Published at 11th of December 2025 9:42 am

Chapter 121: Staring at a canal and contemplating a potential end.

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Buy these from me, would you? I say, dropping a bundle of mass-produced magic weapons on Gregs desk. Two of the heavy crossbows and a few daggers with basic enchantments I kept from the trip. Ill accept any price you can make a profit from, just make sure their providence cant be traced back to me.

Oh of course, my lord. Anything to serve. He smiles greedily, not at the weapons and the profit hell make at them, but at me. Oh, youre a few days early, but I have this weeks tribute ready for you too.

Greatgreat. I half mutter, lazily reclining in his chair and propping my head up with my arm.

Is there something else I could do for you, my lord?

I stare at him, contemplating. I was so riled up leaving Allan after he confessed his disinterest in the mission. I mean, what is that even about? Why is he even helping me if he doesnt care about it? No, no, dont get riled up again. Its too exhausting. As it is, I dont feel like doing anything, but I feel like doing nothing least of all.

Maybe, I dont know I stare blankly, assessing him assessing me. You know, youve been a good client, Greg. Better than could reasonably be expected. And dont think Ive forgotten that I already owe you a boon whenever youre ready to collect I pause to give him the opportunity to ask it, but he just continues to silently stare, evidentially either not ready, or not willing to risk it while Im in this strange mood. Anyways, I guess I was just wondering if you had any more little opportunities for me?

Opportunities? he asks, seeming unsteady at my asking.

Yeah, you know, like the clients you found me. Or not clients. It doesnt have to be that big. Just something to do, I guess.

I see well, if thats all youre looking for, something to do, I do have a few minor things that might interest you. I wasnt sure if the time was right, but since you did ask, I am ready to ask that boon of you, my lord.

Great, I lean forward and smile in anticipation, what is it?

Well, let us say that I have a minor rival in the low security section. An old man near deaths door with disputed natural heirs. Should he be removed, I would be in a position to snatch up many of his holdings. It would be especially fortuitous as your Mud Hares have made the requested progress, meaning that well, I wont bore you with the details, but Ill be able to move things around more easily now, and expand more forcibly.

Sounds good. Would the body just disappearing work, or should I try to be more indirect?

Um his family does have access to diviners, but nothing robust. I assumed you would be using your Im sorry, my lord, are you saying youre agreeing to it?

I shrug. Of course, I trust that you wont try to betray me in something so minor. Why wouldnt I?

Well no reason. I guess I just expected some minor hesitation. Consideration for potential consequences.

Whats the need? What benefits you benefits me, and what benefits me benefits the mission. Just, I get twenty per cent of the net profit for any expansion that results from this. Okay?

As you say, my lordForgive me, I know its strange of me to ask, but did you maybe get in a fight with Baronet Linhal?

I stare at him blankly. Why would you ask that?

Well, you did come in his carriage, so I assume you came from him, and youre in this strange mood

I shrug and lean back again. I guess I just realized our thoughts arent quite as aligned as I thought they were.

Pity, he says in a consoling tone, but I see through the mask to the glee beneath. On something important?

Yeah, Id say. I dont know. Hes seemed so reliable in everything well, most things. But now I dont even know why. Why am I telling him this? I know what hes going to do next. Am I seeking it?

Well isnt your family relation enough to explain his help? He says, trying not to seem too eager to pounce by stating something he assumes that Ive considered and rejected.

Heh. Not really.

Oh well, Im sure he has his reasons, even if you dont understand them he pauses for flair, and I struggle to not roll my eyes at how obvious whats coming next is. though, in my experience, reasons that I cant understand tend to be reasons I wont like But thats just the experience of a lowly merchant. Im certain its different among nobles.

I grin, wolfishly. Yes, so am I.

Yesoh, since you did ask about minor opportunities, something else has just come to mind. I know youve refrained from gambling more because of Baronet Linhals prohibition he pauses, just slightly to give me the opportunity to interrupt, which I decide to play along and take.

My refraining from the activity has nothing to do with Allan. I just havent had the time, is all. I snap, just a little bit more sincerely than I meant to.

He smiles victoriously, but quickly smooths it over. Oh, well, in that case, I have excellent news. Viscount Monroe, if you remember her from the game where we first met? The one at your cousins party? Anyways, she invited me to a game in a few days, but the ante is a bit steep for me at the moment. However, it would be entirely appropriate for me to transfer the invitation to my patron. I had intended to offer it to the Talhals, but if youre looking for something to do

I smile at the suggestion. Its a perfectly adequate wedge, I suppose, but is he being so obvious about driving it between me and Allan on purpose, or is he really just that clumsy? On that note, why am I letting him manoeuvre me so easily? Why am I looking for things that I know Allan will disapprove of?

