Devil's Rise 12 The Inn

James' grand carriage was swiftly prepared. He was finally back to where he belonged. James sat in the middle of the carriage, with two beautiful maids by his side. He had 5 guards attending to his carriage as well as the butler Azon to lead the way. His young master entourage was complete. ~This is what I live for.~

They made their way in the grand carriage to the slums where James tavern was located. It seemed his business and was doing well! It was packed to the brim with tavern goers. James even saw a line outside, even other carriages were in the area.

Kyle sure has turned this place into a booming business.

James and his entourage quickly came to the entrance and spoke to the person in charge.

"Where's Kyle at? It seems he is doing a good job managing my 'Young Noble Lounge.'"

"'Young Noble Lounge?' What's that, this is clearly Ye Olde Devils Pub. Can't you read the sign young devil. Is something wrong with your head?"

"Are you questioning the words of this young master? This is my tavern, I demand to see Kyle the manager immediately."

"The manager of this establishment is Samuck. I don't know where you are getting your information from devil but you best move along. I'll let you know this place is backed by the Yazeesa clans young master Jaffil. Even the local Hudson clan has to give Yazzesa clan face."

"Well I think I've heard enough. Azon shut this place down and kill anyone who doesn't cooperate. I want to know just who this Jaffil fellow is to have the gall to steal my business."

"Yes young lord." Azon didn't care about a mere Yazzesa clan, he was one of Diana's followers. His way of doing things was just as tyrannical as hers.

Azon quickly got to the bottom of it after roughing up the people that had took over the bar. Apparently a young master Jaffil had visited the establishment on a trip to Wesser Forest. He didn't care about a Hudson clan as his Yazzesa clan was a Marquess clan, one level above a Count clan. Kyle was sent back to his farm battered and bruised.

Obviously Jaffil wouldn't go as far as to kill another devils follower he had no information on. Taking control of the tavern and leaving whoever owned it a bit of face was the way things like this were done. As long as a devil didn't kill another devils dogs it didn't create life or death enmity. As long as it was a person he couldn't cross at worse he would have to pay a bit of compensation.

Every arrogant young master had their own way of doing things that wouldn't leave them out in the rain. What he done was overbearing but at worse he would pay compensation and at best he would keep a nice little tavern he found. This was exactly how Jaffil viewed it. Too bad he was dealing with James, he got his overbearing arrogant personality from his mother. Even her servants acquiesced this behavior.

All Jaffil's minions at the tavern were tied up like pigs squealing. They said their master was staying at a high class inn in the middle of the city. Jaffil wouldn't stay in the slums, it was above a young masters dignity.

James arrogantly knocked down the door to the inn that Jaffil was supposed to be staying in making a loud commotion. James garnering the attention of all passer byers. This was a high class inn in the middle of Hudson City, James was definitely going to offend someone in Hudson clan with his actions.

"Isn't that James? He sure has been ghost after being marked as trash at the fel awakening ceremony."

"Whys he making such a racket at Baron Duking's inn, even his father wouldn't be so bold!"

"This will definitely be some sweet tea, go get the boys. I'm going to get a front seat to this drama."

"Jaffil Yazzesa come out now! You have offended this young master and I desire an explanation."

Jaffil heard the racket, but he didn't come out. If he hoped, skipped, and jumped for every person he ever offended he would never get anything done.

"Mefino, go handle the situation. Figure out what they want and give them compensation if they can't be offended. However, If they are overstepping their bounds swiftly execute the yeller and leave his corpse up in front of the inn as an example. It might be the perfect opportunity to kill the chicken to scare the monkeys."

Mefino arrogantly walked out. He was Jaffil's lackey. He was a Devil Baron and did not believe his young master had offended anyone recently of note. He spoke loudly walking out.

"Baron Mefino here, I am a follower of Jaffil heir to the Yazzesa Marquess clan. My master is currently at a key moment practicing his devilry so he sent me to handle this situation."

"How has my young master offended you?"

James took out a plank that said 'Ye Olde Devils Pub' and threw it at Mefino's feet giving him no face at all.

"Your trash master took over this young masters 'Young Noble Lounge' and even put a stupid new name on the door. I demand compensation for this. It's above this young masters dignity to talk to a Baron lackey. Quickly bring your master out to speak with me. If he's not out here in five minutes heads start rolling."

Mafino was at a loss for words. He was quite sure that tavern belonged to someone from the Hudson Count clan. They even heard the person was considered trash from the clan thats why he owned a tavern in the slums. No one from the clan spoke up or stopped them when they took it over. The only reason his young master got it was he felt it would give him a good base of operations for when he came to Hudson City to explorer Wesser Forest.

"You don't happen to be that trash James Hudson who practices Soul Dao?"

"This young master is James Hudson, you would be quick to hold your tongue if you value it. Calling this young master trash? I'll let it slide once because you are but a dog."

"Dog, quickly go fetch your master!"

