Chapter 36 – Being Cryptic

  “Look, it’s just not working out. She is perfectly polite and hasn’t really done anything wrong but when she is around, it just makes everyone edgy. Objectively she is a solid asset, but I need to think of my team as a whole. So can we move her somewhere else?” – Bal’ut talking about his team members to his supervisor.

  “I see you have two lovely dies. Taking just one of these pills a day can make sure you keep them!”

  “Got a special on graphics cards right now. Current generation thirty percent off.”

  “…Fresh apples, fresh peaches. Farm fresh produce from every realm here! Honey by the quart, fresh apples, fresh peaches.”

  This was more like the atmosphere that Kurt was familiar with when it came to open air markets. Bunches of vendors all with something you need and exactly the price you are willing to pay. Kurt and the girls just ignored the calls from the stall owners and proceeded up to the level they needed.

  “I don’t know.” Val began. “Maybe we should see what those pills do.” She smiled in that very vulpine fashion before whispering to Penny. “He’s already amazing so what happens if he takes the pill?”

  Penny, having some good graces, blushed red like one of the tomatoes on a cart they just passed. Kurt was doing his best to ignore Val since he didn’t want to feed the fire that was her sense of humor. They finally reached the fifth floor of the tower and began working their way around to the north side.

  Kurt passed another shop selling all manner of tobacco products and alcohols. The smell coming off the owner led him to believe that he was the primary customer of the stall. Right after that was another electronics shop with half a dozen very nice ptops on dispy.

  “Where is this…ah, got him.” Kurt was beginning to wonder what stall he was supposed to be looking for when he spotted the tell-tale pattern of camoufge netting. The old German pattern stood out like a sore thumb next to the bright green turf of the sports shop it bordered.

  As they entered the shop, pushing through an opening in the netting, the gargoyle that sat behind the counter reading a magazine perked up. “Oh, welcome, welcome.” She said, standing behind the dispy case at the back of the shop.

  She was tall, standing a few inches above Kurt not counting her wings which poked up another half a foot above her head. She was naturally bald but had a series of small horns running along the top of her skull. She hunched slightly as she made eye contact and folded her hands in her p, then put them on the counter, then back in front of her. Her face was rather cute, being perfectly symmetrical down to her narrow lips that hid her fangs. Her posture was that of someone who was trying hard not to look imposing.

  “Hi, I’m Kurt and this is Penny and Val.” He extended his hand toward her. “We got a tip from another gargoyle over on the Third floor that you might be willing to help us?”

  She looked utterly baffled that he would willingly touch her and hesitantly extended her three fingered hand toward him. “Ah, um. My name is Renee, and I would be more than happy to help you.” She finally took his hand but didn’t actually grip his back. Still, Kurt could feel the cws on her thumb and fingers as she made the gesture.

  “Great. I was pretty disappointed that most of the other shops don’t carry modern stuff.”

  “Oh, yeah those old farts still think smokeless powder is a passing fad.” She ughed and Kurt pced her accent as being from eastern Europe. “I try to keep more modern things in stock… not that it’s too difficult.” She said the st part with a sigh under her breath.

  “Well, let’s see what we can find. Mind if we look around?” Kurt was being as friendly as could be to the rather sullen gargoyle.

  “Please do and let me know if you have any questions!” she seemed excited that they would actually be shopping.

  Kurt did just that, giving her a slight smile before turning and actually starting to look at the stacks of crates. He almost wanted to turn back around and ask who her supplier was after reading the side of a wood box that has the Cyrillic markings 7n21 inked on the side. He was about to inspect it closer when Val called to him.

  “Hey Kurt, you use M855 right?” She asked from where she was standing in front of some ammo cans. She had one open and was looking at the rounds.

  “Yeah. Why?”

  “What’s M855 A1?”

  Curiosity peaked, Kurt stepped over and read the side of the wood crate. Sure enough, it had the marking on it, as did the metal can. When he looked at the stripper clip his girlfriend was holding, it all but confirmed it.

  He looked to their host with a raised eyebrow. “Renee?”

  “Yes!” She said, standing up quickly and still not knowing what to do with her hands. “How can I help?”

  “Where did you get an entire crate of this?” Kurt asked and held up the ten rounds on the clip.

  “Oh, the same pce I got the other nineteen crates.” She joked before suddenly remembering herself. “Ahem, I mean I would prefer not to disclose my source.”

  “So, an entire pallet of the test five-five six somehow fell off the back of a truck on its way to an ammo handling area?

