New Flame came to be as an amalgam of various merchants and other supply and logistics groups and individuals and it showed in its urban plan, with buildings planted wherever builders in the early days of the settlement fancied, leaving for streets and roads to pass only where they found space and even then subjected to frequent changes as some new wealthy person decided to move in on a place where the street was build. All of this contributed to chaotic feel Lucas had, further amplified by all the scrambling on the streets, messengers and workers dressed in different uniforms always trying to push through the crowd who actively opposed them, mirroring rivalries that lingered higher in the hierarchy of the settlement.

Fortunately, Lucas had a tool to avoid crowds, releasing his aura which emanated intense power. People closest to him were stunned for a few moments before getting out of the way, even those who hadn’t the faintest abilities to sense auras had instinctive repulsion to challenging Lucas. Their goal here was to set up teleportation stone, allowing for the instantaneous travels between Camp Hearth and New Flame. There were Goldilocks words to consider and her instructions to go to Broken Back tavern and in short time Lucas cooperated with his head of spy network, he learned to take heed of her words and asked around for direction to the tavern.

Broken Back tavern stood at the closest thing New Flame had to a central part of the settlement, the building itself coated in green paint and a sign above its door showing a hard working man carrying heavy load while the whip was snapping above him. Heavy political imagery aside, the tavern certainly seemed popular and crowded. Lucas had an idea what was he to find there and hoped that the operative he was about to meet would give him necessary information about the settlement, including interesting spots around it, some dungeon or, even better, Scenario dungeon. If all else fails, Lucas could live with a series of monster nests, only thing he was eager to avoid were fetch jobs and the like.

Main hall of the Broken Back tavern certainly extruded warm and cozy feelings, inviting Lucas to stay as soon as he opened the door. Merry bands of people as far as the eye could see, moving gingerly in the rhythm bards provided from their position right in front of the hearth, playing something Lucas recognized as the hit from the pre – System Earth.

“Your spy certainly know good places” Margaret said, enjoying herself immensely in the atmosphere. Lucas nodded in response, trying hard to stay focused on the task ahead. Although Goldilocks hadn’t said it, he expected to find one of her spies somewhere in here. His search had finally bore fruit as he spotted a figure sitting at one of the tables in the corner of the main hall, trying very hard to pointedly look at Lucas while trying to feign complete disinterest. He took deliberate steps, weaving through the crowd, finally arriving at the table and taking one of the empty seats.

“I think we have a mutual friend” Lucas opened the conversation, his mind drawing blank on anything more impactful to say. “I guess I should improve my communication skills” Lucas thought as he drawn incredulous look from the man he was to talk to.

“You know, boss is right, you can be so dumb sometimes” the spy responded “Anyways, you can call me Duck” he finished, ignoring the Lucas’s frown at the insult he just threw at him.

“So, what can you tell me about interesting things around this settlement?” Lucas asked “I’m hopeful that there is some kind of interesting dungeon in vicinity” he finished.

“There is, but there is more urgent matter at hand” Duck said. Lucas raised his eyebrows, confident that he will not like what the spy is about to brief him.

“The Families, rulers of this charming shithole, are worried about the teleportation stone you are supposed to set up, fearing that they will lose their autonomy in ruling” Duck explained. Lucas was desperate after hearing his further explanation, essentially telling him he will need to play more politics.

“No, fuck that, I’m tired of playing politics. Is there a faster way to resolve that or someone that I can intimidate?” Lucas asked. The spy once again looked him incredulously, before thinking about his words.

“I guess there is enough goodwill among the people to brute force the teleportation rings, but people here still remember the tensions in the past, before New Flame submitted. One wrong step and we could have full blown riot on our hands” the spy said.

“Are Families even popular?” Lucas asked.

“Oh dear God, no. But still, people here would not like for Camp Hearth to have the power to excise anything they don’t like from here” Duck said.

“New Flame isn’t even System sanctioned settlement, why do people care that much?” Lucas asked, straining his memory trying to remember history lessons Bruce gave him. After the last invasion was repelled, Camp Hearth stopped being military encampment and people who chose to stay and live there raced to get officially recognized as the settlement by the System. After some time, a rival settlement, New Flame, arose and tried to challenge the Camp Hearth, tensions exploding between the citizens of their respective towns which almost led to full blown war. In the end, the head start Camp Hearth had proved insurmountable and System officially recognized it as a settlement, effectively blocking New Flame ever getting that same status. They submitted to the former administration of Camp Hearth, but any authority Camp Hearth had over New Flame was in name only.

