20. Unwanted Visitor

For a couple of days, Bruno worked hard on organizing his new space, with the help of Viki and a few other guys from Nathan's crew that she managed to bring. He paid them a little for the help from the money he managed to earn with his product that got to the market.

Then for a short time, he was splitting his time between working alone and learning from Batraz, who actually seemed quite happy to teach the boy.

Bruno quickly discovered the strong love for the alchemy that the old man had and also proved to him that he was no ordinary kid. As his workers finally appeared. All of them were quite young. Between twelve and fifteen years old. Before they finally showed up, he was not wasting any time and already making things the grandpa commissioned and practically producing 'Fix' just by himself.

He quickly worked out his routine. Few exercises in the morning to make the blood pumping, and wake himself up, then breakfast, and preparations for the production all the way until the midday when he would return for lunch, and bring the list of what he needed to Orfeo. Next, if Batraz had some time, he would learn from him, and return to his manufactory to check if the workers were doing what they were supposed to. Then he would take on anything that was outsourced to him by Orfeo, and return for a dinner. In the last hours of the day, he would focus on reading and expanding his knowledge.

An entire week passed like this. Viki came by a few times to check how things were going, and also take care of delivering 'Fix' to the taverns around the city. The boy just finished his work and was about to head back to the main building and get some food, but he was stopped by a familiar figure, standing in the alley, right in front of the entrance to his working place. It was Raul.

- You promised me something - he started as soon as Bruno left the building.

- Promised?

- Yes, we had a deal. I was gonna do what you wanted, and you were supposed to help me with my father - he squeezed through his gritted teeth.

- But you didn't do your part - young alchemist pointed out

- That's not my fault. You just found somebody else to do it instead of me.

Bruno, hearing those words immediately started calculating if it was worth keeping Raul around, or if he should just tell him to get lost. Right now he was just a boy, but his frame was promising good physical capabilities in the future, and having some muscle was always good, but his attitude was quite concerning.

He decided to put the kid to the test, and see his reaction first. Without a word, he started moving straight at his interlocutor. There was only a couple of steps between them, but Bruno counted every single one of them, and at the right point tilted his head a little to the side, and narrowed his eyes. He wanted to intimidate Raul with this action and check if the previous events were still in his memory.

The young scoundrel stepped back, trying to hold a tough facial expression, but this was enough for Bruno to make the decision.

- Viki will visit you tomorrow - he just said, and then continued his walk to the main building to eat lunch.

He finished it along with the other alchemists. There were a couple of them that still didn't have their families, and kept taking the advantage of the food that Batraz was providing. Unfortunately for Bruno, they all felt that teaching such a young by was beneath them, although from time to time some of them would request a thing or two from the boy.

With a full stomach, he returned to his manufactory, or rather was about to, before he spotted Nathan across the street. Resting with his back leaning against the wall of a building. Chewing the usual tobacco. He wouldn't show up if he didn't want to talk, but such a conversation wasn't something Bruno was too keen on having, so he attempted to ignore the leader of young thieves.

Thug saw that despite noticing him, the kid wasn't changing direction, or even slowing down, and pushed himself off the wall with a face twisted by anger. He was about to head straight to the alley after him, so Bruno decided to just meet with him halfway. He sighed and started walking towards Nathan, who stopped, as he noticed what was going on.

- I see that you got quite full of yourself, kid.

- What do you want, Nathan?

- You need to do something for me.

- I need to?

- Yes, you do - he said, spitting a bit at Bruno, as he clearly was angry and could barely hold himself.

The young alchemist sighed as he rolled his eyes.

- Tell me what you need, and then I'll decide.

- I need a poison - Nathan drawled through clenched teeth.

A vein on his chin popped out and was slightly moving, as the blood flowed through it. The pressure had to be quite big for that to happen, which almost made Bruno smile.

- I need something to sprinkle on food and cause whoever will eat it to get sick. Puke for days - he explained, as the boy's facial expression clearly indicated that he should elaborate.

- You grow fancier with each time. Are you sure you are not a spoiled noble girl?

- Just get me what I need - barked the thug.

- I don't work for you anymore.

- You work for Billy.

- I work with Billy, not for him. And he understands that, but you clearly don't. Still, I will make you what you need, rest assured, but that's the last thing I'm gonna do for you, so don't ever come here again.

- My boys are the ones to deliver your product. They might stop doing that.

Bruno snorted loudly. The thug was just too clueless.

- They are doing that just because Billy insisted on it, not because I need them, so your leverage doesn't exist. I'm done here. I'll contact you when the poison is ready.

With those words, he just turned around and left.

Nathan was becoming an annoyance that couldn't be ignored anymore, and the boy was sure, that he wouldn't just stop coming. The time to get rid of him has come. The only question was how to do it, and not piss off Billy 'The Razor' Fisher.