Three people were gathered around a small table in a study on the second floor. After Margret’s announcement, Zeke immediately sent somebody to inform David. This issue was too important to delay.
“Tell me everything,” Zeke demanded with eager eyes when they were all seated.
Margret nodded, gathering her thoughts before starting her explanation. “We discovered that the Goldfinger company owns a couple of buildings in the third layer. We found them by following the guards. The guards are all managed from their central location and go out to protect their different properties in shifts.”
Zeke nodded. He had expected The Goldfinger company to be a big player. They were most likely backed by the Wellenrufer family. As one of the great families of the Arkanheim empire, they could provide substantial funding.
“We were able to determine that aside from their money lending operation, they also control three businesses, two workshops, and a resort. The two workshops both produce High-Grade enchantments and seem to be above board in all areas we could observe. The storefronts are the same, they mostly sell the engineering goods produced by the workshops.”
“So, I assume there is something going on in the hideaway?” Zeke ventured.
“Indeed,” Margret said. “The place looked suspicious right from the start. It appeared to be a facility for luxury lodging, but none of the company staff live there. It was all outsiders. What’s more, most inhabitants rarely if ever leave the building. For weeks we have tried to infiltrate the place, but the security was too tight.”
“What changed?” Zeke asked.
“We still aren’t able to infiltrate,” Margret admitted. “However, we managed to find a way around that. You see, just because we couldn’t enter, doesn’t mean nobody could. There is a group of… erm…. entertainers, who are allowed in regularly. Through them, we have learned what is going on inside and who is staying there.”
“I don’t understand,” Zeke said. “Why would they allow outsiders in? For entertainment? That sounds like a massive security risk. I don’t believe that they would make such an amateur mistake?”
“Well, you see…” Margret tried to explain while shooting glances at David. “Men have certain needs —”
“They are prostitutes, young Lord,” David interrupted. He then turned to Margret. “He is old enough.”
Margret returned then returned her gaze to Zeke, just in time to see a blush vanish from his skin. Even his bright red ears returned to normal in an instant. Without a shred of embarrassment, he nodded at her. “Indeed, I am old enough. Please go on.”
With a smile on her face, Margret continued her explanation. “Not all the girls are willing to sell us information. They are paid very well by the Goldfinger company and many don’t want to risk that.
“However, yesterday night a couple of regulars were preoccupied, allowing our informants to take their place. One of the girls spoke of meeting a man we had never heard anything about. He had always requested the same girl before and yelled at our informant as soon as he noticed that she was someone different. I have met Steffano, and from her description, I am absolutely certain that it is him.”
“This confirms it then,” David said with fire in his eyes. “The Goldfinger company is hiding Steffano while demanding that we pay the man’s debt. Just what I would expect from those slimy merchants — no honor or morals!”
“Calm down, David,” Zeke said. “Don’t forget who stands behind them. The nobles of the empire are not a lick better.”
“…You are a noble of the empire as well, young Lord,” David stated, but his anger did simmer down.
“Be that as it may,” Zeke responded. “What we should be asking ourselves now is what we do with this information.”
“Should we get the guards involved?” Margret asked.
“No,” Zeke responded immediately. “Even if the guards agreed to search the place, all the Goldfinger company would have to do is get him out beforehand. I can’t imagine they don’t have a spy or two among the guards. They would see us coming and we would only be showing our hand. I think it would be much better if we could do something ourselves.”
“I don’t think we would be able to get to him in there,” Margret said after a while.
“Why is that?” Zeke inquired.
“Because they have an Arch Mage,” Margret responded. “…with a Space affinity.”
They all fell silent after that. If the Goldfinger company actually had somebody like that, then it would indeed be hard to get in and out unnoticed.
“Is he guarding the resort at all times?” Zeke asked eventually.
Margret shook her head. “No, he stays in the headquarters.” Before Zeke could inquire how he would get in the way of their plans then, Margret explained. “The reason he is such a problem is that he uses a spell on the location periodically. I don’t know what it’s called, but from the mana signature, it is most likely something like the spell Space Mages use to determine if an area is safe to teleport to.”
