System in Assassin's Creed

Chapter 26: Chapter 26: A Thousand Pieces

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”...”

”...”

”Why, in heavens’ name, did you cut yourself!?”

Alaric could only smile sheepishly as Penn fumed, ”T’was the fastest way to let you see the miracles of my product.”

Taking the time to calm himself down, William Penn sighed heavily as he glared at Alaric, ”You might have at least given me a word of warning before pulling such a stunt.”

”Heh...”

Seeing the child’s antics, Penn sighed again as he finally looked at the product.

”This...” He started as he grabbed the ointment, ”Celestial Salve, is it? How exactly did you craft this?”

(Skip Convo, we already did that with Solomon)

”So... I may purchase as much as I desire from you?” William Penn asked as he placed the product on his desk, ”And you ask only £15 per piece?”

”Yes,” Alaric nodded as he smirked, ”And please, don’t ask about the ingredients, aside from me... no one will ever be able to procure this kind of salve.”

”Hmm... are you sure ’bout that?” Penn raised an eyebrow.

”Try me,” Alaric nodded, sitting down on the closest single sofa, ”If you can find someone who can imitate my product, I’ll supply you everything for free.”

”No,” The middle-aged Quaker chuckled as he shook his head, ”This is nothing short of a miracle product... very well, I shall place an order for one thousand pieces of Celestial Salve. I expect it by tomorrow. You shall receive your payment the moment I see the goods.”

’A thousand? This guy doesn’t play around. Good. Neither do I,’ Cupping his chin, Alaric hummed as he paused for a few seconds, making Penn smile.

”It was a tes-”

”Give me a huge room or any storage room you have in this house and I’ll give it to you by tonight.” Alaric grinned, making the Quaker raise his eyebrows.

”Y-You needn’t force yourself, young lad, it was but a jest,” William Penn shook his head and held the Celestial Salve once again, ”To produce such a Salve a thousand times over would surely take months, if not years.”

William Penn was only met with shook on the head as Alaric replied, ”I don’t joke about business. As I said, just give me a large storage room for me to use so that I’ll leave the products there.”

”...” Penn couldn’t answer right away, ’Ought I to believe a five-year-old child? And yet... he speaks with the wisdom of a grown man. I pride myself on my ability to gauge a person upon meeting them, yet I cannot seem to read this boy.’

”Ah... you can have that piece of Celestial Salve as a token, it can save your life one day.”

”Alright...” Was Penn’s reply as he immediately called for his Head Butler, ”Sebastian!”

”Yes Master?” Sebastian immediately opened the door towards the library and announced his presence.

”Are there any storage rooms that remain unused?” William Penn questioned as he stood up from his seat and walked towards a bookshelf, ”Take Alaric there and see that he has whatever assistance he requires.”

”Yes, Master. We have ample storage rooms in the basement, awaiting use.” Sebastian bowed slightly and turned to Alaric, ”Mister Alaric, if you would permit me... I shall escort you there at once.”

Alaric smirked as he also got up from his seat and went towards Penn who was searching for any books to read on the bookshelf.

”Hmm?”

William Penn Sr. turned his head and looked down to see a hand stretching towards him for a handshake.

”Oh my, you even know this gesture,” Penn smiled as he stood up properly and fixed his clothes. He then took Alaric’s hand and shook it elegantly, ”I trust our business shall be prosperous, Mr. Savior.”

Alaric smirked as he then pulled his hand and followed Sebastian. ’I hope this doesn’t end like how it did with Solomon.’

---

”We’re here,” Sebastian said as he turned the knob of an old storage room, ”I shall have the staff tidy up this room, might I be of any further assistance to you?”

Alaric went inside and looked around, nodding in content. ’The room’s about the same size as my new bedroom, this is more than enough.’

”Just leave a bunch of crates in this room after you have it cleaned, and black vials,” Alaric replied as he met Sebastian’s eyes, ”From now on, always have stacks of crates and vials readied in this room.”

”That’s all?”

”For now,” Alaric nodded, ”Remember, the vials must be black.”

”Understood.”

