The Ogre Strength Fairy and the Eldest 'Son'
Chapter 278 - Schemes First Forged In The Light Of Recovery, Finalizing In The Shadow Of Looming War

Chapter 278: Chapter 278 - Schemes First Forged In The Light Of Recovery, Finalizing In The Shadow Of Looming War

Tucked away behind the larger pavilions that dominated the marketplace, a large private tent stood close to the outermost ring of the competition grounds. Its unassuming appearance - faded red fabric patched in places - made it virtually invisible among the many dozens of similar structures.

No banner announced its owner proudly. No guards stood watch outside. Everything about the structure stressed it was ’not important’. This sort of invisibility was precisely why the merchant Teovar had selected it. His business contacts were important people.

But... their *business* was not for the public.

Steel-gray eyes quickly adjusted to the dim interior when Anper er Yecine ducked through the entrance, in as ill of a mood as ever. An oil lamp hanging from the center pole cast a weak circle of light over the small gathering of his faction. Four figures already sat on black cushions arranged in a loose circle.

’Only the ones of us that could reasonably find excuses to wander the grounds. The cloak and dagger this can necessitate is exhausting.’

Their faces were partially obscured by the dark, but the swordsman knew every one at a glance. It helped that cultivators could see better in the dark... so that the little difference worth noting between their forms and style stood out better. They nodded at him without words.

The portly merchant that they were there for rose to greet him. His heavy frame was draped in quality fabric that made clear his opulent wealth despite the humble surroundings. The ratty cloak he wore to the place was curled on the arm of the single sturdy chair in the tent

A smile spread beneath his meticulously groomed beard.

"The star himself. We were beginning to wonder if you’d been detained."

Anper’s jaw tightened at the implied criticism. His status in their faction should have precluded such remarks, yet Teovar’s contribution had given him an irritating level of boldness. Especially for someone who had yet to actually deliver the key piece.

"Discretion requires patience. I made sure that there was no one following me after I felt a gaze."

He took his seat between two of the Yecine elders most loyal to the cause. Their shared vision of maintaining their traditions against the polluting influence of changing times bound them together. However, it was becoming clear that some of them either took the heiress too lightly...

’Or they have grown impressed by my daughter and hope to extend her role past her usefulness.’

"Let us proceed."

One of them spoke out sternly before another added his own flat statement.

"The Descent approaches. Your window narrows."

Teovar nodded at them both while producing a small lacquered box from his robes. It was not what they sought, but an ’apology’ for the meantime. He placed it carefully in the center of their circle so as not to seem like he was courting one of them in particular.

The man judged very quickly at the start of his ’career’ that getting in the *middle* of the family politics of his clients would be bad for his continued health. It was best to approach from the side or not at all!

"The delivery schedule has been... delayed. My contacts report interference from unexpected difficulties on their end."

Anper’s nostrils flared, growing quickly upset over this threat to their plan. He had sacrificed too much of his time and effort to be thwarted by logistics!

"Difficulties? You assured us that-"

"Now, now. I assured you of results, not timelines."

The merchant cut in smoothly, drawing five similar looks of contempt. The Yecine factions all had their private purveyors, but this man was the only one that spoke as if he was their equal.

While he was a cultivator, he seemed to have no talent or drive for martial pursuits. His body was clearly a product of overindulgence - something that was still possible at low Enchanter but became harder as a Primalist. That they and a lot of his clients looked down on him was no secret.

’Yet when it comes to secrets, I have so many of yours! Glare at me all you like, even my death will cause you endless problems.’

Teovar was a little... off, as most black market exclusive merchants tended to be.

"Although recent events have created complications, the item will arrive before you require it. It’s not just your plan on the line, but my reputation."

One of the eldest Yecine leaned forward. His weathered face was creased with suspicion.

"What complications specifically?"

"Your young ’heir’ has become rather... notable. As has her arranged wife. Both are impressive girls for their age."

The merchant’s fingers tapped against the lacquered box, suggesting that the item inside had something to do with what he meant. None of them flinched at how he spoke of Qatrand’s real gender.

There were only two people outside of the Yecine involved, other than Elua, who knew about their deception. The surgeon who implanted the masking tool in her... and the dark merchant who provided the artifact and set them up with the flesh sculptor. A private person that would be used again when ’designing’ Qat’s body double.

"My associates report an increased scrutiny of all competitors in the events. The security patrols have changed their routes. Certain people are watching certain others within their own Guilds now."

"You mean to say that the Void Defense Society is actually doing their job for once?"

