Kaden’s first act was to draw the [Eldritch Shield] and sweep it across the townspeople. [Fear] was a powerful status effect, and [Fear] made them all silent. “Eve, those two are the mayors, would you kindly cleanse their status so we can talk?”

  He made his way through the stunned crowd. “Morning, mayors. Someone want to tell me what this is all about?”

  Todd recovered before Kaldi. “We were trying to handle it, Mr. Birch. It’s the first morning, there’s bound to be disagreements. You picked a really bad moment to show up, but this is all normal. The [Baker] doesn’t have an oven. The [Blacksmith] hasn’t shown up yet. We don’t have a [Healer], or a [Priest] and one of the women is just about to give birth. And there’s arguments about the [Fields] outside and who gets to farm them.”

  [Advanced Leadership] chimed in, and to Kaden’s surprise it was as much about delegating as leading. “We’re here to fix the [Healer] issue. A [Priest] is on his way, though it’s not up to me when he arrives. Eve, would you mind attending the birth? And the fields, we do exactly as I said. If anyone has a disagreement, they can bring it up with me.”

  “Life flows from blood,” Eve said. “I will gladly attend the birth.”

  Sara pivoted on the mayors. “Both of you, we need to meet immediately. I want lists of volunteers for [Guard] before noon, and we’re going to settle this [Healer] issue here and now. Kaden, the mine is yours.”

  He headed for the mine, hating the way the commoners swept back but accepting that maybe, for now, a little fear could help instill order. A brisk breeze blew back from the mine as Kaden approached. Two Air mana gems powered tubes that siphoned air out—or maybe blew it in, and [Miners] pushed carts laiden with heavy grey rocks.

  The rocks themselves gave off a pressure that pushed Kaden away at the same time as it awakened a hunger in him.

  “Don’t touch,” one of the miners said. “These aren’t finished mana stones or natural ones, this is raw ore. I’ve got no skills that use mana, not one, so it doesn’t affect me. You…you got them.”

  “There he is. Keep working, boys.” Guyver Arn stood at the mouth of the mine, wearing thick goggles. “You, I asked the mayor, now I’m telling you. We can sell the raw ore for silvers or we can refine it for gold. Do I need to explain which is better?”

  “Who sells refineries?”

  “Who said buy one? All you do is find a mine that isn’t being guarded well and does have a refinery, then you swoop in, kill the miners and take their refinery. Bring here, we hook it up and guard it better.” Guyver pointed to a set of iron footings ten feet across and forty feet apart. “See, it’s justice. There was one here, someone stole it. You’re just stealing it back.”

  Miners had morals, they apparently didn’t preclude raiding. “You said there was a problem with the mine.”

  “Oh, there sure is. Come on down. The moment I saw this, I knew that tunnel didn’t collapse naturally. It was closed, and one rule of mining is that if you close something it’s because don’t like what’s behind it.” They descended to level eight of the mine, passing cart after cart and half a dozen miners hard at work.

  The moment Guyver pointed it out, Kaden wondered how he’d missed the collapsed tunnel. The rock closing it was round, almost exactly the right size. “This looks shaped.”

  “Second tier [Miners] get [Collapse], which does this. I won’t open it up, but this level’s got the best ore, and no one will work it until you fix whatever is hidden there. Probably more Tar Trolls. I can feel something, it ain’t empty.” The miner paused, watching Kaden.

  Who couldn’t express his relief. “I’ll handle it. Does it have to be today?”

  “You got your hands full. I saw the town. See, you might ask yourself why a [Miner] would even be willing to take the class. But then you realize every last one of us has made a home, or the start of one, on that first level. We’re not geo mages, but we can shape rock with tools and mines never, ever get surge monsters. We’re as happy here as we could be there. Except there’s no inn, no pub, no place to relax.”

  That, too, had been on the list of demands and Kaden would take care of it. He wasn’t a business manager, but he did understand economics. “How long can you hold off on selling that ore? Better yet, sell it. Sell to me. I’ll find a [Processor] for the mana ore. Sara will handle arrangements, and she’ll cross-check prices several times. Be fair and she will be.”

  One problem traded for five more. Flavius would laugh.

  Kaden couldn’t help smiling as he returned to the surface. No sign of Sara, but the woman, Kaldi, approached. “Miss Scylla said you wanted a house here, and we have a number of them, but I’d prefer it if you were given privacy.”

  “You mean none of them want to be near me.” Kaden looked about. “This is the business end, homes are mostly on that end, the market’s dead center. Where did you have in mind?”

  “One of the shops has a stair that leads to an underground chamber. The air there feels strange, and I swear it feels like I’m being watched. But an Adventurer like you would be at home. Or at least not afraid.” Kaldi lead him to a building Kaden barely remembered. A double-door storefront with a second story above and what had probably been textiles at one point. In the back room was the staircase Kaden had emerged from.

