Thief of Time

Trouble, it seemed, always came in pairs and groups. To Dia, it seemed that the assassination attempt on her earlier had drawn away the soldiers stationed around the city, which was probably a good theory for just why there were so many nasty-looking people crowding around the entrance now. All of them had a roaring lion on their chest; it was probably their insignia.

Most of them were shouting slogans that she couldn’t quite understand, but she at least knew one thing.

Gangs. An organisation that relied on fear and intimidation to extort money out of honest folk and businesses, like the Artisan’s Adherence. She had read tales about them, and just how hard it was for even counts and barons to catch their tails — they were like weeds. Pluck one up, and three would grow in their wake.

Claud, however, wasn’t showing any signs of wanting to interfere.

“You don’t plan on stepping in?” Dia asked.

“I’m afraid not, Isolde.” Claud had a placid expression on his face. “They’re from the Arch Lions, the largest gang in Licencia. Unless you’re ready to eradicate everyone, you shouldn’t interfere. Besides, this is not a place we have a say in.”

“How so?”

“Gangs in Licencia typically operate on the basis of a protection racket,” Claud explained. “You pay them money, and they don’t bother you, while making sure that other gangs don’t bother you either.”

A wan smile appeared on his face. “These gangs are relatively tame, compared to the largest protection racket in the city.”

“Which is?”

“Count Nightfall’s guards,” Claud replied. “You see, to them, any business that doesn’t have a gang protecting them has got to have an even bigger backer. But what backer can be bigger than Count Nightfall on their own turf? So they waltz in, make proposals you can’t refuse, and then hand over more money than other gangs would have demanded.”

“How does that work?” Dia asked. “Then what’s the point of letting gangs extort others for protection fees in the first place?”

“It’s a seedy underbelly here,” Claud replied. “The gangs control territory through…”

His voice trailed off, and Dia frowned. “What’s wrong?”

“No, nothing. As I was saying, the gangs control territory based on the shops that buy into their racket. As a result, they also pay off the guards or promise them certain concessions so that the city guard doesn’t interfere in their operations. It’s not just about the resources for them; it’s also about prestige,” Claud concluded.

Dia couldn’t quite wrap her brain around such a convoluted way of doing things, which was a first for her. “So…are we not going to interfere?”

“No point. Even if we do step in now, nothing’s going to stop them from coming back,” Claud replied. “Besides, they’re the lesser of two evils. The city guard typically target foreign-owned businesses and shops too, in service of Count Nightfall’s benefits.”

“Again, that’s a really roundabout way of doing things.”

“You need to be a bit more thorough with your contemplations and considerations,” Claud replied. “What you see as acts that are reprehensible usually have a deeper meaning to them.”

Dia didn’t know how to react to that, so she made a grunt. Since Claud had gone to the extent of explaining so many things to her, it wouldn’t be good if she just went ahead and butted into the ongoing mess anyway.

Slipping out of the shop with Claud, Dia looked back at the entrance, where the rowdy men and women had come into an agreement with the staff at Artisan’s Adherence.

“See?” Claud asked. “That’s pretty much it. A show and dance for the observers in this city. After a while, they’ll shake on it, make some small talk, and then leave with smiles.”

“Was it just a coincidence that the guards aren’t around?” Dia asked.

“You can put it that way,” Claud replied. “The gangs and the guards are pretty much in the same trade. The city guard isn’t huge enough to cover most of the city efficiently, so that’s where the gangs come in…although, between you and me, they don’t seem to do much either.”

“What a mess.”

“That’s a succinct way of putting it.”

Dia sighed. “Right, I owe you a guide on being a mana-user, right? I’ve compiled a small book for you. Do treat it well.”

Reaching into her clothes, she took out a small palm-sized book, which was filled with lots and lots of information that were relevant to mana-users. Things like burning a new mana circuit, the Folders’ Association and how to use mana were written inside.

“With this, our agreement is fulfilled,” said Claud. “I wish you the best of luck in your future endeavours, whatever they may be.”

Dia was about to reply to him with some niceties, when she thought of something. “Claud.”

“Yes?”

