Lorian was on his way to meet his ‘Guests’ when he was intercepted by Anya Vesper, the Grand Syndic.

  “Good morning, my Lord,” she bowed gracefully.

  “You woke early, it seems,” Lorian smirked.

  “Oh, you jest, my Lord,” she grinned, “And anyway, how can I sleep peacefully when our new Lord is taking a stroll through the shady part of town the very morning after his coronation?”

  Lorian was startled. “Is it wise for the Chief of Royal Intelligence to spy on the very Lord she pledged to serve?” he taunted.

  “I am simply following the orders issued by the late Lord of Veridia. Until the new Lord issues an override, I am obliged to follow them to the letter,” she replied. Her voice was humble, yet a strong resolve was buried within it.

  Lorian realized it was naive to think he could go anywhere without his father knowing, especially given Elmsworth’s deep concern for his safety.

  “So, who else knows about my dealings with Grisel? And to what extent?” Lorian’s voice stiffened. He was low-key angry with himself for getting ‘caught.’

  “Myself, two of my most trusted men assigned to shadow you outside the Auric Spire, and, of course, the late Lord Elmsworth,- may his soul bask in the eternal glory of Sol,” she replied, “However, we do not know the exact nature of your deal; your father had instructed us not to delve into it. At first, we thought he was blackmailing you, as his establishment flourished remarkably after your visits. But when your father sensed you weren't being coerced, our second guess was a scam. The Lord dismissed that too, as he felt you were far too clever to be scammed by a mere bartender.”

  Lorian felt a surge of delight. To hear that his father held him in such high esteem was indeed a great feeling. Like a wise woman, Anya, quickly read the minute changes in his facial expressions.

  “Lord Elmsworth was very proud of you,” she said softly, “He used to say you would fulfill his long-cherished dreams,- dreams he could never achieve himself.” Lorian simply nodded, and a genuine smile touched his lips.

  “However, lately... before his...” she paused, her face darkened “...before his unfortunate departure, …. thousand curses to the Bistros, and curse me for failing to intercept the conspiracy...”

  Lorian patted her arm in support, “He will be avenged. You have my word. Now, please continue.”

  “Forgive me, my Lord, I got carried away,” she collected herself quickly, “Lord Elmsworth assumed you had employed Grisel as your spy. It amused him greatly, though he never understood your logic. Nor could I.”

  “My father,” Lorian spoke proudly, “was wise and intelligent, as always.”

  “So he was correct?” Anya prompted suggestively.

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  “As always,” Lorian smiled.

  “I beg your forgiveness,” she bowed again, “but may I ask why? Why employ a ‘nobody’ bartender from the slums as a trusted spymaster?”

  “The answer is hidden in your question,” he replied with a smirk.

  “What...?” She was confused momentarily, but the realization hit her like a bolt. Her eyes widened, “I see your logic, my Lord. It is commendable. But anonymity cannot be the sole criterion for such a vital task.”

  “Indeed. He is a fellow with immense potential.” Lorian was impressed by her quick wit.

  “May I ask further, my Lord? If you do not mind.” She sounded genuinely curious. Lorian decided that since she already knew of the connection, there was no use in hiding the details.

  “I didn't hire Grisel because I had a hunch,” Lorian began, feeling a bit nostalgic, as if he were back in his past life giving a presentation to investors, “I had performed a Calculated Audit on him. And I discovered that Grisel is indeed an Under-valued Asset that, if capitalized correctly, will offer me the highest Return on Investment in the city.”

  Anya watched him with admiration. He continued, “One of his core USPs is….”

  “Beg your pardon, my Lord,” Anya interrupted, “but I did not follow. What is a 'USP'?”

  “My apologies,” Lorian nodded, “A USP is a Unique Selling Proposition. Think of it as the specific quality of a service that is unique to it,- something that makes it special, sets it apart from competitors, and makes it indispensable to the customer.”

  Anya nodded slowly, greatly enchanted by the words.

  “As I was saying,” Lorian resumed, “his USP is Data Integrity. When we first met, he refused to divulge a client’s trivial secret, even in the face of death. You see, if a man is willing to die to protect a cheap secret for a random patron, he will be equally disciplined in protecting a high-value secret for me. It is harder to buy a man with principles than a man with none. A man with no principles can be outbid by your enemies; a man with 'Principles of Trade' only needs a better contract.”

  Lorian paused to ensure he had her full attention, “Furthermore, Grisel already owns the Whispering Door. He has eyes both above and below the surface. He has the location, the clientele, and the ear of the underworld. Why build a factory from scratch when I can buy the most efficient one in town and install my own manager? By hiring Grisel, I bought years of established trust.”

  He looked her in the eye, “At that time, I didn't have access to your services. But even if I did…. if I used you, everyone would know I was watching. But no one suspects the bartender. Grisel is the perfect ‘Shell Company’ for my intelligence operations. The best security is the security no one knows you have.”

  “I understand, my Lord,” Anya spoke with newfound devotion, “You explain things in a way I have never heard, yet it feels so... familiar. I regret that we did not speak of this sooner.”

  “That’s alright,” Lorian smirked. “But let me ask, why the interest? Is it curiosity, or...” he did not complete his sentence.

  “Professional jealousy?” Anya smiled, “No, my Lord. We are all servants of Veridia. Rivalry only hurts the crown. I trust your judgment. If my Lord wishes, I will gladly vacate my seat as Grand Syndic in the Onyx Gallery and….”

  Lorian raised his hand, “No. My vision requires both of you. You two will manage two separate branches of intelligence. Think of it as having someone to share the load as our operations are going to scale manifold in near future. Your domain is ‘The Voice’, his will be ‘The Dark’. You know what, I think you two should meet. Setup a meeting, discuss your territories, roles and responsibilities, and then report back to me together. If there is any issue or confusion, I will be there to sort it out!”

  Anya bowed deeply, “Thank you, my Lord. I shall do so today.”

  “Best of luck,” Lorian smiled and continued toward his destination. Anya had delayed him, but he felt the discussion was vital. He was happy it had happened,- a high-value interaction he hadn't even needed to plan.