"Where are we going?"
Moros finally broke his silence. He had been following behind Zeke without a word, but now that the central district had come into view, curiosity seemed to have gotten the better of him.
"Why ruin the surprise?" Zeke asked with a cheeky grin.
Moros fell silent. The Death Mage had not asked anything about his plans so far and had obediently followed his arrangements, but Zeke knew that it was primarily out of curiosity. If he actually tried to make the man fight his battles for him, their fledgling alliance would crumble immediately. Fortunately, Zeke had no intention of allowing such a scenario to unfold.
Ever since the prospect of enlisting Moros's support emerged, his mind had been in overdrive. With this new ally in play, previously closed avenues had sprung open, significantly broadening his strategic options. If he played his cards right, he could potentially make good on his plan today. It all depended on how the other parties acted.
Zeke's group paused before the largest structure in the central district. Unlike the majority of Undercity's yellowish-brown sandstone buildings, this behemoth was constructed from obsidian. The construction easily towered over the surrounding architecture and was visible from almost everywhere in the central district. It was known as the Black Tower and served as the headquarters of the Blackthorn Covenant.
Zeke glanced back at the members of his group, gauging their mood. Moros's face gave nothing away. As usual, the Death Mage appeared entirely unflappable.
Gravitas also looked composed, but even if she weren't, the veil covering her face would hide any signs of nervousness.
Vulcanos appeared tense, evident from the fiery lines across his body pulsing with light. He was the least adept at concealing his emotions, and it was clear that the man was nervous.
Ash stroked his short beard, alternating his gaze between Zeke and the towering structure. It wasn't clear what he was thinking, but he at least seemed to have enough trust in Zeke to believe that he knew what he was doing.
And then there were the siblings, Kruul and Kraal, radiating calmness. Among Zeke's followers, they harbored the most faith in his abilities. It was almost burdensome how much they believed in him. But considering their history, it wasn't that surprising. During their first encounter, Zeke had led them to vanquish an Archmage, followed by another the next day. Walking into the headquarters of an opposing force would hardly faze them after all of that.
Zeke smiled. Even though he had not explained his plan, nobody had voiced any objections or doubts. He must have managed to inspire some level of trust.
"Are we going in, Master?" Ash asked.
"In a moment," Zeke answered. "There are still some people missing."
Before the Chimeroi could inquire further, a group of three emerged from around the corner, causing Ash's eyes to widen. As a former member of the Lion's Den, he immediately recognized each of them: Ravi Desai and his son Sunil, accompanied by their new head instructor, Rohan.
"Thanks for coming on such short notice," Zeke greeted with a smile.
Ravi nodded amicably. "It's what I should do. We signed a contract, after all."
That wasn't entirely accurate. While they had signed a business contract for future cooperation, today's matters weren't related to that agreement. Ravi could have easily declined to attend. Nevertheless, Zeke had been confident that he would come. The reason was simple...
"You are looking much better, Sunil."
The young man beamed back at Zeke. "All thanks to you!"
It was the truth. After getting hit by the Marrow-Shackle, Sunil almost lost the will to live. Being bedridden and paralyzed wasn't something the hot-blooded young man could endure. Without the hope Zeke's treatment had offered, he might not have been able to hold out.
Before Zeke could make any further small talk, he noticed that Ravi's eyes turned solemn, his gaze fixed on Moros.
"Let me make the introductions," Zeke quickly said before any misunderstandings could develop. "This is Mr. Moros. He is the leader of the Spectral Dominion and controls the southern districts of Undercity."
Ravi raised his eyebrows, clearly taken aback upon learning Moros's identity. "And this is Ravi Desai, Leader of the Lion's Den and a business partner of mine."
Moros glanced at Ravi for a moment before bowing slightly. Ravi returned the greeting, though his bow was noticeably lower. Zeke wasn't entirely sure of the significance of this. It might be related to seniority or power. Regardless, it seemed there wouldn't be any conflict between the two for now.
"So, what is your plan, Blood Dragon?" Ravi asked, dispelling the tense atmosphere.
Zeke smiled and turned to look at the towering structure before them. "I am going to take over the Blackthorn Covenant."
Ravi's eyes widened. Since Zeke hadn't disclosed the purpose of their meeting, he was understandably surprised. Before the man could jump to any conclusions, Zeke quickly added an explanation: "Don't worry; I have no intention of resorting to violence."
Ravi looked at him with doubt. "If you don't intend to use force, why invite two Archmages along?"
Zeke smiled craftily. "Isn't it obvious? I invited you so that I wouldn't have to use force."
Without another word, he led his group toward the entrance of the Black tower. To his satisfaction, the gates creaked open at their approach, signaling their welcome. It was a promising start, though he had counted on such a reception. He would have seriously questioned the leaders' qualification as merchants if they had outright dismissed the possibility of a peaceful resolution.
Inside the entrance, a lone figure awaited them. It was a provocatively dressed Chimeroi with light fur adorning large swaths of her body. However, far from diminishing her allure, the soft-looking fur only enhanced her charm.
After a deep bow, she scanned their group before addressing Moros. "Sir, the Mistresses are waiting. Would you be so kind as to follow?"
Moros didn't reply and instead nodded his head in Zeke's direction. The woman was shocked but quickly picked up on the gesture and turned to face him.
"Lead the way," Zeke said with a smile.
