Chapter 15: The Art of Informational Leverage
Mark spent the remainder of the evening in silent collaboration with Jarvis, dissecting the Dwarven Bank Manifest—the illicit lexicon he had purchased from Madam Zaya. The original translation had focused on the Aetheric Core activation key, but the full Manifest was a detailed ledger of assets, debts, and hidden caches belonging to the exiled Dwarven families.
"Analysis complete, Host. The primary weakness of Vassal Thorne, owner of The Obsidian Gallery, is revealed. Thorne is not merely a fence; he is a silent partner in a large-scale land fraud operation," Jarvis reported.
Mark studied the highlighted runes on his internal screen.
"Elaborate, Jarvis."
"The city's elite believe Thorne acquired his wealth through art and antiquity sales. However, the Manifest confirms that twenty years ago, Thorne used insider knowledge to purchase the deeds for the Northern Quarry Lands—land supposedly depleted of all valuable resources. The Manifest reveals that a massive, untouched vault of Consecrated Dwarven Gold is buried directly beneath that land. Thorne is quietly waiting for the statute of limitations on the original Dwarven claims to expire before mining the gold. This is tax evasion, land fraud, and potentially a capital offense under the Royal Edict of Artifact Seizure."
Mark whistled softly.
"So, Thorne is sitting on hundreds of thousands of gold pieces, and I have the map. If that information leaks to the City Treasurer's office, his gallery, his reputation, and his life are forfeit."
"We will not use the full threat, Host. We will use the threat of the leak. Project Prometheus requires the Tri-Weave Reliquary. Cost of Reliquary: Priceless. Cost of silence: One Reliquary."
Remaining Capital: 15 Silver Shillings.
Mark smoothed his cloak, a thin man with almost no money, about to confront one of the wealthiest criminals in Port Elmswood.
---
The Obsidian Gallery was located in the highest echelon of the Central Ward—a modernist structure of polished black stone and reinforced, magically-warded glass. It didn't display art; it stored prestige.
Mark entered the silent, chilled gallery. Every piece on display—from ancient elven tapestry fragments to gleaming clockwork golems—was guarded by subtle magic and overt, intimidating security.
A smooth, handsome attendant, smelling faintly of expensive perfume, approached him.
"May I help you, sir? Acquisitions are by appointment only."
"Tell Vassal Thorne that Mark Noax, the Master Broker who solved the Cryptic Stone Tablet, has arrived with information concerning his Northern Quarry Lands deed," Mark stated, his voice calm and precise.
The attendant's smile faltered. The name Northern Quarry Lands was not public knowledge.
Less than a minute later, Mark was ushered into Thorne's private study—a lavish room decorated with artifacts too valuable to be on public display.
---
Vassal Thorne was a formidable man, clad in tailored black velvet, with the keen, assessing eyes of a man who measured every person by their net worth. He gestured to a chair, but did not sit himself.
"Mr. Noax. I am told you have a penchant for solving archaic riddles," Thorne began, his tone dripping with patronizing amusement. "And that you are asking about my old, depleted mining deeds. I assure you, the land is barren."
Mark met his gaze.
"I am not here to discuss mining, Master Thorne. I am here to discuss consecrated gold."
Thorne's composure broke instantly. He dismissed his attendant and locked the door.
"What exactly do you know, Broker?" Thorne hissed.
"I know the Dwarven Bank Manifest is not an allegory," Mark replied. "I know that beneath your barren quarry lands lies the untouched vault of the Exiled Families… approximately 30,000 lbs of consecrated gold. Gold which, by the Royal Edict, belongs entirely to the Crown—50% of which goes to the finder."
He let the silence stretch.
"I also know that if the City Treasurer receives an anonymous letter with the coordinates, your gallery will be seized, your assets confiscated, and you will be arrested for high treason. Consecrated gold leaves no room for political protection."
Thorne sank into his chair, pale.
"What do you want, Mark Noax? A million shillings? A percentage of the gold?"
"Your silence is not for sale," Mark said. "Your freedom is. The price is simple: the Tri-Weave Reliquary in Vault C, with full documentation."
Thorne stared in disbelief.
"The Reliquary? That Tier 3 fusion vessel? Why that?"
"To you, it is worthless. To me, it is a logistics tool. This is the exchange. You have thirty seconds."
Thorne crumbled.
"Accepted."
Mark drew a precise Earth rune on the polished desk using the Catalyst.
"You know this symbol. Proof that I have the full Manifest."
---
Ten minutes later, Mark exited The Obsidian Gallery. He was still poor—15 Silver Shillings remaining—but now carried something worth more than gold: the Tri-Weave Reliquary, wrapped in silk, hidden inside his cloak.
"Vessel Acquisition Complete. Project Prometheus Prerequisites Met. Final Phase: Core Activation Prep. We have three months until the Equinox. You must now train the three elements simultaneously," Jarvis announced.
Mark walked down the granite steps, sunlight on his face, the Reliquary warm against his chest.
He had stared down a Level 10 threat and walked away with a priceless Tier 3 artifact.
"I'm still broke," Mark murmured.
"But now my wealth is stored in information and power."
"Host. Training begins now. We need a remote location where elemental convergence can be tested without alerting the Royal Academy."