’I’m gonna be omega fucking rich. I said I was rich before... but this is RICH rich.’

’I kinda regret why I bought the Nora something Farm Cultivation or whatever that was called.’

”Ah, before I forget... please drain the water from my bathtub, also... there’ll be a bald boy should be here today, his name is Reuben. Let him in without question, Mister Penn knows about it too.”

”...Under...stood.”

---

Alaric was now lying on his luxurious, top notched, exquisitely made bed as he stared at the interior designs of the room. ’I feel like I’m in an expensive hotel room.’

He sighed and shook his head in disbelief at his current life, ’It felt like yesterday when I helped the people of Swansea in their daily life to earn a small coin, stealing that drunk womanizer’s valuable gems.’

*Knock Knock*

Two knocks cut off whatever was in Alaric’s thoughts as the door to his bedroom opened, then came Leonard, a sick looking Eleanor, Bernard, Linette and even Edward.

”Hey guys,” Alaric smirked as they went near him, sitting down on his bed while the others sat on the chairs or just stood up.

”...”

Seeing them silent, Alaric raised a brow, ’I’m going to be really angry this time if they-’

”Damn it, kid!” Bernard was the first to jump on Alaric’s bed and hugged the youngest Kenway. ”You little bastard, how did you do it!?”

”Huh?”

”Are you some kind of sorcerer?” Bernard laughed while shaking Alaric excitedly, ”Did you cast a spell on that man? Huh? Tell me-”

*Sigh*

Bernard, with all his excitement, immediately stopped as he heard Linette sigh. ”Sorry dear.”

Eleanor, who was always silent, neared Alaric as she held his hand, ”Son... I don’t know how you did all this...”

A tear could be seen falling from the edge of her eye, making Alaric panic a little, looking at his father that only smiled in return.

”I don’t know why the Gods finally gave us this blessing, I won’t force you to tell me how and why,” Eleanor smiled as she held Alaric’s hand as firm as she could, ”But I just want you to know... I’ll always be proud of you, and I love you.”

”...”

Speechless.

That’s right... Alaric was speechless. He always thought that these kinds of scenes from the movies were to cringy but this... this was the first time he shed a single tear in this life aside from when he was born.

’Huh?’ Alaric touched his cheek as he widened his eyes a little, ’Tears? Why am I in tears? I’m not hurt...’

”Your father and I never got to provide you with what you deserve,” Eleanor continued as more tears fell from her eyes, ”We weren’t able to give you a warm house, nor were we able to make you eat the most delicious meals.”

”That’s why... I’m sorry... for being such a useless mother.”

”...”

”And I’m sorry kid,” Bernard followed as his eyes were now serious and ashamed, ”We’re all sorry, us adults... your mother’s right, no matter how much we tried, we could never give you and Edward the lives you deserve.”

Even Linette, who was grumbling at Bernard’s childishness earlier, wiped a tear from her eyes.

”No...”

Everyone turned their heads towards Alaric as the youngest Kenway as Alaric smiled softly.

”The house we had in Swansea... it was warm enough. Edward and I were able to eat due to the efforts you guys put in. You guys gave it your all when it comes making the Kenway family survive.” Alaric said softly as he eyed everybody.

”And what’s a warm house if you guys are not in it with me? You raised us with everything you had.” Alaric continued, ”I am already grateful for all of us being together... but I’m not content with us struggling to survive.”

Leonard, who was listening from the back while folding his arms, closed his eyes as he tried not to cry but couldn’t stop a few tears from coming out.

Looking at everybody, Alaric smiled once again as his smile finally turned into a smirk.

”That’s why... from now on, Mom...” Alaric touched the back of his mother’s hand who was holding his other hand, ”I’ll return the favor of bringing me into this world, wait and see as I build our very own castle in the future. So make sure you eat well and stay healthy so that you’ll see I bring glory to our family.”

This situation finally warmed up Alaric’s heart. This was the first time he shared this much of what he was feeling towards the family. This was shocking even for him. ’I guess... having a family doesn’t seem so bad.’

Eleanor smiled as she wiped the tears from her eyes, ”I promise to stay healthy until then.”