“[Scrying],” Zeke supplied in a defeated tone. He was aware of the spell’s function. Space Mages could determine terrain and obstacles in a far-off location with this spell. It was a prerequisite to long-distance teleportation. If the man actually scried the area periodically, then it would be very hard to sneak in. A frontal assault was even less of an option.
“He can’t be doing that forever, even Archmages have to sleep,” David said.
“You are right,” Margret responded. “He has two days off. But they bring in tons of extra security during those times. It might be even harder while he is away.”
Zeke thought hard about their options. He was unwilling to let this information go to waste. But what could he do? There had to be a way.
“No deviations from the schedule?” he asked.
“…No, they have been consistent—” Margret started but cut herself off right after. “Actually, there has been one exception. When Godfrey Goldfinger, Gilderoys father, went to a council meeting last week, the Arch Mage accompanied him. I think the man also acts as a personal bodyguard.”
“That doesn’t help us much,” David said. “The next meeting of the Merchant Council is still three weeks away and who knows what will happen with Steffano after we pay the money. They might decide to just kill him for all we know.”
Zeke was deep in thought. David wasn’t wrong, but he had overlooked one crucial part. The Arch Mage didn’t only leave the building for council meetings. He left whenever Godfrey did. All they needed now was a way to lure the bastard out.
A smile slowly spread across Zeke’s face. “Don’t we have the perfect bait?” Margret and David shared a confused look, urging him to continue his explanation. “What would happen if we invited Godfrey Goldfinger to our unveiling party next week?”
“He most likely wouldn’t come,” David responded. “It would look like a trap to him.”
“Indeed,” Zeke agreed. “Our invitations were sent out weeks ago. However, what would happen if we invited the owners of all the local workshops last minute? What if we invited them claiming that we would revolutionize the industry and are looking for potential partners?”
“…Two of those workshops belong to the Goldfinger company,” David stated with a glint in his eyes.
“But he doesn’t know that we know,” Zeke stated with a crafty smile. “That means he will not suspect a trap. Instead, he would think that this was his chance to ambush us by suddenly showing up.”
“This… this might actually work,” Margret said. “If our invitations are on such short notice, then it is very unlikely they could get replacement guards.”
Zeke’s smile widened. “Exactly, and if the plan doesn’t work, we can simply call off the mission.”
“Clever! What do you think, David? Anything to add?” Margret asked.
“It is indeed a good plan,” David agreed. “But you will have to pull this off with the people you have right now, Margret. Neither I nor any of the others would be able to help you. We need all the manpower we can get for the event.”
Margret went quiet. After a moment of deep contemplation, her expression hardened. “I can do it! I’ll find a way to pull it off with the people I have.”
“Are you sure?” Zeke asked. “I don’t want you to risk yourself, Margret.”
“No, I’m gonna do it,” she insisted. “I just wish we had an Earth Mage. It would be so much easier to tunnel in. Still, I will think of something, I promise.”
Zeke searched her gaze. The only thing he found there was conviction and confidence. He realized that she had already made up her mind. There was only one thing he could say. “I’m counting on you.”
“Always,” Margaret replied with a smile of her own.
Ever since they left the empire, Zeke noticed that Margret had started acting differently. The once stoic woman had become a lot more expressive. He couldn’t tell what had prompted the change, but so far, it seemed to be a good thing.
“Alright then,” Zeke responded. “I’m gonna go see mom. We will need to send out those invitations as soon as possible if we want to pull this off convincingly.” Zeke got up and walked toward the door. However, before he even reached it, there was a knock.
Zeke halted in his tracks. “Come in.”
A timid-looking woman opened the door. Zeke recognized her. She was the mother of one of the kids from his meditation class. “Did you need something, Melinda?”
The middle-aged woman quickly averted her gaze and bowed slightly. “Yes, young lord. I have news.”
“Let’s hear it then,” Zeke said.
“Very well. Leo von Hohenheim has just returned to the estate and has apparently been asking about your whereabouts.”
“Leo? He is looking for me?” Zeke asked in genuine delight. “That’s great! I had hoped to speak with him soon.”
The woman kept fidgeting and didn’t meet Zeke’s gaze. He got the impression that she had more to say but held herself back for some reason. “What is it?”