“They are used to living independently” Duck simply said. Lucas found that reasoning a little weak, but then, he did fight the General’s troops at least in part due to same reasons. The General tried to regulate too much and Lucas guessed the citizens of the New Flame was afraid something similar will happen if Camp Hearth get quick and easy access to their town at will.

“In the end, it doesn’t matter. The teleportation stones are a necessity and both sides have the means to turn it off at will. Only thing that matters if there is someone reasonable in power here to be entrusted with guarding it on this end” Lucas said “And just to be clear, I’m not talking about negotiations or politics. Either through reason or fear, I just want done it quickly” he finished. The spy was once again silent as he was compiling his own thoughts and formulating an answer.

“I guess there is always Wilhelm Prince. He doesn’t have any formal position in the city, due to being a relative outsider, having arrived here just ten years ago, but he is insanely rich due to him holding most of the food trade with Camp Hearth.” Duck explained.

“So, what are we waiting for? Tell me where mister Prince is, I need to pay him a visit” Lucas said and the spy explained the way to his house, finishing with the warning that the Families are probably aware of his arrival and that they will try to either kick Lucas out of the city, or at the least destroy the teleportation stone. Lucas was skeptical, but eager for them to try something, hoping he will get a chance to blow some steam.

Quickly gathering his party, Lucas exited from the tavern and started following directions Duck gave him, explaining the plan to his curious party members, who were worried seeing him in such dark mood.

“You know, your mood is not really appropriate. I thought for a second someone died and then you tell us there is some more politics at play” Chen said, scolding Lucas a little bit. That prompted some thoughts whether he was overreacting, but they were quickly clamped down.

“I fucking hate politics. We could spend the evening back there in the tavern and then be on our way, but no, here we are, once again mucking through the streets so I can be the responsible town owner” Lucas mopped, the rest of his party chuckling. Ensuing banter and light mocking did manage to lighten Lucas a little bit and before he was even aware, they stood at the house Duck described. The giant villa stood somewhere away from the main part of the city, but still close enough to hear the bustling from the crowd when there was any, most of the population either at home or in some establishments dedicated to entertainment.

“So nice of you to come and see them first” a rather deep voice was heard in front of the gate and the hinges started squeaking a little bit as it was opened, revealing a bearded man in his forties standing behind them.

“Wilhelm Prince, I presume” Lucas asked.

“Yes. And you don’t need any introduction. Lucas the Orphan, savior of Camp Hearth and his fearsome party. Welcome to my humble home” Wilhelm bowed and invited them to come in.

“I’m sorry that there is no drinks awaiting you, but I let the staff go. The matter we are about to discus are sensitive” Wilhelm spoke while pouring them drinks.

“You are right about that. I have a teleportation stone here, ready to be deployed and connect New Flame permanently to Camp Hearth, in the best interest of both settlements” Lucas started.

“And the Families are resisting your idea?” Wilhelm asked.

“Right you are, mister Prince. And that’s why I’m here, to find a reasonable man to talk to.” Lucas responded.

“I would like to help you and I agree with you that the teleportation stone is in the best interest of the settlements. But as long as Families hold any real power, they will object to it. I’m not interested in throwing away endless funds in man so I can wage war to keep the teleportation stone active.” Wilhelm said “but there is an alternative. The storm was brewing here long before you arrived. This town had become too small for both the Families and myself and some like – minded individuals. If you surgically remove key figures in quick succession, I can consolidate power rather quickly and deal with the political fallout” he finished. Lucas was surprised Prince was so open about using him to do his dirty work and he voiced as much.

“Well, I know who you are. Although you are owner of the Camp Hearth, you are a fighter at heart, not a politician. This proposition helps both of us and you get another steady ally who could aid you while you are on your quest of improving yourself” Wilhelm explained his reasoning. It was obvious the man had deeper agenda, but in the short term it was either help him or lose another week or month to politics.

“Okay, I’m in. Give me the targets” Lucas said, and Prince gladly obliged, sending them on their way.

The night was becoming more and more silent and that silence was broken by Maggie’s voice.

“This is a bad idea, the guy is slimy”

“I know, but that is Bruce’s problem. We will tell the Duck everything there is so he can brief back home. I’m not inclined to lose too much time here” Lucas said with a note of finality. If the party had any other objections, they kept them to themselves and after a quick trip to Broken Back, they were set for the task ahead.