“Not bad,†Elam grunted, looking through the box. He picked up a gunblade from the confines of the crate, turning it over in his hand for an examination.
Justus suppressed the sneer that wanted to twist one corner of his lip. It was all he could do to resist any outward display of scorn for the Highlander. Even if many savages have come to learn how to use and appreciate all that Garlean technology had to offer, Justus was still not convinced that they knew even half of the intricacies of what made magitek work. That is why they oft came to people like him to pay exorbitant amounts of money and obtain it illegally.
Justus generally ignored the rumors of that traitor, Cid Garlond, working for the savages and actually opening up a company that manufactured weapons using Garlean technology. It was still rare enough that Justus was not running short of customers. And being stationed in Kugane, where much Garlean products were shipped for sale to other nations... well, that was a perfect place for him to conduct his own private sales.
He ran a hand through his dark hair, slicking it back. His third eye blinked as he glanced about their surroundings.
The pier was quiet, as it should have been. Justus had made arrangements to block all access to it for a set period of time. It was also late enough that most the city had retired for the night. He had made certain that only specific personnel was assigned to patrol duty in this area so that they would all turn a blind eye to the exchange occurring between a Garlean and a Highlander. When he was satisfied that the area was still secure, he turned his third eye's attention to the man in front of him.
Elam Grave was a new contact; Justus had never met him before. He was a tall, thick-shouldered man, black of hair and short of words, with no pleasantries to be spared. That suited Justus just fine, as he wanted to limit his encounters with savages as much as possible. Crescent Enterprises had sent this new agent following the previous contact's untimely demise. The former handler had been discovered while transporting the weaponry that he sold him, so Justus was forced to shoot the man in the head--quickly and publicly--before any other details could be discovered. Marius Aventine had tried to arrest the man to question him, fool that he was, but Justus put an end to that notion with one pull of the trigger.
When the dead man's replacement arrived to re-establish Crescent's smuggling trade, the Highlander didn’t seem to care for what transpired before him, only that he was certain he would not make the same mistakes that his predecessor did.
Justus had to correct mistakes of his own making. Assigning Aventine to pier duty to oversee the general shipments was a mistake, he had quickly realized. The man was too diligent to the point of annoyance, and he did not let one unlabeled box go unnoticed. Justus was full aware that his involvement in this illegal trade could have been uncovered, and he did not want to know what kind of punishment would follow. But short of framing Marius and having him arrested and physically removed, Justus was at a loss with what to do. But something will have to be done, he thought sourly.
“That should do it.†Elam shut the box tight, securing the lock.
Justus nodded. "Leave the payment at the end of the pier, and we're done."
“Payment will be given after I receive confirmation that this shipment is secured at the Cove.†Elam said the impertinent words as though no argument would be brooked.
“That has never been the deal," Justus said with a glower. "Payment always has been up front.â€
The Highlander gave him a smirk, his dark gaze cold and steady. “My employer does not appreciate not receiving something he has already paid for. I believe the last shipment was sent back to your warehouse after it was confiscated.â€
The Garlean’s upper lip twitched. “That was because of your agent’s sloppy handling. That fiasco nearly exposed me.â€
“Pretty sure the payment you received well made up for your anxiety.†The Highlander’s growling voice was almost mocking. It only further deepened Justus’ indignation. “Anyroad, you're selling the exact same merchandise back to us a second time, aren't you?†Elam laid a hand on the box he just closed.
Justus remained silent, although his eyes narrowed just slightly. Without knowing the full inventory of all the weapons, there was no way the Highlander could know that. The corner of his lip twitched slightly, and the third eye intently stared at the man.
Elam snorted, seemingly amused. “Aye, silence tells me all I need to know. Really, I don’t care. I'm not the one paying for this. My employer is, and for whatever reason he’s willing to do it twice." The Highlander smiled a smile that did not reach his dark eye. "Maybe he's just a nice guy.†He finally just waved a hand once, dismissively. “Not my business. I'm just here to make sure all goes smoothly. Glad it has.â€
The Garlean curled an ugly snarl, displeased by the very tone of this exchange. An Ala Mhigan savage--mocking him. Justus cared not for the overall politics of the Empire, so long as it promoted his own wealth, but he still saw these lesser tribes for what they were. He couldn’t stomach the thought that the warlike Ala Mhigans, rustic backwater people like the Hingans, and the bestial Xaela tribes somehow succeeded in liberating occupied lands from the Imperial hold.
“My side has been well secured,†Elam continued, throwing a tarp over the box, and gesturing to a few Hyurs who had been waiting behind him to carry the crate away. He gave a pointed look at the Garlean. “Make certain the same can be said on your end, eh?â€
“There will be no mistake on my end.†Justus’ answer was sharp and clipped.
Elam gave him a nonchalant shrug and turned, leaving the pier without another word.
