For landmasses, a simple piece of paper was enough to chart its territories. But when it came to planets and star systems ranging light years in distance, no amount of paper will be enough to create a map describing its vastness.
That is why star maps were created. They reveal what lies far beyond the skies and the boundaries of the world. But the creation of such an invaluable piece requires decades–centuries–of travelling and charting. That is why in all of existence, only twelve star maps have been created.
CK didn't know where the other eleven star maps were. All she knows is that one was right in front of her. The probability of even finding one was below one percent, which is why CK was both terrified and impressed with her luck.
"I want that," CK pointed at the frozen star map inside the glass case. "I don't know, CK... If it's for display here in this floor, that means it's to be sold at the auction. I doubt they will sell it before the auction even begins," Mel said hesitantly.
He flinched when CK turned to him with a chilly stare. He wasn't used to seeing such a serious look on her face.
"You don't get it, Mel. I wasn't making a request," CK stated, "I want that astrolabe, and I want it now."
"Woah, woah. Calm down, okay? You're scaring me," Mel raised his hands in mock surrender, "Like I said, I don't think they will sell this...thing prior to the event itself."
CK's eyes narrowed.
"B-But you can try to talk to whoever or whatever brought the item to the auction! You can try that!" Mel immediately followed up his words.
"Where are they, then?" CK asked, placing a hand on her hip. They both turned when they heard a high-pitched giggle.
"Hehehahaha! I see you have a very, very refined taste, milady! Are you interested in purchasing this interesting trinket, by any chance?"
That's the sound of opportunistic greed. A thin, bald man approached with a grin full of razor-sharp teeth, his eyeballs fully white and with a ghastly glow.
Mel stared warily but did nothing else. This wasn't a person that came from Kelter, but an alien entity that came to make profits from afar. It wasn't his first time seeing someone alien, but it doesn't make him feel any better.
CK, on the other hand, was unperturbed. She turned her whole body towards the newly-arrived entity and stared observantly. She squinted her eyes.
"Hm..." she said and pointed at the star map, "Are you the person who put this thing up for auction?"
"Yes, distinguished customer. This is a very rare trinket used by astrologers from worlds away from this one. It is known that astrologers and divinators use this special equipment to predict the glory eras of rulers past. But alas, it is no longer as functional as it was in its prime. Now, it's just a fancy looking accessory one could use to decorate a tasteful collector's office," the bald man grinned unsettlingly.
"Truly?" CK asked. "Yes, my distinguished customer. Although no longer functional, it was a treasure sought after by countless zealots. I'm lucky I haven't lost such a beauty on this trip," the merchant replied.
'A fool or a liar. Regardless of which one he is, this works in my favor,' CK had to suppress a grin. She tapped her fingers against the case.
"I want to get this astrolabe. If you're the seller, give it to me," she said bluntly. However, the merchant did not respond to her bluntness and lowered his head, feigning subservience.
"I'm afraid I cannot sell this so easily, my distinguished customer. You see, I've already paid such a high fee to even put the item up for auction. If I were to sell it now, I'll be poorly compensated. I simply cannot have that," the merchant sighed dramatically.
"How much will you sell it if we were to get it now?" Mel asked. "10 million empire credits," the merchant smiled without hesitation.
Mel flinched as if he were struck by lightning. 10 million? And empire credits no less! It takes a hundred Keltern cinques to make a single empire credit. How much cinques would CK pay to make ten million?! The Vincenzo County might as well go bankrupt!
"That's quite the price you're setting for such a 'fancy-looking accessory'. Even military weapons come cheaper than that price," Mel said, doing his best not to go off in indignation.
"But military weapons could not possibly measure to how important this accessory is to bygone kings," the merchant said and grinned at CK, "You understand, don't you, distinguished customer? You see the value of such a grand piece. Surely you understand why it would cost such a price."
"Now you're just trying to scam my companion," Mel rolled his eyes and turned to CK, "Let's wait until the auction begins if you want this thing so badly. The bid won't even reach fifty thousand cinques before the astrolabe will be sold. It doesn't look fancy enough to meet the standard noble's taste. He's just setting that price because he saw how interested you are in it!"
