The mysterious woman watched me as I poured her tea on a chipped clay mug.
An outlander noble would think I was being impolite by presenting her such flawed ware.
But a Damai nobility would know it was Sherefin-made. The first recorded settlers in Damai.
Articles of Sherefin Tribe were priceless to Damai folks.
"I'm impressed, Miss Caramille."
The mysterious woman said while inspecting the mug with those piercing ocean-blue eyes of hers.
She continued with a lingering smile on her face.
"4th Century, Zeraphine style. I believe only the Zeref in all of Tsatu who possessed such rare collection, even among the Sherefin articles."
So she was a Damai nobility.
But the Zeref had quite a number of branch families.
It would not be easy to quickly pinpoint which branch this lady belonged to.
Her being a mage would be the biggest clue.
I actually could only think of one candidate.
But could this woman really be her?
"It was a gift, my lady. A certain noblewoman gifted it to me as token of our friendship."
I said as I settled myself behind my desk, opposite her.
The noblewoman in question was Lady Marla Zeref. The late matriarch of the Zeref Household.
I was fairly certain this lady in front of me knew where I got the article from upon seeing the mug, given how knowledgeable she was.
So I was hoping to find clues about her from how she reacted to my response.
But this woman kept her expression calm and composed as most of the time.
It did not help that she was wearing that mask too.
I actually expected no less from the woman who figured out my identity. Or at least discovered what I was truly capable of as a merchant.
And if she truly who I thought she was, then it all made sense.
I turned my gaze to the Mannalite crystal sitting on the table and gestured to it with a nod.
"Is that how you found me? You used the residues to track me down?"
I asked her.
That was my failing.
I prided myself to be rich in knowledge, but I dropped my guard on this particular object.
I would have a word with my contact since he did not tell me about the residues.
Moreover, how did I not notice the glow whenever I was lighting a candle or the lamps?
One thing I hated about aging was my declining eyesight. I really had to order one of those reading glasses made.
"If you're worried about other people discovering you, then don't. The residues weren't the reason I found you. It was just a method to confirm my suspicion. The residues don't leave that kind of detectable trail, anyway."
The masked woman said promptly.
"Then how did you know to come to me?"
I asked again.
"Baron Elgar bought this Mannalite from Terisa Trading Company. I was told that Terisa volunteered to procure the crystal after they learned the baron's interest on the material."
Baron Elgar was quite helpful in mending our connections in the Taga region.
Not to mention his relationships throughout the empire and beyond through his role as Councilor of the Tower of Circle helped expanding our reach beyond Damai.
Of course. I received the baron's help through my puppets. In this case, the Terisa Company.
When he mentioned in one dinner party that he would pay good money to get a Mannalite crystal, I had to help him out.
I did not know such material was that difficult to be obtained even by someone as important as him.
"How did Terisa led you to me? It is a successful company. Is it so surprising they could procure a Mannalite?"
The woman shook her head and nodded to the crystal.
"The Mannalite can be categorized based on its distinct elemental property values, you see. So I analyzed this one and learned its elemental properties. "
This mage was a trained and educated one.
She was not just some wildling who took up odd jobs as a mercenary.
But how smart she was really?
The masked woman continued.
"Because of its rarity and demand, the Tower of Circle keeps record of the Mannalite deposits all over Dunia. Each deposit has distinct elemental properties. So you can tell where a Mannalite was mined based on the elemental properties analysis."
She gestured to the crystal on the table again and continued.
"Miss Caramille, this Mannalite isn't on any record."
I could not help but to throw my gaze to the crystal.
This Mannalite was obtained from unrecorded deposit?
I would have a long talk with that contact of mine. Though it would explain how easy it was to obtain such rare material in the first place.
I really needed to correct my method of dealings with magic materials.
Honestly, it was my initial policy to stay clear from any business involving sorcery.
But Baron Elgar was such a great business partner that I could not help but to loosen my rule.
I doubted my expression was as composed as I would like it to be.
The mysterious woman continued with her explanation.
"I only heard recently that a new deposit was uncovered in southwestern Tsahanam two weeks ago. The Tower of Circle just started analyzing its reserve ten days ago. And yet, a chunk of that new deposit managed to get to Baron Elgar's hand six days ago. From a trading company in Damai, of all places."
So it was the undocumented crystal that threw her off.
If the chunk was from a nearby documented deposit, she would just think it was the resourcefulness of Terisa.
It was very obvious when you see it from her point of view as an educated mage.
