Hazel looked at the elated expression of Emily after Aile trusted her and felt that she had underestimated their relationship. She felt uncomfortable and then said, "I am sorry, I know that you will not like this, but can you please make an oath to never go against him. Just so that I can have a peace of mind." Hazel became more cynical after what happened in Cape Tie.
***
Soon it was night time, and the trade between Aile and the bandits happened. Hazel was also told to stand by, and she was brought closer to the area of the transaction. If a firework was set, she was to go and help. The caravan got looted. While the guards were ordered not to attack. The bandits similarly did not hurt anyone, the first trade completed as a success. This marked the start of the cooperation between Aile and the bandits.
On the next few days, a rumour of the missing magistrate started in the town. The people got worried about their safety and started to sell their properties. All of these properties were immediately bought out.
Then an adventures union was established in the town and took anyone capable to work for them exclusively. This attracted a lot of people, and everyone tried to get in, worried that they might not need more people, as the unemployment in the town increased. Shortly after they discovered it was owned by the mysterious businessman Shadow and everyone understood he was not going to abandon the town.
This also made the remaining citizens to not worry too much. Because they believed that if the situation was really bad, there would be no way that Shadow would invest so much in the town. This reinvigorated the town's atmosphere a little more.
Then most of the freelance healers in the town were hired. They were paid to work out of clinics, that was located in specific areas. This made the citizen happy as the prices were regulated. All of the healers that worked there were tested for competency.
Everyone got busy. Sara started to train with Aile and Hazel as she wanted to get stronger.
Laila, Leia, Sophie and a few more people that Emily took note of was trained by her. While Laila and Leia were learning elementary stuff.
The rest of the people were trained by Emily to the fullest. They started to idolize her, and they always were talking about Shadow.
Fiona had built two merchant halls and made it so that it seemed that two merchant halls were competing.
She also created a union for all the merchants in Port Kiar so that they can help each other and not be bullied. This gave the people even a better impression of Shadow. They could also sell their stocks to Aile's bigger merchant hall if they thought they could not sell it themselves in their smaller shops.
The guards of town soon joined Hazel's Adventurers union as the magistrate was missing and they were not sure when the next one will arrive. This made the citizens panic as they no longer had protection. However, Hazel's adventurer's union took the job of securing the town. They established a system to collect money upon entrance, in return for the protection.
The people accepted this as it was similar to before only a bit more expensive. A little higher price did not dissuade the people, they were happy with Shadow's action. To show their gratitude, the citizens called the disguised Hazel and Shadow as the Wardens of Port Kiar.
Aile also managed to establish an underground presence. He created gambling-dens, areas to hire assassins, buy weapons and other stuff. Aile got the supplies from the bandits. In return, he would give them the assassination mission or part of the profit. Of course, he did not do this deal as Shadow, he only gave them a way to contact Emily and even that not face to face. The bandits trusted this as she was referred by him. Aile was not worried about people not finding out. He left ways to contact the underground presence in his many taverns around the town.
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Aile had told Emily to inform her people to not take any mission that would endanger the innocent indiscriminately. He also told her to make sure that their people are not targeted. Emily had a few trusted people, and they became responsible for these locations.
Emily spent most of her time training everyone or spending it with Fiona or Aile. Only when she was absolutely needed, she would interfere with the underground.
Not long after 2 armed units arrived in Port Kiar. One settled down in the North of Port Kiar and the other at the South in Aile's taverns. The people at the North of Port Kiar were from the White Clan. The people at the South were from the royalty. Soon two more bases were built in the town.
The first action they took was to visit Aile and demand an explanation about his troops at the gates. They asked if Aile intended to take control of the gates of the town. Aile was not bothered and told them as soon as they think they can take control of the gates; he would take away his people.
Aile countered by blaming them for taking too long, as a result of which, he had to spend his money to protect a town. He asked for compensation.
This quilled their anger a little and made them think of a way not to be involved with this profit-seeking merchant.
They then demanded that Aile should leave the people that guarded the gates and leave them under their control, Aile refused. He told them if they want his people guarding the gates, they needed to pay for it. They tried to act forceful, but the disguised Hazel released her 6th level of cultivation. Making them leave in a hurry.
Aile as Shadow then made an announcement in annoyance. Telling everyone that the people from the kingdom has come, and they demanded to take control of the security of the gates, to which he obliged.
He then called back his people after informing Hazel. This forced the two groups to secure two gates, each stretching their forces. After a few days, the royal-side came to Aile, and they ended up hiring the people to be the guard again. Leaving their people to do as they please. Not long after the White Clan's troops did the same.
Aile was making money from the places they stayed, items they bought and now the town gate he protected and if healing was required, they also had to pay him.
This continued for a while, and he got a message from his new best pals the bandits. The news stated that the bandits and pirates were hired to target his caravan for a slaughter.
Aile has extended his hand to cooperate with the pirates. However, one of them refused, and the other told him they will think about it. The news he just got was that the group that rejected him will be attacking his caravan.
Aile increased his security on his next trade, preventing them from successfully attacking him.
He also sent the Oxe Family a message, telling them that he suspected that the pirate group, that planned to attack him, was responsible for Jack Oxe disappearing from Port Kiar.
The town soon stabilized with a dual power structure, one at the North and the other at the South. However, they did not have much power in reality, with Aile's economic dominance and the adventurer unions militaristic dominance.
Aile gave minimum tax to them, with the overwhelming power that Aile had economically and financially neither side wanted to push him too much.
They maintained a cordial attitude to form an alliance or to at least not push him to the other side. If a possible war starts between them, they knew that they would need Shadow's help.
A few more months passed, and Emily started to take Laila, Leia, and Sophie out on missions with the other girl that she had picked from the prisoner's compensation to save their lives.
Aile had received 4 from which 3 were assistant to Fiona and 1 was taken by Emily. The prisoners were making the healing cream. It has now become a well-known commodity of Oxe merchant guild making Aile 75 silver per bottle.
Fiona's business frameworks had been established, and she now had much more free time. As she was free Aile would help her and Diana in cultivation and make sure they spend their time to do that daily. This allowed both of them to progress, they were becoming more powerful. He also fought with them to make sure they are combat proficient. Sara would occasionally join them. However, she spent her time with Hazel, and she had gotten her talent from her. She was already able to feel the energy outside, and soon she could start her journey into cultivation.