The merchant flinched at Mel's words but smiled sheepishly. CK shook her head at Mel.
"I can't risk competing with anybody else," CK said and turned to the merchant, "How much will you be selling it if I were to buy it now?"
"Twenty million empire credits," the merchant replied. Mel scoffed, "That's twice of what you said just earlier! Aren't you being a little too shameful for a merchant?"
"Business is business, distinguished sir. Like I said, I went through great lengths to secure this astrolabe," the merchant shrugged.
"Okay, that's enough. Mel, calm down. And you, good sir," CK turned to the merchant with a small smile, "Are you really sure you know how much this little trinket is worth?"
The merchant frowned for the first time, "What are you talking about?"
CK tossed something towards his direction. Gold glimmered underneath the dim lights before the merchant caught the mysterious item in his hand.
"What is this…?"
He opened his palm, and his face paled as quick as the second he saw the item that he caught. His blood went cold.
"This… This is—!" the merchant's lips trembled as he turned to CK, trying to see what was under the hood of the cape.
"The Crow Legion's medallion... Y-You! How did you get this?!" he pointed at CK, terrified and indignant. "Are you really in the position to be questioning me?" CK asked, bringing down her hood to reveal her crow mask.
"You signed a contract. I can see it," she commented. The merchant's shameless grin was gone, replaced with a grimace. She could see his mark, but he can't see hers...
The daemon she was tied to is leagues above his. Which of those monsters chose to associate with a snotty noble from this remote world?!
"I'm here on strict business. The Legion fancies this astrolabe and bids I take it regardless of circumstances. Surely you, who is tied to a lower ranking daemon, would not get in the way of an overlord's business?" CK smiled eerily, "Is ten or twenty million credits something you are ready to die for?"
The merchant gritted his teeth. The medallion was the real deal, and the longer he remained in the girl's presence, the more he could sense the ghost of an overwhelming presence.
"I didn't expect to be running into the higher ranks... Tsk, I relied too much on luck," he muttered. Then, he sighed and raised his hands.
"I dare not provoke those who come from Almadel. You can take the astrolabe. I've seen better treasures. That trash is nothing remarkable anyway," he scowled bitterly.
"Heh. A wise choice," CK smirked. The merchant begrudgingly removed the glass case and stepped aside, unwillingly gesturing for CK to take the astrolabe.
CK took the astrolabe, finding it a perfect fit in her hands. She inspected the frozen rings in orbit, keeping it in mind to reactivate it once she was in a safer place.
"I'm keeping this. As for you," CK side glanced at the merchant, "Keep the medallion. I've no use for it now."
The merchant bowed subserviently and scurried away from the pair. Mel had been silent, his jaw hanging wide in shock.
"What... CK, what was that?" he asked in bewilderment, "That merchant was ready to demand the government's budget and now, he's running off with his tail between his legs and giving you the item for free. What did you do to him?"
"Nothing, really. And I didn't take it for free. I gave him something in return. It's basically a trade," CK smiled innocently at Mel, "That works, too, right?"
"I guess..." Mel muttered. What were those things they were talking about? Legion? Almadel? Overlords? Contracts?
'What kind of shady business was she up to out there?' Mel looked at CK, who hid the astrolabe beneath her cloak.
"You've got interesting company, Lord Lochlainn. Usually, it's the alien merchants who get to lord over in the black market. I didn't expect to find one of them running as if their lives depended on it."
A man in a suit approached them next, a simple white mask hiding away his face. Mel smiled upon seeing the newcomer.
"Kisler. Have you been eavesdropping on the whole thing?" he asked and shook hands with the man. "I prefer the term 'stumbled upon fatefully'," the man, Kisler, replied.
"Whatever you say," Mel said. "And this is...?" CK gestured to Kisler curiously.
"This is Kisler–not his real name, by the way. Of all the brokers I contacted, he was the only one to respond. I guess the idea of working with a nameless noblewoman didn't interest the others very much," Mel snorted.