  Renee looked offended. “It did not fall off a truck.” She then saw his smirk. “Oh, umm. Maybe?”

  Kurt just stared at the clip in his hand. “How much?” he then amended his question. “How much do you want for it?”

  She quickly fetched a binder from behind her counter and consulted it. “I can sell you a box of thirty at… ah… hang on.” She ran her finger down the list then over. “Let’s call it twenty-five a box.” She then looked up. “If you want the entire can, I will do six hundred dolrs per can. Which is a savings of a hundred dolrs.”

  Kurt set the stripper clip back in its cardboard sleeve. “How much per case?”

  “Let’s call it five seventy-five per can so… eleven-fifty.”

  Thinking for a minute, Kurt did some math before just saying to hell with it. “How about we stay at six hundred a can and I take all twenty cases?”

  “The best I can do is five six…Huh?” she blinked her rge yellow eyes at him. “How did you know I have twenty cases?”

  Finding it interesting her sticking point was that he remembered the quantity she had said, Kurt continued. “You said ‘the other nineteen’ earlier, but do we have a deal?”

  “Yes! Ah, sorry.” She spluttered after the outburst. “Deal. Do you need delivery or… cause I can drop them off after work or maybe get Heinrich to cover when he goes on break…”

  Penny stepped forward. “I can arrange transportation for them.” She pulled out her phone and exchanged information with the gargoyle who was suddenly much less sullen.

  “Hey, that reminds me. How do I pay you?”

  Renee looked at him like he was growing a dick from his forehead. “In USD. Oh! Are you Canadian? I can do a conversion…”

  “No, no I meant like cash or card or…” Kurt crified before tching on to something she said. “Wait, do I sound Canadian?”

  “Well, I don’t really have an ear for accents so maybe.” Renee said with a little nervous smile. “I can do card or cash is always great since I don’t have to pay the host fee.”

  Kurt looked to Penny who nodded. “I can handle that too. Withdraw from your new account?” She said with a smile. “Jay put me on with a limited power of attorney.”

  Kurt gave her a thumbs up before going back to browsing, choosing to ignore how easily maniputed his bank was. While he was interested in the ammunition, it wasn’t the only thing in the shop. In fact, most of what Renee had was new. Like never saw an arms room new… it was also nearly all military equipment.

  He was looking at a pair of PVS 31’s when he finally made the connection to what he was seeing. He didn’t say anything, preferring she didn’t know that he knew she was literally stealing from military stockpiles and supply lines. He also didn’t care that she seemed to have literally every country that produced equipment represented in her inventory.

  He began forming a pile on the counter of things that he found. A lot of his equipment was technically civilian production. His IR sers for instance were the civilian low power variants that he had modified with a rune. His ammunition was all surplus or civilian production which was usually fine but not always. His guns however were an issue since he was always denied his SOT license. A license that he no longer needed due to the documents he was provided on his first day…

  “Hey Renee.” He said suddenly in a tone the made Val look up.

  “Yes?”

  “Do you do special orders?” He was curious about her finding specific things rather than things that just happened to be easily ‘mispced’.

  “Depends on what you have in mind and how quick you want it.” She answered in a wary tone. “Did you perhaps need something specific or rare?”

  “Knights LAMG’s in five five-six and seven six-two. Also, a bunch of full auto parts for various guns.”

  “Let me get a pen and paper.” She said and began copying down his list.

  They ran through a bunch of items and parts. She also showed him that ammunition wasn’t limited to bullets. After lifting a tarp that was used as a tablecloth, Kurt found her desk was actually a sheet of plywood over crates of hand grenades. Naturally, he took those too.

  “I should be able to get all of this…” Renee began, scratching at one row of horns with her pen. “But it’s going to cost you.” She winced at the words. “Sorry, I mean that it’s going to be expensive. My ‘supplier’ charges extra for specifics.”

  “What kind of money are we talking here, Renee?” Val asked while leaning in and boxing up some of the things they had put on their order.

  “That’s the problem, I don’t know.” She sighed. “Look, you guys are my first real customers and I appreciate my brother sending you over, but I am still new to this.” He eyes were filled with such an honest expression that Kurt felt bad.

  Sitting down on what felt like a stack of sixty-millimeter mortar ammo cans covered in a tarp, Kurt leaned in, so they were eye to eye. “Then lets help each other out.” He began. “I will make a deal with you. I will shop exclusively through you whenever possible, and you don’t rip me off.” He held up a hand before she could get offended. “I am not accusing you of anything or asking for super discounts. Just a fair price, something you can live very well off of but doesn’t take advantage of me.”

