"Yami, Yami whatever do you mean. My men only wished to purchase some wares from this establishment. To which they were harshly turned away. Then they were murdered. Isn't that right Duke Tsuchi." Crap, we were too late. He then looked at the leftovers from the first squad in disgust.
An overbearing aura entered the road from the opposite alley. "Luchi what is the meaning of this?" Said the mysterious man. His mere presence making even grandpa uncomfortable. "And don't try to twist the facts I have been here the whole time."
The look on Patriarch Luchis face, it instantly fell "Milord Duke Tsuchi, we were trying to buy out this new drug before the beastmasters got to it."
"What new drug? Let me see it. Hmm very powerful. Who made this?" Duke Tsuchi asked.
"My grandson, of course. Step forward." Said the patriarch. When I stepped up the Dukes eyes stuck to me as if trying to scry through my past and future.
"Please describe this pill to me." He said calmly.
I then described its effects and processes. When I finished everyone's face looked horrified. Just the thought of some faction creating an entire army of fire adepts sent shivers down everyone's spine.
"It's even more powerful than I thought. Everyone listen I offer a compromise. Boy, what is your name and how many of these can you produce?" He asked with authority permeating through his voice.
"My name is Imhotep of house Yami, grandson of the Darkwood Assassin, twin son of the Forest General. Of these at max capacity we can produce around 150 pills a day." I didn't give the actual number because that would be foolish.
"Good, Good.
LAW: The compromise." As soon as he said that a paper contract was brought into existence. "From henceforth, the Yami and Luchi clans shall enter a trade deal. The Yami clan shall send 700 pills to the Luchi clan a week and the Luchi clan shall send the Yami clan 70 pp. Patriarchs please come up here one at a time."
…..
First went up the Luchi clan head. "Duke what are you doing and why did you up the price?"
"Firstly, watch your tone. Secondly, we have been trying to swing the strength faction to our side for a while now and you almost messed it all up. Thirdly, while yes it is best for us to keep this pill out of the hands of the beast masters, the Yami clan would definitely not agree to making it exclusive to your clan so attacking their juniors was just flat out stupid. Fourthly, the Forest General is now a darkwood assassin."
Cold sweat trickling down his back the Luchi clan head nodded in understanding, bit his finger, and pressed it down on the contract. Next up came the Yami patriarch.
"Duke."
"Yami I apologize on behalf of the Luchi clan for their behavior, but you know the situation."
"Yes, I do know. Which is why I refuse for you to catch my family up in your little power struggle. The only reason I am agreeing to this contract is to take Luchis money and to make all of you sweat a little later on. Anyways it isn't like they could've hurt my grandsons anyway. While Luchi and Lin maybe Tier 3. Those 4 aren't anything to scoff at."
"Indeed. Three Tier 0s and a Tier 2 taking down an entire squadron. All while the Tier 2 can't even use conventional magic. News of this is gonna spread pretty quickly."
"Oh that Isn't even the end of it. They aren't even the top of their class. I suggest both sides leave the strength faction out of this confict. Because, while all of you may have numbers, all anyone can see is darkwood in a true forest." As he said this Yami pressed his finger against the paper and blood came out. Then, both sides began to walk away.
(The duke to himself) "What does that even mean? Why does he keep saying that? Ugh, anyway this is settled and now we have tighter relations with the strength faction. As for these four I need to keep my eyes on them."
…..
Once the deal was completed both sides went their seperate ways. We were tasked to follow the patriarch to the conference room and so we did. Once there the patriarch sat on his throne staring at us with a serious expression and then…
"Hahahahahahahahaha brilliant, brilliant, truly my seed is brilliant. Boy, you are just as cunning as your mother maybe even more." He said with an oversized grin across his face. Given his stature he is starting to remind me of whitebeard from one parcel. "The extra pills you didn't tell him about, donate them to the clan and you will receive full access to all the Tier 0 skills in the clan. Don't worry your mother already told me you were both prodigies. I just didn't know to what extent. One an intellectual and the other a possible future general. Darkwood blood indeed. We are known as the strongest clan for good reason." I didn't know what to be more shocked at. The fact that he already knew I had extra pills or that he was willing to give me full access to all Tier 0 skills. "And who is this?" He said pointing in the direction of Achilles.
"My butler, Lord patriarch." I reponded still a little shook.
"Hmm, you should give him to me to train. His sword skills are extraordinary. If he trains with the assassins his skills could reach the next level what do you say?" He asked deeply intrigued. I looked to Achilles and he nodded back as if saying 'Anything to get stronger'.
"So what would be the conditions?" I ask aware that there is no free lunch in any world.
"Just that he shares his learnings of the sword with the clan. It doesn't have to be that deep just enough for our soldiers to be attuned." He responded. I then turned to Achilles once agian and he made a face as if it were a reasonable trade off so I agree. From now on, while I am in class he will be training with the assassins. "Also the clan needs 50% of the money from the trade, but in exchange you may have access to the Armory for 10 minutes and may take a max of 100 items. Deal?" Before I could even answer Amen stepped up.
"Deal."
"Alright now that that is settled you are dismissed." We left.
"Amen, why did you agree to that?" Tepp
"For better weapons, duh" Amen said matter of factly.
As we made our way to the armory, we discussed our new plans. Amen will now learn the martial arts, and then teach it to the slaves with the help of Achilles and I will join in after I have read every skill book in the clan.
When we arrived, Darius was already there waiting for us. "Please young master Imhotep only come in."
"Ahh what? That's not fair." Amen
"Well the deal is between young master Imhotep and the clan." Darius
"Oi vey. Well Tepp I want a broadsword." Amen
"Yeah, sure." When I went inside it felt like I was a kid again going to the neighborhood candy store. There is everything.
"You have access to everything on this floor. If you go to get raw materials it is a ration of a 100 pounds = 1 item, young master." With that he went to go stand at the side to start the dimensional clock. Clocks in these world run off universal time. What that means? History, forgot.
I ignore everything I see in front of me and head immediately to the raw materials.
High Tier 5 - Darkwood Oak wood 2 tons
High Tier 3 - Kronosian Steel 1 ton
High Tier 4 - Spear
High Tier 2 - Swords 38
High Tier 3 - Broadsword
With that I left. We all returned to our house. Since nothing would really start till tomorrow I went ahead and learned the martial arts I created so I can create copies and pass them down.