[Current Balance: £3,046,439 5s. 11d.]
---Late Evening, Penn Estate---
Weeks had passed since Alaric sparred with his disciples and butler.
Now, on the night before their journey to London, Alaric sat comfortably in William Penn's office, sipping some Celestial Tea from a delicate porcelain cup.
"You know," Penn chuckled, leaning back in his chair. "I still find it rather amusin' how this tea turned Bristol's nobility into obsessed collectors. Had to pay off a few merchants just to stop 'em from pesterin' me."
Alaric grinned. "I'm sure Caroline's proud of her strategies."
"She ought to be," Penn nodded. "Though I reckon she's a touch too proud. I've heard her comparin' Celestial Tea to liquid gold."
"She's not wrong," Alaric smirked.
The two men chuckled before Penn exhaled and placed his cup down.
"On to more serious matters," Penn said, his tone firm. "We leave tomorrow with the forty thousand Celestial Salves. So... ten wagons, each carryin' one hundred and sixty crates. We'll have two carriages for ourselves. One for Letitia, her husband, and me. The second for you and Reuben."
"Sounds manageable," Alaric said, swirling his cup. "How many guards are you bringing?"
"Twelve," Penn answered. "Six mounted, six walkin' alongside the wagons. We're not cuttin' costs this time... they'll be equipped with the finest weapons money can buy. Anyone foolish enough to try robbin' us will regret it."
"Not a bad setup," Alaric replied, impressed by Penn's preparation. 'At least he learned after he was made captive...'
"The Queen will need to be handled delicately," Penn continued. "Anne's a dear friend to me... her family an' I have always been on good terms. But even friendship has its limits."
"That's true... friendship has its limits."
"Aye, and she's under immense pressure," Penn explained. "The merchants and slave owners in Bristol won't let go of their grip easily. Proposin' the end of their trade means offendin' powerful families. That's why I intend to leverage the Celestial Salves."
"I agree," Alaric asked. 'He's right about the slave owners...'
"I'm sure you do... you planned this yourself," Penn nodded. "The Crown would move heaven an' earth to secure that many. To gift 'em the salves, free of charge, will elevate my status significantly. The Queen may feel indebted to me, or at the very least, see me as a vital ally. Once that's established, I'll push for Bristol's slave trade to be phased out."
"That's ambitious," Alaric admitted. "But I like it."
"It's the best chance we have," Penn said. "The weight alone of forty thousand Celestial Salves is staggerin'. Imagine hundreds of crates stacked like walls, that visual alone will shake the nobles to their core."
Alaric smirked. "Seems like you won't need me come with you after all."
'With the amount of planning he spent on this, I'd be surprised if it doesn't work...'
Penn grinned slyly. "Oh, you'd be wrong about that."
"Oh?"
"Whenever you're near me," Penn said with a smile, "I swear luck seems to follow me."
"Maybe that's just because I'm handsome," Alaric teased, flashing a grin.
"No... I know that's not it," Penn laughed heartily then leaned forward, voice dropping to a near whisper. "I know you're not normal."
Alaric's smile faltered slightly. "Oh?"
Alaric's smile faltered slightly. "Oh?"
"I know you created all those items without any ingredients," Penn stared at Alaric. "I didn't question you for it. Your Celestial Salves were saving lives..."
Alaric stayed silent for a few seconds while staring back at Penn, then chuckled. "Heh... I'm surprised you never used me..."
"I'm using you, though?" William Penn raised his brows, "Just as you're using me. We're making money unlike anyone else. Though, to be fair, you've earned far more than I have these past fourteen years..."
"You got that right," Alaric smirked then sipped some of the tea. "However, even if you're my business-partner... I've always thought of you as my family."
"..."
Both of the sipped some tea before Alaric could see Penn's smile.
"I'm honored," Penn looked down, watching his tea that was about to finish. "I've also thought of you as family as well… not like a son, but a younger brother."
"..."
"..."
"Younger brother? You're 49 years older than me..."
