At the entrance of Halk there is a curious combination of people waiting for entry. A petite looking small beast girl lady is humming while seven haulers are with her. She is wearing a simple purple black dress and holding a black parasol, while the haulers are all in brown farmers clothes. The clothes on the haulers look rather pristine and they look well nourished and strong albeit having many bandages on different parts of their bodies.
The work for haulers is not always easy as they might get into the line of fire for Mercenaries, but that is the strange thing, as the girl does not even look like a Mercenary, rather a young lady of a Family to have some fun out in the city.
This is extra strange, as the entrance they use is in the direction of the Forest and no known City or Town would be further up, but no one even dares to ask, as her haulers feel somewhat menacing and some even believe they saw a slight glow in their eyes, when they were looking right into them.
Humming enthusiastically to herself she finally is the next in line.
“Welcome to Halk. May I know your Name and why you visit our humble town?”
Huh. When I was coming here, they never were that enthusiastic. I might need some kind of Noble clothing. I will check for some fabrics later. Should not be hard to create something, as I even made Snows dress from the fabrics we once brought back. The dye was a challenge but finding the coloring in fruits and berries and just putting them on it was easy afterwards. I digress again.
“Snow, with me I have some haulers.”
“Do you mind looking at the Items you bring in?”
That is not the right question. ‘Snow, tell them you will not let them search the things and show him the sign of the Peddler King.’
With a slight nod she rummages in her small pouch and took out the sign of the Peddler King.
“I do mind. I think the Merchants who have their wares disturbed will ask heavy questions for that.”
“Ah! I am sorry, just routine questioning. The toll is… you know what, never mind. Please right in this way, have a nice stay.”
Yep, even the Guards of the Mages are terrified of the Peddler Kings reputation. Not because of their Powers, but they wholesale a lot of ingredients and resources for the study of the Mages. If they suddenly got cranky and sadly have suddenly some Bottlenecks in purchasing goods for the Mages, they would flog the Guard in question publicly, just for good luck for next weeks wholesale.
I often question how the Mages even make money, but they do somehow. They have their taxes on the Farmers and Merchants, selling potions and magical work to a lot of people, they even restore Fields for a fee with nourishment or in dry weather cast rainfall locally for a large sum of Money.
The most Money they make is still with selling their knowledge between each other. Arcana loves all results of experiments, especially the dangerous ones. All hearsay sadly, as Mink was more tight lipped about how it was under the Green Fire… Or maybe no one wanted to ask her really. I really need to pick a brain of a Mage someday. But right now we are hunting other prey.
…
“This will be sixty large Gold coins. Do you wish to buy something?”
“Ah, yes. We need more fabrics. Mostly linen for clothes, so the workers have something in the hot times to wear and Flax would be nice for hats. Um… There was also… Ah, yes! Silk and other fine fabrics will be needed. And dyes. All colors but especially black and purple, I love purple!”
As long as Snow has fun, being her Messenger in a bag is not annoying at all. Right now I am a mouse. Not a regular mouse but an upsurged mouse with enough power to fry a guy. I think I am being her self defense Taser right now, but maybe that is not really true as she can maybe kill half the city on her own before someone could interfere anyway.
The whole charade has a meaning, and this is, because I need some experimental materials. Sadly those kind of materials are not sold in Telk so I need to improvise. And this is where Snow comes in.
“The fabrics and dye will be ready tomorrow morning. With the large quantity there will be a rest of fifty seven large Gold, three Gold, seven Silver, three Copper and two Scrap.”
“Keep the coins of Silver and below as a thank you. Null is happy to make sales with the Peddler King of Halk.”
With a bow as thanks the Clerk leads the party out of the Building. The hospitality is getting better and better. Snow was delighted about the Tea and Cookies they brought out while they carefully repackaged the produce. While the haulers just drank the tea, Snow eliminated the cookies by herself. That was one reason I told her to give the clerk the tip. The other is, she needs to be looking rich and at the same time innocent. The rich thing I need to help her with, but the innocence was ingrained in her.
…
“We sold again great. The Lord will be happy with the Money we got! Now lets eat and drink. The day after Tomorrow we will go back. While you rest in the Inn I go a bit shopping.”
The Farmers are a bit strained by how loud Snow was. Buying their food and drinks with a Gold coin was also a no go mostly in the Towns, but they have been told Snow was to make a ruckus for a secret Mission, so they kept quiet.
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While eating Snow drank fruit juice and might have eaten nearly the same volume of Food the Farmers did… combined. Where does she store that much Biomass? Is it the Shadow Magic, too?
