For Graten, the port of Ovespuerte reminds him of home. The city-states back home. Where competing factions at each other's throats behave behind the veneer of civility provided by the illusion of law. The acute vision provided by his [Watchman] Role caught glimpses of this. [Mercenaries] like him were now everywhere, bearing the colors and crests of the guilds. Aside from his Severed Swords were those hired by his employer’s partner, who had also taken command of the Merchant Guild’s security forces. There is another faction that Numisley and Cultrost told him about, the Diamond Shore’s forces led by Johoon, who occupies the destitute district of Est Provés. He remembered seeing them storm the castle like plunderers from far away, telling his men to reinforce the perimeter around the shop on that night until Numisley told him the next day about the truth. Little to no men and women bore the livery of the noble family that was supposed to rule the city and beyond. The riots further thinned this veil, and Graten feared that there would be another war that he had to fight in.
Cultrost summoned Graten to the castle, and this confirmed his fears.
“Graten. Can I ask you to become the commander of this castle?”
“Is there a war coming?” Graten asked, knowing the answer.
“Most likely. Yes.” Cultrost gave up downplaying the fact that there is an imminent war. “Racieros and his mother will recruit men and women across their lands. According to Racieros, some may accept, some may not. I want you to train them.”
“What’s the salary?”
“The room and board will be free of charge.”
“And?”
“Racieros cannot provide anymore because of their debts. But if you really need more coin for this, I’ll raise your salary to five silvers.”
“Thanks. Really. I won't reject the offer, but I want you to remember that I came with you two to provide a better life for my men, and for me to be stronger. Have you heard from him yet?”
“No. Not yet. I trust him to be alright.” Cultrost hoped that this was the case. Cultrost knows that his brother would survive anything. He knows that his will betrays the frailness of his body, that within his crippled vessel, there is a tenacity that goaded them to cross the ocean and cunning that navigated the murky waters of Ovespuerte’s intrigues.
When Cultrost left to check on Gildin Trading, the castle had been visited by a single person with a silver leg. What remained of the castle’s security did not dare to stop him, even with their [Lord] and [Lady] present. He walked too quickly for any of them to notice, and in moments he was facing the ruling lady of Ovespuerte in her throne hall.
The sudden intense presence made Strraina skip a beat as if her heart was stabbed for a moment. Sweat dotted patches of her skin in a second as she faced the pudgy man smoking a pipe, without care for her presence. Only what she has to offer.
“Who-”
“I’m your husband's murderer. I’m his first wife’s killer. And I represent the interests of the Admiralty of the Diamond Shore.”
Johoon did not care about hiding the truth anymore because he knew Ovespuerte was ruled by a weak [Lady]. Regardless of the wishes of his superiors across the ocean, he knew that he had to take the initiative of snatching this opportunity. That is why he was deployed an ocean away.
“You dare-”
Strraina’s body refused to move. She knew, even if she hadn't seen battle before, that this man alone could kill her, regardless of the [Guards] around her. She had heard of individuals who could single-handedly challenge armies and win. She had heard of legends of those people taking the throne regardless of their legitimacy other than their individual power. While she had heard of ways that royalty used to control such individuals, she possess none of them right now.
“You will be next if you will not listen to my demands. And it is simple. We claim the port of Ovespuerte. We only demand full, exclusive access to your docks and warehouses. We shall garrison our forces, and exclusively sell our goods here.”
“T-that is too much. “ She finally gained the will to speak.
“Your life ain't too much of a prize isn't it?” Johoon barked.
The Smoke Elemental appeared beside the countess, and its smoke crept into her nostrils. As soon as Racieros had barged in, he drew his blade and charged. Yet as soon as he got close, he was back where he had been: at the doorway. He realized that a foot had kicked him before he could notice it. The [Guards] in the room drew their spears, yet their tips quail in Johoon’s presence.
“You live because I allow you two to live. Defy me and the Diamond Shore, and die like your father, the traitor who was the reason I stuck around in this port. Dare to summon aid against me and you shall be dead before they arrive.”
The unstoppable force had left the castle. Strraina rushed to her son and made sure that he was alright.
“I’m alright, mother,” Racieros reassured. “Nothing broken.”
“We must call for aid. His Majesty. The Gaviolos. Anyone.”
“You know what he said.”
“There is one way that your father knows.” Strraina thought of a solution. “That that man does not know. I shall petition the Golden Gate Alliance myself.”
“I’ll come.” Racieros insisted. Strraina knew he couldn’t say no to her concerned son.
