Light and Dark

“So what I’m saying is… the amount you’re paid for your support of this park-“

“Kingdom.” The old gift shop owner corrected.

“…Kingdom is just… inhumane. It’s not enough. Not for your time…” Wolf sat one stack of cash on the table. “…Not your effort.” Wolf sat a second stack equal in size to the first.

“Hmm….” The firm manager didn’t want to be swayed by some outsider, but in all his time here, he’d never seen this kind of payday…

“ATTENTION! ATTENTION! Make way for the VERDANT KNIGHTS!”

The owner jumped as he heard the chanting from outside. Dozens- almost a hundred people strong.

“What is that racket…” Morgen twisted his old neck and leered out the window. Then he saw them- those children, at it again, now backed by an army of supporters.

“The Dark Empire has invaded our land!” The front of the line sang in unison. “Each day, they take more and more! What will we do?”

“We will stop them!” The back replied.

“Join our ranks and follow us around! We will bring the news of the invasion throughout the land and bring the Dark Emperor to his knees!”

The shopkeeper stroked his beard.

“…Dark Emperor?” He chuckled. “…Is that you?”

The Traumkäufer thought it best to shrug and shake his head. He was sure it was a funny joke those kids were playing, at least to someone out there. But when it came to business and the manipulation of idiots who haven’t seen real money before, nobody could beat the unstoppable Morgen W-

“Yeah… sorry, I’m gonna keep things the way they are. Tally Ho, wolfman.”

Morgen grit his perfect teeth.

The shopkeeper stifled a gasp as the angry monster seized his collar and tugged him over the checkout, forcing his red, veiny forehead against the man’s own.

“YOU are going to do what I tell you to do because if you don’t I KNOW your grandchildren’s names and I’ve HAD harder jobs than making sniveling brats fall asleep and never wake up. You want to see it? What the Wolf can DO? HUH? ARE YOU LISTENING TO ME?”

The shopkeeper pushed him away, panting. Morgen straightened his tie.

“I presume we’ve come to an understanding. Thank you for your cooperation.” He laid a big black tarp on the table.

The shopkeeper pushed it off.

“Up yours, you ugly, ugly man. May the King have mercy upon your soul.”

The shopkeeper ran out to support the Verdant Inferno, leaving Morgen inside.