Done with his reconnaissance, almost completely sure that the King and the council had concocted a false flag event to jump-start the war-machine that was humanity, and then point them at the elves, Lock decided that it was time to check up on another one of his ventures before returning home.

It was almost starting to turn dark, the talk with Shink having taken longer than expected due to the volume of the things they had to talk about. The man was much more mellow now than he'd been when they had shared an actual business relationship, interestingly enough. Probably some sort of philosophy of not mixing work with pleasure.

The walk to the master tanner that he'd left the golden fleece with in what felt almost a year ago, but weren't even two months didn't take long. It was a pleasant walk, Kamin was surprisingly calm considering he'd left her stranded outside with nobody to talk to for several hours. In his experience children her age would protest something like that, loudly. Maybe she'd just been raised differently, or she was happy enough to be travelling to stay put, or she'd talked with her Grandfather-in-a-ring.

He would talk to her about it after he questioned the tanner about the progress of the project. By the man's paling face as he opened the door at Lock's knocking however, he was about to receive some bad news.

“A-ah, young master Lock, welcome. Come in, come in.” The fifty-something-man said in a slightly terrified voice as he beckoned him inside, opening the door wide, the light spilling out onto the high-end street containing mostly craftsmen.

A high-end street containing shops that looked new, too new considering their pedigree and age. A street that had a few more guards than was usual.

Lock sighed and shook his head. The tanner paled even more, and started trembling.

“Let me guess, your place, and everyone else's on the street, were raided by rioters who were unhappy that you mostly cater to nobles. They stole my vest?” Lock quickly deduced and asked.

The tanner nodded, looking like he wanted to be anywhere but here. He scratched his greying beard, eyes flitting about, before sighing. “Yes.” He said and hung his shoulders. “I could have paid back the fee a week ago, but almost all the nobles who've lost their projects and materials have since come and taken my money in recompense. I'm bankrupt at the moment.” The man finished with a face that indicated that he accepted his fate.

“It's not really your fault, but I've still made a great loss.” Lock started, the man flinched. This was likely how everyone else had begun their extortion attempts. “So I'll call it even if you can give me some equipment for a swordsman who's a bit taller and a bit lankier than me.” He finished. He'd been planning on buying some equipment for Harald anyway, it would raise his chances of winning the tournament, but if he could get it for free like this, he might as well. He also felt bad for the man and didn't want his money.

The tanner hung his head, before the words seemed to register within his mind. He raised it with a confused look in his eyes. Before smiling brightly, stepping back and beckoning them inside. Lock followed this time, ignored the disgusting smell, and followed the tanner who almost skipped his way to a wooden closet, from which he began pulling different pieces of equipment. Lock waited patiently and the man eventually settled on a set of armour made from an intimidatingly black leather, although anyone from Lock's last world would have maybe had some doubts about the man's sexuality due to the sheen of the colour.

If you encounter this narrative on Amazon, note that it's taken without the author's consent. Report it.

“ One of the things that the bastards didn’t steal. Arm-guards, shin-guards, a leather-skirt, a cuirass with shoulder-plates and a helmet, all enchanted to be adjustable to resize to fit the wearer. Everything made from the leather of the Hounds of Hell. Commissioned by the Shield family, decommissioned due to the death of the intended recipient.” The man said professionally, brandishing the different pieces of armour in Lock's direction as he introduced them.

“Looks expensive.” Lock noted with a nod, at which the tanner shrugged. “Not as much as you'd think seeing as the family provided the materials. They were also one of the few ones that refused a refund for what was stolen from me. Maybe there's a string of fate connecting you with them?” The man wondered. “I mean you are a Knight, obviously.” He stated.

Almost snorting at the man's comment Lock asked for a burlap sack to transport the leather armour in. Which he happily received, stuffing the good-will gesture inside. The man could have given him much cheaper stuff. But as the saying went. You attract more flies with honey than with vinegar.

Suffice to say he and the tanner parted on amicable terms, but not before Lock asked the man one final question. “Any idea where my vest ended up?”

The man grimaced. “Aye, last I've heard of it, it was being worn by one of the high-ranked peasant adventurers who were leading the more successful riots. That's old news though, the riots are done with for now, and the adventurers that participated are to well known due to their occupation to remain free men. There's a bounty up for the man, probably, as long as he's still free. But he's likely fled the city already. Could be all the way up in the Hills for all I know. Name's Jory, I think.”

“Thanks.” Lock nodded at the man one last time before leaving.

“Where are we going now?” Kamin once he and Lemmings had started walking again.

“To my father's home. I'm done with all my tasks for the day, I hope Harald is as well and is going there right now. He needs to get used to the armour I just got him, and I also have some last minute tips for him.” Lock replied and now that he was actually talking with his fiancée, popped the question that had been bothering him. “So how are you enjoying travelling?” He asked.

Kamin hesitated to speak, stretching out the silence.

“You can be truthful, this isn't a trip for the sake of enjoyment, but one that we're making to help you regain your sight.” He badgered further, interested in what she had to say.

Kamin quickly shook her head after his words, brown hair flying everywhere. “No, no, I like it. Harald and Lemmings are nice. I'm learning. It's just. The situation going on right now. It feels like I'm in one of the novels I always had my servants read to me.” She said, sounding embarrassed about her admission.

“Well, most novels, if they're good, which requires a certain realism, do basically recount an exciting part of a fictional person's life. It's not very odd that you feel as if you were in a novel, now that you're actually getting to see some interesting situations from up close.” Lock answered with a chuckle.

“So you feel the same?” She asked curiously, at which Lock shook his head.

“Life ain't a novel, more like the other way around. Life came before the novel after all.” He said.

“I guess.” Kamin trailed off.

Lock returned to his musings after waiting for a while to see if she would say anything else. One thing that had struck him when he'd been speaking with the Tanner was the information that the leather armour he'd received as recompense had originally been meant for someone else. Someone who had died. Now it was entirely possible that some Shields had died during the riots.

However

It would indeed be a hilarious coincidence if it had been meant for Light, the Shield boy who let himself be executed by Lock in return for him disseminating the documents and books he'd hidden.

Something that he still hadn't done, but all in due time. He hadn't finished all the books yet anyway. Maybe he wouldn't even give them away, they contained useful Vanguard knowledge, knowledge best kept secret. The same could not be said about the documents however.

Interesting secrets, pricey secrets, incriminating secrets.

Secrets that could spark more riots, if not a rebellion.

Maybe a rebellion was what humanity needed in these times of attempted outwards expansion. Rebellions had the habit of creating a slightly nicer ruling class for a few years after the new regime was erected, and if Humanity was too busy with infighting they would be unable to go to war with the elves and therewith bar Lock from meeting not only them, but other sentient species as well.

Nobody liked a rowdy neighbour after all, and a stigma was something very difficult to get rid of once acquired.