"Zes. We understand what you're saying, however, Sebastian has a good reason for you to have this magick sword. You're the only one that can use this. Mel already has her own magick sword. I use a magick staff to amplify my spells." Aima was trying to mediate between the master and servant, although it wasn't proving to be successful.

"In that case master - Sebastian can use another one aside from Fulgur. He already saved my life and I am blessed being able to serve him. Accepting a magick weapon will simply be too much. I can't possibly repay him in this lifetime or in the next one even."

Sebastian was ma.s.saging his temples with his hands. He was slowly using [Augment] to relieve the headache. However, his frustration was gnawing at his patience. He couldn't believe how adamant Zes was in refusing the magick weapon. To Sebastian, it was made as a byproduct from his experimentation with the mana tendrils and honesty he didn't have any use for it. However, being unable to use or dispose of it was also irritating.

When Sebastian was seriously considering using [Contract] to check if he could force Zes to accept the weapon, Mel and Jin arrived in the workshop. While the three were busy with their blacksmith experiments, Mel and JIn were both busy getting on Yokkun's good side, even if it was through his shop managers.

"We have good news, Sebastian." Jin spoke as he went through the door. Sensing the awkward situation before them, Jin and Mel stopped in their tracks.

Aima sheepishly looked at the two party members that just arrived and briefed them. "Sebastian is trying to get Zes to use a magick sword. We don't have any use for it and no one else uses a sword among all of us but she just downright refuses it."

"I simply can't accept it. Saving my life and giving me another lease in life is one thing, but accepting a magick weapon as well is just too much." Zes looked imploringly at Mel, hoping she would back her up. With the amount of time they both spent with Sebastian, they unknowingly formed a bond between them.

"sigh. Zes, you also have to consider Sebastian's side. If you don't accept it, what do you want to do with a magick weapon?" Mel pulled Zes aside, allowing Sebastian and Aima to collect their thoughts.

"But Mel, it's just too much. We could sell it for more funds, or we could even use it as a spare if your or Sebastian's weapon breaks."

Sebastian walked slowly towards Zes and was getting ready to use [Contract] when Jin stopped him.

Jin turned to Zes this time and spoke. "Zes, think of it like this. Sebastian will need your protection soon. We are getting ready to close in on Yokkun and possibly Yokkun's business partner. That person is brutal and unreasonable. You heard how he killed our previous party member. If we face off with him and his tricks, we will need you to be well prepared. Think of this magick sword as Sebastian's protection as well. The last thing you need to see is your master being killed in front of you while you helplessly watch."

After that statement, Zes froze and her eyes became misty. While listening to Jin she was somehow imagining the gruesome scene. "Then I'll take it and use it for your protection. I will lay my life down for Sebastian."

Everyone breathed a sigh of relief when they saw Zes accept the magick sword from Sebastian.

Trying to lighten the situation, Mel spoke to Zes while smiling. "Do you want to give your weapon a name? To personalise it of course."

"I'm not really sure. I haven't thought that far. I just know that it's enhanced properties are sharpness and durability."

Sebastian spoke for the first time after they started the persuasion process. "I have an idea. How about we call it Pertinax. It's Latin from where I come from. It can mean stubbornness or unyielding."

"I like it! That actually makes sense in this situation." Aima clapped the red-faced Zes' back while laughing.

Sebastian remained serious when he faced Jin. "You mentioned that you had good news? Is it progress regarding Yokkun?"

"Ah yes. We told his shop manager that we are expecting a huge s.h.i.+pment of iron ores soon and he agreed to pa.s.s on the message to Yokkun. Yokkun will meet us personally to negotiate the prices and the terms. He actually became desperate enough to meet us. What should we do then?"

"As planned, you and Mel meet him. I, Aima, and Zes will be nearby to provide support if something happens. Although we will be in charge of tailing him once your meeting is finished."

This time Mel spoke up. "Please exercise caution, Sebastian. He seems to be extremely anxious and cautious so he might take some precautions before meeting us."

With a chuckle, Jin replied. "Maybe in this situation Yokkun should be the one to be cautious. Just make sure that we will still be able to see him after you're done with him, Sebastian."

