Chapter 157: The Curse
I walked into the manor cellars and descended even deeper, to where the representatives of the German delegation, whom no one had actually sent to me, were being held. All of them were currently pumped full of potions and had no chance of waking up or understanding what was happening. Still, that was unimportant, since I hadn't come here to talk to them or let them know something was going on.
No, I had come here to enact vengeance. Vengeance because he had traded my future mother-in-law, and because he had tried to buy the residents of my Quarter from me.
My wand appeared in my hand, and I touched it to the lock to open the cell where the one to bear the punishment was kept. I stepped forward and drew a complex pattern with my wand, accompanying it with a tongue-twisting incantation.
With the final gesture, black lightning struck the man's mouth, and even through his magical sleep, he was seized by a coughing fit.
"You will serve as a lesson... a lesson for those who would harm the residents of my Quarter, and for those who harm my loved ones without even knowing they are mine."
With that, I left the cell. After closing it again, I went up to the training hall and set about practicing my skills.
*** Several Days Later ***
"Invite the guests in..."
I nodded to Kreacher, the elderly house-elf who continued to serve my House loyally. Bella stood behind me, while Kali and Blake were hiding in a special niche. The house-elf disappeared from the office with a pop, and five minutes later returned with the Germans who had come to negotiate the release of their compatriots.
"Good afternoon, Lord Black."
The leader of the group smiled ingratiatingly at me.
"And good afternoon to you..."
I deliberately fell silent, looking at the man.
"My name is Alex Brught, of the ancient House of Brught."
I nodded.
"So, Mr. Brught, what brings you to me on this fine day?"
"Oh, merely the desire to free a German citizen being held by you as a hostage."
"A hostage?"
I raised an eyebrow, making it clear by my expression that I had no idea what he was talking about.
"Yes..."
The man chose to insist on his wording, and I turned to Bella.
"Mother, did we visit Germany and take someone prisoner there?"
"No..."
My mother's voice held a note of thoughtful bewilderment.
"...I would certainly remember something like that. After all, an operation like that could not have taken place without heated clashes."
"Perhaps you've confused us with someone else?"
While Mother closed her eyes in feigned dreaminess, I returned my gaze to the leader among our guests.
"Ahem..."
Alex coughed slightly.
"I think my colleague chose his words poorly, but that doesn't change the fact that you're holding a German citizen."
"You mean the slave trader?"
"I... perhaps you're right, but citizens of THAT world have no rights in ours until they receive citizenship. So technically, this isn't slave trading."
"Seriously? Then you'll be glad to watch our conversation... Kreacher, be so kind as to bring a Pensieve, the new one, the one that can project memories outward."
And with a soft pop, the house-elf vanished, then reappeared in the office to place a Pensieve on my desk, while I dropped the memory into it, the one where that man had offered to sell me a Faunus and set her price at two young Veela girls.
"Perhaps, from a purely formal and legal standpoint, you're right about Kali. Her sale at that moment wasn't a crime. But that's only true for those who follow the letter, not the spirit, of the law. If one follows the spirit..."
I shook my head.
"Come now, the law has clear wording, and one must follow it, not some ephemeral spirit. Especially since Veela..."
"They're British citizens and residents of my Quarter. Right now, I'm restraining myself only because I can't be bothered to kill you and your companions for your thoughtless words. Apparently, you did your homework very poorly and didn't study the place where you came to negotiate at all."
"That is..."
Alex pursed his lips.
"...somewhat rude of you. After all, Veela clearly aren't people, and according to the letter of the law..."
"According to the LETTER of the law..."
I deliberately emphasized that I was speaking precisely about the letter of the law.
"...it was precisely VEELA who received British citizenship. So I assess your comrade's offer precisely as slave trading."
"Ahem..."
They looked somewhat confused.
"...are you saying that Veela and werewolves..."
"Yes, according to the spirit and the letter of the law, they are full members of society, at least those living in my Quarter. So, do you want to free the slave trader?"
"Ahem... it turns out that way..."
I shrugged.
"No problem. Compensation to me, for the insult of proposing I engage in slave trading. Compensation to the Veela, for a German citizen having treated them as mere goods. And compensation to Kali, for keeping her in magical chains like a dangerous animal."
"Lord Black, perhaps we can reach some kind of agreement... We can pay you compensation, but the Veela and a Faunus? Surely you are not serious?"
"Good..."
I nodded, and the Germans' eyes gleamed with satisfaction. At the same time, I heard a quiet hiss, but only because I had enhanced my hearing slightly with magic.
"...so you are ready to pay only one third of the price... which third of the prisoner would you like to receive? The legs? The body? Or the head and arms?"
"That is... somewhat unexpected... You do understand that we can dispute this at the official level, and then the Queen will simply take the prisoner from you to reap the benefits herself?"
"Oh, and do you think the Queen will take less from you?"
I smiled.
"Then go ahead."
I nodded toward the door.
"The house-elf will show you where the exit is."
"Wait, Lord Black..."
Alex raised his hands in surrender.
