A woman sat on a wide sofa within the carriage. It was almost as wide as a decently-sized room despite the carriage's size on the outside. Even if the carriage was traveling at fast speeds, she didn't feel the rocking of the wagon: the benefits of dimensional magic and Feats of a [Luxury Carriage Master]. She pored through the many documents stacked on top of the low wooden table, lit by a floating [Light] Spell instead of a candle. She read the reports from her informants within the area, and they reported that the Gildin brothers are now at Dotterm.

She shuffled through the available people for hire in the city of Dotterm but she realized that almost all of the gangs there were happily fed gold by Dotterm's Merchant's Guild and by extension, the stupidly wealthy Temer Corporation who owns the bank within the keep. She also needed high-leveled people, so the few low-level [Pickpockets] and [Thugs] in Dotterm aren't eligible for her employment. Besides, if any hint of her involvement within the city was leaked, it might likely be war between this city and her, and to an extent, two of the Five Corporations.

But, as she cycled through profiles she found one person that she can use.

-

“What do you mean that you gave a secret from that brown book?” Numisley asked. He was irked because Cultrost told him that he helped their hired [Mercenary Captain] by successfully giving him a Martial Art in the morning.

"I just showed him that passage that may help him gain something. It was a gamble-"

"That's not the point you numbskull! It's like you gave away platinum for free!" Numisley scolded his brother.

"You got them killed because you aren't willing to surrender that notebook for profit. This is the only way I could repay him." Cultrost barked back.

“They would kill us regardless because we knew that it exist.” Numisley reminded him. “Might as well make a profit out of them until we become rich enough to afford actual [Bodyguards] or Golems.”

“Actual [Bodyguards]? Do you hear how ungrateful you are, little brother? Half of the Severed Swords died to protect us, even if you paid them.”

“Ese!” Palden interrupted their argument. “We got more important things to worry about! Cultrost, help with the grain sacks.”

Their attention was distracted, halting their disagreement. They were already packing up after they had shared a stew cooked from solid soup, foraged berries and edible vegetables, and scraps of dried meat for breakfast.

“Graten.” Numisley hobbled towards him. The [Sword Captain] placed a wooden chest on one of the three wagons with a thud as he stared at him. “A wick of your time.”

“Yes?” Graten asked.

“Show me the Weapon Art my naïve brother gave you,” Numisley demanded.

Graten moved to a safe distance among the trees, next to a boulder embedded in the ground.

[Moontear Blade: Crescent Cut]. The silver blade of flowing tears had almost cut the boulder in half in a wet silver arc. The cut was not like a regular cut, even for a regular [Blademaster]. Instead of a clean cut, the cut was impossibly wide for a blade, and irregular, as if acid was poured on the blade.

Numisley inspected the cut on the stone and was impressed. It was a wide cut more than six feet in length and a few inches wide; more the enough to defeat a handful of enemies.

“I guess this will be useful.” Numisley sighed.

Cultrost approached them after he finished helping the others.

“If you are going to give away information, inform me first.” Numisley turned to Cultrost, with another goal in mind.

-

With no interruptions, they had already left the vicinity of the Overthere Hills. The caravan passed through a road among aged and worn ruins that were caked in lichen, where a fortress once stood surrounded by trees.

Hours later, they saw the city of Dotterm. Once a small hill-fort during the Colonization Wars of Libertalia, it was built into a castle as a gift to an [Duke]’s daughter; hence the name, and throughout centuries, it prospered into a dauntless city-state and bought by the richest of the Five, the Temers.

The city of around 98,000 people is elevated because the city is built over its centuries-old stone and towering earthen ramparts; its stone battlements and enchanted low stone towers were manned by its Watch. The citadel itself was built over the ruins of the old castle; what was left was only the pristine keep on the hill.

Numisley stared at the house-size stones that made up its revetments as the caravan stopped in front of the stone ramp because the hired Watch on the gates inspected every nook and cranny of their wagons, and meticulously interrogated their intentions, with the large flat stones etched with a magical circle that cast green light imbued with [Zone of Truth] that shone upon the caravan.

