“So this is Mammon. I am not even in the City and I can feel the market bustling.”
Seeing the City from the distance, it is rather mighty. Not only is the Center a huge Fort, but the surrounding are districts connected by Walls like flower petals. Not only is it visible how the City grew over the Generations, the next ‘petal’ is already under construction.
“This City might be a labyrinth in itself. Hope they have good guides otherwise we might need days to find this Orion Firm.”
“I am hungry, could we first eat something?”
“Sure, we ran for days, of course we can eat before we start searching. I am rather interested in what they have on the Market, but first we need to settle down for the day. It is late evening, so better we search for the Hotel.”
“They were rather nice, so are we going to visit that Hotel in this City too?”
“Yes, it was more a trick in marketing, but the quality of service was acceptable, so why not visit them again?”
Mingling into the row of people entering the City the questions were more precise than earlier. Null was prepared, as he thought this would happen as this is their Capital City. As they were documented for Visitation, the pouches were looked into for specific contraband, but nothing was found.
Inside were already many kinds of guides waiting for People needing help to find their destination. While tourism was rather low, the complexity of the City made guides incredibly useful.
“You there, could you show us a bit around for something good to eat and then to the Hotel Silver Feather?”
“Of course, this would cost five Copper and I would recommend the Restaurants near the Hotel for ease of travel between. Also I would not need to be near the esteemed people to show you to your Hotel afterwards, which means you are free to wander yourself. If I have to stay close, it would cost five copper per hour of work.”
“This is good enough. Could you show us the way to the Hotel and the better kind of Restaurants around it? I pay two Silver for all of the recommendations and help you give us.”
“There is no need, please come this way. I will show you the quickest way to the Hotel.”
A few corners later Null and Snow found themselves in streets with way less commerce and even the bustling Merchants got way more distant before even their loud voices got more and more quiet.
“Huh, seems you are bringing us rather far from the main street, is this the right direction?”
“It is, dear Customer, while the main Roads are going to every place in the City, they are rather slow through traffic. By using the smaller streets we can circumvent the bustle and also reduce the needed travel distance tremendously. Mammon is quite complex and can make travel hard, if people do not know the right way.”
“I see. Then you know those Streets better than anybody else?”
“No, I can not say this, as there are many who are better than me in this aspect. While I know much, not many are choosing me as a guide, as most people know how to choose the right Guide from the start.”
“I can imagine, not many choosing you, but I thought it would be nice to be shown around by someone who knows the lower streets better.”
“Oh, then you have chosen right, dear Customer. Sadly even if it was right, it was maybe not the best Idea to trust someone right off the bat. This City is filled with conman and even robbers. As you have a Visitation Writ, the chances are high for people to think of you as easy targets for extortion or robbery. While the City seems to be peaceful, such things happen regularly.”
“As there is a flow of so much Money, there are always some who might try their hands on making a fast coin. Especially as this City is so big, the Guards might not be able to be everywhere at once.”
Turning around and smiling, the Guide nods.
“Exactly, dear Customer! As we already have an understanding, would you please give us your coin purse? I will be more than happy to say which direction will lead back to a place where people are nicer afterwards.”
Null looked at him and knew already this guide was eyeing his Money.
“Somehow sad, the same happened in Telk and even in the Empire. Somehow there are always some robbers, who want to steal money.”
“While I am sorry about this, that is the truth in this World, dear Visitor. I am rather shocked, you would travel without Guards in such dire times. Please see this as a fee for a lesson and make better decisions next time.”
“Ah, do not worry about that. Snow, how many are in hiding?”
“Seven.”
Hearing that the ‘Guide’ was finally aware, something is not right. Noticing they were found out, the other robbers came out of their hiding places either holding some kind of metal club or a rusty blade.
“You are rather perceptive, so are you sure you can just fight all eight of us with just the two of you?”
“Maybe? Mentalists should be able to wipe the floor with you.”
“Stop bluffing! Which Mentalist would walk around without a retinue. You are not even from our country, and you say you are a Mentalist?”
“Never said I was. What I am is something called an Eldritch.”
“I do not care what you think you are, give us the Money like slick Joe said, or you will never walk again!”
“Snow, you can have the seven, I take… slick Joe, like they called him.”
“Boys, make him pay- What is that!”
This was the last they ever said as a tidal wave of rats took them into the shadows while the former guide did not know when Null grabbed him by the face with his hand. Something flooded inside Joe’s Consciousness and drowned his reasoning.
