Published at 16th of February 2024 2:24 pm

Chapter 51. Every Heist Needs A Good Team

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“Do you think that’s a proportional response?” Aria asked when Nox explained the beginnings of a plan.

“Does proportional matter? The Singhs hired people to steal my work and burn the building with everyone inside. That everyone includes you. Then they waited until I was away from the city and almost pulled off the planned arson. If I didn’t add the internal wards and coatings after discovering their plan, my staff—no, the whole neighborhood could’ve burned down.”

“I know, but you’ll endanger a few hundred lives and your business. Is all of this worth it? Your spies stole enough information to cover the gap in research and overtake them. That should be enough.”

“It’s not,” Nox replied. “Some people might get hurt, but I doubt anyone will die. I’m not going to set everything on fire or cause an explosion. If everything goes to plan—”

“A lot is riding on that ‘if,’ Nox. I wasn’t aware of this dark, vengeful side of you.” She raised a hand before Nox could contradict her. “I know your entire existence is based around destroying Sundarshahar, but that’s not what this is about. Your plan is blighting twisted. If everything goes as you want and expect, hundreds are likely to lose their livelihoods.”

“That’s more people willing to migrate to the Edelweiss barony.” Nox turned Aria’s chair around and took her hands in his. “You want to know every bit of me and perhaps spend the rest of your life with me. Right? Well, this is as much a part of me as all the other bits you know and like. When someone tries to hurt me or my people, I ensure they lose the ability to do anything of the kind again.”

Aria glared at Nox for what felt like an eternity, not speaking a word. “Fine,” she finally said. “I’ll go along with your plan. However, if you get caught, I’ll have to do whatever is necessary to protect my family and our name. That probably involves ending our relationship and denying any knowledge or participation. Are you ready for that?”

“No,” Nox replied. “However, if it comes to that, I’ll respect your decision.”

“I wish you weren’t so hard-headed.” Aria sighed and kissed him. When Nox tried enticing her to the bedroom, she shook her head. “I still like you, Nox, but I’m going to need some time to get used to this side of you.”

“I understand.”

“Are Caitlin and Alexander invited, too?” Aria asked.

Nox nodded. “It’s not just them. I hear Annabelle, Louis, and everyone with a powerful name received an invitation. Perhaps the Singhs use this opportunity to show off and attract new affluent members to the Round Table.”

“You should ask the Woodsons for help. I know Alexander will jump at the opportunity to get up to no good. Caitlin might be a harder sell. Giver her magic and personality, I doubt there is much she can do to help.”

“Everyone willing will have something to do. This won’t be an easy endeavor. I bet the Singhs will have excellent security for the event and doubly so around their workshop.”

“I hope that isn’t true for your sake,” Aria said. “Most people don’t trust human guards for trade and research secrets. They’re more likely to rely on arcane defenses like complex detection wards and heavy doors. Internal guards will probably be focused more around the party or at access points between the entertainment and research halves of their business. But there are, of course, no guarantees.”

“Last time, there were no guards at all,” Nox replied. “Only a heavy door protected what I assume is their primary workshop. I don’t want to toot my horn but I’m pretty good with Mage hand—”

“I know.” She chuckled.

“It got me in last time,” Nox continued. “But I feel there were more workspaces and laboratories beyond it. They were occupied, and I bet they’re better protected, too.”

Unable to put his ascended vigor to good use, Nox threw himself into his research over the coming days. He used the stolen papers to modify his approach. The Singhs had observed a strange phenomenon while working on life essence distribution. The most significant problem Nox had encountered with the fungus was the inconsistent toxicity. His competitors had discovered that the mushrooms became safe to eat if they gave up on spreading life essence out and focused it away from the dead nerves. Then, the unwanted chemicals concentrated around the old neural pathways and didn’t spread through the flesh. However, they faced one major problem.

The spore sacs sat around the dead nerves, and the concentrated chemicals destroyed them, making the fungus sterile. No active spores meant the fungus would no longer be a sustainable food source. Growers would need to carefully maintain the mycelium and guide their growth to ensure the mushrooms didn’t die and would continue spreading. This made growing the fungus labor-intensive and expensive.

A useable farm of myconid flesh needed no toxicity, decent life essence to grow swiftly while enriching the soil, and live spores incapable of infecting people or livestock. The last was the hardest since a step in the wrong direction would turn the fungus into an invasive species. Without active but subdued spore sacks, myconid flesh was little more than a potent but expensive fertilizer. In fact, the Edelweiss barony was already using it for such a purpose to recover from the blights Terrastlaia left behind.

Stolen from its original source, this story is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

Reading the Singh alchemists’ research gave Nox the perfect idea to solve the problem and complete the project. He needed to take a couple of steps back and adapt the base slime’s target and actions. His individual study had proven that the nerves were the source of the toxic chemicals and also their source. If the slimes left an inert portion of themselves behind that absorbed the chemicals and wrapped around the nerves, it would solve the problem. It wouldn’t kill the spore sacs but leave them inert and waiting for the appropriate stimuli—an essence injection. Nox’s magic gave him the perfect tools for designing the complementary product. Selling two individual products would earn him more money while making replication more challenging.

