Mimi

The incident in the Underground was a headache and a half. Even coupled with the fact that the king sent the dragons after one named, Rak'Val'Khan. Berry died, but that pain was mitigated by the fact that he was a part of his prince with the others. It took days to shuffle everyone around, which was extra annoying since the tribes hinted at wanting to take the Raven's town from him.

That meant they got to go to Blud'Lee instead of risking Robert and the others as Clarice requested. Something that took up precious displacer fluid and dragged out the affair for getting people out of the tunnels. I had to reserve teleporters for the gang leaders to bring them to Whe'Di just to negotiate on 'neutral' grounds. At least the Tribes had the courtesy of knowing how to thank me and not give me any trouble for sticking them with the blood worms.

Kobe and Jack were all too happy to say that I was following their orders. That they were secretly my master, and that they of course prepared for the king's attack by giving me resources. It was chest-thumping to assert dominance in a situation where it felt like they had little power. At least in private, they gave me the respect I deserved, even thanking me when we were alone. They knew I was keeping them in their position of power, simply by virtue of providing enough food for their people to eat.

It was overwhelming to the point that I just snuck bugs into Fis'Ton and teleported into an abandoned building to start growing my Hive there. I left Eci'Peter to smuggle the wagon through, with clear directions to what would become our home base. I had the bard go out and find rumors and everything relevant while I just grew my Hive inside the city itself. No one complained that the streets were suddenly cleaner, as my bugs ate the rotting fish and other refuse.

The vampire population I controlled, was growing steadily as the two gang leaders gave me 'scraps' in the form of idiots trying to assassinate Kobe or Jack. There was plenty of blood to go around since I just used the elite vampires to break in the new ones. Three elite per gang, with one for Robert since I knew I could trust my Wraiths. I couldn't wait for the gnomes to finish setting up, so I could have Argus back.

The gnomes themselves were put in Whe'Di, simply because they were too important to risk. The survivors of Argus' phalanx were there to keep the village safe, so no one complained. Ah, Richard was going to lose it when he got to Blud'Lee and saw the tribes there. If he hadn't managed to get there already. Red wanted to keep it as a surprise, given how he might react, or outright think we were playing a prank on him.

At least I figured out why the king did what he did. All the teleporters into the city were fried and dead. Meaning that the army that was approaching the city didn't have a good way to get in and needlessly divided their forces hoping for an easy way in. They would get to clean up the monsters and beasts, before realizing it had been pointless. While the main army was going to attack the walls, and finally reveal what was inside. My bugs only saw darkness, much like an abyss, even after flying over the inner walls.

It took three days to get the majority of everyone to where they needed to be. Another day to get the gang leaders to agree to daily meetings even after we resolved the urgent problems, and a final day to just have everything settle down. Just about everyone in the tunnels was out of them, save for the group now following Brick. By that point, I was done with the entire ordeal. The people in the tunnels could stay in the tunnels and follow their 'hero.'

Enough of my time had been taken up by hunting. It wasn't sustainable, and I had a week before the food reserves fell through. There was a city begging me to take the reigns. An entire harbor with boats full of fish for me to start laying claim to. My body rose from its daylong slumber, the rest sorely needed after all the hunting. I felt clean, after having the workers lick off every speck of dirt and debris. Eci'Peter had his escort, while he played on the streets for coin.

I wasn't going to worry about the gang leaders and their little squabbling anymore. The tribes would be taken care of, but they were handling things rather well themselves. Jack was the only one struggling since he hadn't been ready for a population expansion of this scale. At least Wud'Der was a town on the verge of becoming a city and had enough housing for Kobe's people. They were doing some hunting themselves, but it could only help so much, plants could only grow so fast in the end.

Brick's way of thinking was starting to rub off on me. Problem; Not enough food. Solution; conquer whoever had boats and monopolize the fish they were bringing in. It was simple and gave a constructive goal that wasn't running me ragged while I couldn't keep up and feed everyone. A knock came on the door of our deserted warehouse, and a quick peek revealed a man dressed in a suit. We were near the center of Fis'Ton weren't we? The man cursed a few times, uttering about the bard thinking he could just waltz in and claim an entire warehouse to himself.