His mother led them through winding corridors to another alternative exit. They wore cloaks enchanted to be as nondescript as possible before heading to the streets of the richest districts in Ovespuerte. At first,, Racieros did not have any idea where they were going. They simply passed by the familiar shops, restaurants, and residences. However,, a building that he had never seen before appeared as if out of nowhere—as if it had been there all along.
The mighty box of beige stone, smooth and plain, bears no windows on its facade. Only a single doorway that is guarded by Golems embedded on its side, and within it is a row of menacing portcullis along a long corridor and a set of metal doors at the end. They walked into the corridor and found themselves in a bank lit by crystals of light. Armored Minotaurs, half a dozen, stand in complete stillness as if they were gilded statues; virtually every part of their body was covered with enchanted metal, even their eyes.
“Strraina Commerro. Racieros Commerro. Honored Jinayhir bids you to come to one of the private rooms.” The Minotaur [Bank Teller] called them.
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Strraina was surprised that the owner of the bank wished to meet her and her son. A veiled [Servant] guided them to a corridor that seemed to twist and turn to deter any would-be eavesdroppers and stalkers.
“Mother. What is this place? Why do they know we're coming?” Racieros asked.
“A bank of the Golden Gate Alliance. Torresso says that they use astromancy and illusion magic to keep it hidden aside from those who know about it. I’m sure that the master of this bank had sensed that I need its services through some kind of Feat.”
Even Racieros, who neglected his studies and spent more time practicing the blade, had heard of the most powerful economic alliance that wields in the Six Lands.
“Are you going to ask for help?” Racieros asked.
“Yes. I will. I’m sorry, my son.” Strraina apologized.
“Sorry?”
“I know we are in debt. We will be deeper in debt. The investment plan, the damages, I’m not like dear Torresso, who somehow finds a way to pay our debts in the past. I do not know how to fight and make war like your brother. Now we need to loan coins from the Golden Triangle, but I don't have your father to tell me what I should do. I’m not a proper [Lady]. I’m just a socialite, a parasite of your father's name.”
“Father knows that you are trying your best.” Racieros did not know what to say at first, but he settled on this.
“Thanks.” Strraina regained her composure with the help of I’m counting on Torresso’s partnership with this [Banker]. If he is generous enough.”
They were led into a velvet room, with two couches and a glass table between them. Sitting on the other end is a Minotaur with an amber disc of silver embedded between his eyes. His silk alone was worth their clothes combined, and the jewelry he wore was beyond the reach of their kingdom. The magical workings weaved within the cloth are beyond what most [Mages] of Torregorn are capable of.
“I introduce myself as Monaridus Jinayhir, the master of this bank, an [Ambassador] of the Mor Ostio Prospero, and a friend of your husband. My Feat had notified me of your need, and so I made myself available to help you.”
He used one of his Feats to calculate Strraina’s debt based on the information he obtained.
“I see you have debts to several guilds, individuals, and noble Houses. First, I must give my condolences to Torresso, a client who had paid his debts well.” Monaridus said.
“Thank you,” Strraina said.
“The debt you accrued, and will continue to accrue, is seven thousand gold for the past few weeks. Your [Treasurer] could verify this. I assume you came here to borrow money?”
“Yes. But I ask for more help. The Diamond Shore sent a man named Johoon to threaten me.”
“The Silver Leg. Yes, we are aware of him.”
“I need help. He murdered my husband. Send someone after him.”
“We can only provide a loan for you to hire security and purchase weaponry. We cannot send the armed forces of our alliance, much less petition my superiors.”
“Why? You got your armored guards here guarding this bank. Why did they not help us when that fiend murdered my husband?”
“Even if I can hire and teleport a Famed like the Leviathan’s Bane, the treaty with your [King] does not allow it. The ground outside our bank is foreign soil. We could sanction the Diamond Shore, but that would lead to a chain of events that would lead to war and cutting off trade with the Occident. We are an economic power made out of several islands that depend on the Six Lands as much as the Six Lands depend on us. We do not have the resources to intervene in such a way, nor is our foreign policy to do so.”
“He had murdered a [Spearmaster] of Vanderas.”
“That is preposterous indeed. But my point still stands.”
Truth, lies, and omissions were masterfully weaved into the [Banker]-[Ambassador]’s denial, to fool any truth-detecting Feats and spells. He noticed that Strraina has little mastery over politics or economics, nor does she have any Feats that can help her leverage the negotiation, and he intends to capitalize on it with a [Satistfying Offer] before the [Lady] gets too upset.
