That was not good. I was confident in facing a JourneyMage, even an Adept I might be able to beat if I got lucky.

Yet a Mage. That was a death sentence. The only way I would be able to survive would be to use the tools I had bought.

Yet, that was also a death sentence in itself. There would be no end to the Mages trying to get their hand on the equipment.

Even High Mages would be brought in on the action.

I had to come up with some other way.

"Please, Gan, we need to run. There is no way for us to beat the Orots. Maybe if we leave now, we might have a chance."

I had to stop his manic frenzy before it was too late.

"Sammy stop, We won't be able to escape if the Orots truly have it out for us. Now we must stand and fight."

"Stand and fight. Are you out of your mind? This a full-blown Mage we are talking about. Someone who could probably kill everybody in this pub and get away with a slap on the wrist. If they even get punished at all."

His pacing once again sped up as the reality of the situation became more and more apparent.

"Okay, I am confident I can figure something out. For now, please find out why the hell they are targeting us in the first place. We must have done something to get their attention. Maybe all we have to do is give up our territory, and they will leave us all alive."

Sammys look said he already knew what the answer to that question would be. I did too, but it was still worth a shot. I hadn't expected to have to deal with a powerhouse like the Orots so soon.

"Go. We have to try something. I will figure something out."

He finally nodded and left the destroyed room behind. Now I would have to develop an idea to get someone who could beat a mage on my side within the next few hours.

"Good Afternoon, welcome to Cilka Alchemy emporium. Honored Elder, I am glad you have returned."

I was surprised they had been honest with that title. They had truly given some great gifts. I could only hope I could leverage a lot more out of them.

"If you could follow me, the Grandmaster is awaiting your arrival."

That was a first. A Grandmaster was waiting for a simple Initiate. The development of the EverFern potion was going well; it seemed.

That was good—even more credibility for me.

I would have to be careful not to reveal too much. It was a delicate balance I would have to keep up.

The Grandmaster was still in the same laboratory I had met with him in the first place.

"Ah, our humble benefactor has arrived early. In truth, I wasn't expecting you for quite some time. It seems you have been busy."

The Grandmaster's stern gaze said that this would be a very different negotiation to the one only a few days ago. This was no longer the scholar obsessed with finding the secrets to a great lost potion. Now I was facing the leader of a powerful family of the Capital.

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"I thank you for welcoming me back. I have indeed made good use of the wealth you so kindly gave me."

He nodded at that. He then beckoned me to sit in front of him. I was pretty sure by this point that it wasn't going to be an easy negotiation.

"So how can we help our esteemed benefactor today?"

"Ah well, I have a favor to ask. I will, of course, give proper compensation. The EverFern idea wasn't the only thing I learned during my time in Belti. I'm sure that after finding a good middle ground, we will be able to come to an understanding."

The Grandmaster took a few seconds to respond. Slowing moving closer towards me, his hands resting under his chin as he leaned forward on the table—a large amount of magic power spreading out around him.

His power pressed down on me as he continued to stare in silence. I didn't want to succumb to his pressure, but there was only so much resistance I could put up against a Grand Mage of his caliber.

He would be able to kill me without moving a finger. That was the level of strength he had over me. It was only the pressure of the Orots that had me coming back to the Cilka's after all. This left me at a distinct disadvantage against whatever the Grandmaster wanted to do with me.

"Well, you are a surprise. I was quite interested to hear that you involved yourself in local politics. I was surprised someone as traveled and learned as someone like you must be decided to back some no name in the Outer Ring. It was truly quite perplexing."

"What can I say? I like to think I would be able to make a difference to the Capital. I grew up here, after all."

"Yes, yes, you did. And imagine our surprise when we found out that you have never left the Capital, despite what you told us. Now, are we going to be honest with each other and tell me who the hell you are working for? I don't want our great relationship to sour after all."

His magic pressed me down even further. It became more difficult to breathe, let alone talk. His pressure seemed to mount to make sure I knew what position I was in.

Finally, he relented, allowing me to respond. It took me a second to come up with the best response. I wasn't sure how I would get out of this without being put in an even worse position.

"Well, Grandmaster. It's a long story. But you must believe that I am not working for any of your competitors. Surely your investigations revealed that. I know I will be a great help to your family in the future."

It pained me to lose all the power like this. I didn't have a choice. I could see no way out of this without losing a whole lot of my leverage.

"Well, young one, you aren't wrong. You are an unknown, with obviously quite a bit of knowledge. What's to stop us from using some of our more esoteric means to gain all we can from you. We are well aware of who you will be facing in a matter of hours."

That was troublesome. He knew exactly what position I was in. I couldn't rely overly on his goodwill, despite how he treated me before. It still seemed like some strange scheme by a rival power. To give them hope of their salvation first, only after to begin ripping it away once they gave their benefactor enough power in the family. For an honorable clan like the Cilka's, that was their only option.

Of course, since I was so openly an unknown threat with apparently no power behind me. I could be efficiently dealt with before I became a problem. This was troublesome.

"Then you also know that either way, I am dead. I came here openly before I could prove myself properly to your family, in the hopes of fair trade. That is all I ask. My life for another piece of valuable info."

The Grandmaster's pressure returned in full force. It wasn't the first time a Grand Mage had tried to pressure me like that. It took everything in my power not to use the technique that would allow me to avoid the effects.

I had to have some trump card incase the discussions truly soured. I also doubted if he would allow me to be killed.

There were a few options for what I truly was. No matter which one was true, I would more than likely be worth more alive.

That was unless I appeared deliberately antagonistic. Which I was trying my best to avoid.

"It would have to be of sufficient worth. Dispatching a mage or a Knight capable of taking on the Orots champion would be quite costly."

That was just a bald-faced lie. Even the weakest of the great Alchemy clans would have Mages of that caliber working as butlers. Unfortunately, such was the position I was in.

"Very well, Ganley. It is more useful to keep you alive for the moment. I will be doing two things to help you in the next few weeks. You, meanwhile, will be helping me as well. Every day, you will return here and give me everything you know about one problem we may have. In return, we may be inclined to reward you. If what you say is the truth, then you will be a valuable ally."

"So you will give me what I need to deal with the Orots?"

"Oh, that's simple enough, young one. I will be leaving one Mage and two Knights in your employ for the next two weeks. They should be more than enough to deal with any gang member."