The woman glanced over at Margret and David as if searching for help. Zeke also turned to the two. Did they know what this was about? Margret remained silent. Her confused expression made it clear that she also had no idea what was going on. David, on the other hand, nodded at the woman and spoke with a sigh. “It’s fine. You can leave, Melinda. I will take it from here.”
“Thank you, sir David,” Melinda said. After bowing once more, she left quickly. Zeke got the impression that she was fleeing from something.
“What is this about, David?” Zeke asked cautiously.
David sighed once more. “There is a rumor going around…”
“And?”
“The rumor claims that the reason Leo has been absent so much is to train.”
“That doesn’t sound too bad,” Zeke stated.
“Well, that’s not all,” David explained. “Apparently, he is training to challenge you for the leadership of the von Hohenheim household.”
Zeke was dumbfounded. For an instant, he didn’t know how to react. Then, all of a sudden, Zeke burst out laughing.
“That’s no laughing matter, young lord,” David reprimanded.
“David’s right, Zeke,” Margret added. “Leo has a lot of support. I have heard many people say that he would have been a better heir to Maximilian’s legacy than you. He has the same affinities, after all.”
Zeke stopped laughing, but the smile still remained on his face. “So?”
“What do you mean, ‘so’?” Margret asked. “As an adopted member of the family, he is well within his right to challenge you. Aren’t you worried?”
“Worried?” Zeke asked in disbelief. “No, I’m not worried. It’s quite the opposite, actually. If Leo wants to take this responsibility from me, I would gladly hand it over. I never chose this burden, nor do I enjoy it. There is nothing I would like more than to hide away in my workshop for the next couple of years to tinker.”
After his rant, Zeke looked up. He noticed the concerned expressions on the faces of Margret and David. It seemed that he had gone too far. These two were amongst his most ardent supporters, after all. It couldn’t have been great to hear from their chosen lord how little he cared about retaining his position.
Zeke rubbed the back of his head, embarrassed. With a strained smile, he looked from one to the other. “Well, let’s see what Leo wants, shall we?”
Three people were gathered around a small table in a study on the second floor. After Margret’s announcement, Zeke immediately sent somebody to inform David. This issue was too important to delay.
“Tell me everything,” Zeke demanded with eager eyes when they were all seated.
Margret nodded, gathering her thoughts before starting her explanation. “We discovered that the Goldfinger company owns a couple of buildings in the third layer. We found them by following the guards. The guards are all managed from their central location and go out to protect their different properties in shifts.”
Zeke nodded. He had expected The Goldfinger company to be a big player. They were most likely backed by the Wellenrufer family. As one of the great families of the Arkanheim empire, they could provide substantial funding.
“We were able to determine that aside from their money lending operation, they also control three businesses, two workshops, and a resort. The two workshops both produce High-Grade enchantments and seem to be above board in all areas we could observe. The storefronts are the same, they mostly sell the engineering goods produced by the workshops.”
“So, I assume there is something going on in the hideaway?” Zeke ventured.
“Indeed,” Margret said. “The place looked suspicious right from the start. It appeared to be a facility for luxury lodging, but none of the company staff live there. It was all outsiders. What’s more, most inhabitants rarely if ever leave the building. For weeks we have tried to infiltrate the place, but the security was too tight.”
“What changed?” Zeke asked.
“We still aren’t able to infiltrate,” Margret admitted. “However, we managed to find a way around that. You see, just because we couldn’t enter, doesn’t mean nobody could. There is a group of… erm…. entertainers, who are allowed in regularly. Through them, we have learned what is going on inside and who is staying there.”
“I don’t understand,” Zeke said. “Why would they allow outsiders in? For entertainment? That sounds like a massive security risk. I don’t believe that they would make such an amateur mistake?”
“Well, you see…” Margret tried to explain while shooting glances at David. “Men have certain needs —”
“They are prostitutes, young Lord,” David interrupted. He then turned to Margret. “He is old enough.”
Margret returned then returned her gaze to Zeke, just in time to see a blush vanish from his skin. Even his bright red ears returned to normal in an instant. Without a shred of embarrassment, he nodded at her. “Indeed, I am old enough. Please go on.”
