Bruno found himself in the captain's cabin of the 'Blue whale' ship, sitting in a comfortable chair, on the opposite side of Billy Fisher's desk. The pirate wasn't yet present, but he was not alone there. Silent gentlemen with a nasty scar on his cheek, long hair tied up into a ponytail, and several knives in sheets fixed to his belt, around the waist, and two others crossing on his chest, was with him. His darker skin was indicating that he came from a place of a hotter climate.
He appeared the very morning, alongside Nathan, in his workshop in the basement. The thug leader just said that he was sent by 'The Razor', and that Bruno should follow him. That was it. He did not introduce himself and just led the young alchemist to the ship. Now the two of them were waiting in silence.
Since there wasn't much to do, Bruno started looking around. The first thing catching his eyes was the set of windows straight in front of him, behind the desk. The only light source. On both left and right sides were two bookshelves filled with knickknacks, small statues, gold coins, little chests, and many other things, but not even a single book.
Contrary, on the desk itself, there were two lying on top of it, with a few loose sheets of paper, ink in a small bottle, and a writing pen. There were also two daggers, more gold, and a map, hold open by two heavy paperweights resembling ships, a small statue of naked women made out of silver, and a bottle of rum.
On the boy's left side was a door, leading probably to a captain's sleeping chamber. Under his feet was a nice red rug, with golden patterns around the edges.
Everything seemed quite valuable, but this didn't surprise Bruno, since Billy was no ordinary captain.
In the end, he spent there quite a bit of time before Fisher finally showed up. He clearly came back from the city. Judging from his roughed-up shirt and hair he probably just left the 'Full keg' and his female companion for the night.
- I have to say - he started, as he went around Bruno, to get to his chair - your little 'Fix' is working really well. I doubt we would be talking right now if it wasn't
He smiled, as he dropped on his chair. Then he threw the knife Bruno abandoned in the tavern the day before on the desk.
- You left this - he added.
- Thank you - said the kid, forcing himself to smile, but ignoring the blade that landed on the wood in front of him. - So, what did you want to talk with me about?
Billy sighed and took a peek at the silent man.
- You see this guy? - he then said, and pointed at the figure he was looking at. - His name is Marco.
Bruno took another look at the pirate, then nodded.
- You see, Marco used to be an orphan. I found him in Meshek. It's a large coastal city south of here. You probably never heard of it, but it's also not very important to the story. You see... When I first saw Marco, he was maybe a six or seven years old boy. Starved into complete apathy. He was throwing pebbles at a fence of some merchant's house. There was a hole there, left by a knot that just fell out off the wooden plank. Each time he threw the pebble, he always made it go through that hole. When I saw it, I told myself, 'What a waste'. This boy had talent that nobody could see, so I took the boy in and helped him to polish his skills. Since that time, he saved my life twice.
The captain made himself more comfortable in his chair.
- So you want to do the same with me? You want to polish my skills?
- I've been doing this ever since Marco, with many more young lads. Nathan is just one example. Some prove their worth, others fail, but yes, I do want to do the same with you. I have plans for you kid, but I still need to figure out a few things and deal with a couple of others.
- I'm listening.
- Listening? - one eyebrow on Fisher's head rose a bit.
- About those plans - explained Bruno.
Billy snorted.
- Have you ever heard about Harothep? - he asked.
- No.
- Deeper to the west from here is a large desert. Locals call it 'Almawt', which means death. In the middle of it, where the winds are so strong, that the sand in the air tears off the skin of animals and humans, there is a single structure built by mages. An ancient school called Harothep. Only a few people, who weren't the students, saw it. Five years ago one of those students, who was polishing his skills there, stole a new discovery in alchemical arts. They call it 'Alchemist's fire'. It's a liquid that if ignited won't be put down by the water. As a matter of fact, it will only burn stronger.
- And you want that liquid.
- Yes. We do.
- You realize that I'm nowhere near this level of expertise? - Bruno pointed out.
- Of course. There are three people around the world, except the school obviously, that know the recipe. One is even making it. The rest of the alchemy world is trying very hard to discover the recipe, but nobody succeed so far. You may lack knowledge, resources, and experience, but you have something they don't. You think in a different way. That's why I'm willing to bet on you.
- So I'm supposed to drop everything, and focus on what you want me to do?
- No. I want you to continue making your product, but also educate yourself. I'll get you books, equipment, and ingredients, but you will have to pay for it when the time comes. Do you agree?
Bruno nodded slowly. This was a chance for him to accelerate his plans. This was a chance to acquire contacts that could help him a lot in the future. This was an opportunity that he couldn't ignore.
- I agree, but what about Nathan and his plans?
- It's up to you. You might help him, or ignore him.
- What if I decide to ignore him and he will keep insisting?
Bily smiled.
- I guess you will have to figure out a way to make him stop.
Bruno nodded again.
- Is this all? - he asked.
- Yes - said the captain. - You might go. We will talk again tomorrow.
The boy stood up, and after giving Marco another short look, headed towards the door. He left the ship, and as soon as his feet were placed on the cobblestone, which was covering all the shore area, Viki showed up.
- How did it go? - she asked right away.
- Good. I have his support for now.
- What about Nathan?
Bruno shrugged his shoulders.
- That depends on him. I have Billy's support, so maybe that will be enough for him to stay away. I'm supposed to focus on my education and the product.
- He wants to trade it? - she asked surprised.
- No. He doesn't really care. He has different plans for me, but I'm not ready, that's why I need to educate myself. But I was allowed to keep working on 'Fix'.
- So what now?
- I'm not sure. He wants to talk with me again tomorrow. I should be able to tell you what the plan is going to be after that, but we probably will be focusing on developing a manufacturing process, acquiring the right place, and assembling the equipment plus the workers, while still producing the medicine. There will be a lot of work.
- And still no coin - she muttered.
Bruno gave her a look.
- I'll get you your coin tomorrow, so stop complaining - he said, and started walking towards the warehouse.