Newly Broke Heroine! [Book One Complete, Cozy Fantasy Adventure]

Greg never took his eyes off the imposing man who strolled in like he owned the place. A fact that Fiona did not ignore, while Thanatos glanced at his subordinates. "I believe my instructions were to not be seen or detected."

"They were. We were taking precautions." Hans bowed his head slightly. "I'll take responsibility for Randal–"

"It's fine, for now. This was a meeting that was due eventually." Thanatos, stern and bold, pivoted to look at the shop, at Theo, then back to her and Greg. "I am impressed, Gregory. You've come a long way from a simple accountant and former adventurer."

Greg bit his lip gently at that slight spoiler, and Fiona chose to say nothing, examining that exquisite business outfit. It put most of her wardrobe to shame, with the level of detail in the fabric, and the perfectly folded pocket kerchief. Or the likely magical enchantments woven into it, judging by the slight glow around it.

With a simple click of his tongue, Greg finally started the discussion. "You know, saving face after a lifetime of trying to make myself into a more efficient version of you, doesn't mean I have to accept this as sincere. We haven't spoken in almost ten years, Father. Now, you decide to show up?"

"Can a father not show admiration for his son's accomplishments?" Thanatos asked, sounding confident. He waved to the room. "Or, the company he keeps. Miss Swiftheart, you have come a long way, as well. From adventurer to merchant, to–"

"Mister Lockheed, I care about the company I keep. I know your reputation, so your presence here is tolerated so much as you keep to business, or matters concerning the greater good of Fiefdala." Fiona crossed her arms, and sized the man up. Not a single word rattled him, and he gazed right back. "First question. Why are rival gang members targeting my shop? Were they fixing to hurt Greg?"

"Yes."

"Why?" That second part of the question was the bigger unknown, and she had a theory. "You know, if the shop had burned to the ground–unlikely, given Bonnie's protective wards–insurance would have shelled out for the loss. The watch would have known in a second foul play was involved. If anything, you knew they'd look at you, first."

Thanatos nodded at this. "I have a…differing view of how business should be conducted in this city. This puts me at odds with those in power. But burning my own son's shop down, in an act of spite? No. Gregory and I don't talk anymore. I do respect what he has built."

"Yeah, that's what every criminal says–"

"I didn't come here for the commentary, Swiftheart," Thanatos interrupted forcefully. Fiona swore she could hear the tension in his limbs like a deadly coiled mafia don spring. "I believe in earning what I've worked for. I believe that those who work hard should be rewarded for their efforts. And that some avenues of the law should not be ignored."

"Fine. Why were they trying to burn my shop, before the current situation?" Fiona asked, willing to give this man a chance to explain the situation.

"Simple. Someone wanted your shop gone. Or at least, delayed. As for who that was, I think you have more than a few people that don't like you that much," Thanatos stated. He turned to glance at the paintings that were going on display at the museum soon. "This has to be the biggest La'teur collection I have seen sitting with one owner. Can I interest you in–"

"They belong in a museum," Greg and Fiona stated in tandem. Thanatos grinned in response.

"Not every mark has limitless power, you know. I bet I could hold onto these longer than most. Ah, well. The point is, that you present a problem, Swiftheart. You left people with a headache they didn't know how to deal with. At least, not without making an ugly scene."

"Get to the point. I know why the Santinos would be out for me, now. We broke up their gold smuggling act and efforts to smuggle in fakes to cover up the theft. You keep doing that for long enough, and eventually, you can bleed a country dry. Am I close?" she asked, fingers tapping on her arm.

"For the record, the Santinos and I reached a...mutual understanding a few years ago. Lines were established. Then some of their younger members decided they didn't agree with that, and broke off, carrying the same name," Thanatos explained. "Those that are inconveniencing you now, don't respect the normal restraints."

"Okay. So this is some kind of power feud going on?"

"Unfortunately. Let's just say the younger crowd isn't beholden to Robert Santino, the current patriarch. Making peace with him was difficult enough, and to keep an even footing.

