Black Eagles Hideout - Underground Arena

Sera entered the meeting room, her presence announced by her footsteps echoing against the metal walls. The room could best be described as utilitarian, its cold surfaces reflecting the harsh light from overhead lamps. While in the center, a large, polished wooden desk commanded attention.

She paused for a moment, taking in the space and the people within it. Zoha had already sat at the desk along with the other Black Eagle leaders: Elara, Jarek, Kiran, and Mira.

Their eyes followed Sera’s every move as she approached the head of the table. Each leader had a distinct demeanor; Elara's sharp gaze, Jarek's furrowed brow, Kiran's calm composure, and Mira's subtle tension all painted a picture of their individual concerns. Nothing out of the ordinary for now it seems.

Sera took her seat with an air of authority. "Let's get started. For the first order of business, I want information on the Black Eagles' finances."

Immediately, Kiran sorted through a stack of documents laid out before him. He flipped through the papers until he found the key reports, which rustled softly as he selected the documents and handed them to Sera.

While she looked over the documents, absorbing the details, Kiran started to explain. "Our income sources are diversified."

He leaned forward slightly, pointing to various sections of the reports. "Around 50% of our revenue comes from potion sales. The slave trade accounts for about 30%, followed by ransoms at 15%, and miscellaneous activities, which include dungeon core raids, make up the remaining 5%."

Sera's eyes narrowed slightly as she looked up from the papers. "I'm surprised dungeon core raids make up such a small part of the organization's income."

"We only resort to dungeon core raids when we need cash fast. Raiding a dungeon core is resource-intensive and time-consuming. Plus, finding a buyer for a dungeon core isn't always easy, and the returns aren't guaranteed."

"How is the organization structured in terms of money flow? Who pays whom?"

Kiran paused. "You want to know how the money is distributed within the organization?"

"Precisely, I want to understand the financial hierarchy." Sera said.

"We operate on a pyramid structure. The leaders at the top take percentage cuts from the earnings of those below them. Each level takes a portion of the earnings from the level beneath them, and so on down the line."

"This system could, no, it will lead to problems down the line."

Suddenly, Jarek leaned forward, brow furrowed in thought. "Why do you say that, Boss?"

"Think about it for a second. This system does incentivize recruitment, but is inherently unsustainable in the long term because the people at the lower end of the 'pyramid' will likely receive little to no money."

Jarek looked puzzled. "What's wrong with that?"

Mira chuckled and smirked. "Serves the newbies right. They should pay their fair share."

But Sera shook her head disapprovingly. "The issue is that the Black Eagles likely won't attract the best talent with this system. We're going to end up with people who are desperate or foolish, perhaps both. Perhaps Vittorio and Vega were content to receive scraps, but I want the cream of the crop."

Jarek shrugged, considering her words. "I guess you're right. But in that case, what's your plan, Boss?"

"The Black Eagles should adopt a more conventional compensation plan. Offer fixed salaries with opportunities for bonuses or promotions based on performance. This will allow us to be more selective in the people we recruit and motivate those at the bottom to keep working."

"But… who's gonna pay for all that?"

"All of us here will, one way or another. I'll give the details of these payments in a later meeting, but of course, if any of you are unwilling to contribute to these salaries, please voice your concerns."

"N-no, I think fixed salaries are actually a great idea, Boss."

With none of the other Black Eagle leaders saying anything, Sera took a deep breath, fingers interlacing on the table as she surveyed the room. "Let's move on to discussing major threats next."

Elara spoke first. "The authorities in Marwood generally overlook our operations due to well-placed bribes. But, there's been increased chatter about some higher-ups becoming more curious about our activities."

"That makes sense, I wouldn't be surprised if word even makes it as far as to the inquisition eventually. And if that's the case, bribes alone won't be enough."

"Yeah, just how it is, Boss."

"Is Countess Ivris involved at all?"

Mira, who had been quiet until now, shook her head. "Countess Ivris is clean, but the people around her are not. They take bribes and look the other way."

Sera nodded thoughtfully. "Good. The last thing we need is a powerful noble directly interfering with our plans. Are there any other gangs in Marwood that pose a significant threat?"

