Cale found himself sitting down in one of the booths at a bar close to the estate. He had just come from viewing the final product of the building he recently purchased a few weeks back.
The renovations were done and a reliable staff was picked to work there. Most of the employees he hired were average citizens to run the bar and manage customer service. So far, he only had a few reliable people to help gather information. And by a few, he meant two; Marcus Harvin, who was currently staking out the Tolz villa, and Felicity Bowyer, a mage who used to work as an information gatherer for his father.
Cale had won Felicity to his side when he started taking her to the bars with him to catch that one ruffian in the act. Felicity had become impressed with Cale's persona and his need for justice. To be honest, Cale was pretty sure that she just wanted to cause trouble but he wasn't going to complain. He now had a mid-level mage on his side and the ruffian who looked to harass the waitresses was locked up.
He ordered the finest wine that they served then sat back and relaxed. His relaxed manner still managed to look refined and elegant.
After the waitress brought a cup and the bottle he'd ordered, he downed half the bottle right then. As he was emptying the last of the wine into the cup, a man with long blue hair and glasses slid into the seat across from him. He held up a full bottle of wine before Cale could complain. "Care if I join you, friend?"
Cale put on a drunken grin and held up his now empty cup to be refilled. This was the first time that someone random had joined him for drinks. He kept his guard up while pretending to be drunk, this man was definitely suspicious.
The blue-haired man filled up his glass. The smile he flashed Cale was natural and real but his eyes were focused. "Drinks always taste better with a friend!"
"Yes, they do." Cale could easily play along with this man's game.
Before long, Cale hailed a waitress to their table and ordered three more bottles. He let the man fill the quiet with conversation, only commenting when necessary.
While he allowed his body to relax some more and his words to slur, he observed the man across from him. His calloused hands, which Cale had seen through the clear glass, told him that the man used them a lot. The shape of his biceps and chest which could easily be seen by the way the tight shirt hugged him showed that he was physical on a daily basis. This man was built like a warrior, he could also hold his liquor even though he pretended to be drunk. Cale had a feeling he knew who this man was.
As naturally and casually as he could, he allowed his eyes to roam over the crowd. There, in the far back, hidden in a corner was a familiar face. It looked as if Glenn and Bud finally decided to approach him.
Cale sipped his drink before filling his glass up again. He had expected this from these two and was greatly pleased that they lived up to how Glenn had described their behavior in his drunken sob story.
"Oh," came Cale's solemn voice, "looks like we need more." The table was now filled with five empty bottles of wine. He ordered four more this time, not wanting to take any chances.
Bud's eyes had started to turn cloudy. Cale's plan was to get him completely wasted even if that meant that he wouldn't be able to speak to the man until later. He wanted them to lower their guard enough so that Glenn would have to show himself. Cale kept his smile hidden as he took a drink.
Thud!
Cale looked over. Bud was slumped over the table, his blue hair pooling out around him. About damn time. It had taken a total of eleven bottles before this drunkard finally passed out.
He stood up from his seat, not forgetting to stumble a bit. It was a good thing that his alcohol tolerance level was pretty much God-like.
With his weak arms, which were slowly starting to build muscle, he weaved them around Bud to help him up.
"Do you need help?"
Cale smiled internally at the familiar voice. "Ifs youa sdon't mind," he purposefully slurred slowly.
Glenn threw one of Bud's arms over his shoulders while Cale did the same on Bud's other side. The walk to the door was slow and wobbly. Cale even managed to bump them into a few tables along the way.
Glenn led them to a hotel not far from the bar. Cale didn't point out the fact that Glenn shouldn't know where Bud was staying since they had pretended to be strangers.
They were able to get into the hotel and safely deliver the drunken Bud to a bed. Before Glenn could say anything else, the ajar door opened all the way to reveal Ron.
"We didn't order any room service," Glenn said, eyeing the suspicious looking butler.
