This situation, though not the best, was actually also the best. With Carla as guardian her connection with her brood was apparently much more magical than Kurt had realized. The strength of Carla was somewhat tied to the strength of everyone else she birthed. This meant all of the goblins got a bit strong. But it also meant the broods would be maturing on this side of the gate, on this side of the gate, and possibly always be able to use the gates, even when half opened.

Kurt, Sara and Betsy were about the small town today. They were looking out for some help. Though they couldn't get the smiths and glass blowers they wanted. There were miners and other craftsmen around that Wellspring needed as well.

"There are definitely other things we can do as well," said Betsy. "See the main thing Carl was doing was profiting off his establishments and connections. Which has done you all very good so far."

Kurt and Sara nodded back at Betsy.

Beatty continued, "But we can start making some of those things ourselves, I think we need to think about a cart that acts as our traveling stall. Some of the things Jacob has could sell there. As well as most of the other merchandise."

"We've also been using people," said Sara, "and not some of the species we have."

"That's true as well, the freezer warehouse with the goblin spells is a big deal. And I would think some of the Minotaurs would be suitable for a lot of movements. As well as goblins. Carl has been using his people."

"So he's been ripping us off?" said Kurt.

"I wouldn't say that, he's been protecting his interests, and you were first too poor, and then too inexperienced to do anything about it. It was an opportunity and he took it, selfishly as a good merchant. This is what merchants do, they make deals that favor them. You never really set up your side, and he was able to profit off of your lack of it. And I'm guessing he never encouraged you to set up something more professional as well. The fact is, without him you would have made much much less in the end, but with me, we will make more, because we can do a lot of what he was doing in house for cheaper. We can also prioritize things that make us the most money."

"Ehh, can't really blame him," said Sara, "you should have seen us at the first meeting."

"Yeah, I always knew he was making a little more than he should have. Hopefully he's still paying for dinners," said Kurt. "But the reality is, we couldn't have done half of this without him."

"That's true," said Betsy, "he didn't exactly rip you off, but you would have gotten a better deal if you knew better."

"So what do you think about the guilds, you're from closer to here?" said Kurt.

"Yeah this is my first time in another nation," said Sara, "well except ours I guess."

"I don't think Carl understands the guilds at all," said Betsy.

"Why's that?"

"Because they will definitely come to you. I don't see that not happening. He was right, you shouldn't go out asking."

"Why didn't you say that?"

"Well, I just met you, you're my boss. I needed a buffer," said Betsy.

"But not anymore."

"Well, I have a better handle on the entire operation now. You're still my boss, but I've done the work now, and understand my position. But there is still some of the traveling stuff that Carl is just going to be better at, I've never handled that before, I don't have the connections he does. But since merchants and guilds never really have direct contact. He wouldn't be able to help."

"So why will they come to us?"

"Because Dakota Spring's Gate is closed and the supply of adamantium is gone. But you have it. They can't ignore that, people will defect to you if they do."

"Defect?"

"We have all the best ores from the other side together, it would for some of them be a dream scenario. Especially some of the more experimental, there are various alloys of these metals that we don't know about yet. Because their supply has always been so limited."

"But how could they?"

"Well the guild is actually a series of masters that band together to make the most money. And they do that by controlling the education and techniques. To make a name for yourself, the rest of the guild master have to respect your form, or respect your new technique possibilities."

"So they are not as uniform as they seem?"

"Yes and no, the guilds know banding together before the masters most as well. And the process for that title is…not very democratic. So there are a lot of people in the guild that want to prove themselves, and could through you…right the guild or despite them."

"So what should we say to the guilds?" asked Kurt.

"I would start with a simple…no," said Betsy.

"No?" said Sara.

"Whatever they offer it will be the lowest so…no." Said Betsy, "or you can defer to me, always defer for an answer if you don't know, and I'd defer to a private discussion excetera.."

"And the glass?" said Kurt.

"Glass is just hot sand really, so the glass blowers guild is a bit less powerful. And for what you need simply bottles, that should be fairly easy. But there will be a crew for the entire operation, from sand to a bottle. But I'd honestly think a lot about clay, and simply pottery."

"There are processes in making the paste that wouldn't work," said Kurt.

"Then why not just buy what you need in bulk from them?"

"You're trying to convince me we don't need them."

"Yes," said Betsy, "But instead make a sizable purchase of glassware from them, it's what they do, and you use it for what you do. At least wait, and think about it before we leave, we can always make a run back."

"A run back?"

"Carl's schedule has been set to benefit him, it actually doesn't have a choice if you make detours. Don't get me wrong, I said I don't know much, but he's definitely been hitting the right spots. But what we need is what we need."

"I like this one," said Sara, giving Betsy a hug, "you need to come by the Durchery."

"I'd love to," said Betsy, "I hear your side does more to supply the forces there."

"A bit more. It's not like I can use a barbariape on this side of the gate to pull a cart."

"Is that an option?" said Betsy. "Like in a warehouse, are they trained well?"

"Umm, maybe," said Sara.

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