70. The Manor House 6

Novum was lead straight back to the guild leaders office. "Baron how are you today? Was the mission a success?"

"The mission was a complete success. More successful than I could ever have imagined. that is one of the reasons that I wanted to see you. Well there are two reasons. The first reason is that both Berry and Erica would like to come and work for me. I have a full manor now and through a fortunate meeting Berry has found a new teacher and wants to study the tower that I found. Erica would like to come and serve in the manor's defense. Although I think most of hers is infatuation with one of my young guards. I also want to talk to you about expanding and opening up a branch in my town."

"Three mines is big enough for that?"

"It has grown a lot since I got there."

"The girls are not under contract so it is not an issue for them to leave as long as they fill out the paperwork. I hate to lose them but maybe I will use them to set up in Three Mines. Well that is a little early. With the winter season coming on it would be best for me to wait until spring and come and look and see how things are going."

"I am happy with that. Please send me a message and I will ensure that you have a room at the manor house."

"Manor house? Yeah I need to sit down with you when I get there and talk about this mission."

"I have some good wine to drink and we can have a long talk."

"It is good working with a professional with courtesy. Most people would have let the girls take care of this themselves. Also if you need something else send me a message. It will be hard to get out there during the winter but it may be possible in a weather break."

"Thanks for that. I hope that I don't need anything. Well I have a grouchy woman to go and deal with but I will see you later."

Novum headed for the shop and the old lady he knew he was going to piss on in just a few minutes. He took one last deep breath and headed into the shop. The girl behind the counter saw who it was a smiled at him. "Greetings, Baron. How can I be of assistance today?"

"Could you get the granny and tell her the big dumb punk would like to see her?"

There was a look of shock on her face, she had not heard someone, especially someone who knew her true position in the city, address her like that. This was going to be interesting. "I will see if she is available."

The girl slipped out the back and Novum got ready to dive out of he way if she came in slinging magic or a dagger at him. Maybe she had a special cross bow that would paralysis him just behind the counter. With this crew you never knew how they were gong to react.

Suddenly the door flew open and the old lady was standing there with a look of rage on her face.

"Greeting granny. I hope that this day is finding you well."

"Who in the Nine Hells are you calling granny? You think I can't take you since you are big or a noble?"

"I never said that you couldn't take me for either reason. I think you could take me or hire someone to take me without a lot of trouble. And everyone but me is making a big deal out of me being a noble. I say that because there is the possibility for you to make a lot of money in the future, thanks to me."

Her mood instantly changed. "How much money? What are you talking about?"

"Well based on the recent developments at my manor house and my position as a noble I am interested in either a cooperation between your people and my town or paying off the coin necessary to hire Topaz away from you without any issues and still have a working relationship."

"So you are trying to steal her."

"No, I am not trying to steal her. I am trying to buy her contract for an amount that still leaves us with a working relationship. I need spies and I think she could be a huge asset to my and my manor."

"Why would a place like Three Mines and your tiny house need spies?"

"Well I know the manor is not as big at the Duke's place but it is close to the same size of Earl Lion's house. And as for..."

"What? When did that happen?" The granny was quick to interrupt.

"Oh, over the last week. I came across somethings that made it so I now have a large manor house. And as for the reason that I need spies is that I have guys coming to the village and saying that the Duke from another region now owns the rights to tax my property. I need someone like Topaz to find out if it is really a noble being greedy or a smart thug who is trying to kick up trouble and make out like a bandit. I have no trouble killing either one but the size of the issue that it causes is something I need to know before hand."

"So you are really thinking of a spy ring that branches into the neighboring regions so that you are prepared. I think that we may be able to work something out."

"Before you get to deep let me state my conditions ahead of time. First this is a spy ring not a thieves guild. Thieves that are caught in my town are all treated the same no matter if they work for you or someone else. I know it is a fine line but stealing documents and things don't hurt common folk."

"That is annoying but given the size of the village I doubt that would be a problem."

"Good. Now slavery of any type is not going to happen. If I find someone with a slave in my area or someone trying to smuggle any slaves through my area it will not go well. If anything I want you to smuggle them to my area so that I can set them free."

"We are against slavery as well so no issues with that one."

"Okay then. So, this one is a big one for me. There will be no drugs of any kind. Alcohol, tobacco, and laughing grass are all that will be allowed. Anything else and I will destroy the people selling it."

"Don't usually mess with those to much. Well I do like a pipe on occasion. But we are never really involved with that."

"Okay this last one is a tough one and one that I am willing to wiggle around with. Gambling houses. You guys will be responsible for the only gambling house in the area and it will be up front and legal. You will do you beset to minimize the damage to the area and when you see a local is getting in to far you stop them. I will stomp out any backroom dealings that I find and you will keep accurate and legal documents. There will be no cheating, especially since most of the time the players lose anyways. You will also have a little more lead way with visiting nobles and the like."

"The only legal gambling house in the village but it has to be on the up and up. With you taking care of anyone that tries to open another one or run an illegal one. You are right that is a lot of money. So what do you want in exchange for all of this?"

"An information network. You will provide me with information when I request it on not only this region but also the regions that are surrounding us. You will provide half the funding and I will provide half the funding. You will also be responsible for the cost of the buildings and set up of them. And Topaz will be a key element and work strictly for me and be able to work autonomously from you while still working with you with full access."

"That is a lot. Tell you what let me talk with the other voices for the guild and we will let you know in the morning."

Novum pulled out a bottle that he got from the tower. "Why don't you guys enjoy this while you are discussing it. It was a bottle that I got from the tower that Topaz assisted me with."

"This is a very nice bottle of wine. We will take this seriously and talk about it before we drink this wine. A glass of this and we will probably not be able to think."

"Sounds good. I will see you in the morning."