In class Eleonora was still a bit dazed of what Drak said to her. A Merchant who wanders around is not an ideal outcome the Empire wants for him, especially as he could easily supply over half or the needed Magic Crystals to run the Central Domain alone. If he wanders around, there will be problems in routing the whole process through Teleportation.

On the other Hand it does not harm the Empire itself, but even helps it, as he wants to go to all kinds of areas to sell food, resources and utensils for cheap, and his direct goal is just the travel itself.

‘How can a powerful Person like him be so simple minded? Maybe it is a lie, but he was so serious about it. What is the purpose of just wandering around all the Kingdoms for him… No I see it wrongly, he is just twelve and should think simple right now. While he is underdeveloped, there might be a chance to create a better picture of staying in one spot.’

Not realizing she as an elven old criticises the thought process of a twelve year old boy, Eleonora thinks of the future. His goals are not malicious and could be beneficial even if she can not stop him. For this she was willing to play the farce with him for now.

“Ah, Drak. By the way, I did not see one of your Maids today. Is she sick?”

Remembering another point she asked him in the class with a smile.

“At the Mansion happened something. One of my Maids had to stay to work with the clean up. A demerit of having an old house.”

Eleonora was already in the know of a Chandelier breaking out of the ceiling and breaking the floor below. While she does not truly believe what is shown in the Surveillance Magic, she had to ask for keeping the appearance.

“What happened?”

“A Chandelier broke. Nothing particularly problematic, no one was injured, as it fell in the middle of the night.”

“Then maybe you should- No, it is nothing. Better make sure the other fixtures are stable.”

‘I can not give him a better Mansion to live in. The Clothing is already stretching it.’

- In the Imperial City

“The Ripper did what?!”

“He came in broad daylight and destroyed the Base way earlier before we could set the trap.”

“Damn it! Is he that lucky or could he sniff the smoke before we even started cooking?”

Many Gangs and Organizations are trying their best to capture the Ripper as the bounty is really that enticing. A hundred thousand Gold can buy a whole block of Estates even in the Imperial City.

With all that greed, they readily made plans to give false Information to the Ripper through fake Documents and lure him into traps for their own benefits. Sacrificing a small hideout was of no importance if they could get such a financial boost afterwards.

“Has he at least taken the bait?”

“Yes and no. He took it with the notes we were trying to destroy before he would attack. Now we do not know when he will be trapped and we could lose one or two Businesses while we need to patiently wait.”

“No matter, a few lives are easily replaced. If we get a connection to the Merchant, we might even have the richest harvest in the future. The Money is just the cherry on top.”

“Boss, the Black Owls try the same strategy as us, what shall we do with them?”

“Isn’t that obvious? Trip them! Put in every base of ours, that might be in the stolen real notes a few Locations with ambiguous relations to the Merchant so they bleed, too. Also most of their places are in the slums and an accidental Fire could break out at any Minute. Leave a corpse of someone huffing Dragon’s Ember around and the Guards will think of an overdose.”

“Clever Boss! Right away.”

The wars between Gangs got heated up. While all of the Underground forces lose some flesh and many accidents happen, they are of no concern, as the bounty would make the winners of this Gamble rise to prominence and be crowned Partners of the Syndicate, which oversees over half of the City as of right now. While the Syndicate itself lost a few Warehouses and Businesses, they see it more as a investment for now, because the sell of those Crystals alone would take out all those losses in just a few days with a large bonus.

-

A week passed and it came time for Drak to wear the Black Merchant Mask again to trade with the Underworld.

While being ready, the Imperial Spy Network was working hard to make sure Drak and the Black Merchant are two different People. Surveillance was at maximum and being made ready to infiltrate the Mansion to watch personally.

“Ghosts One, Two and Four are in. Three has some issues, as his entry point was watched and needed to stay put. His delay will be at most five Minutes. We could confirm the Gardener to be an old Veteran being sold into slavery after a loss in Battle. His insights are sharp and were the reason of the first infiltration being unsuccessful.”

“Where did he get that Veteran?”

“Never was sold as he was already of high age. Might be an accidental buy. He has no slavery collar, so he got his freedom back, hypothetically by Drak Berklin and works now for him out of gratitude in the Garden and protects him secretly.”

“Hypotheticals do not say anything. What about the guard?”

“A Nobody, mostly lazing around.”

While the last Spy got into position they look at the rather shabby interior of the Mansion and waited in their dedicated positions.

Drak and his Maids are walking around and doing their own things, which were noted by the Spies, but nothing was seen as out of order.

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At night Drak cleaned himself and got into his Bedchamber, while the four Maids, which hovered around him all the time were going to their private rooms while the Night Servants were checking Oil in the Lanterns and cleaned everything, that was overlooked prior.

In the Bedchamber of Drak, he was sleeping deeply while a pair of eyes watched him warily.

“Notice got in. The Black Merchant is in the Imperial City and moves to the Syndicate place for the exchange.”

“So my Classmate is really not the Black Merchant? That guy really just uses him as a scapegoat and Drak does not even know about it.”

“Shall we act on Drak Berklin to be absolutely sure he is no Double, Princess?”

“Didn’t you already watch him for hours? It would be a demerit to startle the sacrificial Lamb and make the Black Merchant aware of us.”

“Understood Princess.”

‘If they try anything, all of the spies would die. It is so painful to find plausible excuses to not act rashly. Luckily it is my Mission and while young I am in charge of it.’

