The Implock – Chapter 111 – “Kingpin’s Scheme”

∼ Kingpin's Scheme ∼

Chapter - 111

"Enter," A tired voice called out from beyond the door.

Hesitantly, Aria glanced at Nyx who, in turn, just shrugged. Entering the office, they both immediately noticed the lack of one cranky old man and one silent secretary. Tonight, it was only Zechariah and Shank, sitting by the desk. Shank was in his chair to the side with his feet kicked up on the marbled wood as usual, a glass of amber liquid in hand as he watched the two approach. Zechariah looked weary, his slick hair slightly disheveled as he had both elbows on the desk with his forehead pressed to his interlocked hands.

There was something in the air that made Nyx and Aria distinctly uncomfortable, the elf fidgeting under the scrutiny of the twins.

"So..." Zechariah said with a sigh, looking up to reveal an exhausted visage. "Care to explain... this."

He gestured to Nyx.

There was left little doubt as to what he was asking. The fact that Nyx was no longer the child-sized demonified gnome that both Aria and Eric had tried to pass him off as was quite telling in itself.

"W-well... uh..." Aria tried, stumbling for a response. However, much to her surprise and the others, Nyx cut in and took over.

"My specialization," He said in his ever-so-slightly scratchy voice.

Eyes glued to the demon, everyone clearly had not expected to see him speak up for himself.

"Your specialization?" Zechariah droned out after a moment of silence. "Your specialization caused you to change your appearance and grow, three feet?"

"I'm a demoniac. I take on the forms of my familiars." Nyx explained, not able to stop himself as he flexed his new body a little in admiration of himself. But he wasn't lying. Just... skirting the truth a bit. It was evident in Zechariah's eyes that he wasn't buying it one bit. Nevertheless, the weathered man simply threw up his arms, sighing deeply.

"Fine. I can't be bothered right now. However, this-" He gestured vaguely to Nyx's new body. "-might prove rather troublesome."

"Why?"

"On your mercenary license, you're registered as a gnome."

"Oh..." Nyx muttered lamely. He could see that being a problem. Humans were such sticklers for details after all. How bothersome.

"Can't you just change his registration to human?" Aria chipped in.

Zechariah rubbed his head in exhaustion. "I could... but it'd not be easy."

"So, it's doable?" She asked.

"Yes. It is. And I doubt anyone would actually notice." He nodded. "Unless somebody with access to sealed records has been keeping track of our red friend. that is."

"You'll do it?" Nyx asked with hope.

"I have to. If you leave the compound and show up like this and somebody files a report, an investigation into matters would most likely ensue. An investigation that could lead back to me, effectively burning the bridge with my agent who operates these matters."

"Stay here for the next couple of days while we get this sorted." He said, folding his hands. "To other matters, I called you here for something else."

Both Nyx's and Aria's brows rose in curiosity.

"We believe we've uncovered why Crowley has been on the hunt for the magical artifact that you three brought here."

"Was it Eric?" Aria asked both with worry and excitement.

"Yes. One of our agents has recently been in contact with Eric,"

"Is he well?" She blurted out, caring not about anything else he said.

"He is. The information he has gathered admittedly hasn't been much, but it isn't out of our expectations. Crowley is a secretive man, to even the closest of people. However, Eric has managed to give us clues. Clues that have led us to the truth of the matter."

Zechariah sat straighter in his chair, shaking off some of his weariness. "Crowley's recent dealings with smugglers across the Spine - one of which we intercepted - had been circumspect at first glance. But now that we know Crowley had been in bed with the Dredgers after suddenly cutting all ties with them a few days ago, we've dug into their transactions."

"It would appear that he needed their manpower to help cultivate a route in preparation for another smuggling operation."

"What exactly is he trying to smuggle? I mean, what could possibly warrant the lengths he has gone to, hiring an outcasted warlock and chasing us across Moravia?"

Nyx nodded, also curious about that. Almost ever since he arrived in this world, he had been on the run from this mysterious gang lord. He hadn't even seen the man, yet he made Nyx's exploration of his new world infinitely more difficult. Having to refrain from catching too much attention and having to follow strict rules.

"Rumors of a Shaarian cargo ship disappearing have recently been circulating through The Cradle and Argon. That very ship is said to have been a Shaarian Prince's vessel. One filled with Sun Crystal, a hallucinogenic. And tons of it."

"A hallu-ci-no-what?" Nyx frowned, evidently confused at the strange new word.