  Below would be the cult chamber with Naski had summoned a Demon Lord in a limited form. Kaden plunged downward, summoning Wisp 71 to light it up. The air felt no different, there was no presence, certainly not whispers or gleaming eyes or any of the other good things that meant he was about to get loot or xp. “We’ll be fine here. Can you tell Eve the upstairs is hers?”

  “I will, sir.” Kaldi paused. “Sara told me you wanted us to run this town. It didn’t look good, you arriving when you did. We were excellent mayors before and we will be again, given the chance. And you’ll see just how much coin a town can make.”

  “Don’t worry about the coins to start. Longer term, yes, we’ll need to worry about the coins. For now, I think we have our hands full.” He listened to [Read Emotion] which said the woman was terrified now. “What is it? You may as well ask.”

  “No one does anything for nothing.” Kaldi spoke with absolute conviction. “So if you’re not in it for the coins, you’re in it because the people can be harvested. The daughters. The wives.”

  Sometimes, Kaden wished every problem could be solved with Remembrance. For now, he needed an answer that aligned to her conviction. “You can see my titles. Baron. I’m guessing [Mayor] gets an xp stream as the town grows?”

  Kaldi’s scowl turned to a different appraisal. “Barons do, too? Our old one never shared that detail. Kept it to himself, the bastard. I wouldn’t have judged him, that explains a lot. Make sure that’s all you’re after.”

  Enjoying this book? Seek out the original to ensure the author gets credit.

  An empty threat from a woman who couldn’t stab him to death if she had to, but Kaden appreciated the fire in her soul, the desire to defend her town people. He headed back upstairs and sat in a wobbly chair. This building had been covered in illusion and not looted.

  After two hours, Eve arrived, her hands covered in blood, a wide grin on her face. “What a great day. I completed a quest by saving a newborn and gained a level in [Life Transfusion] as a side effect. Nurav isn’t gentle, but neither is birth, and there is immense power there.”

  Vip continued to try and lick her fingers, despite Kaden strongly indicating she shouldn’t.

  “Congratulations. I won’t be shaking your hand.” Kaden relayed the state of the town and Kaldi’s suspicions. “Do Barons actually gain xp from their towns?”

  “I have no idea, but I’ll inquire once I will wash up. I look how most imagine a [Priestess] of Nurav to be. Upstairs?”

  He nodded. “Be careful. I haven’t been up there.”

  “I have thousands of mana and the ability to convert it straight to damage. Thank you for the sentiment. There are three other women soon to give birth! I can’t wait!” Eve practically skipped up the stairs.

  A black messenger crow arrived from Trella. “They can’t purge [Night Terror], but it’s reduced so I’m only hungover. Sara told me about the state of Faust, Ashi and I are running a self-quest to bring what we need. Anything you can think of, message me.”

  Kaden immediately dispatched the [Falcrow] with very specific instructions, though it would require a side-trip to the guild.

  Faust’s first day was over half-way done with very little blood shed.

  The mine was a problem but one Kaden felt he could handle. While he waited, he studied the tactics book, which, unlike skill books, required him to pay attention, focus on the material and actually think about how it would be applied.

  Reading was never a chore, but this book resisted him unless he applied the focus it demanded, and even then, trying to turn the page without completely understanding the previous topic resulted in the page flipping—and the same page being open.

  The sun had dipped below the mountains before Kaden was startled from his reading.

  You have gained the skill Party Tactics.

  [Party Tactics]

  Leading a group of Adventurers is a skill all its own. Understanding the interplay of abilities and classes is an adventure that will take a lifetime to master, if not longer. The more you learn about your party’s skills the more effective this skill will be. This skill’s level is additive, meaning that the more adventurers with [Party Tactics], the more effective it will be for everyone.

  That last part made Kaden freeze.

  He sent the [Falcrow] to Sara. “How much is a skill scroll for [Party Tactics]?”

  A moment later her answer arrived. “There are no skill scrolls. It has no maximum and therefore can’t be donated or taught. That wasn’t always the case, but the only way to gain it is to lead a party.”

  Until now.

  Darkness fell over the town of Faust before Sara returned, carrying heavy bags with each psuedopod. “Where are the others?”

  “You should come see what your lover is up to. I think you’ve had a positive influence.” Sara cupped her hands. “Eve! Come see!”

  Eve descended looking every bit as bloody as she’d gone up, and Vip trailed along behind her, nipping at Eve’s robes. “Is this something that can wait?”

  “You should probably see, if only to see how much Kaden has rubbed off on Trella.” Sara led them back toward the center of Faust. “Notice anything different about the building on the northeast corner?”

  Kaden did. The warm, cheery lights inside, the lights on upstairs, the sounds of people laughing inside. The Demon’s Daughter had no use for such a building, it was to comfort travelers. “The Sisters didn’t have an [innkeeper] available. One of the refugees set this up?”

  “Guess again.” Trella pushed open the door.