Earlier, before they were in line, they saw someone glowing red because he lied, and it was found out that he was a criminal of some sort; so none of them did not try to lie. They stated that they are here to conduct business on behalf of Gildin Trading, as well as they are here to withdraw money from their account, and told them that they were attacked by [Bandits], which is technically correct because they do not know who exactly attacked them; the line between [Bandit] and [Mercenary] becomes blurred at times. All of them were able to enter once they have shown their identifying documents. Although some of them had been to a city or two, none of them had pretty seen a city like this. The buildings were all colorfully painted brick and even some made of marble, many of them with steppe gable facades and elaborate entablatures supported by decorative pilasters. Instead of shutters, even the smallest buildings possess glass windows and security bars of trees in the middle of the crowded roads and vast plazas dominated the cityscape, as well as bazaars filled with many [Merchants] and goods.

Yet the center of it all was the towering square multitiered keep where the rest of the castle and the city itself were built around. The keep’s pristine and smooth facade is visible even from here, as the centerpiece of the city.

They parked their wagons within a space in one of the bazaars when one can temporarily store their goods there for a price. The Severed Swords and Palden were tasked to find lodging within the city and buy supplies as Palvt, Numisley and Cultrost headed to the Bank of Dotterm. The Bank of Dotterm is the keep, or rather, where both Dotterm’s Bank, with its local Merchant’s Guild and its City Council, is seated, as well as historically, the Daught’s Castle was located. The three needed to traverse two successive levels in the city through the main sloped stone roads, divided by its ancient earthen ramparts that are part of Dotterm Hill before they were in front of the place itself.

They looked up at the pristine white keep, with its smooth walls bearing no windows except for the runes that give the keep sight to the inside. The green-blue flag of the city and the flag of the Temer Corporation flutter beside each other on the four sides of the keep. Before they can enter the keep, they were required to pass another truth-stone test. They were asked meticulous questions about their intentions in entering the keep by an [Secretary] of some sort, as they were asked to stand on a platform containing a magic circle possessing [Zone of Truth], observed by this one of the employed [Mages]. They entered the towering keep after they passed the test. The inside was a sprawling marble and granite hall with a vaulted ceiling, larger than what it appears from the outside: it seems like this was a throne room or a banquet hall that was converted into a reception area for the Merchants' Guild.

Outside of the granite and lacquered wood counters almost the width of the entire hall, divided by wooden partitions per [Clerk], there are individual sections of sofas and tables where clients can lounge and converse in; with [Waiters] and [Waitresses] rushing to and fro to serve their food and drink. In between the entrances are symmetrically arranged stairways leading to the mezzanines of this reception hall, where the private rooms for those who can afford them are located.

“Numisley Gildin, on behalf of Gildin Trading and proprietor Jascias Gildin, our father." He gestured to Cultrost." I’m here to withdraw his account and re-authenticate documents regarding the ownership of Gildin Trading: for inheriting all of his assets.” Numisley put his hand on the truth-stone tablet embedded on the counter, accompanied by Palvt and Cultrost.

The old female [Clerk] adjusted her monocle. She read the will and the rest of the documents and saw that there is little to no discrepancies. But-

"What is the current status of Jascias Gildin?" Her sharp eyes peered through Numisley's intentions.

"Most likely dead. Our manor was attacked by [Bandits]."

The smooth tablet under Numisley’s palm glowed green.

"Who was with you at that event?"

"Me, and our [Wagon Driver], Palden."

"Is the information that he had given correct?" She asked Cultrost and Palden.

"Yes." Palden nodded.

"Yes." Cultrost voiced.

A few more questions were answered and documents were verified before the whole process was finished.

“Please take a seat at table 45. A [Notary] will be attended to you shortly. The account withdrawal can be conducted once the transfer of ownership is verified."

They sat on a velvet sofa around a circular table, and they ordered snacks and drinks from the menu the [Waiter] offered them. Palden greedily chomped on the fried bits of bacon on fried bread, and Cultrost drank a brass cup of wine until a Satyr appeared, with skin the color of dark swampy moss under his pressed dark suit greeted them.

"I'm Tyroln Ikayee, Settled Satyr. No tribal affiliation. I'm an official [Notary] of the Bank of Dotterm, here to assist with the transfer of ownership of the remaining assets of Gildin Trading."

He stiffly sat down on the sofa between Numisley and his two companions on the opposite end, and peered over Jascias' will that would make Numisley and Cultrost the recognized owner of Gildin Trading. The Satyr with a very specific Role, like Cultrost, was born in the Human-dominated towns and cities and faced discrimination from the "tribal" Satyrs that roam the wastes, hence his odd introduction. Jascias and Cultrost read the will closely, and they have no objections to its terms.

