In style, Eve finished negotiations with the scrumptious-looking light elf, Francesco R. Nausseu. She delayed the contract until he ran out of peach wines and chocolate snacks before signing. Once everything was complete in writing, Eve crafted a few test models for him to take back from paper and runes.

The light elf even provided her with a new crystal card associated with the Coven Bank. It was service head and shoulders above Jeffery T. Wellington. Eve managed to include a clause in the contracts that allowed the Color Coven Alliance to be informed of her existence on an emergency basis only. Francesco had painted a grim picture of the Alliance’s political landscape, and Eve wanted no part until she was Tier Seven once she understood the implications.

Once all transactions were done, the light elf gave a gentlemanly nod, retrieved all his equipment, and vanished in a burst of sparkling light. Eve was impressed, even though she didn’t let it show. She uncorked the bottle of peach wine gifted to her and took a long drink before moving to the tables arranged for Wellington’s group.

Eve created a chair across from her drow ally and stared hard before taking another slug of wine and saying, “If you ever land on my green ally again, Kudzu will rip your metal bird into shavings.” She shifted her clothing into something more comfortable and turned her pointy hat into a smaller version.

Jeffery T. Wellington flinched for a moment before replying, “Should I move the airship now?”

Eve narrowed her eyes before one of Kudzu’s vines rose beside her to say, “No. Keep the metal bird where it is. I’m currently testing chemicals on it right now. Disturbing the process could have unforeseen effects.”

Jeffery recovered quickly, but before he could say anything, Eve glared at him and shook her head negative. The drow sighed and said, “I come bearing gifts, Eve, behold!” Eve watched as spatial chests stacked themselves to the right of the table. The resulting six sets six created a cube from individual units.

“Are you trying to bribe me?” Eve asked, glancing at the pile of chests. It was a very nice amount of free goods, to be sure.

“Is it working?” Jeffery said with a wide smile as he adjusted his tailored duster and suit combo before tipping his top hat to her. Eve glanced at the half-demon she assumed to be his second-in-command, who rolled her eyes before stretching out a hand and saying, “Hello, I am Susan, half-succubus secretariat.”

Eve shook her hand and said, “It is wonderful to meet the brains of the operation.” Taking a moment to check the other six women in various states of undress with Witch’s Eye of News, she continued, “Could you explain why it appears your employer, Jeffery, has brought his harem with him?”

“Indeed, that would be because we were forced to abandon operations in the City of Gold. Your drug is rather impressive, to be sure, but the space boxes caused a sudden exodus.” Susan said, smoothing down her business suit before continuing, “Due to several magical agreements, anything introduced by a Merchant Royal is considered patented by the System. Patents can, of course, be traded or sold, with appropriate convincing.”

Eve’s eyebrows raised, “You want to use my place as a hideout until the madness blows over?” She wasn’t sure how that would work out while in the middle of goblin experiments and Ritual matrix crafting.

“Essentially, yes. We would like to set up slightly outside the Ritual circle chain you are building.” Susan said, glancing at Jeffery before ignoring his surprised expression, “Such a boon would not be without payment, either.” The demoness displayed a casual elegance that her employer couldn’t match completely.

Eve leaned back, tapping her armrest, “How likely that anyone can follow you here?” If trouble followed them, she would need to ensure it didn’t interrupt the Matriarch’s planned demise.

“Minimal. I attended to all possible leaks personally,” Susan said as her eyes grew cold for a moment before looking pleasant.

It would be nice to have some other company around. Eve thought as she perused the information; her identification returned to each woman. I don't mind giving them a shot if they are even half as competent as Susan. Skills like Massage, hairdressing, or even nail painting are not easy to find in the Wild.

Arriving at a decision partially motivated by Susan’s list of Skills and Spells. Eve pulled seven contracts out from Nota floating nearby before handing them over to Susan, “Will there be a problem with terms like these?”

