System in Assassin's Creed

Chapter 39: Chapter 38: Welcome to Narnia!

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---The Penn Estate Office---

Morning came as Alaric was drinking tea with William Penn in the latter’s office at the Penn Estate.

”Say... lad,” Penn said, catching Alaric’s attention as they drank their tea.m Penn in the latter’s office at the Penn Estate. ”I’ve already gathered several men and tasked Sebastian unto doing some background checks before sending them to your Estate, like how I hired most of your staff for you... what brings you here?”

”...”

No reponse.

”Hello?”

”Hmm...” Alaric calmly sipped some tea then nodded his head. ”Good to know...”

”...What...” Edward raised a brow at the blonde’s response. ”Hmm... you must have some big request, I don’t believe I have seen this side of you...”

Finally drinking his cup of tea in one go, Alaric placed down the cup on the table as he stared at William Penn.

”You don’t like slavery... do you?” Alaric asked calmly. ”As I heard from you, years ago... you’re trying to minimize the amount of slaves in Pennsylvania.”

Penn nodded at this but found the conversation uncommon. He and Alaric never discussed these things... always trade, always Celestial Salve.

”So... what is it that you want to say?”

”What I want to say is that, I want to abolish the slave trading system here... in Bristol,” Alaric stated, making the Quaker widen his eyes in disbelief.

”A-Alaric, what in the heavens are you saying!?”

He nearly choked on his next sip, quickly placing the cup down before he spilled it. His chair creaked as he leaned forward, his expression shifting from surprise to mild panic.

”That’s not just audacious, lad... that’s madness! You’re talking about upending an entire economy!”

Alaric’s gaze didn’t even flicker as he replied, ”So what? Isn’t my Celestial Salve audacious enough? It could even be considered witchcraft.”

”That’s not what I mean,” Penn shook his head, sighing as he tried to calm himself. ”Think of how many enemies you’re going to make. Even if you’re going to use my influence, it’s not enough to even budge Her Majesty.”

He exhaled sharply, rubbing his temples before throwing up his hands in frustration.

”You’re talking about a system that fills the Crown’s coffers! That money isn’t just disappearing into thin air!”

”With slave trading alone, Bristol pays about £150,000 in annual tax!” Penn continued. ”That money funds the Crown’s needs!”

”No... that money funds wars,” Alaric countered, folding his arms.

His eyes flickered toward a contract atop Penn’s desk.

”Forty thousand Celestial Salves. Upfront payment will be given...”

He looked back at Penn.

”I always get £15 per vial, but how much are you selling them for? £25? That’s a million pounds right there...”

”...”

”Look,” Alaric continued, leaning forward. ”Whether you like it or not, the Royal Palace wants to go to war.”

”Bristol’s annual tax is a £150,000 through slavery, right?”

Alaric crossed his legs, swaying his foot playfully.

”Forty thousand vials of Celestial Salve, free. Not within the next few years. I mean, now.”

”You’re insane, you know that?”

Penn ran a hand through his graying hair, shaking his head with a tired chuckle.

”However, if Her Majesty were to permit it... that forty thousand Celestial Salves will only give us four years of liberation, considering that the crown will want to maximize what they get and minimize what they’ll give. Do you know how much uproar the country and its neighbors will have!?”

”Four years is a lot of time,” Alaric shrugged. ”I’ve come up with a couple of products that will sell much more than the Celestial Salve.”

Despite the weight of the conversation, he leaned back casually, his foot still moving lazily. The contrast between his carefree posture and Penn’s mounting stress only sharpened the tension.

”And uproar? I don’t care. Besides, Queen Anne won’t even mind as long as he gets the money... or Celestial Salve.”

”Plus... your influence in London could get bigger due to this.”

”No...”

Penn shook his head and massaged his temples. ”I planned to go back to Pennsylvania once and for all after this year ends... why in heavens are you doing this to me, ’Laric?”

”Come on, old man! Don’t tell me you’re scared?”

Alaric’s smirk widened. He leaned in, elbows on his knees, watching Penn struggle between amusement and frustration.

”Old? Who’s old? You’re old!”

Penn scoffed, sitting up straighter as if the mere suggestion offended him. He pointed a finger at Alaric.

”And I ain’t scared, boy... and, you’re going with me to London to discuss this with Her Majesty. I’m not dying alone.”

Alaric paused, then continued swaying his foot.

”London, aye? I don’t mind.”

The room fell into silence.

Penn exhaled, finally nodding. His fingers drummed against the armrest as he mulled it over.

”Fine. But we’ll need a damn good plan before we set foot in London. The King won’t just shake our hands and say ’well done.’”

”Glad you’re on board.”

---

Hours passed as Alaric massaged his neck while walking through the streets of Hotwells, near the river.

’That old Quaker certainly doesn’t know how to take a break...’

’Well, I guess... we’re talking about abolishing slavery...’

He expanded his awareness, mapping half of Bristol’s layout. Within that quiet focus, he could sense the unique presence of those around him.

Reuben’s in the City Center, probably buying something... Thulani’s in the Estate, as always.