“I recall that my instructions about running an organisation was disrupted earlier on by the assassination, right?”

Claud froze for a moment, and then nodded, a hint of eagerness entering his eyes. “Are you going to continue your lesson?”

“In a way, yes. Let’s see…where was I before we got interrupted by the Shadows of Grandis?”

“You were talking about the three parts of an organisation. Loyalty, interest and hierarchy,” said Claud. “I think you got interrupted when I asked about fostering loyalty.”

“That should be correct,” said Dia. “But I just thought of some organisations that you can take over with absurd ease. You won’t need to create one from the ground; you just need to take over some of them. Can you guess what organisations I’m thinking about?”

Claud shook his head. “Don’t leave me hanging, if you please.”

“It’s the gangs!” Dia replied. “Think about it. Most people in gangs aren’t going to be mana-users, right? So, if someone like you were to wrest for control, most of them would give in on the spot. And from there on, you can control a gang and then subdue the others, forming an organisation capable of rivalling Count Nightfall!”

“That’s…insane.” Claud bobbed his head up and down. “But I like it. How should I proceed?”

“…Let’s make a deal, shall we?” Dia asked. A sudden inspiration had hit her while they were chatting. Right now, she wasn’t in a very good place. Wanted by the Emperor, alone in a foreign city and looking for a monster of the Third Godsfall, she couldn’t quite envision herself in succeeding in her quest…or even surviving, for that matter.

With the help of a local — one who placed emphasis on survival and longevity at that — her goal didn’t seem all that hard.

“What deal do you want?” Claud asked, his eyes alight with an enigmatic light.

“That we work together. This…whatever organisation we create, both of us have a share in it,” said Dia.

Claud pondered over her words for a moment, and then, with a gentleness that defied his rugged features, asked, “Why?”

“I don’t think that my quest is something I can achieve within a short period. Not with Tot as he is. Not with the Shadows of Grandis after me. If, however, I have a base of power in Licencia…”

“You’ll be better able to resist the Shadow of Grandis.”

“Yes.”

For a moment, Dia could swear to the Moons that she saw darkness flicker across Claud’s face, before he breathed out slowly. “What about the others? Your companions? You should at least ask them about this, before you embark on this new course of yours.”

“Right. I forgot about them.” Dia took a deep breath. “I’ll get back to you on that.”

“Just don’t go and burn your bridges,” Claud replied. “Never do that to anyone. It just turns around to bite you on the ass when you least expect it. Granted, I think your friends aren’t going to pursue the issue either, given what we know of Tot so far, but…”

“Do you have any suggestions?” Dia asked, concerned.

“Easy.” His eyes glinted. “A gang headed by two mana-users isn’t as impressive as a gang headed by five, right?”

“You mean…”

“Just rope them in, yes.” Claud licked his lips. “I’ve somewhat forgotten it, given that mana-users are flocking to Licencia every day, but a force of five folders is indeed a rather impressive line-up in everyday life.”

“Is that really the case?” Dia asked.

“Trust me. Normally, only Count Nightfall has three to four folders with him,” Claud replied. “Most of his hired folders are more interested in not appearing in the public eye for reasons I don’t really care about. Besides, as a bi-folder, the Count isn’t going to want another bi-folder near him, in case unforeseen accidents happen.”

“Well, if you put it that way…”

“So? What say you? With this, our chances of controlling Licencia’s underworld increases drastically.”

“And by extension, my safety.”

Claud smiled. “Yes.”

“But what’s in it for you?” Dia asked. “What do you want from controlling Licencia’s underworld?”

“Lifestones. Lots of lifestones,” Claud replied. “I don’t have a very long lifespan, and I want to change that fact. I lend you my expertise and my connections, you give me lifestones.”

“You’re not alone in wanting them, though,” Dia replied.

“Which is why I’m not saying that I’ll take all of them,” Claud replied. “Anyway, our discussion is theoretical until we get the little bits ironed out. You should let your friends know who’s after you too, just to get it out of the way.”

After exchanging a few more words, Claud walked off. Dia looked at Artisan’s Adherence, then at the people at the entrance, before nodding to herself.

It was time to lay out the cards.