Chương 17: 1-16 Dark dealings

"So, what did you want to talk to me about?" Josef finally asked.

"Oh, I am simply interested in what your plans for this city are, dragon." The Inspector's tone suddenly lacked any inflection. An ice cold chill ran down Josef's spine.

"I'm not sure what you mean. I can tell for certain that I am no dragon. Or are your eyes seeing scales and wings I cannot?" he was rather proud of that retort, hastily made at a moment's notice as it was.

"Indeed, I can see no scales on you, but is that not a matter of the heart?" How did he know? Josef was suddenly sweating profusely. That man's eyes couldn't possibly pierce all the way into his chest, could they? No, looking through solid matter sounded ridiculous. Maybe he was just bluffing on a suspicion?

"I don't know what you are insinuating. My heart is perfectly normal." That only drew a chuckle from across the divider.

"And I am sure it is giving you a perfectly normal amount of affinities. Neither are you experiencing unusual growth speeds since the day you came to Highsend. A completely normal man, through and through." There was a momentary silence after his words, only broken by a heavy sigh.

"If you wish to keep your secret, then you will need to hide it better, little Drake. You see, that is how we called your kind back in my days. A dragon who has yet to grow its wings." Back in my days, that phrase felt familiar, just like that voice.

"We met in the marketplace a couple of days ago, didn't we? The old man with the goatee," he finally realized. The Inspector talked with a lot more decorum and less slang, but his voice was still the same. With a scraping noise, a wooden panel slipped open between them, bringing them face to face.

"Splendid. I wondered whether you could remember me and my little act. Yes, we did meet on that day. And what a lucky meeting it was. For once, I wondered if my eyes could actually be deceiving me." The smile on his face didn't reach his eyes.

"Even if I recalled our meeting, why reveal your face to me so directly? I could barely remember you to begin with, why not stay anonymous?" Josef was genuinely taken aback. The white haired, old elf in front of him stroked his beard.

"Why, to build trust, of course. How else could we establish a partnership? In fact, let me go a step further. While most only know me as 'Inspector' these days, you may refer to me as Vasaj. That's what my friends do." Like they were friends, yeah right. That sounded uncomfortably like a recruitment pitch from some slimy middle manager. What was next, inviting him into the family?

"We aren't friends, Vasaj. We're barely even acquaintances." Josef pressed out. He was immediately annoyed with himself for using that name despite rejecting the connotation.

"If you want something from me, give it to me straight."

"Ah, such impatience. Though I guess that is the right of the young, isn't it? Very well." Vasaj folded his hands together.

"What I want from you, Drake, is cooperation for the sake of this city's future. I am sure you have seen the unsightly state it is in. The people are divided, crime is increasing, and sickness spreads in the streets. The gulf between the upper crust and the common citizen is increasing. Corruption runs rampant among the leadership."

"And now you will claim that you can make all of those problems just go away, right? If only you could be the one in power…" Josef contemplated the notion for a moment.

"Which isn't possible if Sanctum and its healers stand with the current leadership, because they are too important to stand against them. Not until now, when you found an alternative. Me""I see you catch on quickly. Very good. This would have been rather dull if you didn't." This time, his smile reached further, though his voice was still flat and slick, like oil. Josef didn't feel like he could trust that face.

"And how is that going to work? I don't see how a black market dealer and a back alley healer could take over a city." The elf in front of him appeared reasonable enough so far. Surely he had some sort of plan. Might as well find out what he was planning.

"You will need strength for what lies ahead. And the recognition of the people. Both of which you are already working on, if my sources are right. And I can further support your efforts to rise even more quickly. Until we can organize a rebellion against the magistrate." By the heavy silence left in the air, Josef concluded that going against the magistrate was a bigger deal than just pushing a local ruler from the throne, as he had assumed.

"Even if we can overthrow this magistrate, how would you keep that position? I doubt such an act would be looked upon favorably by his allies. How would you preserve that position?" Josef inquired. This story is posted elsewhere by the author. Help them out by reading the authentic version.

"Believe me, I have a legitimate claim to the territory of Highsend, it was just temporarily… upended. Furthermore, there is no higher legitimization on Aurum than the support of a dragon."

"You want to make your claim by spreading my secret out to the world? Are you trying to turn me away?" Vasaj raised his hands in a placatory manner.

"I mean no ill. It is only a backup plan, should my claim alone not suffice. Besides, you will not be able to hide the truth of your heart forever. It will come out at some point, like it or not. Better to have it happen on your own terms." Josef wasn't convinced, but the elf wasn't done with him.

