1.2

The clouds always seem dark now. Teardrops pelted the train car windows. Wailing sound of thunder echoed in my ears. It never seemed to be peaceful lately. It was as if a God is announcing his displeasure and we, humanity, were taking it full on.

The train stuttered to a stop and the bell rang.

My Butler opened the private car door, clearing the way for me.

I couldn’t help but pay attention to these worker bees scurrying off to work or to some of the women with better figures. If this had been before, I might have visited an old friend. See how good she is doing.

My Butler stood like a giant over me, holding an umbrella that formed a dome of protection. I felt a greater sense of guilt at his loss than for my own. My silver, dragon-claw cane tapped the ground. Keeping our pathway clear of rain drudge.

It is a beautiful day for a walk. Perfect levels of dreary and desolate. Steam cars whipping up lakes of water at passersby on the sidewalks.

Ha, if I didn’t have a single magical item, I might not have conceded in taking a walk to clear my mind. This is entirely, if not wholeheartedly, a great idea. I felt refreshed upon seeing the plights of others in a far more strenuous situation. Those running to and from with no protection against the cold rain. The unfortunate that not only got rained on, but drenched with the muddy waters of the road.

To make it all worse, I do believe someone had tracked mud into someone's working building. Tsk, the cleaners would and should be furious.

Halfway to our target, I think I heard a muffled scream. Glancing at my Butler to be sure, he nodded and we walked towards a nearby alley. The closer we got the clearer the voices.

“Stop yelling! I’ll kill you if you yell.” someone whispered fiercely.

“Mm help..” some lass barely got words out.

Tsk, how disgusting. The sun is up and people are committing such a disgusting level of crime. Don’t they know any better?

The misty white sphere gripped between three claws on the top of my cane, swirled with blue fire. A tap of my cane against the ground and a blue claw shot from the orb. Yanking the assailant off his prey.

“What the..” he barely got out any words before turning to dust.

I clicked my tongue.

“Dogs are so rampant.”

My Butler grunted in agreement, “Scum!”

We turned away, leaving the lass to fix her loose clothes that had few stitches torn. I heard her sobbing as we walked away. Making our way into a richly decorated flora store that looks even more lively than clothing stores with a fresh line of dresses.

“Mr. Lloyd, so glad you could make it. I have your order in back. Wait one second.” the clerk spoke politely, disappearing into the back after he finished speaking.

I noticed there were a number of customers dressed similar to Doctors or those who had herbal knowledge. They were discussing a set of potted plants on a pedestal.

If I remember correctly this was a popular thing in this store. Open forum discussion where all influential members could discuss the uses and effects of the flora on display. Increasing their knowledge and networking. Quite the setup.

The Clerk brought out several jars of medicine paste and pills. “As you requested, twenty four hundred miligrams of healing agent and two hundred pills to help mental recovery.”

I grabbed the box and a second later they disappeared into my satchel. I pulled out an envelope containing the payment of seventy-five thousand Mavro Dollars. The walk had done its good, now it's time to retreat back to the fort.

I had no fear of the otherworldly within those walls.

My Butler hailed a taxi upon noticing my nervous tapping and surveying of the crowd.

It isn’t that I am scared, because I am. It is also due to the fact that the local investigators had failed to find the culprits. Had failed to make any type of leeway in their investigations. They were utterly useless for anything supernatural.

**

I rubbed my temples after setting down a stack of papers. They were depicting the state of our finances. It is completely impossible for us to keep up with the state of affairs.

To be more precise, it is possible but I would have to promote from the younger generation. Sadly, the bloodline within the main family is depressingly thin. To the point that some of the more talented can only make rank four items.

Only a few had the accumulation of Arcane energy to build a Grade three item but they were young and cocky. The old felt they needed too many benefits.

I glanced up as my Butler walked in. He set down a platter and began pouring me tea. Mouthing, ‘thanks’, I grabbed the cup and took a deep sip. Ignoring the stinging pain of the hot liquid burning my tongue and throat.

I savored the feeling for a while. Closing my eyes and leaning back against the chair.

“There is a group of our clansmen who lived in remote villages. They have good talent but were being suppressed due to various self reasons. Have some of our guards go ensure they can make it here comfortably. Take the airship if they need to.”