  It wasn’t a nice bar. A heavy brass cauldron hung over the center fire, while ten tables stood around the pit. Behind the bar stood lines of kegs, at least five, and rows of cheap glass mugs lined shelves.

  And Trella sat at the bar with Ashi at her side, talking to the woman behind it. “Kaden! Meet our new [Inkeeper.]”

  Ashi moved down so Kaden could sit beside Trella, then pitched back her head and downed a mug in one go. “This is delicious. I demand more. Many more.”

  Trella took his hand. “You know what every town needs? A place to blow off steam. A place to relax after a hard day in the mines. A place where a traveling merchant can rent a bed for the night. Fiona here was studying to become a [Sculptor] for ice.”

  “Oh?” Kaden looked to the presumed Fiona, a woman with strong arms and glass spectacles and hair tied tightly back. “I’m sorry. You can still be a sculptor.”

  “With what ice?” Fiona asked. “We have no ice, but the Baroness here—”

  “I said call me Trella. Baroness sounds like someone who sits around eating chocolate and I’d love to be that person some day, but not yet.” Trella dipped her head. “Fiona saw a distinct lack of ice and a complete excess of inn. A few skill scrolls, some investment in furniture. A lot of furniture. So much furniture. You really have no idea how much furniture it takes—anyway, some beer, a [Cooking] skill.”

  Fiona bowed slightly. “I want to sculpt and I need to survive. [Innkeeper] gives me a way to do both.” Every few moments, she refilled Ashi’s mug.

  “She’ll need help,” Sara said. “There’s got to be some poor orphan boy among the settlers preapring to set off on a voyage of self discovery. A voyage that can end right here in Faust as he discovers the world outside is cruel and warm beds are comfortable.”

  “I need a husband, but I’ll handle that on my own,” Fiona said. “Perhaps a [Thief]. It takes one to know one, and he could keep them from stealing from me.”

  A round of laughter from a group of miners brought Kaden’s attention for a moment—before he snapped back to Trella. “What is it with you and inns? You set up one in Deshun.”

  “Deshun,” Ashi said. “It is a terrible place. They collect natural mana stones from the river. Proper mana stones are refined by Geo Mages from mana ore.”

  “I’ve heard it said that natural stones are better,” Sara protested.

  “By who?” Ashi was on her feet. And decidely tipsy. “Who said this? Let them come here and say it before me. Let them lie to my face and endure the consequences!”

  “[Blood Burn!]” Eve pronounced.

  Ashi choked and wiped the stream of red from her nose. “Why does my head hurt? Why does the ceiling spin? I demand more ale!”

  “You’re done.” Sara grabbed Ashi by the arm and Eve took the other. “We’ll talk more at…that place. It’s not home yet.”

  As the conversations resumed, Trella took his hand. *Inns, bars, pubs. They all have one thing in common. People relax. People talk because they want to talk. And a good keeper always listens. And now, I have one who listens for me. Two, actually, though this one probably won’t have anything good to share.*

  *So you’re building a network of spies, one inn at a time?*

  *Deshun is perfect. Caravans going to the port or heading to Verona stop there all the time. It’s not about finding a plot against King Istris. It’s knowing that a caravan has sixty guards for two wagons and relaying that to people who might need to find out why.* As Trella communicated, she grew more relaxed. *Information is expensive. Gold is cheap. This is an investment.*

  Not as good as a rolling honeybee colony, but he’d grant it to her. *Does it make money?*

  *Sara handles the resupply contracts. She’s aware there’s too much silver coming in for the amount of traffic, but too smart to ask direct questions. That place is funding some of this place.* Trella waved her hand. “Two bowls of stew to go.”

  “You have to bring them back!” Fiona said as she scooped stew from the pot.

  “I brought them all. I think you can trust me to bring them back.” Trella stored them in Inventory and together they headed out into the town. “You assume that any inn you stay at, ever, anywhere, the innkeeper has an arrangement with someone to sell everything they hear. And I may have clued in Fiona about hearing skills she should buy.”

  “Sara’s talk about a poor orphan boy? Was that code for something?” He asked.

  “Oh, no. Poor orphan boys with dreams of revenge are a silver for ten. Sara will find a handful. Throw a rusty sword over the back of the bar and promise one it’s his for a year of service and we’re in business.” Trella’s Deceptions split up to scout ahead.

  “Until they head off on a revenge Quest,” Kaden pointed out.

  “Funny thing about revenge. It’s monster that only survives if you feed it all your dreams. Give one of those orphans a warm bed, a full stomach, and some friends, and you’ll learn; revenge starves to death on a diet of friendship.” Trella sighed as her Deceptions returned. “There’s nothing here. These people are exhausted and afraid. The only [Thief] in the town is terrified he’s going to be found and went to bed at seven.”

  That seemed to be a good thing, all around.

  But Sara was waiting in the doorway as he returned. “Thank goodness you’ve returned, I need help. Everyone’s help.”