Susan flipped through each contract before smiling and saying, “Not at all. These are the most reasonable terms. I will get these signed while you talk with Master Jeffery.” Eve nodded and watched Susan saunter off with a saucy tilt before turning her full attention to the drow merchant.

“How do you plan on shipping your product if you are busy hiding?” Eve asked curiously.

“Ah! The wonders of large-scale teleportation circles attached to airships! Truly, the work of the wealthy and decadent!” Jeffery said with artistic gestures from his gloved hands.

Eve rolled her eyes and said, “Don’t be a nuisance, you shady merchant.” Watching the drow nod, she continued, “Alright, show me what you have, Jeffery. I’ll never believe a black-hearted merchant like you dropped in without filling his cargo hold to the brim.”

Jeffery smiled a shark’s smile and held out both arms before saying, “Behold! The Dark Catalog!” Like a stage magician performing basic tricks, a small booklet appeared in his hand before being handed to Eve.

“That would be much more impressive, accompanied by more chocolate and wine. Are you going to let Frankie upstage you like that?” Eve said, taking another swallow of her peach wine.

“Yes, I don’t have a few million golds to spare on making impressions. I’m a bit of a black sheep from the family. They didn’t take to my idea that business is another form of combat. Not enough blood, according to them, before they threw me out.” Jeffery said with a tragic shrug.

“Family is critical to success sometimes,” Eve said with a saccharine smile.

“Indeed, moving out of the lower Tier rat race is impossible without the backing of a large clan, tribe, or lineage. Unless you happen upon a legendary golden finger just lying around as King Midas managed.” Jeffery chuckled.

“My brother prepared a golden parachute instead. Fingers are so last decade according to him.” Eve said as she fed the catalog to Nota. Her Tome quickly organized the data, and she momentarily ignored the confused expression that crossed the drow merchant’s face.

“Susan couldn’t help but notice the Rituals when we arrived. Will our presence be a problem?” Jeffery said, shifting the conversation away from family with clear desire.

“Probably not,” Eve said as she surfed the Tome-web, searching for things that would aid in Rituals to murder the Matriarch.

“You know, killing a Dragon, even a lesser species, is problematic. The Draconic Race hunts dragon Slayers, a species as proud as the Scaled Emperors cannot let something like the death of even a Wildland weakling go.” Jeffery said, his eyes glinting.

“It’s the Wildlands. Things die all the time out here.” Eve said noncommittally. She wasn’t about to confirm anything where living witnesses could hear.

“Without evidence, there is no crime, true.” Jeffery said, looking away before continuing, “I would appreciate a warning if we are still around when you decide to strike.”

Eve took a moment to think and said, “Not a problem. I wouldn’t want the contract to judge me as trying to kill you on the sly by enraged Dragon’s breath.” Eve sent Witch’s Dust into the spatial containers and quickly sorted them out before marking each box appropriately. “Very nice.” Eve said, “For a greedy merchant, you anticipated my desires exceptionally well.”

“Profit Sense does all the work.” Jeffery said, “Will you use that crystal Coven Bank card to take a loan?”

Eve shook her head negative, “Loans are a trap. Those student loans are the worst kind of evil.”

“Indeed, some Royal Academies accept nothing less than life and death contracts in place of gold.” Jeffery said, “I would recommend against any Bank except your Race. With all others, it starts small, but the interest can quickly rise to obscene levels. That doesn’t include transfer fees, checking charges, or even annual safety insurance.”

“Does the Coven Bank here connect to outside versions?” Eve asked. It might be possible to send a coded message out using numbers if they did.

“Outside of what?” Jeffery asked blankly.

Eve gestured and said, “The world? Do the Banks connect to other worlds besides this one?”

“Oh! You read that type of fiction, huh? But, no. I’m afraid this is the only world we have to work with, evil Banks and all.” the drow merchant said with a grin. Truth’s monocle confirmed he believed exactly what he was saying.

