Chapter 275

Red Sands Desert, Principality of Rebirth

Dungeon Factory, Command Center

"You know, with how much essence these bastards brought, I think we seriously need to think about making a floor to lure in high rank adventurers." Said Alexandra as she contemplated her new secondary core.

Annihilating the assassins had brought her sailing across the threshold. She could even make a third consecrated boss, though that was on hold, she had some…ideas about it.

"Normally I'd say that it would break progression, and you wouldn't be able to harm them anyway, but…" Emilia shrugged. "You could. It's going to cost you though."

"Every worthwhile endeavor carries with it a great cost." Alexandra smiled, and Emilia smiled back.

Their relationship…had definitely taken a hit after what had happened. The vampire was doing some serious soul searching on her side, but they were trying to avoid letting it stand between them too much.

"Right. Well, I assume it'll be some kind of fight against a giant army?"

"I could make something smaller and more potent."

"It's not just about offering a challenge. High ranking adventurers are always in demand. It has to be worth their while."

Alexandra nodded.

"A good point. And an army would provide that in spades. Or…"

"Or?"

"What…what if I had them fight an airship instead?"

There was a long silence, and Alexandra glanced at her girlfriend.

Emilia looked like she'd been hit by a train.

"Hello? Ground control to vampy?" Alexandra poked her girlfriend's forehead, and the vampire snapped out of her stupor.

"Sorry, it's just that…an airship? That's…that's nuts!"

"You said it yourself, gotta make it worth their while. Bait the trap."

"You bait a trap with a small cut of meat, not a fucking three course meal with caviar and foie gras!"

"If you're trying to catch royalty you do!" Alexandra blinked. "Wait, foie gras?"

"It may not have occurred to you yet, but your homeland has immensely influenced the Eris Empire. And that translated to cuisine as well."

"Uh." Cultural contamination aplenty. From Allya's ancestor maybe?

No, Océane didn't reject the finer things in life, but she also wasn't all that fond of them. Except with cheese, but that was a whole other discussion entirely.

"Yes, 'uh'. I think an airship is overkill."

"Maybe, maybe not. But it will make for effective marketing, even if it's not a large or expensive airship."

Emilia looked very thoughtful for a few seconds.

"All airships are expensive, but…I don't know. Wouldn't they risk destroying it and thus making it a useless prize?"

"Precisely! That way they can't go all out, take more risks if they don't want wrecking their reward!"

Emilia's eyebrows rose.

"That's…devious."

"Why thank you."

"Oh shush. But you know, it's crazy enough that it just might work." The vampire chuckled. "Though that's pretty much your modus operandi, isn't it?"

"Some may have said as such, yes."

"Even back on Earth?"

Alexandra hesitated.

"Yes." It was true after all.

It just mostly applied to Arcadia as a whole.

"Eh. Knew it." The vampire gazed at the secondary core. "So, sending it off to Darthar?"

"Not yet. I'm letting Allya chose when to bring it up for the negotiations."

"Surprised by her deal?"

The Earth-born shook her head.

If you spot this story on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.

"Not really. I mean, in some ways, yes. Her accepting outright without consulting me was a bit odd, but hey, she's her own woman. Besides, I trust her. What I hadn't expected was for the duke of Sarth to be so…"

"Clairvoyant?"

"I was going to say 'longsighted', but I don't think that's a real word. Yeah, clairvoyant works. I really gotta stop underestimating these guys. Just because they're feudal nobles doesn't mean they're stupid."

"I mean, yeah, if he was an idiot I don't think his duchy would be where it is today. The same goes for Sunrise, they wouldn't still be alive if they weren't capable."

"I think that particular example is going to cease to be valid before long."

"I don't think any amount of competence or foresight could have seen you coming dear."

Alexandra chuckled.

"Perhaps, perhaps not. They had ample warning signs before they started this, however."

"Their plans might have been set in motion a long time ago. Also, these warning signs might have only gotten them to accelerate." The vampire shrugged as the Earth-born gazed at her. "Your golems were replacing slaves. They saw it cutting into their market, and their source of political influence. If the Kingdom didn't need them for cheap, disposable labor, what would they do?"

"That is…a good point."

