Disceroa, 32th of Rainwane, year 179 BN

Richard explained the situation to the others, leaving out the bit about Ben because Earl, Carl, and Big Oar were friends with the man. He figured he'd see what they'd do. The warning Tom gave him about Ben two days ago still lingered in his mind. If the Ben Mitch was referring to yesterday was the same man, then Richard had to watch his back.

While he might not have informed Carl and the others about Ben, he did tell Benjamin. The man as cold as he was took the information in stride saying he'll keep an eye on him. This by itself wasn't enough for Richard considering if they were dealing with a friend of Big Oar's then it was unlikely the big man and the others would side with him. Given that, Richard didn't want to, but he was debating on cutting all ties with them here to avoid such a circumstance.

However, finding replacements would be a hassle and there wasn't enough time. Besides, if he did cut them loose here and they made it back to Evergreen, they could tell others and people would be less willing to work for him.

He still had his knife, and a sword stashed in the carriage. The knife stayed on him but the sword was in the carriage just in case they ran into any trouble and Richard had to protect himself. It was what he was paying the others for, but he wasn't going to rely on them if a fight broke out.

"What do you think it is?" Carl asked from the back of the carriage. He was already in the midst of a conversation with the others as they discussed the item that had to be delivered.

Richard listened in as best he could while steering Dave in the right direction. The carriage was wide and took up most of the street causing people to grunt and complain, but none took action. They moved out of the way and continued about their business as usual.

"I don't know, probably a gem. Like one of those rare ones, you know?" Earl replied.

Richard shook his head, it wasn't a gem, there'd be no need for it to be delivered within a specific timeframe. No, it had to be something more valuable than that. Nothing came to mind as of yet, but he'd figure it out eventually. Not that he really cared if he was being honest, minding his own business was the best way to stay alive.

This deal was just a small step for him, not anything for him to pry into. As long as the information he received was solid, then that's all that mattered.

"You think they'd want a gem moved to Valewater? No, has to be something that can't spoil or something like that. Not food exactly, but could be some rare medical herb, or something like that." Big Oar stated.

The conversation continued with them making various assumptions as they headed towards the port. Benjamin was walking saying he wanted to stretch his legs, but Richard thought it was for other reasons.

When they arrived at the port ships were leaving, small-sized boats that probably belonged to fishermen.

There were two men waiting at the port, one was standing while the other was seated on a large crate. Richard could tell right away that Mitch was the one seated on the crate, and the other person was Ben.

Richard hopped down from the driver's seat and tied Dave to a wooden post so he wouldn't go anywhere. Not like the post would do anything to stop the verlpax, but it was just a precaution just in case. Dave was pretty easy to manage thus far so Richard didn't think he'd have any problems out of the beast.

Carl, Earl, and Big Oar seemed stunned by the sight in front of them. They didn't even seem to notice Richard as he walked right by them with Benjamin right at his side.

"This some shit, isn't it?" Earl asked in a low voice that Richard happened to catch. He guessed they weren't as paralyzed by the sight as he first imagined. It was something to see their reaction, they clearly weren't expecting this.

"Yeah, that's him alright." Richard could have sworn he heard Benjamin say something like that, but no one else in the group paid him any mind. They were too focused on Ben and Mitch. But if it was, then Richard had to agree, this was the same Ben that Big Oar and the others knew.

Mitch stepped forward with that creepy smile plastered all over his face. "Richard, my pal good morning! Ready to get down to business?"

Richard's brow furrowed at that, not the fact they were getting straight to the business. No, it was because Mitch knew his name. Yesterday he never told the man his name, but today he knew him and was acting overly friendly. Richard took note of this and returned the smile, "All good on my end."

Mitch nodded in approval. "Great, great. Let me introduce you to an acquaintance of mine." Mitch waved Ben forward.

From the few interactions he's seen Ben have with the others, Richard thought the man was behaving funny. He seemed, subdued, afraid even. Richard didn't know if the others read his body language, but this told him something. Mitch and Ben were not friends, and might not even be on friendly terms.

"This right here is Ben," Mitch pushed Ben forward because the man was refusing to stand next to him. "He's going to tag along to make sure the item gets to its destination. I hope that won't be a problem." Mitch said.

Just like he assumed, Mitch wanted someone to come with him. It wasn't strange, he was being trusted with an item and didn't know Mitch well. So the trust between the two of them wasn't there, and Richard doubted it ever would be. But he wanted information, and he was told Mitch was the person who had it.

"Yes, thats fine. But I have a condition of my own." Richard's words caused Mitch to frown slightly. It was a swift change in his facial expression but the man recovered before anyone took note of it.

"You do? What is it?" Mitch asked.

"About the information you promised, I'd like to discuss that now," Richard said as he focused on Mitch.

This was nondebatable, he needed to verify the content that Mitch would provide him. If he didn't, he'd be an idiot. Mitch could play him like a fiddle and not bat an eye, it was human nature.

He's seen it done many times in the past, and lessons learned, it was done to him. Fool him once, shame on him, but he wasn't going to be fooled again.

