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50.77% Unbound Familiar / Chapter 362: Time-Skip

Chapter 362: Time-Skip

Within a dimly lit room, two men sat at a table opposite each other. Both silently observe and analyse their opponent with firm eyes and a neutral expression.

The first had long brown hair with a thin yet finely maintained beard, strong nordic features, and wore extremely luxurious clothes.

The other had average length dirty blonde hair, a cleanly shaven face with the beginnings of teenage fluff growing, blueish-green eyes, and wore faultless grey robes that barely concealed the muscular body hidden beneath it.

They continue to stare at one another for another five minutes until someone makes the first move to speak. "It's good to finally meet you face to face lad, with all this secrecy, I was beginning to think you were playing me."

Michael gives a light smile and casually folds his legs, "Maybe I was? Maybe I still am?..." he shakes his head, "The only reason I'm meeting you now is because you kept moaning on about it. Has anyone ever told you that you act like a bored housewife, Brynjolf?"

Brynjolf laughs in response, clapping his knee a couple times, "Haha! Hardly! Most are too scared of the Guild to even look at me, let alone say something like that! It's good to know some still have some steel left in them... But I suppose I shouldn't be surprised, you've got quite a lot under your belt now, haven't you lad?" he holds up his fingers and begins listing some off,

"Leader of the most competent adventurer groups with fame comparable to the Companions... One of the most powerful magic users in Skyrim and wielder of unique magic... One of the richest men in Skyrim... Let's not mention your skills as an assassin, and secretive business ventures."

"Are we going to get to business or are you just gonna keep sucking me off, Brynjolf?" Michael replies, feeling slightly embarrassed at having everything he'd been up to listed off so easily.

Brynjolf nods, "Fine. What's got you interested enough to finally meet me? Ah, don't tell me... Was it those fools trying to push you again?"

Michael shakes his head, "No, they learned their lesson the last time... I want to know our progress with my business, SkyRend?"

Brynjolf taps his foot while in thought, "You mean that engineering project with all those ballista? What of it?"

"How many siege engines have been built, are the Stormcloaks or Imperials aware of their existence yet, and have the locations for stores in each Hold been picked yet?"

Brynjolf huffs under his breath, "You say it like it's so simple... Do you know how hard it is to keep literal war machines out of the eyes of either group?" he lets out a weak sigh, "They are secret for now, the thirty or so that've been made, but who knows how long that will stay. What are you even going to use them for? Planning on backing someone? Or maybe taking a piece for yourself?"

The Civil War had only begun a week ago with Ulfric Stormcloak declaring War on the Thalmor, and subsequently the Empire due to the existence of the White-Gold Concordat. No one was surprised by this of course, but it still made Brynjolf wary of Michael's intentions since his SkyRend business had been constructing siege engines for months now.

Michael shakes his head, "I am building them for everyone, but they will not be used against either faction. It might not make sense to you now but, it will when the time comes."

...

"Whatever, as long as it continues making gold, I suppose it doesn't matter." the man shrugs.

The SkyRend company was actually one of the most profitable businesses in the whole of Tamriel right now. While Michael's focus with it was preparing for the Dragon Crises, that didn't mean he intended to lose money either. It was an engineering company, and he'd used modern knowledge to propel it forward.

There wasn't anything too blatant, no advanced machinery, no guns, no advanced knowledge, not even modern metallurgy... Instead, their most popular item was Grandfather clocks. There were many varieties of them, but generally it was the rich and affluent who purchased such things. Since it was a unique technology in this world, Michael could charge whatever he wanted for it.

Sure, there were sundials and some magic to help folks keep track of time, but many were simply too lazy to use such things. Sundials are inaccurate or useless depending on the weather and or time, and the timekeeping magic being difficult to learn since it was an Adept level spell.

His clocks were simply the best option for unmagical rich folk, not to mention being great conversation pieces and things to brag about to their rich buddies. It'd even caused a sort of competition amongst the rich to see who could get the most expensively designed clock...

People would eventually figure out how to make their own of course, but by the time that happened, his SkyRend company would have stores in every hold, perhaps even a presence in Cyrodil and other provinces... After all, time was money, and everyone could use a clock.

The most important thing however, was the fact that his position as leader of the company was completely hidden. He allowed Brynjolf to handle the managing of it, and in return, the man would receive a percentage of the profits along with the ability to have Thieves make occasional use of his stores.

Brynjolf leans forwards in his seat, "So, you won't take any side in the war? I'd have thought someone like you would back the Imperials." he shrugs, referring to his rather well-known relationship with Tiffania.

"My relationship with Tiff is part of the reason I won't back anyone. The Empire are too busy sucking the Thalmor's cocks to care about individuals or what the Elves are doing to Skyrim's citizens under their noses.

My reason for not joining the Stormcloaks is similar but different. Most of its members hate Elves, and even if they win against the Imperials, it'll be the Thalmor they have to fight next... Not the weak forces they've been sending to keep the Imperials on their toes, but a full-scale army. I know they won't win, you know they won't win. To me, both sides are fighting a losing battle."

"Yeah, my thoughts are the same lad, why'd you think I became Jarl? Can't have Riften bumbling into this shit show and getting the Guild involved."


CREATORS' THOUGHTS
Niggross Niggross

Hope you bois liked the chap, if I missed anything please let me know. Thanks!

If you like my content or want to read ahead please go to : https://www.p.atreon.com/Nagross, I'd appreciate it.