The Black Tower featured a spiral staircase at the center of its structure. Their destination lay at the top floor, requiring them to traverse each floor along the way. Zeke didn't miss this chance to inspect them one at a time. His findings were what he expected from a mercantile organization: storage spaces, laboratories, workshops, and offices.
Having constructed similar accommodations in Tradespire, he was impressed by the quality on display. It appeared that the leaders of the Blackthorn Covenant took considerable pride in their work, a detail that could prove useful.
Before long, they reached their destination. Their guide pushed open a pair of large wooden doors and led them inside. An immense hall stretched before them, with a group gathered at the opposite end, awaiting their arrival.
Two women stood at the forefront. One, with blue hair, appeared human and stirred a sense of familiarity in Zeke. The other was a dwarf who exuded an air of age with a face lined with wrinkles. Behind them stood a group of eleven Chimeroi, likely the finest fighters of the Blackthorn Covenant.
Zeke remained undaunted by the display of strength and entered the room with confident steps, his group following closely behind. Their guide swiftly crossed the hall and approached the two leaders, exchanging a whispered message before retreating.
Zeke halted his steps halfway across the hall, smiling at the leaders with a warm expression. He tried his very best to exude a sense of ease and confidence, knowing full well that nothing would pressure them more. There it was. The blue-haired woman's expression briefly faltered at his nonchalant demeanor. However, she regained her icy composure mere moments later.
Instead, it was the dwarf who spoke. "What is your purpose in coming here?"
Zeke wasn't surprised to be the one addressed, considering the guide had likely already briefed them on everything she had learned. Even so, he had no intention of answering obediently. After all, a negotiation was about control.
"Do you know me?" he asked instead.
"Of course I do," the dwarf replied in a stern voice. "Information is one of the most lucrative businesses in this place."
"Would you mind telling me how much you've learned?"
The woman gazed at him for a moment in silence but ultimately didn't object. "Two brothers, Pete and Keo arrived in Kanion a couple of moons ago, stayed at the Silkroad Serenity Inn, and crossed the desert alongside a caravan led by Jai Desai. That was most likely how you were introduced to the Lion's Den…"
Zeke listened intently as the woman recounted his journey, from his days in the Rings to his ventures into the mines. She even hinted at his ties to Tradespire. While she didn't possess all the details, and some parts were merely speculation, the breadth of her knowledge was impressive, evident from the awed expressions of many of his followers. Even Ravi appeared impressed by the level of detail she had managed to uncover.
After she finished, a challenging light shone in the dwarf's eyes. She had clearly meant to gain the upper hand by displaying such deep knowledge. It might even have worked if she had been dealing with somebody else.
A slow, deliberate clapping resounded through the hall, drawing all eyes to Zeke, who returned the woman's challenging gaze with a hint of amusement. "Not bad," he praised. "You've pieced together quite a bit. However, I can't quite give you a passing grade. After all, the most crucial part is missing."
"And what is that?" the dwarf asked.
"My identity."
"Pete isn't your real name," she stated rather than asked.
Zeke nodded, but her frown only deepened, and she refused to speak. As expected, she didn't know. It wasn't all that surprising. Even some people on his side, including Ravi, had no idea about his true identity.
"Help me out, Akasha."
In the next moment, a flood of information appeared in Zeke's mind. It encompassed every bit of knowledge he had ever acquired about the two women standing before him: Naida Wellenreiter and Hilda Silveraxe. Given their identities as Archmages, the trove of information was extensive, particularly concerning Naida. After all, she hailed from the empire and was a member of the Wellenreiter family. He had even met a couple of her relatives during the tournament at the Elementium.
While Zeke didn't possess as much information about Hilda, the scarcity of dwarfs residing outside their ancestral mountains meant he had some knowledge about her. Curiously, he had encountered a dwarf related to her during his auction for the Gondola. With that, Zeke had all the ammunition he needed.
He put on a disappointed expression and shook his head as if he was greatly lamenting something. "You see… it is my heartfelt belief that you should always be aware of who you are dealing with. Hasn't your uncle Brogar taught you at least that much, Miss Silveraxe?"
Hilda's eyes widened at the mention of that name. In truth, he wasn't really her uncle but more like a great-great uncle. Even so, she clearly knew who Zeke was talking about. He took in the shock on her face before hammering in another nail. "When we met last year, he seemed to have a good eye for business. Maybe you should ask him for advice one of these days?"
Before she could respond, he shifted his attention to the blue-haired woman. "And you, Miss Wellenreiter. How long has it been since you last visited home? You have so many nieces and nephews you've never met. What were their names again? Eva, Benjamin, Lena, and Sabrina? Last time I saw them, they didn't seem to be doing all that well."
"How do you you know about—" the woman began before abruptly closing her mouth, evidently aware that displaying such a loss of composure would only deteriorate their position further. Nonetheless, it was already too late. Any advantage they might have gained earlier had long since dissipated, and the momentum had irreversibly shifted.
Zeke clicked his tongue disapprovingly. "How do I know? Don't you know that Information is one of the most lucrative businesses in this place?"
"Enough!" the dwarf growled. "Speak your business right this instant."
Zeke nodded in acknowledgment. "Very well." His expression grew serious, devoid of the earlier levity. He fixed his gaze on the two leaders before proceeding to disclose the purpose of his visit. "I am here to buy your business."
For a moment, nobody dared to breathe. However, it wasn't long before a voice pierced the tension. It was Naida Wellenreiter who spoke. "And what if we refuse to sell?"
Zeke shook his head. "That is not an option. The only choice you have is to be paid in gold… or blood."