Jarek grunted. "The Iron Gorgons are the biggest threat right now. They've been gradually chipping away at us over the years, and they'll only become more of a problem if left alone."

Sera tapped her fingers on the table. "We need to get a leg up on them. One way to do that is by improving the types of potions we're selling. Using more rare herbs like Vipershade and Aetherwisp will set us apart. We can also introduce new exclusive herbs that hardly anyone else knows about."

Kiran raised an eyebrow. "Don't mean to be rude, Boss, but how do you plan on getting those herbs? They're not exactly easy to come by."

"I have my own ways. Trust me, we'll have what we need to make our potions superior."

The room was silent for a moment before Elara spoke up. "If you can deliver on that, it would give us a significant advantage. But we'll need to move quickly. The Iron Gorgons won't wait for us to get our act together."

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"Agreed," Sera said.

Then, Sera held up a hand as she motioned for the leaders to remain seated. "Before this meeting is adjourned, there's one more matter to discuss. Our numbers must have taken a hit recently. I want each of you to go on a recruitment drive. We need to bolster our ranks and entice more members to join."

Elara leaned forward, her long hair catching the light. "We could target the folks in the slums. Offer them a chance at a better life, protection, and purpose." She tapped her manicured nails on the polished wood of the table, emphasizing her point.

Jarek grunted in agreement, crossing his arms over his chest. "I say we just pick from the participants in the underground arena. There are always strong, desperate souls looking for a way out."

"Maybe we should focus on the mercenaries and adventurers who roam the outskirts of Marwood. They have combat experience and could be persuaded to join for the right price and incentives." Kiran said.

Mira nodded. "Don't forget about the artisans and traders. We need support staff too, people who can provide supplies and services. We could offer them protection in exchange for their loyalty and goods."

Sera listened to each suggestion, her expression impassive. When they finished, she stood and addressed them. "It seems all of you have some idea on how to do this recruitment, which is good. However, we will need to finance this new recruitment drive. Any ideas on how we could gather funds as quickly as possible?"

The leaders exchanged puzzled glances but didn't question her decision. Before they could discuss further, Zoha interjected. "Waot, don't Vega and Vittorio keep their money around the area?"

"Vega does keep his money here, in a vault on the lower floors. But Vito keeps his money in a bank in the capital." Kiran said.

"We could just give away Vega's money to attract recruits." Zoha said.

Mira exhaled an exasperated sigh. "Vega's money is kept on a secure floor with guardian golems and magical defenses, won't be easy."

Sera turned towards the door. "We'll manage just fine, everyone gather all of your people, we're heading down to that vault."

***

Sera stood in front of the large set of iron doors, grazing the cold metal with her fingers. Intricate runes, glowing faintly, covered the surface, their lines interweaving in a mesmerizing pattern. She studied them for a moment, noting the complexity and the subtle pulse of magic within each carved symbol. Rather rudimentary all things considered.

Kiran stepped beside her. "These doors are secured by runes that can only be activated using Vega's blood."

Sera let out a soft, almost mocking laugh. "I'll manage just fine. May I borrow a dagger?"

"Sure, no problem."

Kiran quickly handed her a small dagger. Sera examined it briefly before making a deliberate cut across her palm. Black sap oozed from the wound, thick and glossy.

She noticed the eyes of everyone except Zoha fixed on the unusual liquid, but no one dared to make a comment. No use saying anything if they won't either.

Ignoring their stares, Sera pressed her bleeding hand against the runes, allowing the black sap to smear over the glowing symbols. The sap seeped into the grooves, the runes flickering in response.

The runes pulsed erratically, fighting against the intrusion of her sap and magic. Sera's eyes narrowed in concentration as she traced the intricate lines with her fingers, pushing her power into the iron. The sap acted as a conduit, disrupting the flow of the original magic. This shouldn't take too long.

With a final surge of determination, Sera felt the enchantment give way. The runes dimmed, their light snuffed out under the force of her power.

The doors groaned in protest, their mechanisms creaking as they slowly swung open. A gust of stale air rushed out, carrying with it the scent of dust and old metal. Sera stepped through the doorway, leaving the others to follow in her wake.