-

The Black Merchant came to an old Storage and was waved right in. After going inside a heavy Slab was lifted and a staircase was exposed.

“A hidden Storage under a real Storage. Do you not think it could be found easily?”

“Sir Merchant, this place is most of the time filled with heavy stuff and while Guards search through the stored things they never pry out the Foundation.”

While walking down the Stairs Drak talked with the Guide and the Guide himself was rather talkative. Behind Drak were two Masked People, like last time but one was different. This Person was slightly shorter and had a smiley Face as Mask and had on their back a heavy looking club, while the other was the one with no markings whatsoever. Right behind those were two rather strong looking individuals having cloth over their faces to hide their Identities.

“Interesting. At least it is secure.”

Entering a large place some people are already waiting for Drak. The muscular People were all armed with Knifes and Swords, while the people who looked like the leaders were hiding their Identities with gauze and looked unarmed.

“Black Merchant, welcome to our exchange point. I hope you found it well.”

“It was easy enough. Let us quickly make the trade, I have an unwell feeling somehow.”

“What is it?”

“Might be nothing, but I thought I smelled Salt and get always uneasy if I notice that smell.”

Understanding where the Black Merchant hinted to, some were sent up to look around. If the Ripper were here, it would complicate the whole transaction.

“Here is the Gold. Look over it.”

On a Table were different stacks of Coinage, Drak specifically asked for. Large Transactions would be done normally in Gold or Platinum Bars, but it would be problematic for Drak to use them elsewhere. While he could melt Gold into Coins himself, Platinum Coins were always annoying to launder.

“One, count the coins. Then I will put down the Crystals now.”

With a bow Seria got to count the Coins in quick moves while Drak took out a black cube and activated the magic inside. In a flash of light a large chunk of Crystals appeared in the small room.

“Storage Artefact. A great thing you have there.”

“Yeah, an Heirloom. Weigh them and I will pull out the next one afterwards.”

While the Workers do their job, Seria kept count and was already halfway done. After the first load of Crystals Drak summoned the second one right afterwards.

“The Quality is high and stable. We are happy to make business with you, but could you please bring one half in powdered form-”

“Don’t want, don’t ask. I was burned once with alchemical drug traffic, and will not do it again. If you want Powder, grind them yourself.”

The mood of the Middlemen were obviously soured by the blatant slight of Drak, but kept their composure.

“...Understood. We will refrain from-”

“An attack!”

While they were talking, shouts were heard from the stairs. After a short while one of the Bodyguards came running.

“The Ripper is here!”

Right after the cry, red salt followed and started to wreak chaos.

“That Bastard is here! Do you want to sell me out?!”

“Never, Black Merchant! We get him right away for you. Better have the Bounty ready.”

At the shout Seria stuffed all the Money in a bag and came back.

“All the Money is counted. Not one copper less, Boss.”

“Good! Muscles in front! Protect us!”

The two masked Bodyguards stood in front of the three having their Weapons out to Guard them with their lives.

“Here he comes!”

As Drak said that a masked person came down in a red storm made out of salt. The Persons trying to stop him were possibly already dead.

“Muscles protect me, Four break his spine but keep him alive. One, support Four!”

The battle started. While the Members of the Syndicate threw their Magic on the Intruder and the Fighters got close, they were no match for endless cutting of the massive Salt waves drenched in Blood.

With a Jump Celia came near the Ripper and wielded the Mace on her back. The Ripper, Raja escaped with a jump and was evading the wave of Wind that was pushing the Salt out of the way. When the Wind hit the Wall cracks started to form and showed how much brute force was behind that swing.

At the same time Seria started chanting different Magic incantations and threw Magic of Multiple Elements against Raja. Fireballs, Waterjets, Earthspikes, the whole place was drenched in different Elements to catch Raja.

With a sidestep Raja came directly to Drak and started channelling the Salt directly at him. Most was blocked by the Bodyguards which were heavily injured, and the rest bounced of a bubble around Drak.

“Do you think I would not find ways to stop your cursed Salt you Freak?!”

After the Attack Raja sprinted to the Stairs and escaped right away. The whole attack was not even a Minute but the devastation was serious below.

“One, Four! Do not chase, that is what he wants!”

After a few breaths the casualties were one Bodyguard comatose, one with a lost arm and Six Syndicate Members, while the others had slight but extremely stinging injuries.

“I come in two weeks again and hope for an explanation. The Crystals are fine?”

“Ah, Sir Merchant the Crystals have a bit of Damage, but nothing severe. We will find out how the Ripper found out the exchange place for you. Do you need an escort out?”

“Find a better place to exchange, I do not want to be a Target again!”

“Of course. We should hurry and leave, otherwise the Imperial Guards might find out.”

-

Going through different alleys Drak and company were still being stalked. Celia was carrying the comatose Bodyguard while the other one is carrying his cut off arm.

After another Alley there were a dozen rather well prepared people waiting for them. As they saw the Black Merchant, they came right away and tried to capture him. With a snap of Drak’s fingers the whole place was enveloped in darkness for a few seconds and when it came back Drak and company was gone.

The People attacking him were also ‘gone’ but in a different way. They were stains on the walls and floors. Not a little bit could be recognized as a piece of human so small were the chunks of gore left.

With this one move, the watchers all dispersed and brought a note to their different Gangs to never ever slight the Black Merchant in the future.