Suddenly he found himself under a broken purple sky, paddling in some black sludge for his life and sanity, while he felt something watching him. As he finally was able to turn around inside the sludge his reasoning faded as he saw a black sun bleeding into the ocean. It had no eyes but he felt how it still watched him struggle like an ant inside a barrel of glue. Just being looked at broke him. Whatever kept his mind working unfurled and left him desolate and insane. At the end he dissolved into particles the black sun dragged into itself.
In the real world the Guide named Joe just started defecating after being grabbed by Null. His eyes rolled back and his hair started to turn white before falling out. If Null hadn’t held his mouth shut with his hand he might have been screaming like never before, but before he could struggle it was already over. There was nothing but a twitching husk of a man who once was guiding two targets into a trap.
“Null, did you change too? You never did something like that before.”
“Yes, I have changed. But it is easier that way. I can now drag their Consciousness into my own and read their mind easier. Normally I need to take them over, but with this I do not need to take their bodies. I just let him here, as he is useless now. This way to Silver Feather. He brought us at least in the right direction.”
“Okay. I am already hungry.”
While the person was shivering on the floor he fell through his own shadow and vanished too. Snow did not let the last one just lying on the floor, while she left the now white hair and the soiled floor behind. Those people were not put in storage but devoured by her Shadow rats, including their bones. Nothing was spared and they vanished from existence.
This tale has been unlawfully obtained from Royal Road. If you discover it on Amazon, kindly report it.
—
The next Morning in front of a rather mundane looking Building with the inscription “Orion Wholesale”. While they have small shops throughout the City, this is the biggest and also their headquarters inside of this City.
“So, hopefully we find something about Rendlar here. I really want to know what happened to him.”
“The other people were no good?”
“It is not something about being good or not, but Rendlar was honest and worked with us on a basis of trust. He was honest and for the few Months we worked together made no move to exploit us. I’d rather work with Rendlar, but right now I just want to make sure he is okay and not in any danger.”
“Understood! Be nice to the ones who are nice to you, punch those who want to harm you!”
“Yup, and now let us go in. Hopefully we can find him rather quickly.”
Entering the wholesale, large boxes are seen everywhere. The whole building was filled with more industrious looking items. Most of them looked more like they were only stored here for quick redistribution, but neither Null nor Snow could be fully sure of it.
A muscular man came to the two and greeted them.
“Welcome to the wholesale department of Orion. If you need things en gros you are here at the right address, how can I help you?”
“Thank you for the greeting. Null is my Name and I have come here because of an acquaintance of mine, who should be here. As this is the Main department of Orion shipping in Mammon, this is the best place to ask directly.”
“I am sorry, but we are not an Information bureau. If your Acquaintance did not say, if he is in this branch specifically, I can not say for sure I can help you with it.”
“Do not worry about this. The Friend I am searching for is Rendlar, who was originally a Member of the Peddler King, but was sent here to exchange crucial Information. He would be delighted to see me, as I can make the Information way more detailed.”
“While I can ask, I am not sure if it will be possible to find a Person, which is not even an employee. Would it be possible for you to wait?”
“This is acceptable. Where can we rest? Or shall we walk a bit around the City and come back later?”
“The latter would be appreciated, as it can take a bit of time. Also I would like to ask about a small transaction fee for my inconveni-”
Null snipped a silver coin into his hand, he knew in the Merchant Country might nothing be free. Not that he could use the Money anyways, so it might be better to use it while he was still in this world.
“This is a bit much.”
“Do not worry, If you find him you can tell him Lord Null is searching for him. He should know me and might give me a time and place I can visit him, if he is too occupied to see me directly.”
“You are generous and understanding. A great Merchant at heart, please leave it to me, I will only need an hour or two to see where he might be.”
“Fine, I will go around and-”
“Breakfast!”
“-and eat Breakfast, as we came directly from the Hotel. We will be back in two hours. Who shall I ask for?”
“Mario is the Name. Ask for Clerk Mario and I will be there right away if you give them my card.”
Handing over the card Mario made haste to find Information about this mysterious Rendlar, which he did not know directly. While this is happening in Orion Wholesale, Null and Snow were eating breakfast, while Snow had way more on her plate. She wanted to see how different the cuisine in Mammon was as she is most interested in how Cities had all their own taste in food.
For Null the Food was more oversaturated with salt and herbs to hide the age of the cheap meat, but was still satisfied with the preparation of the aforementioned meat, as it had been dry aged rather well.
‘It might be that my own bodies are also afflicted with oversaturation of Mana. The taste is missing something and while the Food in Magus had way more flavor it was magical ingredients.’
