The moment Cillian leaves the port, he can’t help but smile at the sight of Memphis mercantilism. People in dresses and suits walk the sidewalks while the streets in the center haul goods by cart. Numerous goods from food, to clothing, to even weapons. Houses are several stories tall with small alleyways behind each one to transport trash. This, most of all, explains why the city is so very spotlessly clean.

As he traverses the streets, several looks are turned in his direction- most of them fearful, but also curious. Which he’d found odd until he remembers that Nepenthes is following him. The woman is glaring predatorily at everyone that passes by.

“You don’t have to be so vigilant. You can relax.”

“Those who grow lax, grow weak and die,” She answers back.

He sighs, but continues on. At the intersection of the street, he finds a bolted down map. “Let’s see. We’re here,” he places a finger on a red dot, “and the Merchant Guild is- oh, not that far.”

Remembering the street names, he takes several twists and turns until he arrives at the largest building yet. The building is made of marble with a construction similar to ancient greece- but als taller and with windows. Two heavily armored [Guards] stand at the entrance. They carry magnificent glowing halberds that also match the glow of their armor. Counting the runes on the weapon, he infers them to be of Rare make, as does the plate armor.

Walking through the entrance, the [Guards] ignore him, but give a slight glance at Nepenthes. The Phytonid matches their glance with an eagerness for violence, bloodshed, and the consumption of prey.

They quickly avert their eyes and allow the two to enter the guild unmolested.

The moment they do enter, a guild official swerves towards the newcomer. He walks to Cillian in what looks like a normal gait, but is actually much faster. “Welcome to the Merchant Guild.” The man bows. “I am Salence Annetice, a [Guild Journeyman] for the Merchant Guild. Is there anything I can assist you with?”

“His heartbeat is elevated to the point of eagerness or excitement. Possibly both. His eyes, gait, and focus are similar to that of a predator looking at prey. This human knows something of you and wishes to capitalize,” Nepenthes explains.

The man finally looks away from Cillian while still smiling. “You seem to have a very interesting companion with you.”

“His heartbeat is further elevated now and there is slight perspiration of this human’s skin.”

Cillian chuckles. “I was hesitant about having you as my bodyguard, but this is pretty beneficial. Now, Salence. I’m going to guess you’ve got a skill of some sort that’s telling you of great profit potential- which is good. I have some very valuable goods to sell- so valuable that I’d prefer a nice cozy office with some snacks and a good bit of wine before I speak further.”

Salence quickly nods. “Of course, we have a booth ready for just that. Please follow me.”

The man quickly turns and starts walking. Cillian chuckles at the little bit of sweat behind the man's neck before following.

The man opens the door to the room. “This booth has sound dampening runes to keep any and all conversations private. Please, come in, take a seat, and feel free to enjoy the amenities.”

Cillian does just that. He grabs two bottles, a container of nuts, and then sits down on the comfy couch. Before Salence even sits down apposite Cillian, the scott has the bottle open and is drinking directly from it.

“Would you like a glass?”

“No. Too slow.” He grabs a bite of peanuts.

“Of course. The man leans forward. Now, what is it you have to sell?”

“Chests.”

“Chests, sir?”

Cillian nods with a smile. “Yes, several chests of Exceptional quality.”

The man’s back seems to straighten and his smile becomes more genuine. “Exceptional? How exceptional are we talking about? Have you counted the runes? May I know the craftsman or in what location you’ve found such items?”

The phytonic grabs a nut from the bowl and consumes it. “His heartbeat is elevated,” Nepenthes adds.

Cillian takes another sip of the wine. “There are many chests of different sizes. All are Exceptional quality. The smaller ones have six to eight runes while the two large chests both have ten. As for the rest of those questions, I cannot reveal such information without my [Captain's] permission.”

“Such information will elevate the selling price of your goods.”

Scott snorts. “For common goods, I’d agree. But scarce, exceptional goods will sell just as well on the market regardless of such information.” Cillian quickly raises a hand. “Though, my [Captain] may be willing to supply such information for a better price. Even the location of where such goods are located.”

Salence nods slowly. “Are the chests engraved with symbols or names?”

“They are.”

“That will reduce the price.”

“My [Runesmith] informs me that the engraving is not connected to the runes. They can be changed.”

“The changes will impact the price.”

