Rikkou's Wreckers Encampment, Southern Torrs, Morning.

The champion members have begun their regimen. Some in charge of farming, others began training to maintain endurance and strength. Rikkou and the visitors from the West have left the encampment in search of the two allies mentioned last night. 

Pattou: You do know you have some crops waiting there in your farm. Why the need to head to a market? 

Rikkou: Cousin, did you forget what I said last night? We have a possible ally who is a merchant in that market and we need to make sure that he is a valuable asset. That and we were in luck as we also get some seedlings and some rare goods that you cannot find here in the South. 

Liger: Cannot argue with that logic

Southern Torrs Central Market, Morning.

Southern Torrs Central Market serves as a market for crops to be sold or traded for the goods to be transported to other regions of Torrs. It also serves as a hub of exchange of not only goods but cultures as well. And a certain exchange is about to begin as Rikkou and the Blade company of three have arrived. The merchants were out and about actively selling their wares and goods. Rikkou had already been informed beforehand that a bespectacled merchant who was handling the trading post was the one being pointed out by his men as the possible sympathizer to the cause against Corrvin. But to be sure, Rikkou would need to approach this merchant.

The bespectacled merchant saw Rikkou and the Blade trio approach his stall and welcomed them, 

Merchant?: Greetings customers! What will you be having? 

Rikkou: I will be having some of these crops here given that we will have more mouths to feed from here on out. Also... - as if in code - Are you interested in a trade with us? All we ask is your cooperation for a cause greater than ourselves?

The merchant was caught off guard but kind of knew what was in that phrase, 

Merchant?: I am listening, what do you kind gentlemen offer? 

Pattou, after being signaled by Rikkou began the offer, 

Pattou: We had some information here of a merchant who does not take kindly to the Corvinn-Torrs. Seeing as said merchant has some information and the connections, may you invite this merchant to the farmlands in the afternoon?

The merchant would then remove his glasses and wiped them then said, 

Merchant?: That is quite the offer, but what you say had better be the truth. It will be difficult if this would turn out to be a purging on us merchants

He then would signal one of his co-merchants,

Merchant?: Would you mind taking over here? I will be handling some business with potential traders here. 

Upon the affirmation, the merchant then said, 

Merchant?: Let us not take this to the farmlands, I will take you to that merchant you speak of now to his place.

Cooke Manor, Southern Torrs, Noon.

The Merchant along with Rikkou, Pattou, Liger and Sayfuro then headed to an enclosed plot of land with an almost large house in the middle of the enclosure. The four were amazed and as they had entered. Rikkou was most impressed seeing a variety of crops growing here, even more than what he can grow in their camp. As for the Westerners, after being surrounded by forests and clusters of homes, this wide field is a rather well-sought change of environment.

As they entered the large hosue, the merchant offered the visitors with food and drink and upon approval, had served the same. 

Pattou: May we know if that merchant will be returning soon?

The merchant then joins them at the table

Merchant?: I feel you have not been aware of what you are seeking. I dared not reply in the most forward of ways as I feel that there were bandits or mercenaries paid by Corrvin to prowl around the market, which is why I spoke of myself in the third person so as not to raise suspicion.

Rikkou: Myself? So after all that talk, you.... 

Gerard: -laughs- Yes. I am the one your men have been looking into and you are correct that I can no longer stand the regime. My apologies for the roundabout, the name is Gerard Cooke. I may be a merchant in these parts but I also am a Whitesmith (ax wielders who also use wealth and can summon extra-dimensional hammers, as well as cause tremors with even an axe hit).

After taking a swig of drink, Gerard then asks the visitors, 

Gerard: Now may I know who exactly you all are? 

Pattou then introduced himself and his company, 

Pattou: I am Patriarch Blade, long lost heir of the Blade Dynasty. You have here Rikkou Slingblade, leader of Rikkou's Wreckers, a band of champions that he leads also here in the South. Liger Chance, one of my trusted allies from Western Torrs and a great sniper. Also, you have here Sayfuro Wuyong, my adviser and dependable right hand man.

Gerard: -surprised at the introductions- Blade? So the rumors are true that you do live Master Patriarch! But Liger...hmm... the name sounds familiar somehow. Were you an orphan by any chance?

Liger: Actually both Pattou...I mean Patriarch and myself were orphans. 

Gerard: Well, my late parents have been active despite their being merchants in being benefactors and feeding the poor in the orphanage. I was way young back then but I was saved by a Liger and a Pattou when some mean orphans tried to mess with me behind my parents' back. It was quite sad that that would be the last of the orphanage visits as I had wanted to befriend you both. Fate surely has a unique way for our paths to cross.

Both Liger and Pattou now recalled that scene with Liger recalling it the most, 

Liger: Oh yeah, we only knew we saved a merchant's son, little did Pattou..I mean Lord Patriarch know that you were that kid 

Sayfuro: -interrupts- Alright I see that the three of you had a bond but might we know, Master Gerard, of any information you have gathered regarding Baron Corrvin or the workings of the empire by chance?