As he strolled, his thoughts continued, ’Multiple people are in the Penn Estate, heading toward the mansion. They must be the ones Penn hired... and Caroline...’

His contemplation paused upon reaching the modest house he had gifted Caroline at her wedding with Edward a year ago.

’She’s here...’

Inside, he found Caroline seated in a chair, her head resting on the table as tears fell.

’Poor you...’

”Hey...” Alaric announced his arrival.

Caroline’s eyes widened as she quickly wiped her tears.

”Ah! ’L-’Laric!” she exclaimed. ”I... I’ve readied my things.”

”Already?”

He raised an eyebrow as she moved toward two large bags that she couldn’t possibly lift alone.

”I was going to help you pack,” he offered.

”It’s okay, I started as soon as I woke up,” Caroline replied, attempting to lift one of the bags but failing.

”Let me...”

Seeing her struggle, Alaric stepped forward, grasping the strap in her hand and, with his other hand, easily taking hold of the second bag.

”Do you have anything else to bring?”

Caroline hesitated... her first instinct to decline was overtaken by surprise at his effortless strength.

”No... that’s all.”

”Well then... let’s go!”

---

As Alaric and Caroline crossed from Hotwells to Clifton, curiosity stirred in Edward’s wife.

”Tell me, ’Laric... what do you do?” she asked.

”Hmm?” The blonde, who was leading the way, slowed down slightly. ”What do I do? Edward never told you anything?”

”I know you’re William Penn’s student or whatever, Edward told me about the Kenway family years ago,” Caroline replied as they looked at Alaric’s frame. ”But, you seem muscular, wealthy, and generous. So... what do you do?”

”I’ll take that as a compliment,” Alaric could only chuckle. ”You could say that I helped the family going from rags to riches. I made the farm business with Penn as my mentor and business partner.”

”What about your physique?” Caroline asked as she looked at Alaric.

”None of the Kenway family are as tall as you. Edward’s this tall,” she joked, comically gesturing, ”and you’re gigantic.”

”Well... I do some light exercise here and there,” Alaric replied as they found their way to the street near the Penn Estate. ”However, I’m not that tall. Haven’t you seen Thulani during your wedding?”

”Who?”

”Y’know... that tall, dark-skinned guy?”

”Ohh! The one that Aveline liked!” Caroline recognized the moment Alaric said ’Dark-skinned’. ”I agree... although, I think he’s an outlier. He’s a bear!”

”Yeah... wait,” Alaric shook his head, processing what Caroline said. ”Did you just say Aveline, your sister, likes Thulani? As in... romantically?”

”Mm!” Caroline nodded. ”However, my sister is sensitive of the social norms. I broke one while marrying Edward.”

”Aveline doesn’t really care, but she’s afraid of breaking mother’s heart.”

”Hmm...” Alaric hummed thoughtfully before replying, ”Your mother, Elizabeth, isn’t troubled by social norms. We talked at your wedding... she was moved that her eldest daughter married for love, not because of an arranged match.”

”Really?” Caroline’s eyes widened. ”How come you never told me?”

”You never asked,” he smirked as they reached a massive wooden gate bearing an iron plaque: KENWAY ESTATE.

”We’re here...”

”Good afternoon,” A man dressed in a butler’s livery, greeted. ”You must be Master Alaric Jonathan Kenway. I am Jonathan Hugh, the newly hired butler of the Kenway Estate. I’m pleased to serve you and your family for the coming decades.”

Jonathan Hugh’s light-brown hair, brown-eyes, and clean-shaven face lent him a composed, professional air beneath his friendly smile.

’He looks dependable enough...’

”Jonathan Hugh, huh... good afternoon to you as well,” Alaric said with a nod. ”Meet me in my office in the next thirty minutes; I have something to discuss with you.”

”Yes, Master,” Jonathan replied, maintaining his formality. ”Please allow me to carry those bags for you.”

Alaric glanced from Jonathan to the heavy bags he had been holding.

”Are you sure? They’re quite... heavy.”

”I cannot let my Master struggle with heavy objects when I can help.”

”Okay then,” Alaric shrugged, releasing his grip.

As Jonathan took hold of the bags, his eyes widened and he grunted.

Noticing his struggle, Alaric grew concerned.

”Are you okay? Here, let me—”

”N-No m-master! I c-can c-carry this!” Jonathan insisted, his face reddening. ”P-Please... I’ll f-follow you!”

”Okay...?”

Jonathan’s persistence left Alaric with little choice. Caroline, watching the exchange, shifted her gaze between the two.

While they walked, Caroline asked, ”Just how strong are you, ’Laric?”

”Hm? I don’t know...” he replied with a light tone.

Caroline shook her head, momentarily unsatisfied with his answer. But then her attention was captured by the scene ahead.

Before her stretched a vast mansion, bordered by gardens and fields where wheat, barley, and tobacco swayed with a gentle rhythm.

”Heavens!” Caroline gasped, covering her mouth.

”This is the Kenway Estate!?” she whispered in awe.

”Yes... welcome... to Narnia!”

”Aye?”

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