Fiona frowned as he gave them a moment to consider. A few possibilities came to mind: One, he put together this meeting to create a situation for Greg to at least sit and talk. That one had a lot of moving parts and there were too many things that would have been sheer coincidence.

The second theory puzzled her: perhaps he cared about this shop, and the city. He just didn't care to follow the rules as much. Even screwed up parents could care about their kids, too.

"Thanatos, what's your beef with the Santinos? Is this a power play to get us to get rid of your rivals?" she demanded. "Because, bravo. I'd be very willing to crack heads together, if presented with an opportunity."

"Hah. much as I don't like Santino much, I respect him. Us coming into conflict has caused...unnecessary messes in the past. One thing Robert and I do align with? We don't do business in Vale. Absolutely refuse to do business with them, no matter how much money is on the table. But Santino's estranged son? That's a different story. and he likely ordered, or was aware of that little incident at this establishment."

Fiona knew he was likely putting mostly truth out. She doubted his actions were quite as rosy in reality, as he was describing them. But the conflict with the Santinos, and burying grudges? That part was likely true.

This book was originally published on Royal Road. Check it out there for the real experience.

A subtle nod from Greg indicated as such, though she'd have to ask him later about the specifics

"Let's say I believe you. Those rat folk they transfigured? They were effectively slaves of a different sort. I'm not sorry I earned their ire."

"That does seem quite in alignment with the business practices of Vale," Thanatos said after a pause. "Contractual obligations. You're not wrong in your assessment. I have reason to believe that these efforts are ratchet of tension on the kingdom. I want them and their operations shut down, here and there."

Fiona laughed heartily at this. "Me, help you? Nah, thanks, I have enough frenemies on my staff."

"Oh? What about another alternative?" Thanatos smiled. "Gregory, I know enough about your situation to understand Barry leveraged a poorly worded and vague, ancient law to screw you over collectively. And that Barry is stalling his treasury on the audit."

"Yeah, is it not weird that they haven't said a word?" Fiona asked. "Like a whole lotta nothing. Though, I thought Rikkard was behind that."

"No. Barry is looking for more ammunition to coerce you. He isn't going to find any, thanks to Greg's efforts to keep above board, as they say." Fiona hated that cocksure grin on Thanatos' face, but she also knew he likely wasn't blowing smoke. "I also found out the reason he wants you in the negotiations. Someone tipped him off that your mark provides unusual powers, though I don't believe he knows the full extent, other than flinging gold at insane speeds."

"Hey, coinuken is a signature move. I would have gone with 'money shot', but that has a lot of other unsettling implications," Fiona stated while gritting her teeth. "Okay, smart guy? How deep in the hole is Barry?"

Thanatos considered the query carefully. "Deep enough to worry even me. If a kingdom goes under, new management may not be as understanding of certain business methods as the old. Or history that was buried with quiet reparations may be reopened. I prefer to have paid penance once."

Theo looked troubled by this. "Should I...start putting coins into a hole in the backyard?" he asked, looking stiff as a board.

"I wouldn't go far as to do that Theo," Fiona said, then turned to address Thanatos, eyes narrowed and arms folded. "You're making this all about you and what benefits you. You are a selfish jerkoff, you know that?"

He shrugged softly. "I won't deny that by keeping this kingdom status quo continuing indefinitely, it incidentally furthers my interests. I'd hate for you to lose this shop, and your reputation, because of a sniveling twerp sitting in a throne too big for him."

Fiona tried to not laugh, but she did anyway. "He really doesn't fill that throne well, does he? He's so tiny compared to Rikkard! Literally and figuratively," she added between laughs.

"So, you dangle this information in front of us. Why?" Greg folded his arms, looking cross at his father.

Thanatos glanced at a display case of small items. But he continued to talk. "Because I have a solution."

"We have a solution already," Fiona countered. "We're paying off this king's ransom tomorrow. If you happen to be by the tax office tomorrow, bring a bowl of popcorn. We're gonna summon him down there with a spectacle and watch him panic, and then, we'll offer him a lifeline–at a cost. So, why do we need you, Mister Lockheed?"