"Yes… however, from the moment we met, your words, your emotions, even your way of thinking… they were never those of a child. You've always sounded like a man of thirty..."
'Damn...' Alaric thought as he sighed. "Your children are older than me..."
"Even so, that does not change my opinion of you."
"...Sure," Alaric shook his head. "And? What else do you know?"
"Well... there are some other things too," Penn said firmly. "I know of the templars... I know of the Assassins. And I know you know about them too."
Alaric placed his cup down, fingers drumming on the table. "How much do you know?"
"More than most," Penn said. "I know the Templars and Assassins are locked in a battle to gain powerful artifacts... relics from an ancient civilization. I don't know how old this civilization is... but I know those weapons are more than just metal and gold."
Alaric kept his gaze steady. "You know a lot more than you should."
"I've been in politics a long time," Penn said with a smile. "Secrets find their way to me."
"Then you're right about me. I'm not exactly normal... but I'm still human." Alaric paused and leaned back in his chair before adding, "I'm stronger and faster than most. And I have something called an Eagle Vision... it's basically a sixth sense."
"Sixth sense?" Penn asked curiously.
"I can... perceive things others can't. People's intentions... their presence." Alaric shrugged. "It's hard to explain."
Penn chuckled softly. "Seems I'm not alone, then. I have a sixth sense too. Mine's not quite as impressive... I simply know when someone's lying."
Alaric blinked, genuinely surprised. "Wait... you have the Eagle Vision too?" he asked, curiosity surfacing.
"Yes," Penn confirmed with a nod. "If that's what that's called..."
"I see..." Alaric looked down on his cup, then stared at the Quaker.
"Do you know? People with this ability... they're often gifted when it comes to fighting. You should consider training yourself... even if you're old now, it's worth it."
Penn chuckled dryly. "Trainin' myself? At this age?"
"You'd be surprised," Alaric said with a grin. "That sense of yours... it's more valuable than you realize."
Penn frowned thoughtfully. "You really believe that? I've never seen this 'gift' as anything useful. Just something that helped me avoid bad deals and dishonest men."
"That's exactly why you should train," Alaric insisted. "You've been using it without knowing. With proper practice, you could sharpen it... maybe even sense things beyond lies."
"Like what?" Penn asked, intrigued.
"Intent. Threats. Sometimes you can pick up on things before they even happen." Alaric paused. "It's rare... but that may happen... people that have the Eagle Vision have different versions of it."
Penn sighed, glancing at his hands. "If I were younger... perhaps. But now? Seems a bit late for an old man like me."
"Nonsense," Alaric said firmly. "Reuben and Thulani are both gifted with that sense too, and it makes a huge difference in combat. You could still sharpen yours. Don't let your age hold you back."
"I s'pose you're not wrong," Penn chuckled again, but softer this time. He hesitated for a moment, then sighed. "But even if I wanted to train... where would I even begin? I've no experience in fightin'."
Alaric took a sip of his tea before answering. "When you return to Bristol after London, find Thulani. Ask him to train you."
Penn blinked. "When I return? Not we?"
Alaric chuckled softly. "Yeah... I told you before. I'm leaving England for a while."
"I thought you were jesting," Penn said, looking genuinely surprised. "You're serious?"
"Serious as can be," Alaric nodded. "I've been here long enough... it's time I see what the world has to offer."
There was a pause, heavy with unspoken thoughts. Then Penn spoke, breaking the silence. "So... I'll ask Thulani for martial arts trainin', right?"
"Right," Alaric confirmed. "But you'll need to pay him some coin. Thulani's... not as free as he used to be. He's been busy helping run the business."
"Of course," Penn nodded. "I wouldn't expect him to work for free."
"Good," Alaric said with a smile. He then stood from his seat and stretched his arms. "By the way... is your basement storage room still clean?"
Penn raised an eyebrow. "Aye... since I've been expectin' the lifetime supply you promised."
