7. The Grand Plan

Viki showed herself first thing in the morning at Bruno's place with a leather bag thrown over her shoulder, filled with something that judging from shapes could very much be a bunch of books.

He was finishing dressing himself up, putting the devastated old shoes on as she blocked his source of light, the open door.

- You have it - he stated.

- Yes, I do. Now can you please explain to me your grand plan?

- Yes, I can, but first I need you to get me Raul here, because he also needs to know what we are going to be doing.

- First of all, when the two of you became friends? Second of all, you think I'm your maid or something? V do this, V do that.

- Just do it for me, please? - he fluttered his eyelashes. - And I'm not friends with Raul. I will never be friends with Raul. He is just a tool I'm using.

She sighed and put the bag down on the ground, to just walk away. Bruno smiled, knowing she would do what he asked her for, then he slowly walked towards the left goods, picked them up, and brought them inside to put on the table. He slowly went through every single one of the books.

Two were about botany. 'Big Botany Book' by Ruth Rabouth and 'Magic of Plants' written by Mesmediah Amont. Both names told him nothing. There was one novel, he completely ignored, one position about animal parts used in alchemy called: 'The good parts' by Pim Butcher, one focusing on the minerals called 'Magic of the minerals', again by Mesmediah Amont, and one called: 'The guide to alchemy', by Amir Glothberg. To Bruno's surprise, he also found a mostly empty book. This was supposed to be a notebook since two pages were covered with text written by hand.

He brought outside the one containing notes, and slowly red them. This was because he lacked practice in reading, and also the handwriting wasn't making it easy for him.

It was just a few disclaimers about the experiments the previous owner had conducted. All failed, and unimportant. Since Bruno didn't care at all about the cough medicine or calluses. He kept them though, because maybe one day he would pursue the same goals, and the information noted there could become useful.

He then returned to his shack, and one by one, took each book out, to check what they contained. He was just skimming through, to make sure each one of the positions was what we really wanted and needed.

During this process, Viki returned with Raul.

- I brought him - she informed.

- Come inside - said Bruno, as he stopped reading, and put the lecture back on the table.

- Why did you want to see me? - asked the kid and went in.

He was still very much in pain, and with the arm tightly bandaged and immobilized. His face was all swollen, blue and yellow, because of his father's wrath.

Bruno gestured towards the chairs, and the two of them sat down, then he went to slightly open the shutters to the single window the shack had and closed the door. It became pretty much dark inside, with only enough light coming through the small chink.

- Do you want to get rich? - he asked them.

- Everybody wants that - said Viki.

- Yeah - Raul agreed immediately.

- Answer the question.

- Yes - said both of them.

- If you were a free adult, how would you get rich? - he asked them.

- I would rob someone wealthy - was Viki's response.

- I would become a pirate. They can get rich quickly if they are lucky - pointed out Raul.

- I'm talking of something that would make you rich for sure. A sure business.

- I don't know. Why are we even sitting here in complete darkness? - clearly, the wounded kid was growing impatient because of the situation he found himself in.

Viki had a better grasp of Bruno's character, and she was willing to play his game.

- You just said it, business - she pointed out.

- Yes, but what business? - he agreed.

Raul realizing his remark was ignored, shut his mouth.

- I don't know - Viki shrugged her shoulders.

- I'll give you a clue. Think of something a lot of people needs, but nobody has. Think of things people consume every day.

- Booze. Cheap booze. So cheap that people will buy only yours! - suddenly Raul rejoined the conversation.

- No. The booze is as cheap as it can be, but you are close. You are on the right path, Raul.

- Everybody needs, but nobody has... Medicine? - asked Viki.

- No.

- Then I don't know - she gave up.

Raul shrugged his shoulders indicating the same.

- Every sailor, and most adult men, not to mention a big chunk of older kids also, is regularly getting drunk in this city. Actually drunk is the wrong word. They are getting trashed. Trashed so hard, that the next day they can barely walk, but they are still going to work. Every captain on the ship, and every employer is sick of it, but there is nothing they can do since everybody is doing this. I want to make a cure for the hangover, and that's why I need your father - Bruno turned towards Raul. - He will be my test subject.

The wounded kid snorted.

- This is stupid.

- Shut up! - Viki snapped as she turned towards, him, then her eyes went back to rest on Bruno's silhouette. - How do you want to do that? You don't have the equipment and the knowledge.

- I have books, and the ability to read. We can buy, steal, or make our own equipment, and I can work here. The same goes for ingredients. I'm gonna make a list of what we need, and then we will get it all. Just give me few days.

- How sure are you that you can do this?

- I'm certain - he lied, looking her straight in the eyes.

- Fine then. Just come to me when you know what you need, and we will figure something out - she said and left.

Raul was going to do the same, but Bruno blocked him by standing on his path.

- We will need your father to test the medicine - he pointed out.

- You agreed to help me kill him.

- I will make a poison for you when I'm done. Nobody will even know it was you. It's going to look natural, but first, you will need to help me get what I want. Obviously, after the success of my medicine, you will get your payment for the help also. So much money, that you won't need to live in a shack any longer.

- You are just a kid - said Raul.

- No. I'm not just any kid. I'm Bruno. You might go now - he said and stepped out of the way.

Drunkard's son looked at him for a moment but then walked away from the shack. There was still some time until breakfast, so Bruno used it to begin reading the first book, then he made his way to Mrs. Griselda's place to start his day.