With the lizardpeople help, the dungeon was cleaned up. The hole in the wall which led to the sewers was converted into a wooden gate. Guardian liked the idea of using the sewer tunnels to go around the town in secret. The sewers were like a maze but this was not a problem for him because he had a map; which of course still needed to be updated.

The people Tiramisu had brought with her were mostly youngsters. On the one hand they lacked skills and experience but on the other hand, they were still young enough to soak up the knowledge and training easily; their worldviews were not completely formed either so Guardian knew he has a chance in skewing their thinking towards his own ideal. That is, if they lived here and worked under him he will reward their hard efforts. If the opposite happened he would kick them out.

The prison cells were converted into small rooms for the lizards to live, they also were granted an access to a communal dining hall, kitchen and other basic necessities. All of the furnishings and items were already there, they recycled the rogue mages possession. After all, the dead would have little use of them now.

All in all, this was a win-win situation. Guardian got some people who he can boss around and the lizardmen had their living conditions improved; to some extent.

However, not everything was nice and dandy. Guardian had some issues to solve. The main one being of obtaining the magic described in the magic book he had rightfully inherited. He needed some live material to practice on, and he did not want to use anyone who was useful to him, the lizardfolk who moved in were quickly ruled out.

He had partitioned a section of dungeons and forbade anyone from going in that side. He had made a research area of sorts. This was mainly done in the place where the ritual room was as the place seemed fitting. He had moved all other books and materials which could be useful in this research there. For now, only Ithayiga was allowed in his study hall.

Speaking about the boy, he came rushing towards the desk where the Guardian worked.

“Master, I have a letter for you. It comes from the guilds.”

“Let me see.”

Guardian opened the sealed letter and read its contents, it was from Aiu.

Aiu brought him both good and bad news. The good news was that she had finally completed the potion for Cynthia, it took a while because she had to go to the magical forest to gather some ingredients. The bad news was that his successful business and an ever-increasing number of people, who used Aius produce, was not left unnoticed. This was bad because nobles started to demand a higher cut of the profit. This was not the worst part; the nobles have also issued a decree to confiscate the land on which his house and workshop was built on.

Originally it belonged to no one, and people did not care about anyone living there on the edge of the forest. But now there stood a newly built house with a brand new workshop. Also, the greedy nobles had realised the convenience of having an alchemy workshop so close to the forest. Through convoluted and shady means they have produced a paper which gives one of the nobles the right to the land where the Guardians property was.

The nobles demanded he cease the land and vacate the premises or pay a huge fee to one of the noble families. The nobles did this because they knew that Guardian was away on business trip and won’t be able to question their decree or come and resist.

“Damnation!” Guardian swore and spooked the boy. He did not like this.

He had hastily written a reply to Aiu and handed it and a gold coin to the boy. Guardian informed Aiu that she should take as much of their stuff as she can and move to the Harbour Town as a matter of urgency. He did not like it, but he has decided to cease the land to the nobles. After all, he had acquired a much bigger base of operations here.

To cheer himself up he took some of the Alchemy and herbal stuff he had received before and went to sell it in the market. Once he was there he witnessed that the situation between the Islanders and the ones in charge of this city have further worsened. There were tax collectors going around and taxing the Islanders heavily to sell their merchandise.

“Foreigner, there is a 30% tax on everything you sell today, you better show your purse now so we can take an appropriate fee.” The tax collector informed his quarry.

“But I am not from the Islands!” Guardian complained.

“Hmm… Indeed you do not have any horns or hooves. But you are clearly not from here.” The tax collector went to check what he should do with his colleague and came back promptly.

“Do you have any proof that you are not from the Islands?”

“I do, how about this.” Guardian has shown his Alchemist tabled which proved that he owned a shop in one of the towns within the mainland.

“I guess you cannot be from the Islands since they mostly operate in the towns by the sea.”

“Precisely, and I look nothing like one of them.”

“Yes. Consider yourself lucky.” The tax collector left Guardian to do his business.

This made Guardian think. He noticed a new business opportunity. The Islanders were being taxed heavily, so what if it was not them who sold their wares. What if they had a proxy? He had to seize this opportunity before anyone else realised about this loophole.

He went towards one of the foreign merchants with a proposition in mind. He would offer to sell his good next day for a small amount of fee. He would take 10% instead of 30% of the tax collectors would. The law the nobles came up with was extremely stupid and they will soon come to realise this.

