Life in Omashu was hard enough for the average citizen; it was even harder when the Fire Nation decided to invade the mainland. Roads were blocked, trade routes targeted and controlled, merchandise ships sank at the bottom of the ocean, and caravans ambushed. All of those contributed to the rising cost of everything, including food and medicine. It made the life of poor people feel like hell.
Ron experienced that. He was a 35-year-old single father of his only daughter. Before becoming a figurehead for his master's organization, he was just a simple guard for a noble family, earning enough to feed him and his daughter and with some going for buying medicine from a herbalist for her sickness. She'd been a sickly child since he can remember and it had gotten worse and worse as she grew up, always staying inside the house and not playing outside.
The herbalist medicine didn't seem to do anything to make her sickness go away, or even lessen her pain, it just did... nothing. Yet he still bought it, maybe because of the hope of it removing her sickness someday or it was just him coping that he couldn't buy better medicine from a more known doctor. He did what he could do, but they're just really poor. He had no family to ask for assistance since he was an orphan who came from a slum and he had no friends around their home to ask since he rarely socialized due to his job that only made him leave at night.
All things seemed to go downhill from there as the invasion of the cursed Fire Nation started and the noble houses were asked to send some of their guards to the army so they could be sent as a reinforcement towards the western front. He was unfortunately chosen as one of them. Being sent to another part of the kingdom to fight with the high possibility of death wasn't what he wished.
It's not because he doesn't want to fight or he was scared, but his daughter will be alone once he is gone. He couldn't possibly hire some people to watch over her since not only are they expensive, they're untrustworthy. And so he quit the job as a guard. Their life became harder because of that as their only source of money was his savings which were quick to be depleted.
That's when he saw him; no, a better way to say this is, he was found by him. A young man with a piercing gaze, a young man that holds himself like a mature adult, a young man that has a leader vibe the first time you see him. This young man is what he's calling his Master today and he's not embarrassed by it.
He's the one that saved him and his daughter from their miserable life, he's the one that gave them home, food, money, and medicine with the only request that he work for him. Embarrassed? He can kiss Master's foot in front of a massive crowd and he will be proud of it. As long as his daughter is happy and eating well, his life is 'his.'
"There's been a lot of new people here…" He was currently walking on the hall of Ten Pillars semi-mansion on top of a hill, it's a recent acquisition by his Master Guan after the original owner who is a merchant was hit by a stone cart that derailed from the delivery system and died. And of course, before he died, he left a note with Ron's name on it as his closest friend and that in the event he dies, all his business goes to him. Naturally, it all goes to him without a question since that merchant doesn't have any family members. And naturally, everything he has, goes to his Master and this includes this semi-mansion.
Until this day, he still doesn't know what to feel about that plot, but the image of his daughter and his promise of fealty kept him from acting against it.
Soon, he was standing in front of the door of the biggest room in this semi-mansion guarded by two guards in dark green robes with a rounded hat that hides half of their face. The two then nodded at each other after he stopped and used their Earthbending to pull each stone door open.
No matter how many times he goes there, he still couldn't help but feel nervous for some reason. It's like entering a cave not knowing whether there's a beast inside or not.
Gulping, he entered inside. This room was very big to the point that it can be called a hall. The only source of light inside is the sun through an open wall and a few candles here and there. As big as the room is, there's little furniture inside with the main one being the king-size bed. Sitting on it are two young people, one is a handsome young man with long dark hair and black eyes that seem to pull anyone who looks into it, a skin that seems to glow by how white it is, and a physique openly flaunted by the loose golden robes he is wearing.
The other one is a woman older than the former, brushing the boy's hair from behind with a loving smile, not even bothering to acknowledge him or that she was just too focused on brushing his hair.
[Image]
Another one?
Ron immediately removed any more thought from forming as he bowed his head which made his master nod in acknowledgment.
"Master Guan. Lady Yana." Even after his greeting, she won't bother looking at him. Well, it's not surprising. Everyone in and close to the inner circle knows about her obsession on Guan and it looks like her wish finally came true.
"Come and sit, Mr. Ron," Guan effortlessly waved his hand and earth moved in front of him until it formed into a perfect chair.
He really improves rapidly… The first time he saw Guan use his Earthbending, he still needed to stomp the ground to connect to it, but now, he just needs a foot touching it and he can effortlessly control it.
Taking a seat, he began his report of all the business he is managing as the figurehead for Guan. First, is their weapon shop which only took orders from the Omashu Army directly, this is the business they brought and expanded quickly since there's an invasion, and it's the business that earned the most, earning an average 100 gold coins per week (100,000 Copper Coins).
"I have confirmed from a messenger that Gangge City has allowed us to open up a branch inside but on the condition that we will only accept orders from them as the war with Fire Nation is still happening."
Guan gave him a soft nod. "Go on."
"The construction for the underground arena has begun and it's expected to be finished in a month or two."
This one has a purpose and it's not for money but to look for talented recruits with experience in fighting. Initially, they will send scouts to the underground arenas around Omashu but since they have the money and manpower now, they decided to create one that is much bigger than all of them combined. Not only can they control who will fight who, they will be able to easily get someone into their organization.
There's no remark on that one so Ron continues. "The first brothel is going smoothly with occasional visits from nobles and rich merchants. As for the gambling businesses, the construction of the 4th branch at Suze City has started."
"You're doing a good job, Ron," His master remarked.
"Thank you, Master!" Ron immediately bowed and said. For some reason, even when he hears it every time he visits here, he still feels pleased.
"About my brother…"
His master frowned.
"What is he doing right now?"
Ron could just smile wryly.
"He's currently finding a mate for his pet…"
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