"To briefly repeat the contents of the will, Numisley Gildin and Cultrost Gildin will inherit the authority over the remaining assets of Gildin Trading and hiring employees, as well as both brothers receiving equal share over the income generated by their assets. They will be allowed to withdraw and deposit money, as well to be able to exchange currency, buy goods in bulk, and conduct trade within the guild-owned establishments. This will be recognized by all affiliated branches of the Cemoorstead Merchant's Guild, the Bank of Dotterm, and by extension, the Temer Corporation, and affiliates. Any objections?" The [Notary] dictated the essence of Jascias' will among the portfolio of documents that he left them with.

"No objections." Numisley agreed.

"Yep." His sibling added.

"Please stamp the seal here." Two seals, both with the seal of their company were given to them. They stamped on the space at the bottom of the documents.

Now, they were allowed to withdraw coins from their father’s account as they paid 5 gold coins. They were given a Bag of Holding that contained their withdrawal of 250 gold coins. Before that, they were shocked that their father has over a thousand gold on the account alone; enough to buy a town or two in Libertalia. If they withdrew all of that gold, they would be a target for every [Thief], [Thug], and [Gang Boss] within the city, even with 15 or so [Mercenaries]. After that, they sent their employees money to the families of the Severed Swords.They headed back to the inn where the rest of the entourage were staying in. Thankfully, the presence of the local Watch is prevalent here, being made out of retired, but experienced and most importantly, Leveled from the constant wars in the continent. The average [Guardsman] in this city was a bit higher-leveled than a hired [Guardsman] of a town and better equipped: armored with brigandine or chainmail instead of gambeson or leather armor.

“Hey!” Someone called. It was one of the men within the surviving members of the Severed Swords, a young Dwarven man that they never truly met; just an employee, one of the [Mercenaries] of the Severed Swords. “This is the place.”

Numisley stared at the wide three-story building of white stone brick, with the colored birch-wood sign that reads: “Whitecastle Inn”. The mock turrets of the inn are fitting enough for the name, making it resemble a castle.

They entered the inn. It was larger than it was from the outside as if expanded by dimension magic. There are twenty large tables, three-fourths of them occupied by many men and women. They knew that whoever runs the inn had some sort of [Expanded Space] Feat or something similar. There is one single wide stairway at the south of the hall, giving access to the mezzanine and the second floor. Numisley approached the weathered [Innkeeper] with long white hair on the wide wooden counter.

“Here’s the rest of the payment. Apologies for the delay.” Numisley handed him three gold coins.

“Long day’ eh? Can tell that y’all came from the bank.” The [Innkeeper] spoke with a gruff voice, his scarred arms like gauntlets and barreled chest telling them that he was more than just an [Innkeeper], if not from the gigantic maul hanging behind him in front of the kitchen. “No need to worry about delayed payments, we get all sorts of [Merchants] and [Mercenary Captains] ‘round here.”

“You, what’s your name?” Numisley called the young Dwarven man beside Cultrost.

“Arimith.” The Dwarf looked upwards at Numisley.

“Give this to your [Captain].” Numisley handed him the pouch of 50 gold coins. The Dwarf rushed past two women with weapons and climbed the stairs.

Later that afternoon, Numisley fed them all a proper meal. The [Innkeeper]’s Feats were specialized in serving a large number of people, and in no time, they were fed with smoked brisket and rye, with a cup of broth and wine.

“Congratulations on another day. Feel free to enjoy yourselves in the city tonight. Enjoy your food.” Numisley announced before they ate. Although Cultrost knew that his brother can lead, he is surprised that he can capture the attention of fifteen strangers who barely knew him. They ate and chatted together happily, grateful to live another day and toasting to their fallen comrades.

On that night, the fifteen remaining [Mercenaries] of the Severed Swords headed out of the inn with their salaries in tow to spend in a brothel or a tavern with better drinks, with only some remaining at the inn to drink, while Numisley, Palden, Cultrost, Palvt, and Graten sat inside one room.

“I will renew our contract once again. Graten and Palden, you will sign this document.” Numisley handed them two copies of the same letter.

“You will be officially part of the new Gildin Trading in writing.” Numisley had written this contract in the afternoon. “This is just a formality, but it will be the proof that you are part of me and my brother’s company.”

