71 Identity 7 - The Lady of the Four Lotus (1/2)
*Slash!* *Thud!*
After sheathing his sword, the uncle gave a deadpan expression behind his mask. The wide smile on his Golden mask along with the moonlight shinned upon him before his nephew's body made the entire scene look - disturbing, like a hidden conspiracy was being unfolded.
If others saw this, they would believe the Golden mask one was a monster for killing in cold blood, yet the uncle spoke as if he believed that his actions were not even immoral but a responsibility.
”....Apologize my boy, we are pressed on time so we cannot make any mistake on our end, nor any delays. I hope you understand...no hard feelings...”
After saying his peace, the uncle pulled out a scroll from his space ring and threw it to the ground and left to meet with the leader with wooden coffin.
As he walked away, the nephew could only watch as his uncle leave and curse from his own mistake.
'...Damn it....'
***
Although pointless, the captain guard who was identified as Roger, ordered his men to search through the nearby areas before separating from the group to send a messenger with news about what had happened, then wait for further instruction from his employer.
To emphasize the important, the messenger was told about a member of the infamous Boards clan had appeared and was also given Roger's emblem.
After realizing the significance of the news the messenger had left with great haste, with the emblem in possession, any news given is of top priority.
Due to the bodies in the area, several guards have been stationed with one reason, preventing anyone from entering without authorization. The whole market is already in great turmoil, so seeing dead bodies would start a huge panic which must be covered up.
As such, another group was made to find any clues that the uncle and nephew pair may have left behind. Unfortunately, Stigma already taken the most important evidence, so there was no need for him to stay and argue with them.
Other than the decapitated body of the identified assailant and the two unknown cultivators, nothing else was found, they also remembered to ask for Stigma's shield which he gave up immediately for the sake of investigation.
Just in case, Stigma warned the guards before hand that the tent was his residence, so he had to return later on.
With such news pilling on, The Captain Guard Roger tried to persuade Stigma in finding a new residence for the time being. The market is already in turbulence with the hidden dangers, such that they had to appease the masses to the best of their abilities.
If lucky, Stigma may be provided with a new residence from the Top or let the incident slide as a form of apology. Although Stigma's incident would be just another problem to be overlooked, he was still told to find a new residence in case they may not have the time to handle every problem right now.
So Stigma followed the reason and retrieved all the belongings, which wasn't much to begin with.
Since he had a space ring Stigma immediately stored everything he owned: his daggers and the sacs full of his extra pair of clothes. Stigma's intuition told him that they won't look through the tent, so he grabbed some of the items that originally belonged from the tent as a form of compensation.
'What they don't know, won't hurt them....'
When Stigma exited the tent the guards were inquired on where the items were, Stigma lazily showed his space ring so they didn't say anything else and told them to wait for their employersreply.
With the market still in disturbance, the remaining guards proposed to form another group to appease the masses. They also suggested that if they were ask about what happened, their response would be an accident had occurred from heavy products falling under some powdered products.
The leader agreed to their suggestion an meet back under an hour. With time on their hand, Stigma made a small talk with the leading guard. Since Felix was an important figure, he was being questioned and started recording the conversation for their report, which may take a while.
”At least the guards under you are capable enough to think and perform their task, rather than to have them stand around like an idiots, openly suggesting and performing an orderly response is more productive than waiting for orders.”
”I am thankful for your compliment.”
”Well, your capable enough to have your men suggest something and agree to it. Unlike the guard who led mercenaries by the entrance, these people have a good head over their shoulders and trust your good judgement.”
”....Young Master Stigma, if you met the guard from the gate, the one responsible for those men was my junior so please forgive him. He is already performing his task that had been delayed, so you can find your money by tomorrow afternoon, if not, by next few days we will inform you by sending a written message.”
”....Fine. Whether I get any money is not the issue, but rather I want to see him take responsibility for his mistakes.”
”I'm sorry for the inconvenience.” The leader was about to bow, but Stigma told him it was fine, as a bow was not needed.
As the head guard, he along with his employer were already informed about the event that took place via reports. So by hearing Stigma's remark about the guards by the gate, he immediately understood that it must have been Stigma being reported as the white haired boy.
”I have to say though, Young Master Stigma's way of thinking is similar to how our employer thinks. Calm and collected, along with open to judge a character by their actions not by their past.”
”....Who is your employer by the way? Sounds like an old man who had lived longer than you.”
”...Well, my employer goes to the epithet as the Lady of the of the Four Lotus, in other words my employer is a woman....”
****
While Stigma was conversing with the leading Guard Roger, in the deeper parts of the market, three men sat behind a round table with wine and fruits and meat in the middle. Each wore tired expressions and from time to time they slam the table with their balled fist in anger, causing some of the food and beverages to spill.
”What the hell is going on! Why is there so many people causing a ruckus again when night is starting to fall, its just the earth shaking, why is there a need to cause such panic!”
”I agree, an event had just ended and we quite the profit, why can't the residence be please about it and wait for tomorrow! So just ignore them! I want to sleep already!”
Surrounding the large caravan were a total of fifteen guards surrounding them along with six people holding scrolls standing by the door steps, tired expressions can be seen as they heard their employers complain and made no attempt to make a decision like always.