There was a short silence, and then Emilia cleared her throat.

"About the spear. I…uh…I'm sorry…" The vampire let out a sob.

Alexandra had her arms around her before she'd even fully processed the sound, slowly stroking her girlfriend's hair.

"It's okay honey."

"No, I…I've been sending reports. About you. To my parents, but…"

"They're being passed to the Church. I know."

"...How?"

Alexandra winced.

"I may or may not have had Ghost install a tap onto the communication crystal."

"...Oh."

"Which, incidentally, is one of the many reasons I know you can be trusted, and you're not part of this."

"I…thank you. I don't understand, why…why any of this would happen. Why the Church would let it be!"

"As I have told Allya, they may have been trying to lure out the Order."

Emilia met Alexandra's gaze.

"But you don't believe that, do you?" She whispered.

"No. No I don't." Answered the Earth-born, equally softly.

The vampire nodded, before pressing her head against her girlfriend again.

"This is…such a mess…"

"I know. But we'll get through it. We always do."

*****

"This brings me back." Said Allya as she stepped into Elkaryos' office. It felt like a lifetime ago, when she'd negotiated the terms of their corporate dominion in that very room.

Well, Pyn had done most of the negotiating, but still.

"Yeah." Speak of the devil, the elf stepped in behind her. "Where's your butler?"

"He, went into a more, ah, active role." Said Elkaryos, as the dark elf ushered them onto one of the couches, before taking the one opposite.

Allya's eyebrow rose.

"Took up arms again?"

"It's an open question whether he ever set them down, but yes. He's been quite busy with Sunrise's attempts at assassinating me, and now helping roll up what's left of their spies and insurgents."

"You'd think that'd be a lower priority, now that their army is in full retreat."

The dark elf's gaze hardened.

"They killed a great deal many innocents. Army or no, they must pay."

"Point taken. My apologies."

The dark elf relaxed.

"It's alright. I know those same insurgents did a fair amount of damage to you as well."

The baroness and her fiancée both nodded.

Though they knew it wasn't actually the case. Oh, Allya had been afraid at the time, but…

Now she knew that Alexandra had been watching, with an entire squad armed with railguns, ready to bring down the hammer of the Gods upon the terrorist bastards.

Given what had happened to Sunrise's little kill-team, she had no illusions about the fate of those would be rebels had they forced the dungeon core's hand.

"Now!" Elkaryos slapped his thighs. "It's a pleasure to see you girls again. I know I already said it at the ball, but you seemed, ah, distracted."

Allya coughed.

"Yes, well, I was a bit worried then."

"Your little plan to buy the city?" Elkaryos smiled. "I heard about it, of course."

"No, the Count and the boss."

"Well, the Crimson Queen more than deserved her title, she was quite stunning."

"Elkaryos, she's the dungeon core's daughter."

The Master Merchant froze.

"Oh."

"Yes, 'oh'. Long story short, Crystal gave Rice the scare of his life."

"I'll…have a talk with the young count. Make sure there are no misunderstandings."

"I already did. So did Crystal."

"Good. Thank you. So, onto business?" The dark elf leaned forward, steepling his fingers.

"Quite. Since you've heard about the deal for the city, I assume you know it has been accepted?"

"I have."

"Good. Then I intend to extend the same terms as for Erakis."

Elkaryos smiled.

"I'd hoped you'd say that. No tariffs, and a secondary dungeon core? Be careful, baroness, people will throw themselves at you in gratitude."

Allya winced.

"They already are." She shrugged. "Besides which, it will help with some of the bitter medicine we'll cram in as well."

"I assume the prohibition on slavery?"

"Among other things."

"If you have a full list, I'd love to hear it. It would help a great deal with my business decisions going forward."

"Uh huh. Once the negotiations have settled on the exact bullet points, I will get you the full specifications."

"Thank you very much."

"No problem. Although, don't you already get enough insider trading info as it is?"

Elkaryos chuckled.

"If you're not cheating, you're not trying hard enough, or so says our esteemed Grand Merchant."

"Sseth does have many words of wisdom."

"Indeed. Besides which, there are no laws against having the right information here. Not that there ever was something like 'fairness' in trade and finance anyway."