  She considered it as Val sat down beside Kurt, nearly pushing him off the makeshift seat. After a moment, the gargoyle came to a decision. “You have a deal. For as long as I can help anyway.” She waved a hand around the shop. “I only have seven weeks left on this rental, so I don’t know what happens after that. Also, my inventory is of a narrow focus.”

  “What would you try to sell?” Val asked. “Like would you still sell guns and ammunition, or would you sell other things?”

  “Probably anything that was shelf stable and not time sensitive. So that rules out electronics since they are almost always outdated by the time we get them and most food, pills and potions.” She scratched at her horn idly while talking. “But I will say my passion is in munitions.”

  “Enchanted items?” Val asked, tapping her foot against Kurt’s. He thought a moment before tapping hers back, giving her the green light to handle this.

  Renee snorted and rolled her eyes. “Would that I could. Problem with that is the guild has everything locked down and I can’t really do much markup since they sell at the same price I buy for.” She then grimaced. “And I don’t really like the idea of ‘second hand’ enchantments. That’s why all my stuff is new, stripping bodies just feels…wrong.”

  Val wasn’t giving up. “How about a few simple items. Nothing crazy but maybe some things you can sell for cheap and in decent numbers, like your current stock.” She tapped the box of rather expensive thermal optics Kurt had picked out. “Maybe even a few things that you don’t sell in bulk.”

  “And where are you going to get these?” Renee was growing slightly suspicious. “The ‘back of a truck’?”

  “Let’s just say we know a thing or two.” Val smiled. “All items guaranteed new, fresh and no previous owners, deceased or otherwise.”

  While she considered for a moment, it was only a brief pause before Renee stuck her hand out. “You have a deal. Bring some stuff and I will see how it goes.” She shook hands with Kurt and Val.

  They finished up their business with Penny staying to talk about payment and shipping for a moment while Kurt and Val stepped out onto the walkway. They chatted quietly until Penny came back out. After that, they proceeded down to the main floor to head back to check on some enchanted goods.

  This time, they went for the accessory part of the pza, skipping weapons and armor entirely. They found that many shops were more than welcoming to anyone that looked like they had money… which Kurt and Val did not.

  Kurt was in blue jeans and an old Syer t shirt while Val was in bck jeans and a fnnel. Neither looked exactly like they were rolling in the dough and got a few judging looks as they entered an enchanting shop. The interior was set up like mix between a jewelry store and a camping supply shop. There were a gaggle of staff in the back that seemed to ignore them after giving a brief initial inspection.

  Still, they wandered around, inspecting items under the gss and reading the signs next to some hanging on walls. One that he found interesting was an enchanted ball that would always roll in the direction you came from. It was also ten thousand dolrs for the simple memory and mobility enchantments pced on a two-inch ball bearing.

  While Kurt was telling Val about how it would function in a hushed voice, another person walked up to the opposite side of the counter.

  “Is there something I can help you find.” The Jinn asked in a ‘please say no’ kind of way.

  Val shook her head. “No, he was just telling me how that enchantment works.”

  The man behind the counter raised an eyebrow. “Do you have much experience with pathfinder orbs?” His tone was such that Kurt wasn’t sure if he should be offended or not.

  “Not exactly but I was telling her how the enchantment is inscription based rather than runic.” Kurt said. He answered truthfully, not seeing a reason to hide that.

  The employee’s demeanor changed completely, going from cold and distant to warm and friendly in an instant. “Are you by chance a fellow enchanter?” He said the words loud enough for the three others in the back to hear.

  “You might say that.” Kurt said.

  “Oh, what branch are you with? I am Hassan by the way.” He held out a hand that Kurt shook.

  “Kurt. What do you mean by branch?”

  “I mean, which branch of the guild. I don’t recognize you, so you can’t be a part of the central OS branch. Your accent suggests the Earth branch. If I may be so bold to assume?”

  Kurt smiled slightly at the line of questioning. “I am actually not with a branch or even the guild.” He gestured at the store. “I haven’t actually made anything to sell so I don’t really think I qualify.”

  Hassan scoffed. “Please, even being of the lowest talent, you should be a part of the guild.”

  “Why?” Kurt shot back, trying to mask his irritation at being described as ‘the lowest talent’ by someone he just met.

  This question seemed to make the jinn pause. “Be-cause of the benefits, of course.” He said hesitating at the first part and drawing out the words. He seemed to be trying to make things up as he went along, inventing reasons for his argument. “Enchanters should always stick to the guild since it offers a convenient and guaranteed market with no undercutting or price gouging.”