Now that the target's clan and status had been confirmed Mefino's arrogance exploded.

"You guys from the Hudson clan who manage this inn are really letting clan trash cause a ruckus here? Do you really want my young master upset at this inn for sullying his dignity? He should never have to deal with such lowly trash, its below even my eyes. I'm returning to my masters suite, drag this trash out." Mefino yelled to the inn's help.

Baron Mafino put on an arrogant front and turned around and began to walk away. Better to let the Hudson Clan beat up it's own members. Sadly that was the last thing he ever thought. His head swiftly rolled on the floor as Azon waved his hand.

"Sorry I let him talk for so long young lord. He could have lived but he actually had the nerve to turn his back on my young lord. Should I drag out the scum that's keeping you waiting?"

"Good job Azon! No he must walk out himself. We have to leave the Yezzesa clan a bit of face for their heir."

James was ecstatic! Azon was the perfect lackey. His mother sure knew how to train her followers well. He would definitely have to get the lackey training scripture from his mother when he got the chance.

~James is going to get in so much trouble with the Hudson Clan for this. But Diana will definitely reward me for making sure her son's dignity was maintained. She's already upset at the Hudson Clan anyway, so I can disregard their face. Who in either clan would dare come complain to my princess. That's grounds for clan extermination! Thought Azon.~

"Wow it's getting juicy!"

"Who's that servant? He really killed a Devil Baron with no effort at all?"

"The patriarch really gave him such a high class servant? The elder council is going to be furious, they told him to cut off all clan resources to James!"

James destroyed the front desk of the establishment since they didn't even speak up for him when Mafino was making such a long winded speech.

"This inn's under new management! Go inform Jaffil he has 5 minutes to come and give me an explanation or he joins his lackey."

James boldly staked his claim to this inn. ~I'm already this deep into this mess now. I might as well be as overbearing as possible to grab a new source of fel shards.~

The inn workers were quick to follow James' orders as they just saw a Baron's head roll. None of them had the stupidity to voice any dissent. Until the air cleared they were quick to follow James' orders.

"You killed my servant? Are your eyes blind? This young devil is the heir to the Yazzesa clan, I'll have your Hudson clan exterminated over this!"

Jaffil was furious. Mefino was his favorite follower, it was hard to get blindly loyal devil followers as a devil. Most followers were contracted followers of other races.

"You can take his corpse as you see fit. I have no use of such trash. You still have not told me what compensation you will be giving me."

"You you you."

Jaffil was lost for words, he quickly came to an understanding, his chief bodyguard was dead. He himself was only a Devil Esquire. If he did not pay compensation this mad man might be crazy enough to kill him too.

"Fine what do you want?"

"1000 medium grade fel shards, seeds of a Tier 2 strain of felweed, and a Baron level Wood Dao Art"

James quickly came to his bottom line. He needed something to go back to Kyle with sincerity for letting him get beat up. A master who lets their followers get beat up wasn't a good master.

"I can give you 500 medium grade fel shards and a Knight level Wood Dao Art, that's all I have on me now"

Jaffil was livid. Medium grade fel shards were used for Knights to cultivate. They were worth 10 times more than low grade fel shards. 500 medium fel shards was equivalent to 5000 low grade fel shards. James father only gave him around 1000 low grade fel shards when he handed him the tavern.

Those 1000 low grade fel shards were enough for James to cultivate to become a Devil Knight. Gaining the equivalent of 5000 low grade fel shards James would now have the finances to hire his own band of lackeys.

Why did James not take Baron Mafino's resources? Well the answer was simple. Azon killed him so Azon kept the resources. Azon was his mother's follower, he could not take things from him. The fact that he was fighting his battles for him was worth much more than the items on a Devil Baron.

Jaffil quickly fled the scene after giving the heart bleeding amount of compensation to James. He would definitely get his revenge another day. He couldn't be overbearing when his lackey was dead though. So he had to lower his head and leave with his tail between his legs.

James was happy, he had found his first young master rival from another clan. If he can keep Jaffil fighting him and bringing him a sturdy stream of fel shards his coffers will overflow. Devils rarely killed heirs of other devil clans. It was better to beat them up and get compensation.

Devils were long lived so fighting and gaining resources for your devilry was much more reasonable and economic than having life and death enmities between two devil clans. If they were similar in strength a war between two clans could last for centuries, draining the resources of both clans. Devils weren't that foolish, so they had a common etiquette that enmities were squashed with compensation.

This rule of etiquette was forgotten if there was a large disparity of the status of the two parties. The law of the jungle was the highest law in the Abyss. Azon was the servant of a princess of a King Clan. Obviously he was completely overbearing in the way he handled things if not dealing with members of a King or Emperor clan. If he wasn't his Princess would look down on him.

"Little cousin you've made a mess. Has me not beating you in a few months made you arrogant to think you can do anything you wish around Hudson City with no recourse?" A loud arrogant voice proclaimed.

Chapter end