[Hanako] Chapter 6: Birkensen Trading Company

[Throndir]

"I see... It looks like you've already decided then? In that case, if your destination is Isikawa, I would still need a way for my shipment to be smuggled to that country..."

"It looks like you have some things that I would want... It's a pity you won't part with your slaves, but let's talk business, shall we? I can be fair in my dealings, provided there's profit. To our Refedorian hero, I will of course be fair." She kept her face impassive, but her eyes were smiling.

We can do the actual negotiations out of the topic, and we'll summarize it, just mention what you want to trade. Keep in mind details of who pays the Consumption costs for upkeep of the mines/foundry/people, along with all the other potential contracts/plans Klein has. Note also what you want. If you want to attempt to Diplomacy, Bluff, or Intimidate Sofia, feel free to roll those as well.

[Asta]

"One would hope." Hanako said, motioning for Minette to come closer so she could keep track of the negotiations. "Here's what I'm willing to trade..."

What followed was a short explanation of Hanako's demands, and what she was willing to trade for them.

While looking over the examples of Sofia's newly developed firearms, Hanako attempted to give a rudimentary explanation of how barrel rifling and cartridge ammunition worked. If she was going to be buying guns, she wanted the absolute cutting edge the continent had to offer.

Knowledge Technology to explain modern firearms:

Rolled 1d20+10 : 19 + 10, total 29

[Throndir]

Handling the negotiations, both of you listed what you wanted. Sofia wanted to use you as the Birkensen Trading Company's hero, but you had flatly refused, she eventually settled for using you as a way to smuggle the shipments of weapons out. Along with 50% of Klein Company's profits. In return, she would give you the Demon slave, three Galleys with a full crew each, 7 pistols, 2 light magic pistols, 2 light magic collars, estate keepers, a fake 'Klein', a slave that can use the mana transfer magic for recharging the mana crystals, along with Sofia's services for handling Klein Company's future and current deals.

Overall, she seemed extremely pleased, and had even pulled out a couple of contracts for the both of you to sign. With that done, you moved on to the topic of rifles.

When you described how the rifle worked. Her eyes lighted up. She held out a finger to stop you. After that, she snapped her fingers, and a couple of engineers came over to listen. You explained it then, and they soaked up the information, and wrote down their own notes.

After a few minutes of discussion amongst the engineers, they reported back to Sofia.

"I think I can get you these rifles in a week. It looks like there's some experimentation they want to do, but it should be feasible."

[Asta]

"Fantastic." Hanako smiled. This was going better than she thought. There was a pang of guilt at not securing the fairy's release, but it wasn't likely that Sofia would have gone for it. After everything was said and done something that Sofia had mentioned earlier crawled up from the back of Hanako's mind.

"Say... earlier when you totally misinterpreted what I was talking about and started thinking about building bombs, you mentioned you knew where you could get a replenishable supply of mana. What exactly did you mean by that...?"

[Throndir]

Sofia smiled as her eyes stared at yours closely. She pulled out what looked to be a mana crystal from somewhere on her person.

"Listen around you. What do you hear?" She asked, then paused for a few seconds. "The sounds of slaves hard at work for the Birkensen Trading Company. But even though we make use of their might, their hard work, their perseverance, and drive... There's something we have yet to make use of."

"Did you know, that every living creature out there has mana?" Placing the crystal on the table, she pushed it towards you.

"A small gift. Do whatever you please with it." She smiled.

"They store mana quite well."

[Asta]

Hanako's eyes darted between Sofia and the crystal on the table, there was an up-welling of disgust that she fought hard to keep from her face at what was just suggested. "Are you talking about... draining these people of their mana? You'll just have them wake up, suck them dry and then put them back to work after?"

She picked the crystal up and turned it over in her hand, examining it.

"You don't even see them as people do you?" she asked rhetorically, almost a whisper.

[Throndir]

Sofia frowned.