One of them was, Val Sernisk ,the other than being eldest in his fifties, he wore multiple finger rings with all types of precious stones with blue robes. He is the eldest child that had been in the business in slave trading for more than twenty years.
Another was Idin Rudz, an overweight man who kept on eating as they complained, his attire was but a green robe that did nothing to cover his pot bell. An only child that had been pampered since his birth mother died, he is the one with control over the pricing from confection and delicacies.
The last one was a familiar man wearing purple robes, Pesof Chesk, an eldest child that handles foreign connections. He sat by the sidelines and quietly held a fan as watched his two colleges complain to each other, making no attempt in stopping it.
From time to time, the Pesof would be the voice of reason, but his colleagues ignore his reasoning as they continues to ignore the issue due to ignorance, it was clear these men had never encountered numerous losses outside their family grounds and support of their families.
In order, these men hail from large merchant organization which is under the administration of their families: The Golden Oak Tree family, Silk Emerald family and The Silver Gourd Alliance family.
Each of these men are successors of their respective families and have taken responsibility to uphold the family business. Yet with each succeeding events taking place, such as the storm, missing people, events, false merchandise and rising complaints.
With each occurring problem, these men were starting to cave in from the pressure and pushed all responsibilities to their respective subordinates, ignoring it as a passing problem and started thinking about their selfish reasons.
Their main concern was not the unsatisfied buyers, but the lost of profits from each mishap, along with throwing mud to the names of their family business. If nothing was done, they might lose large investments, as well have the families revoke their inheritance once news breaks out.
”Bah! I say we ignore them! They came here in their own volition!” - Val
”I agree, I suggest we use intimidation to prove we are in control, if it gets out of hand we have an army and use the dissatisfied one as a means of example and have them all arrested. That should calm the majority.” - Idin
”We can't you two, with the storm and the unsolved disappearances, we are already stretchered on thin ice with the buyers trust. I think it is best to formulate a plan where we restore their faith in us again along with maximizing our profits again, forcing them would be counter productive and would dig our own graves.” - Pesof
”Another propaganda would make us loss profit from materials alone, you know that better than us. After all, you were the one who took charge in advertising the entire event this morning, while both of us handled the prizes which made us lose about most of what we could have earn and that is not including the fake prize incident. The lowered prices were already an exceptions and the following days are suppose to bring us back profit, remember.” - Idin
”I'm saying that we should handle this matter carefully and maximize the profit at the same time. We are facing numerous patrons complaining about their product being broken, I say we should replace their items if their willing to pay.” - Pesof
”Ha! We might as well do that to every one and it will not end, I can't stand the crowd raving about their reasons like it's nothing. I can't use this anymore, the painting I bought is ruined, how the hell are we suppose to handle them once they start riots then?”
”Bah, I say we should let that brat handle this, she is suppose to be in charge for public disorders isn't she. She is the junior so we gave her the lowest position with no profit, this whole incident is considered public disorder, so let her handle it.” - Idin
”Correction, she is obligated to take responsibility. We, her seniors, have already given her face to even come here and have her learn from the bottom, we are even using her products as we let her watch as t how we use her products and use the profit gained as tuition. In the first place.....” - Pesof
The argument continued on as they vented out their frustrations, yet no attempt of planning has surface.
Not far from where the caravan was positioned, a private tent was stationed nearby with a flag with Four Lotus, surrounded by six guards who had the aura of a veteran. From inside the tent, all those who were present could hear a heartfelt laughter.
Inside was a young woman holding her stomach as she laughed behind a desk with piles of scrolls, unlike the area where a large workload was present, a smiling face could be seen despite the task before her.
”Ha ha ha! Serves them right! You old bastards were so arrogant in believing you were the best. Ha! That's pure bull! They want all the profit, then they should take responsibility for all loses. But wait, I should be thanking my 'Seniors' for giving me such an important position in where I don't lose anything but gain profit in secret! Ha ha ha!”
From how the scenario should go, the ones who are suppose to enjoy their time in luxury would be the three men as the privilege of the Seniors, while the one to suffer loses would be their said junior - the Lady of the Four Lotuses.
But the roles have been reversed in which the one laughing in glee was the last.
”My lady, you must avoid using such vulgar laughter and actions, although I share your view on those three, I must also point out that you are representing the Four Lotus Garden. So you must not forget your teachings and ethics.”
The who responded was her attendant sitting beside the adjacent table, the reason behind the girls constant laughter was from the reports she received from each sale.
After carefully calculating the profits and losses, clearly the three had started leaning in the later, making her glee from each lose their gained.
Coincidentally, the one who gave her the report was from the staff of her three seniors. All of the guards and employees were aware of the Tops relations, so they were trying to prove their competence to the last of the Top - The lady of the Four Lotuses.
”Oh lighten up, I have been holding back my anger on those three and could not touch them much less get my revenge. But now those three are starting to reap what they sowed for not even paying attention. Ha ha ha!”
”My lady!”
”I know, I know, time to get back to work...” As they were about to return to work, a messenger ran in and gave his salute then made a report, before the attendant could say anything the first words made them listen and peeked the mistress interest.
The appearance of the Boar's member \caught the attendance's attention, but the news of a certain individuals caught the Lady's.
”Hoo, to think I could meet him like this. Ever since the white haired boy appeared, he had been my good luck charm in causing those three to suffer great loses. Hmmm, how should I greet him...”