With winter fast approaching, the streets of the capital were empty, most of the peasants occupied with preparing for the cold and the nobles of the city reluctant to venture out in the unpleasant weather. It made for smooth travel. Gordon didn’t know if he was happy for the lack of delays. On one hand, the faster he finished whatever tasks Fen wanted done, the faster he could get back to sleeping. Magic could keep him going but the exhaustion had reached his soul. He would kill a man for a full night's rest.

On the other hand, he detested anything that helped the succubi. The demons deserved to face every attrition the world could throw at them, including the saints themselves descending from Paradise to smite them.

“So?” he asked. “I know we have a dinner date later but what are we doing in the city now?”

Across from him, Fen stopped running a brush through her hair and smiled. “Don’t be a lazy boy, Junior. We can do more than one thing a day. These are busy, busy times.”

He stared at her.

“Oh, you’ve become such a bore.” Putting down the brush, she leaned forward, tilting her head up and batting her eyes. “What happened to the man who used to throw parties for the rich, young, and desperate every night? Drowning himself in wine and debauchery under his father’s nose.”

Gordon kept his silence until she retreated with a chuckle. “We’re going to see an old friend. Elorex Guiness.”

“Rex.” Gordon vaguely recalled the name. He was an irrelevant member of the merchant family, someone who had failed to climb the ladder of gold and now worked as a simple employee at their store in the capital. A frequent member of the parties Gordon used to host for young, hungry men. He had little power, the only favors he could give to Gordon being a warning about valuable new items in the Guiness Company’s inventory. “What do you want with him?”

“The same thing you wanted. A heads-up on a good deal.”

The rest of the journey continued in silence until the carriage rolled to a stop in front of a large building with several white doves painted on the front. Two knights dressed in gold armor with white capes stood on either side of the door watching them intensely as they disembarked. One stepped forward as Gordon approached. “Lord…Mason? Rex has asked us to direct you up the road to the Bear Roast. He invites you for a meal.”

Since when does that bastard direct me anywhere? His family was in better shape than ever but their reputation still hadn’t recovered. The Masons were on thin ice with the crown so the other families thought they didn’t dare stir the waters with open conflict with anyone else. If Gordon was in charge, they’d be right. He wasn’t though and Fen only responded to disrespect in one way.

Punishment.

[Repeat after me, Junior~] the thrall whispered into his mind, the seductive tone carrying hints of danger.

“I suggest,” he said, “that you tell Rex that he has ten minutes to bring his ass here or he can forget he knows me. Ten minutes exactly.”

He didn’t bother waiting for a response before turning on his heel and stomping back to his carriage. Before he made it, he heard feet pounding on the road as one of the knights ran off to deliver the message.

“What if he doesn’t come?” Gordon asked once they were seated inside.

“Of course he’s going to come,” Fen said. “What is he without you? An employee. A laborer, no different from the average peasant. Disgraced as you may be, you are the head of the Mason family, a count. A noble lord with territory and wealth. Besides, I doubt he has forgotten the pleasures of me and my kin. This stunt is a childish powerplay done in hopes of wresting more resources from you. Ridiculous. He will come.”

“But what if he doesn’t? Smart, as you think you are, you don’t know every—"

He grunted as her tail smacked him hard enough to turn his face. “Careful, Junior.” He flinched as the spade tip of the tail touched his cheek but it was only there to soothe the burning. “That almost sounded like an insult.”

“I wouldn’t dare,” he grumbled.

“Why do you try when you know there is no lying to me? I do understand what you’re trying to say. I can use logic to predict human actions but if your species was ruled by logic, you’d never have summoned us to this plane.” She chuckled. “If he doesn’t come, we go about the rest of our day and replace him. He is far from unique.”

He didn’t need replacing as seven minutes later, there was a loud knocking on the carriage door as someone huffed for breath on the other side. Gordon opened the door to a sweating young man with thick dark hair and dark blue eyes. He took a deep breath and forced a smile to his face. “Lord…Mason. It’s a shame you couldn’t join me for an early lunch.”

“Not hungry,” Gordon replied, waving for him to board. To no one’s surprise, Rex chose to sit beside Fen.

“Of course. Then, to what do I owe the honor of your presence? I’d have thought the new head of a family would have plenty to occupy his time.”

“It’s been months since I’ve succeeded my father, I’ve long consolidated my power.” I may be a puppet but I won’t be looked down on by a nobody. “I’m here to discuss business.” What business am I discussing?

[I want to know about any change in prices or stocking. What is the Guiness Company prioritizing? What has his family ordered him to do? Who is the marquis taking an interest in?]

“We have a standing agreement, don’t we? I want to know where I can get the most for my gold.”

“Ah, yes. Then will I be getting my end of our bargain?” He looked sideways at Fen, flashing a charming smile made revolting by the circumstances.

Gordon forced himself not to look at Fen. He didn’t dare presume. If she couldn’t stand to let him touch her, he could only imagine what she would do if Rex tried.

[Don’t be silly, Junior. It is entirely different now that you’re no longer holding my leash. The fool is willingly letting me into his mind and giving me free reign. No matter what I do to him, it’s not breaking any laws. I’m almost excited, haha.]

Rex sucked in a sharp breath as the thrall undid his pants and slipped her hand between his legs. “W-well, you’ll be interested to know, geh!” He bucked as Fen’s hand began to move. “The, uh, price of iron has, mm, gone up. Additionally, the shop has been told to offer better prices for weapons. More for armor.”

“Someone is arming a force.”

“Annnnd, our people went around the farms, buying grain for outrageous prices.”

Weapons and food. Preparations for a battle. Depending on who was buying those things, it could spell disaster.

[This fool hasn’t put it together yet but from the evidence he’s collected, all those supplies have been coming to the capital. Who would dare build an army under the nose of the king? The answer is no one. Not after your father’s ‘rebellion’. That is just asking for death. That leaves only one option.]

The crown. The royal army is preparing for a campaign. Or a siege. The real question is, who against? A rebelling noble? A horde of monsters? Or something else?

[How exciting!]

“Ah! Wa—wait, I’m going—"

Rex groaned as his hips pumped, a wet spot appearing on the front of his pants. His face flushed. “That, was, ah—"

“I don’t care about you blowing your load early. Anything else?”

Rex took a moment to catch his breath before continuing. “There have been…rumors. The nobles are pushing for a reformation of the army. They have long argued that the commanders should be of noble blood but recently the movement is gaining momentum.”

[That’s all he has. Time for him to go.]

Gordon opened the door. “Get out.”

“What? But—" He turned toward Fen, who smiled at him. The moment was interrupted by Gordon grabbing him by the front of his shirt and tossing him out. He glared at the sloppy man who stumbled while grappling with his falling pants. “If you want any more benefits, bring me something valuable next time.”

He closed the door firmly and Fen told the driver to keep going. “That was insightful,” she said.

“Was it worth it?”

“Very. You humans comprehend so little of what you take in. Going through his memories with a, as you say, fine comb revealed many interesting details. I knew the crown was preparing for conflict but the sales of the Guiness Company has shown how large the conflict truly is.”

“What’s going on?”

“Would you believe I don’t know?”

“No.”

“Haha, you’re learning, Junior. Our next trip should provide more details.”