Chapter 4: Holy Kingdom and Setting up Shops
Written by Y.H
Disclaimer: I do not own overlord or any related element you may or may not see. Those belong to their respective owner
Thought
[Spell]
"Speak"
Deth fleets main flagship, the Black Death
2 days later
"Holy kingdom?" Luther say while reading report from Mirai, who right now disguise as traveling merchant on nearby city of Herkat, terrible name if you ask her by the way. "Now that a kingdom you don't want to find yourself alone while being a 'heretic', as if we care at all"
If she being honest, the name is dead giveaway on what type of kingdom it is and how 'rotten' it is. Wonder what kind of religion, and what kind of shady, rotten, rich people in there. There will be raid coming soon-
…
…
Fuck me she only sigh before looking at the stack of paper, it has been reduce from its original size, but it still big. "*depress sigh* fuck you paperwork" Luther still hate it with passion, but at least some of this curses bring some good work. "Well, at least we know where we are. *sigh* now what rest of it"
Luther read the rest of report and catch an interesting tidbit near the bottom "guilds? 'Adventure and merchant guild exist in the city and presumably on other cities and kingdoms to the north if our 'costumer' is to be believe" now that interesting she know that guild is always, always have some sort of guild of any kind.
She not very desperate to contact them, cause if what she know about adventure guild, they take contract like mercenary, have some sort of hero in their rank, racist or just plain strong in moral or body. But the merchant guild, that take her interest. Being a pirate of ten thousand years (according to the lore) she have extreme knowledge on wealth as to raiding (somehow).
Unbeknownst to her, Inside Luther super mind she already make plans on this situation, but there one that caught her conciseness taking control of the merchants so cementing our position on the kingdom under their nose, and when the time is right, strike them. Not bad my evil self, not bad at all she know that Mirai cannot do it herself, she can but it will take time and if there one thing she know is time never on someone side, either her or someone.
Luther already began writing order to Mirai, and her companion on her mission, chuckling all the way. They will protest, they will upset, but who cares if it comes from me. Goodness I love being in power. Taking over kingdom economy while constantly raid them from their coins unnoticed is just bring back memories for her.
Now with that settle, let see what this world is to offer Luther actually laugh at the thought it sound like am being evil, of wait I am that instantly kill her joyous mood, and back to depressing thought as she take another paper from the stack, Richard request a statue for my honor, reject. Library ships need more stable crew, approve. Lumia requesting break reject-…
Well you know what, I found someone more capable Luther tired mind, she dint know that she already worked for 2 days straight, already spinning another plan, either it will be terrible or absolute genius, she dint care. She a pirate grand admiral after all.
(9Liiiiiiiineeeeee break0)
Herkat, Mirai shop for goods
2 days since arriving
Mirai currently sitting behind desk on her new shop, suffice to say she bored. She already rents this place from the mayor and register herself at the merchant guild and adventure one per regulation, but she never thought that the business will be this slow. She a pirate, admiral to booth, she don't used waiting. Considering she command the 9th fleet, fleet that almost, almost always on time and usually on time mean very fast.
Suffice to say she bored.
She already send her report alongside with Intel she gather, and with her disguise deckhand in her basement to avoid unnecessary risk (deckhand are shit, she dint trust them with virtually anything other than simple task) she must rely on her 'costumer' on what going on and Intel from them are sketchy at best well at least they buy something, that one way on solving our currency problem.
Lately she begin to think on more specialize her goods, because apparently general goods from the fleets storage isn't enough for this town I need to forward a request to grand admiral and hope she approve it her goods is just some general goods from any angle, it has no specialty, no unique, no anything another that what people generally buy.
And there the adventures, she worry about them detecting her undead and her status, but so far nothing and if they are better than the bandits they still very weak not that she complain on that, it make her killing them way easier, but they too will make an terrible undead if she raise them, and frankly she dint think she will raise them at all.
She wear white shirt with green skirt and white apron on top of that to blend in with surrounding civilian, and she quite dislike the plain cloth, even Richard casual robe is more interesting and saying something.
*ding*
"Hmm" Mirai look from her table to see someone wearing leather armor and iron chest piece with blue tunic under it and blue skirt just under her knee, she have blond short hair and green eyes with face that she honestly think pretty, especially the eyes, just from the look of it she already know that she is and adventure and from the iron plate dangling from her. Great she an adventure.
"Welcome to Mirai shop for goods, am Mirai, please feel free to look around and ask question if you confuse" Mirai says with smile, which she only nod. Let see from her outfit she probably low level frontline fighter or scout if those leather armor is indication, or even rogue if she has the gut for it lately Mirai has been trying to identify somebody base by their appearance, considering she usually in charge of large scale scout during the war she have almost no mistake doing it.
Her customer is looking at her goods on the rack, especially the weapon rack. She pick a short sword and swing it a few times before putting it back on rack, she doing it couple more time before looking back at Mirai "excuse me, but is there something more for this sword?"