“However, to honor my friendship with your husband I shall give you a fair offer. If our initial audit is correct, you will need to borrow two thousand gold to hire two hundred [Mercenaries] of at least higher-than-average quality to supplement your Household Guard for a hundred days. I could recommend several reputable [Mercenary] bands in this list.” Monaridus snapped his fingers.
A list of names appeared on the table, along with cups of tea that seemed to glow a radiant orange and some kind of dish with a smoked, fatty slice of red flesh covering a tiny mound of rice.
“Feel free to indulge in this complimentary snack. Mankra tea from the Magocracy of Wakuna and whale nigiri from the islands of Azuma.” Monaridus offered.
Strraina knew that this is a showcase of their power. That they are able to acquire ingredients from the farthest lands of the world that even she could not begin to imagine. Racieros took a bite from one of them, and he was surprised by its freshness.
“We are considering hiring the Inglorious Hands. We had also hired the [Mercenaries] available in our docks.” Racieros neglected to mention their true employers.
“The proposed loan will help nevertheless. We also offer you two a weekly withdrawal of twenty gold.”
“That’s great.”
“Your husband has also left us over five hundred fifty gold in unpaid debts for the renovation of the docks and adjacent warehouses.” Monaridus activated [Reassuring Statement] to quickly find a more suitable follow-up to what he had said. “In total, should we lend money to you, you have to pay a measly sum of nine thousand, five hundred fifty gold that must be settled a decade from now, with generous consideration for your predicament, with a reduced interest of 0.65%. Should you wish, we will mediate payments between the guilds of Ovespuerte and the [Merchants] for a small additional fee.”
Racieros sensed that there was something fishy about the entire deal, but he didn’t have Numisley to confirm this. Once again, he regrets not paying attention to his father’s [Tutor] on lessons on managing their wealth.
“I recommend you summon your [Treasurer] or hire an expert from the guilds to advise you on this deal.”
“Unfortunately our [Treasurer] had quit following the death of my husband, according to my son.”
“Am I right to assume that you consent to this deal right now?”
Monaridus proceeded to close the deal, activating [Bypass Aura] and [Client: Instantaneous Decision] to get her to avoid hesitating.
“Yes.” Strraina found her words being pulled out of her before she could think about it. Now, her decision is final.
Racieros was silenced by the sudden answer as if she was not being given a chance to choose. He wondered if his mother did not notice that she was being overpowered by words alone, or that she did not have any ability to ward off whatever Feats this [Banker] had been using. Racieros tried to protest, but he found himself tongue-tied with each attempt. Then he wondered if this was another Feat applied to him, and he watched in dread as his mother signed the contract under the supervision of a [Notary].
The Countess of Ovespuerte and de facto matriarch of the Commerro House announced the levy through letters on that day. The letters arrived first to the towns and cities nearest to Ovespuerte, received by their rulers. Many questioned the change of rulers in Ovespuerte, and so when they received the letter they simply ignored it. When the first letters were received by supporters of other Commerros, they planned for war. Few sent what she requested: healthy men and women who have at least two Rare Feats.
In the middle of the afternoon, Johoon encountered Aryyad in the middle of the road, blocking his way to his ship.
“What are you doing?” Johoon asked.
“I’m here to tell you that threatening the Commerros is a bad idea.” Aryyad warned.
“Are you siding with them now?”
“Of course not,” Aryyad said. “Threatening them would only complicate things. They would send armies or worse.”
“Nah. You are too slow. Too soft. I won't fault ye’ for that, because I’m the most dangerous [Privateer] in this port, and you are weak. You spent a decade sucking up to this city while I took it in weeks.” Johoon boasted, putting his arms over his paunch. “What I did is take initiative. I know what the Admiralty wants, and they want more of what the city has to offer other than mere passage. So I shall take this city myself with those nobles as figureheads. Even several hundred men and women cannot hope to touch me.”
“If I’m weak, then you are the most idiotic [Ship Captain] I had to work with.” Aryyad retorted. “Then again, they say that: ‘do not interrupt your rival when they are making a mistake’. So, our partnership is over. Do not contact me again, and don’t you send your [Marines] to harass members of my Merchant Guild. In exchange, I’ll let you take whatever you want in Ovespuerte, so long as my profits do not suffer.”
Aryyad left Johoon’s presence. Johoon won, but he felt like he lost for some inexplicable reason. The [Merchant] from Rhundi headed straight to his warehouse, where Cultrost was checking the goods the company was going to sell for the next day. He had called the Satyr as soon as he saw him and said:
“I have a deal that I’m sure you and Racieros won't be able to refuse.”