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Mitch replied, "All in due time, my friend. Once the delivery's made, you'll have everything you need. Ben already has what you requested, and will share once it's time."

Richard shook his head, that would never do. Ben might up and vanish the second the item was delivered, and he was already told to be careful of him. "I believe you need this delivery done more than I need your information. If you want to make this on time, I'll need you to pass me that information."

Mitch's smile faded, replaced by a look of incredulity. "You questioning my trustworthiness?"

"Yes," Richard nodded, locking eyes with Mitch. "There's more at risk for me in this arrangement. I want to verify the accuracy of your words, I'm sure you understand."

Mitch was taken aback by Richard's bluntness. He was being friendly, hitting all the right notes that had others eating out the palm of his hand. Yet, Richard didn't trust him? To be fair, he wouldn't trust himself either given his reputation and history, but that was for him to know. This wasn't what he expected given Richard's behavior the last time they spoke. "That wasn't the deal. You do the job, then you get what you're after."

Richard smiled slightly. "I plan on fulfilling my end. But to do so, I need that information now."

After a moment of silent contemplation, marked by a click of his tongue, Mitch conceded. "Fine. I'll tell you about Valewater, but that's as far as I go."

Laughing inwardly, Mitch must have thought him stupid. While the market prices and what the town was in need of were of great value to him, he'd never take it at face value. Valewater was a few days' travel away, which meant he needed to go all the way there to check if the information was solid. Disceroa was here, and Richarad figured if the market knowledge was right here, that was fine by him even if the one Mitch told him about Valewater turned out to be false. At least he'd walk away with something.

While he was young on the outside, Richard has met more crooked-faced people than Mitch. This was child's play compared to dealing with them.

"I appreciate the offer, but considering the circumstances, I'll need at least both markets' information. Without the ability to verify what you tell me about Valewater firsthand, it puts me at a disadvantage." Richard said calmly.

Mitch clicked his tongue, annoyance flashing across his face. "You're turning out to be a real pain in my ass, you know that?" His gaze briefly shifted to Ben, who instinctively took a step back, sensing the shift in Mitch's mood.

Ben was silent during this whole exchange just like the others present. He wanted to speak and calm the mood down, but it was far too late for that. If he spoke up now, he was sure his neck would go flying. He'd very much like to keep his head attached to his shoulders. And given how on edge Mitch is, Ben would be the first to feel his wrath.

Cracking his neck, Mitch seemed to weigh his options before speaking again. "Fine, the most I'll do is introduce you to a friend of mine. Someone who can give you what you're looking for at a decent price. But let me be clear," his tone hardened, "this is as far as I go. If that's not good enough for you, then we're wasting our time here."

His posture stiffened as he added, "And I hate having my time wasted."

The way Mitch's voice came out made the hairs on Ben's neck stand up. This was the real him, not that fake version who spoke with a smile on his face acting friendly. Mitch, no, Fuller was no one's friend. Ben knew that personally in the four years he's been stuck under the man's boot, only being able to breathe when he let him.

From the corner of his eye, Richard could see Benjamin's hand move to the hilt of his blade. He scanned the area noticing people who were moving before paying them attention as if they sensed the mood change. There were too many here, it wasn't worth it to lose his life or a chance at gaining information slip. It was best to accept this, as pushing any further wouldn't do either of them any good. "Yeah, that's fine."

Mitch's demeanor instantly lightened, and with a quick smile and a clap of his hands, he said, "Great. Let's get moving then."

The change was so swift and so sudden that it caught Richard off guard. How the man could go from one personality to another at the jump of a beat was amazing, but also meant that he was probably bipolar.

They followed Mitch towards a ship, medium-sized with black wood gleaming under the sun. With the tension gone, the workers on the port began moving, going to their original task. Approaching the gangplank, Mitch paused and turned to face Richard. "I'll only allow one other to accompany you on board with me," Mitch stated. Without hesitation, Richard glanced back at Benjamin giving him a subtle nod. Benjamin understanding stepped forward.

The three of them headed up the ship and quickly disappeared out of sight from the others. Big Oar, Carl, and Earl were left on the dock, their attention fixed on Ben.

"What's going on, Ben?" Big Oar's face was removed of any smile and joy, he wanted answers.

Ben shifted uncomfortably, his gaze lingering on the ship's entrance. "I know, this isn't what I was expecting either," he admitted, his voice barely above a whisper. A sigh escaped him, betraying his frustration. "This is such a pain."

Carl frowned as he motioned with his chin at the ship Mitch vanished into."Thought this was Fuller, but turns out he's Mitch?"

Earl nodded, "You seemed off around him, Ben. What's the deal?"

Big Oar's patience was wearing thin. "Spit it out, Ben," he growled, his large arms crossed in front of his chest

Ben let out a weak laugh, the sound devoid of any real humor. He glanced back at the ship once more before responding, "We probably don't have much time. Can I explain later?"

