The First Legendary Beast Master

Chapter 1111: Regional Agreements

Karl considered the options for a few moments, then made a proposal for the Immortal Regent.

”What if we restrict items to open access by the Alliance, as per our Alliance agreement, and then hold a once monthly auction for select equipment? We do that in Drodh, and the Lord sends someone to vet the items, to ensure we don’t sell anything that will be too problematic.

That way we can at least maintain some level of reputation among the other Guilds in the city, and those with money from all over the Dragon Isles will have a chance to snatch the items away and remove them from the region?” Karl suggested.

Azov smiled. ”That is not a bad option. You see, my major concern is not the power level of the items that you are selling. If you equipped the whole city, things would balance themselves out again.

What I am concerned about is an alliance so obscenely wealthy that they use that clout to upset the balance of power.

If your Alliance is making enough that they can simply buy out or put bounties on entire Alliances for displeasing you, how am I supposed to keep things relatively peaceful and stable?

I won’t stand for that level of chaos in my territory.”

Cara laughed quietly in her space. He was definitely talking about Supreme Lady Matilda right now, and extending his opinion of her to Karl.

Karl smiled, ”Fear not, the Drodh branch is somewhat less chaotic than our Guild Elder’s branch. We’re not actually big on causing trouble for others most of the time.”

The Immortal laughed. ”That implies that you are for chaos and trouble some of the time.”

Karl shrugged. ”Well, we do have a Chaos Badger. But mostly the issue is that some people just deserve to be troubled.”

Azov frowned. ”A Chaos... badger?”

Cara came out of her space and stood up to wave at him.

”Oh, that is brilliant. If that old witch was this cute, she might actually have friends.”

Cara snorted with laughter, then began to fly around the room, checking to see if anything changed during her nap. It all looked the same, except for the piles of things that Rae had been working on.

Boring.

So, she went over and landed on the new person. He had an interesting aura, and she was keenly interested in what about it made it different from anyone else that she had tasted before.

”Cara.” Karl warned.

The badger gave him what the Myths took as a cheeky smirk, then gave Azov a nose bump and a subtle taste test.

[Not bad. Different spicy, like well aged Dwarven Liquor.]

Then she settled back on his lap to investigate the peculiarities of his aura, while Azov stroked the fur on her back.

”Well, it appears that she is quite friendly. Not at all what I expected.” He noted.

”She’s a people person, just commonly misunderstood.

But, back on topic, is the Auction a suitable limit on the growth rate of our wealth? We can accept sales limits on the items that we put up every month. It will all be stronger items, though. I put up an Overlord Ranked item or two in Drodh every month, to keep the bills paid at the Guild House, so this would be all Totem Ranked.”

Azov sighed, and his expression went vacant as he messaged someone.

”The Seer says that should keep the rate of growth to a level that won’t cause undue levels of imbalance. Whatever that means.” He agreed a few moments later.

Karl shrugged. ”Perhaps it’s inevitable that the power level and wealth of the region is going to rise? As long as we don’t get so far ahead of the curve that our members are tempted to cause trouble, I don’t see it being an issue.”

Azov nodded. ”Alright, that works for me. Your crafting skills are really incredible, though. Perhaps you would be open to taking a few more apprentices? Even on a short-term training program.”

Deve tried and failed not to laugh. Everyone wanted to load Karl up with apprentices.

Karl shrugged. ”I don’t see the harm. They are something of a trade secret, but we do have both Guild spots and work space available. We could take in a few more students, if they have suitable personalities.”

”Wonderful, I have just the right ones for you.” Azov announced, then activated an item in his hand.

It created a glowing spot of light, and then a few seconds later, a portal opened on the spot.

[Oh, that is a great toy.] Cara cheered.

”It’s just a marker beacon so that the people tracking me know to open a portal.” He explained to the badger, who was intently eyeing the device in his hand.

[It’s a magic stick of ’be here’.] Cara laughed.

Karl chuckled and relayed her thoughts, which made the Immortal laugh.

”Oh, I see how that would be appealing. Perhaps I have been using it all wrong.”

A young mage with glowing silver eyes stepped through the portal and bowed to Azov.

”Your Majesty, you called?”

Azov nodded and gestured to Karl. ”I have confirmed that this man does indeed have both a lost crafting skill and rare spells, as the Seer had predicted when she saw that his finances could cause disruption to the balance of the nation. Can you please summon one of the trainee study groups from the Library?”

A moment later, three blue-haired clerics approached the portal, then stopped as they realized they were expected to leave the Library.

”Come, take a seat. We have rare knowledge for you.” Azov explained.

Those were magical words, and two nearly identical androgynous figures rushed forward, followed by a more stately old Blue Dragon, at the Mythic Rank.

”Is the study group only three?” Azov whispered to the Silver Dragon.

”They were next on the list for new knowledge.” He replied.

”Runelord Karl, meet High Priestess Sapphire, and her grandchildren Bobby and Jo.” The silver eyed dragon introduced them.

The older blue dragon smiled eagerly.

”Runelord?”

Karl nodded. ”The Runemaster skill. Do you currently have a trade skill?”

Sapphire shook her head. ”I have been holding off for a new one. I have researched thousands, but I have not yet found one that was worth my time.”

Karl took out a small blue water stone and wrote a simple inscription on it.

{Near this stone, no liquid will dampen the surface of a book or scroll.}

Then he buffed the water stone to Totem Rank and tossed it to her.

”A welcoming gift suitable for a Blue Dragon.” Karl explained.

Sapphire stared at it for a few seconds, then began to mouth the words, which were written in ancient Dwarven, not the proper Runic Language.

She smiled as she translated. ”Does it really work?”

Karl nodded. ”Even a Monarch Ranked flood spell wouldn’t dampen a single page with that stone active. It doesn’t prevent other damage, though.”

”Just the thing to keep active at all times in the Library with youthful apprentices running around. Tell me, do you have more apprentices?” She asked.

Karl nodded. ”A dozen more at this house, and half as many, plus Alchemy Apprentices in Drodh. No more blue dragons, unfortunately, but we have bunnies, demons and dragonkin.”