What a marvellous suggestion. Whats the ante?

A half medium gold that is.

AhThat is a bit higher than before. Still, I recently acquired ways to increase my inflow. I refer to my advanced plant growth spells, allowing me to sell increased quantities of rare herbs. By all means, make the arrangement.

Good, my lord. The game was set for Ulday, which will give you a day to recover before going back to school.

Exactly what I need. Thank you Well, I best be going then. That old man isnt going to kill himself, heh Is he?

Um It would certainly be a cleaner approach. Unfortunately, I dont know of any material to blackmail him with.

Usual approach then.

He looks hesitant for some reason. You arent going to use your Mud Hares for the job then?

I shrug. Seems like more of a hassle, no? They could do it, but not subtly, and a merchant worth a boon from me might be important enough to warrant an investigation, low security zone or no. Better to just have him disappear with no trace for divination to follow. Do you have any reason to disagree?

No, I guess not. I study him for a second, but decide the indecision was odd but benign. He would be more flustered if he meant to betray me.

I was planning on going to the Mud Hares today anyways, a pocket full of herbs and berries. So, I stop by and kill the old man on the way. Its easy. Hes alone in his office, so I just go in the front door under concealment and slit his throat. The fireplace is going, so I quench it, then stuff him in it and liquify him, trusting the hardy stones to leave minimal trace of exposure. Then I cast a cleaning spell, use lesser firestream to start the fire back up, and leave quietly the way I came.

I find myself staring blankly at the canal where I drop his corpseball Did that really help the mission? Killing some random old man? He wasnt even a noble, so I didnt bother offering him. I mean, sure, it helped Greg, and so will help me. But theres some uneasiness, a hollowness that I feel. Its a completely alien reaction to a killing. No satisfaction at a job well done in service of the greater goal, nd no divine pleasure.

He didnt even struggle when I killed him. Didnt even look up. Just slumped forward without realizing hed been killed I dont know what Im doing anymore. I thought I did, but that was a lie, wasnt it?

Allan was supposed to be my handler, supposed to handle the strategy for fulfilling my mission. But there was no strategy. He was just I dont even know what he was doing. Why was he helping me? Towards what? Nothing he has done makes any sense if he doesnt actually care about the cause. He should have just killed me when we first met.

He cant be gaining anything from this. Hosting me is costing him time and money, especially teaching me what he has. Why would he do that? Despite what others say about him, hes not trying to seduce me or anything so crass, or he would have done it by now. So, what does he get out of this if hes not acting towards something greater than himself?

Can I trust that hell keep on helping me?

I guess I have to. Either that or kill him, which I could, but I dont want to.

Ignore want. Should I? Sigh. It would complicate things. My not understanding why doesnt change the fact that he has helped me. So why shouldnt I assume that hell keep on doing so? Inductively, I should think so. After all, if you listen to some, causation can never be understood anyways. Its all just constant conjunction, and his conjunction has been constant indeed.

I laugh out loud, causing a passerby to glance up as the sound briefly draws attention past my spell, so I decide to move on walking along the dreary streets at a sedate stroll. Not really going anywhere, just using the motion to move my thoughts along.

Can I imagine him betraying me?

Not really.

Can I imagine him letting me down? Not being there at a critical moment?

Yeah. Now that I know that hes not committed, I can imagine him holding himself back when I need him the most. But, strangely, I can also imagine him holding nothing back to help me. I dont know why I think that though.

I think I know why I talked to Greg about this despite knowing hed try to use it to turn me against Allan. Its because I knew hed be clumsy about it, and make what I was already thinking seem ridiculous.

So yeah, I think I can still work with Allan, but I cant trust him to plan long-term anymore. I dont know what future he even wants from me. Whether my gaining a position of power would be in line with why hes helping me. So, just short-term help from now on.

That is, if hell even give me that, now that he has found out Im still making the occasional sacrifice. Or, I guess he hasnt. Just the one, and a few after. Hell probably ask though, and I wont be able to lie.

Who have I even offered since I met him? Just Henry (that was his name, right? The Thrushes leader) and Gregs goons, I think. Well, I guess this will probably lead to him finding out about the Mud Hares being my clients. I have no idea what hell think about that. Probably disapprove, but I dont know why.

Sigh. I might talk to him again before the break ends. Or maybe Ill wait until the weekend after. I dont know. Depends on my mood, I guess. For now though, I have some minor work to do, and I know growing the Mud Hares will help my mission eventually. Best keep myself busy.

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