By breakfast time, the Adventurers' Guild was a completely different beast. Its wooden floors groaned under the weight of hundreds of people coming and going, reporting on, taking or finishing quests, getting their rewards, and sometimes steering clear of a noble's emissary, here to deliver a new mission. The noise was like the representation of actual chaos, something that I had trouble getting used to at first, but by now, I barely noticed it. Especially when I was in the backrooms like now, going over decades worth of ledgers and receipts that the Guild cataloged and kept to make sure they could prove anything. And I mean... anything. I had a new understanding of how they worked, realizing that the Guild in Korvar was just... some hillbilly rendition. I had already found that just in here, there were about twenty gold-ranked adventures present. While over there, I only noticed two... Anyway, as usual, I was looking for names.
Yes. Names.
It wasn't hard to put them together and learn that the Crimson Ledger was a graveyard of deals—some honest, most not—filled with bounties for runaway 'clients.' These disappearances were somehow always happening right before a new avenue was gobbled up by them. Although not definitively, not as if it could be proven in writing, the Crimson Ledger's fingerprints were everywhere. I can recognize a pattern, and I know these tricks. I worked enough in corporate filth to have an understanding of how these games were played. Although in my old world, there were no more direct killings, indirectly... that was a different deal altogether. Destroying others' businesses and chasing them into suicide was only a step removed from how things played out here.
I found clues pointing towards the fact that they hired through intermediaries—merchants belonging to their previously bought competitors, sprinkling in some desperate debtors into the mix—their practices were unmistakable. I bet that some of the disguised freelance bodyguards they kept hiring, who then conveniently left the city, never to be seen again, were nothing but disposable assassins. Then, there were surprisingly high lost shipments of their competitors. It was most likely simple sabotage, which then was written off as bandit raids. It's the same as how I stumbled upon Veren & Sons and their plight.
"Jorren is right..." I muttered with a slight smile, "It is best to sell... These fuckers can't be brought down or resisted so simply..." I think I had enough to have a footing... I will visit Markus and see what he has to say.
After a final glance at the documents, I snapped the folder shut, put it back in its place, and was on my way out of the Guild's building.
...
....
...
It wasn't hard to get into their base. After arriving and telling them who I was, the guards from the compound's gates led me straight into an office. There was nobody there yet, so I sat down in one of the chairs, resisting the urge to start sifting through the documents on the table. I didn't know if they would notice it, but I wasn't willing to risk it either—no need to burn bridges ahead of time.
Taking a deep breath, Markus Veren's office smelled of cedar with a tinge of... spiciness. Looking at his desk, I noticed the maps there, showing their trade routes, sprawled across his desk, pinned beneath an ornate paperweight shaped like a coiled serpent. Fitting. Lucky for me, I didn't start looking around because Markus arrived quickly and entered the room in a hurry. He was alone, and I didn't flinch when he pulled the door open, showing that I was as calm as still water. I didn't know if he was still testing me, or he was genuinely in this of a hurry... maybe both.
"Ah... Mister..." he started, closing the door and walking over to his desk. For a moment, I had to recall if we had ever met like this, or if he was waiting for me to give him a new name. It was best if I handled it nonchalantly.
"It's still just Auriel." I chuckled.
"Of course." He smiled, but his smile was anything but genuine. It was so fake that I almost rolled my eyes at him. "You have news?" He asked, his voice expectant—too much so.
At first, I didn't say a word, letting the silence stretch before unfolding the notes I brought with me.
"These were compiled by Shade. I am here to bring you the basics, Mister Veren." I began, giving him the parchments containing all that I connected within my morning search in the Guild. Of course, almost all of them were my own conjectures, with no proof... but he didn't need to know that. "They own too many things, Misteer Veren. Starting with the docks. The customs officers who they are bankrolling monthly. Or, like on the third page, the guards who don't wear their colors, but they do whistle their tune, confiscating visiting rival merchants' goods. To then resell them..."
"I had a guess..." Markus exhaled through his nose. "Is this a warning from your Boss, Mister Auriel?" He asked, glancing at me.
"Yes and no." I said with a thin smile, "I am not here to intimidate you, Mister Veren. I am simply bringing my Boss's honest opinion and trying to point it out to you: The Ledger doesn't threaten—it defiles. It rots. First, your goods vanish." By mentioning it, he already flinched, making the connection he was already thinking about. The hole I helped him climb out of. "Then, your creditors call in debts." I continued, ignoring his body language, "Then your friends start dying in alleys. You're not just fighting crooks, Mister Veren. It is more like that you're fighting gravity."
"I had a feeling..." Markus's laugh was hollow. "And here I thought bribing the right people would be enough!"