Gerard: Alright, I know this may not be much. But from what I was able to gather, as far as supplies are concerned, most go to Governor Yansho. Another percentage is then funneled out to the rest of Torrs. In the process, we in the South are being shortchanged. Now as you, Rikkou, may know, our Governor has his head stuck in the clouds, still clinging to being a noble in a place far detached from what anyone would claim as nobility. This has gone to as far as closing himself off to the rest of the citizenry. So with those things going on, farmers are struggling. The people are starving because of this facade of nobility. Peasant uprisings are common place as well as groups like Rikkou's Wreckers exist in the hopes of liberation. Luckily you three are here as well, although where are the rest of your forces?

Sayfuro: Well, it would be easier for lesser heads to travel than an entire army as Corrvin may raise suspicion should we bring in more people when we do these liberations. So, we left them to defend Western Torrs in case of reprisal from that tyrant in our absence. 

Gerard: It makes sense...now I know the market is a no-fight zone and so far, it had been business as usual there...

One of the merchants suddenly ran in on them whilst he said this and reported while panting,

Merchant: Gerard, Corrvin-Torrs mercenaries have arrived and are currently looting the market! They are not sparing anyone... 

Gerard: -furious- I thought it was understood that no conflicts are to be had at the market! Guess it's time I show I am more than a merchant huh. 

They left Gerard's home and headed to the market.

Southern Torrs Central Market, Southern Torrs, Afternoon.

Upon their return to the market, crops and goods have either been spilled to the ground or already loaded to the nearby wagon. Mercenaries bearing knives are harassing the merchants yelling, 

Corrvin-Torrs Mercenary: Alright, all these are for the glory of the Empire and so ordered by the Governor and the Emperor himself. Your loyalty and silence are all the payment we need. 

Gerard with the strike of the axe head on the ground, causes a shockwave, stunning and lifting the mercenaries off their feet. 

Gerard: Are you all so mad to even cause chaos here? We're all trying to earn honestly and yet you try to cause hurt and pain for the sake of blind loyalty to that fiend?

The mercenaries, embarassed and triggered, stoop up with more rage, raring for a fight. And as if on cue, some nearby Corrvin-Torrs knights joined the fray. 

Lead Mercenary: Alright you hypocritical merchant, you go first. Spare no one so we can be on our way! 

A fight ensued in the central market. The royal army and their allies used the surroundings to their advantage trying to disarm and overwhelm Gerard, Sayfuro, Liger, Rikkou and Pattou. However, it is the fivesome who had the upper hand. Gerard once again use his axe to create a shockwave, this time forming earth spikes, but in the process, damage the surrounding stalls. Liger fires away with his arrows at the enemies flying due to the shockwave to neutralize them. Cousins Pattou and Rikkou advance with a hide-and-strike approach everytime Gerard would use a shockwave attack in coordination. The mercenary-soldier units knew their chance to strike Gerard is during the cooldown between every shockwave, and attempted to act upon this. Little did they know, they were going to be met by either the chained gauntlet fist of Rikkou or a slash from Pattou's Legacy Sword. When the lead mercenary saw that he was the only one left standing, he made an attempt to flee with the loot left in the wagon. The escape attempt was thwarted when Liger fired an arrow at the wagon wheel for it to disconnect and stop the escape. The lead mercenary would this time attempt to save his own life by running away, but he would be met by Sayfuro lunging at him and stabbing away with his Katar blades.

Gerard saw the mess left by the failed raid by the mercenary-Corrvin-Torrs troops and apologized to the merchants present for the damages caused. However, the merchants accepted the apology and thanked them for saving their livelihood, at least what was left. After the Central Market had been cleaned up and closed for the day, Gerard would call for the merchants to join him in his house for a meal.

Cooke Manor, Southern Torrs, Night.

Despite all that had happened, Gerard found it fit to have the merchants gathered in his house along with the visitors as his way of apologizing for the raid that had occurred earlier. The merchants were rather guilty of abusing Gerard's kindness but his insistence led to them caving in. Gerard himself prepared the food, with help from Rikkou and some members of the Wreckers that he called over.

Once everyone had settled down, Gerard would call for all present to raise their cups, 

Gerard: I know it had been a rather horrid day, given how crops that were up for trading and selling are mostly saved. Know that we have now seen how Corrvin's ruthlessness pervades from the common citizens to even us honest working merchants. And this is why I must say this, I have known you all ever since my father entrusted the trade post to me, now I must stand on your behalf and do my part to end the regime. Which brings me to our guests here, one from our area, the other three who have journeyed here from the West. I am talking about the long lost heir, Lord Patriarch Blade. I shall throw my lot with him and I ask that you all do too. Long live the Blade! 

Those present toasted to that last line.

Gerard now giving Pattou the floor, allowing Pattou to speak, 

Pattou: I thank you Gerard. Now just to lighten the mood a bit and again, my apologies for the mess caused by that raid. Your colleague here in the merchant trade was actually someone we had rescued when we were kids. As you may have known, the Cookes were known as philanthropists and, Liger and myself were lucky to have seen that first hand. How things have come together after those years that one of you will join us in our cause. This coalition built upon from the snipers and bandits of the West, to even the merchants, champions and peasants of the South, we five swear upon you that together, Corrvin's rule will end and end it shall! 

Those in attendance rejoiced and again raised their glasses and lifted their spirits as the feast went on.

Longest chapter early on but hope it was worth the read. 

Chapter 10 will be out in a few hours.

Keep safe and stay awesome!