Chapter 11 Part 4 of 4 (Patreon)

Aditya pulled out two sheets and passed them over.

Anjea looked at them, they were the prices for increased gunpowder and the per unit cost of the repeaters and their bolts. As well as Journeyman level armor and simple helmets. Rations, healing potions and all manner of concoctions and smaller items, including farming equipment.

“These are the items that Alva is able to produce currently. I would suggest that you meet with the Trader’s Guild as well, the Empire makes a lot of simple items but the Guild have more specialized items. They will also be open to negotiations on price, we only have set prices and our gear goes up to the Journeyman grade while they have items in the Expert Grade.”

Anjea looked at the list of supplies.

“With the changes with the Black Phoenix Clan, you must be relieved, soon your main rival will disappear and gain a new time of peace,” Aditya shook his head and sighed. “War is such a waste.”

Pieter cleared his throat. “Yes, fight can lead to such problems.”

“I heard that the Black Phoenix Clan members that surrendered have been turned over to Alva?” Anjea said.

“Yes,” Aditya sat up, his eyes narrowing. “They are to serve out sentences for their crimes. They will have hard labor and work in their future, but they will be fed, homed and taught new skills so that they have a path in the future to use their skills to help rather than hinder.”

“They are your slaves,” Pieter said.

“That is what others might call it, but we make sure that they are well treated, their health needs are seen to and try to teach them. They carry out tasks to help the Empire grow, but if you want to know their conditions you can check out their camps,” Aditya said.

“I heard that a lot of your allies are giving you people that surrendered to them.” Anjea said.

“It is a sad reality of the ten realms, if you can’t make money off of a person by selling them, then they will usually become a slave. With the agreement with our allies, they have been passing their prisoners over. Then we pass them through a trial, many are just pressed into service, they didn’t want to fight and other than fighting for their lives they have committed no illegal acts. Many of them have to relocate and are set free. Others that committed crimes are put to work and re-educated. They work alongside others that are not prisoners but get paid for their work.”

Pieter and Anjea looked at one another.

“Those that are serving their sentences out are under our care, we will not trade or sell them to anyone.” Aditya’s voice grew harder.

“We understand,” Anjea said.

Aditya nodded.

“I see that you do not have firearms for sale here.”

“We have to look to our own needs first and as you know there is no problem with having an edge.”

“What if we were to increase the amount of powder that we need by ten times. When could you deliver?” Anjea asked.

“Evernight?” Aditya turned to his secretary.

“Yes?”

“Ten times the amount of powder we send to the Sha, how long to get that prepared?”

She shuffled through papers in her desk and then checked a cabinet, pulling out a folder, she compared a sheet against it.

“We could start delivering in two months,” She said. “And it would take three months to ramp up to that level. Our current powder production has already been earmarked.”

That would put it after the Violet Sky Realm closes.

She looked at Pieter.

“We were also interested in some formation work.” He said.

“While we have the formations on those sheet, most are simple things like heating and cooling units, fridges, water pumps and washing machines. If you are looking for custom formations then the Trader’s Guild would again be a great help. Or go to the mission hall. Though those might be best for one off formations. Crafters from all over and even from the Alvan Academies take the jobs that are posted there, but they require the materials and plans while you can just purchase them from the traders associated with the Trader’s
Guild.”

“What about entrance into the guild?” Pieter asked.

“Certainly,” Aditya pulled out another sheet and passed it to Pieter.

He studied the sheet quickly.

“We were hoping that we might get entrance to Alva as well,” Anjea asked.

“Access is restricted, there is only so much room within the Capital.” Aditya’s eyes darkened, the room chilling with his impassive expression. “And I have a report that the last group wasn’t so respectful of our rules. It was a good thing that Lord West was walking the street or else we might have a very different problem.”

Anjea and Pieter looked at one another.

“It seems that it might not be well known, your messengers tried to race within the city and they knocked a carriage out of the way that might have injured or killed those on the sidewalk. They showed little remorse for their actions. We were hoping that they would get a punishment worth their actions.”

“Let me apologize for their actions.” Anjea said.

Aditya waved off her words.

“While we live for peace and like to be left alone, dealing with problems of where people can build, and the buying and selling of goods. Know that those men would have joined those same Black Phoenix Clan prisoners if they had hurt one Alvan and our agreement would be null and void.”

And look at what happened to the Black Phoenix Clan, there are many looking to get into their favor. Anjea looked back at the list of items, they were simple but everyone could use them. And each comes with a non-aggression pact.Anjea had looked through the agreement. If any of the people from Alva made it back to the ten realms then the contract stipulated that fifty percent of their mana stones and dungeon cores would shift to Alva’s care. It would gut us.

The atmosphere recovered as Pieter discussed particulars and they left before Aditya’s next meeting, heading to an inn.

“So, what do you think of Aditya?” Anjea asked.

“Smart, simple and bullheaded. He is no merchant,” Pieter scoffed. “He is likable enough. It will take a lot of work to ingrate ourselves with the people in King’s Hill and the Alvan Empire. We need to become a part of the fabric of this place in a few short weeks before the sub-realm closes. What did you think of him?”

“He has formed his mana core and tempered his body with the Fire element and is tempering himself with the Earth Element.”

“How does that match against our people.”

“Our elite forces in the seventh realm have the same body cultivation but they are working on their Solid Cores or have achieved a mana heart. Levels mean little compared to the changes one can create with cultivation.” Anjea paused.

“And?” Pieter looked at her.

“And,” Anjea turned the word in her mouth. “I wonder how they look at the eighth realm.”

“You think that they would challenge the test?”

“How many have tried in the Clans? How many have made it to the ninth realm. There are very few, most are unable to find the reason they fight for all of their lives. Though there is no denying the strength that comes with unlocking one’s will.”Anjea thought back to demonstrations she had seen by people that had passed the eighth realm trial. Control and direction. They came back sure of their path and with power to support them.

“The ninth realm is a place of outcasts, Tenth Imperium mutts.” Pieter said.

“But you can’t deny how strong they are. Aditya has power compared to our elites, he could make it into the seventh realm with ease. How many other Alvans are there in Alva with the same level of cultivation and the levels they need to get to the eighth realm. What if they were to get just one person into Avegaaren? Hell, how many heroes do they have in their ranks?”

Pieter chewed on his cheek but remained silent.