Also, thanks to my patrons for their support :

ShinAmazake

Kingsprovince

Faruk Ereng

next chapter

Chapter 363: Ruminations

The duo continue talking about various things, projects, and businesses. When finally it came time for both of them to depart.

Michael brushes off the dust from his robes and gets to his feet before giving Brynjolf a firm handshake, "It's time for me to go, you know how the missus is if you're even a minute late."

Brynjolf shrugs, "Eh, not really. My only love glints under the light and has Tiber Septims face printed on one side." he chuckles, "Not that I don't feel envious of you lad, tales of your lass's beauty has been sung of in most taverns in Skyrim... Keep her away from the Bard's College in Solitude if you know what's good for you, those fair-faced milk-sops won't be able to hold themselves back..."

Michael nods, "I'll keep that in mind then.. Ah, before I go, remember to watch your mail. I have another project coming up that I'll need your help with. In the meantime, if you could compile of list of trustworthy stone masons and carvers, that'd be perfect."

"I'll get to work on it, just keep the gold coming and we'll be dandy." he says before walking to a blank wall and glancing over at Michael, "Could you...?"

Michael waves his hand, conjuring a Dimension Gate from the room to Brynjolf's room in the Thieves Guild... After all, meeting the man in Riften with all the eyes and ears around would be retarded... Thus he meets the man in this cabin in the woods via teleportation to work on shit without worrying about prying eyes.

Once Brynjolf leaves, he changes the Gate's destination from Riften to the College of Winterhold, specifically his room, where an older Tiffania wearing lingerie was already waiting for him on his bed.

"For someone who makes clocks, the times you show up are all over the place, Michael." she says with mock anger.

"When everyone's drooling over my clock, it's hard to stay focussed sometimes... Just remember that you're the one who gets to experience it."

...

"Your clock?"

He grins, "Ah, I misspoke." he jokes, quickly throwing his clothes off and jumping into bed, not forgetting to apply a muffling spell to prevent sound from getting out.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

It's been a year since the group had first entered Skyrim, and months since Michael had started putting some plans into action. Saya and Saeko were settling in Skyrim well enough, he'd taken both of them to the Guardian Stones once they'd learned to fluently speak Tamrielic, with Saeko receiving the Birthsign of the Warrior, and Saya getting the one from the Mage.

Saeko wasn't still in the College, of course, he'd sent her to join the Companions to both have her learn from local warriors, as well as get her out of the College before Tiffania throws her into Oblivion or something.

Saya on the other hand had been sucking up knowledge like a dry sponge. Months of work and she'd already begun mastering Adept level spells. Aside from that, she'd also become close friends with Megumin, the duo becoming somewhat of a nuisance to regular mages, who found their talent and antiques incredibly aggravating.

The Civil War had begun in the meantime, literally cutting Skyrim in half as each Hold chose their side. Riften and Whiterun had both chosen to remain neutral, the new Jarl Brynjolf and Balgruuf creating a sort of Defensive Pact to keep them both from being surrounded and invaded.

Whiterun was more protected than Riften currently due to its more central position, making any aggression towards it difficult since the other side would react to it. Still, since Brynjolf was the leader of the Thieves Guild, even Ulfric needed to give proper dues...

The Thieves Guild wasn't the weak organisation that it once was, combined with the SkyRend company, they'd gotten their hands in every single Hold in Skyrim. If Ulfric attacked Riften at this point, he'd almost immediately lose the war after that... After all, Brynjolf controlled most merchants and suppliers around the East of Skyrim... Windhelm would starve in a matter of months, if not weeks.

The Holds that made up the Stormcloaks were Eastmarch, Falkreath, The Pale, and Winterhold.

On the Imperial side, there was Haafingar, Hjaalmarch, and The Reach. To most, it would look like the Imperials were outnumbered, but when you take into account the fact that Winterhold was little more than a bug compared to everyone else, things were pretty even across the board.

The College of Winterhold had stayed neutral of course, the Arch-Mage rejecting Jarl Korir's attempts to garner their assistance. His known hatred of the College and continual attempts to have them removed or limited hadn't made him well-liked amongst the mages.

Michael's relationship with the man was better than most, he'd retrieved the Helm of Winterhold for the man, along with doing some other small tasks that'd put him, if not in the mans 'good books' his 'not hated books'.

Michael still hated nobles of all sorts of course, but getting the Jarl's backing was required for his future plans.

The Civil War itself had been mostly cold if you'd mind the pun. Neither side wanted to engage in any large scale conflicts as of yet, as negotiation was still on the table. High King Torygg and Ulfric both hoped to get the other side to surrender, but both knew there was little chance of that happening.

Indeed, the first battle of the Civil War had occurred not that long ago, the Stormcloaks had attempted to completely cut off the crossroad West of Whiterun in an attempt to stop Imperial holds from trading with Balgruuf, or at least, make it more difficult and too expensive to profitably do.

The Imperials caught wind of this and laid an ambush, leading to a full clash between the small armies. There was no decisive victory for either side, and both retreated to lick their wounds. Not much had happened after that aside from the grandstanding you'd usually expect.


CREATORS' THOUGHTS
Niggross Niggross

Hope you bois liked the chap, if I missed anything please let me know. Thanks!

Also, thanks to my patrons for their support :

ShinAmazake

Kingsprovince

Faruk Ereng

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