"Besides, if the truth could prevent a war from breaking out over this territory, would you truly keep it hidden when the lives of these people are at stake?" And that's where the noose tightened. If Josef completely denied Vasaj, then he would lose his best bet to change Highsend for the better. A change through its own laws and rulership. And if he cooperated, he had to be ready to throw his name and his heart into the ring, or the citizens might just exchange the frying pan for the fire.

Josef barely knew this man, but he was already using his own morals against him.

"I want slavery outlawed the moment you have a finger on the town's legislation. We will work out other details to fight discrimination later. That's the absolute minimum requirement if you want me to support you." If he couldn't distance himself from that elf, then he would make the most out of it. What else should he ask for? He wasn't prepared to make negotiations on the spot like that.

"See, I knew we could find some common ground to stand on. I can assure you, these… issues wouldn't have come to pass if the dragons were still around. And I have every intention of rectifying them." If only his face were as convincing as the words that came from his mouth. Josef found it really hard to trust that man in any capacity.

"Then let us be in agreement on this tentative partnership, young Drake. You know my face just as I know of your heart. Let that be the security we need to extend our trust. For a free Highsend."

"For a free Highsend." Josef agreed with little passion.

"Now that this is settled, let me extend a gift to you, something that should aid you in the coming time." A sudden clanking sound caught Josef's attention. It was the exchange tray. Within it, a metal plate with the Inspector's insignia on it, and a magical core. Was this -?

"A skill gem. Consider it a small gift to ensure you reach your goal, and mine in turn." Vasaj explained.

"It contains a skill that will be compatible with your eyes, allowing them to reach a new rank. Eye related skills are somewhat of a specialty of mine, believe it or not. Of course, I can not precisely predict what result a combination with your budding dragon eyes will produce, but I doubt it will disappoint." A skill to improve his eyes? Josef never considered that skills might be able to merge, but wasn't surprised now that he was made aware. Taking the gem, he read the little tag that came with it.

☆☆ Predator's Gaze (Exceptional) Eyes that pierce the night, stalking their prey unseen. Gain low-light vision and observe others without revealing your own location. Targets with high awareness may still feel the gaze, but will not be able to pinpoint an exact location. Seeing a system description on a slip of paper was an unfamiliar sight. Uncanny even, similar but wrong.

"It looks so weird without the blue background…" Josef mumbled, before continuing more loudly, "Fine, I'll take it. But I still reserve judgement to change things up if I find I can't trust you anymore." He wouldn't blindly dance to this man's tune, no matter what.

"I expect nothing less of you," the elf said, and his voice sounded content.

"Also, take that emblem. My insignia will give you free passage into the black market and act as proof of your allegiance for other allies I have made. Additionally, it also carries an enchantment of obfuscation, making it harder to discern and remember your features. It can also block out some unwanted gazes. I'm sure you will make good use of it."

"I will." Josef confirmed, storing the emblem. He still didn't trust Vasaj, if that was even his real name, as far as he could throw him, but he would be a fool to straight up reject the benefits he offered. Right now they supposedly held the keys to mutual destruction, though he knew that when it came to it, the elf would still have ways to pull himself out of the fire. But that was fine by him. He would make his own preparations and create his own plans, crude as they may be.

Should the worst come to pass and the elf turned on him, then he would be ready. Even if he had no idea how to face a silver tongued devil like Vasaj on his own battleground, he would just have to drag the fight down into the mud where he was comfortable.

"Very good, with that our business is concluded. I wish you luck in your endeavors, young Drake." With that, the panel between them closed once more, and in the silence that followed, he could hear the quiet sound of the door behind him unlocking. Of course, he never had the choice to just walk out. Manipulative bastard. Making his exit, he was immediately pulled away by a worried looking Cana.

"Are you alright? I heard the door locking after I left. They didn't try to haul you off, did they? Are they blackmailing you? The black market has some reach, but don't let them push you around. I swear if they tried something funny I'll -""It's alright Cana. I'm alright. Calm yourself. Let's not make even more of a scene." Josef vaguely gestured at all the people around trying to inconspicuously listen in.

"I'll tell you what happened. But let's head back first, so I can explain it to everyone at once." If Josef wanted to break away from whatever game of schemes that Vasaj had set up, then his best bet was to share his secrets with the people he actually trusted in this town. Most of them, at least. He was going to tell them about his heartstone and the dragons.