Maleks Ambassador stands away and offers the first greeting to the people with the Spiral Tower emblem.

“So you are Null. Quite a great Land you have found, you have done well. We are from the Ivory Caste under the authority of Arcana of Telk. We came to investigate the new Land you have brought into our Domain and want to see the best way to improve the output of our Produce.”

He really said it… This will not end well for them. There might be some undercurrents, but whatever it is, there will be a rather harsh response of what they want to do here.

‘Claws, Greys, Blacks. Code red! Go through the secret Tunnel right to Black Twos House and from there get into position to interact with hostiles. Lethal force only in emergencies or per order.’

“Maybe we have some misunderstandings here, but I would love to discuss what Telk might want from my own Land. Right now I have a contract with the Peddler King about the selling of my harvested goods from this place. Is Arcana interested in a long time contract too?”

“...Interesting. While there seems to be some kind of difference in our outlook, I would like to deepen our understandings a bit further, before we go into deeper discussions about more complicated topics as in changes of crops or how to build a steady road.”

“Well there will be a long discussion to be had. While we have not much, I invite you into the Mansion, especially built to house someone to discuss over finer details. My Maids will boil some tea for us, as I see two more groups wanting my attention. I hope you are not slighted by seeing them before we are finished, but our talk will be the longest in my opinion.”

“Ah, no worries! We understand the need to clear up the small details before the main topic should be started. I heard from Maleks people, you are a rather sought after man, who is hard to find.”

“Not really, I just live in a rather hard to reach place, as you can see. Later I can show you maybe the Castle a bit, but right now I need to attend to everyone similar to not accidentally slight someone.”

“Fine, fine. Go and we will follow your… Maids.”

They were led away by Black Three and Four. The rest of the blacks are right now finished with arming themselves with their batons, while the Claws and Grays never are without their weapons and already on their way through the tunnels to their designated places. I never thought they would be fighting so soon.

…

“We from Malek wanted to apologize to you, as you might have gotten a rather bad view on our City. After reviewing the circumstances, we thought of coming ourselves to be more cordial with the owner of the magical Vegetables spreading around our Country.”

So they came as they found out what I sell. Not quite honest, but at least they came in friendly terms.

“I just wanted to help some people. The whole debacle was more the problem with that strange Orphanage. Now I heard about them trying to frame me again?”

“Ah no, it is way different. We found out of the heavy corruption and raided the Orphanage to seize evidence…”

“Wait! You raided an Orphanage? What about the Children?”

“They are gone, have you not heard? Nearly every Child was missing except of a few in… detention, which were locked away. We wanted to know, if you would know something about their whereabouts.”

“I heard of some missing Children, but all of them? How can there be so many missing children in a City that large? Not one was found?”

“We found some, but they had fled the Orphanage before you even came to the City. No Child was found as of yet. It is a blemish on our City to have poor children suddenly vanish, so we came here to ask.”

Yeah, I can imagine how it sounds like. If they just lost a few Children, then it would not be that problematic, but all of them from a renowned Orphanage and finding out, they were even corrupt to begin with? While they can try to hide the facts, the rumors would even be worse later on.

While the thing with the Cursed Witch Beryl was an open secret, if Malek does not tread carefully, the people might exaggerate the happening into talk about how the Mages of Malek used two hundred Children for a blood ritual to summon something outlandish. I could help with nicknames. ‘Bloody Malek’, ‘Malek the Child eating City’ or how about ‘Child graveyard Malek’?

“As I already said, I was gone before anything got too serious with those greedy People. Why does it haunt me still?”

My mock anger was already visible, and maybe he would have lashed out, if not the Ivory Caste was right now in the Mansion drinking tea.

“We understand and do not disturb you anymore. If you have some leads, please tell us in a letter later on. The one who finds the Children will get a rather nice reward.”

“Not that I need some Coin, but if it does not make any problems for me or anything, I will think about sending information. Do not think bad of me, but I really do not see, how I can help in any way, as Malek is way too far away to be in the margin of possibility for any clue to be unveiled about that problem of yours.”

“Ah… Understandable. The way is what… Four Hundred Kilometers, if not through the dark Forest? We had to scramble to the smaller private Orphanages while the Stam… Never mind, I am sorry for disturbing you.”

So the private Orphanages needed to sacrifice their children as cannon fodder. Rather sad, but those houses were mostly a pet project of some Nobles with either a good heart or really ugly secrets… Impossible to know what though. Most work more like a school for Servants to be… Kinda like mine… Whatever…

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Ending the Talk I go over to Mordred.

“Mordred, I am happy you are fine. I hope Rendlar is well too. Listen, maybe you should build your peddler stands nearer that storage hut. It is empty, and you can put your luggage for now inside. If there is something problematic, it could be a nice shelter, like if some beast enters the Village or another emergency.”

“Um, of course. We will do as the Lord thinks it is right.”

“While we are at it, take your time, the People will be at the earliest on the streets after the… talk and will be having a longer evening meal, so do not hurry and rest for a while, at best close to the shed.”

“...that bad?”

He whispers to me. As he finally understands my clues I will whisper back.

“Not yet, but there could be an incident. Keep your head low, as there are Mages. The Rock is sturdier than it looks, so hunker down in case of emergency.”

“I will. Thank you for the forewarning.”

