The light have died out from the streets and no worker was found anymore as the eternal sky have been colored a raven blue, crowned by the glittering dust of stars. A day was over in the merchants land, only to allow for the work on the dark to start.
The underworld. It is known that no kingdom can run fully clean without this side of it.
And there couldn't possibly be an area in which the hidden trades are mostly to occur, then the crowded merchant land on the Southeast.
Along with the Consultant and Merchant of the underworld ruling over and keeping the unwritten rules, there shouldn't be any trace of the illegal deals to be discovered by the government.
The underworld in the Teasel Kingdom is like a shared secret. A legend without a trace in the daylight. Only the traders working there, along with a very few people who knows how to access it.
The job of the Merchant of the underworld, Johan Lauzin, is to keep the situation that way.
Eliminating any disorder isn't even given a second thought to him.
And as it seems, there's an odd and unexpected fellow who his position, an ally or a foe, is yet to be discovered has appeared. Similarity, wanting to approach Johan without care of exposing his title.
After Johan finished listening to the report about how the high class servant of the revived Duke has used every and any possible method to reach, not the king of the southeastern underworld, but him the consultant, Johan stared interesting at the man before him.
An amused smile played on his face. He took a breath form his pipe, looking as he was thinking of something before his aqua blue eyes flashed with excitement. He spoke to the man.
"Bring them."
The man was surprised, asking the man enjoying his smoke as he was laying on a comfortable long couch.
The man frowned deeply before crossing his arms.
"Are you sure? You're pretty aware that that servant has a weird boss behind him with almost zero information about him, right?"
Given that the man was speaking casually to who was obviously an important man as the Merchant of the underworld, Johan didn't seem to bother that attitude and his smile only grew.
"Siva, you worry too much."
The man named Siva didn't mind that note and waited for a reply which Johan gave with another excited glow passed on his eyes.
"Oh there isn't zero information about him. Just the fact that he's looking for me to meet face to face tells so much about him."
Siva could only scrawl as he had no reply.
That was indeed the truth. It isn't the slightest abnormal for a noble to get involved in deals of the underworld. It is quite often for that case actually. Even the so known 'clean' Earl Arinton, has what he hides as well.
But what caught Siva's attention, and as it seems Johan's as well, is that this Duke had not only used one of his direct subordinates but also his title and real name.
'He's either an armature or a complete smart fox.'
Did Johan think to himself.
Any person who happen to know of the underworld dare no speak about it without extreme caution. However, not did this Duke go around using every method to find him while risking the expose of the shared secret, but also he forced him to accept the invitation.
Johan is an important man with power that cannot be underestimated. He would undoubtedly eliminate such a threat as that Duke.
If it wasn't for the fact that he is a DUKE. And a newly returned one on top.
Murdering the hot topic of the aristocratic class couldn't be called a smart move. Johan had the feeling he had to be careful.
'A rotten fruit or a magic bean' is still to be decided.
Without await, Siva sighed and said.
"...I understand but- Haa don't get too excited and drop your defenses."
'Excited?'
Ah, it must be the grin on his face that gave his thoughts.
No matter how he tired, Johan could only be interested in this Duke.
He is a merchant after all and if an odd existence that came back from the dead with a hidden secret is walking towards him, who is he in the trading mind to reject that?
Siva looked helplessly at Johan.
'This damn merchants is clearly not listening.'
Feeling that his warning was in vain as Johan's eyes exposed his even more clear excitement, Siva chose to get his job done.
*****
Click Click.
The sound of footsteps could be heard, emerging from the dark.
Click Click.
Getting closer, the figure of the owner of those steps was slowly being enlightened.
Click Click.
Finally the last footsteps were taken as the figure stood still. Covering his head with a black hood, the man spoke.
"Fancy to meet the Merchant of the underworld himself."
Johan Lauzin grinned at the said words. He pushed back locks of his long goldenrod hair as he winked with a smile.
"I could say the same. Duke Whishipper."
Rivan smiled from under his hood. He is now facing the man that can be called 'King of the underworld'. And Rivan is planning to be no less match to him.
Another person entered the chamber with barely any heard sound and stood close to Rivan.
Siva, by Johan's side, made sure to look carefully at the newcomer.
He said with a flat concluding tone.
"You're probably the servant that flipped every stone looking for us with no care of risking exposing everything."
Nile didn't respond. He actually didn't even seem to care or listen to Siva's words. The blue bird was busy eyeing Johan as if he was a living threat.
Siva who was being carefully observing Nile frowned deeply.
Even without a single word spoken, the tension in the room was too high, it felt like the coming move would be with a fallen head.
And the first one to break the silence was no other than the Consultant of the underworld.
He pointed at himself saying simply.
"Johan."
Than at the unpleasant man beside him.
"Siva"
'So that's how it will go'
Rivan followed suit, pointing at himself.
"Rivan."
And similarity the sharp servant behind him.
"Nile."
Names only. That was the way this conversation would go. With Rivan's title and Johan's position off the way, their words have a weigh of a small chat.
In other words: Nothing official.
Rivan smirked. It seems like if he came here to make a deal or a trade with the Merchant of the underworld, Johan Lauzin was willing to listen but carefully think before accepting.
He could be considered a brave man, accepting to meet a reviving Duke is even a risk. However, his careful attitude towards such deals speak of his experience as a merchant.
End of chapter 22.