"Not at this level. They have deeper pockets, one which you can't fight against. Bribes won't save you when the Ledger owns the hands you're filling." I shrugged as I tilted my head. "Money is not enough. You need leverage. Not just gold—fear."
"Your Boss..." Markus's gaze sharpened. "Shade... can he provide that?"
"..." At first, I didn't answer. I didn't want to say no, but I also couldn't say yes because that would be foolish. That lie would be easily discovered, and the jig would be up.
"I understand that it wouldn't be cheap." Markus continued, but I raised a hand, interrupting him.
"No, Mister Veren, it wouldn't be. You must understand some things. First, the Crimson Ledger is one of the biggest players in this city."
"..." He couldn't help but grimace, knowing that I was subtly telling him that they could easily pay me or pay Shade much more just to keep silent. To fuck off. Good thing, I was a nobody yet, so they didn't even know I was working.
"Second," I continued, "My employer is unwilling to meddle in the affairs of the Ledger and the City Lord."
"What?" He stiffened, blinking his eyes, watching me, but I said no more.
"Mr. Veren," I began after the silence between us was getting a bit unbearable. "You need to insert a coin to continue." I chuckled, holding my hand out, making a joke that he didn't understand but comprehended enough to throw a small pouch into my palm. I didn't open it; I simply weighed it, acting as if I was indeed a professional, hanging it on my belt.
"Honestly," I shrugged, "you are hopeless against the Ledger. If they want you, they will get you. They will buy you out or bury you—literally and figuratively. The bandits who robbed you? They were also disposed of. Half of those who are part of the local Syndicate, which the Ledger is running? Those are no longer amongst the living either. Coincidence? I think not."
"You mentioned the City Lord..." He muttered, licking his lips.
"I did. It is clear as day, Mr. Veren, that the Ledger is aiming to be the next lord of Velgrada. Do you think the current authority would want to hand it all down that easily? Without a fight? Of course not."
"I see..."
"Their battle is already happening, but not with swords and bows. Mostly with words, decrees, trade deals, and coins. A lot of coin. If you don't sell to the Ledger, so be it. You still need a backer to make them think twice about killing you."
"The City Lord can still buy me out..."
"Sure." I opened my arms, keeping my smile, "But less likely. Look, Mister Veren. There are two options. You either sell to the Ledger and bow out while you can. Or, you will band behind the City Lord. There is no independence, sadly." I whispered, honestly saddened by the fact, "Not until you are big enough."
"Like the Ledger?"
"Bigger," I snorted, "Look at them; they are still struggling against the biggest fish, the City Lord!"
"True... true..." He sighed, pinching the ridge of his nose. "But I don't really have anything to offer to someone like them... I can't just go and ask the rulers of Velgrada to help me out. They would laugh and throw me out!"
"You can make a trade with them."
"With what?" Markus snorted, "The most valuable items we have are potions! Both of us know very well that potions are something they would have in abundance!"
Of course... but. I concocted a plan while coming here. It was a long shot, but... Seeing how important these damned elven toys were, it was worth a shot.
"You could offer information," I said, intentionally making my voice sound a bit... mysterious.
"What kind of information?" He asked, narrowing his eyes, expectantly waiting for me to continue.
"It is... hard to define its price." I bit my lips, looking around. I even stood up and checked the doors, making Markus straighten in his chair, watching me walk over to his side of the table, leaning against it and crossing my arms. "I will tell you the premise. Then, you can decide if you want to buy it from Shade. And what would be you offering for it."
"I'm... Listening..."
"What would the City Lord think... if he gets some clues about an Elven Artifact?"
The reaction was immediate. He almost fell out of his chair, squeezing so strongly he broke off its right armrest.
"Are... are you... joking?" He gasped and gulped, but there was no saliva in his mouth.
"No, I'm not." I shook my head. "Shade knows of one. He can give you its description, including its shape, supposed origin, and last known location. And the detail of who should have it as we speak... with a character portrait... and name."
"I can't afford that!" He gasped again, his breathing close to hyperventilating. "Hells, Shade could sell it himself and make himself rich! Extra rich! The Adventurer Guild would give him his own city!"
"Shade doesn't trust officials," I answered coldly. "He only trusts himself. City Lords, Adventurers, and any big shot are untrustworthy. Just as much honesty is in them, as much coin is on the table while negotiating. We are dealing in information, Markus Veren. We don't need to take sides; we must not. On the other hand... you must. Anyway..." I pushed myself away from the desk, "Think about it. Come and buy one of our breads when you have made your decision... and please remember. We accept more than gold as payment."