After what could only be described as a scolding fromSusan about how, there wasn't exactly a kitchen. A scolding in which most of the time Kurt was thinking, aren't I the one in charge here? At no time did that seem true during it. It was decided that a mess hall would be made on one of the open floors. Apparently large goblin meals are common, and Susan would help out the shamans, who could cook, feed humans as well. All of which Kurt could have sworn was his idea.
This meant there was a mess hall floor, a workshop/training ground floor, Susan's and Jerry's half floor. And three more empty floors. Or eventually there would be. Kurt like the idea that he wasn't actually going to build any of it. And he could sort of tell the gnomes to do it, or put it on the list. But they seemed joyful to do it, they seemed to always want to be busy. Kurt wasn't sure where they slept, or if they slept really. But it did seem like he was using them in a way that didn't sit well with him, the gnomes were strange like that.
Susan had taken up driving the carriage in Jerry stead, the trip to Hazelton was uneventful for the most part, earth was much safer to travel through than Terra. Horror Rabbit weren't the only animals that could show up there, and there wasn't much in the way of road ways on the other side. The clan's settlements had protection, but outside of it there wasn't much known. Kurt had no idea where the Pillar and the settlement were in relation to each other on Terra.
Hazelton was a suburb of Renold's Crossing, the main city at the border. The first problem was solved by Susan, as she knew a path that led to a small cavern. She seemed to think it would be safe to make a gate and everyone agreed, it was suitable temporary placement. If people were looking for it it would be found but, it was also a dead end so there was little reason for anyone to go there. And satisfied the conditions of, the carriage can drive there, out of sight, and large enough. It had only taken Layla a little more than fifteen minutes to complete, so that was also advantageous compared to the normal hour.
It was getting dark by the time they finished so they decided to spend the night at the pillar then Kurt, Sara and Jerry would head out on their mission.
"So you sure about this guy?" said Sara.
"This is sort of a powder keg here, it's tough to see how people would react. A few mana stones go everywhere, but the amounts and adamantium and…and…and…there is a lot here."
"There is, and so we can go slow and be careful," said Kurt. "But in the end we can't actually be the distribution, there is too much."
"Yeah, the guy, Carl, he's mostly a mid level merchant, if you can call it that. So I think it's a good entry point. I've done a few favors for him so he owes me at least the introduction. And I trust that he will honor that, if he takes you up on it, I'm not entirely sure. But there are a few other people, just not here that would be best."
"Why?"
"Well, maybe not the best possible, but the best we have an in with. He's licensed on both sides of the border, that's rare enough in itself. So his network expands fairly far because of that, there is a lot of trouble with border relations. And I know he would be interested in some of this, and has the ability to move it."
"So what's the problem?"
"The same one you have, the clan. And their monopoly. He can help us, but at some point it will be noticed by them, and he might not want to take the risk, short term profit versus very long term growth.
"We can be long term."
"Not if he loses his license on either side. The problem is what you tell him. Where are you saying we get it?"
"Huh?"
"Are you telling him about the gate, I don't actually suggest that, it's too tempting for someone like him. Especially since there would be no way to hide that we aren't in the best position."
"Should we intimidate him?"
"Intimidate? I'm sorry I don't think you can…" Kurt then released his water fist with the connected gauntlets. "Ohh, hmmm ... I didn't know we had that option, no offense kid but…you don't look like that tough guy type. But I guess that makes sense."
"So what happens if everything goes right?" asked Sara.
"He buys a lot of it all at once, and we start our path to…what was it…our fabulous wealth." Sara smiled back, "Which I do expect to mostly happen, I can get the introduction but he didn't get to where he is by not being able to negotiate. You have good cards but not many in this hand."
There wasn't much they could do, no matter who they ended up talking to was going to have risks. People do a lot of crazy things for money. And there was simply no way to run from the clan, and set up a whole business themselves, outsourcing allowed them a protection of anonymity. They needed a partner. Jerry explained, they could go to other places as well, some he felt would be more likely, and also explained the same conversation more or less would happen no matter what. People didn't become merchants because they were not greedy, and people didn't become good merchants without being able to protect their property. And no matter how good of a relationship Jerry had with any of them, it was just another contact to them. Carl was the safest bet they had at the moment. Kurt trusted Jerry a lot, he had moved his family in, it was unlikely he would risk them unnecessarily. He had a vested interest in their success beyond just money.
"What do you think we should bring to the meeting?" said Sara.
"The biggest mana stone you can find, and at least ten pounds of each metal you can provide, it can be in raw ore form. That will definitely get his attention."
"What about the vegetation? Potions?" Said Kurt.
"That is not really his expertise, but he would know someone about that I wouldn't doubt. Do you make potions?"
"I was thinking of trying my hand at it, but the base material is here for some things," said Kurt.
"If you don't have the final product, I would only mention it after a good reaction, or if we need to sweeten the deal to push him to it. Unless he figure out the gate or we tell him, if he knows that he'll see that immediately."
"But let's pretend he says, No. How do we know that he doesn't either come after us, or just turn us into a clan?"
"If he starts talking like that, that water thing you just did might be appropriate. Like I said, it really doesn't matter who we talk to, that's always going to be a risk of that in particular. But I think you will find the clans are not as popular as you may think. I think we have a good get away option."
"Should we really deal with a man like that?"
"The problem is men like that are the people that can get things done, the nicest people can't handle it. He won't go back on a deal, but he won't make a deal that going back isn't bad for you as well. I don't know, I believe, no, I know I can make the meeting happen, and really the rest is up to you two."