Extra's Revenge: Reincarnated As A Slave-Chapter 135: Final Preparations (Part 1)
The next day, Rey sat in a discreet meeting room within the Red House’s underground network, reviewing the information Lady Z had provided.
It was comprehensive—contact protocols for the White Tulip and Purple Orchid Houses, dossiers on their key decision-makers, detailed maps of their operational structures, even psychological profiles that suggested how best to approach each organization.
’She works fast when properly motivated,’ Rey thought with cold satisfaction. ’Fear is an excellent incentive for efficiency.’
The data crystal Lady Z had given him contained everything he needed to begin establishing his networks. But the actual approach would require careful calibration—each House needed to be manipulated differently, presented with offers that appealed to their specific interests while obscuring Rey’s ultimate objectives.
Rey began with the White Tulip House.
According to Lady Z’s intelligence, they specialized in information brokering and intelligence gathering—a natural fit for what Rey needed. Their current leader was a woman named Iris, known for her analytical mind and preference for profitable arrangements over loyalty or principle.
Rey crafted his first identity carefully.
Using a combination of Artifacts and Techniques, he transformed his appearance into that of a middle-aged merchant from a neighboring city—someone with resources but no obvious connection to Elkrim’s established criminal networks. He doctored documentation showing a legitimate trading business, created financial records suggesting moderate wealth, and established a cover story that would withstand basic investigation.
Then he requested a meeting with the White Tulip through encrypted channels, offering valuable intelligence about recent Guard activities in exchange for an audience.
The meeting was arranged for that evening in a neutral location—a tea house in district three that catered to Dark Commerce clientele without officially acknowledging their business.
Rey arrived precisely on time, his disguised appearance marking him as someone who understood protocol and professionalism. Iris sat waiting in a private booth, her sharp eyes assessing him with the practiced evaluation of someone who’d survived decades in information trading.
"You have intelligence about Guard activities," she said without preamble. "Speak."
Rey withdrew a small data slate containing genuine information he’d gathered through his own networks—Category C Guard patrol patterns, planned enforcement actions, even some classified communications he’d intercepted. Nothing that would compromise his own operations, but valuable enough to demonstrate his capabilities.
Iris reviewed the information with professional detachment, her expression revealing nothing until she’d finished.
"This is... higher quality than I expected," she admitted. "Category B Guard internal communications. Plans for raids that haven’t been publicly announced. Where did you acquire this?"
"I have sources," Rey replied simply. "And I’m interested in establishing a business relationship with the White Tulip House."
"What kind of relationship?"
Rey leaned forward slightly, his tone becoming confidential.
"The upcoming auction presents opportunities for those who can operate discreetly. I have items to sell—high-value materials and Artifacts acquired through... unconventional means. I need intermediaries who can move these items through the auction without revealing their true origin."
Iris’s eyes sharpened with interest. "You’re talking about using the White Tulip as a front for selling questionable merchandise."
"I’m talking about a mutually profitable arrangement," Rey corrected. "You would purchase my items at favorable rates, then resell them through the auction at market value. The difference represents your profit for providing legitimacy and discretion."
"And the risk of being caught selling stolen goods?"
"Minimal, if handled correctly," Rey assured her. "The items have been treated with Null Art to remove identifying signatures. Documentation will be provided showing legitimate acquisition through offshore sources. And the White Tulip’s reputation as information brokers gives you cover—it’s natural for you to acquire unusual items through your intelligence networks."
Iris considered this carefully. "What percentage are you offering?"
"Twenty percent of the sale price," Rey said. "You purchase from me at eighty percent of estimated auction value, sell at full price, keep the difference. Low risk, guaranteed profit, and you strengthen your position by demonstrating access to high-quality merchandise."
It was a generous offer—more than fair given the White Tulip would be assuming minimal actual risk. But Rey needed their cooperation more than he needed maximum profit.
Iris ran calculations in her head, weighing risk against reward.
"I’ll need to see samples," she finally said. "Verify the quality and confirm the signatures have been adequately obscured."
Rey had anticipated this. He withdrew a small case containing three Artifacts—Grade 4 and 5 items from the Desgarron vaults that he’d carefully treated with Null Art Scrolls to erase identifying characteristics.
Iris examined them with professional thoroughness, using detection Artifacts to check for hidden signatures or traceable elements. After several minutes, she nodded with evident satisfaction.
"These are clean. Very clean, actually—whoever handled the signature removal knew what they were doing." She looked at Rey with new respect. "How many items are we talking about?"
"Fifteen pieces for the auction," Rey replied. "Mixed Artifacts and rare materials. Total estimated value around over a hundred million Nether currency at auction prices."
Iris’s expression showed controlled excitement—that represented significant profit for minimal effort.
"I’ll agree to your terms with two conditions," she said. "First, we structure the transactions through multiple shell buyers so no single entity appears to be moving large quantities of valuable items. Second, I want exclusive rights to any future merchandise you need moved through Elkrim."
Rey pretended to consider this, though he’d expected exactly such a counteroffer.
"Agreed on the first condition—distributed transactions serve both our interests. But exclusive rights are too restrictive. I’ll give you first refusal on future opportunities, but I reserve the right to work with other Houses if you can’t accommodate my needs."
They negotiated details for another hour, eventually settling on terms that satisfied both parties. The White Tulip would handle fifteen items through the auction, using six different buyer identities to distribute the transactions. Payment would be made upfront at eighty percent of estimated value, with the understanding that Rey would offer them priority on future business.
Rey departed the meeting with the first piece of his network established.
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The Purple Orchid House required a different approach.
According to Lady Z’s intelligence, they specialized in weapons, combat Artifacts, and items related to violence and conflict. Their leader was a former mercenary named Kord, known for his straightforward manner and preference for direct transactions over complex negotiations.
Rey crafted a second identity—this time appearing as a retired combatant with access to military-grade equipment. He documented a plausible history as a guard captain in a distant city, created references suggesting experience with black market weapons trading, and established a cover story about downsizing a personal collection.
The meeting with Kord was arranged in the Purple Orchid’s own territory—a fortified building in district seven that doubled as both headquarters and weapons testing facility.
Kord was a massive man, scarred and direct, who evaluated Rey’s disguised appearance with the clinical assessment of someone who’d killed many times.
"You’ve got combat gear to move," he stated without preamble. "What kind and how much?"
"Mixed inventory," Rey replied, matching his directness. "Defensive Artifacts, offensive weapons, a few specialized combat items. All high-grade, all functional, all clean of identifying signatures."
He withdrew a weapons catalog he’d prepared—photographs and specifications for several items from the Desgarron vaults, carefully selected to appeal to the Purple Orchid’s clientele.
"We can do business."
