull. And everyone you would tell about it would share the same fate. In the end, accidents are bound to happen.”

I left him alone and sat on the corner of the table pouring another dose of whiskey for myself and my companion. I handed it to him with a courteous gesture. He took it after a moment, his hand was shaking a little.

“Why did you tell me about him? I would prefer not knowing! DAMN! Now I can’t even drink peacefully! What if I would tell somebody about him after I would get drunk! Fuck!” his last curse was like a whisper. “Because you are a Friend! And because I trust you. We trust you. We trust that you will think about this as about an… investment. Come on! Bay-leeey!...” I once again elongated time needed for speaking his name. I noticed he shivered a little each time I did so “… aren’t we generous enough? You will earn, you will improve your position, you will refresh connections with your providers of not-so-legal goods! With pretty much no risk.” “Exactly. ” “Risk, in this case, exists only if YOU would make a mistake. But you are an old hand in this job. You won’t make any mistake. In the end, you got up to this place from being a mere commoner, didn’t you?” “How can you tell?” he panicked a little one more time “Your hands. They are fatigued. Hard, covered with scars. You started at the very bottom, loading cargo on the carts, traveling with it in the cold and heat… yes, especially heat, I can tell by, your little sun-mark on the back of your head. Traveling across the desert, am I right? Your body doesn’t look like a body of the son of a merchant that was raised among the books. Everything you have you earned by yourself.”

And I will never tell you this, but I actually respect you for that. It is hard to become an actual merchant without guild support. To gain knowledge only from experience. To get into Rosewood family company not being part of the family itself, and then become a person responsible for the whole trading-traffic in the region.

… Yet, I know something more. It is not enough for you, is it? You want more. And more and more! This is why you will agree. Because you want to use our connections to get even further. You won’t stop until you would make Rosewood YOUR company. And then until it would completely take control over the continent, and maybe later over the world. This greed of yours, this insatiate hunger is actually…

~ Worth admiring!

“Very well, Zariel. Very well. By tomorrow I will have an agreement prepared. Stop by to sign it when you would find the time. You got yourself a deal.” “Why such long face? Smile, my Friend! You are the first merchant that is sad after getting himself a deal of his life!” I punched him lightly in his arm “I wouldn't call this a deal of my life, you see, about twenty years ago I heard about a little smuggler that got caught by the guards, his cargo was confiscated and was supposed to be destroyed, but as one of the guards owed me quite a lot..." I just gave him bit annoyed look "...You are right. Still, you must forgive me. So much happened…” “No need to apologize. I understand. Thanks for conversation and deal. I will stop by probably before leaving the city. I still have quite a few tasks to finish.” “Oh? Won’t you stay? The bottle is still half-full. Here it is considered a bad omen to leave bottle unfinished.”

I chuckled lightly

“Oh, few of my friends would be delighted to hear that. Bah! Even more! They would try assuring you that it is also a bad omen to leave your whole cabinet of bottles unfinished! Unfortunately, I will have to say my goodbyes to you now. Till later, Bayley. It was a pleasure to finally met one of the Friends bit closer.”

I bowed my head slightly and left the room.

I slowly returned to the guild. It was already around noon, so certain lazy lizard should already get up treating her hangover. How bad was Gisele’s hangover? Not that bad at all. Stupid dragon’s blood. Ah, I still remember as she got dead-drunk for the first time with me. I thought she would be dying for next two days, but no. Instead, she got up after two hours and started drinking again, while laughing at me as I was beginning for mercy on the bed.

I opened the door of the guild and walked inside, the girl sitting behind the counter called me right away.

“Guild leader would like to speak with you about mission details. Your partner did that already but…” “You couldn’t get actual data, but only exaggerated bragging?” “Y-yes.” She said with a weak smile. Apparently, she was grateful that his time she would get an actual report “Also, if this time she was also talking about slaying some dragons…” “Yes?” “…There were none.” “Yes, we figured this much.” “So she WAS talking about slaying dragons?” “Yes.” “I hoped you didn’t fill an actual report basing only on what she said.” “To be honest? It was tempting, we would have a good laugh after that, but…” “Papers need to be professional?” “Yeah.” “I will step by evening, is that all right?” “Yes, please, by all means, take your time!”

What a polite lass. But now, I have to talk with certain someone about the difference between stories she tells in the inn and actual guild report. Despite being the leader of her own party in the capital, reports were given by either Aloizy or Nyx. I will wonder how Nyx manages to give the report, I never heard him talk… or her… or it.

With my few next steps I moved toward the inn section where Gis was having late breakfast… while talking with an elf.

“… And then I jumped from above and stabbed the beast in its neck!” she yelled while demonstrating her move using kitchen knife on a piece of bread.

I could easily tell that her dining partner was bored, or angry, or both at the same time, yet he never let that fact be shown on his face.

“Telling about your wonderful adventurers, sweetie?” “Ah! Zari! Come on, sit! I was just talking as I… I mean… we… I mean…” “Killed that frost giant?” I couldn’t not tease her “Wha..? No! I mean!”

I looked at the unwanted visitor

“How long was she boring you?”

I at least tried acting as a nice guy

“Boring is a wrong word, her stories are quite… engaging but are lacking…” “Realism?” “Indeed.” He showed me a smile deprived of any happiness. “Gisele, the lady at counter complained to me about the report you gave to her.” “… she was asking about an actual report? Damn, I thought she just sat by me to listen…”

I sighed loudly while hiding my face in palms.

