Mana Wells

The blonde Betsy, was actually really helpful to Kurt. She had really organized everything. He still had to do a round of introductions, and she said no they will come to her if they want to get paid. Kurt thought about that mentality for a moment.

She had gotten right to work making her office and home near the warehouse. Though a little rattled by everything she was extremely detail oriented, she actually replaced some of the gnomes that weren't working well. No one had ever done that. Joshua and Betsy actually got along really well, and the office was going to have a room for him. Bringing some of the goblins inside.

Betsy also had a way with the troop's command. Being as organized as she was. Keeping strict appointments. And frank discussions were simple. She had taken to her role well. Establishing herself, without much of Kurt's help.

She also had a way with the workers. People tended to be nice to the lady that was handing them their money to begin with, which they all seemed to think was going to be more prompt. And she knew her place, and where her job stopped and theirs began. But she had made some changes in the organization of the warehouse, she paid extra for the extra work as well during the reorganization. She found a foreman to work with, and the starting of it actually running like a business could be seen.

She had given herself a well deserved salary as well, but they way she explained everything. And how Kurt no longer had the head ache. Made it easy to get along with. Kurt was still rich, and actually had a number to go by now. The Kingdom was being money itself on top of everything. The fact really was Kurt had bags of gold from Carl he didn't exactly spend. And there wasn't a Bank Welsprings.

So office manager Betsy made her little place running the gate and trade through it.. Carl had stopped by Kurt's place at the top of the pillar. It had been a while since he'd done that. Kurt was expecting it because Betsy probably talked to him first. And the reality was Betsy was going to be Carl's counterpart. In essence a part of Carl's job was just taken from him. But, their relationship needs separation after the initial growth, and now the political arrangements. Also, Kurt needed someone with the organizational and math skills.

"So you grow up a little," said Carl.

"Huh?" said Kurt.

"Betsy, she gave me a round today."

"What were you doing wrong?"

Carl laughed, "Nothing I swear, it was probably a good decision. She knows her stuff. I was taking too much advantage of the situation, but I am a merchant after all. It's set up a little better for you now, she is smart. I shouldn't have taught her all that."

"Are you expecting that finder fee?"

"I have already received it."

"Good. You should listen to Betsy, she told me a few of the little things you were doing, I can't really blame you, merchants are merchants, and that's how you learn. So what up then? "

"Just some changes because of everything."

"Changes?"

"Well now that the government's on our asses."

"Yeah, screw the government."

"You do realize you are a government, right? Anyway Betsy said you were interested in some forgers, and glass blowers?"

"Yeah."

"You're going to have to deal with the guilds, and I'm not sure how much influence I will have with them."

"There has to be people that want to go on their own."

"That's true, but the skills are basically controlled by the guilds. It is illegal to forge in Midas without their blessings, or by royal employment."

Harvey made a growl at the wall. Snapping at it with one of its heads. What was that about? The Hydra then ran out the door.

"So you think they will want to come here as the guild," said Kurt.

"It's what I'd do if I were them, I thought you should know," said Carl.

"But this isn't Midas."

"But all the forgers and blowers are Midas citizens. All the equipment you need is in Midas."

"So what are you saying?"

"I'm not sure how forcefully you should persuade this, it might be better to wait. The next time you come back you'll be richer. And they will be waiting on you, they don't know what you have yet, let the mystery linger for a bit, is my advice."

"And if the guild comes to me?"

"That's always the better negotiation position. Bring Betsy for that."

Harvey came back into the door and up to Kurt to get petted, "master."

"Come on, down, what was that all about before."

"Funny smell, chase it away," said Harvey..

"Yeah. Like a little rodent?"

"Yes, bad smell go bye bye. Rodent, rodent."

"Well good boy," Kurt got up and grabbed Harvey some food he had for him. Rabbit carcasses, but they were heavily salted and dried out to be more of a jerky. Harvey insisted on keeping the bones in though.

"But yeah, so thanks for the advice I'll just keep my head up, not go looking too hard. But if I find one, I might have a hard time not offering. We can probably get by for a while," said Kurt, coming back to his seat.

"Anyway, even with the government around, business should be coming back on track as well. Perhaps even better. Especially the paste and minerals. All that mining won't go to waste here, there people love their magical ores."

The two continued to talk about what was changing in the new nation, there was a switch really because of the nation's economy they were taking advantage of. Some of the routes could be tough. Harvey growled at the door a few times. Kurt insisted that most of these conversations should start going through or be with Betsy, before Carl had made his leave.

Things looked up for Kurt, for once. Things were starting to roll. Everything hard was behind him right? No Lich? And the fire clan really wasn't in a position to do anything. Even with the uninvited guest from the kingdom everything seemed to be working out. He'd even been able to get the illusion switch to be down somewhat. Not as precise as in the battle. Without the flow, sometimes when you have to, you just do it. To a normal person his flirt of illusion strike would devastate, as he was starting to be able to switch his hands, but that was much harder and failed often, or the switch made all the power go out. The switch between full illusion had that as well, he could switch but there were still moments of disorientation that he had trouble overcoming.

Harvey had even started to practice a little with him, and could create illusion versions of himself that were fairly terrifying, as he could change their size much better than Kurt. Smaller and bigger versions of Harvey all together was the type of room, you just walk back out of and close the door. Kurt wasn't very good at changing his size. But he was also trying to bring the idea into a form, an illusionary technique, where he could draw out several illusions and instantly switch to the one not being blocked. The concept was the, but the ability and talent wasn't. Practice can only do so much sometimes. In the end, it still wouldn't have worked on the Lich though, he saw that. There were things out there.