"Because he layered a trap into this. He is going to nail you on fraud. The valuation of the items–"

"Are bogus. We know. We've got paperwork, and tallied the over and undercount. He technically owes me money," she grinned. Thanatos wore a blank expression.

"But did you account for everything?"

"Yes, dad, we have," Fiona uttered with a roll of her eyes. "I have made this man my nemesis, he is the...the...anti-Fiona! No happiness at all! I am dedicated to humiliating this brat in the best way possible: having him make a fool of himself in front of the whole city. And if he tries to arrest me for some bogus charge? Jake and half the adventurer's guild will be backing us up."

Thanatos smiled softly. "You've thought this through more than I thought."

"Because she knows how to run a business, and knows how to do more than swing a hammer," Greg stated stiffly, and gave her a subtle nod. It felt like a big moment, hearing him say that. "We don't need your help, father. And we don't want your help."

"Oh. Well then, I guess I'll go, then." Thanatos sighed and motioned to his counterparts. "I guess our help isn't needed."

Theo stepped in. "Hang on. You sound awfully sure of yourself. How does the fake gold play a role in all of this? You never answered it directly, earlier. You said 'it was a part of it.' You know something else. Something we don't."

Thanatos turned and smiled. "You know, I do love a good coincidence. Why are you showing off fake coins to Miss Swiftheart?"

"I wasn't--"

Thanatos pointed at the smoldering coin on the ground. "You mean the coin that isn't on the ground, ruining the finish?"

"I was...curious to see if she had any insight," he said hesitantly. Fiona found that odd--he hadn't hesitated to explain this to her with confidence. Then again, talking to a magical mafia patriarch would intimidate almost anyone.

"I needed to know if this sophistication was high enough to be a one-time thing, or something more mass producible," he said after his voice firmed up. "I think without Miss Swiftheart, no one would be able to truly test this and determine it to be a fake, barring more investigation."

"And what, exactly, can you do with fake gold?"

He's leading this somewhere. This smug Don Lockheed has a plan. I hate it when schemers have good plans, because he thinks he's coming out on top. Fiona curled her knuckles so tightly, her joints popped, while Theo answered Thanatos.

"If I was smart, exchange it. But you do it at a level you could make a lot of money before the theft was discovered," he proposed. "That coin degraded in a week. Perhaps the Santinos were testing it to see how well the fake held up? We still don't know how it decayed. I'd have to study it. But it didn't do that until after Fiona declared it a fake."

"Hey, I'm a Merchant of Fortunes," she shrugged. Thanatos tilted his head in curiosity, but said nothing in response. It was telling of his lack of response. "You know the next move, don't you?"

"I know the fake gold has a role to play. The exiled Santinos are moving it, but they're doing it for someone of particular interest in Vale. I am not sure where they're moving it to, however."

Fiona glanced at Greg, then at Theo. "Who?" she pressed.

"A certain individual who has caused much strife to your situation. A certain cinder dragon who has a penchant for swindling, trickery, and ruining lives for fun. If he's not involved, he likely will know who is."

She waited three seconds as she considered what this would mean to follow this trail. "I want details."

"Fiona, don't do it," Greg interjected, teeth on edge.

"I'm doing it. I don't hate Doug enough to not want him to get payback on his brother–"

"No, we're not," Greg interrupted, glaring at her. "I will support you on just about everything, Fiona, but this is something I will not allow."

"We're not breaking any laws–"

"It's not about laws," he declared with a growl. "A word, aside?"

Fiona returned the glare right back at him. "Fine. The office. Thanatos, we'll be back."

Theo looked around anxiously at the magical mafia don, then her. "Uh…I'll be here. Chilling. With the totally legit export company boss," He replied shakily. Fiona stomped off to her office, and closed the door firmly.

She loved her office, but there was not a lot of love in the room, with Greg looking furious, in contrast to the cheery pictures of the group on the walls. "Greg, we need answers. Your father has them."

The scowl on his face said another story. "No. We are not making a deal with him. Ever."