Denardis never went anywhere without a reason. As the mercenary overseeing the Marquis of Sinevergo’s pyralite mine, he did not see difficulties as obstacles, but as opportunities waiting to be exploited. His loyalty belonged neither to the marquis nor to his banner—it belonged to the gold he was paid. And this time, he intended to make the most of the situation.
Recognizable by the prominent scar across his face and his cruel smile, he never hesitated to switch sides when a better opportunity presented itself.
Upon arriving at the manor, he was escorted inside by the marquis’s steward, Max.
“Good day, my lord,” he said arrogantly, offering little more than a token bow.
The marquis did not return the greeting. His gaze settled briefly on him, assessing him.
“What do you have to tell me?”
Without waiting for permission, Denardis took a seat.
“The extraction of pyralite is becoming problematic. Too expensive. Too unstable.”
Brader slowly tapped a finger against his desk.
“I already pay you to pull gold out of that ground, Denardis. Not to explain why it refuses.”
A faint smile touched the mercenary’s lips.
“Then allow me to explain why it refuses.”
He leaned forward slightly.
“The slaves can’t keep up anymore. They die too quickly. Exhaustion, cave-ins, toxic fumes… You’re losing them faster than you can profit from them.”
“Slaves,” the marquis cut in sharply. “Not guests. Replace them.”
“If they were that easy to replace, I wouldn’t be here.”
A brief silence followed.
Denardis’s gaze drifted toward the chests before returning to the marquis.
“Their price keeps rising. Transport costs more. Productivity keeps falling. Keep this up, and you’ll bleed gold.”
Brader raised an eyebrow.
“And you came all this way to teach me arithmetic. How generous of you.”
Denardis ignored the jab.
“I came to offer a solution.”
The marquis made an impatient gesture.
“I’m listening. Make sure the trip was worth my time.”
“We need something better than disposable labor. Dwarves for the tunnels. Trolls for the heavy lifting. And an earth dragon to locate ore veins.”
Silence fell.
Then, slowly:
“A dragon…”
The marquis leaned back, a humorless smile on his lips.
“And then what? Shall I have a palace built for it as well?”
“Captured young, it can be controlled. Useful.”
“Until it stops being useful.”
“Then we kill it.”
Brader let out a short breath, almost amused.
“Capture a dragon. Train it. Exploit it. Then kill it. An impressive chain of ideas, Denardis. Each one more expensive than the last.”
The mercenary’s smile never wavered.
“Still cheaper than letting the mines collapse.”
The marquis’s gaze hardened.
For a moment, neither man spoke.
“You’re ambitious.”
“I’m efficient.”
“You’re mostly very convinced of your own importance.”
“Enough to be sitting here.”
The silence stretched once more.
The marquis’s anger was not explosive. It was cold. Restrained.
“Come up with something better. Or stop wasting my time.”
Denardis held his gaze.
“Without it, production will decline. And you know it.”
The marquis looked away slightly, thoughtful.
The silence that followed was not a refusal.
Profile
Role : Mercenary in the service of the Marquis of Sinevergo
MBTI : ESFJ
Race : Human
Arrogant, realistic everyday speech with a negative tone
- Negotiation
- Resource Management
- Observation
- Planning
- Opportunism
- Efficient
- Pragmatic
- Persistent
- Resourceful
- Clear-sighted
- Arrogant
- Greedy
- Opportunistic
- Cruel
- Disloyal
Recognizable by his prominent scar and cruel smile.
In charge of the Marquis of Sinevergo’s pyralite mine.
His loyalty lies with the gold he is paid rather than with his employer.
He does not hesitate to switch sides if a better opportunity presents itself.