Currency Exchange

Draco and Snow were walking towards the central palace off in the distance. 

Snow reached for Draco's hand and he took it. He wasn't one for romantic gestures, but if she wanted to do things like this he didn't mind.

The sun was shining and the lush trees in the palace courtyard created a scenic view as the two walked. 

The palace wasn't far from their residence, so it only took them a few minutes to reach it. 

Draco let go of Snow's hand as they reached the palace, for he didn't want anyone to see this and mistake it for weakness. 

He understood that he would have to appear strong to be respected by Saamir.

Otherwise, he knew the ruthless governor would happily take advantage of him. 

Snow pouted when Draco let go, but she said nothing as two of Saalim's soldiers opened the palace's doors for them. 

Another soldier led them up the palace's stairs, but this time they were led into a different room. 

Saalim was evidently expecting them, for he was already waiting in the room.

His remaining guard stood stone-faced behind him, and he had a bandage wrapped around his stomach from the fight in the bandit's camp. 

Draco looked around and saw that it was some type of mission control room of sorts. The room was quite spacious, and several guards stood around its perimeter. 

There were large monitors all along the wall, displaying footage from security cameras all around the palace grounds. Other monitors held what looked to be different tables and spreadsheets. 

There was a team of staff seated in the room around the many monitors, and they were all busy fulfilling their various duties. 

In the center of the room was a large wooden table, and atop this table sat a mini-landscape of the desert surrounding the city. 

This desert had a miniature version of the city of Sabha, and on the outskirts of the city was a small camp. 

Saalim was currently removing the camp from the display and throwing its pieces on the floor. 

He glanced up when he saw Draco and Snow enter the room, "Ah, Draco! I see you've brought another friend." he said. 

Draco laughed and greeted Saalim back, "This is my concubine." he said.

Draco's words caused Snow to blush, and she looked down bashfully. 

Saalim looked at Snow curiously, "As long as you can trust her. I imagine you're here for what we discussed yesterday." he said. 

Draco nodded, "Indeed. I'm eager to once again set up my operation." he replied.

Snow was confused when she heard this, for she had no idea about this 'operation.'

Draco continued, "I would also like to exchange some of my treasure for local currency. I imagine paying for my things in gold would draw too much attention."

Saalim understood that, "It shall be done. I also have the information you requested yesterday." he said, motioning to someone at his side. 

They handed Saalim a sheet of paper, and Saalim gave this paper to Draco. 

Looking at the paper, Draco saw that it had a picture of a Middle Eastern man. The paper indicated that the man's name was "Ghiath Bashar". It also told Draco where to find the man. 

It said that he lived in a city called Bengasi. Draco was unfamiliar with Libya's geography, so he had no clue how to get there. 

However, just this information alone was enough of a lead to get Draco started. 

After Draco had looked over the paper, Saalim handed him a small envelope. 

"This is my letter of recommendation. Don't lose it, for without it you will be refused service. Ghiath deals in rare treasures and trinkets of every variety, and he serves very wealthy clientele. He is likely to have the goods that you seek." Saalim said.

Draco was extremely grateful, and he smiled at Saalim, "I will not forget your generosity, you will be the first person I visit with my 'product' after it is created." he said. 

Saalim smiled back when he heard that, "I have a feeling you will make good on your promises."

Snow looked back between Draco and Saalim, her confusion growing with each sentence she heard. 

She had no idea what 'operation' Draco was talking about, and she definitely didn't know about any 'products' either. 

However, she didn't want to undermine Draco's discussions and resolved herself to ask once they had left the palace. 

Saalim remembered the other thing Draco had requested, "There is a man in the outskirts of the city. He runs a currency exchange, when you visit tell him that I sent you." he said. 

Draco nodded his head, turning to leave with Snow. 

"Thanks again, I'll see you again soon." Draco said, leaving the room with his new girlfriend in tow. 

Snow hurried after Draco, and on the way down the stairs she could no longer hold back her curiosity. 

"Draco, what's this operation you were talking about earlier?" she asked. 