He approached a number of horned men. Some of them were extremely suspicious of him and only a few agreed to his offer. The islanders feared that the Guardian would just steal their wares without bringing any profit back to them. Still, some beastmen were willing to take the risk and try this offer. After all, it was quite tempting.

All Guardian needed to do was gain their trust. Once he proved himself the Islanders would come to him by themselves.

He had agreed on a location and a pickup point to collect their goods. He informed the beastmen that he will come with some helpers to get the goods quickly in the guise of night. Then, the next day, one of the Islanders will have to come to his place to collect their profits.

The night came and he gathered the lizardfolk to come with him. He promised them enough food to last them for two days if they helped to lift him some boxes. The lizards did not question why they were moving in the night or where the boxes came from, all they cared about was the food.

They moved quickly but stealthily, reaching the harbour without drawing any attention.

Guardian carefully approached one of the foreign-looking ships docked in the harbour. He looked around checking for the guards, the coast was clear. The guards did not bother to protect foreigner ships. He knocked the wooden corpus of a ship twice. This was the signal they have agreed on beforehand.

“Who are you, stranger?” A horned figure asked from a top of the ship.

“I am Guardian. You got the stuff?”

“I need to see you better to make sure you are who you claim to be.”

“Sure.”

The beastman jumped off the ship and approached Guardian carefully inspecting him.

“Big and tall, has a tail, exotic looking. Everything checks. Come aboard, the goods are stored inside.”

“I come with helpers. Is that alright?” Guardian wanted to double check.

“We have been informed so. But are they humans?”

“No, lizardfolk.”

“Perfect.” The beastman sounded oddly pleased about this. The reason behind was that he would have reconsidered if it was humans. The terms between the two were not particularly good recently.

The Islander was well aware that the Human nobles would never do any business with lizardmen in the fear of being double-crossed. If this was a noble’s trick the foreigner they have sent would have come with humans or furry beastmen.

Guardian pressed his hands close to his mouth and whistled loudly. This was another signal; a bunch of lizard people emerged from the shadows rushing towards him.

“The stuff is inside, this sir will show you what to get. Grab it and bring it to my place.”

“Children?” The beastman questioned with a frown. The lizardfolk looked very young, he did not expect Guardian to employ child labour. “Forget I asked. Over here, kids.” It was not his business to question other merchant’s practises and work ethics.

The liazardmen unloaded the goods and were carefully carrying the boxes loaded with various goods.

“Here this is the sales log.” The beastman handed a parchment containing the list of goods and at what price to sell them. “Do not sell it below the price.”

“Can I sell it above the price?”

“Only if you can ensure it will sell. Also, you would still get only 10% even if you increased the price. We have our people they will check this so do not try to cheat us.”

“I would not dare.”

“Also, there will be consequences if you cross us.” The beastman issued a threat.

“I am an honest merchant, a deal is a deal. You get your profits, I get my 10%. Anything I do not sell you can pick up tomorrow, at the place we agreed.”

The beastman nodded in understanding and went back inside the ship.

Guardian rushed to catch up with lizards, he had to watch the merchandise. They will be moving through the slums and there was a high chance someone will try to steal it. He thought about going through the sewer tunnels but this not an option, not yet. It still as not mapped properly.

Everyone was careful to move in the shadows avoiding to be caught. The lizards were perfect for this task; Guardian was very happy about his choice of helpers. They have successfully got to their base and stored the goods inside. He will head out and sell them in the late morning.

“Sir. When will we get our pay?” One of the lizardmen asked.

Guardian knew he will have to reward them, yet he was not prepared for this just yet. He did not purchase any food beforehand, but there was a reason for that.

“Is fish alright with you guys?” He asked the lizards.

“Anything is fine as long as it will fill us for two days.” The lizard answered, others nodded their heads in agreement.

“Then you will have your reward by the morning. Also, do not open any of the boxes. If I see the stuff missing I will not hesitate to catch and punish the one responsible.” He was able to do that since he had a list of full inventory.

“Sir, you took us in this home and we would not dare to offend you like that.”

“Good. Can you get me Tiramisu?”

“She is probably sleeping now.”

“Does not matter, wake her up and tell her that I have asked for her.”

