What makes you think you deserve my help?

The Stain in Argraves memory was a young man that was brown of hair, somewhat good-looking, but beyond that, largely average. Height, bearingnothing about him stood out. He was Generic Thief Protagonist Incarnate. That was probably a good thing in his line of work. Criminals often dressed similarly not only to signify belonging to a group, but also to avoid having their appearance easily identifiable by the guards. The Stain that Argrave saw now, though

He had grown his hair out somewhat. His face became sharper, and he grew better into the man he was supposed to be. He had a faint moustache and chin stubble that didnt look terrible nor was it something to write home about, granted. He sat in a chair opposite Elenore and Argrave on a desk, leaning the chair back and balancing it on two legs. One might call such a pose exceedingly arrogant. Argrave was waiting to see.

Deserve? Did you miss the news flyers, the roaming undead, the appearance of lesser gods? Its the world against Gerechtigkeit, Argrave shot back at him.

Yeah? And this apocalypseinvading the Great Chu involves it how? He spread his arms out wide, stretching.

Argrave crossed his arms. He didnt feel the need to explain everything to Stain just yetespecially not this colorful, cocky Stain. Enemies intent on ending Vasquer lie in wait there, sieging Berendar. You can ask Almazora to provide evidence regarding that. Or, you can look to the fire in the royal forest. That was caused by enemy barrages, overseas. Regardless I think you owe me a lot, Stain.

Stain laughed and smiled. I did work. You paid me. Even if it was generously, that was our arrangement. I put your coin to good work. Or maybe youre talking about setting me up with House Parbon? That was more Elias than you, I think. He stopped balancing, and the chair clattered down back onto four legs loudly. But even supposing that was a debt, which it isnt youd still owe me.

Elenore looked at Argrave for direction, but for now, he didnt feel the need to let her interject. He leaned onto the desk and said, I cant see how.

Erlebnis people approached me, you know. The things they offered all they needed was for me to infiltrate Blackgard. He waved his hand over his face, and suddenly, his face looked identical to Melanies. His hair grew redder as naturally as a tree changing colors with the seasons. When he next spoke, his voice was wholly different. Couldve done it easily. I turned them down, though.

It wasnt quite Melanies voice exactly, but it was enough to fool the ignorant ear. He waved again, and his face went back to normal. He started balancing the chair again. Now that Argrave had seen a demonstration, he was only all the more eager to bring this man into the fold. He was precisely the person that they needed for this.

Not being a quisling to the only nation youve known doesnt earn you any points in my book. Its the bare minimum, Argrave said, shutting down any notion that theyd owe a favor for that.

I dont know what quisling means, but I can guess. If you heard what they offered, well Im of a different mind. Not giving you up was betraying myself, you ask me. Fortunately, when youre the best at what you do, you get to pick and choose your clients. He pointed at Argrave with a cocky grin. You owe me everything, Argrave.

Argrave laughed at him. My sister asked me to kill you. I havent. You owe me your life by that logic, you imbecile.

Stain was without a response, but he kept that same incredibly punchable grin going strong all the same. This young man, it would seem, had been ruined by early success in Parbon. People that thought they were the new hotness were the hardest to work with, and it disappointed Argrave greatly that this was who the man had become.

Argrave looked at Elenore with a sigh, then stood up and walked to the window in the room. As he peered out of it, Elenore put some documents on the table.

Ive taken the liberty of outlining your assets, she said. Youre the main fence in Parbon, but you keep a good reputation by simultaneously helping people recover stolen items for a fee. A little clever but rather high-risk. I have a comprehensive list of your clients, both thieves and thieved, who this information could reach. Overnight, that business crumbles.

Stain looked closely at the list, but kept balancing the chair on two legs. Business doesnt tie back to me. I use false faces for every meet. Dead-end.

Elenore crumpled the paper, then deposited it. Poof. One source of income gone. Then, your druidic magic connection with Elaine in Jast we work somewhat closely. I asked her to write me a letter describing her business with you, and if shed be willing to end it. Well Elenore tapped another document, then crumpled it up. Poof. A little less money for the Stain on House Jast. Next, money-lending. A word to the margrave, then poof. Your little pipeweed businesspoof. All the trade you have with the Burnt Desert? Poof.

But House Parbon would suffer t

I said, poof, Elenore interrupted him sternly. You think Margrave Reinhardt genuinely cares if trade from the Burnt Desert withers? Theyve been at war with them for centuries. And speaking of Parbon Argrave, what were they like last time you saw them?

Argrave didnt look away from the window as he said, Well, I helped Rose walk again. Got Elias his limbs back. Father and son were willing to do just about anything for me.

How unfortunate, Elenore grimaced. Between you and Argrave, Stain, who do you think theyd choose? Especially when we inform them of all this, she waved. What do you think will happen to your ties, Stain?

Argrave looked back. Poof.

Very eloquently put, brother. Poof indeed.

Stains eyes went toward the documents that Elenore hadnt yet gone over, and Argrave saw his face despair slightly. He tapped against the desk, insisting, If Im to go into war there has to be something in this for me, you understand?

Elenore smiled. Let me teach you a lesson about something called mutual benefit, Stain and let me elaborate a little on who youre dealing with.

Stolen content warning: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences.

The princess brushed aside all other documents, and then retrieved one last one. She placed it on the desk boldly. It was a simple symbolthat of a bat.

Youre the? Stain said in disbelief, staring at her. But thats!

You did know, didnt you? Who I was working with, back in Jast, Argrave walked back up to the desk. Did you think that was a bluff?

#####

He cant have changed all that much. Threatening him still worked great, Elenore told Argrave, looking up at him as they stood on the deck of the Sea Dragon.

Argrave nodded. Yeah. You might be a little scarier than Galamon was to him, even.