Sebastian only laughed dryly while they were on their way to their inn for the usual dinner and planning.

***

"With this rate. I'm sure you'd be more than pleased." The dwarven merchant in front of them placed his cup down on the table with grace. Only with heightened senses would they notice that he was actually hiding his tremor.

"Thank you. Let's confirm the details before we wrap up." Mel read from the magick contract in front of them. "Payment for a carriage of iron ores will be 1.5x the current market price. Any succeeding quant.i.ties after that will be 3x the market price. For mana stones, they will all be at 1.5x the market price no matter the quant.i.ty." She briefly glanced at Jin beside her. He nodded solemnly after hearing the terms.

"This seems like good terms for everyone. You need iron ores and mana stones, while we have a lot in surplus due to our recent adventures near Wildecross City." Jin picked the magick contract and prepared to run his mana through it when Yokkun interrupted him.

"As a sign of good faith, I'll place my mana signature on the contract first and stamp it before you." With a smile, he picked up the magick contract and proceeded to apply his markings on it. It briefly emitted a faint glow after receiving his mana before resuming its rustic appearance. Mel received it from Yokkun before she also did the same. When the light faded, Jin also did the same, finis.h.i.+ng the deal.

Jin breathed out a sigh of relief. "With this, the deal is finished. It really was worth it to make a deal personally with you, Yokkun. Should we have a few rounds of mead or ale to celebrate this occasion?"

Yokkun was already standing up before Jin even finished his invitation. "I would have liked that. However, I am pressed for time. I have other matters to attend to at once. We'll have to postpone it for next time. The servants in this shop can a.s.sist you if you require anything else." With a hush, Yokkun left the room. If it wasn't for the signed magick contract in their hands, there wouldn't be any traces at all that he was in the room.

Mel stood up after a moment. "Then we should get going as well Jin. We might have some other matters to attend to in a while."

Jin nodded in silence while he finished off his cup of tea with a gulp.

*

Sebastian, Aima, and Zes glanced from the seat in the cafe when they saw Yokkun walk out of his shop. He appeared fl.u.s.tered and in a rush as he didn't even wait for any of his attendants. Sebastian quietly praised how Jin and Mel were able to s.n.a.t.c.h this busy dwarven merchant from his tight schedule. After paying for their drinks, the party followed Yokkun at a distance.

Sebastian kept using his [Augment] skills to trace Yokkun by his scent and even from his distinct walking and breathing. It almost bordered on the beastkin's innate heightened senses. Maintaining a suitable amount of distance between them, Sebastian lead the way for Aima and Zes. Everyone had their cloaks and scarves covering their faces. With the winter weather still in effect, they had a reasonable excuse for their winter wraps. Sebastian suddenly stopped in his tracks and headed into the nearest alley, surprising his party. When he was sure there was n.o.body else in the quiet alleyway, Sebastian quickly used [Augment] and jumped on top of the building!

"Oi! Wh" Aima was caught unaware and tried to follow Sebastian, however, the physical limitations of a mage were blatant and unyielding.

"[Oakskin], [Second Wind]!" Zes on the other hand quickly applied reinforcement spells on her pet.i.te body. With a kick on the building wall and a bit of difficulty, she managed to reach the rooftop as well. Both master and slave disappeared into the afternoon sky, leaving the fl.u.s.tered Aima behind.

Yokkun ducked in between buildings and then broke into a run. He even dropped his winter coat to lighten his load. "This is preposterous! To be tailed from a business meeting!" He felt for his hand axe on his waist, only to find it painfully absent. He quickly calculated how long his attendants would reach him and how far his safe house was. His thoughts didn't take him far when a shadow dropped in front of him.

"Who are you? I'm just a merchant. I can give you money if you want - spare me!" Using both his arms to s.h.i.+eld his face, Yokkun backed into a corner while showing his hand. He decided to save his reinforcement spells when push came to shove. He was answered with an awkward silence which seemed to last a long time. He was about to put his arms down when he felt the wind stir around him.

BAM!