Guardian waited a moment for Tiramisu. He would use her help to fish some food for the youngsters. This was the reason why he did not purchase any food for them beforehand. Why would he buy it if he had enough spare time to get it for free?

The lizard boy came back. His face had some fresh scratch markings on it.

“She will come to your room shortly.” He reported back to the Guardian.

“I did not ask her to come to my room, I need her here.”

The boy just shrugged to Guardians complain. The boy did not ask her to come to his room either.

“What happened?” One of the boy’s friends asked pointing at the scratch marks.

“She did not like her sleep disturbed. I thought she will kill me…”

“Sounds like her. So what stopped her?” His friend asked curiously.

“Once I uttered the sir’s name her whole attitude changed instantly.”

“Figures.”

Guardian was waiting and waiting. It was taking more than a few minutes for Tiramisu to show herself, Guardian got impatient and went to look for her instead. He walked around the place there lizards now resided and shouted her name.

It did not take long, he got a reply almost instantly.

“I am here! One moment please.” Tiramisu shouted back hearing Guardian’s call.

“What are you doing?”

“I am washing myself…”

“Why?” He thought she was sleeping when she got called over.

“To prepare for our first night, why else.”

Guardian did not understand why she would need to wash for that. They were about to go fishing, she would get wet anyway.

“Ok… We will be going to the seashore. Is that okay with you?”

“Not your room? Ohh, it is because of others… The sea sore is even better, more romantic that way.”

Guardian was now completely lost. Just before he could ask what she was talking about Tiramisu opened the washroom doors and grabbed him by his arm.

“Let’s go then!” She dragged Guardian in a rush.

She was behaving oddly. Her tail was wagging all over the place and she seemed slightly flustered, even nervous. Guardian wondered if this was because they will be fishing in the middle of the night. The lizards could not see in the darkness and the sea might seem dangerous to them at this time. He assumed this was the reason.

“Are you sure you okay with this?” He wanted to be sure she is okay with going fishing at night.

“Yes, I thought you would never ask.”

“Okay then.” He grabbed the fishing gear on his way out.

“Why are you taking this?” She asked.

“We will need it.”

“Ah, I see. Well, we will be there so we might as well do some other activities.” By now she knew that Guardian was always keeping his hands busy with one activity or other. He did not idle much, and she liked him for that. It was hard to find a hardworking mate like him.

They walked towards the harbour, their arms tightly locked. Tiramisu was already fantasising about their first time they would mate. Her fantasy was running wild and she got hot and bothered even before anything happened. Her tail reached and coiled around Guardian’s. Their tails were locked, she hoped that their hearts will soon connect too.

“Mind taking me to a spot where we could get plenty of the fish?”

“Sure. I know the spot where we could get the nocturnal ones. By the time we finish, they still should be there.” She hoped that their mating ritual would last for hours, till the early morning. She was oblivious that the Guardian was clueless about her intentions. They misunderstood each other.

She brought him to the fishing spot. Even if the moon illuminated their path it was harder to find than she thought, it was still dark and she had never fished at night before. She led him on a huge rock, lying discarded on a shore. It was all flat and smooth, see water eroded its edges over the years. Tiramisu took her clothes off and hugged Guardians broad torso.

“Take me!” She could wait no longer.

“Take you where? We already here, are we not? Let’s fish.”

“No! Pleasure now, work later.” She knew he wanted to fish later, but she rather fornicate first.

“What do you mean?” He wondered if she tried to play some game he was unaware of or something. She was practically restraining him with her whole body.

“You like to tease me, don’t you? Fine, I will say it. Fuck me, do me, penetrate me, ram it inside me, fill me with your seed… Here, I have said it. Pleased now?”

Her words shocked Guardian. She was being all touchy and vulgar out of the blue yet again. It was almost like the view of a sea and a gentle breeze was the culprit. After all, it was the similar place she mentioned of doing such acts before.

“I figured, you would need a reward…” He suspected that she would not keep doing him favours for nothing.

“Yes, reward me. Now!” She was trying to mount him whilst still standing. Her hands were already all over his body.

“I guess, I can.” Guardian agreed since she would not ask for money for her help. This was very sudden but this was fine, maybe even better. He trusted her now, she even assisted him in getting the book filled with magic knowledge. Hard work had to be rewarded.

Also, happy workers are more efficient at their craft. He decided to give his all at rewarding her.