Draco smiled lightly, "I never told you this, but I recently came into possession of different schematics for producing progenitor serum." he said. 

They walked out of the palace's front doors, and Draco continued. 

"I may have told Saalim a fib or two, but it was to our advantage. He believes that we are an established organization, even though I am just as new to this as you are." Draco laughed. 

Snow listened to Draco with wide eyes, awed by his cunning. 

"You're incredible Draco! I knew you were smart, but I didn't know you were so good at lying." she said. 

Snow's face suddenly changed, and she looked at Draco with a wry smile, "You better not lie to me like that!" she said. 

Draco couldn't contain his laughter when he heard that, "Don't worry Snow, I would never lie to you." he said, not really believing his own words. 

This placated Snow for the moment, and she grabbed Draco's arm and followed him back to their residence. 

Once they were back Draco went into his room and began to gather a large amount of jewels and golden coins. 

He filled a pillowcase with his treasure, filling it with all of his jewels and a smaller amount of gold.

The jewels held less practical value than the gold, so he intended to exchange all of them for cash. 

He carried the pillowcase over his shoulder, and it was bulging at the seams with his riches. 

When he left his room he gathered Addo and one other soldier. He also looked for Snow and found her happily chatting away with Amber. 

Snow saw that Draco was leaving so she cut her conversation short to tag along. 

The four of them loaded into a car in front of the residence, it was one of the armored vehicles with a machine gun mounted on the top.

After everyone was inside Addo began to drive them out of the palace's courtyard. 

The gate's guards recognized them and let them pass without hassle, and Draco's vehicle crossed the palace walls and onto the city's streets. 

Draco told Addo to head to the city's main gate, and they traveled through Sabha without anything interesting happening. 

Eventually, a tall building came into view next to the city's outer wall. It was made out of white stone, and it had metal bars over its windows. 

This building stood above the rest of its surroundings by several floors, and it had gold bars and pictures of cash painted on the side of it. 

"This must be the place. Stop here." Draco said to Addo, prompting him to park the vehicle in front of the building. 

He told Addo to keep the car running, and he got out with Snow and his other soldier following him. 

He had given the soldier the treasure filled pillowcase and had him follow behind him into the building. 

Upon entering Draco immediately saw that the building had high ceilings. There were tall stone pillars lining the interior of the room, and the floor was a pristine white marble. 

Draco also spotted several armed guards within the lobby, and some of them even had the distinct aura of powered individuals. 

The first floor of the building was bustling with people entering and leaving. There were a few counters at the end of the room, and they were protected by clear plexi-glass. 

Three women were working behind the counters, and all of them were currently busy with customers.

Draco got in the shortest line, and after a few minutes it was his turn. 

Draco walked up to the last one and introduced himself, "Hello, I'm Draco, a friend of the Emir. I have a large amount of gold and jewels I would like to exchange." 

The lady at the counter looked at Draco curiously when she heard, 'The Emir'. After all, there were very few people in the city who could call the infamous governor a friend. 

"Of course, sir. I'd be happy to assist you today. How much are you looking to exchange?" she asked with an Arabic accent in her words. 

Draco grabbed the bulging bag of gold and jewels from his soldier and held it up to the counter, "However much this is." he said with a laugh. 

The lady's eyes widened when she saw the bag, and she quickly said, "S-sir. Please, follow me to the back. We are not authorized to do such large transactions here." 

Draco awkwardly scratched his head, for this made sense. He thought with a smirk that there wasn't even space to put all of his treasure on the counter. 

Draco followed the lady over to the side of the counter, and she opened a metal door on the side. 

The lady then led Draco behind the counters and up the stairs, and Snow and his soldier followed behind him. 

Unknown to them, there was a strange man watching them from inside the lobby. 

He was shocked to see Draco's group carrying such a large bag. The man could hear the clinking of coins all the way across the lobby.

They clearly weren't from there, and since they were taken to a private room they had to have been exchanging a large amount of valuables.

He left the lobby in haste, evidently in a rush to go somewhere.