36 Fishbowl

It took two days for the effects of his limited Mythric exposure to pass. During that time, Kenzo felt anger rise within him. Entire feral families were worked to death, mining the exclusive ore. 

"Every Felidae in Yassa is guilty, either by action or complacency." He recognized that his words were a hard line, but when you willingly received the benefits of someone else's suppression, you were part of the problem.

He left early in the morning, even though he had already agreed to meet with Shaffra and her people to discuss strategy. His way wouldn't risk the lives of Shaffra and her friends. Kenzo glided high above the city and brought out his stylus and pad. 

The previous day, he figured out how to handle the Yassa slave market. On that note, he spent several hours walking the sand dunes outside Telynz; every few moments, entire mountains of sand would disappear. "This will work because people who own slaves are selfish and entitled," Kenzo narrated aloud while he dragged the construction over the city walls, molding it perfectly to the rocky terrain surrounding it. 

[System Message] Place the glass enclosure over Yassaril?

"Yes," Kenzo watched as his plan went into effect. He descended rapidly to where the City entrance was located. It was here that the only flaw in the otherwise smooth surface was found: four fist-sized holes drilled in a small square, one meter off the ground. 

The sound of the gate guard striking the construct's interior carried through the small holes. Kenzo shook his head; the reinforced glass was 30 centimeters thick, they would have nothing in the city capable of breaking it. 

He bent slightly and spoke through the holes. "Even if you managed somehow to crack it, I could repair it at multiple places in the blink of an eye." 

The guard paused after his sword bounced harmlessly; nearly losing his grip, he sheathed the weapon. "What is the meaning of this?" 

Kenzo shrugged slightly. "I'll return in a few hours, or maybe a few days... One or the other. Have the city leader here waiting when I get back."

*Shaffra* Where are you, Kenzo?

*Kenzo* I'm at Yassa. Meet me at the front gates at midday. 

*Shaffra* Even if I take the tunnel, there's no way to get there that fast.

*Kenzo* Have Red fly you here; she has a double harness. 

*Shaffra* I'm scared of that!

*Kenzo* Then take the tunnel, one way or the other; the Yassa slave market no longer exists by the day's end. 

Kenzo removed the octagonal tent from his inventory and placed it near the city's entrance. Sitting on the bed, he leaned back and closed his eyes while considering his plan. 

Having spent time in greenhouses, he understood how fast Yassa would warm up. The outside temperature was already above 80 degrees Fahrenheit. Very soon, even shaded buildings like the palace would be feeling the change. 

His eyes grew heavy and closed until the door of his tent was slammed open. A few hours had passed, enough for Red to bring a glider. A wide-eyed Shaffra stood in the doorway, her green eyes blazing with fear or anger. 

Shaffra charged into the room and pounced on the human engineer. Hugging him tightly, she muttered obscenities for nearly a minute before releasing him. "I don't want to do that ever again!" 

Kenzo chuckled and mumbled an insincere apology. "It's almost time to talk to Yassa's leadership." 

Shaffra calmed down at his words. "What is that thing over Yass?"

"By now, the temperature inside should be hotter than the great desert. Even the drinking water will be warm enough to bath in." Kenzo exited the tent, pausing long enough to sweep Red up in a hug before continuing toward the gate. 

"Ahh... You are going to force them to meet your demands?"  Shaffra fell in step beside him, grabbing his arm suddenly; she stopped. "Kenzo..." 

"Hmm?"  Kenzo could see several people near the city entrance. He glanced at Shaffra. "You want to say something? I know this is harsh, but..."

"This is perfect," Shaffra interrupted. "May I speak to the leaders on our behalf? I know what to say."

Kenzo exchanged glances with Red before nodding. "You will be our negotiator." 

The feral woman treated him to a fanged smile before releasing her grip on his arm. The three of them approached the four holes. 

More than a dozen people were waiting at the entrance, each in various states of undress. Two guards, wielding spears, stood in what amounted to underwear. Their bodies glistened with sweat, hair matted against their skulls, and their faces were an unnatural red. 