"Ouch, I guess? Can't say I'm flattered," CK said. "Please do not take insult to my coworkers' behavior, my lady. Our work involves plenty of scouting and infiltration just to get the information we have in store. But still, I'll do my best to answer your questions...all at the right price, that is," Kisler's voice behind the mask was laced with an invisible smirk.
"Will you attempt to rip me off like that bald guy did?" CK raised an eyebrow. "Of course not. I've watched and learned that you have...impressive connections. Since this is our first transaction and you are a close friend of Lord Melbourne, I'll answer your first question for free," Kisler raised a forefinger.
"Charming. I'll take that," CK said pleasantly. "Well, then, please follow me. It's not wise to speak where walls have ears," Kisler said mysteriously.
Kisler led them to a secluded waiting room. Exotic plants decorated the room and a mermaid's skeleton was displayed at the center, a few couches and a floating fireplace waited for its guests.
CK looked up the mermaid skeleton. The upper skeleton resembled that of humans, while the lower resembled thin and long fish bones arched and curved in a decorative display.
"I'd like to think this skeleton was taken from the seas and not waited on," CK mused. Kisler chuckled, "We are all free to think as we wish. Please, take a seat."
Mel and CK sat on one couch while Kisler sat the opposite. The floating bonfire rested in-between them, seemingly filtering the tension between the masked individuals.
"So...what does the enthralling Lady Vincenzo wish to know about?" Kisler asked. CK hesitated and looked at Mel, who shook his head.
"I didn't say anything about your identity," he said. CK turned to the masked broker, who chuckled.
"My lady, I'm an information broker. It's my job to know things. After I did a little bit of snooping into Lord Melbourne's request, I learned about your identity and simply had to meet you in person. I'm curious about what a noblewoman who disappeared for years needed from a broker," Kisler said.
"Ah. How careless of me, then," CK said. "Worry not, my lady. If there is one thing that we don't sell to others, it is our clients' personal information regarding the transaction. Whatever you ask from me will remain between us," Kisler reassured.
'But my identity will not,' CK thought warily. She hummed and tapped her fingers against the cushions next to her.
"I better make use of your free question," she said and thought for a bit, "There is a star system dozens of light-years away from here where the Schools of Thought operate. Are there ways for us to access materials or goods originating from there? Like a direct contact or access?"
"Hm... It is possible. As long as there are merchants from that star system that come to visit Kelter, then there is a chance to do so. But alien merchants rarely come to visit Kelter. One such case is now, during the auction," Kisler replied.
"What about direct contact with them?" CK asked. Kisler chuckled, "That question requires payment now, my lady."
CK sighed and reached for the only resident in Pillow Palace. 'Malphas, reach into the dungeon's treasury,' she beckoned.
"Huh," Kisler said, taking the bag and inspecting it. He nodded and turned to CK, "Direct contact with the 'Schools of Thought' is impossible, I'm afraid. Kelter always received otherworldly visitors, but I do not recall any instance where we sent one of ours to visit the worlds beyond. It's still impossible due to our current technology."
"Seriously?" CK asked in bewilderment. "If I answer that question, I'll need payment, my lady," Kisler said amusingly.
"Cheeky," CK snorted. She summoned another bag and tossed it to Kisler, "Answer me this next: How far can I travel if I use the Star Station?"
Kisler paused. "A...Star Station?" he wondered. "Yes. The Marchen built one in Pentamerone years ago. If you've got access to information on the Marchen's operations, what is the travel limit of the Star Station?" CK asked.
Kisler stared at CK, causing the girl to frown in irritation. "Hello? Do you know what I'm even saying?" she asked.
"I fear not, my lady..." Kisler said, "I know plenty about the Marchen's plans, but there has never been anything like a 'Star Station' among their plans."
"What..." CK trailed off in disbelief, "I've seen it firsthand years ago. A Star Station exists here on Kelter. Are you really sure you know what you're talking about?"
"I'm quite positive, my lady. There is no such thing as a Star Station on this planet," Kisler said seriously, "Whatever you've seen, my lady, you're mistaking it for something else."