Sorex yelled, "Slowly! Slowly!"
I'll admit I wasn't the best at steering. We had crashed through some ice a few times. However I managed to make it to the Solitude docks easily enough. Viree at some point got sea sick and started vomiting off the side.
I really didn't think the waves were that bad. Sorex called out, "Close enough! I'm dropping the anchor!"
Once we docked Viree ran off the ship and Sorex stumbled after her. I felt my own legs were a little wobbly. I smiled, "Hey guys!"
On the dock Captain Aldis shook his head. "Alright, I'm scared to ask." He was looking at Sorex and Viree. I shrugged, not really understanding either.
Sorex responded, "Vek should NEVER Drive anything! I have never felt so sick in my life!"
I watched as Corpulus walk down the docks and whistle. "You know I expected something, but not this."
Sorex looked at his father, I knew he had questions for him. However Captain Aldis looked at me, and asked. "How do you manage to do these things?"
I smiled, "Manage what?"
He sighed, "Who's name is this being registered under?"
Sorex was the one to give a proper answer. "It will be under mine, I'll do all the paper work."
Corpulus gave a small chuckle. "You know I wanted you to get some experiences like I did. However I never expected you to bring the damn ship back."
Sorex laughed, "I find it ridiculous you were ever a pirate."
That gave Captain Aldis a laugh too. "Ha! I remember when the sailors found him stranded at sea! They were so shocked to find someone from the Dead Man's Dread Pirate gang."
Corpulus chuckled, "We weren't that much of a threat. We just had a bad reputation due to the size of our crew."
Captain Aldis nodded, "The black bloods were far worse. The Dead Man's Dread hardly caused any deaths. In fact I remember reports of them saving stranded sailors and adding them to their ranks."
Viree looked at me, "I'm gonna go get a drink."
I paused, "By the way, We have a ton of materials. Think I can use the city's forge?"
Captain Aldis shrugged, "Not really up to me. You'd have to ask Beirand, he is the forge master. However he has been mostly occupied making imperial legion weapons and armor."
That was perfect, I needed to power level smithing to ebony level. I could also sell off some of the things from the Dead Man's Dread. At least I assume that's the name. I should also... Actually this would be a good time to finally visit the Blue Palace. I could get the wabbajack, get the quest for wolf skull cave.
I rubbed my beard in thought and Corpulus patted my shoulder. "What are you thinking about?"
I smirked, "Money mostly."
He laughed, "Ha! Like a true business man. I have a proposition for you Vek."
I watched Sorex follow Captain Aldis to do the paper work for the ship. So I nodded, "What's up?"
Corpulus smiled, "Come on let's walk to the Inn. I can't leave the bar alone for too long."
I nodded and he continued, "So here is the deal. This little quest was a sort of test. I heard you wanted to make an information guild right?"
I nodded, so he went on. "Basically I want to renovate a portion of the Winking Skeever. If you help with the cash. You can run your business out of my business. What better location than a place where adventurers gather and rumors fly around?"
Ah, I could see where he was going with this. "I pitch in the gold, You will help me run it while I'm away."
He smirked, "I want 25% of any profits, I figure some deals will be with pure trading of information. However any lasting profits I want 25% of. A fairly cheap price honestly, but here is the catch. I want you to help my son settle down. Find a wife of some kind, stuff like that. I went through the adventurous life and it nearly costed my own. I don't want him to fall into that same near death experience. I've now tested you and honestly you shocked me."
He rubbed his chin, "To be honest I thought you guys would kill some ghosts, find some treasure and make your way back. If you came back with the ship... I can only assume you managed to do something with the damn artifact."
It currently sat within my inventory. "I assume you only gave the mysterious note to Sorex because I gave you those Golden Atmoras?"
He nodded, "I figured he would ask you to tag along. Despite wanting adventure, I am glad he has a sense of realism about adventuring. So I did some thinking and here we are now."
I smirked, "Well, I certainly won't mind such a deal."
Corpulus laughed, "Fair warning, the gold we need... Is 100,000!"
I choked on my own spit, "Why so much?"
He chuckled, "New rooms, a basement, and a secondary office for the purposes of the Information guild. I figure we may also need some sort of library to store any written information down. All that costs a lot Vek." He smiled, A new building would cost just as much. Unless I wanted to buy Proudspire manor and run the guild out of that...
I sighed, "I'll get you the gold. Damn, swindler."
He laughed, but I added, "20% on the profit cut."
He started laughing even more.