Justus suppressed the sneer that wanted to twist one corner of his lip. It was all he could do to resist any outward display of scorn for the Highlander. Even if many savages have come to learn how to use and appreciate all that Garlean technology had to offer, Justus was still not convinced that they knew even half of the intricacies of what made magitek work. That is why they oft came to people like him to pay exorbitant amounts of money and obtain it illegally.
Justus generally ignored the rumors of that traitor, Cid Garlond, working for the savages and actually opening up a company that manufactured weapons using Garlean technology. It was still rare enough that Justus was not running short of customers. And being stationed in Kugane, where much Garlean products were shipped for sale to other nations... well, that was a perfect place for him to conduct his own private sales.
He ran a hand through his dark hair, slicking it back. His third eye blinked as he glanced about their surroundings.
The pier was quiet, as it should have been. Justus had made arrangements to block all access to it for a set period of time. It was also late enough that most the city had retired for the night. He had made certain that only specific personnel was assigned to patrol duty in this area so that they would all turn a blind eye to the exchange occurring between a Garlean and a Highlander. When he was satisfied that the area was still secure, he turned his third eye's attention to the man in front of him.
Elam Grave was a new contact; Justus had never met him before. He was a tall, thick-shouldered man, black of hair and short of words, with no pleasantries to be spared. That suited Justus just fine, as he wanted to limit his encounters with savages as much as possible. Crescent Enterprises had sent this new agent following the previous contact's untimely demise. The former handler had been discovered while transporting the weaponry that he sold him, so Justus was forced to shoot the man in the head--quickly and publicly--before any other details could be discovered. Marius Aventine had tried to arrest the man to question him, fool that he was, but Justus put an end to that notion with one pull of the trigger.
When the dead man's replacement arrived to re-establish Crescent's smuggling trade, the Highlander didn’t seem to care for what transpired before him, only that he was certain he would not make the same mistakes that his predecessor did.
Justus had to correct mistakes of his own making. Assigning Aventine to pier duty to oversee the general shipments was a mistake, he had quickly realized. The man was too diligent to the point of annoyance, and he did not let one unlabeled box go unnoticed. Justus was full aware that his involvement in this illegal trade could have been uncovered, and he did not want to know what kind of punishment would follow. But short of framing Marius and having him arrested and physically removed, Justus was at a loss with what to do. But something will have to be done, he thought sourly.
“That should do it.†Elam shut the box tight, securing the lock.
Justus nodded. "Leave the payment at the end of the pier, and we're done."
“Payment will be given after I receive confirmation that this shipment is secured at the Cove.†Elam said the impertinent words as though no argument would be brooked.
“That has never been the deal," Justus said with a glower. "Payment always has been up front.â€
The Highlander gave him a smirk, his dark gaze cold and steady. “My employer does not appreciate not receiving something he has already paid for. I believe the last shipment was sent back to your warehouse after it was confiscated.â€
The Garlean’s upper lip twitched. “That was because of your agent’s sloppy handling. That fiasco nearly exposed me.â€
“Pretty sure the payment you received well made up for your anxiety.†The Highlander’s growling voice was almost mocking. It only further deepened Justus’ indignation. “Anyroad, you're selling the exact same merchandise back to us a second time, aren't you?†Elam laid a hand on the box he just closed.
Justus remained silent, although his eyes narrowed just slightly. Without knowing the full inventory of all the weapons, there was no way the Highlander could know that. The corner of his lip twitched slightly, and the third eye intently stared at the man.
Elam snorted, seemingly amused. “Aye, silence tells me all I need to know. Really, I don’t care. I'm not the one paying for this. My employer is, and for whatever reason he’s willing to do it twice." The Highlander smiled a smile that did not reach his dark eye. "Maybe he's just a nice guy.†He finally just waved a hand once, dismissively. “Not my business. I'm just here to make sure all goes smoothly. Glad it has.â€
The Garlean curled an ugly snarl, displeased by the very tone of this exchange. An Ala Mhigan savage--mocking him. Justus cared not for the overall politics of the Empire, so long as it promoted his own wealth, but he still saw these lesser tribes for what they were. He couldn’t stomach the thought that the warlike Ala Mhigans, rustic backwater people like the Hingans, and the bestial Xaela tribes somehow succeeded in liberating occupied lands from the Imperial hold.
“My side has been well secured,†Elam continued, throwing a tarp over the box, and gesturing to a few Hyurs who had been waiting behind him to carry the crate away. He gave a pointed look at the Garlean. “Make certain the same can be said on your end, eh?â€
“There will be no mistake on my end.†Justus’ answer was sharp and clipped.
Elam gave him a nonchalant shrug and turned, leaving the pier without another word.
-=Sentry's Wiki=-
(please note that this is still a major work in progress!)