"Let us speak more seriously. What exactly do you want as compensation?"
"Gold..."
I shrugged.
"Your comrade insulted House Black through me, and for that, he must pay. At present, there are four members in the main branch of the family, and they must be paid their weight in gold. Your comrade wished to purchase two young Veela, so compensation must be paid in gold equal to the weight of two sixteen-year-old girls. Your compatriot sought to trade for the life of Kali, now a resident of the Quarter and a British citizen, and compensation must be paid in gold equal to her weight."
My guests were thoroughly stunned.
"You can't be serious?"
My counterpart's voice shook with outrage.
"Why not?"
I shrugged.
"I am completely serious. This particular German citizen is quite prominent given his family connections. For them, such an expense will be substantial, but nowhere near enough to drive them into poverty. In my opinion, these are very reasonable terms."
"But... this is simply ridiculous... such conditions have never been put forward..."
"Never before has the world stood on the brink of such incomprehensible events. There is no point in concluding contracts with this family..."
"Well, why not? They have a daughter slightly older than you..."
Alex waggled his eyebrows.
"And? Why should that concern me, an engaged man?"
"I..."
Alex was at a loss, while the man who had aided him earlier chose to remain silent for now.
"I could have demanded knowledge. Copies of twenty or thirty manuscripts from his House's library would interest me greatly. However, let us be honest: my House is older, and to avoid acquiring volumes we already possess, we would have to spend years coordinating the lists. And in the current climate..."
I shook my head.
"...that is unacceptable under the circumstances. But money, money I can spend immediately on the district's needs. The other injured parties will also be able to put these funds to use."
"This..."
"This is acceptable."
That same man, who had not introduced himself, nodded.
"However, the question of quantity still concerns me. I will speak frankly: it is easier for us to declare a war of Houses and spend the amount of gold you specified on mercenaries..."
"And destroy your House in the process. After all, our capabilities are not comparable."
"Possibly..."
The man did not argue.
"...however, that would elevate our House. It would be remembered for dozens of centuries, and we would be remembered as knights who refused to yield to the enemy. Yes, over time, the name of the House will be distorted, the reasons will be distorted, everything will be distorted, but that foundation will remain..."
I snorted quietly.
"Do you disagree with me?"
"Not at all..."
I shrugged.
"...in an ordinary situation, you would be right. You really would enter the legends of magical Germany. But in your logic, flawless at first glance, there is one flaw."
"A flaw?"
"Yes. You see, something like that could happen if you clashed with a House more ancient than yours, but not vastly superior. But I, if you do begin a war of Houses..."
I looked the man in the eyes.
"...I will not stop at destroying the House. I will destroy even the memory of your House, and any mention of the story itself, the fate that befell you, will fill Germans with disgust. They will blame you for the problems that come crashing down upon their lives."
The man's eyes flashed. He clearly understood that the threat was quite real. He also understood that, most likely, I would not follow through, because it would divert resources from the Quarter I was developing.
"Half... half of the sum you named."
I barely tilted my head to the side, looking at him.
"Ninety percent."
"Sixty. It is easier for us to appeal to the Queen of Britain than to pay such a robber's ransom."
"Eighty percent. If it were that easy, you'd have come to me through her. But now she might demand even more than I'm asking, and you know it."
"Seventy percent. Maybe more, but you'll get nothing at all."
"Seventy-five. I'll get my share either way. It's just that whatever the Queen gives me will be pocket change to her."
"Good..."
The man nodded.
"When will we conduct the exchange?"
"Tomorrow. Come to me then; everything will be ready."
"Good..."
The guests left, and almost immediately Kali emerged from the hidden niche, with Blake following right behind her.
"Well..."
I looked carefully at Blake's mother.
"...we've settled the matter of your well-being."
"Isn't this too much? To quarrel like that with some apparently substantial House from another country..."
Kali gave me a sharp look.
"I'll be honest. If you weren't Blake's mother, things likely wouldn't have gone this far. I'd probably have wrung some compensation out of the Germans and paid both you and the Veela a little money myself. Believe me, to everyone involved, that would have seemed perfectly proper."
She nodded gloomily.
"No need to frown. The compensation would have been fair, even if not this large. However..."
I shook my head.
"...the fact that I care about Blake changes everything. An attempt on your freedom becomes an attempt on Blake, and by extension, concerns me. So..."
I shrugged. All this had already been chewed over several times, and Kali understood everything. More than that, she had nothing against my thoughts; she was simply trying again and again to draw me out. She kept trying to show her daughter that I was only acting this way because I wanted to make an impression on Blake.
But the funniest thing was, Blake saw it herself, saw it and understood that, given my position and capabilities, it was only natural. It would have been far stranger if I hadn't used them.
In short, Kali simply didn't understand, or rather, she understood but refused to believe, that Blake had walked into my trap herself. I hadn't even had to work for it the way I had with Penny!
Penny was the one I'd had to jump through hoops for, practically forcing her to talk to me and see me as a mature, serious adult. I'd had to get her to see me as the best match, while Blake... Blake had come to all of this herself.
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