Liberty and Death: Chapter 36
Chapter 36
Unfortunately, despite Cora’s insistence, Mike informed her it would very much not be easy. He spent the next few hours reinforcing that point.
It turned out, surprise surprise, that inheritance in Tyrinno was patrilineal, and while Linnaeus hadn’t had any children, Linnea had a half brother sown by her philandering father, who could argue that after Linnaeus’ death, Luxholme should fall to him. In fact, by law, his claim would be stronger than Linnea’s, if her father had ever openly acknowledged him.
However, his mother belonged to a new-money family that wasn’t as well-established as the Lights, but was currently far more powerful and wealthy. If he made a move, it’d be like Cora suing some random farmer back home: the system was just set up in his favor.
That all being said, Mike thought such an open move was unlikely. The little shit, Eldridge Parnassus, was new money. While Cora’s branch of the Light family had clearly fallen on well-deserved hard times, not all of the Lights had, and her branch had once been well respected. Moving openly and unilaterally against her risked making enemies a rat like Eldridge could ill afford.
“So… what, then, what’s he gonna do? Shit, does he even know Linnaeus is dead? This seems like a lot of time to spend on a hypothetical,” Cora said, really just looking for an excuse to get out of the office. She was not built for lectures on law and inter-family politics. Mike chuckled, a sound Cora did not like in this context.
“I think we can assume he knows about Linnaeus, and the thought of this move has occurred to him. The upper classes kept an eye on Luxholme. While your bro-, while Linnaeus ran this place into the ground, thank god, it was once the best source of ‘fine stock’ in the city. There are many who would see it returned to that, and I have had the misfortune of serving for many of Eldridge’s visits: he is just the sort of cruel, conniving, shit who would fancy himself capable of becoming a slavemaster himself, and turning Luxholme back into the black heart of despair it has been for years.”
“Yeesh,” Cora said, as the air around her grew cold and upsettingly moist. “Hey, hey, Lux, no, it's not your fault. You can’t help what people use you for, especially since you weren’t even awake.”
The air shifted into that pleasant breeze-hug, and returned to its normal ambient temperature.
“As for what he will do,” Mike continued, a bit of cruel glee dancing in his eyes, “well, he did always fancy Linnea. I imagine he will try to win you, and inherit the house along with your hand. Using the threat of doing it by force if necessary, of course.”
“Ughhhh oh my goooooooood,” Cora groaned, “why did anyone like this chick!? Like, yeah, im pretty hot in a tomboy way, but goddamn Linnea sucked!”
“I’m glad you think so, but you might not agree if you were Tyrinno nobility. Her brand of playful cruelty is something of the ideal among their ranks,” Mike explained.
“.... that…. fuckin’.... it tracks, I guess,” Cora sighed. “Cool, though, I mean, again, it's easy, right? I just pretend I’m gonna fuck him then poison his wine or something, right?”
“....Maybe,” Mike sighed. “I’d caution against that, but it is definitely an option. The issue is the death of someone like him would bring ACABB attention, which we cannot currently afford. Freeing us wasn’t illegal, but it was strange, and against the way of things in Tyrinno. If that becomes public knowledge too early the ACABB may suddenly care about all the Chains’ lives we take.”
“Ah, fuck, yeah, I get it, we had selective enforcement back home too. So, we have to…. what, make it look like an accident? Catch him doing something fucked up dead to rights? Shit, what’s even illegal here?” Cora asked.
“Not much, when it comes to nobility, I’m afraid,” Mike answered gravely. “For now, however, we do nothing, and hope he passes this opportunity by. Just be aware of the situation”
“Yeah,” Cora said, knocking twice on the wood of the desk, “because things have gone so well here so far. So, how’s the place looking overall, =Majordomo=?”
“Really, not bad at all with the supplies you brought yesterday,” Mike said, mood buoyed to be talking about something both positive and under his control. “Cash might be a bit of an issue, were your Chains scavenging scheme not to pan out, or if we fail to get the money from the bank. With the new security additions and the staff’s burgeoning salaries, you’ve put yourself on the hook for at least 7000P a week.”