Another elder scoffed. He had been there when they gathered the thieves that the Goltbred girl had left behind on the plains. He couldn’t believe so many ne’er-do-wells had been hanging about without notice.

Anper was unwilling to let the conversation drift into other zones. It wouldn’t be the first time he was certain that the merchant was trying to manipulate and lead them somewhere. His voice quickly spoke up to get them back on track.

"Is the item secure? That is all that matters at this stage."

"Oh, it’s quite secure. So much so that extracting it has proven challenging."

Teovar’s thin smile did nothing to ease the swordsman’s growing irritation over things constantly being just outside of his control. The route was always clear at first glance, yet the universe seemed to refuse to just let it be walked without inserting pitfalls, rockslides, or little witches.

"Challenging."

"Yes. The owners are still working on procuring it from the ruins where it was located. The environment is... well, hostile."

"Ruins? You failed to mention this detail before."

The eldest present Yecine pointed it out, but the merchant only shrugged as if it wasn’t his problem. The expensive fabric stretched over his belly rustled against the gaudy jewelry hanging from his neck.

"Why trouble you with every minor aspect of my negotiation and acquisition?"

The youngest of the elders other than Anper spoke for the first time.

"And you’re certain it will function as promised? The consequences of failure are-"

"Are yours to bear, not mine. I provide exactly what was described and promised to my clients in the time frame allotted. How you utilize it is not my concern."

Anper’s patience thinned dangerously. His hand rested on the hilt of his blade and his thumb pressed tight to the pommel.

"We’re not agreeing to pay you this sum for philosophical discussions. *When* will it arrive?"

"Three days after the Descent at the latest, I have people ready to rush the affair and cut my associates out of the matter if necessary. But last I heard they are ’right on the cusp’."

None of the men seemed happy with that response. Though to Teovar, none of these men ever seemed happy. He much preferred working with the insane clients. At least they laughed a lot more.

"Not enough time for your... specialist to use it properly?"

"It leaves little margin for error."

"Then I suggest your man work efficiently. A token of good faith in the meantime. An item somewhat rare, but extremely useful. Especially for those who might face poison related hazards in the near future."

Anper rose abruptly.

"I will depart first. So that we maintain appropriately inconspicuous intervals of return to the camp."

Without waiting for acknowledgment he did not feel he needed, he swept through the patchwork tent flap and into the dark of night. The man was unwilling to endure the merchant’s smug attitude a moment longer. He had no interest in whatever gift the other man had found to appease them.

Which is why he wouldn’t get to see what the item was... though the black leather forearm guard was very welcomed by one of the Yecine. The man had wanted one ever since he saw Elua er Goltbred’s more intricate version which their ’heir’ received as a present so long ago.

’Even the basic model is still very nice craftsmanship. I wonder why the artisan waste’s their skill by not making more of the fancier ones. Is it just because of money?’

The truth of the world felt like a harsh taskmaster to the young elder. The need for money to fund their family to a further return to glory was the entire reason their faction had concocted a plan that needed them to act like assassins!

’That pompous fool. If he fails to deliver...’

Outside and lost in his dark musings, Anper nearly collided with a young man carrying a stack of fabric bolts towards a nearby tent. He sidestepped at the last moment, a cutting remark ready to slide off his tongue until he saw the youth’s familiar face.

Styled black hair framed features that, despite being more masculine in some lines, echoed those of his daughter in countless subtle ways. The eyes were now wrong foremost - an orange almost opposite on purpose. He also looked weaker, shorter, and less impressive than his offspring.

But there was no mistaking the resemblance that had once made the boy valuable to their plans.

’At least until he became a waste of time, effort, and resources when she finally gained control of her ’woman’ side. A disappointment... just like the one he was meant to copy.’

The youth had paused at the sound the swordsman’s footsteps made while evading. When he tilted his face around what he was carrying... recognition and fear flashed for the second time in less than a week. Only, he had less belief that Anper er Yecine would treat him nice like the wonderfully kind Elua.

He hastily lowered his gaze and hurried on toward Teovar’s storage tent. Even if he wasn’t severely harmed, letting the goods be damaged would just cause the merchant to take it out on him. A stare followed the young man as complicated tangles of emotions rose from both of them.

’Disgust’, ’pride’, ’nostalgia’, and bitter ’regret’.

The merchant’s apprentice didn’t know why the Yecine were still meeting with his usurious mentor. He was only certain that Teovar only trafficked in things some consider to be... unnatural.