"What is the meaning of this?"  A fat man, who seemed to be oozing water from all his pores, stood in front of the holes with only a small cloth wrapped around his waist. His skin looked like a boiled lobster from the top of his bald head to his fat feet. "I demand you remove this enclosure." 

"Or what?"  Shaffra stood calmly, only separated by a foot of glass; she could feel the heat seeping through the four holes. 

The man looked around Shaffra to Kenzo. "Rein your slave in. I'm Luclin Forn, one of the six." 

"Shaffra is not my slave; she is our leader." Kenzo kept his voice calm like he was discussing what wine to have with lunch. "I believe she asked you a question. What will you do if she doesn't remove the enclosure?" 

"Let's return to the tent for a few hours; it's dreadfully hot out here." Red handed him a canteen, smiling when he took a long drink before pouring some on his hand and splashing his face. 

"What do you want?" The fat man was joined by four others, two men and a woman, all of middle age. 

Shaffra shrugged slightly. "Your city and your death, both, I guess." 

Kenzo nodded in agreement. "You probably have tried digging under by now; good luck with that. The walls extend several meters into the rock that protects this place." 

Red listened to the conversation while taking another drink from her canteen. "I don't want their city. It's old and ugly." 

"Remove the barrier, and we'll pay you generously," the fat elder swayed from side to side when he spoke, causing his blubbery belly to shake. "Bring me a chair!" 

Shaffra smiled at the fat man's discomfort. Enslaved people were used to toiling all day in the heat; the ruling class was not. "I'll take your gold after you die; the offer has no appeal." 

"What do you want? Why bring us here if you aren't interested in payment?" The group's lone woman stepped forward; her white hair was pulled back in a braid that hung over a tanned, bare shoulder. 

Shaffra smiled at the woman. "I wanted to see the look in your eyes when you realize your death is at hand." She glanced at Kenzo. "Tell them what's going to happen in the next day." 

Kenzo nodded. "The old, weak, and very young will die during the night. Unlike most days, darkness will bring no relief from the heat. It will fester like an infected wound and start climbing when dawn breaks tomorrow. Every person and living creature in the city will be dead by dusk." 

Shaffra clapped in appreciation. "Then I will have your city and all your things." 

"What about the bodies?"  Red's freckled nose wrinkled in distaste. "We'll have to drag their corpses out and burn them." 

Shaffra frowned at her. "You only see the negative side of things." 

"Their city is old and ugly. Let's build a new city someplace else."  Red pinched her nose. "Their stench is wafting through the holes. I'm not staying a moment longer." 

Kenzo nodded in agreement. "Let's just leave them here. I'd rather build a new city than spend weeks dragging bloated corpses around." 

Shaffra shrugged helplessly. "You're right, I didn't think it through."  She slid her arm through Kenzo's, and they followed Red toward the tent. 

"WAIT! PLEASE WAIT!" The woman shouted at them, her voice rising to a pitch that carried effortlessly through the small holes. 

Shaffra released Kenzo's arm and walked back a few steps. "What's your name? What do you do here?"

"My name is Hanoi. I'm in charge of new projects."

"Well, Hanoi, my companions have changed my mind. We are going to build a new city." Shaffra turned back toward the tent.

  "Wait! You'll need engineers if you are building a city." Hanoi had her face pressed up against one of the holes. 

Shaffra point at Kenzo. "My friend is a human engineer." 

"A human engineer?" The woman's flimsy confidence took a huge hit. There were rumors from Moritz that a human engineer had performed miraculous deeds. 

Shaffra nodded. "He's amazing, really, on many levels." 

Kenzo snapped his fingers. "We'll need many workers if we are going to build a city." 

"We can buy slaves in Moritz," Shaffra suggested. 

"We can save money if we take their slaves," Kenzo replied. 

Shaffra shook her head. "They'll all be dead. Let's leave; slaves don't cost that much." 