The a.s.sailant's roundhouse kick connected with his nape, knocking him into the wall. He was already unconscious before he even hit the ground.

"You did well to follow me Zes. Where is Aima?" Sebastian knelt down and checked the dwarf's pulse and breathing.

"She's a couple of buildings behind us. Should we wait for her?" Zes jumped down from the rooftop, nimbly landing beside her master.

"Yes. Otherwise she might think we plotted all this. I'll bring him to the prepared house." Sebastian placed Yokkun's arm over his shoulder. He hoped that others would think that he was a.s.sisting a drunken dwarf on the streets. Before heading out onto the streets he turned to Zes who was fixing her cloak to cover her face once more. "Zes, make sure to give me a head start. Go slow." With that, Sebastian headed into the busy street, filled with revelers and adventurers who came back from their respective quests.

*

splash

"Splutter. Puhaa. Wh"

Bam!

Even before Yokkun was able to gather his surroundings, a punch connected with his nose. Lying on the ground, he couldn't move his arms and legs due to the rope tying his limbs to the chair. He could only look at the blurry ceiling before a figure came into view and pushed the merchant dwarf and his chair back up. Only then did Yokkun smell something foul and offensive on his clothes. It seemed that this was the offending liquid splashed onto him moments ago.

The figure sat across him, staring at him intently. "Spirit of ammonia. Can also be used to revive fainted patients. Though people liken it to fermented p.i.s.s."

"What do you want? I'll pay you. We can even forget this all happened." Yokkun began bargaining in earnest, trying hard not to insult his captor with his tone of voice.

The human adventurer simply continued to stare. "You're ama.s.sing iron ores and mana stones. Why is that?"

"Did Rhys send you? That elf is still new to this merchant thing. This is not how we do things!" Yokkun spat his words out, clearing his mouth of the blood clots in the process.

Silence ensued.

"Are you making guns?" The man fully clad in winter clothing continued, ignoring the dwarf. The man's own question startled the dwarf, draining the colour from his face.

"Did Nate send-"

BLAM!

Yokkun never finished his question. His captor jumped and launched his heel into Yokkun's jaw. Knocking him over and a couple of his teeth out in the process. He felt like he was about to pa.s.s out once again when the shouting brought him back from the brink of his consciousness.

"WHERE IS HE?!"

Yokkun was still on the verge of fainting when his body and chair was forcefully pulled up.

Splas.h.!.+

Spirit of ammonia washed over the dwarf's frame once more as the pungent smell forced its way into his nose. He coughed and spluttered in a vain effort to clear his nose and throat of the smell. He couldn't even open his eyes out of fear, and he didn't notice the warm sensation trickling down his legs.

slap Slap SLAP SLAP!

The heavy-handed slaps that came next increased in force, at the end it felt like punches.

"Why do you know him?! Who sent you?" Yokkun managed to convey his question using his remaining energy. He couldn't focus on his captor anymore and everything was blurry. It didn't help that his eyes were stinging from the ammonia.

"I ask the f.u.c.king questions. Where is he?" The human clearly looked agitated and drew a short dagger out. From its appearance, it seemed like an ornately carved dagger. However, it emitted an eerie glow and faintly hummed in the darkness.

"Magick weapon!" Yokkun's blurry vision allowed him to glimpse what was being prepared. He gulped out nervousness but spluttered once more when his parched throat swallowed what tasted like p.i.s.s.

"Why do you need to find him." His speeches became weaker and his head bobbed to the side. With the amount of ammonia soaking through his body and clothes, it was almost impossible for him to faint. He felt weak and dizzy from the relentless beating he received.

"I said I'll ask the f.u.c.king questions." The human pressed down on Yokkun's limp hand and held it firmly in place. He then placed the tip of the dagger under the dwarf's fingernail. With a quick motion, he yanked the dagger upwards, violently removing the nail.

"GAAAHHH!!!" The dwarf's screams echoed all throughout the bas.e.m.e.nt. The pain feverishly pulled his consciousness back. It wouldn't be the last time his screams would a.s.sail their surroundings. The procedure repeated until his hands bled raw and his voice became hoa.r.s.e.