Do people here not know other worlds outside of the Prison Plane exist? Eve thought. Or is such information tightly controlled and available only to the highest echelons of power? Once I reach Tier Seven, it will be worth pursuing. I won’t remain here forever.

“What are the limits of enchanted equipment here?” Eve asked as Nota relayed a list of possible assists for Rituals found within the Dark Catalog. Her Tome ran calculations in parallel, demonstrating the increased power she could access with a proper gear set.

“A cap, a necklace, armbands, chest piece, ten rings, a belt, pants, and boots. That’s the basics without Class Skills or Perks acting.” Jeffery said with a shrug before continuing, “There are ways to make things look different, but the equipment Slots don’t change. Bracelets aren't unseen instead of armbands or cosmetic alterations along those lines.”

“Set bonus overlap or are separate from the item's effects?” Eve asked as she brought Nota in front of her face to flip through the pages. She suspected sets would be the clear winner, but it was better to be sure.

“Separate, but Sets require the Soul to be Bound, first.” Jeffery raised one eyebrow as he said, “Soul binding is an extremely profitable art lost to the ages. For just a small fee….”

“Not a problem. I can do that without help.” Eve said, cutting the drow’s sales pitch short.

“Best not to mention that in polite company,” Jeffery said, miffed.

“Oh, did Francesco return?” Eve said without looking up from her book’s calculations. The drow merchant clutched his heart and said, “Et Tu, Eve, Et tu!”

Eve smiled at Jeffery’s antics as she organized her choices and handed the open Tomato to Jeffery before saying, “I’ll take all of these. How much BH2 in return?”

Jeffery flicked through the pages noting the highlighted choices, and said, “The ten tons I requested should cover everything here with room to spare. Does that conclude our business for now?”

Eve nodded and said, “Our business might be done, but Kudzu will certainly have something to say about the excess store credit. I need to run some tests, and I need you to put in an order for cheese since it appears you haven’t done that yet.”

“Cheese? That wasn’t a joke then?” Jeffery said before rubbing his nose with a pained expression.

“No joke, just lots of cheese,” Eve said, taking Nota back from Jeffery’s outstretched hand before she rose. Susan returned to the table with all the contracts handing them over promptly. Eve countersigned all of them, allowing them to vanish in sparkling motes of light. With the final order of business complete, it was time to finalize the multi-dimensional Rune matrix.

“I will be happy to attend to your needs as compensation during our stay if that is acceptable?” Susan said, placing her hand over her heart and giving a respectful bow.

Eve looked at the demoness before saying, “I wouldn’t mind if that’s acceptable to your boss?”

“It will be,” Susan said as her clothing morphed into something that an exotic dancer would wear. Eve did not doubt if she didn’t have Talisman of Dust, she would be eating out of Susan’s hand within a minute of being alone with her.

“What about my needs, Susan!?” Jeffery wailed in mock horror as he sat at the table with a tragic expression.

Susan merely glanced at him and said, “I’m sure the six members of your harem will have no trouble attending to all your needs, Master. I’m taking a vacation for the foreseeable future, don’t die.”

As Susan followed her into the Hut, Eve dissolved the paper tables and chairs. Nobody cared that Jeffery only saved himself from a faceplant by back-flipping into a cartwheel. Kudzu’s vines took care of packing the spatial crates into a spare room inside the Hut. She had marked the crates with Witch’s Dust separating them into books, ores, herbs, and treasures for future use. After a short tour of the Hut, the two women settled into Eve’s room, each taking a seat with the Ritual matrix floating between them on the expansive table.

“So, care to explain?” Eve asked. There was no way she believed the demoness had invited herself into the Hut for cookies and tea.

“Indeed. If you wouldn’t mind answering a question first?” Susan said, draping her body over the provided paper chair. Somehow she made even the simple act of sitting down look subtly sexual.

Eve raised an eyebrow and said, “Depending on the question, sure.”

The demoness’s eyes narrowed before finally asking, “Are you a Prime?”

