A New Star Chapter 51

I walked with the Knight Errant some ways away before turning to address him. "Are you satisfied with your current station, Lester?" 

"I'm not sure what you mean," he hedged. 

"Lester," I said coldly, staring at him. I could see the nervous twitch at my tone, and I continued, "This work. Being a petty thug beating other petty thugs. Is that what you became a knight to pursue, this worthless labor? Perhaps you want something more than this?" 

"And you can give me that something?" he asked in a guarded tone. He was not overtly hostile, but he wasn't hanging on my every word. 

"Lester. You've experienced my power first hand. Forget that I am the daughter of the two most politically powerful people in the country, both of whom also rank extremely highly in terms of real power. Forget that I have connections far and wide. Let all that slip from your mind. Think about my power, and then realize that I am only ten years old. Do you think I will be some nobody in another four years? Eight? Twenty?" 

His jaw worked for a minute as he processed what I was saying and his mind had a difficult time coming up with any response, let alone a cogent one. I let him think for a bit, and he stopped his chewing of the air as he seriously pondered what I had said. It didn't take him very long to weight the pros and cons, understanding just what tying his fate to mine, even in a minor way, would mean for him. Nobility was still important in this world, but the Settled lands were changing, evolving, and in the new future, nobility would matter less than it did currently. Personal power, however, was never going to go out of style.  

"I understand," he said, bowing to me formally.  

"I'll make sure that you are free of any other obligations," I said calmly. As the smile was still forming on his face, I crushed down on him with my raw power, sending him to his knees. "Understand me well, Knight Errant Lester; this is your one and only second chance. If you betray my interests, that is death. If you flee, that is death. If you decide a life of crime would better suit you after all, that is death." 

"I-I u-understand, M-my Lady," he gasped out, sweat pouring down his face. 

I let him loose, watching as he caught himself from falling flat on his face with one hand before I said, "Good that you understand. I have much work to do in the capital, and then I needs must return to my family's estate for a time. I will expect you to handle matters here for me. Don't worry; I will brief you more when there is a more firm plan for my business in the capital." 

"Yes, My Lady," he said, standing and bowing again. 

"And we'll have to do something about your current strength," I said, sighing. "Somebody in my employ shouldn't be at such a low rank, particularly not in such a large city. What prevents you from advancing now?" 

"I needed time to fight and treasures to help with my affinities," he replied. "Also, it takes money; if I want to get time in dungeons near the capital, that costs a fee. Then there's consumables like potions and such, which is also a big expense. If I weren't to use the local dungeons, well…I'd have to go up to the Wilds, really. That's an expensive trip, not just because a train ticket and lodgings would be a high cost, but I would need far more equipment and gear for such a venture than what I could easily afford." 

"It's always money, in the end," I muttered, looking the man up and down. "I want a report; I want you to write up what the expenses would be for you to increase your rank by two. I want costs for the dungeons, consumables, healer's time, equipment repairs, and any other incidentals. Present that report to me and you'll get your increase in strength, even if I have to drag you through it kicking and screaming." 

"Yes, My Lady," he said, shuddering slightly at my threat.  

"Are you registered with the Adventurer's Guild?" I asked. 

"Yes, My Lady, though Knights Errant, Hedge Knights, Knights, and Grand Knights don't need to register to have a ranking and rating," he said quickly. "The Adventurer's Guild provides enough benefits, and ways to make money, that most people below Grand Knight are usually registered there as well. Nobles, as I'm sure My Lady is aware, often do not register, but that's not for me to speak on." 

"Yes, indeed, we shall leave that for now," I said. "What is your official rank?" 

"I am G-rank, My Lady, with one skill in H. You're request means raising my other two skills to H, verifying with the guild, and then raising all three to I-Grade before doing a second verification," he answered. 

"Good. That is what you will be focused on," I said before holding up a finger. "Provided, of course, you are able to give me an accurate accounting of your costs." 

"It may be hard to be so precise, My Lady," he said. 

"I don't need it down to the hay penny, man, just give me what you think it will cost as best as you can, breaking it down into category. What I don't want to see is you saying it will take a year and forty golds, and then a year in you've spent fifty golds and aren't even close to I-Rank," I said, narrowing my eyes at him, which caused him to shiver. 

"I understand perfectly well, My Lady. Where can I find in the city?" he said. 

"Come. I will show you," I said, turning and leading him through the district and to the Count's estate. "This is the estate of the Count, whom you met earlier. He is, in point of fact, a Y-ranker, as well as a VIP in all of the Settled Lands, as far as I can tell. I would be rather careful about what you say and do, even in regards to his staff, as the man is even-tempered but immensely powerful." 

"Yes, My Lady," Lester said, sweat breaking out on his forehead again. 

I lead him inside and gestured to the butler, saying, "My good man, is there a room other than the Count's office where this man can write a document?" 

"Of course, Young Lady," the butler replied, bowing deeply. "I will see to him as a guest, if that is your wish." 

"This man will be entering my employ, so treat him as such," I said firmly. "If anyone comes inquiring about him, and the Count himself is not present, you may direct them to me. If I am not present, direct them to either the Count or myself, but I am sure you understand the intricacies better than even I." 

"Indeed, My Lady. Will the gentlemen be staying with us?" Dufraine asked. 

"For the moment, he will be staying here," I said, turning to give Lester a glare. "I will see you setup with a place you can operate out of, but for now, it is best you stay close at hand. I am sure I don't need to enumerate all the reasons for this, yes?" 

"I understand," he said, bowing again before the butler led him away. 