"It's a drug. I've heard of it." Aria said, accessing that vast knowledge of hers. "The reason why the desert lands of the Vermillion Sands are named as such is because of the Vermillion Dust in the sand, causing great streaks of red through the endless dunes. This dust is extracted for its... unique properties and is essentially used as the common currency of the Sands. However, the dust cannot be taken to Argon as it loses its mysterious effects the farther it travels for whatever reason. I believe it was that this so-called Sun Crystal is made with Vermillion Dust, processed into something that is able to retain a bare whisper of the original properties. Which makes it little more than a hallucinogenic that when ingested makes people experience vivid hallucinations, dreams, and sensations that are capable of warping a person's mind."

"You're not wrong, miss Aria. That's why it's unlike any other you can find in Argon. So, if rumors of this lost shipment are to be believed, then its value is enough to make Crowley the richest man in Boreas, exceeding even the Archduke. Which also would mean most of the kingdom."

"He'd gain absolute power." She realized.

Nyx said with a smirk. "You'd be wiped out," Admittedly, he was still struggling a bit with the idea of money. He couldn't see much farther beyond the fact that coins were sparkly and had a nice shine. But he now recognized how humans often translated money into power. And power was something Nyx understood.

There was a warning glint in both the twins' eyes as they stared at the chaotic demon but Aria defused it with a hand on his arm and a stern look. Zechariah looked askance at them before slowly continuing.

"It's evident that he has been cultivating his smuggling routes and means. All clues point to this, and we hold the key to his plan." Pulling out something from within his drawer, Zechariah put it on the desk. Hard, black, steel. The very same magical artifact that had caused Nyx, Aria, and Eric much trouble, casting them into this less-than-fortunate situation.

"But why would he need the [Collar of Enthrallment] to smuggle goods?" Aria asked, frowning.

"The shipment has supposedly ended up on the coast of Argon, on the other side of The Spine." He explained. "With dwarves to the front and heavily patrolled waters to the back, it's stuck in place."

Aria looked stunned, clearly coming to some realization that went lost on Nyx. At his confused expression, Zechariah explained.

"Dwarves, none are more stubborn. Their airtight security and protocol make smuggling something from one side of The Spine to the other virtually impossible. As filled with avarice as those creatures are, to bribe a dwarf in such dubious matters is to convince a mountain to move. They'd never take coin for doing something as disreputable as smuggling. Especially not for some human."

"Therefore, getting a shipment through without thorough inspection at every single outpost, city, and stronghold in those mountains is an impossible task. There's no valley, cave system, or hidden pass that is not controlled by the dwarves."

Realization finally dawned on Nyx. "This Crowley wants to make minions of the shorties?"

"That seems to be the idea. With key figures under the influence of this artifact, Crowley can smuggle anything through the most guarded lands in all of Argon. That alone will make him wealthy beyond belief, not even factoring in the king's ransom of Sun Crystal in his possession just waiting to be perfected through the lands."

Nyx frowned. He failed to see how any of this was his problem.

"Why should we care?" He said, a note of challenge in his voice.

"Nyx," Aria muttered worriedly with wide eyes.

But he didn't back down. He had gotten stronger. Much stronger. Was there truly any reason to keep listening to these two humans? Going around being their errand demon? He could protect himself now. He could protect Aria. They didn't need the Orphans anymore. Nyx's [Mark of Pride] glowed faintly as he stared Zechariah and Shank down.

Shank got to his feet, the aura of an untamed beast slowly seeping out to dampen the room. But his brother lifted a hand, stopping the man.

"Like it or not, you both, including Eric, are in too deep." "I recognize you're not the same weakling that came to us for help. But you're underestimating Crowley. You might've grown a bit, but he'd still squash you like an insect.

As Zechariah's words did nothing to discourage the prideful demon, he gestured to his twin. "You think you could take Shank?"

Nyx sneered at him, but could not claim so. Looking at the rough, weathered man, to Zechariah's side, he could feel the savage animal that slumbered beneath Shank's otherwise slothful veneer.

"Good, then don't even think about standing a chance against The Stained Tooth without our help. There's a reason why Crowley is the kingpin of Boreas, and not us."

"What would you have of us, then? You speak as if we're running out of time." Aria said, butting in when Nyx just stared daggers at the two.

"We are. We might hold the key to Crowley's plan, but it's only a matter of time before he figures out we have it. He'll overturn the entire city to find it if he has to. We must act now."

"How?" Aria asked nervously, not liking where this was going.

"I have a task for you both this time. But first, Aria. We'll be needing to find you a dress."

Aria blinked uncomprehendingly.