“With exceptional quality items, the price of engraving a symbol is poultry in comparison.”

The [Guild Journeyman] leans back. “The general auctioning price for the guild is twenty percent- but, I can offer you fifteen percent and a percent discount if you reveal the information of where the chests are located.

Cillian chuckles. “Five percent commission, down to three percent if you want the information.”

Salence shakes his head. “The Gerchant Guild runs the largest and most well-known auctions in the entire world. Because of this, we generally sell items far more than other auctions do. But, on account of your willingness to argue- I will reduce my offer by a single percent.”

Cillian finishes the second bottle. “Nepenthes, grab me several more bottles off the shelf. Looks like I’ve got several hours of haggling to get through.”

Nepenthes obliges. She grabs bottles, several more snacks, and refills the bowl of nuts.

________________________________________________________________

Irmgards sidesteps a sword strike. Before the man recovers, she uses the side of her cutlass to smack the man's wrist with such force that he drops his weapons. Before the man can recover from his surprise, her blade stops at the man's neck.

He freezes. She tilts her head, She forces her blade into his neck. The man steps back and trips over her leg. He falls. Before he can get up, her boot slams on his crotch. He creams. Unfazed, she averts her gaze to the other men.

Stolen content warning: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences.

“Is there anyone else that wishes to bed me?”

The other [Mercenaries] stare wide-eyed at the woman who’d just expertly dismantled one of their regulars. Granted, the man was drunk, but still.

The [Mercenary Captain] starts laughing. The man has a build like Boriss and wields a battleax. Out of every [Mercenary] in the Mercenary Guild, he is arguably the highest leveled. “First a mage blasts my boys into a wall and now a woman dismantles one of my better fighters. I really need to train them better.”

“I’ve come to hire protection for my [Captains] ship.” Irmgard explains.

The [Mercenary Captain] stands up. “Really now. Considering you just dismantled my man so easily, getting hired by you might be a bit of an insult. So, how about a bit of a duel first. I win, you pay double our fee. You win, and you hire us for half.”

“I acce-” Irmgard halts as the door behind her opens up. An individual covered in a full black robe and wearing a crow mask walks in. In the individual's hand is a magnificently detailed staff.

The individual halts and looks down at the man with a boot on his crotch. Then the person looks at Irmgard. “Do you require assistance?” She asks in a distinctly feminine voice.

“Auranta, stay the fuck out of my dealings.” The [Mercenary Captain] warns. Though, the warning is laced with wariness.

“No. I am attempting to hire protection for my ship. The [Mercenary Captain] has offered half price once I defeat him.” Irmgard explains.

“Then you best be capable of taking out all the [Mercenaries] in this room. The man is a sore loser that is not above attempting to overwhelm you with numbers.”

“Auranta! Shut your trap.”

The masked woman tilts her staff towards the man and the man immediately steps back.

“You speak as though this has happened before,” Irmgard says.

“I came for information and was willing to pay for it. Grandis here offered to give it freely if I bested him. When I did, he sicked his [Mercenaries] at me.”

“You defeated them all.”

Auranta nods. “Yes.” She looks at Grandis. “Have you heard any new information?”

“No. There are no ships heading for the tower.”

She lowers her staff. “I see. Unfortunate.” She glances again at Irmgard. “Do you know of any ships headed to the nerdy tower?

Irmgard slowly nods. “My [Captain] plans to head there soon.”

“Oh? I am willing to pay for passage to and back from the tower.”

“That is my [Captains] decision.”

Auranta nods. “Understandable. Then, as an act of goodwill, would you allow me to take you to a far more reliable and honest [Mercenaries]?”

“Auranta, get the fuck out.”

The mask surveys the room. “You seem to have fixed the holes in the walls. Do you wish to have to fix them again?”

Grandis grits his teeth. “Just get the fuck out of here.”

Auranta nods. “Come, miss…”

“Irmgard Von Braum, [First Mate] of the Timbergrove.”

“I am merely Auranta, an [Air Mage].”

The two exit the Guild Hall building dubbed Grandis Mercenaries and enter into the Fabricate.

“Generally, Mercenary Companies located at the docks are cheap, but also of the lowest quality. The only exception is at the island of Magnis where the central Mercenary Guild is located. The competition is fierce enough that quality can be obtained for much cheaper.”