The room beyond was vast, its high ceiling disappearing into shadow. Tall, imposing golems stood sentinel along the walls, their stone bodies intricately carved with elaborate patterns. Meanwhile, the floor was a treacherous labyrinth of traps, pressure plates, and enchanted runes, all meticulously designed to deter intruders.

Sera turned to her team. "Jarek, take your strike team and engage the golems. Mira, focus on neutralizing the traps. Kiran, provide support and watch for any hidden defenses."

She then faced Zoha. "Use your threads to help Mira disarm the traps and assist where needed."

The demoness nodded and immediately started to weave patterns in the air. Silken threads materialized, glinting in the dim light as they snaked towards the traps, aiding Mira in disarming them.

Jarek signaled his team, who fanned out to confront the golems. The first clash echoed through the chamber as stone met steel. Jarek's team fought with coordinated strikes.

Mira knelt by the nearest trap and set down her toolkit. She worked carefully, brow furrowed in concentration. Beads of sweat formed on her forehead as she carefully deactivated them one by one, using tiny screwdrivers and pliers to manipulate the delicate components. The runes flickered and dimmed, their power fading away, leaving the path incrementally safer for her comrades.

Nearby, Zoha worked in tandem with Mira by using her enchanted threads. The silken threads intertwined with the traps, they added an extra layer of finesse and speed to the process of disarming them.

Kiran and Elara stood at the ready, both looking around the room for any signs of additional threats. The two watched the battle unfold with keen attention, senses heightened to detect any shift in the room's magical defenses.

After some time, the path to the vault doors at the end of the room was cleared. Sera walked towards them and noted how these doors were even more imposing than the first, covered in even more intricate runes and multiple locks.

She paused for a moment, tracing the patterns of the runes. Her mind worked quickly, assessing the layers of defenses before her.. Surprisingly complex, probably better to work around it.

Sera took a deep breath, feeling the weight of the task before her. She leaned forward slightly and spat a few seeds into her hand.

Then, she inserted the seeds into the loose crevices around the vault door. She pressed them firmly into the small gaps, ensuring they were secure. The runes on the door flared briefly, reacting to the foreign objects, but then subsided as the seeds settled in.

Sera stepped back and waited for a few seconds. Slowly, the seeds sprouted, delicate tendrils unfurling into silver thorn vines that grew rapidly. The vines crept along the surface of the vault door, their thorns digging into the metal and stone.

The runes flickered and dimmed as the vines spread, disrupting the enchantments woven into the door. The metal groaned under the pressure, cracking and faltering.

Finally, the vines tightened their grip, and the vault door shuddered as it detached from its frame, landing with a resounding crash. Sera stepped into the vault, scanning the room with a keen, appraising gaze. Let's see what we have here.

The interior was filled with piles of gold coins and gleaming jewelry. The walls were lined with shelves, each one overflowing with ornate trinkets, gemstones, and intricately crafted artifacts.

Behind her, Zoha and the rest of the Black Eagles followed, their expressions visibly showing both awe and greed. Jarek's eyes widened at the sight of a chest brimming with gold, while Mira's fingers twitched towards a delicate necklace encrusted with emeralds. Zoha, though more reserved, couldn't hide the spark of excitement in her eyes as she surveyed the riches before them.

Sera raised a hand, silencing the murmur of excitement that had begun to rise among her team. "Stay calm, we'll handle this methodically."

The eagerness in the room subsided, replaced by a respectful silence as they waited for her instructions. Sera moved to the center of the vault, her mind already calculating how best to allocate the treasure.

"We need to ensure that this windfall benefits the Black Eagles as a whole. Three quarters of the gold coins will be reserved for future operations. This will provide us with the financial stability we need to continue expanding our influence and capabilities."

Elara, her fingers still twitching slightly, spoke up. "And the remaining quarter?"

"The remaining gold will be divided among the team members based as an incentive. This includes not just those present, but all other members as well." Sera said.

Afterwards, she turned her attention back to the vault's contents. "Everyone, help me sort the coins and jewelry. We need to ensure everything is accounted for and divided fairly."