"Now, or I'll beat it out of you," Big Oar threatened, his voice leaving no room for negotiation.

Ben's weak laughter continued, though there was a hint of resignation in his voice. "That won't make me talk faster," he said, gesturing to his stitched-shut right eye. "And if you think whatever you're planning is worse than this," he paused, his hand hovering over the visible scar, "then you're mistaken."

Earl exchanged a look with Carl, both men sharing a moment of disbelief. "Can't believe it," Earl muttered, shaking his head in dismay. "Ben talked a big game, but now he's just cowering under another man."

"You don't know anything, so you've got no right to judge," Ben snapped back. "Sitting pretty in Evergreen, your biggest worry being the monster tide. That's nothing." His laughter was hollow, devoid of any real amusement. "You don't know the first thing about the world. Don't talk to me like you do."

Without warning, Big Oar's patience snapped. His fist connected with Ben's face, a blow that sent Ben staggering backward.

"Don't feed us that bullshit," Big Oar growled. "We know nothing about the world? That's crap, and you know it." He jabbed a finger toward a slave struggling under the weight of a heavy crate. "You were right about one thing, though. You're no different from us. But it's worse than that," he added, his gaze turning cold as he locked eyes with Ben. "You're just a slave pretending to be free."

Blood dribbled from Ben's nose, as he spat more blood onto the ground. Ben straightened up, wiping the blood from his nose with the back of his hand. "You think that makes you better, Big Oar? You think because you can throw a punch, you understand what I've been through?"

....

Below deck, Mitch led Richard and Benjamin to a more secluded office. The room was dimly lit, with maps and various navigational tools scattered across a large desk. Mitch reached for a roll of paper resting beside a brass sextant and handed it to Richard.

"What's this?" Richard asked, unrolling the paper to reveal detailed lists.

"That," Mitch began, watching Richard's reaction closely, "is everything you need to know about Valewater's market. Food, clothing, building materials, weapons, armor, luxury items – it's all there."

Richard scanned the contents, his eyebrows raising slightly at the detailed information. It was a lot, more than he was expecting if he was being honest. He at most thought he'd be told the prices of a few items, but this was twenty times better than that. If even a quarter of the items on this list were true, he'd find a way to manage.

Mitch observed Richard's expression. "So, do you trust me now?"

Richard met Mitch's gaze squarely. "I'll need to verify this, but it's a start."

Mitch nodded, a trace of disappointment in his tone. "I could have been more helpful, but given your initial distrust, this is as far as I'm willing to go. If you want to know precisely what Valewater needs and what will sell best, you'll have to figure that out on your own."

Richard shrugged, "I can manage."

Their exchange was momentarily interrupted as Mitch shifted his attention to a small, intricately designed bronze box on the desk. The box, devoid of any visible locking mechanism, was nevertheless secured by a chain wrapped tightly around it.

"This," Mitch announced, tapping the box lightly, "is the item in question. I trust you won't attempt to open it. Deliver it to Edward in Valewater. Ben's acquainted with him and will fill in the details upon arrival."

"Simple enough," Richard replied. He was curious about the box, but not enough to open it. He didn't really care as long as he got what he wanted, and thinking of that. "Now, the person you were going to introduce me to."

Seeing Richard's dismissive nature of the box, Mitch saw the young man in a new light. Not many could look away from such an item, especially one as this shrouded in mystery. Even he didn't know what was inside, just that Peter was paying him a lot of tales to deliver it. Peter was an obnoxious man, but a man with a lot of money that was for sure.

Fifty gold tales to deliver this, no questions asked. It was a no-brainer, but that kind of money came with a lot of problems, which is the main reason why Mitch wasn't too keen on doing this job himself. There would be a lot of eyes on him, and if the workers and guards were to check his ship then the box would surely be discovered. That was no good for him.

It was best to outsource the job, not to mention he wouldn't have been able to make it on time anyway. Not unless he left right away. Yesterday when he met Peter and told him he would accept the job, the man was shocked considering the amount of time that passed by. Telling him how it'd be useless now until Mitch informed him he could get it there in a few days. Hearing that, Peter started singing a different tune and agreed.

Why Peter couldn't deliver it himself, Mitch didn't know nor did he care.

Mitch looked at Richard. "I'm serious, don't open it. If it's open, you won't get anything and if I find out it's open," Mitch laughed a little bit. "Let's just say you won't be having a good time, anywhere." He made it clear to Richard.

Seeing the silence Richard was giving him, Mitch grabbed the box. "Great! Now, let's go see that friend of mine. Think you'll like him, and his goods."

Mitch led them back outside until they were standing on the deck of the ship. He noticed something was off with the group that was left out there. They seemed to be in some sort of confrontation, which amused him. Mitch couldn't help but wonder what sort of trouble Ben got himself into. He planned to ask the man before he departed Disceroa, while also making sure Ben thoroughly understood that the box he'd be given under no circumstances should ever be opened. Because if it was, he'd hunt Ben down personally and if that happened... oh boy, he'd wish he were never born.