Alaric shook his head with a chuckle. "Then I'll do my end of the deal. I'll give you four years' worth of Celestial Tea for now."
Penn's eyes widened before a grin broke across his face. "Damn... I appreciate it, lad! I will always thank myself for doin' this deal!"
Alaric smiled and continued to walk toward the office door. "Bye!"
...
[Sage's Herbal Infusion Tea Bags (2400 Boxes) - £367 10s.]
[- £367 10s.]
[Current Balance: £3,046,071 15s. 11d.]
—Underground Training Grounds—
The cave beneath the Kenway estate was pitch black. No torches, no lanterns... only the sound of footsteps scraping against the ground and ragged breathing.
Reuben and Thulani circled each other as their Eagle Vision barely illuminated their surroundings.
"You're getting slow, old man?" Reuben taunted, flipping his daggers in his hands.
"We're the same age... don't call me old when I still remember how you kept getting your ass kicked by Alaric," Thulani shot back, brandishing his greatsword.
The two clashed, steel scraping against steel. Reuben's swift strikes deflected by Thulani's powerful swings. Reuben danced in and out of range, slashing when an opening presented itself, but Thulani's greatsword carved arcs that forced him back.
"You can't touch me," Reuben grinned, ducking a wide swing.
"Neither can you," Thulani smirked, deflecting Reuben's swift dagger thrust with the flat of his blade.
Their weapons couldn't land, but their fists did. Thulani's punch glanced off Reuben's shoulder; Reuben's knee slammed into Thulani's ribs. Both men staggered back, grinning despite the pain.
"One day," Thulani panted, "you'll be too tired to dodge."
"One day," Reuben laughed, "you'll be too tired to swing."
They lunged again, Reuben spinning low, blades flashing for Thulani's legs. The greatsword crashed down, but Reuben barely twisted away in time. Thulani's blade slammed into the dirt, cracking the stone beneath it.
"Missed again!" Reuben called out, springing back to his feet.
"You're running out of room to dance," Thulani grunted, planting his sword and launching a heavy kick at Reuben's chest. Reuben twisted to the side, but Thulani anticipated it — his fist caught Reuben's jaw, sending him skidding back.
"Not bad," Reuben spat, rubbing his chin. "I barely felt that."
"That's funny," Thulani smirked, rolling his shoulder. "Because I barely felt your knee earlier."
"You'll feel the next one," Reuben promised.
"Come try me," Thulani growled.
The next exchange was a blur of flashing steel and darting shadows. Reuben's daggers danced like vipers, weaving rapid arcs that forced Thulani to step back.
Thulani's greatsword carved wide arcs through the dirt, kicking up dust as his blade swept through the air.
Reuben ducked low, striking at Thulani's ribs with a swift elbow before retreating. Thulani responded with a brutal kick that caught Reuben's leg, sending him tumbling. Rolling to his feet, Reuben spat out dirt and grinned.
"That all you got?"
Neither could land a decisive strike, but bruises from fists and feet began to build.
Each blow met with a grunt or curse, neither man willing to give ground.
Breathing hard, Thulani paused and grinned. "We're getting better."
"We're getting older," Reuben shot back, flipping his dagger with a cocky grin. "But I'm still faster than you.""
Clang!
Steel scraped against steel as Reuben and Thulani fought fiercely.
Their strikes blurred with speed, yet neither could gain the upper hand.
Finally, Reuben slipped behind Thulani, his dagger pressing lightly against Thulani's neck.
Thulani sighed. "I lost... again."
Clap. Clap. Clap.
"..."
"Stop trying to be mysterious, 'Laric. We know that's you," Reuben scoffed, met with a chuckle from Alaric.
Alaric walked towards them; his form revealed within the limited radius of their Eagle Vision.
"I think you guys need more training if you can't even sense me while fighting," Alaric teased.
Thulani remained silent while Reuben scoffed again.
"Even if we practice our vision more, it's useless. Locating you is basically impossible," Reuben sighed, sheathing his weapons.
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