At the crack of dawn, I stood before the entrance of Gearwright Guild. The second-floor window was boarded up, a faint outline of blood still visible on the cobbled stone before the doors, and it was silent except for the homeless man still digging through the trash.
Before I left yesterday, I'd been given the master keys and Karvyq's silver pocket watch. It had silver chains and a three-gears insignia emblazoned onto it. I couldn't bring myself to wear it when walking out the door, nor did I think it was a smart thing to do yet.
The doors clicked when I unlocked them. Normally, Anya would be the one to open up but she stayed late yesterday and was still shaken. Gideon had been sent to the hospital.
Inside, the counter was still cracked in half. The broken tables had been moved to the side and the previous puddles of blood were now faint smears. Still visible however and a reminder of the struggle. The smell of iron lingered. Around the back in receiving and the warehouse, two dark blood smudges on the floor marked where two others died. Security chief Ren, from what Anya had told me, was alive but in critical condition.
I heard the faint echo of the front door opening and returned to the counter. The postman froze, his hand jumping to the door, ready to bolt until he saw me.
"Varyn! What happened? Are you alright?!"
"Nasty business" I said, showing him the pocket watch. He froze and I added, "It wasn't me. I was put in his place though."
"Who did it?"
"I'm not at leisure to say," I shook my head before extending a hand. "Mail?"
Staring at me, he reached into his satchel and muttered, "Medical bills for Gideon, Ren, and a few others from Stimpatch. So… how long then?"
I shrugged. "Your guess is as good as mine. Could be a day, a week, a month… or maybe permanent. Or whenever someone decides I get tossed out a window next."
"Fuck, Varyn. I'm sorry this happened to you. But… it's a bit of a blessing too, aye?"
My eyes lifted from the mail to him. He shrugged.
"It's tragic but not many folk get this opportunity. I know five guys who'd kill for this sort of chance. Look on the bright side."
"The bright side," I muttered before looking back down at the mail. "Thank you. You can go."
"Take care, Varyn."
"Mm."
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After he left, I took the master key and unlocked the upstairs door.
Anya, just then, walked in. Her features were gaunt and she looked pale after yesterday so I kept it brief.
"I'll be upstairs familiarizing myself. Let me know when the others start to arrive."
She nodded but didn't say anything, standing in the center of the smashed reception area like a lost kid and I went upstairs.
In Karvyq's office smashed paintings still littered the floor, untouched. The window was boarded up but cold wind and green toxic smog wafted in, illuminating the dark brown and polished desk.
To be precise, the desk sat directly ahead upon entering with the large window on the right. The paintings had once hung on the gray walls to the left and behind the desk.
As I approached, blood was still smeared across documents. The chair, tall and velvet, was pulled out to the side. Beneath my feet hardwood flooring stretched across the room until I reached the desk where a large silver carpet blanketed the area.
He sure kept to his silver theme.
I sat down and began rummaging through drawers. Beneath the desk, I noticed a metal safe already open and a key still lodged inside with bloody fingerprints smeared across its surface.
Shit. It's open.
Despite it, when I looked inside I saw stacks of gold and silver coins with multiple papers laid on top.
Huh. He kept financial records…
This one looks like an income statement.
Why is this here?
Pulling the chair in, I sat and began to analyze the papers.
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Assets:
Cash: 35 gold coins, 450 silver -> 25 gold coins & 300 silver coins
Accounts Receivable: 11 gold -> 10 gold
Inventory: 160 gold -> 150 gold
PP&E: 120 gold -> 90 gold
Total Assets: 305 gold
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Liabilities:
Accounts Payable: 20 -> 45
Short-term Debt: 45 -> 80
Long-term Debt: 65 -> 70
Total Liabilities: 195 gold
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Equity: 110 gold
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We operate on seventy percent gross profit, which is fucking amazing, but by the time we hit net we're down to three percent.
After interest, the profit share from investors is distributed... thirty-six percent.
Then taxes.
Three percent net profit.
From 340 gold revenue down to eleven in a year.
Last year we were at seven percent net giving us twenty-six gold profit…
I sighed and leaned back, muttering aloud, "Why the fuck did he leverage up so much? And why are we operating like a fucking company instead of a gang? He could've been eliminating debt and cutting investor profit at this point…"
Continuing to dig through the records, I frowned. Upticks in bribes and transportation. Payments to intelligence guilds. Other barons.
I paused as I finally realized why there was an uptick before burying my face in my hands.
He was sinking the company, guild, gang, whatever the fuck this is… All to find his lover's ashes.
It's fixable. But it depends on what Lucian wants and how much it'll cost.
The books were barren when it came to House Tariost because of the bad blood so I had no reference point as to how much they might demand or the cost of doing business with them.
Closing the ledgers, I opened another drawer and found a pistol augment. It was clearly designed to attach to Karvyq's silver hands.
Augments I can't use.
Slamming the drawer shut, I rubbed my chin as other problems began to surface in my mind.
This will be tough. I don't know if Gideon and Anya are dissatisfied but I have to assume they are at least bitter that I was chosen over them.
Gideon hadn't heard what Lucian said. He was out cold on the floor. His mindset would be shaped entirely by whatever Anya told him.
This is the Undercity and I'm a blip in their lifespans. And as kid put in charge over veterans whom I haven't even shared drinks with yet? If Gideon and Anya are willing to work with me, we'll have to keep a watchful eye on the workers until things settle down.
As I stood there weighing the challenges ahead, I heard the faint sound of doors opening below.
I straightened up and cleared my throat.
Time to find out how much power I have versus what I think I have.