126 Lord of Schemes (2/2)

”Little Logan... I'm just passing by, and so I cannot suffer the actions of these two to bully you, no matter the reason they have come to do so... But know this Little Logan. There won't always be someone to come save you. I will be leaving in a week. Once I am gone, these two will be sure to come back.”

A few sniff sounds were heard, and then the boy spoke, ”Then mister what do I do?”

”Get stronger!” Mark said without hesitation.

”But... My family can't afford for me to go to school here.”

”Take this card.” Mark produced a card with a gold circle on the front, and an address on the back, as if he performed sleight of hand magic.

The boy reached out and took the card, looking at the light shine on the gold surface of the card, and then looked to Mark's gold monocle.

”It's exactly what you think it is... Take this card to the address and tell them the Monocle choose me. They will teach you the rest.” Mark said softly, as he stood, he placed his bony hand on the head of the boy and ruffled his hair.

The boy looked up with a gleam in his eye and nodded vigorously.

”Smart boy, now run along. I need to talk to these two fellows.”

The boy nodded again, as he ran off as quick as mouse.

Mark turned to the two undead men and waved his hands. The Icy claws disappeared and dropped the two men. They finally dropped, and fell to their knees, pleading for their unlives.

”We were mistaken!”

”We couldn't see a Master when he was in front of us!”

”Spare our unlives!”

”We'll stop our ways today!”

Mark laughed, ”Stop your ways? Not likely. As soon as I turn you two loose, the first thing you're going to do is find your boss, and rat me out. Then you're going to try to check out who I am, find nothing, think it's okay, and then come attack me.”

The skeletal undead rattled, and the zombie undead produced copious amount of black sweat, as it steamed down his back.

”Let me tell you, in this course of events, what happens is I reap every one of your sorry unlives and waste my time. So, I have a counter offer... Take this.”

Another card with a gold circle was produced, and extended to the skeletal undead, ”Take this card to your boss. If he's smart, he will come to the address on this card, and talk to me personally. If he isn't smart and he shows up with anyone but himself... Then he can kiss whatever little shit stain of an operation he's running good bye. In the end, the choice is yours.” Mark said, as he walked pass the two undead to walk back to his wagon.

The two undead seen that he didn't have more intentions, and also made haste, leaving this devil far behind.

Mark seen the edge of the wagon flap move quickly, as he chuckled.

He climbed up onto the wagon and seated in from the flap to the inside of the large wagon, to find his wife, Princess Janet sitting in her wheelchair. She was pretending to read.

”W- Princess Janet, I know you are a curious one, so just ask.” Mark laughed again, as he walked over to his make shift desk to read some reports, while his servants arranged his coming to his vacation home here in Borda, also known as his base of operation in this area, and the location of the address on both cards he handed out.

Janet folded the book over his mid-section, and asked, ”Why did you help that boy? That doesn't really seem like something you would do.” She asked, as she couldn't hear what was being said.

”I saved that boy from a terrible future, so that he can work for me. I gave him my card, and he will come see me in a few days. At first, he will think he will be lucky, and not want to go into the unknown. After a few days of tasting his continued existence of weakness and poverty, he will remember my words, and the draw of power will bring him to me.”

”So, you did that to gain a follower?”

”Yes. Those saved become fiercely loyal, and loyalty is a weapon. Illusionist Genie who was the detonator of Zitergall was just such a child I saved, and she served well until her last shred of soul dissipated.”

”...That's cold... I know that's a horrible thing, but why do I feel that it's sooo.... clever?” Janet said uncertainly.

”Because it is.” Mark laughed.

”What about the two bad guys... You just let them go?”

”No... They will tell their boss to come find me, and he will show up like a pompous Jack ass. I will smack around his people and force him to submit to me. My forces here will keep him under thumb, and once he understands that my undead aren't all stick, and rewards are abound... He will come around to my way of thinking.”

”So, you conned the victim and the assailants... I love it!” Janet said with a squeal.

”I know! I know. Haha! You always did like a good scheme.” Mark laughed a few times, with his wife.

His wife smiled, as her eyes shined while looking at Mark. It seemed her way of thinking was slowly changing to that which it use to be.