?I understand that we’d endanger our credibility as fearsome warriors, were we to buy slave soldiers, but we could buy at least servitor animals“ Hildegard remarks. Is she tactful enough to not mention buying demons, Leuma being present or has she just not considered the possibility?


    ?Yes“ I agree and continue ?But we have a bigger issue. I have healing abilities. But they are limited. In particular I am not a midwife.“ They look like they are biting their cheeks to keep from laughing at the thought. Then the thought dawns on Anjali’s face. ?Well, yes, we have no reason to be sure that we can stay in the city we want to go to. We may end up in a remote castle or an island.“. That gets Hildegard’s attention ?Castles usually have access to the services of a midwife. However, we are not living under usual conditions. Do you want to buy a midwife?“


    These people really have no problem with slavery. To be absolutely truthful, that is not much of a surprise. I was reading a lot in my old life. Locking people up long term is costly. Yet, executing people even for small issues has its limits. Mutilation has its own drawbacks. They have few alternatives.


    Anjali shakes her head and says ?As much as I am forced to like the idea, it would reveal a weakness. An unusual weakness. I doubt hiding it among other purchases would work. Not against Dark Elves.“. Leuma is staying silent. I reckon that’s wise. ?So you’d prefer we secure access to a midwife at our destination?“ I answer. Anjali responds ?I would prefer the services of a priestess of a godess of fertility. But that may not be wise. We need to get out of here somehow.“. Melo speaks up ?How about a personal physician?“. ?We already have a healer“ retorts Anjali. ?Well then you can ask for a servant of Hestia. Even an apprentice will cost more than a small bit of mithril, though.“


    <hr>


    For some reason pretending to be a drunkard feels disgusting. I want to leave such things behind me. Nevertheless I cannot risk them coming to the conclusion that I am after the ceramic amphorae, not the wine. I try to keep the thought that just exterminating this village would have been easier out of my mind.If you come across this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it.


    My companions were suitably impressed at the sight of almost eight kilograms of aluminium, sorry, mithril. Anjali is currently working on a mold that will allow me to make ingots with a stamp that looks like a they are coming from a dwarven clan in northern India. The forgery need not be perfect. It just would look odd if an Atlantean would not have made a token attempt.


    <hr>


    Zewrepa asks Leuma ?Just to recapitulate, I simply pump mana into this rod. That will turn it into a sending recording its point of origin and the Dark Elves will come?“ Leuma nods ?Yes, but they will first reply with a sending of their own, which will announce the date they’ll arrive at. Their customers tend to put a lot of emphasis on security. They will not just drop their barriers for an undetermined amount of time.“ Zewrepa responds ?I understand. Have you decided on a mount?“ Leuma answers ?No. Are you certain about your choice of servitors?“ Zewrepa hoots ?Yes. Hellcats are ideal. They can live on charcoal and fire. They are nice to humans once they are trained.“ Leuma answers ?I see. How many?“ Zewrepa produces a dissonant chord ?As many as I can get. I reckon that the prices have gone gone up, so the limiting factor will be our supply of precious metal.“ ?Are you sure you want nothing draconic?“ Leuma responds. Zewrepa’s hoot ends on a glissando ?Unfortunately so. They are too large and need to much food. I would also like war golems, but we could never trust their enchantments. Even if they don’t fail us when we need them most, we could never speak freely in their presence. Yet we need body guards.“


    <hr>


    I feel stupid. How do you hide a secret? You put an article about it on the front page. I am just taking their dung pile and converting it in mushroom beds before their very eyes and let them infer that I am taking their garbage piles for the same reason. In fact as I am half done, shards sorted out and put into my bag of holding in the privacy of a barn I had claimed for working magic and storing the boxes in I tell the widow of their head man ?Guard these boxes. I’ll return tomorrow to make more. They will sprout edible mushrooms. Those will keep you alive while you are useful to me.“. I am leaving out a remark about not disappointing me. A true wizard of this world would find that too obvious to say aloud.


    The look on my companions faces is undescribable. Hildegard asks ?How much is that?“ I answer ?I don’t know. I am too lazy to weigh that much stuff.“