"Y-Yes, they do! You can save a lot of gold by taking ours." Hanoi felt indifference from Shaffra and Kenzo; her existence was inconsequential for the first time in her life. 

Shaffra scratched her chin for a moment. "You have a point. I'll make you a one-time offer. I'll take every slave in the city, and in return, my engineer friend will remove the enclosure." 

The fat man collapsed from the chair where he sat to lay face down on the cobblestone. 

"Agreed," Hanoi didn't have to look at her fellow leaders to know they were all nodding their heads. 

Shaffra leaned closer. "I mean every single one. Every worker, handmaid, kitchen helper, and bath attendant. If you try to hide any, we'll leave you to your glass tomb." 

Hanoi stared at the Feral for several seconds. "What stops you from leaving us here after you take them?" 

Kenzo stepped forward. "As a show of good faith, when I open a doorway for our new workers to exit, I will also open a sizeable hold in the ceiling. Enough to bring some relief to your people. If any guards approach the door, or we aren't satisfied with the product, I'll close it back up, and you'll never see us again."

Hanoi's face had the desperate look of someone hoping the lifeline they were thrown wasn't a mirage. "And if you are satisfied?"

"I'll remove the enclosure, and you'll never see us again," Kenzo replied.

*Shaffra* The lake is a few minutes' walk from here. They can rest there, and we can take the tunnels back to Telynz. 

Kenzo nodded and took out his stylus while Shaffra returned to the tent. "Everyone move away from the entrance. I'll open the top first." 

Kenzo used his hud to display a top-down display from his mini-map. He drew a sizeable circle dozens of meters above the nearest building. 

[System Message] Recover this section of the glass enclosure surrounding Yassaril? 

"Yes," Kenzo replied before turning his gaze back to the city leaders. "Leave at once and start the slaves through. I'll be watching from high above. Try anything stupid, and I'll put everything back." 

Two hours later, Kenzo continued to monitor the city from his glider. He flew high over the opening several times so they would know he was watching. By dusk, the gathered slaves were refreshing themselves at the lake. 

*Shaffra* I've talked to many of the Feral. I believe we have all of them. 

*Kenzo* I'll be there in a few minutes. I'll remove the fishbowl but seal the doors. That will buy us time in case they try to pursue. 

*Shaffra* No sane person would seek trouble with you. 

Kenzo laughed and closed his hud. With a few quick movements, he recovered the glass enclosure and replaced the two entrances with solid granite walls. 

By dawn the following day, the lake was deserted, and a few thousand enslaved people had disappeared without a trace. Kenzo sat comfortably on the walls of Telynz, between Red and Shaffra, watching as the sun rose. 

  Shaffra was in her leopard form, purring softly while she conversed with her friends. "You will visit the goddess lands you mentioned?"

Kenzo nodded. "Yes. First, I'll drop Red off at Jela. Then I'll visit the Lands of the Goddess for a few days." 

Shaffra rubbed her soft muzzle against Kenzo's face, making him laugh. "I hope it isn't too long until you return." 

"I'll be constructing a City State in Baer." Kenzo accessed his inventory and set a rolled parchment in front of Shaffra. "Make copies of this and send it to every city with a slave market." 

[Proclaimation of Insurrection] 

All Felidae are equal; this includes those that are called Feral. I will return by Winter's end. You know who I am and what I have done. I can bring an army to your doorstep without being seen. The great countries across the desert are unaware that Felidae has been capturing and enslaving their citizens. Any Felidaen city that hasn't willingly freed their slaves will be burned to the ground when I return. 

Kenzo, Human Engineer.

Shaffra changed into her feral form and read the parchment before pocketing it. "Can I come live in your city?"

Kenzo nodded. "Of course, it will be big enough for all the feral."

The spots bordering Shaffra's face darkened considerably. "Truly? All of us?" 

Kenzo stared at the blue sky, remembering his old life and the faces of his loved ones. "Have faith, a better day is dawning."