Between Jihûn and his date with ancient magic lay a lot of bling. The Pavilion of Bountiful Dumplings was located in the Silver Ward District. Madame Wu's Mansion sat on a rock at the far eastern end of Six Pagodas. It was a long trek through the best shopping in the world, but the Eighth Prince wasn't a shopper. He viewed acquiring things as a task, and liked to get tasks done quickly. Doing so gave him more time for weight training.
But seriously, nothing moved quickly in Tianming Town.
The city was built on rocky ridges separated by deep, skinny lakes. Canals connected everything, and so everything that went anywhere in the city got there by floating. It was all beautifully slow.
Jieun ushered everyone onto a luxurious barge. Jihûn chose a seat with a view of traffic moving along the canal towpath. In addition to supporting the Gargogryeon work gangs who pulled the barges with their beefy legs, the paths were crowded with stalls, street performers, and pickpockets.
The Eighth Prince knew what the arcane emanations given off by his handlers from Moonlight Chamber felt like, and spotted his "security detail" quickly. The Beggar's Guild tail dressed like a waiter who carried food from vendors to customers. There were always plenty of waiters and customers, but the "beggar" was easy enough to pick out. The Guild's approach to subterfuge was to put its people everywhere. Being everywhere made them just part of the scenery. Jihûn doubted the Guild was interested in some aristocrats shopping. It probably suspected Lupin of stealing without a license, and wanted to catch him in the act so it could give him a right and proper beating.
As for Sorrow Woe Society, Jihûn felt no trace.
That was consistent with their brand. The Emperor employed those assassins whenever using Moonlight Chamber would create too much political risk. Even if the Emperor considered Jihûn a threat to the Golden Smartass's succession, he would not risk the rampage Consort Yeon would unleash if Jihûn were targeted directly. No one else could benefit enough from the relatively unconnected Eighth Prince's elimination to go to the expense of contracting Sorrow Woe for a strike on the royal family.
Maurice Lupin was also unlikely to be worth such a fee, at least not in his personal capacity. Jihûn could imagine one of Jian Peak Abbot's rivals footing the bill, however. Masters at that level were vicious and petty. The Abbot was too dangerous a target even for Sorrow Woe, but trying to eliminate one of his key minions was perfectly reasonable.
Still, Jihûn should have been able to feel something. He was good at that sort of thing. Jihûn could put up a defensive turtle shell almost instantly when an attack came directly at himself. Consort Chen and Abi d'Ilga overwhelmed him, but they were already on a level Jian Peak Abbot only aspired to — and didn't count.
If the assassin targeted someone else, however, Jihûn might not be able to react in time. He had a lot of people in his entourage that might require protection. Maurice Lupin was the most obvious target, but was probably at least as fast as some random assassin.
Of course, Lupin could have lied about Sorrow Woe's presence for dramatic effect. Jian Peak was an Abbey of thespians. They preferred to live in an entertaining world instead of the real one.
Jihûn and his entourage arrived in Six Pagodas District without incident.
Perhaps Sorrow Woe had been contracted to observe rather than kill. That might change once Lupin led them to whatever prize the Abbot wanted to find. Jihûn scanned the dock carefully after disembarking, and the neighboring square.
The "pagodas" of Six Pagodas were visible from almost anywhere in Tianming Town as towering spires of rock. Their natural shape did resemble tall, petrified pagodas. That visual effect had then been amplified over centuries by stone carvers and landscape architects.
"Prior to the Abdication," said one of Jieun's friends, "Marquis Yue owned the entire district. At that time, it was in part a nature preserve, and in part a high-end cemetery."
"Spooky!" said Jieun. "I see bits of nature and pieces of a cemetery. But mostly I see loft apartments sitting on top of used clothing and art supply stores."
"Not long after Marquis Yue was suppressed," said her friend, "unscrupulous developers realized they could build hovels on tax free land."
"I see," said Jieun. "Artists who couldn't afford to live anywhere else moved in. After soaking up the spooky atmosphere, they became successful and attracted groupies. Decades passed. Voila. Trendiness!"
"Was Madame Wu one of the unscrupulous developers?" asked Jihûn.
"No," said Lupin. "She arrived a few years back and ate the biggest fish. Now she's the biggest. The turf wars are not completely over. But they are mostly over."
"Was she attracted by the Gargogryeon labor force?" asked Jieun.
"I don't know the whole story," shrugged Lupin. "Dragon Turtle Society is a player in 'labor markets,' so that might have been part of the attraction. I also get the sense that she sees something in the dilapidated old mansion."
Jieun led from one trendy boutique to another.
The clothing on offer was not fit for a prince, but Jihûn agreed he shouldn't visit a gangster's dilapidated mansion dressed as a member of the royal family. His sister prevailed upon him to buy clothes for her friends too. That was fine. The clothes were cheap — and more fun to wear as a group.
It was only then that Jihûn realized his sister was doing more than spending his allowance: she was expanding his team. Her friends may or may not have possessed lethal combat skills. They were young professionals in finance, trade, and bureaucracy, however, and clever. Each girl came from a family with wealth but no political influence. Jihûn had no influence either. With capital, however, his upside was considerable.
When did Jieun have time to get good at these machinations?
"Let's stop here," his younger sister suggested.
Jihûn looked at the sign.
"Scarlet Quill," he said. "Why stop? For the melodramatic name?"
Jieun sighed.
"What am I missing?" asked Jihûn.
"It's an occult bookstore," replied Jieun.
"The best occult bookstore," amended one of her friends.