With a smile on her face, Margret continued her explanation. “Not all the girls are willing to sell us information. They are paid very well by the Goldfinger company and many don’t want to risk that.
“However, yesterday night a couple of regulars were preoccupied, allowing our informants to take their place. One of the girls spoke of meeting a man we had never heard anything about. He had always requested the same girl before and yelled at our informant as soon as he noticed that she was someone different. I have met Steffano, and from her description, I am absolutely certain that it is him.”
“This confirms it then,” David said with fire in his eyes. “The Goldfinger company is hiding Steffano while demanding that we pay the man’s debt. Just what I would expect from those slimy merchants — no honor or morals!”
“Calm down, David,” Zeke said. “Don’t forget who stands behind them. The nobles of the empire are not a lick better.”
“…You are a noble of the empire as well, young Lord,” David stated, but his anger did simmer down.
“Be that as it may,” Zeke responded. “What we should be asking ourselves now is what we do with this information.”
“Should we get the guards involved?” Margret asked.
“No,” Zeke responded immediately. “Even if the guards agreed to search the place, all the Goldfinger company would have to do is get him out beforehand. I can’t imagine they don’t have a spy or two among the guards. They would see us coming and we would only be showing our hand. I think it would be much better if we could do something ourselves.”
“I don’t think we would be able to get to him in there,” Margret said after a while.
“Why is that?” Zeke inquired.
“Because they have an Arch Mage,” Margret responded. “…with a Space affinity.”
They all fell silent after that. If the Goldfinger company actually had somebody like that, then it would indeed be hard to get in and out unnoticed.
“Is he guarding the resort at all times?” Zeke asked eventually.
Margret shook her head. “No, he stays in the headquarters.” Before Zeke could inquire how he would get in the way of their plans then, Margret explained. “The reason he is such a problem is that he uses a spell on the location periodically. I don’t know what it’s called, but from the mana signature, it is most likely something like the spell Space Mages use to determine if an area is safe to teleport to.”
“[Scrying],” Zeke supplied in a defeated tone. He was aware of the spell’s function. Space Mages could determine terrain and obstacles in a far-off location with this spell. It was a prerequisite to long-distance teleportation. If the man actually scried the area periodically, then it would be very hard to sneak in. A frontal assault was even less of an option.
“He can’t be doing that forever, even Archmages have to sleep,” David said.
“You are right,” Margret responded. “He has two days off. But they bring in tons of extra security during those times. It might be even harder while he is away.”
Zeke thought hard about their options. He was unwilling to let this information go to waste. But what could he do? There had to be a way.
“No deviations from the schedule?” he asked.
“…No, they have been consistent—” Margret started but cut herself off right after. “Actually, there has been one exception. When Godfrey Goldfinger, Gilderoys father, went to a council meeting last week, the Arch Mage accompanied him. I think the man also acts as a personal bodyguard.”
“That doesn’t help us much,” David said. “The next meeting of the Merchant Council is still three weeks away and who knows what will happen with Steffano after we pay the money. They might decide to just kill him for all we know.”
Zeke was deep in thought. David wasn’t wrong, but he had overlooked one crucial part. The Arch Mage didn’t only leave the building for council meetings. He left whenever Godfrey did. All they needed now was a way to lure the bastard out.
A smile slowly spread across Zeke’s face. “Don’t we have the perfect bait?” Margret and David shared a confused look, urging him to continue his explanation. “What would happen if we invited Godfrey Goldfinger to our unveiling party next week?”
“He most likely wouldn’t come,” David responded. “It would look like a trap to him.”
“Indeed,” Zeke agreed. “Our invitations were sent out weeks ago. However, what would happen if we invited the owners of all the local workshops last minute? What if we invited them claiming that we would revolutionize the industry and are looking for potential partners?”
“…Two of those workshops belong to the Goldfinger company,” David stated with a glint in his eyes.
“But he doesn’t know that we know,” Zeke stated with a crafty smile. “That means he will not suspect a trap. Instead, he would think that this was his chance to ambush us by suddenly showing up.”