Unfortunately, Nox needed decent sources of life essence to confirm his hypothesis and it was the one variety he had none of. Only a few mages relied on life essence for the offense. At most, they used the energy to animate plant life and Shape or Manipulate the organic material. As a result, Nox couldn’t use Crystallize Essence to create stores of it. So, he asked the Woodsons for help.

“What did Aria think of the plan?” Caitlin asked, grinning. He had told her about his intentions as they worked on the myconid flesh together.

“She doesn’t like it, but since her involvement is minimal and deniable, Aria is willing to play along,” Nox replied. “It might’ve set our relationship back slightly, though. She didn’t seem happy about it, but Aria will cut ties publicly if I get caught and risk hurting House Edelweiss.”

“I expected as much. Unlike your old beau, Aria plays the political game well and prefers staying on the right side of the law. Not everyone gets diplomatic leeway like the Oakhearts, after all. In fact, if you had a closer tie with them, I doubt the Singhs would’ve dared steal and replicate your work.”

“Perhaps it's best if I have someone in my life who acts as the voice of reason.” Nox sighed. “I'd probably turn into some evil mage warlord if everyone agreed with me all the time and encouraged my crazy ideas.”

“At least, you're self-aware.” Caitlin laughed. “What did Lady Edelweiss say about you going as Swati's date?”

“Aria certainly isn't happy about it,” Nox replied. “But she understands I must do it to make the whole scheme work. She claims to be fine with whatever it takes to make the ruse work as long as Swati and I don't end up in bed together.”

“You know you’re going to pay for this later, right? Especially if you want a future with Aria.”

“I figured as much.” Nox paused for a moment, taking a sip of Sniper’s Eye. He studied the myconid sample closely. The slime was almost behaving the way he desired. Meanwhile, the life essence distribution wasn’t quite where he wanted it. “So? Are you in?”

Caitlin nodded. “Tell me precisely what you want of us.”

“Just a distraction. I’ll need a few minor distractions during the party so I can move around freely. Any confusion will ensure people don’t question me about my location more than necessary.”

“I get it. If things get chaotic while everyone is inebriated, people won’t quite remember your location or actions at precise times.” Caitlin frowned, studying Nox closely. “And you don’t want Alexander to spy, scout, or play lookout?”

“No. His squirrels are great in dungeons and rifts, but they’re too identifiable for a job like this. If anyone sees a squirrel during the party, they’ll link all illicit activities to Alexander and then me. It's for the best if we limit his knowledge and involvement in everything. I love your brother, don’t get me wrong. But he chitters like his squirrels. I don’t want him to let anything slip accidentally.”

“So, just involved enough not to hurt his feelings. I get it.” Caitlin shot him a sly smile. “You’re making a mistake, though. I know Alexander comes across as a blabbermouth, but that’s an act. He’s slyer than a fox. Commanding and controlling the squirrel squadrons takes a strategic mind. How do you think he’s keeping up with us despite his age and weak summons? He’s nowhere near Adept, unlike either of us or Lillin.”

“What do you suggest, then, Lady Woodson?” Nox asked.

“Don’t call me that!” Caitlin exclaimed, smacking his upper arm. It hurt far more than Nox expected despite the strike’s playful nature. The Woodson woman had extraordinary strength even when not channeling her magic or wearing her elemental armor. “I suggest you talk to Alexander. Tell him your plan in detail. He’ll iron out the kinks, highlight the risks, and perhaps come up with ideas you didn’t consider.”

“And you’re okay with all of this? My move against the Singhs and all that will follow?”

“I never liked them. They’re elitists, braggarts, and exploitative. You’re not the first person they’ve screwed over, and I want someone to take them down a notch.”

“And your grandmother would be fine with you getting involved?”

“Why would she ever need to find out our involvement? It doesn’t matter either way. I love my grandmother, but we’re currently on opposing sides of all matters Alexander. She wants to burden him with a role that will strip him of all freedom and disregard everything he wants for himself. I have very little control over the matter.”

“You just want him to enjoy himself while he still can.”

Caitlin nodded.

“Alright. I’ll talk to him.”

Nox gathered the latest samples and carried them to the cages lining the wall of his personal workshop. A large, six-by-six-foot room housed all of the cats. He had two half-as-large sections on either side of it with ferrets and another with mice. Pudge had helped him make the area comfortable and entertaining for the residents. They appeared reasonably content but fat from overeating. Nox felt terrible about using the animals the way he was, but he reminded himself that it was all for the greater good.

None of the animals shied away from Nox or cowered when he approached. He had spent the past months earning their trust. It made feeding them and running tests easier. Nox lacked Pudge’s charm, but patience and a gentle touch made up for his shortcomings. Caitlin helped him with the task.

Living under the same roof had resulted in the pair developing a mutual understanding. They weren’t as close as she used to be with Michelle. Caitlin and Nox didn’t see eye to eye in several matters, too. However, they had a decent platonic connection which only grew stronger as they spent more time together. Nox had no romantic interest in the woman. He wasn’t attracted to Caitlin physically, and they butted heads far too often.

However, she felt like a person Nox could trust and liked keeping her around. Though powerful, the Woodsons made no waves in the political landscape and had no ambitions in the field. They had nothing to prove or anyone to compete with and were loyal. The Woodsons only pursued academic growth and humanity’s victory, making them the perfect friends and companions for Nox’s prime ambitions.

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