My fingers idly tapped against the silk bed I had kept from our wagon. Who's territory were we in again? I think it was eels or something, the knocking turned into full-on banging. Slime eels? Suit serpents? I couldn't for the life of me recall the name of this gang. I knew they controlled the central area, that they sort of kept the peace. Their leader was named Don or something. The grunt muttered as he kicked the door, trying to break in. Any idiot would realize that a bard would be working during the daytime. I rubbed my temples moving into the shadow as the idiot broke through the door.

I watched him look around, fists balled in anger. "Hey Jackass!" He called out to the empty room, "This property belongs to the ichor eels! Just because it's abandoned, doesn't mean you can set up in here!" He stomped around, panting and grunting with a wooden club covered in nails. At least I knew the name of their little gang once again. I committed it to memory this time, while the goon stomped around. He was bouncing the club over the top of his shoulder. "We let you set up because you had a wagon, but now it's time to negotiate rent!"

He used his club to catch the door and close it, at the very least making sure others didn't have to watch. I put some carpenters on the frame to start fixing it. The nameless thug looked around, his club dragging and scraping against the wooden floorboards. The man flashed a pulse of null magic, making it very clear he wasn't going to wait around all day. "Come out, Jackass! I know you're in here!" His eyes glowed a little, and I faintly felt the use of a talent.

Rising silently from the shadows, I stood next to the door. The man poked my bed with his club. "What kind of fucked up shit is this?"

"That would be my bed," I said cooly. The man whipped around, using his null magic to stop any magic coming at him.

He paused, blinking at me slowly. "The hells are you? Where did you come from!?"

My lower arms were hidden under my wings, while my upper set gently clasped together. I was wearing an ivory mask, with a few silks I spun myself to look more like a demon. "I am the owner of the bed you were just poking. You wished to negotiate rent with my summoner?"

The man swallowed hard, raising his club defensively. "Yeah, if I ain't back in an hour my boys will be coming in. What do you mean, summoner? I thought the prick was a bard."

My head tilted slowly, "Yes, but you have a talent, just as he does. You knew a presence was inside this warehouse and declared as much." I took a slow step towards him, "To whom do I have the pleasure of speaking with?"

Mister thug took a deep breath, "I ain't dumb enough to give my name to a fucking demon." I mentally pumped my fist, it worked! Someone finally knew what I was disguised as without me having to tell them. "We have demon summoners under our employ, that's a lot more valuable than some bard. How do you feel about telling your summoner to work for us?"

I took another step towards the man, as he moved away from my bed, back to the wall. He wasn't taking his eyes off me, "You have other Arch Sins under your employ?"

He shrugged, sweat forming on his brow as he swallowed hard. "No idea, I just know we have demons. Where's your summoner, I want to talk to him." I took a half-step towards him, "STAY BACK!"

A small laugh escaped my lips, "Why? You have trespassed an area I was asked to protect. My summoner isn't here, and I was given permission to deal with intruders as I see fit. What might compel me to obey your words?" I started to stride towards the man, who ran towards the door.

He uttered curses and slurs, sprinting towards the exit. Only to be lifted by the collar, breaking his club against my chitin as I blocked his frantic strike. The man was shaking, as I set him down just a few steps away from the door to freedom. "A trade!" He quickly looked up at me.

"Go on." I motioned for him to continue.

"I leave and tell the others you are here. The ones that use magic to summon, you're bound by the bard, right?" I gave a slow nod, as the man smiled finding some footing to work with. "If you're a big bad demon, then what summoner wouldn't want you as their own? I tell them about you, you negotiate with them. We can work out a deal!"

He flinched as I gently pulled a splinter off the shoulder of his suit. "In exchange, you get to leave this place intact. A suitable arrangement, how long will I need to wait for the summoners you speak of?"

