It was an outright scam, but Claudes father couldnt deny it. Sir Fuxs intentions were clear. He was a member of the Council of Dignitarians and it wouldnt be appropriate for him to participate in large-scale trade operations, especially something similar to smuggling. So, he had Morssen write him a promissory note for the sum of goods and the ship instead of a formal receipt.

With the promissory of five hundred crowns, Sir Fux only had to mention it from time to time to others so they were aware of the deal. When the convoy returned, Morssen could use the excuse that he didnt have any money to repay Sir Fux and pay in the form of a ships worth of cargo instead. People then couldnt criticize Sir Fux even if he made a profit.

Morssen would also go unsuspected for transferring cargo worth easily ten times five hundred crowns. His mind was clouded by the potential money he could earn and he believed the convoy would return safely, since they were in control of the new route.

He thus gladly agreed to a promissory note and even had some friends be the witnesses. He also expressed his admiration for Sir Fux for his intelligence. Borkals father, Rublier, had also been there and he tried to tug on his arm when he saw Morssen was ready to sign the note. If only hed listened to his friend. There was no medicine for regret, however.

Claude also finally understood what was going on. Hed found it weird that his father had two ships in the convoy despite investing just five hundred crowns, barely enough for one ship. With the convoy gone, every single crown had been flushed down the drain, along with an additional five hundred crown debt his father owed Sir Fux.

He didnt know what to say. His father had truly doomed himself. He should not have thought of Sir Fux as a man who could accept his losses. He might not make anything from the endeavour, but he sure as hell was not going to lose anything.

Theyve all gone, right? What did they say?

Bidlirs given me two days to get the money His father said, clawing at his face as tears filtered through his fingers. Hed seen his hope of rebuilding dashed against the rocks like the convoys ships the moment the promissory note came out. He couldnt just ignore it, either. The note had been signed in the presence of a number of witnesses, and several had signed it as such. If he just refused to pay, Sir Fux could take him to court and he would lose.

Whatll they do in two days? Whatll they do if you dont have the money? Claude asked.

Maybe he should pay Butcher Bill a visit? He felt, for the first time, true murderous intent sparking in his chest.

Theyll take the mansion if I cant pay

Will that clear the debt?

No. I put the mansion down as security on the loan, and they appraised it at just 320 crowns. So if he takes the mansion theyll only get 320. Theyd get even less if I hadnt paid off the loan since the money made on the mansion would first have to clear that.

Cant you borrow the money from someone?

Borrow? Claudes fathers eyes glinted for a moment, then dulled again. The money wouldnt have been an issue if I hadnt already liquidated everything I owned to get the money for the compensation. A loan of that size would need equal security, and I dont have anything. The mansion isnt enough to cover that big a loan. I cant borrow from any friends of mine either, theyre all in the same boat as me, minus the promissory note, of course the lucky bastards

Ill handle it. You know a lot of people, see how much money you can borrow and Ill figure something out about the rest. I can start hunting again when summer comes along. With a bit of luck I should be able to help you pay back your loans.

All he needed to do was rob Blacksnake. Since they were extorting money from his father, they might as well be the ones to foot the bill.

His father rubbed away his tears, and his solemn, but neutral face returned. He even cracked a half-hearted smile.

Im sorry for showing you such a miserable face. Im okay now. I just need some time to clear my head and think. Im sure Ill come up with something. No matter how much the money I owe, Ill figure out how to cover it. You shouldnt put your time and money on the line for me.

Enough, his father said exasperatedly when he saw his son staring at him, unconvinced, Im really fine. Ill talk to Sir Fux. I didnt think he lacked the backbone to stomach his losses like a proper man, but Ill pay him back if thats what he wants, he just needs to be reasonable about the payback term. Weve been close associated for decades now, that should count for something.

What if he wont budge?

He will. I am bound by my word to pay him back if he demands it, but Rublier and Thomas know why the promissory note was a thing at all. If Sir Fux wants to still have a reputation at all, hed be reasonable.

Claude grimaced. He didnt understand what kind of reputation that man could possibly have that was worth protecting, but to each his own, he supposed.

Go back home. Well be fine. I cant offer you a safe haven anymore, you have to rely on yourself and Lady Maria. You can only get somewhere with her support now. If its at all possible, leave town. There are no worthwhile prospects for you here, especially not now that Robert has actual power. It would be best if you can make it to the royal capital.

