A Foul Bargain

Ruol had taken to running his operations out of a watering hole in an upscale town center just outside of Lookshy. The town was basically a consortium of wealthy farmers, made rich by the need to feed the growing Seventh-Legion, who had contracted the actual running of their farms to hired help and centralized their own locations to better control the market. The situation resulted in rampant price-fixing and monopoly, but Lookshy still preferred it to buying from the Guild. Opal knew the door guard at the exclusive saloon and was able to enter without making a scence, but she didn't know if her lucky contact was part of a trap or just a wild coincidence. The Veil War had made Opal so paranoid that she trusted nothing and assumed almost every event in her life was orchestrated in some way - certainly it had made her underlying psychological issues (known to very few even after seven years) even worse.

Regardless, with Naru at stake, Opal pressed forward even with the sneaking suspicion Ruol meant for Opal to find him. She subtly copped her sheathed switchklave, strapped to her thigh and concealed under a flowing skirt, reassuring herself of her armament. Moving to the bar, she took an isolated seat and flagged the bartender. At first, she was tempted to flash her spider tattoo and be shown straight to Ruol, but kept her cool and decided to take a more subtle approach. On the off chance that she could get the jump on him, it would prove useful in negotiations.

The bartender came to Opal, leaning forward to hear over the din of the patrons. Opal spoke first.

"How ya doin'?"

The bartender shrugged, maintaining his cocked ear, "Can't complain. Business is good."

Opal inquired, "Nightlife more exciting these days?" Noting the bartender's slight impatience, she decided to relieve his obligations for a while and said, "Why don't you pour two whiskeys, one neat, one however ya like, and leave the bottle next to mine? I'm here visiting a cousin, but I'm actually trying to buy out part of his farming operation - and I want to get the lay of the land so I know who I can try to partner up with if I have to." As he slowly reached for two glasses, Opal reassured him, “I tip well. Talk to me.”

As the bartender poured two neat whiskeys, Opal began her questioning. Seething with rage, it was everything Opal could do to keep her cool, but knew that a successful approach to Ruol required her to stay calm.

“So what’s got business up lately? Visitors, land changing hands, what’s going on?”

The bartender took a sip from his own glass, seemingly content that Opal was prepared to pay for her information.

“Visitors, mostly – if you’re looking for internal business partners, you might be out of luck. Everything’s family here – blood’s thicker than water, and land mainly changes hands between family members… As you know.” The bartender tipped his glass toward Opal, whose own cover was trying to buy out her cousin.

Opal smirked and replied, “Sure, but who’s getting all these visitors? Maybe I’d have some luck there, or am I not the only one trying to get into this operation?”

The bartender said, “Well, you might realize that a business venture unconnected to the Guild present an appealing option to some people. A lot of the visitors are talking to Lodja, who owns one of the larger farms.”

Opal shot the remainder of her whiskey and poured another glass. “Think you could point me in his direction?”

The bartender took a sizable gulp himself and gestured toward a table near the stairs. “Older guy, blue tunic, jade earrings.”

Opal nodded and replied, “Thanks.” She shot her next glass of whiskey and dropped a bag of jade on the table, the value of which far exceeded the cost of her whiskey. “All yours.”

Leaving her glass behind, Opal got up and approached Lodja’s table. Not wasting any time, she stopped short a comfortable distance and greeting him with a wry, knowing grin – one that suggested she knew his importance.

“Lodja, I presume?”

He nodded, somewhat unphased at this point by random strangers. “That’d be correct.”

Opal quietly slid a chair out and took a seat, leaning forward on the table. Although she tried to come off just vaguely sensual, just in case, Lodja didn’t have the look of a man who’d be terribly susceptible to such charms – particularly Opal’s; seduction was not her forte.

“I have a… sensitive issue.”

Opal let the silence hang for a moment, but continued when she noted Lodja’s total lack of interest in her suggestive tone. Ash probably would have had more luck. She forged ahead.

“I’ve got family here, and I think it’s about time I got a slice of this pie – with Legion recruiting on the up and up, my other business prospects just don’t match up. Thing is, small town you know… I have to be careful how I go about this.”

Opal, surveying Lodja for a hook, spotted a pipe in his tunic pocket. She’d been smoking with Ash and Mesa on their last job, and had some of their tobacco with her – they always sprung for the classy shit.

“I’ve got some of Chiaroscuro’s finest tobacco with me – how about we go somewhere away from prying ears and have a smoke?”

Lodja cautiously nodded, “Why not?” The farmer pushed out his chair and stood, gesturing Opal after him. They climbed the stairs of the tavern, turning left at the top of the stairs. Again, almost too perfect – Opal was mainly looking for an excuse to go upstairs without stirring up any curiosity. Still, she couldn’t turn back. They entered a seating area which overlooked the first floor, complete with padded chairs and a fireplace. Lodja sat down as Opal handed him a bag of tobacco. He began stuffing his pipe.

Opal asked, “So, do you most of your business up here?”

Lodja nodded, puffing deeply on his pipe as it began to glow. He looked to Opal with a twinge of suspicion, asking, “Sure do. You going to join me?” The farmer gestured to his pipe.

“I’m not, actually. Really, I’m just wondering whether you realize you’re an asset or if you’re one of the blokes they don’t bother telling.”

Taking the pipe from his mouth, flabbergasted, Lodja replied, “What? What the hell are you talking about?”

“I thought so. Sorry in advance by the way.”

Lodja began to stand up from his chair to return to the crowd, exasperatedly remarking, “I think we’re –“

Opal lunged quickly and silently, striking the man’s jugular with the edge of her hand. As he gasped, she struck another blow at his temple, knocking him out. She quickly grabbed his falling form and lowered it gently into the chair. She whispered, “Done here? Yes, we are. Quite... Okay, Ruol you motherfucker, where are you hiding?”