He led us to a private room in the casino, and had us sit. It was a simple office like space, with a table and chairs. Jorik and his brothers sat on one side while I sat on the other.

  "So, why don't you explain what you mean by 'offer'. He said. The brothers had a look I their eyes, with subtle facial expressions. They doubted me. I get it, chance meeting and sudden offer, rightly suspicious.

  "First, I would like to point out that I am not a spy from a rival company or here to infiltrate you in any way. I wanted a meeting for purely personal gain." I say.

  "Now, my offer is complex. The more you tell, the better it is. So, may I ask questions of you three?" I ask.

  Jorik and his brothers mutter a bit before turning to me again. "Ay, we'll play this game a' yours Fer now. Ask."

  I nod, and begin. "So, you, jorik, have said you make personalized gear for some of the guards of the city. You also make civilian goods like knives, pans, and the like. You also said that you and the company wanted to branch out." I say.

  I look at each in turn. "I have ways to get that to you." I say.

  "Ye sound like a demon speaking like that. Speak plainly." One of the brothers said with a frown.

  "Heh, I do it intentionally. It's to verbally communicate that I am doing something for my own self interests. So, what I need is an approximate example of the average soldier, guard, and so on. What I need, is to know what to give in trade."

  If you stumble upon this tale on Amazon, it's taken without the author's consent. Report it.

  "Now you sound like your from another country. Your doin yourself no favors." A brother said.

  "If I was a spy, I would just look? Seriously, do you doubt me that much?" I ask.

  "Yes." All three brothers chorus.

  I sigh audibly. "Look, I just need money. I need to build a body for myself and to do that, it's going to be prohibitively expensive. I need to build things to make my body properly, and that's just step one. I'm looking at a money sink and I can't even get the water started." I say.

  "When I met you Jorik, it was like a genuine miracle. I saw an opportunity and, in hindsight, I acted with haste. I get it, you don't trust me. But, I need something so I can give you somethin!. Just like you don't trust me, I don't trust you. I saw an opportunity, we now talk. Can we, or can't we figure a way to begin trusting each other?" i practically beg.

  The brothers share a look. "Fine. We will tell you about the average soldier." Jorik says. "In trade, give us something, like you said." He said.

  He started explaining the average republican soldier. They were equipped with monster leather armor, a side arm (self supplied) and a primary weapon (pike, Spear, pole axe, etc) depending on regiment.

  An interesting thing was mentioned about the average ranged troop. While most were equipped with crossbows, bows, slings sometimes. But the brothers had heard of a newish weapon being fielded. A weapon that sounded remarkably like a hand cannon.

  "So, you have black powder... interesting. I can work with this." I say, then chuckle.

  "Gentlemen, I've a deal for you. Let me join your company, and I will unlock the doors to black powder weapons. Together, we will make ourselves rich." I say, an audible smile in my voice.

  The age of gunpowder had begun. I would lead it.