Nemobrosus

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Chapter 33: Government Bailout

Willem looked at Stephen. “Everyone here?” he asked. “Even the undesirables?”

“Ah…” Stephen scratched the back of his neck. “Yes. Everyone is here.”

“Wonderful.” H...

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Chapter 32: The Great Hullabaloo

“So… Gustav is going to be at the monthly meeting?” Willem asked.

“He said as much himself, at the Soaper’s Hall,” the man nodded. “He said that he’s going to attend, and that...

Chapter 31: Wouldn't Hurt a Fly

Viviene watched as her son poured himself a glass of wine. It was her wine, she noted—even in a time like this, he wasn’t willing to waste a single coin. She hadn’t recalled him bein...

Chapter 30: Sheep in Wolf's Clothing

Petronella opened the door to the florist and herbalist shop, wrinkling her nose at the scent of herbs that suddenly assailed her. She walked in with purpose, knowing precisely where the person tha...

Chapter 29: We Live in a Society

Buying businesses for cheap was a delicate art, because it was a zero-sum game. If someone was buying, then someone was selling. If the deal was obviously imbalanced, the seller wouldn’t sell. On...

Chapter 28: Heart of Gold

Willem opened up his chest of gold, peering within.

“I can’t stop you from taking it all,” Anne Claire said. “I’ve kept it safe for you, but it is yours. But are you utterly certain...

Chapter 27: The Red Raven Darkens the Church

Petronella watched curiously as Willem looked at her up and down. His immediate reaction had been alarm—she’d seen that on his face as plain as day. She didn’t make any sudden movements. She ...

Chapter 26: The Plan to Kill Capitalism

Petronella led the frail-looking girl that’d introduced herself as Dorothea to the private Chamber of Divulgence. Before she could give her instructions to the woman as to how to use the chamber,...

Chapter 25: Willem's Deadly Battle

Catharina walked through the gardens of her husband’s estate, having just finished one of the many books in the vast library of the Duyn estate. She always felt a little empty and sad when a book...

Chapter 24: The Will to Kill

Viviene stared at her son through her one good eye, waiting for him to take up his stance. Willem glanced at the greatsword without much enthusiasm, and then looked back at her.

“A sword, h...

Chapter 23: The Great Soap War Bubbling to the Surface

“Pottery. Textiles. Tanning. Cosmetics. Shipyards. Dyeing. Domestics.” Willem looked at a page, then folded it back to look at Dirk. “Do you know what all of these have in common?”

Di...

Chapter 22: Preparing for War

“Willem’s not here,” Hans van Brugh said, keeping his best patient smile on in the face of this guest. He stood in the grand hall, where visitors were received. Half a dozen knights stood all...

Chapter 21: Greasing the Unions

“Willem,” said the baron as he walked into the private room. “Thank you for coming. I wanted to speak to you at that event you held, but… there was no time.”

“I get it,” Willem ...

Chapter 20: Trimming and Burning the Fat

“I have to admit, Willem… I’m impressed.” Viviene looked upon the account sheet he’d placed before her. “Over three thousand gold. You brought it all together. Provided not too many of ...

Chapter 19: Oldie Goldie

Catharina stared out at the docks of Gent, seeing nightmares behind her eyes.

Everything had been going rather well. She’d come here, disguised. Her brother hadn’t seemed to take any noti...

Chapter 18: The Society of Assured Prosperity

Anne Claire stood at rapt attention, her eyes scanning the ballroom ferociously. In her youth, Anne Claire had been quite the socialite. She had been the friend to the princess of the age, who was ...

Chapter 17: First Thread to Sew a Broken Family

Viviene had studied her son’s work for the whole morning. His accounting was far more meticulous than she’d been expecting. She had been anticipating it’d be something like her first day mana...

Chapter 16: The Event of a Lifetime

Petronella watched all of the male scions of House van Brugh exit Willem’s Society of Assured Prosperity. Her human heart was still, but the metaphysical heart of the wild monster within beat qui...

Chapter 15: The Battle of Lobster Table

Willem picked his teeth with lobster legs as Dirk procured some chairs for the newly-arrived. He’d spent a great deal of effort creating a pleasant atmosphere for negotiations, but it seemed this...

Chapter 14: Mommy

Countess Anne Claire stared at her table in some bemusement as Lennard van Brugh laid out colossal beaks in front of her one by one. She was certainly no monster hunter, but even she could tell the...

Chapter 13: An Unloving Family

Tielman held his sword in front of him, staring at the training dummy with unwavering eyes. He took a step forward and swung downward. The magic within the dummy made it come alive, and it swung it...

Chapter 12: Tantalizing Temptresses and Tradesmen

Willem examined the fancy workshop that Anne Claire had recommended to him. He could hear the sounds of industry echoing out of its fenced perimeter. The place looked unassuming, but that was large...

Chapter 11: How to Juice a Merchant

“We had no idea that you were the scion of house van Brugh,” said a rather plump woman as she sat next to her thin and wiry husband. He didn’t look particularly thrilled to be here.

“...

Chapter 10: Germinating the Seed of Greed

Dirk had settled into an easier life than he’d been expecting.

In the coming days, Willem agreed to take ownership of the lodgings that Countess Anne Claire had provided in exchange for giv...

Chapter 9: The Heartless Maiden

“It could get ugly.” An orb hummed out a voice, emanating light from atop a dresser. “He’ll be paranoid after the poisoning failed.”

“I have the tendency to make ugly situations e...

Chapter 8: The Fabled Bootstraps

“This is the place,” Anne Claire said, stopping at a black iron gate. She leaned on her cane to peer inside.

Willem looked beyond the bars, eyes darting around an ostentatious—if unmain...

Chapter 6: It's No Wall Street

After a week’s travel, they arrived at the city of Gent at midday. Willem sat by the window of the enchanted carriage, watching the city come closer into view. It had solid twenty-foot-tall walls...

Chapter 7: The Limitless Machinations of the Shadow-Monarch Schemer Spider Devil Puppetmaster

“The countess will see you now,” the male attendant said, bowing fluidly and perfectly.

Willem was jealous of this attendant. It made the small package that was Dirk seem somewhat lacklus...