Bit by bit life was returning to normal for Coin and his allies, where the incident in Elbrinth felt distant and far behind them. Varis had his funeral, his ashes scattered, and Illyana affirmed her desire to leave the Manticores. Velasco made no move to stop her, and in turn she became one of Coin's security guards.

It was an improvement, both she and Coin would agree.

And Coin, gradually, got things back on track for his company. He hired new drivers, mapped new routes to settlements in need, and did what he could to get more clients. With how his drivers and wagons had helped in the cleanup of the Goddess Festival attack, he had gotten more fame and goodwill from the general public.

With things back to normal, or as normal as they ever seemed to get for Coin, he was able to resume introducing Colony to the world. The elder mimic had calmed a bit, acclimating to life among humans. By now she even blinked semi-regularly, which was a blessing for Coin. Though she remained ignorant of the stares she got.

Weird or otherwise, humans and the like found her attractive.

They entered the halls of the Mercantile Guild, and the sheer volume of people standing around gabbling about costs and prices and profits was enough to instantly freeze Colony in place. The guild hall was often a hive of activity, and the merchants these days were even more jumped up and excitable than usual.

The guerilla war tearing through Arcadia, while damaging in some respects to their businesses, presented great opportunities in others. The price for steel was skyrocketing, weapons were flying off racks, everyone and their grandmother wanted a weapon to defend themselves in case a goblin burst out of the ground at their feet. Many merchants were trying to undercut each other on that front while the bubble was still growing.

Coin saw things differently. He kept the ship going as it had been, focusing on other amenities and necessities that his fellow merchants were overlooking. Many of the men investing in steel were overlooking the alchemy ingredients needed for basic medicine, and Coin had been making a tidy profit in that regard.

"I know it's a lot to take in, but... don't worry too much about it." Coin smiled faintly "It's a nice place, really."

Colony nodded and slowly followed after him. "There was nothing like this, back in my day. I've seen the memories of those first humans I," she paused, remembering where they were, and edited the words on the tip of her tongue, "... met in the past, their markets were tiny things compared to all this."

"Well, society is always evolving and growing in some way. The population grows, technology improves, and the needs of the people change and become more advanced from both. A place like this serves a vital function in keeping all this afloat."

He made for one of the counters, tended by a balding gnome with dark skin and a silver-hued suit.

"Mister... Coin, is it?" the gnome asked in a reedy voice.

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"This isn't the first time we've met, Yagum," Coin said, giving him a flat look.

"Indeed," the gnome said, not looking up from the small bundle of papers on his table.

Colony glanced to Coin and motioned to her incisors. Coin shook his head. Tempting though it was, eating the little bastard wouldn't accomplish much.

Sighing, Coin reached into his coat and pulled out his ledger, offering it up to the gnome. "From.. Collin's Commerce?" Yagum asked, adjusting his thick glasses and checking over the numbers that had been hastily written over the past few weeks of business. It had already been checked and stamped by a Guild inspector.

"Coin's Commerce," Coin corrected, narrowing his eyes. It was hard to tell if the gnome was deliberately being a pain, or deeply absentminded.

"Ah, yes, the up and comers. You have been making a tidy profit these past few weeks, by the look of things. May I see your badge?"

Coin reached into his waistcoat and hastily withdrew a length of brass with his name etched into it. Though he had inherited a lot of wealth from Elijah, his own independent wealth was what determined his guild rank. Still, already he had managed to reach the fourth rank, which was impressive for a novice.

"Oooh," said Yagum, clicking his tongue. He vanished behind the counter and returned some time later, now carrying in his hands a new badge of shining sterling steel. "Fine work, young man. Welcome to Rank Five."

"Elijah had been at Rank 10. The apex of all merchant. You have to make... an insane amount of money to get to that height," he said, glancing to Colony.

The older mimic slowly nodded her head. "Humans do like to have these shining symbols of status," she mumbled. "They're like us, in that way. Liking shiny things..."

Coin chuckled, inspecting his new badge and stroking his thumb across it. "Yeah. Guess it's interesting, in that way."

"Well now, that is a mighty fine badge. You're almost a step above a rookie." Coin turned to the sound of the newcomer, already narrowing his eyes before they settled upon Ashur Clyde. Yasuko stood a short distance from him, looking bored and sporting a few bandages on one arm. "Of course, given how you only made it so far with the old man's money, it makes your accomplishments... hollow."

"Ashur," Coin flatly greeted.

Colony gave him another look, silently asking if she could eat him too. Coin hesitated but ultimately shook his head. He'd probably give her indigestion.

"Oh I've done a fair bit on my own. I suppose I've been too busy helping Sentinel recover from the attack to see what you've been up to," said Coin.

"Simply keeping old Elijah's legacy alive," said Ashur. "One of us must."

Coin narrowed his eyes. "Making money wasn't what Elijah wanted his legacy to be, nor was it to be famous. And if you'd understood that, you would have been his actual heir," he said.

"Do we gotta do the dick measuring contest now, Ashur?" Yasuko asked, giving a weary sigh.

"Well, I don't think he has much to measure," said Ashur, offering a ledger and his badge to Yagum. "You have a... cute little upstart company, Coin. Sell much salt these days?"

"Enough," Coin replied, staring coldly at the tall man. His profits were good, these days, but he'd seen the pull of the Venture Company and their profits. The distance between their companies was a vast gulf.

For now, he told himself.

"Well, don't give up. Some day you'll have a company worth talking about. They'll talk about how much of a damn failure it was."

Coin managed a smile, such malice flashing in his eyes that Yasuko's hand reflexively settled on the hilt of her sword. "Pride comes before the fall, Ashur. One way or another, I'll be taking Elijah's company from you. You don't deserve it, after all." He pushed past the other man, ignoring his indignant glare, and led Colony outside.

"That man seems deeply unpleasant," she said, taking in the foggy air outside the guild hall.

"He is," said Coin. "And, unfortunately, his ego is at least partially warranted. But I meant what I said." He glance tod Colony and led on, motioning Colony after him. "Because I absolutely plan to take Elijah's company back from him. I just need... the right tool to make it happen."

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