Chapter 14 - Journey to the North

I've been played. Scammed.*****>your fate has been stabilised*****But I am also a player. I have my cards too, even if they're not that powerful.I observed the glossy golden ring that adorned my finger. This was a relic I got from the remains of that computer in Thornburg."Disaster-Bane," was the name of the relic.It has a single ability called "Fate Amortisation."Weldian computers often used such relics to make intranet connections possible. Because they were handmade, tiny mistakes would accumulate over time and produce a device that functioned differently than the device you were connecting to despite the identical blueprint. Weldians solved this problem by using relics that imposed some sort of determinism.Disaster-Bane makes negative events less likely to occur but it does not increase your overall luck.For example if you go gambling, while wearing the ring, you're unlikely to lose money but that doesn't mean you'll win any. The ring doesn't make me immortal but it makes sudden death less likely to occur.That's why Athena, the Witch, hadn't killed me on the spot after I drew so much attention to myself.I had just finished with my financial scheme that abused my future knowledge of bronze prices and that is when I was arrested.I had always expected that department to be a trap but I had no idea the council was so hostile towards outside powers.Also Athena wasn't in the book at all so I didn't account for her in my plans.Now that I have [Re:Remember] I can excavate all my past memories. The problem is that there's little useful information there. Sure I can push ballistics technology up to 19th century standards. But that's about all I can do. In my past life I knew nothing about metallurgy, chemistry, or mechanical engineering.I looked at the many flintlock pistols, hanging from the belt hung over my shoulders. This was Liam's work. He seemed to be very enthusiastic about gunsmithing, maybe a bit too enthusiastic. However, without him it would have taken me five years to develop something that can shoot consistently.I am no engineer. I used to be a soldier and I still prefer to solve my problems with violence. I'll never win a battle of intrigue against those ancient noble families.So that's why I am travelling to the north. To find and expose the location of the Manor of Endless Nights. This will hopefully allow me to fully join the academic community and bring me closer to becoming a Dragon Lord.The plan is…"Hey!"I turned my horse around to see who interrupted my thoughts.Two figures, one riding and the other one walking, appeared before me.James and his servant."Hey, you're finally here."James rode right next to my horse and almost screamed in my ear: "Are you serious about what you wrote in that letter!?""Calm down, will you! Of course I am serious. Do I strike you as an unserious person?"James looked down, a little embarrassed at his emotional outburst.It made sense that he was upset. His family being indebted was a big secret that could spell doom for his political career if revealed. I was able to dig up many such "plot devices" now that I have [Re:Remember].I threw a pouch filled with tourmaline crystals into his hands. The clanking sound the rocks made instantly woke James up from his reverie."Payment in advance, just like I wrote."James handed the pouch to his servant and looked at me: "Who else knows about the debt?"I smiled and replied: What debt? I don't know what you're talking about? I am just paying you for your skills.James didn't fall for the provocation and instead replied: "Well, you must value my skills very highly. There is enough money in here to buy a small castle."The currency noble houses use is called tourmaline. These are hard cerulean crystals that are used as ammunition for tourmaline rifles. The only viable anti-dragon weapon. Tourmaline does not conduct magic and so sages can use it as ammunition for shooting high altitude flyers. They essentially channel all their magic into a wand-like conductor and that sends the crystal flying. No trigger, gunpowder or machinery required. These rifles have an abysmal five percent hit rate. A highly trained sage might kill one dragon per engagement if given enough time and ammunition.Dragons are simply too powerful and fly too high."Well, the task ahead of us is hard. Only this type of compensation felt fair."I threw James the parchment Athena gave me."That's the map.""What the fuck!"I guess that was the only appropriate response.I need to bait James into going to the north with me. I must recruit him at all costs. After remembering the rest of the chapters that I've read I realised just how important of a pawn James is. Whichever side manages to win his loyalty, essentially wins the game. His ability of dreaming a solution to any problem into existence is outrageously overpowered. Combine that with his above average luck and a terrible secret…"You are going to the north! And you want me to go with you?""Well, if you don't want to then give me my money back."I held out my hand as if expecting him to give me back the pouch.James seemed conflicted but only for a moment.I am convinced he already knew what he was getting himself into. Now he just has to make it look like he's having a hard time deciding to try to extort more profit out of me."Sure I'll go with you but only if you send a big shipment of those new crossbows to my family.""Yeah, whatever. Done."James was surprised at how quickly I agreed but didn't have the spirit to push further, especially when I turned around my horse and started riding towards the northern Gate."You comin' or what?""Yeah, I'll be right there!"An evil grin spread over my face as I heard James give additional commands to his servant before departing.That's one pawn in the bag. Now I just have to complete this mission to gain the influence I need to fulfill my ambitions.