“Snow, might it taste a bit bland to you?”
“Huh? Oh, nothing like that. It is nice and chewy. The taste has just a bit less Mana, that is all.”
“I see, so you notice the lack of Mana, but are- wait, Snow you have to eat the meat off the bone, the bone is not-”
*crunch*
“-nevermind.”
Snow showed how strong her teeth were, by just munching the large bone in the middle of the meat. The sounds made people look in shock and horror, but took to their own meals right after, as they had their own things to do.
-
“While he is registered to be in Mammon under Orion’s request, right now he is indisposed and can not be seen. His whereabouts are unknown for the public as he works on a specific document. It might be a while before he can be seen, as I can not see the details, but I think he will be available in about three days, as my request for a message to him was accepted.”
“Thanks Mario, we will wait for a while. We are in the Silver Feather. If you get Information just let me know by sending a Message to my Room.”
“Of course. I just write down the address and… good to go. If there is no Information in three days, just visit us again and I will have more Information.”
“Thank you. We will look a bit around Mammon for the next few days.”
“Shopping!”
“Yes, we will see to find some souvenirs for everyone at home.”
With Snow in tow Null made multiple rounds through the City to see what they have on delicacies and interesting things for people at home. The most Null bought were Books mostly out of curiosity and also to have enough for the Orphans in the Castle to learn. The Orphans living inside the Castle had already dropped below a hundred, but to not incense Snow, he did not mention it for now. If new Orphans came it would be harder to displace them after the transfer.
After two days Null got a mental message from Ville, a Rat-maid living in the lost village in the crater.
‘Lord Null, we have a guest and it is urgent!’
Listening to the Message the ‘guest’ was bringing something shocking happened in Mammon. A Surge of Mana was felt throughout the City and the Guards were alerted.
While they searched for the source of Mana, Null dragged Snow to the Orion Wholesale.
‘Prime, wake up all the experiments, which are able to fight. Maiden, call the Dwellers in the Arena and Aqueduct. Baphomet, get ready to bring us back to the Crater.’
‘Prime here, I shall heed the Orders father.’
‘Maiden here, I ordered the maids to call to arms. May I suggest the Claws as well? They have changed and gotten a bit more rowdy since they found their calling.’
‘Approved.’
‘Lord Null, I ready a rift, but the City is warded. You need to exit, otherwise I might need to ask Lady Esther to break their wards against Teleportation.’
‘Understand, I will go out with Snow right afterwards. Be ready.’
Entering the large Warehouse like Store Null was not beating around the bush and started yelling.
“Mario! I need to speak to Mario the clerk!”
Flustered Mario came as another clerk ran to fetch him.
“Mister Null, it is still a day, what are you in a-”
“Change the Message to Rendlar. I will be back in around a month from now on. If he travels back to Telk, fine, but if he does not tell him to leave a Message for me where to meet him. I have urgent matters to attend to.”
“I… I see! I will do this. Something I can help you with?”
“No, this is something serious I can only do myself. We will see each other in about a Month.”
“Understood. Please have a safe trip.”
Nodding Null pulled Snow with him directly to the gates of the City.
“Null, what is going on?”
“Something serious, I will explain when we are home, as otherwise you might like me making an incident. I myself am only barely holding myself back.”
Hurrying through the Streets they came to the Gate and left.
“Sir Guard, the slight panic in the City was because of me. Could you please say there is no need to worry, as I have left?”
“Wait, what are you talking about? Please wait until I am verifying the reason. For now you are under-”
The Mana surges out of Null like a flood and made the Guard retreat out of shock.
“No time for that, sent my apology to whoever needs it. Ready Snow?”
Snow nodded seriously and afterwards Null looked into the distance before shouting.
“BAPHOMET!”
A crack in space broke open in which Null and Snow entered before it vanished again like it was never there. The shocked Guards were looking at the place where the person who admitted to the chaos inside the City just stood and afterwards disappeared. Shortly after many alerts were called out, Mentalists inspected the residue of the strange Portal to wherever, people were interrogated and Information gathered.
The person, who was identified as ‘Null’ was seen as a threat at first, but suddenly the higher ups made an announcement to not antagonize this person and if seen again to be called directly to their now elected mediator Rendlar or his subordinate Mordred.
While the Guards could not make heads or tails about the sudden change in demeanour against someone being that threatening, they obliged and worked hard on keeping the peace after the happenings. Mario was quickly being reassigned to be a direct connection between Orion and Mister Null, if he happens to visit again. He also got the go for accepting the purchase of special products Null might want to sell.