The silence that followed Margalod's departure was thick—heavy as steam in a sealed room. Then, as if on cue, the Emporium snapped back to life. A babble of shocked voices swept through the crowd, a blend of cautious gratitude and simple survival instinct. People shifted, pressed themselves deeper behind shelves, or ducked behind displays as if they could erase the memory of what nearly happened. Eyes flickered with a mixture of awe, fear, and a healthy dose of don't-get-involved practicality.

The older manager, who had weathered the confrontation with a courage born of long habit, sank against the counter, knuckles white as she steadied herself. Her lips pressed into a thin line, and for a moment she seemed to weigh whether to thank Kaiser again or simply collapse behind the register.

The younger woman, the one whose collar still bore the giant's rough grip, was less composed. She slid down the side of the counter until she sat on the floor, chest heaving with rapid, shallow breaths. Her hands shook uncontrollably, clutching the fabric at her throat. The fear in her eyes was raw and real.

Ivan, oblivious to the chaos he'd caused, stepped toward the girl, half-reaching as if to offer comfort. "You're… you're okay, right?" His voice was gentle, almost childlike in its concern.

The girl stared at him, lips quivering between gratitude and fury. "Am I okay? Am I—" She choked off the rest, burying her face in her hands, shoulders hitching with silent sobs.

The older manager finally found her voice, brittle and edged with exhaustion. "You… both of you, you shouldn't have… That was Margalod. The Motherless Son." She looked from Ivan to Kaiser, as if seeking to reconcile what she'd just witnessed with reality. "You… who are you?"

Kaiser met her gaze coolly, his expression unreadable. But inside, his mind was a churning storm. 'Fool...' He wanted to wring Ivan's neck, snap it clean for this idiocy. He had killed for less in his life—disobedience, rashness, any move that risked his advantage or exposed him before he was ready. The only reason Ivan was still breathing was that sentimentality, no, not even that, but Celestine. Still, the urge to kill simmered behind his eyes, buried beneath an outward mask of quiet, almost paternal concern.

He walked over to Ivan, pausing for a fraction of a second.

Ivan blinked at him, cheeks coloring with a mix of shame and the fading rush of adrenaline. "Sorry, Kaiser. I just… couldn't stand by."

Kaiser's jaw clenched, but he nodded. "I know." He glanced at the younger girl, then the manager, and added, "Check her for injuries. Make sure she's breathing right."

He turned back to the older woman. "Margalod won't return for a week. Use the time well. I would suggest warning Glunko, if you can reach him."

The manager nodded, still reeling. "I… we will. Thank you. I think you may have saved us all."

Kaiser shook his head slightly, dismissive. "Don't thank me."

Around them, a few customers began drifting closer, hesitant, some murmuring quiet words of gratitude or simply staring with wide, appraising eyes. No one tried to shake his hand or clap him on the back, and he was aware that he'd made himself unapproachable. A presence, not a friend. 'This is for the best.'

The young shopgirl slowly pushed herself upright, her hair a mess, eyes rimmed with red. She didn't speak, only nodded once at Kaiser, the barest flicker of respect there, before her gaze dropped back to the floor.

Ivan lingered by her side, fussing over her in a way that made Kaiser want to grind his teeth. The older woman, perhaps sensing the mood, gently placed a hand on Ivan's shoulder, guiding him away from her staff. "You have good instincts, boy," she said quietly. "But next time, try not to test them against monsters."

The shaken calm of the Emporium slowly settled back into place as the aftermath took hold. The shopkeepers gathered themselves, the ordeal of Margalod's visit lingering in every nervous glance.

The older manager brushed her palms against her skirt, finding her voice. "My name is Madam Herlis. I manage Glunko's Emporium in his absence." She gestured to the younger shopkeeper, who was rubbing the red mark at her throat, her cheeks still blotchy from tears. "This is Lira, my apprentice. And—"

From the back of the store, a thin, dark-haired man poked his head out from behind a curtain, eyes darting suspiciously. He hesitated a moment, clearly weighing whether the danger had truly passed. Then, gathering his courage, he hurried to Lira's side, placing a hand on her shoulder. "Thank the Sol you're alright," he said with a bit too much relief, as if expecting praise.