Sighing, I moved up to my own room in the building, which I had scarce even been in up to this point. I was instantly set upon by the lady servants of the house, and I let them prepare my bath, whisk away my clothes, and see to my needs. I had gotten used to such things, though I did pay careful attention to those attending me, as I always did, as a subverted, or inserted, servant was one of the most effect to either spy or assassinate. Not that I doubted the Count, but I didn't have any idea who any of his staff were or where their loyalties lay. Better safe than sorry. 

I went to bed about two hours before dawn, sleeping into the midmorning before I was up and seen to by the lady servants again. I was invited to breakfast with the Count, which occurred in the dining room, one of the largest rooms in the house that occupied a large portion of the first floor. I walked in to find not just the Count present, but also the captain from the Royal Guard, Emily, as well as Lester. I sat at the opposite end of the table from the Count as the servants began laying out the dishes and serving the four of us. 

"You, Young Miss, have given us so much work," the Count began by saying, taking a sip of a tea the servants had prepared. 

"Not my problem," I replied coldly, cutting into my breakfast. "If crime is so rampant in the city, I might as well clean some of it up. I would count it as doing you all a favor; you, my dear Count, get to clean up a powerful smuggling ring that will earn you points with several countries, including your precious Eastern Empire. You, my dear Royal Guard Captain, get to do part of your job, keeping the city, and the general economy, safe while at the same time earning commendation and valuable experience. I don't how this is a negative situation." 

"Always an answer for everything," the Count grumbled, staring me down as I ate. 

"Far better than an answer for nothing," I retorted, demolishing an entire plate before the servants prepared me a second. 

"How exactly did this misadventure start?" the captain asked as the Count sputtered. 

"I happened to be walking the streets of our lovely capital when I came upon a man beating another man quite severely. Considering this first man looked like a lout and not a constable or guard, I decided to question the beating. He was quick to admit that he was attempting to extort money out of the second man, so I provided a little forceful persuasion to figure out what was happening. I happened to find out that he was part of a criminal enterprise operating out of a location in the warehouse district and had him lead me to said location. I was a bit intemperate, I will admit, as I beat everyone within the building into a bloody pulp, apart from my new employee here, that is. My new man, Lester, was able to unravel the whole thing for me, and was more than willing to take me to the house of the minor baron that was leading the whole fiasco," I explained. 

"And you, what? Arrested him pro tempore right there?" the captain asked me slightly incredulously. 

"It didn't take all that much for the man to admit his crimes. Not until after I beat his household security into a bloody pulp after he sicked them on me, mind you, but these things happen. I then promptly reported the criminal enterprise and moved on about my night," I said tartly, attacking my second plate.  

"You certainly did," Emily muttered. 

"What was that, captain?" I asked coolly. 

"Ah, nothing," she said, taking a great interest in her coffee, or a substance that was very much like it. I was under the distinct impression that both coffee and tea were items that spanned all of existence, though admittedly my sample size was currently only two. 

"Are you planning on getting up to any more of these misadventures?" the Count asked, though I believe he was going down this line more for the sake of our two guests than that he didn't know the answer. 

"I have business in the capital," I replied bluntly, though that was also quite vague. 

"Business, is it?" the captain interjected to ask. "This business is attacking people?" 

"Firstly, captain, I'm sure I'm thrilled with your implications. I was, in fact, attacked myself, and by some rather thuggish hoodlums, at that," I said calmly, finishing my plate and setting my knife and fork down. "Secondly, we were just discussing a rather large and robust criminal enterprise, one which I struck at the heart of and effectively neutered in a single night. There wouldn't be some reason why this would cause an issue, would there?" 

"I, in turn, don't like what you seem to be implying," the captain said shortly. 

"Ladies, please," the Count interrupted. "I think we've gotten a bit off track. I am sure that Alexandra will practice a bit more…discretion in her further endeavors. And I'm sure the Royal Guard will be more than happy to assist in cleaning the city of the seedier elements that are threating the livelihoods and lives of the regular citizens." 

"So, you are useful for something," I said to the Count, which caused the already uncomfortable Lester to go quite pale and the captain to start sweating slightly. 

"I say!" the Count exclaimed, flicking a steel bolt at me. 

"I'll bet you do," I snarked, grabbing the bolt in hand covered in purple and black lightning before throwing it back at the Count, the piece of steel making an explosive noise as it traveled across the dining room. 

"Heavens!" the Count exclaimed, stopping the bolt right in front of himself. "Just what is your body at these days?" 

"That information is on a need-to-know basis, my dear Count," I said as I stood and turned to leave the dining room.  

"And?" he asked as I walked out. 

"Whoever said you were in the need-to-know?" I shot over my shoulder as I exited the room. 

I made my way back up to my room, where I grabbed some of my gear before donning the same cloak from the night before. The Count's staff had cleaned it, even stitching the small cut it had acquired during the scuffle. I fully prepared before stepping directly into The Dark, walking out of the outer wall of the house and dropping down to the grounds below. I left directly through the front gate, turning and striding down the street towards a different area than where I had been last night. I was not done with the warehouse district yet, not by a long shot, but I was going to attack the problems from a different angle. My thought was to go to the merchant district, as there would very likely be one or more business there that were either involved in the smuggling I was trying to track down, or they would be involved with laundering the money. The funds from the smuggling had to be cleaned at some point, though that was less of a problem in the far less sophisticated economy that this world currently had as compared to my previous life. Still, there was going to be a lot of money changing hands based on all the smuggling that was happening, and not of it was going to be in the hands of small gangs or petty thugs. The merchants would be involved, even if it was tangential at best, and it gave me a different way to attack the problem. 

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