You make deals in business  and in government if you're smart.
                                 — Joe Arpaio

Steelfort’s business district was as two-faced as any coin. On the one hand, a simple drive down the street would reveal an impressive succession of reputable buildings inspiring confidence and trust in the companies that operated inside. But on the other, a simple exploration of the pedestrian paths through the area would reveal several dark alleyways between and behind the buildings. Some of these led into shadier establishments, many of which disguised themselves as abandoned and vacant. 

A short man slunk down one such alleyway, hands stuffed in the pockets of his undercoat and a violet scarf bundled around his neck. The soles of his elegant suede shoes scraped audibly with each step as he shuffled his way down the rough asphalt. None of Steelfort’s roads or walkways were known for their smoothness, but these back roads certainly saw even less maintenance than most. 

At last, the man reached his destination, a squat establishment crudely built onto the back of an insurance office. Though of course, this business most certainly had nothing to do with ensuring anyone of anything. The only sure thing about it was that it wasn’t even supposed to be there, and the construction couldn’t be less up to code. 

The man pulled his violet scarf up over his mouth and nose to conceal his identity before pulling the door open. And a shoddy door it was, made simply of a sheet of plywood hinged to a rickety doorway and riddled with scratches. Upon shutting it, several gaps still remained in the frame; the door didn’t even create a complete seal to keep outside air outside. 

At any rate, the man with the violet scarf had stepped into a dismal scene indeed. A dimly lit dive bar stretched out before him, with a humid haze hanging over all. Dozens of tables and chairs had been strewn across the establishment with no attempt made at order or even comfort. In the back, the bar itself could clearly be seen to be smudged with grease and filth. The bartender himself sported an unkempt beard and matted hair. 

The patronage left much to be desired as well. Nearly all the men and women seated at the round tables probably belonged in prison, judging by the looks of them. Many earnestly conversed over various drinks or gambled without a care. One particularly concerning customer gesticulated with great vigor, a long knife clearly visible in his hand. 

The newcomer narrowed his eyes at anybody who made eye contact with him as he trudged toward the bar in the back. If not for his scarf, they would have seen a scowl designed to warn off any unwanted solicitation. He’d come for one thing, and one thing only. 

He leaned against the counter and beckoned the bartender over. After setting down a shot glass he’d been polishing, the bartender complied. 

“I’m here to see Sebastian Aleric.” the man muttered through his improvised violet veil, “Where’s he sitting?” 

The bartender appeared to ponder the inquiry for a long time before he finally pointed into the shadowy depths of the bar. It turned out the counter bent around into an L shape, and even more tables stretched out into a shady corner that made the rest of the place appear bright in comparison. If not for a few candles, some tables would have been abandoned entirely to darkness. 

“If you say so...thanks.” 

With that, the man adjusted the collar of his overcoat and headed to the place he’d been directed. Plumes of cigarette smoke floated from a few tables, as it seemed none of Steelfort’s many laws existed within these walls. Anything could happen here, it seemed, and nobody would come to another’s defense if assaulted or coerced. The man patted his handgun he carried in an inner pocket of his coat. 

Finally, he reached a table in the corner farthest from the door, enshrouded in deep shadow. A single candle in the middle of the table revealed a steaming cup of coffee, as well as the fact a person sat in the corner. Though the flickering flame revealed no face, the man with the violet scarf reluctantly took a seat. 

The mug disappeared into the darkness, and the hissing sound of a man sipping hit the newcomer’s ears. Then a hand covered in thick decorative rings set the cup down with a hard thud, and the owner of the hand sat up. In the warm glow of the candle, Sebastian Aleric’s shrewd, wide face revealed itself, and he appraised his guest with curious eyes tinged with indignance. 

“Off with your mask.” Sebastian clucked, “You’re not hiding anything from me.” 

“Very well.” the man assented, tugging the scarf back down to his neck, “This is an interesting choice of location, to say the least.” 

“Away from prying eyes and greedy ears. At any rate, you know why I’ve summoned you. It’s been months since you were supposed to pay up on your loan, and yet I haven’t seen a single shilling.” 

“You did this to yourself, Aleric.” 

Sebastian’s eyes glinted with wrath. “How so?” 

“You’ve been raising taxes like no tomorrow. That’s making the prices on everything rise, forcing me to give my entire staff raises just to keep up. I was forced to choose between funding payroll or getting you your money back, so you can’t really blame me for the route I took.” 

“Actually, I can. A deal’s a deal.” 

“Well, maybe you should have thought of that before making it impossible to uphold my end of the bargain.” 

“A deal’s a deal,” Sebastian repeated in an ominous voice. But then a pleased grin snaked across his face, and he took a sip of his coffee. 

“What’s amusing you so?” Sebastian’s debtor asked, fingers kneading the fabric of his scarf. 

“I’m willing to strike you a new deal, provided you hold to your commitments this time.” 

“I’m listening.” 

Sebastian reached into an inner pocket of his regal jacket and pulled out a folded piece of paper. Unraveling it, he smoothed out the creases with his palms before presenting it to his guest with a proud smirk. Sprawling across the page was a beautiful drawing of an idyllic and bustling shopping mall just outside the walls of Steelfort, pushing the woods and forests back for endless miles. A host of different businesses populated the mall, from restaurants to clothing stores to theaters (yes, plural) and miscellaneous stores in abundance. Any investor with a lick of sense would foresee shillings without number could be made at such a place. 

“Interesting.” the man with the violet scarf muttered, maintaining the pretense of a nonchalant frame, “Looks like a big project, and a profitable one, too. But what’s this got to do with me?” 

“Isn’t that obvious? The trees and brush aren’t likely to clear themselves for me. You could play a hand in tripling the wealth of Steelfort.” 

“What would I get in return?” 

“I’ll forgive your loan and forget our deal ever happened.” Sebastian declared with confidence. 

“Not good enough. That would be a massive project, Aleric. I can’t do all that for free.” 

“Where did all the money I gave you disappear to?” 

“I already told you.” the man replied coolly, kneading his thumb on the corner of the table, “It disappeared into payroll. Nobody works for free, and especially not me.” 

“I could freeze all your assets this inst-” 

“No, you couldn’t. If you did, you wouldn’t be able to pull off this project of yours. Listen, Aleric, I’ll tell you how this is going down: I’ll invest my own capital into this venture, and upon completion, I expect full reimbursement for all costs involved, plus 15% interest. And also, a third of the land cleared will become mine to do with as I please.” 

Sebastian’s eyebrows inched together. “I can concede to most of that, but the last request is ridiculous. I won’t have the mall’s proposed size shrink merely so you can have an estate.” 

“Then in that case, the deforestation will stretch farther out. A deal’s a deal, after all.” 

With a toothy grin, Sebastian reached across the table for a handshake. “A deal’s a deal. Pleasure doing business with you, Newt.” 

“Likewise,” Newt replied, sealing the deal with a firm grasp. Then, with that settled, he rose from the table and headed out. The violet scarf he’d fastened around his face again concealed a sly smirk belonging to a man who had just struck a hard bargain skewed in his own favor. 

                    ★★★★★★

Ooh, what a mystery-filled chapter! Smirks evilly😂

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