Auranta starts walking and Irmgard quickly matches pace. The woman is slightly shorter than her, but her stride matches Irmgards natural long-legged pace. “Why is there a single Merchant Guild but many Mercenary Guilds?”

“[Merchants] are all about efficiency and centralisation for profit. Multiple Merchant Guilds will compete at a single location to improve speed and efficiency of transactions, but Mercenary Guilds are different. Each [Mercenary] company is generally a guild in of itself. If the company is large enough, then they will have guild based classes like [Guild Leader].”

“I prefer how the Merchant Guild does it,” Irgmard states.

Auranta slows her walk. “There are benefits to both systems. A centralized system gains greater efficiency, yes, but it can suffer from a lack of adaptation and can easily lead to a more monopolistic system.”

“And a monopolistic system leads to stagnation. Yes, I understand the concept. But, it sounds like the Merchant Guild does’t have such a problem.”

“They do not, precisely because the highest leveled [Merchants] are at such a level that they outperform their peers in adaptation. The leader of the central Merchant Guild is a Master classer whose profits alone is nearly five percent from the combined profits of all Merchant guilds combined. Out of all the master classers, he is the most influential.”

“You are knowledgeable about such things,” Irmgard says.

“Knowledge and understanding is power. The more you know and understand, the better decisions you make throughout life, and the greater the benefits you reap.”

“Is that why you are interested in the tower?”

Auranta slows again. “I am tasked by my mother to learn as much of the towers as possible.”

“Couldn’t you have asked the Tower Ecclesiasticus?”

“My mother is already familiar with what information that group knows. Certain recent circumstances lead me to research the tower more intimately.”

“Are you willing to share said circumstances?”

“No… we are here.”

The two stop at another building also located at the Fabricate. The sign says Memphis Mercenaries.

“Didn’t you say that companies near ports aren't the best?”

“Memphis Mercenaries has several locations, with the major one located near the Merchant and Bounty Hunter guild.”

The two enter and are immediately met with a very different atmosphere of professionalism. The [Mercenaries] take only a paltry glance at the two women before returning to what they were doing.

They walk down the hall to what is clearly a female [Secretary]. She smiles at them. “Auranta, it is nice to have you back. Unfortunately, we’ve heard no information regarding your request.”

“That is fine. I currently have a lead on transport. Now, if you will, Miss Irmgard here has a request.”

Irmgard steps forward. “I am looking to hire protection for my ship.”

“We have many [Mercenaries] with the [Guard] job available. Let me just ask a few questions. What is the ship size? Length of stay? External or internal guarding?”

“Frigate. Weeks to a month of stay. Possibly more or less. External guarding only.”

She nods. “Will you require [Guards] all the time or certain hours?”

“All the time.”

She nods again. “We can have that done. For frigates, we have a five [Guard] system. At least one of the [Guards] will be an Advanced class. You will have two teams. One for day and one for night. Is that fine?”

“So long as the price is right.”

“We will get to that last. You have many packages to choose from.”

Auranta places a gloved hand on Irmgard. A hand that feels quite hard.

“I must visit the rest of the guilds and taverns. Will I be able to find you at your ship?”

“Most likely.”

Auranta nods. “Then I’m off.”

She walks down the hall and leaves. When Irmgards focus returns, the [Secretary] hands her several dozen stacks of documents.

___________________________________________________

The door to the Bounty Hunter Guild squeaks open, and the first sound Auranta hears is the sound of maniacal laughter.

“She’s here. She is fucking here. I told you fuckers they would return. I told you!” The seethes happily.

Auranta walks to the screaming lady. “Miss Egressa, you seem to be quite happy.”

The woman turns to Auranta with a crazed look on her face. “Three fucking years my prey escaped. I waited three fucking years and now she returns. I’m going to finally get my level Auranata, and I am going to be fucking rich.”

“That is nice. I wish you luck in your hunt. Before that, have you obtained any information regarding my request?”

“About a ship to the tower? No. No idiots are going to waste their time heading there unless it is the tower ecclesiastes. You’re wasting your time. Just take the dagger and pay some [Captain] to take you there. I know it’s expensive, but so is waiting.”

I see. I will keep your advice in mind. Thank you for the information.”

Auranta turns to leave. She opens the door. As she steps out, a cat walks into the building.