Cora grimaced, that would burn through the cash she had on hand fast. With the accounting frame in her HUD reading 9,820P(80000P) had maybe a week if she didn’t get more money, either from the bank or elsewhere. That said, she wasn’t that worried.
“I get it, but that’s less than the profit from either gunfight we had yesterday. Provided the Chains don’t suddenly become pacifists, I don’t see it being an issue. Plus, I have another revenue stream in mind. I got the impression that Shimcores were valuable?” Cora asked.
Mike nodded, eyes going wide; “Very valuable. Each of the ones we used last night would be considered low grade, but would still go for 5000P at the right place in the Bazaar. There simply isn’t anyone around here that can harvest them.”
“Mmm, that’s because they come from Monsters, right?”
“Right…..”
“Well, I’m 90% sure those Monsters come out at night so [System Integrated] people can level. It's the only reason I can think of that they don’t attack people inside buildings, and disappear in the daytime. Except the Shimmer Addicts, which I don’t think are supposed to happen,” Cora groaned, sick of having to make so many guesses. “I need to get you hooked up to a way to talk with [Big Sys], they can explain this better. Or maybe not, their helpfulness is spotty.”
I RESEMBLE THAT REMARK!
That’s why I said it!
“So,” Mike said, looking thoughtful but clearly following her logic, “you plan to take your crew out hunting Monsters at night?”
“Hell yeah I do, and maybe Chains too. I’d bet they have their goons out doing the same thing. Be easy as sin to hit ‘em while they’re wrapped up with something big and gribbly,” Cora said with a grin. She had no real idea what to expect in terms of ‘monsters’ but her mind had settled on little rubbery versions of Godzilla for some reason.
“I don’t know what gribbly means, but I believe I follow. You don’t… expect me to go on these expeditions?” Mike asked, adjusting his starched white collar.
Cora winked at him, causing the man to gulp.
“Nah, not yet,” she laughed, to his visible relief. “ But maybe eventually? The only reference I have for this kind of thing is a shitty videogame, and from what I remember killing shit was far and away the best way to level up. I would appreciate it if you join Iain’s training sessions from time to time. Once we get things figured out, maybe we can start sending out weaker [Members] with a group of badasses, see if we can boost their growth.”
“A fine idea!” Mike said, clearly just happy that idea was somewhere in the nebulous future. “Both for the training, and financially. Occasionally, someone will kill a Monster in Light’s Fall, and it’s always profitable for them when they do, provided they survive long enough to collect the corpse.”
“Thought so,” Cora nodded. “It’s kinda fucked up, I bet these Shimcores aren’t even supposed to be rare, its just that the whole way your world works got messed with.”
GUILTY! THEIR FAULT THOUGH!
Ain’t even blaming you, honestly. But, you gotta admit a lot of the little people are suffering. Way it always goes with these things.
THAT’S WHY YOU’RE HERE!
Yeah, you’ve made it pretty clear out of everyone in existence, you picked a movie star to save your world. You got lucky that I’m game.
LUCKY LIKE A FOX!
Cora left Mike in the office, whispering an order for Lux to do everything in her power to get the man to sleep.
Her stomach rumbled, and she realized that something mango-ish and a croissant did not a full day’s nutrition make. She followed her nose to the kitchen, where she found Tinny sweating over a pot of stew.
“Damn, you were our cook?” Cora asked, “That smells amazing, losing you would have been devastating.”
Tinny tensed at the sound of Linnea’s voice, and Cora winced.
Right, to these people I’m worse than a stranger. Don’t sneak up on them.
“I’m not her, Tinny,” Cora said, softly. Tinny’s shoulders relaxed a fraction, but even though she’d decided to stay, years of abuse didn’t fall away easy. Still, when she turned to face Cora, she wore a bright smile.
“Plenty of the girls can cook, Cora,” Tinny said, stressing her name. “Just part of the… training…”
Fuck.
“Hey, now the only ones that have to cook are the ones that want to, and they get paid for it. Hope you’re doing this because you enjoy it?” Cora asked.
Tinny turned back to the pot, but threw Cora a sassy little smirk over her shoulder.
“I’m doing it because I’m hungry, Cora, and everyone else will be soon too. Come on! Grab a bowl, and let everyone else know soup’s on!”