Chapter 10: Echoes and Alliances
The carefully sown misinformation began to bear fruit. Anya, continuing her discreet surveillance of Scarelli's known haunts and now tracking the two investigators she'd identified, reported that the lean man with cold eyes (whom Mickey had heard referred to as "Silas") and his broken-nosed companion ("Benny") were spending considerable time around the false address Elias had fed them via Mickey's "betrayal." They were watching an empty building, wasting resources, growing frustrated.
This bought Elias time, a precious commodity. His focus shifted slightly, from direct counter-moves against Scarelli to strengthening his own nascent organization. He needed more than just eyes, ears, and muscle. He needed skilled individuals who could operate in different spheres.
He reviewed the System's available Tier 1 troops again: Barbarian, Archer, Goblin. While potent, they were specialized. He wondered if the System offered anything for intellect, or perhaps a different kind of subtle influence. For now, he had to work with what was available.
One evening, Thomas MacIntyre brought someone to Elias's apartment. It was Henri Leclerc, the butcher. The fear had mostly left Leclerc's eyes, replaced by a hesitant gratitude and a newfound, fragile courage.
"Mr. Thorne," Leclerc began, his voice still a little shaky but firm, twisting his cloth cap in his hands. "Mr. MacIntyre explained... well, not everything, but he said you were the one who... who helped me. With those... gentlemen."
Elias gestured for him to sit. "Mr. Scarelli's associates were creating a disturbance, Mr. Leclerc. It was in my interest, as your landlord and as someone who values a peaceful neighborhood, to see it resolved."
Leclerc nodded vigorously. "I... I don't know how to repay you, sir. Business is still slow, but... I owe you. My shop, my family's safety... And what Mr. MacIntyre did..." He looked at Thomas with undisguised awe. "It was like something from a legend."
Thomas merely grunted, embarrassed by the praise.
Elias saw an opportunity. Leclerc wasn't a fighter, nor a spy. But he was a respected member of his local community, albeit a timid one. He had a network of suppliers, other small business owners, customers. He was an ear to the ground in a different way than Mickey.