"How did you connect Terisa to me?"
I asked her.
"By simple process of elimination."
She replied while sipping her tea.
"Care to elaborate, my lady?"
"Cleary Terisa had reliable connections beyond the Damai region. Reliable enough to reach Tsahanam and get past the Tower of Circle's supervision of Mannalite, and the empire's customs. So I looked through the obvious suspects first, the Seven Great Houses."
I slightly nodded my head.
Each of the Great Houses had power almost as considerable as the imperial family. They were even as equals as the Tsahanam monarch and the feudal lords of Tchakra.
Should any of the Houses supported Terisa, it would be perfectly understandable that the company managed to procure the undocumented Mannalite.
They could definitely be the logical explanations.
The masked woman continued.
"The Harta Household has great reach and power. But they already have their proxy companies in the Taga region. They would not need to use Terisa of Damai to win favors with Baron Elgar."
The Harta was the wealthiest family in all of Dunia after the imperial family.
They possessed the largest connection and businesses in the entire world.
And it was true that the Harta did not need Terisa Company.
Damai was a dead end to their business. They did not need a proxy company in our region.
Having a vassal to watch over the smaller regions like Countess Minara was enough.
"The Farista Household has the power and reach. But they don't deal with magic properties, or anything magic at all. So they had nothing to gain by maneuvering with Baron Elgar, a Councilor of the Tower of Circle, through the Terisa Company."
Indeed.
The Farista prided themselves on their military strength.
The only dealings they would do regarding the Mannalite would probably to equip their airships which would carry their troops to the battlefield.
The Farista already had their own group of mage engineers and another Councilor of the Tower of Circle in their pockets to handle such things.
They did not need Baron Elgar.
"The Sandomer Household also has the reach. But they don't deal with merchants in this manner. And if they want to gain Baron Elgar's favor, they would do it directly instead of using a proxy."
Avid historians and collectors.
The Sandomer dedicated their lives to research ancient knowledge and discover artifacts.
It did really seem out of character for them to back a trading company in Damai which did not have much ancient remnants aside from the Sherefin Tribe's.
"The Tadosin Household has the means to procure Mannalite. But Baron Elgar's sorcery specialty doesn't serve their purposes. And the Tadosin has their own workshops and affiliates to do their biddings."
Crafters.
The Tadosin lived in pursuit of technological advancement.
The first airship design was the Household's greatest achievement.
Indeed. The Tadosin had no need for Terisa Company.
The family actually had their own engineer chapter house in Seraphold, as they did in all regions of the empire. They could use them instead as proxy.
"The Garlas Household is definitely capable of procuring the Mannalite given their reach in the Tsahanam Sultanate. But same like Tadosin, Baron Elgar could not help further the family's goals. The Garlas also had the support of Count Orlo, the lord of Taga region. They would not need a company from Damai to gain Elgar's favor."
Pledging themselves as mediators.
The Garlas dedicated themselves to the study of law, mediation, and diplomacy.
The family had the best foothold on the political field of all nations in Dunia.
Some say they even had influence on the Guntur savages and even the fabled Tsamudra Empire.
But as the lady said, they would not need Terisa Company. Even if they wanted to be subtle.
"The Viulan Household has the necessary authority. But they deal with magic properties even less than the Farista. And the family is even more straightforward than the Sandomer."
If the Farista relied strength in number, the Viulan relied strength in power.
The family prided themselves in their ancient swordsmanship.
The Viulan possessed the most elite knight order in the entire empire.
It was said that their single knight could rival fifty soldiers or a hundred mercenary.
All they cared about was the safety of the imperial family and the Eternal Throne.
And indeed, the Viulan would never perform such covert maneuver like this.
"The Anashta Household is the most likely suspect of the seven houses. But Baron Elgar is a personal acquaintance of theirs. And the family is quite influential with the Tower of Circle. They would not need to smuggle the Mannalite through the Terisa Company."
A family of sorcerers.
The Anashta dedicated themselves to the study and development of magic.
Most of their family members held influential positions in the Tower of Circle.
If they wanted to give Baron Elgar Mannalite, they could just give him directly instead through a proxy like Terisa.
With their knowledge of magic, they certainly had a way to deliver it discreetly if they wanted to.
Indeed. After going through them one by one, none of the Seven Great Houses were responsible of procuring the Mannalite for Baron Elgar.
Then again, there was still one other obvious suspect worthy of considering.
"My lady, what about the imperial family?"