“I just hope I am only paranoid.”

“Please be. It might complicate everything otherwise. Rendlar is getting pressure not only from Malek, but Magus and even Arcana too.”

So Rendlar is pressured. It shows he wants to stay with me, for that can make or break his career path out of the boonies into a specialized importer for the Peddler King.

…

“Everyone is ready. Villagers are secure, Units in position.”

Black Two Informs me. I nod and think more about her status as of now. I think I should give her a true Name. Maybe Ville? Has a nice ring to it. After the Discussion I have to see how I go forward.

Entering the Meeting Room with Snow, I get to the couch and sit down, while the Mage not even deigns to stand up. Am I that low, you can just ignore me? Well, it might be a rather hard talk, but for whom it will show in a few Minutes.

Sitting down I take the Tea from Black Four and take a sip. I really do not want to demean Snow, but their Tea is way better than what she can do. Well they nearly only take sustenance from Tea and rarely eat something, so they became apprentices of Leaf before she got to sleep.

It is still not the perfect mixture like Leaf does it, but their flaws inside is rather their charm. They keep it more thin and not that fragrant, rather they are more wary of it to get way to bitter, so it is nice with a bit of sugar we started to manufacture.

...the reason I am philosophizing about Tea is, that I ignore the person in front of us. If he wants something, he can talk. I am not the weaker part in here. Maybe he notices my rather blatant provocation, as he has a little bit of anger in his eyes.

“So, Null. As we have seen how nice you already have it here, I would like to ask of a bigger tour over… your Territory to see how it can benefit Telk the most. Would you not agree?”

“We already benefit Telk a rather large amount. As Mages need Mana rich Food, the Vegetables are a better source and have low to no Miasma in it. This helps with digestion and even cleansing the body from it.”

“That is a matter of course. The Produce shows rather good performance in keeping a steady diet with better results, but the Farms could be used better in different aspects.”

“That would mean I would not use the Fields for Vegetables anymore? How would the Mages react, which already think of them as a great way to accumulate fresh Mana?”

“They would not dare to meddle, as this is business of Arcana. I would like to see the fields of the validity of creating herbal fields in the future. Today would be a bit early, after we settle in the Castle, we would like to see them.”

“Well, I told you, we would show you our Castle, but why would you settle in it? Does the Mansion not have enough space? Furthermore you are leaving after the peddlers are finished, no?”

“...For a while we would go, but afterwards come back, of course.”

“For what? I rather think that our Village is beautiful, but not that beautiful to be a sightseeing object.”

“...are you playing dumb?”

“I am right now more inclined of probing the other side, if they are themselves just playing or rather are.”

Finally an open scowl of him. His demeanor changes, as he notices we are not on the same wavelength in this discussion. Maybe if he not look at us as part of Telk right now, then we would have a way better climate.

“Then let me spell it out for you. Ivory of Arcana will take over the handling of this place. We will change the residents and especially the Farmers and… Maids. I still do not like how you force them to wear masks, even if they might be ugly.”

“First, they wear the masks out of their own accord. It is their believe to not show their faces to Guests, as they find it rude and honor their way of being a Maid. Second, those Villagers will stay, as they are rather fond of being here. Third, the last who wanted to take it from me… wait, the second to last was it? Whatever… They were Named the Green Fire and are now gone like smoke in the wind.”

“You do not understand, do you? We would not even need to fight against you, to make you beg to give us your land. We could just close up the Border of Telk for you and you would not even have the opportunity to sell your wares and buy necessities, so be reasonable.”

“If you close the Borders, I just sell them in the Grasslands to the West. The Beast Kin are rather fond of my products as many of them are more fond of eating plants than meat and while there are some herbs, my Products come in abundance. They would be glad to get your share of my products too. I bet many Mages will ask why Ivory ordered the forceful stop of such a good product, but that will be your problem, not mine.”

“Are you threaten us to throw your products in the trough of Ferrals? Do you want a war that desperately?”

“How can I threaten you, if you are the one, who wants to cut me off? I just say Telk is not the only one I sell my produce to.”

“...You really have an annoying tone on you kid. I could just let my men cut you down and take everything right now, don’t you know?”

Raising his hand with index and middle finger extended the Soldiers unsheathe their weapons. Huh! What a nice coordination.

‘When I snap with my fingers come out of your hidden compartments and be ready with your weapons drawn. Do not attack until I give the order or if they start first, just stay organized and ready for an attack.’

“Huh. You maybe could, some of your men look rather strong. But you are in my Domain, and not the other way around.”

snap

With the snap of my fingers the wall ceiling and floor opens on different places and twelve rat mask wearing Girls are inside the now rather cramped meeting room. While his six Soldiers look rather more professional, the blood thirst on my side is stronger, as I put a bit of pressure on all of the foreign people inside the room.

I hear something rattling… Ah! Elane, were you here the whole time? I did not even noticed her, as she tried to be as inconspicuous as she could be. Are you trying to become a Ninja? Well her teeth rattle, as if it gets to a slaughter, she would definitely not come out unharmed by that many professionals, even if she is a Mage with shield Magic.

In completely opposition Snow is drinking tea with way too much sugar in it. She even nibbles on a cookie as if the whole thing with drawn weapons and the ominous presence of a mutual slaughter fest is not even there.