Lira jerked away from his touch, scowling. "Don't thank yourself. Where were you, Tern? Hiding with the mop buckets?"

Tern straightened, defensively brushing at his vest. "I was… eliminating a greater threat in the storeroom. It was tactical. If that rotted bastard had come back there, he'd have regretted it—believe me." His bravado was lost on everyone. Lira snorted, and even Madam Herlis rolled her eyes.

Lira, cheeks flushed with embarrassment and barely-suppressed laughter, glared at Tern. "You're lucky I'm too tired to beat you senseless right now. I'll get you later."

Kaiser let the shop's minor squabble fade to the background, his focus shifting as Herlis turned back to him, curiosity mingling with wariness. "Did you truly meet Master Glunko?" she asked, watching his face for any flicker of deceit.

He nodded. "I did. He offered my companion and me a ride to Arkhold, right before the incident with the Kingsguard took place. We parted ways at the city's entrance after."

That drew a murmur from the few customers who'd lingered, and Madam Herlis's eyes widened with a complicated mix of relief and recognition. "Ah. The Kingsguard debacle. Tragic business." Her voice turned grim. "Still, that criminal organization that got hit should have been stamped out long ago. Those kinds of businesses have no right to operate."

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Even a few shoppers, already browsing the shelves again, nodded their agreement. The tension from earlier began to dissolve, replaced by the steady hum of commerce and gossip.

Kaiser gave a small, respectful bow. "Kaiser. Of the House of Celestine. This is my companion, Ivan."

Ivan, still pale, managed a weak wave. Lira, despite everything, let out a shaky, genuine laugh. "Nice to meet you, Ivan."

Ivan stammered something incoherent, ears turning scarlet. Kaiser ignored him, laser-focused on his task. "I was sent by Sama, of Lady Celestine's manor, to collect a particular book for her… I believe it is called "How to Swoop Up a Swan?""

The older woman's face lit with a weary smile as she read the request. "Of course. This way, please." She gestured for Kaiser to follow, pausing just long enough to glance at Lira. "Take the rest of the day off, dear. After what you've been through, you've earned it."

Lira didn't hesitate. She practically sprinted out from behind the counter, tossing Tern a glare that promised future retribution. He flinched, then tried to regain his dignity by straightening a crooked stack of books.

Ivan trailed after Kaiser, but as he reached the threshold of the counter, Kaiser turned on him. The mask of warmth fell away, replaced by a cold, implacable authority Ivan had never seen before.

"We're not here to make friends," Kaiser said quietly, his voice an iron blade. "You compromised the mission. There will be corrective action." He leaned closer, his eyes sharp. "For now, you are ordered to remain at the entrance. Watch. Do not speak. Do not move. Sentry the location. I will finish what we came for."

Ivan's eyes widened. He nodded, swallowing, his bravado from earlier evaporating. He looked more frightened now than when he'd faced Margalod. "Y-yes, sir," he whispered, and retreated to stand by the door, posture stiff as a guard at attention.

Kaiser's features softened into a practiced, almost parental smile as he clapped Ivan gently on the shoulder. "Keep that in mind," he murmured, letting his tone drift between warning and encouragement, or at least obedience. Then, without waiting for a response, he turned away, following Madam Herlis through a side door and behind the counter.

The back of the Emporium was a quiet maze of glass and polished wood, stacked high with tomes and glimmering artifacts. Herlis led him with the efficient, silent pride of someone who both feared and loved her responsibilities. She glanced at Kaiser, clearly curious about his earlier conversation with Ivan, but she chose not to pry—another point in her favor, he thought. Composure, self-restraint, a knack for knowing what not to say. Traits in short supply, even in places of power.

He watched her closely as she pressed her hand to the counter, the embedded crystal in her hand shining softly. A screen blossomed into existence before her, flickering through colors and symbols. This time, Kaiser didn't flinch or betray surprise, though the speed and seamlessness of the magic still impressed him. Herlis tapped at the icons, each keystroke making strange letters appear. When she found the right title, her finger landed with a stronger force, and just like that, a well-bound book faded into existence, settling on the counter with a solid, satisfying thump.

