118. Sven: Wiremu

We finished lunch and headed over to the City Offices. Ruku was going to introduce us, Tabitha would be the merchant because she was, and I would be the silent guard. Modrica and Tāoke were going to wait in the lobby in case everything went bad. We had the crystal cutpurse knives, but I checked on the antidote for the nerve toxin, and it was not ready yet. It was harder to concoct than they thought. They were almost there, another two days. I didn’t want Sven to link me with Tāoke at this point, although he may already know. We weren’t anticipating things going wrong, but you never know.

Sven looked young. I guess he was about the same age as I was. He was skinny and of moderate height with short brown hair and an earring in one ear. Ruku introduced Skygge from the Elemental Traders, and she started discussing the caravan she was putting together to head toward Kirghiz. He was puzzled as to why we were not just going by ship. It would take half the time and much less hassle.

While they discussed, I had Truth Sensing running, trying to get a feel for the guy. Truth Sensing was increasingly giving me the intentions behind the words, and I really wanted to push it through to Journeyman Level, where it would be much more helpful. I was getting nothing but sincerity and helpfulness from Sven. He did seem very competent.

I ran my Sense Treasure through the office. A few minor tingles came from the desk, but nothing unusual. Sense Treasure was also becoming more flexible as it rose in the levels. It used just to search out things I would treasure, but now, if I knew someone well or what they wanted, I could possibly find it with Treasure Sense. I was also looking to get this to Journeyman Level, where I could use this more reliably. I tried to Sense what Sven would treasure, but I didn’t know him or what he wanted well, so that didn’t work.

I couldn’t use Granite Sense here as we were in a wooden office. My Bond Senses collected some interesting smells I couldn’t recognise. One was coming from Sven, and it definitely wasn’t his cologne. In fact, he might be trying to mask it with his cologne. A different smell was coming from his desk, and I would be interested in looking through it later.

Even though my Detect Traps and Detect Spiritual Traps were both still in the Novice levels, I looked around with them as well. The office window had a trap, but it was the cheap type you would expect in a government office.

My only other Sense was my Sense Spiritual, which was at the early Journeyman Level. I was getting better at sensing the flow of Spiritual Energy in the atmosphere around me. Sven had on a couple of Spiritually dense items that were affecting the flow, but that was all. I used to think I had a lot of Sensing abilities, but none of them was helping here. Is there nothing here to sense? I wouldn’t keep major items at a workplace, but I might have some on me.

Tabitha’s conversation was becoming interesting, so I tuned back in, especially with Truth Sensing.

“I have one other thing you may be able to help me with,” Tabitha said, “but it is of a more delicate nature.”

“Oh?” Sven replied.

“I am looking to get a couple of people into Northport without them being documented by the authorities,” she said.

His interest picked up, and his eyebrow raised, “You mean smuggled.” he stated bluntly.

“Yes.”

“Why would you consider asking a government employee, let alone a Noble, about smuggling people into a foreign nation.” He sounded almost offended by the request, but Truth Sensing was giving me clear signals that he was very curious.

“Word on the street is you are the person that can get things done, regardless of what the law might say,” Tabitha replied.

“What would a trader like you know about what the Street says?” he challenged.

“I have my sources,” she responded.

Sven’s eyes narrowed slightly. I wondered what senses he was trying to employ. He struck me as the sort that would have Keensight, like his brother. “There will be a price,” he stated. “What do you know of Captian Alarik of the Swift Wave?”

“I know enough to know that is either a test or a trap,” Tabitha responded.

“Oh?”

“The Swift Wave does appear to be on contract for the Empire currently,” Tabitha said.

“You are well informed, and I am interested in how that came about. Captains generally hold their employers in the highest secrecy,” he said.

“This Captain seems fairly incompetent, as you also seem to know about it.” Tabitha challenged.

“I have never come across someone brave enough to call Alarik incompetent. You may not want him to find out you said that.” Sven’s voice indicated that was a threat, but his intentions seemed to show he was vastly amused.

Tabitha shrugged as if unconcerned, “His actions speak louder than words but feel free to tell him if you wish. People are often blind to their own weaknesses.”

“I think I will look forward to you telling him yourself,” Sven said, and his amusement leaked into his voice. “And you were right. It was a test and a trap.” He changed topics suddenly, “You are aware there is currently a gang war happening on our streets?” Tabitha nodded. “I said there is a price.” he continued. “Rumors are that the Black Butcher is in Obalno, and the coincidence of a gang war suddenly erupting makes that likely.”

“Do you want me to find out if the rumours are true?” Tabitha asked.

“No,” he replied. “I want the Black Butcher.”

“You want me to capture the Black Butcher?” Tabitha asked incredulously. My Truth Sensing was picking up her amusement, and it just levelled. Now I just need something to push it over to Journeyman Level.

“I doubt you are up to that task,” he replied, “but perhaps together we could lure her into a trap. My civic duty is to keep Obalno free from that sort of violent gangster.”

“I think your price is too steep.” Tabitha replied, “You also seem to have a lot of knowledge of the illegal affairs of the city for an upstanding Noble.”

“I never claimed to be an upstanding Noble. I do what is necessary for my job,” he replied.