"True. Reminds me, our dear princess, Alfyris? How fares her highness of your homeland?"

"She fares quite well. Though you won't be surprised in hearing she is keeping her presence, and dealings, on the low."

Allya pointedly glanced at Elkaryos' medallions. The one noting his alliegiance to the Syndicate, the half trade, half militant organization whose mission was to protect dark elves throughout the world.

"Yes, yes, she came to me." Said the Master Merchant. "And I hope I was of great assistance to her cause, but I reiterated that my membership in the Syndicate notwithstanding, there were limits I was not prepared to break, or lines I was willing to cross."

"Is that so?"

"I won't say more. But hopefully there won't be any problems."

Allya and Pyn exchanged a look.

Yeah, they weren't going to bet on that.

And neither would Alexandra.

"Let us hope. We also asked for a meeting with you to ask for your…assistance."

Elkaryos tilted his head.

"Interesting. It's not often you ask for my help anymore. What is it?"

"The twins you sent, a while back, remember them?"

"Eismi and Ellyana? Yes. What about them?"

Pyn leaned forward, taking over for her girlfriend. Things mercantile and civilian in nature were more up her alley.

"One of our new associates discovered that they have been smuggling out a particular cargo, for parts unknown. We'd like to know where without, well…"

"A warrant, or bashing down doors?"

"Precisely."

The dark elf rubbed his chin.

"I think I can make something happen. Grease a few palm, call up some friends, make deals."

"It is what you do best." Said Allya.

"Quite. If I may ask, why is that cargo so important?"

The fiancées exchanged a look.

"We…know the twins have had under the table dealings that have had considerable impact upon the war." Allya was choosing her words with exquisite care. Elkaryos…need not know they had benefited from it, or that the 'considerable impact' had been feeding the dungeon materials. "If there are more going on, we would like to know."

"Ah. A point well taken then. I'll see what I can do, but be warned: nothing is certain, and it may well take some time."

"Everything takes time. And their mystery cargo and smuggler friends are still on their way to Darthar. It should give you some leeway."

"Good. Very good. I'll find out what I can. In the meantime however, I have heard that guildmaster Starvak wished to meet with you. He says it is urgent."

"We, ah, didn't part on very good terms."

"I had noticed." Elkaryos' voice was dripping with sarcasm. "It's not like he was almost driven out of your town by his own people."

"We aren't responsible for his decisions."

"No, but you are responsible for how you frame them." Elkaryos shrugged as they stared at him in surprise. "There's only so much you can do before it becomes obvious someone is smearing his name. I don't blame you. Starvak has the unfortunate trait of being a good person persuaded he is in the right, and ready to do anything at all to fulfill his vision of good. That is the trait that makes saints or monsters. In both cases however, it makes one a royal pain in the arse, like the good guildmaster. If it worries you too much, I can send an escort."

"That would be appreciated. We don't fear physical violence, but…"

"A show of strength wouldn't go unnoticed?"

The baroness nodded.

"Quite. And a show of unity even less so."

"Oh. Well, I'm sure I can scrounge up a delegation for you."

"Thank you, Master Merchant."

"It's my pleasure. Now!" He clapped his hands. "Enough about business! You girls have no doubt been spoiled by our dear Count, but I've had quite the luncheon prepared. It includes Aubétoile salmon."

Elkaryos flinched as suddenly the baroness was up and leaning over the table between the couches. Sweet mother of the Gods the baroness was fast. Far faster than she had been when they'd first met.

"Aubétoile- How?!?"

"Had it in stasis for a while, imported at great expense from your family's domain, and I was planning on sending it to you to celebrate your inevitable victory over the Republic before the Kingdom imploded around us."

It wouldn't have been tactful to mention that had they been defeated, there would have been no one to enjoy the fish.

"Thank you. I'm…touched."

"So I see." He leaned to the side, and smiled at Pyn, who was trying very hard not to laugh at her fiancée showing as much restraint as a cat offered fresh tuna. "Don't worry, I haven't forgotten you. I believe you would be partial to some Sylvian boar from your homeland?" The elf smiled and nodded. "Thought so. Let us go to the dining room then. I believe we've all earned ourselves a treat."