"How would you like to pay, sir?" Herlis asked, businesslike, but not unkind.

Kaiser reached into his pants and produced the two green orbs Sama had handed him back at the manor. He laid them on the counter with an ease he did not feel. He had no idea how this currency worked, how it was created, valued, or exchanged, but he trusted Sama enough not to have sent him out to fail. Still, he watched for any sign of trouble.

Herlis's face lit with a smile. "Exactly right. Two green Sul—just what I'd expect from Lady Celestine's house. Efficient." She slid the orbs into a small drawer, which glowed faintly and then winked shut.

Kaiser leaned in, feigning the curiosity of a man trying to learn a new land. "Isn't that a bit steep for a book?" he asked, careful to keep his tone mild. "It's mass-produced, after all."

The woman raised an eyebrow. "If you want to eat, you pay with simple gold. If you want to read, you pay wit Sul. That's just how it is. And unless you have a special connection, there's not much wiggle room."

Kaiser nodded slowly, digesting the economics of this place. He wondered how much this new currency was truly truly worth. "No discount for heroics, then?" he teased.

Herlis barked a laugh, dry, but not unkind. "If Glunko ever finds even one Sul missing, he'll have my head and the rest of me too! It's his favorite pastime, counting the vaults. Your reputation won't buy you a crumb off the floor, I'm afraid."

Kaiser's smile widened, more out of respect for her honesty than the words themselves. He turned over the green pill in his palm, recalling the strange medicine from the manor. "And what about this?" he asked, presenting it between two fingers. "Any value here?"

Herlis leaned in, her eyes narrowing with a mix of caution and curiosity. "Is that what I think it is? Where did you get that?"

He shrugged, adopting an air of nonchalance. "A friend of mine told me it was good for headaches. I've got plenty of those these days."

The woman chuckled, but there was a flicker of seriousness in her gaze. "That's no ordinary medicine. Those green pills, if they're genuine, are worth more than a week's pay to the right alchemist. But I'd be careful where you wave it around. Some folks would kill for even half a dose."

The woman's eyes sharpened instantly, the flicker of greed expertly masked by a merchant's smile. "Would you consider selling it?" she asked, almost too quickly, her hand drifting unconsciously to the hidden pouch at her belt. "I could offer you—" She hesitated, then offered, "Eight blue Sul. That's a fortune for a single resting pill, and more than fair for something so small."

Kaiser let out a short, low laugh, shaking his head in feigned amusement. "Careful now, Madam Herlis. You let your real thoughts slip for just a moment there. If it's worth a week's wage to the right alchemist, I'd be a fool to settle for so little. You nearly had me convinced you didn't care for the stuff."

He watched her closely, searching for another tell, and found one—her lips pressed into a thin, calculating line, her eyes not leaving the pill. 'Clever,' Kaiser thought, 'But not clever enough.' In his mind, he ran through the exchange rates, weighing every word. Sama had said the pill was worth more than a month's salary. Herlis tried to get it cheap. If the currency followed the pattern of power, green, blue, then orange, then green Sul were the lowest, blue intermediate, orange the highest. Maybe ten to a tier. That made sense. If not, he'd adjust his game.

He allowed a slow, sly smile to spread across his face. "Thirty blue Sul," he said, making it sound like the world's most reasonable demand, "Seems fair, doesn't it?"

Herlis nearly sputtered, laughter bursting from her lips in disbelief. "Thirty? Are you out of your mind? That's three orange Sul, and no one in their right mind would pay that for a single green pill—not even Glunko on his most generous day."

Kaiser's smile only widened. He'd struck a nerve and, more importantly, confirmed his suspicion about the conversion rate. Ten greens to a blue, ten blues to an orange. All neatly arranged in the hierarchy—just like everything else in this world. If the currency couldn't cover it, gold would make up the difference, but something in his gut told him these Suls were more coveted than gold ever could be.

"Maybe you're right," he said, leaning in just a bit, his voice lowering, confiding. "But we both know rarity has a price. You're a better negotiator than most. I think we can come to an agreement… Something that leaves us both satisfied, and keeps you stocked with more than just mass-printed books."

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