Arcane Innovator

Determined to come to the bottom of this and to finally find out the hidden base of Dominc's gang, I eagerly delved into the narrow, winding alleyways that formed the Weisberg's Craftsman district.

The air was thick with smoke, and everything was covered in a thin layer of soot from the many furnaces that burned brightly, processing all the various metals from the nearby mines.

Thus, before I went in, I first manipulated the air around me to create a small bubble of fresh air around myself to avoid breathing in all those undoubtedly carcinogenic vapors coming out of the various workshops that lined the street.

Walking in, I then spent several hours gathering information and asking around.

Everything was being drowned by an insistent sound of hammers striking metal and the loud chattering of the workers, so to be heard, I had to often shout out my questions at the top of my lungs, which left me parched and exhausted.

But in the end, I managed to find out what I wanted. There were, in fact, five glassmaking workshops in Weisberg. Three of them made potion vials and other orders for Alchemists, which included, among other things, bottles for purified water.

So, after a quick lunch of something that looked like a meat sandwich I bought from a nearby stall, I entered an enormous compound in the corner of the district that was bustling with activity.

I decided to start from the largest one first and then continue on from there. All around me, many glassblowers were shaping molten glass into delicate potion vials and other kinds of bottles.

The air inside was scorching, filled with the intense heat emanating from the furnaces further in the back.

"Excuse me, mister," I said, approaching a glassblower who appeared to be taking a break.

"What do ya want, boy?" The man uttered with a hint of annoyance in his voice.

"I'm looking for the workshop that made this bottle," I asked, undeterred by his unfriendliness while promptly showing him the bottle of purified water.

The glassblower squinted at it for a brief moment, his brows furrowed.

"I don't make bottles like these, but I can tell ya that by the tint of the glass, it certainly didn't come from us... Try the shop at the end of the street." He briskly replied while shooing me away.

I hurriedly thanked him and was on my way to escape the intense heat of the workshop.

'Alright, that's one down...' I thought pleasantly before deciding to heed the man's advice and next check out the other workshop he recommended.

Approaching the unassuming building situated at a dead end of the alley, I noticed that this workshop operated on a much smaller scale than the previous one.

Pushing open the heavy wooden door, I stepped into the dimly lit entrance, and the same scorching heat emanating from multiple furnaces welcomed me.

But apart from that the two workshops couldn't be more different. There were only a few glassmakers, each working diligently at their individual station with ample space around them, meticulously crafting exquisitely shaped glasses and other elegant containers.

Shelves lined the walls, displaying an array of intricate glass sculptures, delicate vases, and bottles of all shapes and sizes.

At a glance, it was apparent that this workshop specialized in orders from nobility.

Looking entirely out of place in my worn-out clothes, I was immediately approached by a young, bespectacled man with a commanding aura about him that suggested he must be the manager.

"Can I help you? If you are looking for a job, then I'm afraid we don't have any open spots at the moment."

"Please excuse me for the intrusion." I quickly blurted out as I took out the bottle of purified water. "I only came to ask if you could tell me who made this particular bottle."

He took the bottle from my outstretched hand and examined it carefully, turning it over in his hands as if searching for some hidden mark. After a moment, he nodded.

"Yes, I think it's one of ours. Is there any problem with the bottle?" He asked with narrowed eyes as he adopted a guarded pose.

'Yes!' I exclaimed inwardly, happy that I found my target so quickly, yet I made sure not to let anything show on my face.

Assuming a confident expression, I looked him in the eye and said.

"On the contrary! My master recently got his hands on some of your bottles and became impressed with such exquisite workmanship, and he would like to do business with you."

"Is that so? What is the name of your master?" The man squinted his eyes at me, looking unconvinced.

'Oh, crap...' Realizing my blunder, I briefly became lost for words as I quickly tried to come up with a suitable excuse, but then I decided to wing it somehow and hope that he won't become too suspicious.

"Ehm... Forgive my lack of manners, sir. I'm but a simple errand boy for honorable Master Clovis! He is the proprietor of one of the most distinguished merchants' caravans in the Kingdom that regularly runs to and from the capital."

I loudly proclaimed, invoking the name of the merchant I used to do business with back in Ereneth while smiling brightly.

"Hmm, I see..." The manager said, looking thoughtfully at me.

Seeing his scrutinizing look, I straightened my posture and quickly added. "We had just recently arrived in the city after weeks of travel, as you can evidence by the poor state of my clothes."

This seemed to finally do the trick, and I could see the manager's previously guarded expression softening.

He then beckoned me over to take a seat. Catching the scent of a potential business, his attitude underwent a rapid change, and he eagerly began presenting me with their product portfolio.

I smirked inwardly, noticing the unmistakable glint of greed reflecting in his eyes as I let him show me various types of bottles they were making while pretending to take notes.

While in the middle of the discussion about pricing, I tried to inconspicuously pry some more information out of him.

"My master is not looking for only bottles... He also trades in potions and elixirs and is looking into establishing connections with the local alchemist guild. Would you perhaps know some reliable Alchemist with whom we could do business?"

"Oh yes, we, in fact, cooperate with two prominent Alchemist workshops in Weisberg." The manager said in a proud voice.

"That's simply wonderful! Would you be so kind as to tell me their names, good sir? It would save me a lot of time." I replied, an excited smile playing on my lips.

"Of course, that's not a problem." He said, proceeding to list me the names of the Alchemists his workshop is working with.

"Alright, then! I think I stole enough of your precious time already, sir. I will deliver your kind words to my master, and you can expect his visit tomorrow." I stood up, and after saying my goodbyes, I promptly exited the workshop.

'I hope he won't be too dismayed when nobody shows up tomorrow...' I smirked mischievously as I quickly left the smoggy craftsman district behind.

Returning to the inn we were staying in, I wanted to hole myself in our room to organize my thoughts and plan my next steps, but as I was coming in, a determined-looking Vixen ambushed me in the hallway.

"There you are! Where were you the whole day? Come quickly! We are already waiting for you!"

"Huh?" I quickly adopted a guarded pose as I didn't like that excited look of her one bit. But before I had a chance to protest, she dragged me into the room and closed the doors.

"Hmm? What is this about?" I threw an inquisitive look at the nervously smiling Ram sitting in the corner.

"Ehhh..." Ram started, but Vixen interrupted him. "I think we already lazed about for long enough. So I found us a job!"

"What sort of job?" I turned toward her with a raised eyebrow.

"Nothing serious... Just guarding a bunch of herbalists who will be gathering herbs in the woods tomorrow."

She then leaned closer, smiling mischievously. "Plus, our new employer promised that if, apart from guarding, we would help them gather, he would pay us extra for each herb we bring him. Isn't that awesome?"

Seeing her make such an excited face, I couldn't help but smile wryly. 'She really likes money, huh...'

Not that there was anything wrong with that, but I really wanted to follow up on all those clues I managed to obtain today. 'Well, guess I will have to postpone it for a day.'

"Sure, no problem," I replied, not having any valid excuse to turn her down, as we were, in fact, a party of beast hunters looking for work.

"The only downside is that we must head out before the sunrise tomorrow. That's why I wanted to catch you as soon as possible so that you could prepare your gear." Vixen quickly added.

"Alright..." I said with a brisk nod, bringing our conversation to a close.

'Still, I really don't like that look of hers... the last time she was excited like that, we were ambushed by a group of bandits, so I hope there won't be any unwelcomed surprises this time around...'