Chapter 367: Deal with the Devil (1/2)

“It’s been an hour.” Kevan said casually, taking a sip from his tea. “Also, we’re being watched.”

“I’m well aware of that.” Dale replied.

He had a lot of trust in Ilea but maybe she had bitten off too much this time. What would I be able to do if she really did?

“I could help, you know?” Kevan said, his cup of tea placed back on the small plate. The man leaned back and smiled.

Dale couldn’t help but chuckle. “No offense but I don’t think you’re in the same league as she is.”

“You’re right. Yet I am the one here. At the very least I could get you out of there if things get dangerous.” Kevan said and looked towards the warehouse.

Dale wasn’t sure. “Why should I trust you? I could get a squad together and force my way in.”

Kevan turned his way. “That is a risky move. With the little information we have. You wouldn’t risk your men for that. Yourself however, I believe you would risk that. For her… for those still missing.”

“I would.” Dale admitted. Despite the danger, despite his own family. He couldn’t get Vin’s face out of his mind.

“As for my reasons. I’m bored. That mad healer damn near killed me and now she forced me on this fool’s errand. I want to go home and lie down.” Kevan sighed.

Dale believed him. He had seen and talked to his fair share of people. Kevan wasn’t a liar. “We go and ask to speak to the owner. Find out more. You help me get out if they are stupid enough to attack.” They could buy Ilea some time with a distraction. If she really was in danger, they might be able to prevent her death with the leverage of the guard.

Kevan rejoiced and stood up. “Finally.” He dusted off his robe and disappeared in a dark red smoke.

Dale found him waiting downstairs. “I’ll be back in a couple minutes.” The captain said and looked for a patrol.

“Why?” Kevan asked, looking at the warehouse.

“I’m not going in there without anybody knowing about it.” He replied. It was the least he could do to protect himself. These smugglers would be dealt with, one way or the other.

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Ilea was getting bored of the talk. Even the food and drink was sub par for a rich smuggling company.

The so called office was just another room with a little more care put into the walls and floor. Tapestries, magic lights, luxurious carpets and beautiful furniture adorned it all. It smelled of booze, incense and sweat.

Mauro wasn’t alone in the big room either. All the people who had accompanied him were close by, some playing cards, others just drinking. Most of them had their eyes on her.

Half an hour ago that was. Now, she was pretty sure she could kill the man without anybody noticing for a couple seconds. The Corinth healer had left, apparently annoyed at Ilea’s presence.

I’ll find her again later. Ilea had her scent, unmistakable among the sweaty and unwashed men. Her perfume was like a poison.

There were of course things she could learn from the woman, about the Corinth order, healing magic and her class. Yet she doubted there would be much cooperation without torture and Ilea wouldn’t cross that line. Not for random information she could get somewhere else.

Mauro was careful. He didn’t trust her, for good reason of course. He was no fool, giving her only the information she would require as a customer. What they had in stock, where and how much of it they sold.

She was pretty sure there was little else she would learn from the man. Not if their talk continued the same way it had. “You’re an ash manipulator.” She interrupted, his talk on exotic monster parts reaching the worst point yet. All it did was making her want to fight them herself, instead of buying parts that were inferior to her gear anyway.

He looked a little taken aback, sitting up in his leather chair as he studied her. “As are you.” He said a moment later. “Are you interested in trading class information?”

I’m an Ash Creator. Ilea thought and smirked. “I was just wondering… you’re the first ash manipulator I meet. What happens if we both try to move the same ash?”

“The same that happens to two ice mages trying to move the same piece of natural ice.” He said carefully.

“And what is that, Mauro?” Ilea asked and sat back, glancing behind her at the people.

He was giving her a look, not giving anything away in his expression. “The stronger one prevails.” He finally concluded.

“Interesting.” Ilea said and leaned forward. “I’m getting bored. Is there anything of interest you could tell or show me? Otherwise I might just buy a couple things and that would be that.”

“I apologize if none of our merchandise has peaked your interest. I assure you it-”

“Cut it out. You know what I mean. Something big. A pet demon perhaps, elven mercenaries, a cursed blade that can talk. Or perhaps the guides to finding hidden classes. Those are the things I’m looking for and if you really are this massive smuggling company, then you would have at least something of the like.” Ilea said, gauging his reaction both with her natural senses as well as her sphere.

There was something, when she was listing things. Some reaction she hadn’t noted before. Yet she couldn’t place it.

“Lilith.” The man started. “You must understand, I don’t know you. We haven’t done business before. I cannot risk endangering our goods or associates on mere interest.”

Ilea sighed. “What then? Gold?” She started summoning gold coins onto the table. One hundred, two hundred, they started spilling over the edge, rolling over the floor.

She certainly got the attention of everybody else back.

Mauro too seemed impressed but he kept his reaction in check.

“This might interest you. A Shadow I’ve come across. A hunter, looking for me.” She said, summoning her own badge and throwing it onto the pile. “You could get into some interesting places with that, I suppose. If you could break the enchantment and match the mana signature that is. Not that many would check.”

She summoned her Drowning Bear Ring and handed it to the man. “Magic items like this might interest me as well.” She said and paused, letting him have a look at the ring and her badge. “What do you think. Take the spilled over gold as a token.”

“We…,” he started and glared at one of the men about to pick up a gold coin. “… might have some things more aligned with your caliber of goods. I’m afraid we cannot accommodate you with demons or talking swords. I might however be able to offer authentic elven goods. Not a mercenary team but their armor and blades are just as good, if wielded by someone like you.”

They’re pretty bad at this point actually. Ilea thought.

“As well as magical items. Incredibly rare and often questionably useful but a status symbol if nothing else.” Mauro said and summoned a pair of plain looking shoes. Silver lining shimmered in the dim warm light, weaved seamlessly into the footwear.

Ilea took them and had a look.

[Silver Insight – Rare Quality] – [You gain understanding of Silver]

Guess that helps if you want a silver mage class. Ilea thought. “Impressive. See, that’s more akin to what I’m looking for.” She smirked. “What about your elven goods?”

He summoned a thin slightly curved blade and handed it to her. Near white and reflecting little of the light.

[Wyvern’s Claw – Ancient Quality] Enchantments [Strong Edge 5 / Fire Affinity 2]

Kinda want to test that on my skin. Ilea thought and gave him a questioning look.

“Go ahead.” The man said and gestured for her to try it out.

Ilea stood up and twirled the blade in her hand, not as adept at it as a swordswoman but she did have rather high Dexterity. Why is it harder to use a hammer for me than twirl a blade. Of course she would likely find her skills lacking too.

Putting away the armor on her arm, she stabbed the bone like blade into her skin with incredible force.

Mauro stood up but didn’t say anything, his mouth opening and closing once more. He apparently hadn’t expected such in depth testing.

Ilea pressed down, a sizzling resounding as the blade tried burning into her skin. Cool effect. “Could a fire mage set it ablaze?” She asked, pressing harder. She stopped when she felt the blade couldn’t take any more abuse. Disappointing. The undying skeleton could have likely produced a finer blade.

Then again, she was talking to a random trader in Riverwatch. Even if the blade was ancient, she assumed it was mostly the age itself.

“Perhaps they could.” Mauro said and received the blade.

Ilea was intrigued at least. She would get his storage item and look through it all. “Did you loot this or do you have elven associates?” She dared ask.