Monsters do not really need to eat as they get their nourishment mostly from Miasma and Mana, but Snow breaks that rules back right over her knee and buries it deep in the ground. At least she holds back at Home, She would decimate our Grasswalker coop otherwise.
While the small party was still ongoing some eyes were always on our little party. Snow herself chose the mostly dark corner table out of preference, but while they were already that loud and happy, no one did not hear about their great haul.
…
‘Good morning Snow.’
yawn “Morning! Is it time already?”
‘I think so. Belk and company will stay at the Inn. You go around and can Shop as much as you like, but do not go over one large Gold, please.’
“Should be enough! I hope they have fun toys or puzzles! I love puzzles!”
‘Yeah, you do. Need to build you a new one. I hope you can wait.’
“Of course! Nulls puzzles are the best, I will wait eagerly!”
Such enthusiasm. By the way I found out she can understand me even with a small body. I need to be near her and she can hear my thoughts. Might be the Spirits she merged with. Sadly I need at least a Body near her, otherwise she can not hear my thoughts clearly outside. We tested it while traveling.
She was so happy, when my Mouse body was back in her pouch at her side. Is she scared I would just let her be alone? Never! As long as she wants pets… I mean company, I am there… to pet her…
…
“… and after winding the String and pulling the wood spins. The colors on the side make interesting patterns. Only two silver and another one for the bowl for spinning it in.”
“I buy it! It is so fun! Anything else you have, that would be a nice thing to play with?”
“Of course! This bird out of wood is a great piece. The feathers are colored intricate and when you push down the tail… It opens it wings and shows a rainbow!”
giggle “Such a cute bird. Anna might love that little bird, too. I buy it also.”
While on a shopping spree, multiple people are snooping around her. Obviously looking for an opportunity to get her alone. She looks rather weak with her small dainty arms. Then telling about how much Money they made and now the shopping spree makes her a walking gold mine.
Some pickpockets tried their luck but she evaded them always. Anyways in her Pouch is only me. The Money is in her Shadow, but seems I am worth more for her as she is professionally evading every attempt. She would have clobbered some of them if I did not soothe her.
…
Asking where the Orphanage is, Snow traveled the way and came in a rather dark back corner of the streets. This place was nice enough for the would be robbers and came right out of the woodwork.
‘There they are. Be careful.’
“Always. Someone is on the roof watching. I can not catch him, but remove him, OK?”
‘Do not need that many anyway. Remember I need them alive, not well, but try to not do too much damage to at least one male.’
Nodding she stops as she saw the men in Front blocking the way. Behind her were also people. Looking I count one two three four… Nine People with the one at the roof.
“Little Miss, this is a bad place to be right now. We do not want you do harm just what you have on Money. Do not try to shout, there will no one be able to hear you anyway.”
Grinning they come closer. At least they are humble and do not want to sell her or kill her. Still they are in the wrong so I have no problem taking them, because they want to take from us.
“No one is going to hear us here? Are you sure? Guards are everywhere in the Town!”
chuckles “Not here Miss. Downtown is the wrong place to be to search for help. Now give us the Money or we will be rough with you.”
“Phew, good to hear. I thought I needed to be swift, but if no one will even notice I can do it easier.”
The Leader seems to think something is wrong. Well he is right. He thought he is the predator, so he was always wrong.
Snows Shadow suddenly became way darker and it looks like she is standing over a hole in the abyss, when hundreds of Rats with red eyes start pouring out of it like a tide.
“WHAT THE FU…!”
Agonizing screams were heard and while some rats ran the wall right up as if it were level ground the last of them fell from the roof with an ugly crunch. That landing was his end.
The Rats are pulling the screaming people right into the Shadow with their teeth in their flesh. Those rats are bigger than I remember. They are now as big as a large Housecat.
‘Can you change the size of the Rats?’
“No, they grow with me. I can make them a bit smaller like myself, but why bother? They can become intangible liquid shadows and spill through every crack anyways.”
‘...impressive!’
“Thanks Null!”
A radiant smile was on Snow as the last chewed on arm scratching on the floor got pulled into the Darkness before becoming a simple shadow again. Scratches, scars and Blood are visible, but not really any great hint of a fight, as those are everywhere anyways in a Town full of Mercenaries, just not that fresh.
The only one standing there is Snow in her dress and her parasol. The reason for the parasol is sadly a necessity. Snow is albino and her skin is susceptible to high sunlight. I totally forgot that part until she said her skin is uncomfortable in the sunlight.
Well she looks cute with her parasol, so why not? Now to our side quest.
‘Remember to regularly change the air inside, otherwise they will suffocate.’
“I will! Now to the children.”
Snow grins and starts to travel the rest of the way to the Orphanage.