“Prime?” Eve said as Nota supplied information on the concept. She stilled her face before replying, “Yes, it appears I am.”

Susan’s entire body relaxed, “You speak the truth. Demons, as consummate liars, have the innate ability to detect them. I thought the Wellington boy was on a wild thunder hawk chase. He’ll never let me live it down for a century when he finally knows for sure.”

Eve’s eyes widened as the implications of her new status became clearer with Nota’s help. “So being a Prime is a ticket to wealth, power, and prestige. Fascinating. Would you mind explaining why Jeffery didn’t know about other worlds besides this one?”

“You need to understand, outside of the Big Three. By that, I mean Dragons, Light Elves, and Demons. The knowledge of other worlds has been curtailed into mere fiction. It isn’t hard when the Prison Plane keeps growing every year. Entire worlds have been pulled wholesale into this place since it was created. Dragons, Light Elves, and Demons refuse to admit they are here out of anything other than their own will. History has been edited to make it seem like they arrived here ten millennia ago by choice. Talk of Imprisonment outside of certain circles is a death sentence. As for escape, there is none unless you have the power to travel the Void and a method to bypass the guardian known as the Primordial Dust. Eventually, every Tier Seven either makes peace with being here or attempts to escape.” Susan explained to Eve.

“Has anyone ever escaped?” Eve said. She wanted facts from someone who wasn’t writing a fantasy story looking for reviews or five-star income levels.

“Yes. You won’t find it hard to learn their Names. They are practically household legends.” Susan said with a casual wave before continuing, “More to the point, Witches, or more specifically unaligned ones, are the holy grail of the Color Coven Alliance. Black, Red, Blue, Green, White, Purple, Grey, and even Rogues are not exempt except on paper. The rarity of your Race creates a tightly knit alliance. It doesn’t hurt that most Witches share complementary specialties. Blacks are precision Curse-makers and cold-eyed killers. Reds are perfect bakers, no matter the meal’s meat. Blues are disgusting doppelgangers, copying their food supply. Greens grow the specialty spices, along with select drugs for distribution. Whites handle the healing of drug users, poisoned princes, and other riff-raff. Purples have no compunction about seducing a few emperors to change laws for Coven’s benefit. Lastly, Greys are the least known, but they are the murky cleaners that solve messes made by all the others. So, with that said, what will the Coven of Silver be?”

“Rituals.” Eve said succinctly, “Lots of Rituals.”

“Oh? Those usually take a long time, but no one can deny the effects.” Susan said with raised eyebrows. “How will you differentiate your Rituals from other's Colors?”

Eve snapped her fingers, and the entire room flashed with light as countless Ritual circles appeared. She said, “Rituals are powerful, but as everyone thinks they know, such things take time. I will change this fallacy from fact to fiction.”

She didn’t fail to note how Susan flinched and barely managed to stop herself from leaping out of the chair. It was to be expected, as every Ritual in the room was a Demon Banishment writ large with brutal effects. Eve’s actions were equivalent to pointing multiple heat-seeking missiles at a volcano. Granted, she couldn’t trigger them without the contract penalizing her, but it would be a small price compared to the half-demon’s world of pain. The reason Susan reacted so severely was the room didn’t have a single Ritual circle except for the Matrix on the table when she entered. Eve had written them all within an eye blink. As long as she was the only one who knew instant Rituals were currently limited in size, shape, and use, the threat was intimidating.

“Terrifying.” Susan said as she glanced around before asking, “To be sure, there were no Rituals in the room when we entered, right?”

“Indeed,” Eve said before waving her hand, erasing all the Rituals out of existence. There was no need to browbeat a cultured ally.

“You set them up just now?” Susan said, relaxing as the runes vanished.

“Exactly.” Eve smiled a shark’s grin.

“Well, shall we discuss the price of Dragon blood?” Susan said, settling back into her chair with half-lidded eyes.