“So….How do you think they did it?” said Ophelia Delphi, current head administrator of the Imperial Ministry of Public Order.

She seemed to speak to no one in particular. Walking all by her lonesome as she made her way from one end of  Gwenael Great Palace to the other. Her high heels clicking as she walked down the long hallway. Passing slaves and servants who seemed to scurry out of her way like rabbits before a tiger.

“How do I think they did what, ma’am?” said Dennis, her attache.

He appeared behind her, accompanied by a squall of wind that blew forcefully but carried no sound.

“A little less than three years ago, a little no name company registers for incorporation at both the EITC and the KOG. They pay in cash instead of using trade accounts. Their principal executives are complete unknowns.

One, William P. Maddoc, formerly known as Nine-Eyed Asphodel, now currently going by Asphodel. One Edna Raemona Maddoc, formerly known as Cold-Mercury Dancer, now currently going by the handle Cold-Mercury Angel. One Elena Elizabeth Maddoc, a later hire, joining a year or so after the company was established, currently still going by the handle Tyrant Queen. All of them nobodies. Lesser bluebloods from some podunk lesser kingdom that serves as vassal state to one of Meallan’s smaller duchies. All of them ‘meh’ in talent and bloodline, though the last one looked she was going to be a bright spark before she suddenly burnt out shortly after entering Lloyd’s Twelves Souls Sect. In short it was just three people, three very ordinary people. Running a very ordinary company. Albeit one with a conspicuous amount of opening capital.” said Ophelia.

“Yes, Ma’am. If I recall correctly records placed their starting capital at over five million denarii.”

“Now suddenly, just a little less than three years later, while the core of the company is still small kept those same three members. They’ve ballooned. Their magic item sales expanding to take up a full thirty percent of the magic item and potion markets for Argus and around fifteen percent for all of Monde. With thousands of subsidiaries and associate companies under them. Not a majority, but not bad for a company that’s only been doing business for two and a half years.”  said Ophelia.

“More important than their assets are their ‘assets’, the core group. A year ago, Asphodel walked into a guild office in Meallan to upgrade the corporation's status and his particulars. Revealing that he’s broken through to the third layer. Six months later, the two other Chief Executives walked into the same office and revealed they’d broken through to the second layer. I don’t think I need to explain who completely off this smells do I? We have billions of people on this continent. Millions of practitioners and of their number only few hundred will ever make it past the first realm. Not to mention the second realm.”  said Ophelia.

“Records put the number as a little under a hundred. As of last year we had seventy-two that we could confirm? Though a lot of them tend to stop being safe to track once they reach a certain...status” said Dennis.

Ophelia nodded.

“Seventy-three now, Third Realm Saint, no less, but you get the gist.” said Ophelia.

“So how did they do it? How did a small no-name company suddenly become a power in this world? How is it that the Bone Tree Company managed to do in three years what other groups have been working towards for countless centuries?” said Ophelia.

Dennis opened his mouth as he trailed behind his mistress, sharp eyes glinting as he tried to come up with answer.

“Perhaps it has something to do with the labyrinth raid on the prism that was near Liadan? All the other groups were forced to evacuate due to the appearance of a quote-unquote unassailable threat. The Bone Tree Company’s Asphodel stayed. Him and a certain Grand Neophyte, Ludwik Georg. He was actually reported to have died, being present as the tower fell but it’s possible that Asphodel managed to pick something up before making his great escape.” said Dennis.

Ophelia nodded again.

A case of content theft: this narrative is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.

“A few of our friends in the Great Kingdoms, Guilds and Martial Sects have been thinking the same thing.” said Ophelia.

“Oh? Then why haven’t they made a move already, Ma’am?” said Dennis.

Ophelia laughed, it was a sharp dry bark, and was accompanied by a look that was simultaneously beleaguered and amused.

“Do you know of a little mountain range by the name of the Bluepeak Mountains, Dennis?”

“Yes, ma’am. They’re the third largest mountain range in midland hinterland and They make up the border that separates Lloyd’s Ortiz Kingdom and Meallan’s Renwood Duchy.” said Dennis.

“You’ve got it in one, Dennis, but you made one mistake.”

“Ma’am?”