The man rubbed his chin with sweaty palms, "Fuck, I think they'll come around midnight. They'll be here tomorrow, at the latest."

"If they aren't? What may I lay claim to for the breach of this contract we are forming?"

He looked down, then swallowed audibly. "My hand, from the wrist down."

I gripped his shoulder, "Your arm, from the shoulder down."

The thug hesitated, then nodded. "Shoulder of my choosing from its socket down. If, I can't get a demon summoner here by tomorrow night. That's the rest of today and all of tomorrow."

"Deal." I lifted him up and tossed him out onto the streets. The man didn't even dust himself off and started running. It felt nice to have people fear me like this. Robert could deal with the idiots running their gangs, with their people that I saved. I did send a message to him through Douglas, letting him know I'm working on a permanent solution to the food crisis if any of them decides they want to ask.

Laying back on my bed, I savored the moment. We still hadn't heard from Gray, but I doubted he was dead. He had reclaimed the teleporters we put back in his territory. The Count was starting to annoy me since he was supposed to give him back. A time wasn't agreed upon, but if it didn't happen by the end of the month I was going to start converting more of the Count's vampires. I put some bugs on the running man, deciding to try and listen in on what was happening.

Hours passed as Phil, the man I bugged, spoke to his group then quickly ran off to find a demon summoner. Eci'Peter had been making little progress since we got here. Though it made sense that people wouldn't openly name who they worked for. Such affairs were much more private, all too likely to happen within the confines of privacy. Still, I had an exceptional bard and I needed to put him to work. He made enough to pay for his nightly trips to the brothel and didn't bother me while I was busy with the Underground fiasco.

There was another meeting between gang leaders soon, but I couldn't be bothered to attend. My bugs would watch over it, and I'd know what was discussed. It was going to be the same exact problems, my time was better spent pushing this solution forward. I suppose the better question was why I felt responsible? I didn't need to feed the gangs, there was no reason to help them get from the Underground safely. Why was I doing all this for them?

The thought gave me pause. Making Richard happy had come to mind, but I knew he'd understand just how colossal the task at hand was. He'd forgive me, or he would understand if I only saved a few. It was similar to Wud'Der and the prismoid spores. I was forcing myself to fix problems, just to prepare myself for them later. The gangs were expendable if I should fail, just like the people of Wud'Der. If I failed when I needed to not, if I lacked the frame of reference, then my losses would be too great.

Practice, that's all this was. There were benefits from saving the gangs, ones I would reap later. The scale of the favors those idiots owed me was grand. If they chose not to repay their debts, then I would collect through other means. Saving them gave me the option to call them for the battle I was preparing for. The one I knew so little about, but it kept pushing me. Either the gangs would help me when I asked, or they would prove themselves unworthy of being helped should something similar happen.

Watching Phil run through the chain of command was enjoyable. Something pleasant to pass the time while I watched him sweat and squirm trying to fulfill the deal we made. Convincing myself that the gangs would be worth it had helped with some of the tension I continued to feel. I had completely forgotten to explore this city or enjoy the sights. I sent out humming wasps just to help improve my mood a little more.

The bulwark was the most defining thing about this city. Massive walls of wood, carved from two giant ships that had been blown ashore. The hulls were carved and molded together to form a singular defense facing the forest. Massive hatches littered the outside, with defenses simple enough to call any citizen to arms if needed. It was practical and impressive in its simplicity. Every person in this city knew how to sail, it was a way of life for them. Even those confined to land knew the terms, and could likely man any ship.

Fis'Ton was carved into districts, that all looked the same. Many of the buildings were made from the planks of retired ships. Weathered planks repurposed for the buildings everyone lived in. Many normal buildings held peaks giving them distinct boat shapes at the top as bows were pointed towards the sky. Old masts were used for the corners of straighter buildings, more cubic in shape, but made from the same planks everyone else had. Wood was everywhere, which made sense considering the city was named after it.

