Ikrei P.O.V.
Somewhere in the city of Erysa, Northwest of Zunar.
Agent Black: Case 1
“Contents secured, beginning delivery.” I recorded the audio message on my transmission device.
I was walking among the crowds with a special delivery. Money, a lot of money for a corrupt judge. Coins and magic transfer are not the only forms money takes in this world. We also use paper notes with magic seals to avoid falsification. The nation and kingdom banks control the issue of the paper notes and their value retain ability.
There is no longer inflation upon the money in the world, Puri said that it used to be the case in the bygone eras. King Erel’s doing, the great blessing of Zur. A masterstroke of political gains. Usury is death, no charging of interests. Even the empire had to accept. Erel is that strong.
“The bane of the dark shadow factions, black markets, traffickers and bankers. The protector of the common people, the Divine Sword.”
‘I am beginning to see why Krigsain quotes him a lot.’
I was disguised as a lunch delivery boy. I just had to deliver the judge’s lunch carrying his delicacies to his office. The attendants gratefully and graciously opened the doors and I walked through until a truly fat man was in front of me waiting for his things. I placed the deluxe lunch box in front of him.
“Good, it is good that westerners threat westerns with care. Thank you Mr. Black.”
I bowed receiving my pay that quickly and covertly disappeared into my ring.
The second compartment under the food held the true delivery. 20000 Ucra in bank notes of the Zunar kingdom.
The hidden money, you will find no official record of this transaction, anywhere. Officially of course.
‘No one suspects that a deluxe bento box and a top sirloin cut from a food delivery service can hide a small fortune.’
This only happens in Zunar, where an unassociated party plays glue sticker for the other parties. Thousands of years of good referrals come down to this. That way, everyone claims innocence since they are not the ones doing it, technically.
“Brilliant I must say.”
I moved on to my next target.
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Agent Black: Case 2
“Location confirmed, commencing retrieval.” Another audio message.
This time I was in a small time crafters company, they dedicate themselves to create orgon powered systems for heating small houses, nobles and even some high ranking awakened. The poor souls had taken a juicy contract. The problem was that they were favored by someone of the court. These guys were in over their heads. The construction of magical artifacts and the complex tube connection systems they were making was unstable. If allowed to finish, the kingdom would suffer loses and the noble that recommended them fall into severe disrepute.
“First timers are eager, but we always screw it up a little, I am sorry guys.”
In my awakened state I entered the offices and got my hands on the schematics for the construction. The crew had gone out to lunch.
“When I turn this in and the kingdom does a checkup and realizes the difference from the schematics to the actual constructions. These guys will become serfs forever; the pile of debt will kill them.”
I quietly left the place like a sprinting woffer rabbit.
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Agent Black: Case 3
I was surrounded by a large group of people. At least several thousands, this was a protest against the war.
“Hey, kid. Got the news?”
A crystalink delivery boy sold me one for five ucra.
“More killings, turmoil and assassinations. 113 dead kotarian citizens of all ranks.” I turned off the device with a heavy heart.
The people in the gathered public plaza were shouting.
“No more war! No more war! No more war! “The kotarians will bring death to the Zunar kingdom, they must leave!” “Queen! Queen!” “Help us, wise and glorious Queen!”
They effusively made the ground shake. They had drums, clarions and even a small time Magi providing the fireworks. The guarding knights were at the ready for any disturbance. In truth, I was the disturbance. As I kept shouting “Queen, Queen!”
Carefully, very carefully I released a preset charge to explode from my runic ring.
BOOOM!
The ground exploded sending granite, marble and rock everywhere.
If you spot this narrative on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.
“Traitors! Traitors! Traitors to the Queen!” I used a small artifact for voice change and voice amplification for the shout.
I bolted using all my “awakened state.”
‘The knights and the guards had their excuse. Encirclement and repression. Whoever opposes goes to jail.
“You are only as free as you are strong. And strong for a sound mind. Book of the Seventh Precept.”
‘The common folk are truly pitiful. This world…’
I headed towards my next order.
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Agent Black: Case 4
Department of Tourism, Zunyl, capital city of Zunar.
“Did you hear? They found midnight fang death in a corner yesterday!”
“Good, finally I get to sleep! That awakened creep was worrying me!” A woman spoke loudly.
“See, I told you the Gladion Knights would take care of everything, Piku!”
“Yes, yes. I’ll read all about it in the crystalink when I purchase the weekly report. We need to work.” I answered my “coworker.”
After a week of “working”, it finally happened.
“Piku, I am busy my carriage broke down and my horse is sick. Take the valuations upstairs to the Minister. Don’t screw up little boy.”
I take the sealed artifact where the contents are located. I head to the Minister’s office not before a small detour into the boy’s room. Using my runic ring, the mastercraft level protection over the little box dissipated. I quickly copied the contents on the parchment and put everything back to how it was.
“No, not really. They will notice I have tampered with the artifact before lunch.”
I won’t be here by then.
‘Thanks for the extra abilities! Hurray for HH! Heavenly Horny…I mean Demon; go, go, go great dragon!’
Five breaths later, I was out.
‘Sorry, Jessai. Hope the herb concoction I gave your horse doesn’t put him out for long.”