“What job is that exactly?” Tabitha asked.

Sven ignored the question and said, “You want me to break the laws of the Kingdom and the Laws of the Empire to smuggle people to Northport, which could be for any purpose and potentially start a war between us? Are you a slave trader, Skygge?”

“That question took a long time to come. I thought it would be the first thing you would ask. So the only options I have here are the extremes to either be a Slave trader or to incite a war between the two countries? What happened to simply wanting to make a profit?” Tabitha replied.

“The slave trade is profitable,” he stated.

“So is war,” Tabitha countered.

These two seemed to be butting heads with little progress on either side, and they refused to give away their secrets.

Tabitha continued, “You have already admitted that you know the empire is meddling in Obalno through the Swift Wave. That seems to be the Empire inciting war. Surely the Impressive Royal Navy can stop one ship.”

“It wouldn’t be the first Naval search that Captain Alarik has evaded. However, you are correct in that it is a matter for the navy, not for us humble citizens. However, gang war and a notorious criminal are within the scope of my responsibilities, so my price remains. I want the Black Butcher off our streets, preferably permanently.” That seemed to be Sven’s bottom line.

The Sense I am getting is that Sven is loyal to his city, even above his country. He seems to be lacking in some information. I wonder if that is the result of Tjenner’s assassination and the removal of the Seadogs. Is he looking to make new networks through Tabitha? If he is loyal to his city, what is his relationship with the imperial spies? I think he was trying to use them for something, but it went wrong for him somehow. The Imperials have gained the upper hand. At the same time, he has lost many of his people.

Why attack the Elemental Traders and now try to work with us? Perhaps he only assisted in the attacks, as the Imperial Spy from the Enchanters Supreme initiated the first attack. Did he manoeuvre the Watch in some sort of bargain, and then things escalated out of his control? We escalated it. He would have been involved in the pressure on the Comedic Rhythm and the business and guild attacks. What would he have negotiated with the Imperials for that work? It is not a small thing.

The Elemental Traders sure looked like a small trading house with no backers, so there were no significant consequences for stomping on us until we refused to be trampled and then hit back. I think this all comes back to the Imperials and the Enchantment schematics and the enchanters themselves. What would motivate Sven to negotiate with Imperials? The only thing that comes to mind is a cure for the Duke. The Imperials want the schematics and enchanters. The Elemental Traders have one and are suspected of having both, and they are small and easy to squash. Except we weren't easy to squash. It sounds logical. How do we confirm it, because it may just be a flight of fancy on my part?

Tabitha speaking brought me out of my flights of fancy.

“If the rumour is true, the last time the Black Butcher was ‘killed’, they destroyed a whole city block. Apparently, that didn’t actually kill her. What do you think you can do, burn the city?” She sounded very curious.

“By preference, we would lure her outside the city before springing the trap. I understand you own a quarry?” Sven was serious.

“You want me to risk my people and my property all for the name of a smuggler to get someone to Northport? That’s not happening. You can risk your property and your people. Don’t you have a City Watch? What are they for?” Tabitha sounded very serious here, even though she was negotiating to lay a trap for herself.

“The City Watch is not what it used to be,” he replied. I assumed it was because his influence had been cut out, and they were short-staffed. “My other resources are tied up right now.” I am going to interpret that to mean we killed the seadogs.

“Then, to be quite frank, you are trying to bite off more than you can chew, and this meal will bite you back. I am not going to be a part of it.” Tabitha’s response was final. I am unsure why because it is an opportunity to toy with him and learn more. I will quiz Tabitha later.

Sven was starting to crack as the next words out of his mouth were a big mistake.

“What would Eluf think if he finds out his lover is smuggling to the Empire?”

I think this was supposed to be a big reveal that he knew who Tabitha was and could blackmail her. His face got very hard when Tabitha just burst out laughing, like a full belly laugh, and she had to brace herself to keep standing. Sven was holding himself still, but I could sense his puzzlement at this backfiring so badly, and he was unsure how.

Ruku and I also had smiles on our faces. I really don’t know where he thought this was going to go. Tabitha finally brought herself under control.

“Kid,” she finally said, “you are way off the mark with that one, and you really don’t know your brother. Please tell him, because I will when I see him for our date tomorrow tonight. I think you have been avoiding him since he returned. I suggest you go and have a long chat with him because I will put money on the table that he has worked you out by now. He was close when I first met him, and he figured me out on our first date. You are outstanding in some areas. That Ensnare Class works well for you alongside the Director Class.” Sven was possibly going into shock here with Tabitha revealing his Status. “You need to tell me where you learned Dirty Fighting because that is awesome. However, you know shit about relationships. As Eluf puts it, he is good with that Mental shit, so unless you want to embarrass yourself, go and have a chat.”

I think Sven was definitely in shock after Tabitha tore through him. He is used to being in charge, and Tabitha just pulled the rug out from under him. That Spatial Awareness skill was way overpowered, and I think she has now combined it with some of the skills Eluf taught her. She didn’t wait for a response from Sven but turned to leave, and Ruku and I followed.

Just before she closed the door behind us, she said to him, “And get me those names as soon as.” We collected Modrica and Tāoke and headed to the warehouse for a debrief.