Nets ran from the more populated buildings. Simple networks of one group processing wreckage and debris, straight to another smaller building using what they were given. Clusters of activity where businesses were interconnected to get goods and material straight to the next step immediately. Nothing was wasted when it came to breaking down an old ship. The process was streamlined to get everything handled. Most of the homes simply sprung up around these buildings to weave a set of winding and looping roads from one business to the next.

This city hadn't been planned, but it became what it was because of the people living here. The people here loved their ships, they loved everything about the great sea. Teeth from mighty beasts were worn as pendants fastened to their necks by twine. It was fashionable to wear tricorn caps or have one's hair cut to resemble a fin. Beards were split in two often looped behind the shoulders and braided much like the nets. The population here had specks of every race, besides monsters.

Fis'Ton was strange but no worse than the Underground. Many of the people were tanned by the sun, their hands calloused by hard labor. They had the infrastructure for dealing with everything one could think of. From carts where refuse on the streets was tossed, to then be put on a ship and dumped further out into the sea as chum. All the way to small pools closer to the port for people to bathe and practice swimming. This city was alive in a way that was uniquely its own.

Even with the clear push from outside forces. The guilds to the North, claiming the Bulwark as it was called. The Pirates to the South, staining their territory with black ichor to make the place darker even during the light of day. The mingling of territories from petty gangs trying to divide this city amongst themselves. Clear banners and markings for every idiot that felt they stood a chance at claiming this place for their own. I had come at the perfect time to start making moves to claim parts of this city.

All I needed was an information network, to know who was plucking the strings. Then I could replace the 'masterminds' The main problem was that the people were starting to take notice of my bugs feasting on their trash. Something more subtle was needed. Okay, it wasn't that big a deal. I just wanted someone I could trust to be beside me. Richard had slowed his travels to hunt with Di'Rex, so he'd be arriving at Blud'Lee tomorrow or the day after if they pushed it.

I couldn't let him see Pandora yet, and Azera was trying to make it clear he was in charge of the tribes. The message was sent, and Pandora got to explain that she was coming to help me secure food for everyone. The Cheshire would get to exert that he was in control with my blessing, and I got my little hug bug to help me just eviscerate any privacy this place had. Pandora was mildly curious about seeing if her magic worked on fish, so this was starting to shape up to be quite a bit more fun.

Another hour passed, while Pandora talked to Azera. Phil hadn't gotten to his boss, which would have been too lucky, but was now talking to one of the demon summoners. They had a shade imp and agreed to come here at midnight. I was going to find out how a lesser demon tasted tonight. Azera had preparations to do before Pandora was 'allowed' to leave. It would have irked me, had the man not made a reasonable case. Night came, after a few more hours passed while I finished scouting the city with all the best spots for hive nodes to be placed.

Pandora came in one of the teleporters, stepping out with her little snake squad and flockers. She had grown quite well, the new blue tint to her armor not going unnoticed. She took short steps, hands clasped in front of her. My daughter looked every bit like a proper dark elf maid, despite only being Richard's height. My heart swelled, as I felt my mood rapidly improve for the first time in almost a week. Everything had been so disappointing, but it had all been worth it just to see my little girl again.

She naturally broke the illusion a few steps from me, a joyous grin spreading over her face. Pandora lept at me, wrapping her four legs around my waist, while I embraced her. I hadn't had the chance to hold her since she had hatched, and her unconditional love washed over me as I rubbed my antenna over her horns. Her little birds flew to the rafters, finding the hole I told her about. Her flockers were going to start taking over the gulls of Fis'Ton. All while we caught up, just sharing memories and secrets with each other.

We didn't need words, as I laid down on the bed with her. Pandora giggled to herself, as her little snakes went off to do who knows what. I started to tear up, not knowing how much I missed not holding my child. Only talking to her for an hour once every month, knowing that she was struggling without the memories I could afford to give her. Hours passed with us just holding onto each other, sharing emotions, thoughts, ideas, and making up for all those times we couldn't embrace each other.