Once I turned in the require artifact, I made my exit with the tourism publicity division guys. They owed me a Thruskan bottle. So, I faded away with them for a drink.
I had just taken the information of closed bids for important money making plots of land. Investment opportunities. I just have to turn in the info so that my client wins the bid tomorrow. They’ll just have to assume a 25% markup but it was better than overspending needlessly. The cultivators expand silently, buying here, buying there. The guys are a swarm.
“Why doesn’t the kingdom stop this stuff?”
Queen Abrila is the weakest awakened ruler there is. Then again, she is a genius. A constant give and take among rivals, partners, enemies, allies and the gods. They walk a tightrope and always come out unscathed.
“I’ve heard that King Erel, really, really likes her. She being one of the world’s greatest beauties and all.”
And she refused marriage on the grounds of excessive risk factor. Another way of saying that unless he gets rid of all of his concubines and only the wives remain, there will be no play. “Look but don’t touch.”
“Brett Black” appeared on the streets after a while heading for an afternoon of rest at home base, Titty Titty.
The midnight hunts will resume in earnest.
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“I’ve notice you are getting along quite well with our staff in the bar, Brett.” Boss Yǐngr said.
“True praise never hurts.”
“You are quite peculiar. Proper words, proper behavior and then you are cursing constantly when you play your ketar in the underground studio. Perhaps one of our girls can help you a bit, for a price of course.” Boss Yǐngr made an offer.
“Always the deal maker, huh? I’ll pass boss, I just lack inspiration lately.”
“So… why such a difference Brett?” She insisted. Probably another midnight run if I don’t tell her something.
“Diplomacy from father and cursing from life, boss.” Sidestepping with your tongue, Yun Hee style.
She gave an acknowledgment with her eyes.
“If you need to, you can put it on the tab. I’ll tell Sochu to keep an eye out for you.”
‘Yeah! Free drinks after tasks!’
“What’s his name boss, anyway?” I was really curious this time.
“Sochu? He drank his name away. The chairman took him in. Remember Brett, never drink any of his special crafts, as he calls them. Not even if he offers a mountain of gold.” Sidestepping boss version.
Putting my glass down I headed out.
“Time to get those three panthers…”
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After finishing my report session with Lord Sarkan, I headed to our typical communion service. The cube structure with a dome.
Sundown was here, at night the sacred day of the Andurin would begin. Language, music, time keeping, morals, so many things were different yet similar with the other faiths. The rays of light slowly descended upon the crystalline dome. I entered after going through the checks.
I instinctively searched for my acquaintances and sat next to them. Puri was munching something, typical.
“Yo!” Iru saluted while Ciel nooded.
“Yo, yo, you!” I tried to joke a little bit.
Sadly, it didn’t come out right.
“Gr, o, see uu…back.” Hastily finishing my scribal record man waved.
“How are you guys doing with your stuff, everything in order?” I asked out of courtesy.
“It’s alright. You know must of it has to remain under wraps for most of us. Sweetooth not counting.” Ciel pointed at Puri while explaining.
“It’s all in the calculations, cookie.” Iru gave me a smile.
I was scanning the place just like I had learned out in the field, conspicuously. I saw some very interesting interactions going on.
“The princess and the Dogran guy seem very close over there, don’t they?” I asked.
“Interest plus more interests. There is nothing pure going on around here.” Iru commented.
“Besides her station and her beauty, what has she got? I wonder, how she would fare as a breadbasketer?” Ciel mockingly asked.
“That profession doesn’t exist, I think.” I blurted out.
‘Bad habits from a lyricist. No flies enter a quiet mouth, father’s adage.’
“Exactly my point, chicken coop.” Her eyes didn’t look normal.
‘Note to self-2: Don’t contradict Ciel when she mocks others, unless you want an arrow up your ass!’
Kletay was looking around absentminded. She was doing a talking to without glancing at them. A strange behavior. So much so that my expression was obvious.
"She’s missing her new magic staff.” Iru pointed out.
“The staff is undergoing heavy training.” Ciel laughed.
The fact that it seemed that she was laughing at herself more than anything didn’t go unnoticed this time by me. Too much time around people lately, I was starting to pick up emotions way better than before.
‘Another nicker bites the dust, huh? Correction: Knicker, Kotarian luxury brand assured! Yes, brand…my bad my bouldering friend. Instantly, a chord and a bum, bum sound. And that derriere appears again. Gosh! Control, control… you are not a Ragnar.’
“Let’s meditate guys, is not like we can manifest the redhead by thinking about it.” Iru sat appropriately in lotus position.
“Yes, let’s do that, Mr. Library.”
We meditated until “Starfeast.” The nightly dinner of our sacred day.
With all the things that were going on, the group hadn’t had the time to truly partake. The class of all classes mingled together for the first time and met each other, a princess and stewards added in for extra flavor.
One notable, long red-haired absentee.
“Wonder how Teng celebrates his holy day? I miss you, pure soul. I am surrounded by poisoned flowers, snakes and well-meaning hardliners.”
Puri’s hard backhanded tap, woke me up from my wonderings.
“Ikrei, let me introduce you to Tarei, she is Sufyul.” I started meeting my comrades in arms.
Elder Tanin was leading the festivities.
This was going to be a long night.
‘Hope you are hitting it right, big guy.’