“Weren’t you surprised she held a piece of paper and quill?” “HEY! The story was good! I thought she wanted to repeat it to her friends!” she pouted “You silly girl!”

She really thought that someone sober would actually want to hear her out. How innocently-blind could one get?

“It doesn’t matter… I will pay a visit to the guild master later on. I know you hate paperwork.” “Aww! That’s sweet of you! Thanks, Zari!” she kissed me lightly on my cheek. “Yeah, yeah. Also… weren’t you supposed to do something today?”

She gave me a surprised look.

“What are you talking about?” “It’s almost noon.” Yesterday I overheard her little conversation with some rookie “Noon, noon… Oh, fuck! I promised that girl to show her few sword-fighting techniques outside of the city! I will be late! See you later sweetie!” she put remains of her bread into her mouth, grabbed a bag that was lying under her and ran from the guild. Leaving me alone with long-eared bastard alone. “Really? Trying to drag me in by influencing Gisele? That was low.” “How you humans say… Any means necessary?” “Too bad for you, as much as I love her, Gis is… too stupid to be influenced. Your point would simply fly across her head and land on the tree behind her.”

He nodded seriously. How much time did he waste? Hours? Probably. They are patient, time almost does not concerns them… but he spent those hours with Gisele, and if someone can make an elf annoyed, that would be her.

“I will repeat it one last time. Leave me alone. I am a busy man and idea of wasting my time for someone’s entertainment is offensive to me.”

Elf opened his mouth to say something, but huge hand landed on his shoulder.

“Mister Zariel apparently does not wish for your presence, Mai’ho. Respect his desires and leave, please.” It was a lion-kin, one of pilgrims in company of his whole party.

Fuck. If not inquisitors then elves, if not elves then furries, could you just leave me alone for 5 god-damned minutes?

Still, man called Mai’ho, after removing gently beast-man hand, got up nodded to me as if saying his farewells and left. After he made few steps he shook off dust from his shoulder with disgust.

“My lord…” lion-man addressed me again “… Last time you said you wish to train, so we got an idea that…” “Don’t address me like that. Don’t disturb me. And don’t imply you know better what I need or want. Then who knows, we may become a friends.” I allow myself to disturb his monologue “… we could help you out in few aspects of it.” Raggo didn’t even pretend that he tried listening to what I just said. “Great, I wanted to train my nature magic. Which one of you can help me with that?” none, I can sense attributes of other mages, at least up to some point. The only mage in their party was harpy, and she was user of dark arts, not sure which one though. “No, my lo… Mister Zariel, we can’t help you with that… but please do tell me, how well do you fly?” just mentioned harpy answered me

I raised my brow.

“We know that helping you out with most of your abilities is pointless, but please, do tell me, how well do you actually know the skies? How well would you be able to fight in the air against flying beast? I offer you my services in showing you what does it really means to fly, not just to flap your wings.”

That actually… is quite tempting. I flew about three times, two of them couldn’t be called actual flying, more like firing myself like a cannon ball.

I gather my thoughts for the moment before kicking the chair in front of me under the table pushing it meter away, giving her space to sit. With gesture of head I ordered her to take her place on the other side of table.

If they want to be used, then why should I not used them?

As the day was coming to the end as fat merchant took another sip of his amber-alcohol looking at papers on his desk. Door to his office was opened slightly and his secretary put her hand inside. He didn’t tell her to leave, so after her head the rest of her beautiful persona enter into the room.

“How the meeting with Syndicate ended?” “Good. Better than I thought. You did a great job playing an idiot, Beatryce.” “Of course. In the end I am pretty. Don’t you know that every pretty girl working as secretary has to be dumb?” she rolled her eyes. “Ah, little fool didn’t know we expected him. Through whole conversation he was thinking that he was the one leading the negotiations. Good.” “How much did you haggle?” “More than I wanted. To be honest, I was willing to give him all the cargo he wanted for free if he played it well, in the end, we are ripping off every other guild. Tsesh. Idiots from the alchemists guild were also paying 50 coppers per cart thinking that they were the sly one.” “Hey! It used to be this price before you came!... Still, you actually reduced transport prices to more than minimum and found a way to gather herbs faster without draining the environment… How much were costs of production, transport and hiring a man power?” “Hm? 30. Every additional coin is a pure income. But this is not what concerns me. All this time we were wrong.” “In… which part?” “The one we thought he was a new Syndicate head. It all was making a sense. He appeared in the Capital, and after a month Syndicate start acting.” “If not him, then who?” “Rogue.”

For moment woman became quiet

“I thought he was just a fairy tale. Image created by Syndicate to create some fake leads and to shift some blame in case shadows were caught.” “No. He is a man in flesh and bones. I met him once. Decades ago. Damn it! I thought we could use them to influence the demand of the market. Create few speculations… But it will have to wait. Rogue was never good in earning money, he tend to spend more than he could get. As church shut its borders, took control over sea transport… he slowly start losing influence. Without money he couldn’t afford spies, assassins and soon they lost everything, becoming nothing more than small smugglers. But, rogue has one great skill. He surely knows how to keep things running. Now it is out time to lie low, Beatryce, let’s just work with them. As they would get stronger it would be our turn to ask for favors.”