Two hours before midnight, we found the hideout of the Ichor Eels boss. The man was wearing an immaculate dark suit, complete with a blue fedora fashioned with a velvet sash that showed depictions of sea serpents being hunted out in the waters. A group of men with runic guns were standing by in every corner of the room, while he appeared to be in the middle of a very important discussion. They were eating dinner slowly, while fine-looking women in suits filled their glasses with some kind of alcohol or another.

It was trivial for my humming wasps to slowly move some magic cyclops and giants onto the roof. The dreamers hid their presence while there was no one wandering the night streets enough to notice my bugs being moved into place. I didn't know what talents they might have, so I added more to make certain they would be pulled into a dream. Pandora cuddled me and gave me one last heartfelt hug before I teleported away.

The room was nice with pricey portraits, the world slowed down to the point I could enjoy it all while I mentally connected with every single person in the room. Every little detail seamlessly replicated as I dragged their minds and souls into a mindscape created by my bugs. The shock spread as everyone in my dream jumped. The runic guns were drawn, pointed directly at me, while I simply grabbed two old geezers to use as meat shields.

Don raised his hand, covered in far too many rings. Then he put them together on the table, fingers pressed against each other. "For what reason, have you invaded my home? Who are you, to so be so disrespectful to my guests?" His voice was gruff, but he was clearly intelligent. If I hadn't had to deal with the people in the Underground, if I hadn't been on a tight schedule, I probably would have liked to play with him. He might have been a willing ally if things had gone differently.

Still, I had a point to make. I smashed the two geezers together, their heads exploding while the runic weapons were fired at me. Nothing happened, because I refused to let them think they even had a chance. I entered my combat form and slaughtered them all, just venting my frustrations. Then I did it again, and again until all the men and women were cowering in fear. I played it up, letting them enjoy a few seconds of peace and quiet, to wonder if what happened truly did happen.

There were no answers, only slaughter. Death, after death. They tried to use their talents, but I was in control of their minds. None of them could use magic, none of them had talents that could stop me. Only when every single person in the room was shaking in fear, did I finally calm down enough to have a meaningful conversation. I put my hands on the table as everyone moved away from me. A smile greeting my new 'friends,' "Gentlemen, allow me to make you an offer you cannot refuse."

Mister Don let out a small chuckle when I used his talent as a punchline. He covered his chest, sweat still on his brow. He drank some wine, taking a few breaths to steady himself. "Very well, what is it that you want from us?"

I picked up stole my own glass. "From tonight onwards, the Ichor Eels work for me. If anyone has any objections, you're free to think them. I will know, and you will die more painfully with each time you even think of defying me. Since this required so little effort on my part, and I have been rather rude by taking out my pent-up anger. I'll make sure to reward you all quite handsomely. Raise your glass if you're fine with this."

Only a few raised their glasses, albeit with shaking hands. Then the Don finally raised his, getting a few more to submit. Those that didn't, well they got headaches and a few seconds later their heads exploded in dramatic fashion. The process repeated more painfully each time, finally stopping when everyone at the table had their glasses raised in a toast. I went around slowly bumping mine against theirs.

The gunners barely managed to stand straight with their knees shaking. I smiled at them, making them freeze whenever I walked by. The silence stretched painfully long for them. Finally, I put my hands on Don's shoulders, making the man tense up. "First order of business; we're going to secure fishing boats and some of the docks. I have a lot of mouths to feed, and if anyone tries to stop you." I smiled, "Well, they won't be a problem anymore."

Everyone quickly nodded, making it clear they were going to do what I said. No one dared to ask any questions. I clasped my lower hands together above Don's head. The upper ones were still on his shoulders, crossing them in a strange way. "Great! I'll be coming by tomorrow at midnight to meet you all in person. Make sure you inform your guards about a demon showing up. I hope we all get along, the other gangs I've dealt with don't even have a home to return to. Let's see if I can get it right this time."

I left, just observing the dream while I teleported back to my little hug bug. Fear and good rewards were going to be the bedrock of my plans for this city. It wasn't going to be great for the long term, but I was just going to fix it later.