  Once more, Kurt pyed dumb. “Oh, that’s cool. Where can I find more information?”

  Snapping his fingers, Hassan summoned one of the other employees over and grabbed the thick stack of paper he was holding. “Here is our contract. It has all the information in it already so all you need to do is sign.” He had a glint in his eye as he extended the contract and a pen.

  Kurt took the paper but not the pen and began to skim what seemed to be a literal book. “Thanks, I’ll read this over and let you know what I decide.”

  “Wait!” Hassan said as Kurt turned to leave. “Umm, can’t you sign it now? I can tell you all about it since I know it all by heart anyway. We also don’t let our exclusive contracts leave our premises. Guild policy and all that.”

  “Kurt, we have to be getting on with our next appointment.” Penny suddenly said while tapping away at her phone. “We will be cutting it close as is with traffic.”

  Looking slightly sorry, Kurt handed the papers back. “Sorry I guess it’s no deal. It was good to meet you I guess.” And he began walking away now that the bait had been set.

  Hassan looked frantically between the papers and Kurt’s back for a moment before finally coming to a decision. “Kurt! How about you take my card. Just come back here when you have more time, and we can discuss further.” He seemed to have a sudden idea. “A guild employee needs to witness the signature after all. Then we can make sure you get orientated to the guild properly.”

  Smiling, Kurt pyed nice and took the card. “Thanks! I will find a time when I can stop by again.” He turned and walked away with the girls.

  The encounter hadn’t gone exactly to pn, Kurt was hoping to take that contract with him after all. He did tell Penny her ruse was a great idea; she had read the situation perfectly with the salesman.

  “Did you notice how his attitude changed?” Val asked after they had gone through a portal and begun making their way back to the park. “Like once he knew you were an enchanter that wasn’t guild associated, he wanted to be your best buddy.”

  “There was more to it than that.” Penny pitched in. “He was compelled.”

  “What do you mean, compelled?” Kurt asked, stepping aside and stopping in an alcove to get out of traffic.

  Penny followed his lead and faced him, keeping her voice low as she spoke. “I mean there was a sort of spell that compelled him to try and recruit you. It was building up around him in an aura that I could see was going to get out of control. That’s why I told you we had to go.”

  Kurt was astounded at several things. First was her ability to keep her cool and read the situation then act without giving anything away. Second was that she could see auras. It was a skill not often associated with many of the reptilian species, which Kurt knew she was.

  “So, you can see aura?” He questioned.

  Shrugging, Penny pyed it off. “An inheritance from my mother.” She then looked around before continuing. “I will tell you about that ter. It’s probably not something to discuss so openly.”

  They continued onward but split after the park. Penny was off to complete the delivery order for the items Kurt had purchased. She also was rather hesitant about the invite to dinner, stating that she had a lot to do still but would consider it.

  Val had dragged Kurt off to the barracks and dormitory wings. She said that they could help Kristi with her bag for the weekend and it would help him get more practice navigating the order. Sure enough, Kurt got some practice and only had to double back once to find his way to the barracks set aside for the interdiction teams.

  As they approached the door with Kristi’s name on the outside, Val’s ears twitched, then id ft as she began speed walking toward the door. She stopped right in front of it, leaning in and nearly pressing an ear to the steel-cd surface. Then she knocked gently, a look of concern on her face.

  “Hey, Kristi. It’s Val again.” She said. Kurt noted that her tone was very soft and gentle, he wondered why until he got closer and could hear the sniffling of someone who had been crying.

  Sniff. “Val, umm. Can you give me a while?” there was a rustling. “I’m ah. In the middle of cleaning.”

  “Kristi…” Val said, trailing off like she was warning her. “Come on. Just open up.”

  After a couple hesitating footsteps, the sound of tches could be heard, and the door opened. Kristi stood there, her eyes puffy and cheeks slightly damp and shining in the overhead light. Val didn’t hesitate, just opening her arms and stepping in to hug the taller woman.

  Kristi didn’t say anything, but her lip quivered more and more until she let out another shuddering breath and began crying again. “Th-they k-k-kicked m-me off the t-t-eeaam.” Her words were broken by heavy sobs. “Said I made the oth-othersss too e-ed-gy. Wha-what eee-ver tha—at means.”

  Kurt just watched the scene, feeling rather awkward. He wasn’t sure what to do to help his new friend but figured that in her room was a better pce to have the discussion than in the hallway. So, as quickly and gently as possible, he guided the two women into the room.