"Of course they're people. But they are also the backbone of our company. They do not have their freedom, but they are fed well, clothed, cleaned, and housed. For those that show exceptional promise, we move them up in position, and perhaps eventually working up on the first floor. It's hardly as inhumane as how some nobles keep their own slaves."

"But they are striving for the good of the company. We'll probably do some test runs first of course... See how draining it is for us to capture their mana in those crystals. Either way... I see a lot of benefit to these. Better we're prepared for the worst. After all, if word had ever come out on the true goals of the Birkensen Trading Company, a horde demons would be charging through our HQ this very moment."

[Asta]

"If the demons were driven off and your country could self rule again, would they be freed and given a fair wage?" Hanako prodded. It was true that she hadn't seen anyone besides the fairy and the demon girl mistreated, but slavery was still slavery... "You are right though, that you should be prepared."

[Throndir]

Sofia paused, staring at you carefully.

"It doesn't change the fact that they are property. I would hire those who show skill, or potential in business or paperwork... Perhaps more engineers, leaders in our company, and the like... But for the truly unskilled? If all they are good for are the menial jobs that they are given, then that is all that they will amount to. Either way, there's enough people in the world to cater to those needs."

[Asta]

Hanako shrugged. "If that's how you see it, we are diametrically opposed. That doesn't change the fact that we are working toward a common goal however. I'll begin making our preparations once we return to the estate, and provided nothing happens to change the course of events we will begin smuggling when everything is ready."

She tapped her fingers on the table for a second, thinking. "I may have something else to share later, but I need to see to some things before I can do so. I'll send a letter if and when the situation allows."

If there's nothing else going on Hanako and crew will probably be good to move on. She plans to take the demon girl with her now, and will likely need to throw a hood on her or something to cover up her horns/keep her from knowing where they are going. If we need to have a scene about it, that's cool with me.

[Asta]

Disguise:
This dice roll has been tampered with!
Rolled 1d20+1 : 3 + 1, total 4

Stealth:

Rolled 1d20+9 : 6 + 9, total 15

[Throndir]

With the dealings complete, Sofia had ordered some of her men to initiate the ritual of a collar ownership. It was similar to how you did yours, and they had even produced contracts for the purpose. Once that was done, you were the owner of two more collars. Along with that, they loaded a box full of the weapons you had ordered, and each one also came with plenty of extra ammo.

Finally, when Sofia's men released the cage that kept the demon, she looked in surprised.

"W-what's happening...?" One of Sofia's men triggered her collar then, causing her to reel from pain, and in that same moment, he disabled the collar on her, and replaced it with the new one assigned to you.

"Trigger the collar by just willing it. By default it will be set to whatever setting is decided for its default. Otherwise, explicitly set it to a higher or lower setting."

The demon girl scrambled up to her feet again once one of the men roughly forced her to stand up. He then threw the demon slave towards Trudy.

"Keep a tight grip on her."

"Y-yes..." Trudy stammered, though, you noticed that Trudy didn't really hold on as tightly as Sofia's men had suggested. The demon slave girl looked from Trudy, then her eyes reached for you. There was confusion on her face still, but you also saw the glimmer of hope.

[Asta]

Hanako watched as the collars were switched and the girl was released into Trudy's less than tight grip. "You should probably do what was advised" she said softly, "For everyone's safety."

To the demon she spoke in the same soft tone, "You're coming along with us. I implore you, please don't do anything any of us will regret. We'll be covering you up a bit for the ride, please bear with it."

Before they left, Hanako took some time to cover up the girl with whatever they had on hand to disguise her horns. Once they were in the carriage they would block her vision. It was only right to be careful, you never know how things might turn out and it would be a shame to be discovered so soon after an agreement had been reached.

Whenever appropriate, Hanako and crew are ready to move along home.

[Throndir]

Trudy nodded, and continued to have a tight hold on the demon girl, another one of your soldiers flanked her as well.

