Chapter 76: Everyone Wants the Same Organ

The next morning, Raven discovered that Mirevale had found a remarkably efficient way to turn a public health crisis into a market.

Mana Reservoir Toads were worth almost four times what they had been before the quarantine, and live specimens were worth even more. Maelor had mounted an improvised board on one wall of the laboratory, with three columns dividing the city’s current priorities: live capture, usable reservoirs, and secondary alchemical tissue. Beside each category was a crown value high enough to explain why half a dozen hunters were still entering the swamp despite the disease.

Raven studied the prices.

"Forty-five crowns for a live one."

Maelor didn’t look up from the jar he was examining. "Depending on size and condition."

"Seventy for a high-capacity reservoir."

"If the specimen can’t be preserved alive."

"That’s a lot for a toad."

Garran, leaning against the wall, answered, "Two weeks ago, we paid twelve."

Raven looked at the board again. "Epidemics are good for certain businesses."

Garran stared at him. "Don’t say that too loudly."

"I didn’t say they were good for you."

Valeria sat near the window with a cup of something Maelor insisted on calling medicinal tea and that she had spent the last ten minutes avoiding drinking.

"I think he’s considering becoming a supplier."

"I’m considering recovering some of the money this rifle is costing me."

"That was yes with extra steps."

Raven didn’t deny it.

The discussion about Deep Mire had started almost an hour earlier, and they still hadn’t moved beyond the conditions. Garran did not want Raven entering, Raven did not want to waste time waiting for the captain’s men to find answers, Maelor wanted samples, and Dr. Serah Venn wanted enough live Reservoir Toads to determine whether they could somehow be used against Hollow Fever.

Valeria wanted everyone to stop repeating the same arguments.

Roland wanted to leave Mirevale before something started growing inside any of them.

Raven considered that last position especially reasonable.

Garran spread a map across the table. "Deep Mire stays closed today. First, I want to know whether the disappearance is limited to the deeper region or whether we’re losing the population throughout the entire swamp."

Raven pointed toward the southern sector. "Last confirmed sightings."

"Yes. We’re sending a team."

"I’m going."

"That was already implied."

Raven raised an eyebrow. "It didn’t sound that way yesterday."

"Yesterday, I didn’t know the disease involved worms capable of controlling corpses."

"Hollow Threads."

Garran looked at him. "I’m not respecting the name just because you invented it."

Serah spoke from another table. "It’s better than ’mana worm.’"

Garran closed his eyes. "All of you are a problem."

Raven pointed back at the map. "What do I get?"

The captain opened his eyes. "Access."

"To an area you already need investigated."

"Protection from my men."

"I don’t need it."

"Everyone says that before they do."

"Then let them protect Maelor."

The alchemist looked up. "I would prefer not to participate in this negotiation."

Raven continued. "I want the right to analyze any Reservoir Toad we find before you requisition it."

Garran shook his head. "Not if it’s alive."

"I don’t need to open it for FORGE."

That got Maelor’s attention.

"You can analyze the reservoir without extracting it?"

"To a point."

"And if you find one compatible with your project?"

"Then we talk."

Garran already seemed to know where this was going. "I’m not promising you a specimen."

"Then I’m not promising to hand over one I need."

The room went quiet.

Valeria finally took a sip of the tea. Her expression immediately confirmed that had been a mistake.

"This is going to end very well."

They left two hours later with an agreement neither side considered satisfactory, which Raven suspected meant it was reasonable.

He could analyze every Mana Reservoir Toad found during the expedition. Ordinary specimens, sick ones, or anything incompatible with FORGE would be handed over to Mirevale in exchange for the official price. Live specimens with breeding value would take medical and ecological priority.

If they found something exceptional, however, they had agreed on nothing.

Garran had deliberately left that unresolved.

So had Raven.

The expedition consisted of Raven, Valeria, Roland, Maelor, and four quarantine soldiers. Garran remained behind to coordinate the town, while Serah stayed with the patients.

The southern zone was less than two hours away by boat. Raven would have preferred walking, but Mirevale had no roads where they were going.

Only channels.

The boat was long, flat-bottomed, and far too narrow for Raven’s liking. Two soldiers used poles to push it between roots and mudbanks while Maelor stored several glass containers beneath the seats and spent the first half hour reminding everyone not to kick them.

Raven looked into the water. It was brown and opaque, with no visible bottom.

"What lives in there?"

Roland answered immediately. "Don’t ask."

Raven looked at him. "That answer has never improved a situation."

One of the soldiers smiled. "Mudjaw Eels. Marsh Leeches. Mire Crabs. Occasionally a Drowned Coil."

"What does the last one do?" 𝘧𝓇ℯℴ𝓂

The soldier stopped smiling.

"Flips boats."

Raven looked at the sides of the vessel. "Thank you."

Valeria sat across from him. "Now you’re going to think about that for the entire trip."

"Now I know not to stay near the edge."

"You’re sitting near the edge."

Raven looked at the available space.

"We’re all sitting near the edge."

She considered that. "Fair point."

The first Reservoir Toad appeared forty minutes later, not because they saw it, but because Maelor heard it.

A deep croak rolled through the reeds. The alchemist raised one hand, and the boat stopped.

Another croak followed, closer this time.

Raven spotted movement on a small island of mud. The creature was larger than the specimen in the laboratory, perhaps ninety pounds, with black-green skin, yellow eyes, and small blue crystals embedded around its abdomen.

FORGE reacted.

[Potential Project Component Detected]

[Species: Mana Reservoir Toad]

[Level: 11]

[Rank: Awakened]

[Relevant Structure:]

[Crystalline Mana Reservoir]

[Preliminary Analysis Initiated.]

Raven remained still as the creature inflated its abdomen and a pulse of mana traveled through the crystals.

[Mana Capacity: ACCEPTABLE]

[Discharge Stability: HIGH]

[Maximum Sustained Output: INSUFFICIENT]

[Prototype Rifle Requirement Not Satisfied.]

[Estimated Project Compatibility: 64%]

Raven closed the interface.