“This… this might actually work,” Margret said. “If our invitations are on such short notice, then it is very unlikely they could get replacement guards.”
Zeke’s smile widened. “Exactly, and if the plan doesn’t work, we can simply call off the mission.”
“Clever! What do you think, David? Anything to add?” Margret asked.
“It is indeed a good plan,” David agreed. “But you will have to pull this off with the people you have right now, Margret. Neither I nor any of the others would be able to help you. We need all the manpower we can get for the event.”
Margret went quiet. After a moment of deep contemplation, her expression hardened. “I can do it! I’ll find a way to pull it off with the people I have.”
“Are you sure?” Zeke asked. “I don’t want you to risk yourself, Margret.”
“No, I’m gonna do it,” she insisted. “I just wish we had an Earth Mage. It would be so much easier to tunnel in. Still, I will think of something, I promise.”
Zeke searched her gaze. The only thing he found there was conviction and confidence. He realized that she had already made up her mind. There was only one thing he could say. “I’m counting on you.”
“Always,” Margaret replied with a smile of her own.
Ever since they left the empire, Zeke noticed that Margret had started acting differently. The once stoic woman had become a lot more expressive. He couldn’t tell what had prompted the change, but so far, it seemed to be a good thing.
“Alright then,” Zeke responded. “I’m gonna go see mom. We will need to send out those invitations as soon as possible if we want to pull this off convincingly.” Zeke got up and walked toward the door. However, before he even reached it, there was a knock.
Zeke halted in his tracks. “Come in.”
A timid-looking woman opened the door. Zeke recognized her. She was the mother of one of the kids from his meditation class. “Did you need something, Melinda?”
The middle-aged woman quickly averted her gaze and bowed slightly. “Yes, young lord. I have news.”
“Let’s hear it then,” Zeke said.
“Very well. Leo von Hohenheim has just returned to the estate and has apparently been asking about your whereabouts.”
“Leo? He is looking for me?” Zeke asked in genuine delight. “That’s great! I had hoped to speak with him soon.”
The woman kept fidgeting and didn’t meet Zeke’s gaze. He got the impression that she had more to say but held herself back for some reason. “What is it?”
The woman glanced over at Margret and David as if searching for help. Zeke also turned to the two. Did they know what this was about? Margret remained silent. Her confused expression made it clear that she also had no idea what was going on. David, on the other hand, nodded at the woman and spoke with a sigh. “It’s fine. You can leave, Melinda. I will take it from here.”
“Thank you, sir David,” Melinda said. After bowing once more, she left quickly. Zeke got the impression that she was fleeing from something.
“What is this about, David?” Zeke asked cautiously.
David sighed once more. “There is a rumor going around…”
“And?”
“The rumor claims that the reason Leo has been absent so much is to train.”
“That doesn’t sound too bad,” Zeke stated.
“Well, that’s not all,” David explained. “Apparently, he is training to challenge you for the leadership of the von Hohenheim household.”
Zeke was dumbfounded. For an instant, he didn’t know how to react. Then, all of a sudden, Zeke burst out laughing.
“That’s no laughing matter, young lord,” David reprimanded.
“David’s right, Zeke,” Margret added. “Leo has a lot of support. I have heard many people say that he would have been a better heir to Maximilian’s legacy than you. He has the same affinities, after all.”
Zeke stopped laughing, but the smile still remained on his face. “So?”
“What do you mean, ‘so’?” Margret asked. “As an adopted member of the family, he is well within his right to challenge you. Aren’t you worried?”
“Worried?” Zeke asked in disbelief. “No, I’m not worried. It’s quite the opposite, actually. If Leo wants to take this responsibility from me, I would gladly hand it over. I never chose this burden, nor do I enjoy it. There is nothing I would like more than to hide away in my workshop for the next couple of years to tinker.”
After his rant, Zeke looked up. He noticed the concerned expressions on the faces of Margret and David. It seemed that he had gone too far. These two were amongst his most ardent supporters, after all. It couldn’t have been great to hear from their chosen lord how little he cared about retaining his position.
Zeke rubbed the back of his head, embarrassed. With a strained smile, he looked from one to the other. “Well, let’s see what Leo wants, shall we?”
