Ki spoke to the woman once again. "I will be back tomorrow to check up on your answer and I would like the sword sharpened for now."
She left the sword with her and left the store.
The woman picked up the sword and then headed to the back room.
In the back room a man was hammering into a heated up piece of metal with one hammer at a time until he finally stopped to drop the hammer and used some metal tongs to pick up the metal.
He picked it up and then placed the heated metal that had taken shape of a small dagger into a cold liquid container to cool down.
After completing his work he looked up to see his sister carefully sharpening a black sword and as he got closer his interest in the sword increased. "Such workmanship… truly a good sword."
The sister nodded as she continued to carefully complete her work. "The owner approached us in order to bring us under them and move beyond the border. Although they offered a way for us to live a more safe life in a new environment we would have to leave our home behind…"
The brother and sister duo had inherited their fathers blacksmithing skills and the home and after his death they continued to keep the family business going despite the difficulties they have faced.
Through hardship they had both worked together to increase their abilities but as they improved a couple of larger groups began to take notice of them.
In order to protect what was theirs and not be exploited by others they refused to work under anyone but this also came with troubles of its own.
Their business was affected and many disruptions happened in the past which interfered with their work and made them lose many customers.
It had been a long time since they had a real customer and most of the weapons they had made were being sold at a cheaper price just so they could try to keep up with the cities taxes, the stores monthly payments and expenses needed to keep the store running.
Later it was discovered that their weapons that had been sold were being resold in a competitor blacksmiths store for a larger price but the brother and sister could not fight back against being mistreated because they had nobody to support them.
It was obvious that they were being pressured and broken down by some other influences in order to recruit or destroy the brother and sister.
As they had more difficulties and were about to lose their home those behind the scenes would purchase their deed and use it to threaten them to make them on of their own people and if they still remain defiant even in the end then they would have no choice but to go homeless and without anyone to support them.
Eventually they would die from illness, cold or hunger if they had no other abilities to support themselves.
It would not be long until that happened and the sudden arrival of Ki may have seemed to be a little suspicious but at the same time gave them an opportunity to work for some resources so they had no choice but to accept the job.
She did not reveal her identity but stated that she would return very soon and the opportunity to escape the pressure they had experienced over the past couple of months would come to an end if she offered what they needed.
If they continued to stay within slate city then perhaps they would no longer have a future and they had known it.
Many influences wished to recruit them so if they decided on one then they risked offending the others and then they would have to suffer from the results of that even if their employer could protect them a little.
The man had many thoughts in his head but then sighed. "We will have to wait and see how things work out. If they continue to visit and you think they are trustworthy then we can consider their offer."
The sister nodded while continuing to add the finishing touches on the sword. "I will brother. They will be expected to return in the next day for the sword but I can assume that they will be back to see us later."
The brother walked over to the cooling liquid container and began to remove dagger from it to move onto the next step.
Although focussed on his task he did slightly display a tired look on his face as if he was trying to keep himself going even though he was exhausted both mentally and physically.
Although they tried to make a display that they were fine, in reality they were struggling to keep themselves and the store going with every passing day.
Ki left the store and continued to walk around, while she came across a couple more potential people to recruit, the brother and sister blacksmithing duo were the ones that caught Ki's interest the most.
She had also found a man who had experience with dealing with and patching up fatal wounds that could be recruited for their expertise and could continue to learn new things within the herb store and clinic that Ki wished to open.
She continued to walk back through the slums after completing her task for the day but she still felt a pair of watchful eyes upon her.
A cold light flickered in her eyes once again as she changed her direction and walked down into a secluded place and calmly closed her eyes as she waited silently.
She could hear the light footsteps of the person who had been watching her for the past two days and she waited until the sound of footsteps got closer.
Ki listened intently and then reached out towards the person who was coming around the corner carefully.
She immediately got behind him and her arm wrapped around his neck and tightened as she dragged him into the dark alleyway.
The man continued to struggle but was quickly thrown aside to hit the wall and then fall to the ground.
Ki kicked him back down as he struggled to stand up and when he tried to reach for a weapon she strongly kicked him in the shoulder dislocating it.
The man let out a cry of pain as he was unable to fight back against the person he was tasked to tail and wait for an opportunity to eliminate them.
He suddenly heard a cold voice above him as he held onto his injured arm. "Who sent you and for what purpose?"
The man immediately lowered his head and began to silently protest that he would not speak.
Ki then stepped forward and stepped on his fingers which followed by a cracking sound of the bones snapping. "Speak."
"Arghh!" The man struggled as more pressure was applied to each of his fingers and then he saw the person before him move towards his other hand.
A silver needle was removed from the bracelet on her wrist and as his hand was grabbed by their captor the man struggled once again.
He could not escape the grasp of the person opposite him and a needle was inserted into his finger just under his nails and the foot of their captor pressed down on his chest and stopped him from getting up and fighting back. "Aaaah!"
Another needle was removed from the bracelet on Ki's wrist as she spoke once again. "Speak or this will continue. Who sent you? For what purpose?"
The man could no longer stand the pain and gave up his struggle to resist. "I.. I was sent to kill you.. please.. don't kill me.. please stop.."
A calm smile appeared on Ki's face as she looked down at him while playing with the needle in her hand. "Continue."