My silent Butler bowed and left with the tray folded against his side. I watched his reliable back before picking up a new file and began ensuring my operations would at least be capable of staying in the green for the next decade.

**

I stood in the shooting range, listening to this instructor teach me the basic stances of shooting.

“You want to keep your legs slightly bent but grounded. If you have to move and shoot..” He began to show me with his body. “Wait until your feet impact the ground and they’re comfortable. Flat foot down, other legs can be in the process of lifting, arching, and coming down. You have to fire in that period of time. Like so..”

He demonstrated slowly at first. His body took a step and as his other foot rose the sound of a revolver going off, echoed in the dome. His foot hit the ground and he took two steps before firing again. His chest had paused just before he fired. It was like his body was completely still.

“Do you understand?” he asked.

I nodded and demonstrated. However, his shots hit the target. Mine was a bit sporadic, but practice made perfect. By the end of the sessions I was hitting the outside of the target at least six out of eight rounds.

I left him to pack up our training gear and headed down to the lab to work on the request. I couldn’t allow buildup while I recruit and train more competent replacements.

So the weeks past just like this until the second week came by and my replacements walked off the airship with surprise written on their face. The city is quite majestic with its towering buildings, paved stone roads, and the street lamps that make the brick housing look almost metallic during the night.

I studied the two dozen outer members of my family. They looked tattered and worn like old shoes fed to a dog. There were two right off the bat that had a decent amount of Arcane energy. But the gazes on them were like they knew they were better than the rest. They were also slightly better dressed than the others.

I guess they were used to having some small advantages. Wait, there is someone else that is talented.

As I came closer my senses picked them up but their control was a little better than the other two. She dressed slightly worse than them, but that could just be my high standards talking.

To them, as long it covered them, kept them warm. It is good enough.

I tapped the pave airfield runway twice, to stop them from murmuring further.

“I am Louis Lloyd. Some of you probably understand that I am the head of the main branch of our family. As side branches who have good clean records and show such promise, I have called you here. I’m not going to waste too much of your precious time.” I gestured with a look at the steam carriages pulling up.

“In a moment, you will board these cars and be on your way to the training facility. If you do well enough, you will be promoted right away to manager level positions. If you don’t do well enough, then I will just put you under someone who can manage your talent without wasting it. That being said, for those of you who aren’t talented in the Arcane. As long as you have a family member who is, you will have a place to stay in the capital or other major cities. Wherever your family member is deployed.”

I stopped speaking and turned around, signalling that I am finished. They started mumbling amongst themselves right away. I turned to the young heir who followed me out here. His eyes were dead with grief. His father had doted on him a little too much but unlike the others. He is prepared to take the reins.

“I’ll take the blonde girl. She seems competent enough. Plus I don’t do well with those who think they are above others.” I spoke to him while staring at the stars in the sky.

He snorted, “So you are going to throw them upon me?”

I nodded, “Yes.”

He laughed, “fine. I will personally guide them. Now how are you going to split our operations? According to the reports, the other heirs have been making a loss consecutively. The dogs have been finding backers to help them grab more. I think we need to make an example of someone to show our stance.”

I looked at him with an equal murderous look but we had the same mindset.

“You are right. I allowed them to show me who was competent and who wasn’t. It is also why I brought these families up here. They have some talented offspring that can refresh and replace the dead branches.” I sighed, glancing at the group who had begun boarding the carriages by family ties.

“As for splitting the operation? I have always been an inventor and my family always proceeded over the hidden world. While the other families handled everything else. Since things have come to this level. We should split based on ability to cope. You are good with the other dealings. I am good with the hidden world dealings, together we will be night and day. You day and me, night.”

My aura flashed with killing intent for a moment. Shocking his eyes widened as he took an involuntary step back, a fear response. He caught himself before he took yet another step and nodded his head. Tugging on his coat to shift the fear and embarrassment.

“Of course, when are you going to clean up? Or do you want me to handle it?” He asked while looking away.

“We both should handle our sides. This way we are putting out a united front. Also, I don’t mind if you gain more advantages or wealth. This life isn’t the one I had hoped…” I let the words fall away and started the trek to my carriage.