When they arrived at the Stone Guild’s management offices, the leasing agent was less than excited when she said, “Do you have an appointment?”

Jen replied, “I am Jen and this is my father Sam. Captain Gru with the Arc Guild suggested we speak with Bruce about leasing a place to stay.”

Tamako agreed to remain a short way down the street, ready to provide back-up if needed.

The secretary’s attitude did a 180 as she said, “Oh, Mistress. Jen! My apologies! Bruce is the general manager for all the Stone Guild’s holdings. He has requested that I show you directly to his office. May I take you to see him now?”

Jen messaged Sam and Tamako, “I’m guessing Captain Gru told them we might stop in to check on lodging.”

Jen indicated to the receptionist they were ready, and they followed her up to a third-floor lobby where Bruce was already waiting for them. Jen hadn’t noticed any sound wave messages or other signals from the receptionist, so it surprised her that Bruce knew they were on their way up the steps.

Bruce smiled and waved for them to follow him. “Please come into my office and make yourself comfortable. May I get you something to drink?”

Bruce’s office was spacious enough for his desk, several chairs, a sitting area with a couple of couches, a mini-bar, and there were double doors that opened up onto a balcony overlooking the street.

Bruce was only level 18, but he had a rare skill in management that was almost in the expert rank. His skill gave him a type of sixth sense into future business actions of people. He couldn’t see the future, but he could often anticipate events and the actions of others. The more data he had about something or someone, the better he could prepare a proper response ahead of time. When he sensed that Jen and Sam arrived downstairs, he immediately notified Director Keisha’s office in case the Director wanted to meet them.

Bruce looked at the pair from the First Deck and quickly imagined several opening questions to get an idea of how the party would respond.

Bruce imagined “What would happen if I pulled out my sword and attacked Jen?” Bruce almost stumbled at the backlash of overpowering death his skill sent him. “O.K. don’t fuck with them!” he laughed to himself.

Bruce ran through several more mundane scenarios, and quickly realized Jen was definitely the decision maker, and that she and Sam were here to do business with no interest in power or political games. “Thank god! Just a normal business transaction without all the other bullshit,” Bruce thought.

Bruce smiled and said, “Captain Gru called me earlier and said you were looking for a place to stay, and that you might stop by. We appreciate your help dealing with the Poison dagger guild, and I believe we can help you find what you are looking for at a very reasonable price.”

Jen was using her psych skill to read Bruce’s emotions. She felt he was being sincere, but she was also getting a strange sense that he was constantly testing them somehow. Jen smiled and replied, “Thank you Bruce,” and then explained to him the type of home they were looking to lease.

During their discussions, Bruce’s secretary politely knocked on the office door to get their attention and then she simply nodded at Bruce.

Bruce gave Jen a friendly smile as he said, “I hope you don’t mind, but Deck Director Keisha, and our guild healer, Cleaner Clubs, will soon arrive to thank you personally for helping with the Poison Dagger Guild.”

Within a few minutes, Director Keisha entered the office with Clubs. Everyone stood as she walked in, but Director Keisha waved them back down and joined them on the couch and said, “Thank you all for your help with the Poison Dagger Guild. Of course, I’ve heard what happened, but I would love to hear it firsthand from your perspective.”

Jen felt the strength and power that was radiating off of Keisha, and it did not surprise her in the least bit when she couldn’t read the Director’s stats or view her mana system. Jen was pleased with the opportunity Keisha’s question presented her. She gave a recounting of the events with emphasis on the mana barrier, and the fighting skills exhibited by Captain Gru and Lt. Rowe. However, Jen knew that downplaying the power Sam exhibited too much would only bring more attention to them.

After Jen’s summary of the ambush, Keisha replied, “I am going to bring up a topic that many people consider private and very personal. If you do not wish for me to continue just speak up, and I will happily respect your wishes.”

Jen and Sam nodded at Director Kisha to continue, while internally controlling the apprehension her words caused.

Keisha looked at Sam as she continued, “We’ve learned that Captain Gru, with the Arc Guild, is looking for information on repairing mana systems. From the accounts of the powerful spells you cast against the poison guild, I thought Gru might be asking around at your request. Cleaner is our top guild healer, and if you’re having mana problems, Cleaner can evaluate your condition and discuss some options. We feel it’s the least we can do in return for your help with the Poison Guild.”

This was better than Jen had hoped for, and she didn’t see any risk in agreeing to Cleaner evaluating Sam. If Cleaner had the power to inspect Sam’s mana system, he surely had already did it while they were talking to Keisha.

When Sam looked to Jen for her opinion, she simply shrugged, and said, “Up to you.”

Sam replied, “I would appreciate any advice or anything you can do.”

