In the Silver Claw Merchant Guild's basement, the needles on three fine-copper monitoring instruments all jumped a notch at once.
Barlow sat behind a desk, an East District street map spread before him.
His finger circled Ginkgo Alley, then circled the Elven Merchant Association headquarters, and finally drew a line between the two circles.
"Old blacksmith district in the East District. Suspected second-tier weapon-forming fluctuations." The goblin assistant behind him read from the monitoring records. "The fluctuation frequency was stable and lasted roughly two ke. There were three brief adjustments during that time."
Barlow flipped through another report on the desk. The intelligence station had sent it two days earlier, and it contained only one line: The Iris Family's eldest young lady had moved into Ginkgo Alley with a young blacksmith. Talia, chief of the Elven Merchant Association, had already paid them a visit.
He placed the two reports side by side and tapped the tabletop three times with his index finger.
"An ordinary blacksmith couldn't possibly produce second-tier forming fluctuations without elven guide needles." Barlow's voice was low, but the basement's echo made every word distinctly clear.
"The Elven Merchant Association paid them a visit yesterday, and second-tier fluctuations appeared today. Either Talia did it herself, or that blacksmith is no ordinary man."
The assistant leaned closer. "Should we send someone to investigate?"
"Investigate what? Investigate the Elven Merchant Association's guest?" Barlow leaned back in his chair and flicked the copper bell before him with a fingernail. It gave a crisp ding. "There's an Iris Family young lady standing at their door, and an elven chief Magic Forger sitting inside. How many men are you bringing to investigate? Shall I prepare your coffin after you're done?"
The assistant shrank his neck.
Barlow rose and walked to the shelf against