“The Bluepeak mountains ‘used’ to be the third largest mountains in the midland hinterland. Now they’re gone. Erased.”

Dennis startled at his mistress’s words. For a second he felt something like hesitation. An ounce of disbelief that was quickly crushed down, when he remembered that it his mistress saying it. His mistress and head administrator. A woman who never spoke of things, unless they had been verified first. Verified and thoroughly examined.

“....I take it the various powers are rethinking their approach, ma’am.” said Dennis. After a moment’s thought.

Ophelia rolled her eyes.

“Well, no shit. Of course they’re rethinking some things. It’s one thing to take candy from kids, but if they’ve already gone and grown up you might well get a black eye or worse. That’s just common sense. Besides, there’s still two other angles to consider.” said Ophelia.

“Two other angles, ma’am? And those would be….?”

“Well there’s the possibility that it’s a trick and either the first tests or the last ones were faked. The machines and truth geas are near impossible to fool, but near impossible isn’t impossible. So it’s well within the possibility that the people of the Bone Tree Company, are A) faking their new found strength somehow, or B they were faking their strength before and were always this strong. Then there’s option C) that says we’re all either over-thinking this or not thinking enough and there’s some unknown backer responsible for all this? All options seem to strongly imply that they aren’t what or who they say they are. More to the point I suspect our man of the hour isn’t who he says he is.”

“Man of the Hour?” said Dennis.

“William P. Maddoc? Asphodel? Come on Dennis, keep up. There’s a seven year period where we neither know where he was or what he was up. He just come back one day and soon afterwards founded the company. In fact after looking into their past a little it seems that things were looking a little odd even before the raid on the prism tower. Word from our agents says certain Enzo Maynard of the EITC has been driving himself nuts trying to get in touch with him. The girls are out in the open but he’s playing the part of recluse. Maybe he’s still in the hinterland. Either way...He casts a deep shadow.”

“So you’re saying you want me to get the special team to pick him up?” asked Dennis.

“What?! No! Weren’t you listening. We have at least three major sects and two great kingdoms balking at the prospect of picking a fight with the guy. Why? Because even if they’re sure they’ll win they’re not sure it’ll have been worth it.”

“So just keep an eye on him?” said Dennis. Slightly chagrined at his misstep, for all that his expression didn’t waver.

“Well we’ll have to wait till he comes up for air first, but yeah that’s gist of things.” said Ophelia. As she finally reached her destination. The throne room of one of the great Kings.

She put on a fake smile as her attache faded back to his usual position. Then she stepped through the door. Ready to exchange fake pleasantries while putting down yet another dispute between the six Great Kingdoms of Argus.

*****

“So what do you think we should do?” said Jermaine. Speaking to his three most senior lieutenants. Who also happened to be his three remaining lieutenants.

Matte-Black Tangent, Turquoise Knight, and Gizmo Kiss.

“Sir?” said Gizmo Kiss. A young woman wearing oversized artificer goggles and a very uncomfortable looking spiked, metal corset.

“We all remember our friends at the Bone Tree Company, yeah? They’ve been having a good turn.  Looks like they’re reaching out in need of a little help. Apparently they have some ventures they’d like us to keep an eye on for them. Some plays they’d like us to run.” said Jermaine.

Tangent sat back in his seat, eying his boss with a look of amusement before giving the man what he knew he really wanted.

“I don’t know, boss. What do ‘you’ think we should do?”

Jermaine smiled, aware this his old friend had already long grown wise to his tricks by now.

“Well… since you’ve asked. Let me tell you what I’ve seen. Our little mercenary groups doing good but there’s is doing great. Word is, they’ve managed to take up quite a bit of market share. What I think is they want to spread some of that sunshine around we’d be stupid not to let them.”

“Then what’s the plan, boss.” said Tangent.

“An alliance. As far as I know we’re the only ones to ‘willing’ step under their umbrella and the terms we’ve been offered are almost stupidly generous. Our old friend the Tyrant Queen has a few favors she wants to ask and she seems very willing to pay if we deliver.”

Tangent nodded, brows raised, getting a clearer picture of things once he realized that ‘she’ was part of this. Shaking his head because he should have realized it, after all she ‘had’ been one of them once.

Tangent smiled.

“Well, what else can I say? You’re the boss, boss.”