Chapter 215: In Need of an Acting Skill (1/2)
Mike left the basement of the popular tavern with mixed feelings. It had been completely deserted so early in the morning, which had detracted from the clandestine air that came with meeting in a bar to discuss an illicit trade. The broker this time had been a matronly woman, who was dressed much as an innkeeper, complete with a beer stained apron that she wiped her hands on before introducing herself.
Negotiations themselves went rather smoothly, and it only took him an hour or so to receive his purchases. He left better equipped than when he went in, but his wallet had taken a beating in the process. Apparently, there was some kind of blockade going on out at sea, which, when combined with the siege itself, was creating some difficulties in getting fresh materials.
Mike thought it was a little strange that he hadn't heard about the blockade yet, but figured that the organization wouldn't want to harm their relationship with him by cheating him at this juncture. Besides, he immediately struck it off with the broker, who started by offering him a generously proportioned breakfast, free of charge. He decided to just consider it a service fee.
He'd successfully acquired several materials he could use for crafting, but the selection had been more limited than he'd expected. Evidently, the wartime squeeze effected even the underworld merchants. Nevertheless, he should have enough to start working on a few of his projects, even if only the simplest. A part of him was itching to take the materials back to the dorm and start working on transmuting mana cores while using Artifice. Combined with the little practice he was able to complete last night after escorting Tal back to the dorms, he thought he might be close to a breakthrough.
However, he still had a few tasks left to complete.
The next destination was a merchant's stall in one of the poorer corners of the Span's markets. Finding it proved easier than he anticipated, as it was the only one in the area that was still open. Unlike the actual market district in the New City, it seemed that these businesses were more adversely effected by the siege.
The merchant in question dealt primarily in pottery, and several clay vessels of various sizes and shapes were on display. An old, grumpy looking man sat in a folding chair nearby, idly fanning himself while sweating in the morning heat. He glanced at Mike briefly, before losing interest and resuming continuing to stare into the distance.
[That's strange, the note said to meet the contact here at four bells.]
Almost as if it was responding to his thought, the distant clocktower sounded four times.
[Ha! I knew I was right. Could they be late.]
”Alright, boy. Let's get this over with.” The store keeper groaned while standing. ”Take a look at that pot over there, and pretend like you are seriously interested in it.”
”What? Really?” Mike asked while looking around at the deserted street. ”Is this necessary?”
While he was waiting for a response, he used Appraise on the man who was apparently the information broker.
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Seth of the Mountain Green
Age: 34
Race: Human
Class: Infiltrator
Title: Master of Disguise
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Mike swallowed his surprise. The man in front of him looked seventy, at the very least.
[That's an impressive disguise.]
Seth glowered at him, ”Yes, its necessary. You never know who might be watching. Now, act like I just gave you a bad price for the pot, argue for minute, then lose interest and find something else. While you do so, tell me what kind of information you are looking for.”
Trying to keep the various instructions straight in his head, Mike pretended to grow irate, and made a slashing motion with his hand. ”There are a lot of things I want to know, but mostly I need information about the Tenundians. Specifically what they are planning on doing now that their initial assault has failed.”
”Dial it back a bit. You don't want to oversell it.” Seth replied with a placating but exasperated expression, ”That can be arranged, but it will be hard to give you anything you couldn't just get from your teacher.”
Mike had been expecting them to know a fair amount about him, all things considered, so the revelation didn't surprise him. Placing the pot on the stand, and moving over to a bowl, he twisted his face into a look of mild irritation while asking, ”Can it be done? Emmanuel has decided to keep certain details close to his chest. I think he knows more than he's telling, but I can exactly force it out of him.”
”Hey man, just making sure you know what you are asking for. Anyway, that kind of information will take a bit of snooping to get a hold of. Ever since the battle ended yesterday, the Tenundian command section has been cracking down on intelligence leaks. Getting in there is going to be difficult, and therefore expensive.”
Casually examining the bowl, he asked. ”Are you really telling me that you haven't already sent someone to figure that kind of thing out?”
Seth laughed. ”I didn't say that at all, but you have to take care of your field agents, or they end up working for someone else. In the worst case, without telling you.” He lifted up another bowl that was slightly different than the one Mike was holding. ”Come check this one out, and pretend to be listening seriously.”
Mike complied.
”Now, we can get you that information specifically, or I can have one of my people compile a report on the full military specifications of the Tenundians and the majority of their combat forces. Look surprised now.” The 'shopkeeper' muttered while handing him the bowl.
He didn't have to pretend, the idea of such a report was startling. Especially, since he was dealing with what amounted to a non-state entity engaged in illicit information trading.
”Perfect. The second option is obviously more expensive, and will take more time to fulfill, however, most of the information has already been gathered so it should only be a matter of putting it together.”
”How much?”