Chapter 45 - A Not Unexpected Development
The next day Benton ran errands while the twins cultivated. His first stop was the Heavenly Transit Mercantile Association. Ma An had agreed to pick up the Orange Vigor Spirit Wood from the warehouse, but the city wasn’t exactly arranged with street names and addresses like one would expect on Earth. His men and carts had to be escorted to the correct location to pick up the load.
That task accomplished, Benton spent the rest of the morning and into the afternoon finding and talking to the woodworker, the alchemist, and the blacksmith that Ma An had recommended. Each agreed to the price and timeline that the merchant had suggested, so by the time the workday ended, Benton had deals in place to get his spears made. The finished product was expected in ten days.
After a dinner out with the siblings, the three returned to the warehouse where Benton guided his disciples in practicing their various techniques until, late in the evening, Zou Tian knocked on the warehouse’s door and was let inside.
The boy shook as he kowtowed. “Sincerest apologies, Esteemed Master Cultivator. This lowly one was forced to report your movements yesterday to the gang leader. He knows that the Esteemed Master Cultivator is in possession of a king’s ransom in city notes.”
The development was not unexpected. After all, the kid had been placed as a lookout for a reason, and Benton had told him not to risk his life by withholding information.
“What was his reaction?” Benton said.
“His eyes are filled with visions of treasure, but his greed is tempered with caution. He trusts that this lowly one’s reports of the Esteemed Master Cultivator’s power is accurate and, even if he didn’t, he would think that anyone carrying such a large sum of money probably has the means to protect it. This lowly one expects him to sell the information to one of the cultivator gangs in return for a portion of any treasure they steal.”
“How soon will the cultivator gang make a move? Tonight?”
“That would be this lowly one’s best guess, Esteemed Master Cultivator. They wouldn’t want to take the chance of their prize slipping away.”
“You did well. Thanks for bringing this information to me.” Benton handed the kid ten silver taels.
Zou Tian’s eyes went wide. Obviously, he’d been expecting punishment, maybe even death, not a reward.
“You do your thing and stay safe,” Benton said. “We’ll be ready.”