Okay. But you have to let me know the moment something happens. Ill stop by every day for a while as well.

His peace said, Claude took his leave.

He kept his word, too. He stopped by his parents house every day for the next week. His father usually wasnt home though. He left before sunrise and returned near midnight. When his mother asked about the debt, he would just say things are still on track, so Claude didnt learn much about the situation.

Speak! Tell me wheres your boss!

Claude pinned a Blacksnake thug to the muddy walls in a corner of the room. The poor sod was bleeding out of every hole in his face and head, including the ones left in his jaw by his broken teeth, which lay strewn over the floor like spilt popcorn.

I I dont know.. Please mercy

Claude clamped his throat until he started convulsing, on the edge of death, then released and the poor sod gasped through a hoarse voicebox.

Talking or not?

G-go t-tthe fish p-processing plant and s-see

Claude shovelled a fist into the mans face, who instantly collapsed, and let him slither down the wall to the ground behind him as he left.

Dont bullshit if you dont know anything! And why dont you have any money on you? he cursed angrily.

His excursions had been fruitless for days now. He had yet to find Bidlir and the gambling den was empty as usual. He didnt understand why the bastard hadnt reopened his den now his training was finished.

Claude had gone to the fish-processing plant that night. Apart from some fish left out to dry, there wasnt anything else. Claude caught a minor leader who was managing the place and questioned him only to find that Bidlir hadnt come to the plant for at least half a year now. He still owed his men two months of salary too.

So Claude went to the old street in hopes of barging into Blacksnakes headquarters, but he didnt think that a dozen or so men of the fourth band was guarding it. Faced with all those muskets, Claude had no choice but to retreat. Getting shot by a stray bullet in the dark of night was a pathetic way to go. He observed the place from the shadows and found that the thugs seemed rather lazy. That meant that Butcher Bill probably wasnt there.

In the end, Claude got one of the gang members who was relieving himself with a street harlot and brought him into that small alley. Soon, he found that Bidlir wasnt at the headquarters of the gang, but the thug wasnt sure where he was either.

Tomorrow would be the third day. Bidlir Blanche would bring his garrison thugs to knock on his door for the debt, and Claude didnt know how the situation there was developing. Claude looked at the skies and decided that it would be best to head back. Currently, the old street wasnt a good place to linger around. Many of the visitors of the street were the troops from the navy and people shrouded up like Claude were few and easily spotted.

Blacksnake were also armed with guns now. Claude couldnt mount an attack like he often did before. He would definitely be shot at if he was discovered. Claude was quite fearful of having a gun pointed at him as he was aware of their power. It was one thing if they didnt hit, but if they did, a thumb-sized hole would be bore in him. When shot from a close range, the damage would be far worse.

Bidlir Blanche was quite lucky to have not run into him during the past two nights. Claude decided that he would go home tomorrow to deal with the troublesome matter with his father first.

Meanwhile, Morssen was writing frantically as tears flowed down his face. During the past two days, he had made his way all over town but was given the cold shoulder everywhere he went. Sir Fux refused to meet him and his butler claimed that he had gone to the prefectural capital. Morssen, however, knew that he was actually in his manor.

So, Morssen said he wanted to see his son, Arbeit, only to be told that he had resigned and stole a pair of crystal candle holders which Sir Fux favored the most. Had Sir Fux not taken their old interactions into account, he wouldve long reported Arbeit to the constables.

Morssen was completely distraught. He had lingered at Sir Fuxs manor for the better part of the day, but nobody bothered with him. He returned home thirsty and hungry and Rublier, the only one who could help him, had left for Simlock two days ago.

Morssen put his pen down and looked at the two pages he wrote. He made some corrections and wiped his tears, before signing his name and stamping his thumb on the document. He blew out the candle and remained in his chair for a long time before standing up. He adjusted his clothes with the light of the moon and took out a bottle of gran wine from his cupboard. He then went up to the attic and stumbled out of the window and sat by the ledge of the roof, continuing to gulp down mouthful after mouthful of wine.

During the first moments of daybreak, he finished his wine and gradually stood up. He headed to the ledge, opened his arms wide and jumped off the roof towards the sky like a clumsy bird