"Is that why you haven’t found out anything about them yet?" Alex inquired as they walked.
Just then, the sound of a metal can being kicked resounded in an alley causing him to pause.
Arthur however kept on walking like he didn’t hear it.
Taking a drag from his pipe, he remarked. "When a Hyena wants to hide, there’s no way to find them except we use a tracking ritual. Unfortunately, there’s nothing related to them that we can use."
"Indeed. Apart from Powers and Abilities, there are other ways to utilize aether, methods that ordinary people can use as long as they know the process. Those methods are collectively known as rituals."
"I see." Alex nodded thoughtfully. "So if we somehow had something related to the Mystics that attacked me..."
"We could track them down easily." Arthur took a drag from his pipe. "Right now, we are grasping at straws. All we have going for us are guesses and I for one... don’t plan to make a move unless I am completely sure."
Alex pondered briefly before speaking up. "What if I had a way to track them down?... Would you let me handle it?"
Arthur paused before glancing at Alex. "You want to deal with them?"
Alex resisted the urge to reply with, ’I don’t have a choice’, instead responding with a resolute gaze.
Sighing helplessly, Arthur said. "If you indeed have a way to track them, then I wouldn’t still be able to help you as they would smell me coming from a mile away so I guess... you are on your own."
Alex nodded wordlessly, having understood the implications of Arthur’s words.
Soon enough, they came to a stop in front of an antique shop with a sign that read... ’Raymond Antiquities’
Arthur stepped forward and knocked on the door briefly.
Taking a step back, he waited.
Soon enough, a gas lamp was turned on within, illuminating the shop.
Footsteps approached and a moment later, the door opened to reveal a lean old man with a scar over his right eye and a hunched back.
Wearing a nightdress, created a contrast with his somewhat battle-hardened appearance.
Alex remained silent while Arthur commented.
The old man rolled his one good eye as he scoffed. "What do you want, Art?... It’s too late to be bothering me."
"Well you see, Ray my friend, I’m here about my son-in-law," Arthur revealed a dirty grin as he spoke causing Alex to facepalm at the side.
The old man... no, Ray glanced at Alex and after studying him, nodded. "You’ve got a good eye."
"..." Alex was rendered speechless.
"I know right." Arthur winked and Alex felt the urge to hit him but restrained himself.
"Hah, come in." Old man Ray sighed as he stepped aside for Arthur and Alex to walk in.
Taking a moment to inspect outside, he closed the door soon after and turned to entertain his guests.
"So what do you want?" Ray asked as he walked over and sat behind the counter.
Surveying the area, Alex noticed a variety of antiques... not.
Most seemed to have been made quite recently with one even still having a price tag on it.
Alex’s eyebrows twitched at the blatant fraud.
"We are looking for some Quillion," Arthur replied.
Old man Ray pursed his lips. "We’ve got little of that coming in due to the problems in the west with the rebels."
"They blocked the ports?"
"Yep. Word going around is that they are trying to get in contact with some mercenaries from Henos."
Arthur revealed a slight frown. "It’s getting quite serious over there, huh."
"Which is why Quillion is quite scarce at the moment." Old Man Ray remarked.
To him, the problems in the West weren’t his concern.
It only affected him since his smuggling business had taken a hit because of it.
Arthur massaged his temples. "So how much?"
Old Man Ray flashed a toothy grin as he put up three fingers. "Three times the asking price."
"Might as well rob me."
"I’m thinking about it."
Alex remained at the side, unsure of what to make of the current situation.
There was no tension in the air causing him to wonder if this was how they normally bargained.
"What do you need it for?" Old man Ray leaned back in his chair.
Arthur offered him his pipe after taking a drag from it, a gesture which Old Man Ray accepted as he took the pipe and took a drag as well.
"My son-in-law over there broke the boundary and turns out he is a genius. His pneuma is stronger than his soma and he needs some Quillion to suppress it." Arthur casually explained.
Old Man Ray glanced at Alex. "He does look like a genius."
"Indeed," Arthur replied like a proud father.
"Hah, fine. Twice the asking price."
Arthur aggressively took back his pipe. "Greedy bastard and here I was offering you my pipe in good faith."
"Hmm." Old Man Ray grinned. "You’d have to bribe me with more than tobacco if you want to leave here with the Quillion."
"Four ingots," Arthur remarked before reaching into his coat and pulling out a checkbook. "I’ll write you a check for 200,000 Kobo. Take it or leave it."
Old Man Ray pursed his lips. "Just four ingots?"
"Did I stutter?" Arthur retorted.
Rubbing his fingers together, Old Man Ray pondered on it for a while before sighing. "Fine then. Give me a few minutes."
He got to his feet and made his way to the backroom.
Alex walked over to Arthur’s side and asked. "200,000 for four ingots?"
"Mn. I told you Quillion is quite pricey over here." Arthur remarked as he took a drag from his pipe.
Alex sighed inwardly as he reminded himself how important money was in this world.
Subordinates, power, and money.
These were three things he had to hold command over.
It didn’t take long before Old Man Ray returned with a wooden box.
Arthur took hold of the box and after writing a check, took his leave with Alex following closely behind.
Once out, Alex inquired. "Aren’t you going to check it?"
"No need." Arthur shook his head.
Alex quickly noticed a strange expression on Arthur’s face, as though he were feeling discomfort.
Putting two together, he reached out and took the wooden box from Arthur’s hold.
"You were having trouble holding it." Alex casually said, cutting him off.
Arthur pursed his lips. "Quillion is like poison to those that actively use aether."
With the street lamps illuminating their path, both men strolled down the street.