Snippet #1467124

So his chemicals did have something to do with the assassin's guild. A grand total of 35% of his profit came from the assassins, so even if Taylor had been thinking about cutting them off he would risk bankruptcy. However, the less he knew about what the chemicals were used for, the better. After all, business was business- and he couldn't let his sense of justice get in the way of his profits- especially during these times when he needed the most to assist the Princess in securing Goldwater's seat and potentially tutoring a heir. He gave his own dry smile when Amon mentioned that he was planning to kill the young noble.

"I assure you, Sir Gregory, I will keep what I heard a secret. Also, you won't have to worry about my silence for long." He inclined his head. Moving on before the guildmaster could inquire about his last statement, he hastily pulled out a folder and studied them. "You may well understand, Sir Gregory, that our company deals with the assurance that most purchases are conducted with the privacy of the customer in mind. Unless you have valid search warrants from those of Martial authority that can be used in legal court I cannot allow you to personally view these records."

He nodded. "I will assist you any way I can, of course. Citric concentrates aren't sold, but rather the acid itself is sold. I'm breaking regulations here, but a unknown buyer purchased a unusually large amount of citric acid." He wrote something down on a slip of parchment. "However, neurotoxin ingredients are much harder to track. We don't specifically deal with them- most if not all of our venoms are handled very carefully, and all of it is sold to clinics as research for anti-venoms and the Marchfield Laboratories for additional research. If your suspect has purchased a neurotoxin, I can assure you with great confidence that the perpetrator will have some sort of link to the medical or scientific field." Looking through his files once more, he shook his head. "There are no outside purchases of ingredients or toxins outside of the medicinal areas and scientific areas these past three months."

He slid the papers back into his folder and placed them in his desk. He slid the paper over to Amon, and leaned back. "That is all I know, if it relates to Goldwater. I hope it has assis-"

Suddenly the noble experienced a fit of hysterical coughing. Hunching forward, he grabbed the canteen at his side and took a swig as his spasms subsided slightly. The physician was right. At this point, the medicine would have to be taken in much more regular doses in order to hide his symptoms. Looking up slightly, he realized he had regurgitated blood and stained the polished wood of his desk. He sighed inwardly. There was no hiding this from the assassin- lying would be laughable to one that was able to see through such fallacies.

"I trust... that you will not say a word to the princess." He said hoarsely. His calm, green eyes was blazing- a rare sight on the usually mellow nobleman.

District Beta

"Thank you... come again." The apprentice said, waving off a woman and a rather traumatized-looking child. Scowling at the back door, she walked over and opened it. The masked doctor was sterilizing the room. "Must you always be so frightening?" She asked, "The kid looks like he was pushed off the edge of the city!"

"I don't do well with children." He replied shortly.

"Whatever, but you've got yourself a letter, Master." She said, sighing. Etzel walked the length of the room and took the letter. "It's unmarked. I don't know who it is, but-"

"Hmm, sealed. Anthrax? No, they wouldn't be that obvious. Maybe some sort of gas- but it would diffuse out of the paper. She'd be dead. Unmarked is marked, seal of the killer. Perhaps a special paper? No, it feels and looks like regular mail."

"A-are you listening to me?" The apprentice asked rather hotly. "Oh, phooey!" She turned and stormed out.

Etzel had already held the letter at arm length and stabbed it with a syringe. No gases. No depressurization. No liquid. It was safe. Opening the letter, he began reading the contents.

Doctor,

Be at the Palace by tonight.

A.G

"Oh, okay."