"we have more at the backroom but if you want more specify goods please just tell me, I do what I can" she look in thought for a moment. Mirai not surprise if what she ask is more high quality sword, what in the rack is just some rust deckhand sword that rust is removed, the real deal is in backroom. She put couple of high quality goods in display and the rest of it in the back, just in case. Even if it damaged or lost the fleets have specialize forge ship for this kind of situation.
"I like sturdier short sword that at least could tank hit without clipping and if you can a lighter one"
"Sturdier and lighter eh? I sure have those in the back" Mirai say before going to back door to the storage area, she have those in stock heh, this costumer is not bad she easily identified low quality on just couple of swing, most people will just think that is normal sword and just buy it maybe I try those trick Ricardo use? Couldn't hurt to try them here
POV shift
Lisa watch as the shopkeeper go to backdoor. She hear about this new shop open up in market, she hear from other adventurer about 'general' shop that supposedly own sell almost every wares on sales from other shops. She went here today to check it, and the rumors seem true with the racks of shop fill with various wares, from food and fruit to weapons on the wall.
The shop itself is no different from many other, save from few accessories here and there and banner behind the desk with some symbol of silver anchor behind half-moon, she dint think more of that. Many merchant and shop hang their own brand. There piece of paper stick on the rack sections over every goods, there a price tag on it, including the weapons.
I guess rumor about cheap weapon is true albeit she must say the quality of it is terrible, but well hidden. To untrained eyes the weapon may pass as the usual weapon but Lisa know better, it was terrible weapons. There few passable quality in there but not much at all. If this is what 'goods' she sell, she probably going bankrupt soon enough.
Thought the food is good enough and cheap enough to be popular with the common people, so she have that. And the tools and cloths she sell not bad to. Not good, and probably worst off after few months, but cheap enough for most common buyer.
"Here you go" Lisa watch as the shopkeeper, Mirai, come and place three short swords by the table, Lisa watch curiously on them "have three that fit you specific, hope you satisfied with this". The quality on the three sword is different from the other on the racks, it sleeker, more bulky, sturdier it was far off from the weapon on racks by miles.
"How you get this in such high quality? I expect something mediocre" Mirai only chuckle seeing as Lisa grab the first sword and try it a few swig. The blade itself is much sharper than the rest
"Those in racks just for show, the real deal is in backroom. If they want the real deal they must ask me first, pretty good to determined first prince" she answer with a shrug. Lisa must say the weapon is impressive, even for her standard.
"How much?"
"1 gold, 7 silver, 15 copper per sword. Pretty fair deal would you say, for such high quality weaponries" yes, it is fair. Thought the price is little bit off. The blade itself looked much sharper and well kept, and judging from the weight and handle the material is probably quality too.
"The price is a bit off would you say?"
She only smile "these short swords and those weapons on my racks is way cheaper than you find in most shops, my supplier charge me with pretty hefty cut price due to me being close friend to them" Lisa only nod at that, favoritism is not uncommon among the merchants she speak too.
"I take this and those two for 4 gold and 11 silver, how about that?"
"Usually I take the fix price, but considering you are the first to see through my trick, I guess I could put a discount on this" she says as she take piece of paper before scribing something on it before turn to her "alright just give me the money and you good to go"
Lisa nodded and pulled her coin bag and take out few of her coins to pay, she get the coin, exam it for a bit before smile back and put the rest on a drawer she pull from the table. "By the way, could you do me a favor and don't spreading my trick? I don't want to lose costumer you know"
Lisa only shrug "sure, I don't see the problem, it not like going to spread it"
"Thanks for that, miss?"
"Lisa, Lisa Mermwood, adventure and weapon expert"
"Well, good day miss Lisa, hope we see you again"
Lisa only nod and walk out of shop with three short swords in her hand. The shop isn't half bad, the owner is certainly better than most other Lisa walk toward the guild building, informing her friend about the new shop. If she more focus on her surrounding she will see a red eyes crow following her.
POV shift
Mirai watch as Lisa walk away, before turn toward her side "follow her, she seem interesting, no ordinary people could see through Maka forgery" almost instantly she could feel a presence, albeit faintly, began to follow Lisa. Mirai must admit, finding someone that could see through Maka forgery just wandering to her shop, ask the real goods, and receive 3 good quality short swords instead of the shity deckhands rust sword is surprising, even for her.
Mirai began to hum as she thinking about her next step, she already receive order from grand admiral to establish herself as influence and wealthy merchant so that the fleets could acquire material without raiding, and so avoiding the kingdom attention. Other order is scouting target for raids.
She sigh wearily, it not the order than annoy her but the objective. Be a famous merchant, in the capital of a kingdom that literally our antithesis, so that we could gather information and cover for material gathering. Oh and don't forget that order about 'complete control over economy' she could only sigh before start writing on her papers. She have a lot of work to make this work.
"And here I thought I could have easy mission, but apparently not" she mumble before finishing her letter to the merchant guild "those greedy rats will be a problem, but few gold bar and threat should be enough for them" picking another letter and began to write.