Cleaner nodded and said, “I’m happy to help. Sam ,all you need to do is try and sit perfectly still while I cast a spell that will allow me to inspect your mana system.”

Jen and Sam both were expecting Cleaner to use a mana inspection skill similar to theirs. Jen looked at Sam and messaged him, “Shit, I figured he already checked your mana system, keep your fingers crossed that our mana forging spell works against whatever it is he is casting.”

Sam just shrugged, and messaged back, “Nothing to be done about it now. Let’s just be ready and see what happens.”

Cleaner stood and walked in a circle around Sam while waving his arms and hands in a complex motion, causing the air to glow slightly. After spending almost two minutes casting his spell, Cleaner collapsed into his seat with apparent exhaustion.

Bruce handed Cleaner a glass of water as everyone else waited patiently for Cleaner to catch his breath and speak.

Cleaner’s eyes lost their focus as he appeared to be reading a system message, and then he said, “Most of your mana channels are broken. This is causing your mana to escape your body before it reaches your center. You have one channel that is still complete and functioning. Without it, you would not have any hope. However, with mana still flowing to your center, you can purchase potions from an Alchemist or the System shop that can heal broken channels. These potions are extremely expensive and you must take them for two, maybe three years, for complete recovery. That is assuming you don’t damage your channels further by trying to cast anything but the simplest of spells.”

Keisha, Cleaner, and Bruce noticed the look of relief on the faces of Sam and Jen, but they didn’t realize the relief was from learning that Sam’s mana-system forgery worked on Cleaner’s spell.

Sam replied, “Thank you, Cleaner. It is a great relief to know my condition is curable. Hopefully the adventuring in the wilds beyond the City will be prosperous enough so that we can afford the potions.”

Keisha followed up by saying, “That is excellent news! Of course, we will keep this information confidential, and I hope Bruce is helping you with whatever you need.”

Bruce then stated, “I believe that is the original reason for your visit, a place to rent?”

Keisha received a call on her soundwave, and as she stood up to leave and answer her call, she first said, “I apologize I can’t visit longer, but Cleaner and I need to go and attend to some guild business. It was a pleasure meeting you all.”

They all stood as Keisha and Cleaner left the office, but Jen used her psych skill to listen in on Keisha’s conversation even after she had left room.

Keisha said, “I just met with them and Cleaner says his mana system will take two to three years to heal up.”

The man on the other end replied, “So you don’t think we will need to worry about him?”

Keisha replied, “I didn’t say that. Don’t underestimate him Jonas, just because he can’t cast spells, doesn’t mean he is weak. He might even be willing to teach some of our weak mages a spell or two, plus his mana channels may heal up in a few years. I’ve ordered Bruce to give them a good deal on the lodgings they are looking for. That Roger is too stupid to recognize excellent resources when they fall in his lap. Of course, they did mention adventuring in the untamed lands beyond the City. If they are not careful, either the beasts or the bandits will kill them quickly. Just keep an eye on them for now.”

Jonas replied, “Yes, Deck Director,” and that was the end of the conversation.

Jen thought, “That woman is cunning. I’m glad we had Sam forge broken mana channels.”

A little while later, as they left the Stone Guild’s management office and linked up with Tamako, they started heading towards the apartment they rented, and Tamako asked, “How did it go?”

Jen replied, “I think we are mostly off everyone’s radar. Unfortunately, I had to spend some gold to rent a small apartment for six months.”

Tamako’s forehead creased with confusion, and she asked, “Why did you do that?”

Jen explained, “They think Sam’s casting ability is destroyed and that we are going to be adventuring to raise money to purchase medicine to heal his mana channels. I want everyone here to think we are off adventuring on the outskirts of this city and staying here for the foreseeable future.”

Tamako commented, “You know we are being followed, right?”

Jen nodded and replied, “Yes. The plan is to lead them to the apartment where we will get changed into our own gear, then lead them outside the City gates. Once we’re out the gates, we’ll shake them off our tail. Then we’re going to power up our forgetme charms and sneak back into the City.

A few hours later, they were back in the City and continued to make several switchbacks to ensure no one was still following them, Sam asked Jen, “Where’s Slim?”

Jen replied, “He is a little way behind us making certain no one with far sight is following us at a distance. He’ll meet us there.”

When they finally arrived at the City Shop and Slim waddled up to them, Jen said, “We have our loot from the ambush. Take a look and let me know which items you want in return for carrying our stuff from the First Deck.”

Slim smiled and replied, “Keep your meager loot. Your little distraction allowed me to acquire a very unexpected boon from killing the leader of that Poison Dagger guild.”

Jen asked, “What did you get?”

Slim raised and eyebrow, and replied, “Do not concern yourself. Just know the loot I recovered makes us even.”

Sam then said to everyone, “Great, now let’s get the hell out of here! Bot Battle City here we come!”