"I do not work for this hotel," Ron told him with a benignly bright smile. The old butler then turned to Cale. "Young Master."
Cale flashed his butler a smile. He was pretty sure he had told the man to return back to the estate earlier.
With a sigh, Cale stood up straight and all pretenses of drunkenness disappeared. He then turned toward Glenn who was starting to raise his guard once again. "I believe we have an appointment which can wait till tomorrow. I will see you around lunch time, Glenn Poeff, and make sure to bring him," Cale said while pointing to Bud.
"Yo-you," Glenn spluttered. "You knew the whole time?"
Cale smiled at him from over his shoulder as he walked out the door. "We have a lot to discuss tomorrow, make sure to get some rest."
. . . . .
"Father, I want to learn how to wield the sword!" Lily's energetic voice filled the quiet breakfast table.
Their father sputtered, almost dropping his spoon. "Don't you think you are a little young to learn? Wait a couple of more years."
Lily pouted, biting her lower lip. Her eyes were trained on their father and held a fiery determination.
Cale knew from first-hand experience how good Lily will become with a sword. In his previous life, she had begun sword practice behind the family's back at the age of seven. At the age of nine, she had excelled enough to defend against some of the invaders, though ultimately losing her life. If she started earlier this time around, she could become even better. Though Cale planned on keeping her away from future combat such as wars.
"It may not hurt her to start practicing swinging a sword, and she will also need to train to build up her stamina." Cale tried reasoning with their father on his sister's behalf.
His father turned a wide-eyed stare onto him. His stepmother on the other hand continued eating in a calm and collected manner.
"You believe she should start learning now?" Violan asked him.
"Just the basics until she is older and strong enough to actually begin training."
Violan turned to look at her youngest child. "To learn the art of the sword takes determination."
Lily nodded vigorously. "I am determined. I want to learn the sword."
Their father sighed in defeat. "I will find a suitable tutor for you."
Breakfast finished not long after that and nothing else exciting happened.
Cale headed up to his office to do some work for Secret Garden, the name for his information guild slash tavern. The name had nothing to do with the type of business he was running but purely inspired by the City of Death. Though no one needed to know that.
Before he knew it, it was time to meet Bud and Glenn. He went to his room and changed out of his current clothes. He threw on black dress pants with gold lining and rubies. His shirt was a deep crimson with puffy sleeves that were tight at the wrists. Lining the front of the shirt were v-lined style ruffles with gold chains hanging across from them.
"The carriage is waiting for you, Young Master," Ron informed him as soon as he opened his bedroom door.
"Are both you and Beacrox coming along?"
"Of course," Ron answered with his usual benign smile. "You are meeting with the Mercenary King and his second in command. We cannot be too cautious."
Cale walked out of the room and headed downstairs toward the awaiting carriage, Ron following close behind him the entire time. Ron opened the carriage door for him and Cale smoothly climbed in. Beacrox was already in the driver's seat.
They soon arrived at the inn that Glenn had guided them to the night prior. "Ron, grab our two guests. I'll be waiting for them at a table."
Ron bowed to him before taking off to fetch Bud and Glenn. Beacrox walked with Cale to an empty table before taking off.
A few minutes passed by before Ron reappeared with the two Easterners trailing behind him. Bud was squinting his eyes and looking rather pale. Glenn locked eyes on him and glared the entire walk over.
"Friend, you played me good," Bud said in a friendly manner, though his voice sounded a bit weak and less cheery than it had the night before. He took a seat across from Cale while Glenn hesitated before taking his own seat directly beside Bud.
"You should learn to do better," Cale advised. "And I was just merely playing your own game."
"What do you want with us? Why did you send that letter?" Glenn was quick at getting to the point. "And why do you have the Molan Patriarch as a servant?"
Cale let out a sigh. "What I want with the two of you is a temporary partnership. Ron Molan is in hiding, just as you are," he told Glenn Poeff directly.