Mirai trick on this trade is selling forgery while withholding the real deal, it was an old trick Ricardo taught her when Tridentred, or father as Richard call him, to rack up profit. The forgery is using skill or magic, and due to holy magic present she must use skill. Luckily her skill at forgery is passable. Even luckier the fleets have forge ship.
Forge ship are specialize ship. Just like library ship, forge ship are design by admiralty board and grand admiral for mass producing and crafting. The ship uses massive amount of material to produce, but also uses skilled crew that could forge an entire economy, real or not. Adding the fact that forge ship in the deth fleets is quite not rare, it mean the fleets can make an entire empire and booming economy on it own.
"But that mean the fleets need an enormous material, and I taking the charge of it" she mumble as she put another letter on the pile.
Well, at least that world item is providing us what we need, mostly to honest with herself, Mirai weary feeling come not from the order, but from the realization that she will be on top of Listmen list all the time. That alone is already sending dread down her spine. If there one thing that all admirals of the deth fleets could agree, and that is alone is pretty rare, is that being top of Listmen list is spot nobody, nobody want.
Let's hope he dint find mistake, oh who I kidding he will find it, goodness why? While Mirai silently crying inside. Back at the fleets Listmen on his office, have sudden feeling of go to Mirai and scowl her, he just shrug it.
(9Liiiiiiiineeeeee break0)
The deth fleets
Lumia currently silently crying on the corner of her room. She dint know is either tear of joy or dread, but she crying anyway. The reason why she crying on the dark corner on her office? The letter order on her rotten mahogany table. Direct order from grand admiral detailing her new mission.
Usually she will be fine doing it, and feeling just fine, and when done she just plop dead to her bed. But this mission, this order, just make her cry in anguish or happiness.
The order detailing on her long range information gathering on holy kingdom capital and being in complete disguise as some minor noble or whatever the role suit better on the capital. She can do it, she can do it better and faster so that she could rest, but there one detail that crumble that resolve.
She must report everything, everything toward Listmen, fucking motherfucking LISTMEN. She could just handle it, why give her objectives far away from Listmen just so that he could monitor her every action, doesn't allow her to just lazing around. "why, why grand admiral, WHY?" with that she continue crying. Her dress is already soaked with tear and her glove is already started to regain its original color due to her constant crying and tears.
Lumia office is just like many other admiral office, is completely soundproof and bug proof. That means she could continue her wailing in her cursed destinies.
After many shed tear and more tears, she manage to get grip on herself and pull herself to face the table, and the letter on the table. "I going to died, I just know it" she say before grab a piece of paper and began writing letter to crux, because she know she going to need her help, desperately.
Praise be to grand admiral about this she think as she forwarded request on crux help about her mission, and why she and crux could increase her and crux mission success rate. Lumia put her utmost trust to crux, so much that she basically going to drag her to hell with.
After sending the letter Lumia just collapse to her chair, exhaustion mentally for even admiral to handle. After all, no body want to in top of Listmen list, NO BODY. Lumia pretty sure the grand admiral share her, no, the entire admirals, feeling of Listmen. 'Maybe not, she the grand admiral after all, this practically a breeze for her, not to mention her race' with grim face Lumia raise from her extremely comfy chair and began trekking to her quarter.
"Let's hope they have some good loots or I burn their entire kingdom" mumble hers as she began to thinking about how to deal with the capital, its inhabitant, and of course Listmen. Most of them probably zealous or just despicable character, *sigh* why I must deal with them, oh wait, grand admiral order
With that she enter her room and began preparation for long, tedious, agonizing journey. Well, at least the five R-recruits is with me on this one.
Main flagship Black Death
Sometime later
"Finally, done, rest" Luther jumble thought speak as she shamble her way to her bed, after previously teleport out of her office directly to her bedroom to avoid other crew. Unfortunally she teleport not on her bed, so she must walk to the sweet-sweet heaven on earth.
Physically she is alright, mentally she a mess. Being mentally change, she already know about it, but that only affect her emotion, not her capability. She know that she have vastly superior mind than her own back home, but she not used to it and still trying to ease into her own new mind. And so her mental stability is a bit wonky
So when she face with 48 hours consecutive paperwork, her mental state is like liquid meat/brain matter. Heck she doesn't even know she work that long, all she see at that time is piles upon piles upon piles of dreaded paperwork. For two days straight her thought mostly is either approved or rejected, and even then her overseer admiral say nothing about it. He going to have surprise after I rest it was weird new experience for Luther, her body is definitely still energize like just jug down 5 gallon of coffee. But her mind is already limping goodness it's like I run marathon through the smog fog, that unpleasant thought.
Her way to the bed is like walking like a zombie, then again she already dead, as too 99% of the fleets.
She completely collapse to the bed, she dint even need to cast her spell, she just blank out. Well, at least I sorted the order to… other… admi-zzzzzzzzz
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