With the shop empty of clients and Joe's tea steaming hot, waiting on the round table, our gossiping meeting finally started.
Waiting for the beverage was usually worth it.
"So, the first topic of the day…"
"For the first topic of today, I'd like to point out that none of Peter's stone weapons were up for display or sale today," commented Jason, before sipping on the tea.
"... I sold them all."
The violet-skinned titan smiled. "Hey, that's nice-"
"To one client."
His words poured down on us akin to a bucket of cold water in the falls. Myself included. 'Who… No, why'd a single person buy all of Peter's weapons? Who even has the resources to do it???'
The gloomy titan sighed. "If you wonder who bought them, ask Emil."
… There's only one person named Emil in the whole town. And that's one of Fernand's direct subordinates.
Someone equal in rank to Oliver.
'This is bad.'
Really bad.
If the guy in charge of supply acquisition suddenly went out and bought a ton of weapons…
"Emil also mentioned that I couldn't sell to others."
… This reminded me of a similar operation carried out by the Shepherds, last year.
In one of the worst points of the syndicate war, the Shepherds set up a donation center in order to get the townsfolk to donate their weapons. And many of them did.
As for those who were known to have them but didn't donate them, their weapons "magically disappeared." According to their public speaker, a titan named Alexandra, the then-usurpers had stolen the weapons.
I still remember how most of the people accepted her words. Even I did, albeit somewhat reluctantly. Though, that came crashing down as soon as I discovered what had actually happened.
They simply stole the weapons, modified them slightly, and mixed them in with the donations. If they were an actual currency, it'd be weapon laundering.
At the time, I had already started to work with Oliver, so I kept this information to myself. It was good play on their end, given how the townspeople were much more willing to aid the syndicate with mundane tasks for free.
… So, I suspected the same would happen here. The Shepherds would buy out the weapons currently in sale, and host a charity event for getting the citizens to donate theirs.
'Most of the people in the town haven't even performed a single breakthrough– They can't manifest an Ego. They need actual weapons to engage in combat…'
To pluck them all off their hands meant no one would be able to carry out an attack without being at a huge disadvantage. It also implied defending themselves would be a nightmare, making the citizens even more reliant on them.
'However… I can't help but think the Shepherds are not in need of weapons or help this time.'
No, there's probably another goal here. One related to disabling something.
As my thoughts continued on, I took a small sip off the beverage brewed by Joe.
"Holy shit, this tea is amazing."
… oops. Slipped out.
"Hoh, thanks. I wish my students would appreciate my drinks as much as you, young one…"
"Now that you mention they, how are them doing?" Jason's question made the face of the only fiend in the room go from glad to… bad.
"Ehh, could be worse. They're just somewhat freaked." Yet another sip from the bearded fiend came, alongside the light-hearted dismissal.
Pretty sure that means stressed.
We all continued for a few minutes. The topics went from the school, to the bandits, and even the businesses of the two present titans, but eventually we landed on something concrete.
The rumours that appeared from other secret meetings. Unsurprisingly, we weren't the only ones who gathered up and shared information.
About half or more of the demons in Fernbedie did.
"... With Jack here, we might as well confirm if they're true." Peter, who had remained rather quiet up to this point, caught the attention of the other two with ease.
They looked at me with interest. And awaited my answer in silence.
'... There's not much freedom of choice.'
None of them would risk having someone with direct contact to one of the six leaders, if it wasn't for the potential information I could bring to the table. Not even Peter, who I could probably consider a friend…
'... No, acquaintance. Our relationship is mainly business-driven.'
"If it's not something big, sure."
Jason smiled confidently. "Amazing, I'll start. I heard that the Solprani farm housed a couple of bandits at some point. Is this true?"
I nodded. "I shouldn't provide too many details, but… I can tell you that they stayed in the grain mills. And at least, the guards in Rodion's unit were not aware of their presence. I don't know about the other group, though."
"Wonder who found them…" muttered Peter. That was naturally ignored.
"Next?"
Joe picked up his cup and got up. "Is it true that the Shepherds are creating an influx of newcomers?"
Joe's question was met with scorn from Peter and Jason. He ignored it and continued pouring water onto his glass. "Man, what did you drink to reach such a conclusion? Are you forgetting one of Herald Fernand's key principles?"
"Keep to ourselves, and only ourselves. More only brings more trouble."
A version of the Roemoon doctrine– taken to an extreme– echoed in the room, alongside Peter's deep voice.
I took a small breath. "As far as I'm concerned, they are not… Anything else?"
Thoughts stuck the minds of the teacher and the lumberjack akin to a thunder. But for the owner of this building… It was a strange sense of clarity.
"How is your current situation, Jack?"
Peter's question made the other two feel rather curious.
'… Ugly question. It'll be strange to refuse to answer, but I really doubt I can pull off a lie.'
"... I'll pass on this."
"I see."
… And well, that was about it for the meeting's highlights.
We did speak about Damien later, and I loosely hinted at the possibility of the townspeople rioting. Regardless, after an hour we all departed.
"Huuu.. alright gentlemen, this was a good one, but I gotta go. Homework won't grade itself." As he packed up his stuff, Joe's typical lamenting face appeared.
Ah, the face of someone who didn't want to work.
After yet another time-stalling attempt, Peter finally got involved and kicked him out. Naturally, he also invited us to leave peacefully.
Joe did not have such luck.
"Hey, halt it." Jason's huge hand held my shoulder with ease. "You still owe me a favour."
… I sighed in my mind.
"Alright, what about it? Do you want me to pay you back now?"
"Yeah. Gotta go to the forest to get some wood."
"Why don't you transform something else into wood? Can't you do it with alchemy, like Peter?"
"Uh… I kind of need fresh material. If I were to transmute it like Peter does, it'd be too flawed to be useful."
…. So, yeah, that's what I did. I escorted him to the forest and helped him collect wood for the rest of the day.
It was boring. Nothing worth mentioning, really.
Then, once the time for night came, I returned home.
'... I guess I'll be alone again.'
Kind of. While the house is indeed back to being inhabited by myself only, now I have other people that I can call allies… At least, temporarily.
Sure, exerting caution always took a notable priority.
'Still, having workmates isn't so bad.'
… Yeah.