They read the terms stated in the contract. It was clear cut: they are recognized as official employees until they decide to quit, and they are not to defy the will of the company. The flame reflecting from the oil lamp danced within Numisley’s eyes hypnotically. Cultrost was sitting behind Numisley, and he saw that the air flickered in his presence, and he did not notice what exactly his brother was doing. Palvt, leaning on the wall with his staff, seemed to have an inkling about it.

“I’m sure that you can pay us, so I shall be in your service.” Graten mouthed.

“I’m already set on staying in Gildin Trading as I did with your father. Thank you.” Palden stated.

Numisley cut his finger, letting it bleed on a wooden cup. This was a gamble, relying on the theoretical knowledge of that brown book; if it were a complete list of rare Feats and Roles, it would be more useful to him. He wants to be sure that there was little to no chance of disobedience among his circle. Palvt was higher-level so he was less likely to fall under his influence, but the real gamble was whether Palvt stopping him or not. The old Dwarf smirked as he let it happen. His head turned back to them, already under the effect of the new Feat that he gained yesterday as he slept, probably from that time that he hired Graten and gave him the means to blackmail a [Mayor]. Everyone around him was susceptible to it because it was one of those Feats that is always activated. And if this gamble worked, he would gain another rare Feat based on that book. What he didn’t know was that he had already manifested something in the air, his will materialized, making the candle of flame dance to his will.

“To validate this, let the contract be sworn unto blood.” He gave them the dagger.

“Dagger?” Palden asked.

“Prick your finger and let the blood drop in that cup.” He ordered. Palden simply followed what he said. His blood was now mixed with his.

“I will show you a secret of mine, because… my brother has given you something important. Prick your finger.”

Graten found himself pricking his finger with a dagger; from his finger, his blood already dripped. Numisley had put a lot of force into his words, empowered by his Feat. He knew that [Mercenaries] can have Feats that resist Feat-empowered compulsion, so this was a gamble if he can resist his compulsion from his Feat. Something engulfed the air and embraced all of them in his presence, a factor that he didn't know existed.

“What?” Graten was shocked.

“This is just a formality, nothing more. Other companies do blood compacts such as this, right?” Numisley picked up his quill, dipped it in blood, and wrote something on the document.

“Yeah…” Graten reluctantly agreed. He thinks that there’s no harm in such a small wound from a prick.

“Thank you.” Palden bowed.

“The contract’s done. You can go now. Goodnight.” Graten and Palden stood up and left the room, with only Palvt and Cultrost within the room.

“What was that?” Cultrost asked.

“Yesterday, I gained [Lesser Charisma], Cultrost, while you gave away something that even the nobility’s wallets would quake at its cost. So, I made sure that they will not cross us in the future. Hopefully, I will gain it tonight.” Numisley faced them.

“You’re trying to gain a Pact-Feat by chance, basically,” Palvt spoke up. “I must say, you are becoming like your father every day. Do not worry, I’m just here to observe every step that you’ll take until you fall.” The Dwarf smiled.

“I will become more than my father. I will attain the wealth that I seek, by any means possible, so I can oppose the ones who killed our father.” Numisley arrogantly stated. “It was also a gamble if you had stopped me then or not, and I estimated that I wouldn’t be able to influence you because of your high level. I weighed the odds.”

“Even Palden? He worked with our pops’ before we were born.” Cultrost objected.

“Yes. We can’t be too sure.” Numisley answered. “Besides, I’m doing the same thing as you did. It isn’t guaranteed that I get that Feat. If I do not get it, that’s that. Otherwise, I do not need to worry about them betraying us.”

“You can’t just make them comply-”

“Please, high-level [Merchants] and such can do much worse with their Feats. Isn’t that a bit hypocritical?”

Cultrost gritted his teeth, his hooves stamping the floor. He did not know how to retort against that.

“Let’s have a business meeting tomorrow.”

-

Cultrost didn’t feel like coming to the brothel on Palvt’s invitation, and he went to sleep early, as Numisley stayed up a bit to read the black notebook of secrets in the same room. That was a satisfying gamble for him, but domination was all he needed to be able to succeed. Someday, he will have the world at his palm, with even [Kings] becoming his puppets, dancing under his strings. He grinned with that thought, a dream that he wanted to reach as soon as possible.

As Graten and Palden slept, the blood on the contract glowed dimly. Their being is now bound to the new curse within their blood.

[Theme: Schemer] developed!

Level 16 [Trader]!

[Unlocked Rare Feat - Bloodbound Contract] obtained!

Level 8 [Information Broker]!