"Are we buying prayer strips to leave on tombstones?" asked Jihûn. "It's possible to go too native."
Jieun sighed again.
"We're buying a book about lost swords," she said.
Lupin laughed out loud. He had been living in Six Pagodas for weeks but never thought of buying a book at the haunted bookstore. Or even stealing one.
"I'm not a book person," he confided.
"What if they have illustrations?" asked Jieun.
"I've posed for a few," Lupin nodded, "but don't buy from my own supply."
Six Pagodas had developed an undeniable artistic cachet, but remained more dangerous than most of the capital's neighborhoods. Property values had not yet succumbed to the pressures of gentrification.
The best occult bookstore could therefore afford a lot of space.
One of Jieun's friends was known to its manager. Once he realized she had royal connections, their party was led into the "real bookshop." Staff sat everyone on puffy couches. Lattes made with coffee imported from Samarsikri and Maharagolkun appeared.
"How can I be of service?" asked the manager.
"We need books or scrolls on ancient swords lost in the capital," said Jieun.
The manager didn't bat an eyelash. It would be his honor to assist.
"Unfortunately," he said, "my expert is engaged with a representative from the Ministry of Revenues regarding a gold coin. These engagements have sadly become routine in Six Pagodas."
Jihûn raised an eyebrow.
"Is this related to the Autumn Blossom dubloons?" asked one of his sister's friends.
"Yes," agreed the manager. "It's a strange, but also strangely profitable business."
Jihûn raised his other eyebrow.
"We may as well hear the story," he said.
"Answering the Eighth Prince," said the manager, "the district's literary stores have been experiencing break-ins. Inexpensive items are taken, and a single gold coin is left as excessive compensation."
"Excessive?" asked Jihûn.
"When the dynasty changed," said the manager, "old coins were exchanged for new. It's been many decades, and the old coins are now rare. They aren't contraband, however. If someone finds one, they can exchange it at a government office. Merchants will accept them…."
"At a significant reduction in value?" asked Jieun.
"Just so," agreed the manager.
"And you exchange the coins for a higher value?" asked Jihûn.
"Correct."
"But a representative of the Ministry came to you?" asked Jieun.
"Also correct," agreed the manager. "As part of an investigation."
Jihûn took a sip of his latte. It was delicious.
"If the coins aren't contraband," he said, "what's to investigate?"
"The number of coins has raised suspicions," suggested his sister.
"Suspicions of?" asked Jihûn. "Someone being too generous? Tax evasion?"
"I suspect the Ministry is worried about secret societies," said Jieun. "You have foam."
Jihûn wiped above his lip.
"Any secret societies in particular?" he asked.
"Unspecified secret societies," replied the manager. "There's always a dozen to choose from."
Jihûn turned to Lupin and exhaled conspicuously.
"Don't look at me," protested Lupin. "Or look at me, but don't get the wrong idea. Or get a wrong idea, but make sure it's the right wrong idea."
Jihûn turned back to the manager.
"Are any messages inscribed on the coins?" asked Jihûn.
"None we can find," replied the manager. "Even secret messages would stand out. The coins are literally in mint condition."
"What about the break-ins?" asked Jihûn. "Have they been skillfull?"
"Flawless," replied the manager. "As a merchant, I have unfortunately acquired a fair bit of experience with theft. We have a lot of valuable books here. Also, a lot of expensive traps. There is never any trace of either entry or exit, however. A divine entity, perhaps."
"Or a demon," said Jihûn.
"Demons leave traces," said the manager.
One of Jihûn's eyebrows went back up.
"We're an occult bookstore," shrugged the manager. "It's what we do."
"Demons wouldn't pay fair market value," said Jieun.
"Or in this case, much more than fair market value," agreed the manager. "It isn't theft. If anything, we are being unjustly enriched. It makes me nervous. Karma, you know."
"What is being taken?" asked Jihûn.
"Paper, blank notebooks, brushes, commentaries on the classics," said the manager. "All good quality, but at most worth only a fraction of the gold tendered."
Jihûn turned back to Lupin.
"Student supplies," he said. "If you're playing fairy godmother, just tell us so we can put the Ministry at ease. Otherwise they'll never let go and everyone will suffer."
"I've been looking for swords," said Lupin. "I had no idea this was happening."
"When I first met Maurice," said Jieun, "he was busing tables because he had eaten more dumplings than he could afford. If he was a fairy godmother, it would have been much easier for him to just give the Pavilion of Bountiful Dumplings a gold coin."
Jihûn nodded. It was a fair point.
"Is it only businesses in Six Pagodas who receive these coins?" he asked.
"Yes," confirmed the manager. "As far as I know."
"Is your team back there with a coin now?" asked Jieun.
"Yes," said the manager. "If it wasn't official business, I wouldn't make Your Highnesses wait."
Jihûn slapped the tops of his legs and stood.
"Take us to them," he said. "If these coins are made of gold, my strumpet can help."
He gestured at Lupin. Lupin bowed.
"Although my true talents lie elsewhere," he said, "I can tell you if this is an authentic dubloon — or one of the trendy reproductions going around."
"Where do your true talents lie?" asked one of Jieun's friends.
"I am the fastest disciple," bowed Lupin. "And the best cuddler."
Jihûn gestured for the manager to lead the way.
He suspected the man had raised the coin intentionally. The Ministry was probably becoming a nuisance. The neighborhood had its reputation to cultivate, after all, and government agents snooping around might dampen spending on edgy items like occult books. Jihûn felt amenable to helping out. A district of haunted tenements, parks, and tombs would represent a valuable fief for him.