Soon enough, Sofia called for a slave to be brought to you as well. It looked to be a young girl, shorter than you. She had a collar on as well, and Sofia mentioned it was already assigned to you. At the very least, this slave was clothed properly, and her eyes didn't seem as dead as the ones you remember back in Klein's dungeon.

"Hello... My name is Carol Graf... master... Herr Hanako. Herr Sofia says I will be your slave... I can do the mana transfer magic to the crystals."

Eventually, the seven of you were shown up the elevator (including the demon slave and the specialized slave), though Sofia said her goodbyes while you were still down at the bottom levels. She had wanted to discuss the new plans of the bomb with a couple of others. Two of your soldiers were carrying the large box that contained the goods that you had just bought. With your lack of confidence making Klein's signature, Sofia promised to send a courier to you in a couple days to finish that paperwork.

For my own notes:

2,000 GP = Demon Slave
20,000 GP = Galley 1
5,000 GP = Crew Complement (20 men)
20,000 GP = Galley 2
5,000 GP = Crew Complement (20 men)
20,000 GP = Galley 3
5,000 GP = Crew Complement (20 men)
3,000 GP = Estate keepers and Fake Klein
500 GP = Specialized Slave with Magic for Transferring
4,000 GP = Handling Klein's Future Contacts/Contracts/Business deals
5,000 GP = Light Collar 1
5,000 GP = Light Collar 2
7,000 GP = 7 Pistols
4,000 GP = 2 Light Magic Pistols

In return:
44,000 GP = 11 BP a month (50% of Klein's profits)
Smuggling for this shipment

Your aid with the demon girl's disguise really only amounted to a cloak that she would wrap around herself, however, the demon girl kept it close to her, knowing full well that a change in environment could potentially mean a better situation than she found herself in. Soon enough the carriage was loaded with both the new slaves, along with the box of new weapons.


Location: Herr Klein's Estate
Date: Day 7 - 4 PM

You managed to escape the suspicions of the demons, your soldiers were good at blending in the background, no doubt it was something Klein had done often in his business trips.

The demon girl was still flanked by Trudy and one other, and her eyes widened when she was brought into the estate. It was then that she took off her hood as well, but in that moment a couple of your soldiers eyes widened, and they all pulled out their swords. Many of the other slaves too who had noticed began to back away warily.

"Frau Hero... That's a demon."

Note you also have 2 hours of free training left for the day. Since you met with Sofia, go ahead and take your Kingdom turn. You'll get to have full profits for this, its for the next set of rolls 30 days from now which Sofia will take the 50%.

[Asta]

"Frau Hero... That's a demon."

"That she is, please sheath your swords. She won't be causing us any trouble and for the most part I doubt you'll have a lot of interactions with her. I have my reasons for bringing her here and I simply ask that you cause her no harm, and are at least polite if you speak with her. I am deadly serious when I say that if I find out she has been hurt, there will be consequences. So lets all just be polite shall we?"

It was the reaction she expected. She knew that the others wouldn't understand, but that was largely irrelevant for now. Later Hanako would surely have to face a grilling from Trudy and Minette, and she would probably tell them why she took her from Sofia but that was later tonight.

To the other newcomer, Hanako smiled gently. "Carol was it? You can just call me Hanako I'm glad to have you with us, and I hope you'll be able to show me how that transfer magic works sometime soon. For now, lets get you out of that collar and find you someplace to sleep."

She returned her attention to Trudy and the demon girl. "Find her a bedroom if you can, and some clothes please. Maybe a simple meal too. When she's set up, go ahead and lock the door as I think that would be in everyone's best interests for now." She placed a hand on the demon girl's shoulder, "I'll stop by later once you're settled in. We need to speak. You should be... safe, or at least safer here. Try not to cause any problems, please."

While people are getting settled in, Hanako will use those two remaining hours to do expedited training on Klein's signature. Afterwards she'll go meet with the demon.

Rolled 1d20+7 : 6 + 7, total 13