The King's Offer

Denva's gaze remained on the old woman before him as he questioned whether or not he had just heard right.

"No need to think too deeply about it young man," said the old woman. "Show him in, Bazzard."

The man who had been smoking harrumphed and directed Denva into the kiosk. His deep-set grey eyes showed his suspicion towards the young man before him.

The inside was pretty much how one would expect a small shop to look. A variety of small goods on steady shelves.

The old woman looked at Denva with her brown eyes, a light smile plastered on her face.

"How can Granny Orgy help you young man?" she asked.

'If she says that one more time..' Denva thought, a hint of murderous intent rising and vanishing just as fast from him.

Bazzard who was behind him shifted slightly as the cold flash that had emanated from you man before him.

"I need security for my information first," he said. "Can I get that assurance?"

"Of course. Even if our line of work is not the best, we do take care of those willing to do business well," Granny Orgy said as she walked closer to Denva, stopping only when she was a dozen centimetres from his figure.

Denva narrowed his eyes while deliberating before he finally spoke.

"I'm in need of a weapon," he said succinctly.

"I see," said the old woman. For a moment her eyes flashed with a pale light and in the next moment she looked a bit disturbed.

Denva saw the slight changes in her visage before she wore a grin.

"How about I offer you something more than that?" she said with a deep fervour behind her voice.

"What do you mean?"

From her bosom, she pulled out a card. It had equal portions of black and red on its surface with a single white line that between that acted like a visual stitch to the two sides.

"I'll make you a limited time offer. Join the Double Underground and you'll have a lot at your disposal. From money to Renewal Arrays," the old woman said, sounding a bit too eager.

Denva had heard of the Double Underground, but in whispers and secret discussions that he usually eavesdropped on. A society crafted for the good of Low Value Districts. Supposedly. He obviously knew that it wasn't a charity, but it allowed a lot of work to get down in these parts.

Renewal Arrays were not exactly a secret. However, they were only dreams for people in the Low value Districts. Grand families held their own legacies built on Renewal Arrays, which could explain how important they were.

Denva knew he would fit in well in this society. But...

"Why would you make this offer to a stranger?" he asked.

"Ohoho... Good question. The thing is I can tell that you're not a young boy still wet behind the ears. I smell profit and blood from you. Two things that we are in desperate need of. We can benefit from each other."

Denva looked at the old woman's face.

'Did she peak into my soul or something? She must have some sort of Enlightenment,' he thought.

While he wasn't too hot on the idea of rushing to join an organisation at this point, he decided to hear what he would be offered and which part of his soul he would need to give in exchange.

"What exactly do I need to contribute for this...privilege?" he asked.

"Nothing much. But from you, I'm more interested in... knowledge," she said as the look in her eyes showed a greed that she could barely hold back. "That's usually what's required in exchange for joining."

Denva frowned. Just how much did this woman know about him? Was she some kind of clairvoyant?

"Fine," he said calmly. "Then can I use my privilege now and pay later?"

"Of course. State what you need. I'll give this to you on credit," the old woman said as she passed the black and red card to Denva.

Denva took the card and looked at it for a few seconds.

He wanted to see how far he could stretch these privileges first, however.

"I need three things. The first is a sword," he said.

Bazzard who was behind him scoffed.

"What do you think is? Some fantasy where you learn some legendary swordsmanship?" he said with a ridiculing tone.

"That can be arranged," said Granny Orgy with a calm face. "Don't mind Bazzard."

Denva ignored Buzzard's remark and continued.

"The second is a Renewal Array."

"That can also be arranged. Though I must warn you that they are quite hard to procure. The best you can get is a weak and generic one. They are mainly used for remuneration you see."

"That's an understatement," said Bazzard as he walked over to a nearby stool and sat down.

"The third thing is safe passage to and from the site in District 9 where the World Titan appeared," Denva said.

"What?!!" Bazzard stood his seat with a look of incredulity drawn on his face. "Have you any idea how hard that would be?! Why would you want to go there in the first place?"

"That is indeed hard to grant. You see, even though normal people see know the worth in the wreckage left behind by a World Titan, many corporations study the sites in order to try and find out how World Titans manage to appear in our world. They do not exactly patrol all day, every day but close," explained Granny Orgy.

"It's quite the request. What would you be offering that's worthwhile for us?"

Denva knew that the site was blocked off from his interactions with Johnn. The construction had only begun a distance from it with the Gallant Enforcement sternly refusing to allow rebuilding until all their research was done.

As for what he could offer in exchange.

"I'll deconstruct a Renewal and reconstruct it with enhanced effects within a month," he said.