Chapter 216
Sometimes people were bad at giving directions. For example, if someone mentioned a blacksmith and enchanter in a particular city, that someone could have given a name or potentially even a section of the city. But not having that information, Chikere was left to figure it out herself. Fortunately, even a very large city like Sarton only had a few dozen blacksmiths throughout it. Those that were blacksmiths and enchanters were only a small portion, and they were the same who worked with all of the high quality materials. People who werent cultivators hardly needed better materials than good steel for anything they were doing, and certainly not at the prices people had to charge.
Since random people didnt necessarily know which blacksmiths also catered to cultivators, Chikere still ended up visiting a few of the regular smiths. Two of them didnt even have weapons at all, just a bunch of tools and crap like that. Totally uninteresting, if necessary. Some of the ones that did have weapons, however, were quite good. Even if the materials were just plain steel and without enchantment the swords were good. Not within the top one thousand she had seen, but still quite decent in their own right.
Eventually Chikere decided shed gone to enough of the smiths she might as well see all of them. There were all different kinds of swords to look at with differences from tiny stylistic choices on the guard or grip to the difference between short curved blades and large double edged two handed swords. Chikere mostly used double edged swords, but there was no reason she couldnt use others if they were good enough.
But none of them were. Not a single sword in the entire city was worthy of being in the top ten, and very few of them could be in the top one hundred of swords she had owned. Nothing rivalling something shed actually use or that even vaguely resembled the sword shed asked about.
Her eye twitched. The man at the roadside stall had been a liar. All she wanted to know was where he got his sword and he sent her to the wrong city. On purpose. It had to be. Nobody would forget where they got a sword.
Okay, Chikere had to admit that perhaps some people wouldnt remember where they got a sword. But the flippant way the man had responded didnt do the man any favors. She was hoping she could find swords that matched the one she had taken, since it was so good, but the man had steered her wrong.
There was something she was missing. The sword shed taken from her attacker and the sword that man had been wearing matched. Which meant if she could find other people with similar swords, she could track that guy down and make him apologize! Also, maybe they were attacking other people. She certainly hadnt recognized any of the ones shed met from the list of people shed antagonized.
For some reason nearby people flinched as she pulled out her swords even though she obviously wasnt going to slash them. She pointed her swords vaguely south, where she had been wandering. I swear, flippant sword man, Ill find you! What she would do when she found him was another thing. But she hadnt seen many people with swords like that. Just the two who attacked her- one who escaped- and the man by the road. It would be a bit silly of her to hope shed just stumble into them. She had to look for help. Who knew things?
Oh, right! There was a sneaky organization that liked to find all sorts of things. Wasnt it the cat tails? No, that wasnt it. Dog nose? That was closer. Oh yes. The Ears of the Fox. They should have some sort of information.
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I want to find people with swords like this, Chikere held out the sword towards the woman who had come to meet with her. Since the sheath belonged with it, she didnt draw it out to show her, but Chikere dropped it into her hand when she held it out.
You want to find a specific smith? the woman looked over the sword very seriously, inspecting it up close. There are no makers marks or anything of the like, as far as I can tell.
Chikere shrugged. Its not like it needs to be marked. Just find something that feels the same. It might not even be a sword.
I need to ask an important question here, the woman said. What is your intent? Are you planning to collect weapons? Track down a certain smith? Find something stolen?
Yes. The first two, maybe. Chikere tapped her chin, Oh, and maybe take revenge on the group who tried to kill me with this one.
These people, the woman said. Did they use strange illusions?
Yes they did, actually. Do you know where to find them? Chikere tilted her head, If you just know about them off the top of your head, it shouldnt be too expensive, right?
The woman working for the Ears shrugged, Knowing about them and knowing where to find them arent necessarily the same. But perhaps we can work together for our mutual benefit. If I understand correctly, the people you are looking for are being looked for by many others as well. What about this sword makes it recognizable as theirs?
Its just got the right feel, Chikere said. The other specs arent all the same.
Would you recognize other types of weapons? Perhaps a dagger?
She nodded. Daggers are just really short swords.
Pardon me then, the woman said. Ill be back momentarily. She returned a short time later and spread out a small bundle of daggers in front of Chikere, on the table they were sitting at. Are any of these daggers-
This one, Chikere picked up one of them. See? she held up her sword next to it.
Eh, Chikere shrugged, Im not sure about that. Id bet you if I wander around the area for a week or two theyll attack me again. For whatever reason.
Have they attacked you more than once? he asked.
No, Chikere said, But nobody ever stops at just once.
For them to find you, theyd have to know you were in the area, Enchanter Stasiuk explained.
Good point. Should I just go out on the street and yell that Im in town?
... if you are committed to this angle, Stasiuk said, I think we could go with a more subtle approach.
Oh yeah? Whats that?
Actually, he leaned back slightly. How about this. You just stay in the area. Maybe go out into the woods hunting beasts or something. Dont loudly announce your presence though.
Good idea, Chikere acknowledged, They probably wont attack me in the city.
I feel like I should be appropriately transparent, Stasiuk folded his hands in front of him. You would basically be acting as bait for us. Youll likely be in great danger.
Can I be bait for you and me at the same time? Because Im fine if thats the case.
That shouldnt be a problem. And the danger?
Chikere shrugged, What are they gonna do, kill me? Her eyes flashed, Because Im willing to bet they dont have enough people for that.
Enchanter Stasiuk leaned back, pondering. Considering shed already fought with the group once before, and that she should be aware of their expansive nature, hed have figured she would know they had enough people. But the confidence with which she spoke told him that his own estimations of her strength were somewhat lacking. Might I ask, young Chikere, how many people you have killed?
With swords? she asked.
Is it different?
I killed someone with my bare hands once, she admitted. Lets see, its been eight years three hundred and eleven? Then she shook her head, Oh wait some of those were illusions. Three hundred even.
How many people in Essence Collection?
That was only the last couple of years, so twenty one.
Thats a significant portion of a powerful sect.
Eh, Chikere said. Ive only killed two or three Essence Collection cultivators from any particular sect. They seem to lose track of me after that.
Stasiuk was not so sure anyone could lose track of her, with a trail of bodies like that. While a powerful sect had more than just a few Essence Collection cultivators, each one was precious. They couldnt afford to lose one every few weeks. Well, Stasiuk said. You should probably consider whether or not you want to follow through with that plan. Staying in one place for longer will give all sorts of people chances to catch up. Eventually you might be overwhelmed.
Yeah Chikere said. I suppose thats possible. I should bring backup. I wonder if Anton and the others are doing anything?