Good. I hope he has nightmares of me, she said contemptuously. Little weasels smart, though. Hed better be. Im giving him more than he deserves. He put his foot on my desk? He could choose any face, and he chooses to look like that? Ridiculous. If I looked like that, I might consider

Well, hes no longer a thorn in your side, right? Argrave interrupted before she could get carried away.

The sight of him was a thorn in my eyes. But youre right, she shook her head. Ill make a little more money in Parbon, and we have an agent suitable for infiltrating the Great Chu. Im hesitant to add him to the network of people in my head, though.

Suitable? He can impersonate anyone, from what I saw. Only Anneliese was able to see past itmaybe the Alchemist, too. [Truesight] isnt a common thing, so I think that isnt a genuine concern.

Maybe well get lucky, too, and hell be assassinated by the imperial court just like those commanders. We can just give Rook a new champion. That elf, Ganbaatar, maybe. He was always respectful.

Gee, sis. These jokes youre makingtheyre hilarious. Its funny because I know that you dont actually want the guy dead or anything. Murder of our allies is morally objectionable, so that makes it amusing, Argrave said with a flat affect.

Yes, I concur, fraternal sibling, Elenore returned in the same tone. Stains death would be hilar"

Argrave felt the coming of spirits through shamanic magic before Anneliese arrived. She appeared on the deck, staff in hand. Elenore jumped in surprise, but Argrave put his hand to calm her down then faced Anneliese.

Weve got a message, Argrave, the queen said, breath a little heavy.

What, from the commanders? Argrave stepped toward her in concern. Dont tell me another?

No, she shook her head. It was sent along with an enemy attack, cleverly disguised. A scroll was concealed inside a ballista bolta bolt that shattered upon breaking against the walls of the fort. Someone in the Great Chu is reaching out to us, this time.

Well, where is it? What does it say? Argrave held his hands out expectantly.

Its safe in the fortress, I just forgot it in my haste, she shook her head. I remember it well, though. It was sent by a person who signed the letter with the name of Governor Zen. One phrase stuck out. I want to help.

If wed like a fish hook through our lips, we might accept his help with wide-open mouths. Terrible bait, Elenore shook her head. Did he also say, come to this location to kill yourself, drooling invalids of Vasquer?

Less directly, but perhaps, Anneliese nodded.

Not a bad place to send Stain for his first assignment, Argrave held his hand up. If this is the imperial court, we find a puppet. If its not, we feel him out.

Theres a third option. They borrowed this Governor Zens name without his knowledge, and hes just a person who spends his days drinking tea and doing his job. Elenore sighed. But finelets have Stain look into it. In the meantime, ask Ji Meng. Well compare the contemptible weasels notes to the emperors perception.

Ive got nothing else to do, now, Argrave shrugged.

Ill go as well, Anneliese nodded. Any conversation we have with him, I should be present. Agreed?

Of course I want you there. Lets go.

#####

Governor Zen contacted you? Ji Meng looked between Argrave and Anneliese, then took a drink of his Ebonice tea to buy time to think about his answer.

His captors had been very careful, but they had made some mistakes. The one named Patriarch Dras had brought in a golden bird that apparently read lies. Hed seen that same bird perching on the queen, Anneliese, the day Argrave dueled with Commander Yuan. Furthermore, hed managed to pry some information from his guards, the hulking pale elves. They knew of magic the Great Chu was wholly ignorant ofmagic to tame animals, called druidic magic. By consequence, he had to assume the worstthat this woman would know when he lied by virtue of that golden bird, hiding somewhere in the room or on her person.

Ji Meng set the cup down. If his opponents could see his cards, it wouldnt stop him from playing them. I was hoping Zen would reach out.

Is he a loyalist of yours? Argrave inquired.

No, hes a right bastard, Ji Meng smiled. An opportunist. A greedy, grabbing ghoul that spends most of his time quietly reading in his garden while he contemplates on how best to stack gold notes higher. Most importantly, hes someone the imperial court cant really touch.

Why not? Argrave asked. Im under the impression governorships can be revoked at the will of the court.

By law. But not by reality, Ji Meng shook his head. His daughters my current empress. I forget her real name, but her regnal name is Tai Si. He raised her well, and hes prominent, so it fit. Tai Si controlled the harem admirably. I hated dealing with those yammering" he reminded himself of Annelieses presence, then rephrased, Dealing with the harem myself was unpleasant.

Argrave tilted his head. Harems part of the court, isnt it? Doesnt that make him a likely candidate to be the imperial courts lackey?

No, the harem isnt the court. The two are separate; at the same time, they dont lack influence. Half a thousand claimants to my throne dwell within itmy sons. Each and all of the harem came from prominent families seeking influence, and as such have clout, backing, sway within the empire. Its why these women yammer sothey all struggle viciously to let their sons sit upon my throne. Its why they came there. They wish to be empress dowager someday, spreading their legs while they pray for me to die that they might sit their child where I once did. The empress dowager holds genuine power. Ji Meng stroked his freshly-shaven chin ponderously. Perhaps I should call myself fortunate that my mother died long before I ascended the throne.

So, Governor Zen is the key to the harem, through his daughter. Argrave put his hand to his chin in mirror of Ji Meng.

And the key to the empires food, Ji Meng drank his tea again. The region he governs controls a vast army and the majority of the food supply of the entire nation. All in all Zen is a man well want to know.

Especially you, by the sound of it, Argrave highlighted.

Ji Meng nodded without missing a beat. Especially me.

Argrave cast a glance at Anneliese, and Ji Meng felt his suspicion she would know that he lied all the more founded. Why else would the king so often look to her for guidance? They could see his cards, true enough but Ji Meng didnt intend to let that fact overwhelm him. Already, things proceeded as he hoped despite that.