-The Trader-

"What makes you so sure that they're Imperial soldiers?" Arvis asked before taking a sip of his drink, "they look like every day common citizens to me."

"Look at the weapons they're carrying," Locke tilted his head to direct Arvis towards the two men across the tavern sitting at a table in the corner.

"What about them?" Arvis asked.

"Standard issued Imperial blades," Locke answered frankly, finishing the rest of his drink before nodding to the bartender for a refill. "I ran into a couple of guys like them in South Figaro a little ways back. They kidnapped this little girl."

"Edgar told me about that story, but why would any of Gestahl's soldiers be here in Jidoor?"

"Beats the heck out of me, but it's something that I want to find out. Every time I run into some of them, trouble always follows."

"Well keep your cool," Arvis warned, "I don't want any trouble while we're here. I just want to get home to Narshe without any incidents."

"You're not at all worried about why Imperial soldiers are trying to hide their identity half a world away from Vector? They could decide at any moment to invade and destroy any cities of their choosing and this doesn't bother you?"

"Locke, I'm not an adventurer like you," Arvis sighed and took another small sip of his drink. "I'm just an old man trying to keep a positive view of the world."

"How can you keep a positive view of the world when the Empire is the most powerful nation on the planet?" Locke began to argue. "They are an evil that is scaring the rest of society!"

"Easy Locke," Arvis spoke calmly and smoothly, very articulate even for his old age. "I know how you feel about the Empire. What they did to Kohlingen was far beyond despicable, but picking a fight and questioning everything isn't going to bring your people back. The city is rebuilt…"

"They murdered countless victims…" Locke cut in.

"What's done is done," Arvis interrupted him. "You have to live in the now Locke. You are a great asset to us Returners. You've become a hero and the younger ones look up to you. You can't just throw that all away to get some kind of silly revenge against two pointless Imperial scouts… wait…" Arvis cut himself off, "someone else is going to meet our two friends over there, but he doesn't look like a soldier in disguise."

Locke turned his head back to see the newcomer. "Oh crap."

"What is it?" Arvis asked keeping an eye on the soldiers.

As if on cue, the new man felt staring eyes in his direction and turned to see who was looking. "Well I'll be! If it isn't Locke Cole all the way over there!" the man shouted out.

"Ziegfried," Locke replied putting on a fake tone of excitement, "it's been a while but somehow I'm not surprised to see you running around here."

"Let me speak to my friends here and then I'll join you for a drink."

Ziegfried sat down at the soldiers' table and began talking business. Arvis leaned over to Locke and whispered, "You know that guy?"

"Unfortunately," Locke replied. "He's a big time hustler and dealer of rare artifacts. On the side he thinks he's a treasure hunter, but mostly he piggy-backs off others until he can steal their treasure and glory for himself at the last moment."

"What's he doing talking to those two?" Arvis asked.

"I don't know but I don't like it."

After a few minutes Ziegfried shook hands with the undercover soldiers and stood up, making his way over to Locke and Arvis. "Another drink of whatever they're having," the dealer ordered to the bartender. Ziegfried pulled up the empty chair next to Locke at the bar, "it certainly has been a while but I've been hearing many stories about our esteemed Mr. Cole here."

"Oh really? What am I infamous for this time?" Locke tried to charismatically play it off as a joke.

"The way I hear it, you had a small reunion and falling out with Redoux."

"You could say that."

"Lone Wolf said he had to swim a couple of miles to shore just to save himself."

"Huh," Locke took another sip of his drink, "wasn't far enough out to sea then."

"So you really did the deed to Redoux? That's a shame," Ziegfried shook his head as his drink arrived. "I used to get a lot of business from him as a middle man, selling whatever treasures he had."

"He stole most of them," Locke retorted.

"Let bygones be bygones. What's done is done. Right?" Ziegfried smiled and laughed, taking the first sip of his drink. "You haven't come up with any new discoveries that you need a middle man to get them into the auction house here do you? You know me, the fairest man in the business!"

"I wouldn't trust you with a single GP Ziegfried," Locke replied and smiled.

"Still the same old 'do it yourself' Locke Cole I see. Heard some other stories about your partner in crime since you've gotten yourself out of Redoux and his gang. What's her name?"

"County?" Locke knew Ziegfried had set him up for that answer. County and Ziegfried had had their run-ins, including one Locke could remember where County had to be restrained at the auction house after beating the dealer to near unconsciousness.

"Yes, of course, that's her! Hell of a treasure hunter that one is. Heard she got herself a sweet deal diving into caves for the Empire."

"What does that have to do with anything?"

"Heard the Empire is paying top price to treasure hunters to go looking for lost artifacts from the War of the Magi," Ziegfried took another sip of his drink, keeping his showman's smile. "It's all hush-hush you know, but I'm surprised they haven't approached you about it yet. The world famous Locke Cole is one of the best in the business."

"Oh stop blowing out hot air," Locke fired back. "I'm not going to go work for the Empire."

"Nor should you!" Ziegfried replied, "that's why you've got me here. County's mistake was she entered a bargain like the others where anything she finds goes to Gestahl. You on the other hand have the right idea. Anything you find, you give to ol' Ziegfried here and let me sell it to ol' fancy king Gestahl for more than you could ever dream off."

"What makes you think I would have anything the Emperor would want?" Locke asked, trying to faint his interest.

"The world famous Locke Cole is the best of the best!" Ziegfried spoke emphatically. "I'm sure you've come across some of the most amazing treasures lately that anyone has ever seen."

"Maybe. What about them?" Locke questioned ignorantly.

"Well the point of all that cave diving is to get paid once you've found something. What's the difference if the money comes from some rich snob of Jidoor here like Owzer, or maybe someone like Gestahl who is willing to pay premium for your discoveries."

"Tell me again why I should sell myself to the Empire?" Locke dropped the act and asked the dealer with a sneer.

Ziegfried looked back across the tavern to the two undercover soldiers, who stood up and started to make their way towards the bar where Locke and Arvis were sitting. "Because I'm sure the world famous Locke Cole has treasures and information on things that the Emperor himself would be most interested in."

"Uhm… Locke," Arvis whispered into Locke's ear, looking at the two soldiers coming in their direction.

"Don't worry, everything's under control," Locke replied.

"So…" Ziegfried spoke again, taking another sip of his drink. The two soldiers now stood directly behind Locke and Arvis at the bar. "I'll ask you again. You haven't come across any grand treasures recently on your latest adventures have you? I'm sure if anyone has it's been the world famous Locke Cole."

"Well… I was planning and excavation for this one treasure."

"Really?" Ziegfried seemed interested, "and where exactly is that?"

"Somewhere, about… here!" With lightning speed Locke fired his elbow backwards, slamming it into one of the soldier's stomach, catching him off guard. The second soldier tried to unsheathe his blade, but before he could get his weapon out, Locke grabbed hold of his half drunken glass and smashed it over the soldier's head, instantly knocking him out.

"Sorry, but I can find a better deal elsewhere," Locke fired a glance at Ziegfried, who seeing his soldier allies suddenly downed, started to slowly back away from the treasure hunter.

"Ea…easy now Locke," the dealer put up his hands in fear and submission.

"My answer is no!" Locke shouted out. "Com'on, let's go." He looked to Arvis, tilting his head towards the door. Locke took out a few GP and left some on the bar for the drinks and the mess before he stood up and left the tavern.

"You certainly seem to know some interesting characters," Arvis said as they walked out the door.

"Obviously that's not always a thing," Locke let out a slight laugh once they were free of the tavern.

"You are true to your words," Arvis looked to his fellow Returner with a smile, "every time you run into Imperial soldiers, trouble always follows."