Sarah led Linus to a carriage house, where she rented a coach so that they could go to the mansion a mile outside of town.

After the carriage was ready they traveled down the cobblestone road to a large brick mansion.  They parked at the stables and got out.  After entering the front door the butler greeted them.  

"Hello Mrs. Tailor.  Mr. Shumacher is out back, if you'll follow me."  As one of the city's leading citizens and owner of many businesses and buildings in town he was often interviewed by her, and he welcomed her to his mansion whenever she wanted to visit.

At the back of the Estate, on the edge of a cliff overlooking the ocean stood a [url=
https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/736x/92/a3/c1/92a3c1af131c4ee091174475f8ac45c7.jpg]
young looking elf.[/url]  "Hello Mrs. Tailor." he said.  "Have you come to ask my opinion on tomorrow's election?"

Linus eyed Shumacher closely; the shirtlessness was a nice touch, but the long hair ruined it - he disliked long hair. So, he waited for Sarah to finish talking with the Elf.

"Actually, Captain," she said, referring to him by his one-time rank, "This man here," she said, pointing to Linus, "has an interesting proposition for you.  I'll let him explain."

Shumacher turned around and you notice an elven longsword strapped to his left side.  He idly played with sparks of lightning which danced around his fingers.  "Really?" he asked, "In that case, I'm willing to listen.  I'm sure Sarah wouldn't waste my time if you weren't serious."

Linus smiled, his smile metaphorically electric, before he said:

"Two propositions, actually. One is that you help me fund an expedition to steal one million pounds from the Spanish Treasure Fleet; it'll be under the table, using false names and documentation - the city will not be legally implicated, or two, well, let's just say that I have a vested interest in undermining your Father; what can I give to allow you to challenge him?" His body language was relaxed, open, his arms wide as if to receive him, allowing Shumacher a full view of his handsome, though still fully-clothed, form - albeit in a way that would be easy to ignore if the Half-Demon wasn't inclined towards other men.

"Let me get this straight, you want [i]me[/i] to challenge [i]him[/i]?"  After a few seconds he continued, ignoring whatever advances the newcomer made.  "If you'd have asked Sarah about it she could have told you why I couldn't.  I've thought of the possibility before. Maybe I'm as strong as him, maybe not, but I can't stand up to him with my current equipment, and it would be suicide to even attempt it."

"Hmm..." said Linus, "then perhaps funding an attempt to seize the Spanish Treasure Fleet, then? Or, perhaps you can tell me what equipment would you need to challenge your father?"

"Another thought," he turned to Sarah, "my scholarship in Theology isn't the same as scholarship in Daemonology, but can't a Demon's True Name be used to weaken it?"

He giggled a bit.  "True name?  Now the treasure fleet is starting to look more appealing, and far more likely. Follow me."  He started walking towards a small, gravel practice field, continuing to talk as he walked.  "He isn't some Imp you can just buy a spell book to learn the name of.  I don't even know my "True name", and wouldn't even know how to find his.  The only other name I know for him is A'Ba'Na'Tha, meaning "Rancid Scrotum" in his native tongue.  That was only given to him after he was an adult.  Before that he was just the sixth son of the demon lord A'Su'Wa'La, and had no name.  If anyone on Earth knew it, it would be him, and he won't tell you."

They reached the practice field and he picked up a steel longsword, the common variety that one could buy from any smith.  "Let me demonstrate my problem."  He held it up and sparks of lightning began leaping across the blade.  Within a few seconds, though, it started to glow slightly red as it heated up.  Twenty seconds later it turned into a liquid and slid out of his hand.  "And that was just my elemental lightning.  My demonic powers are far more powerful, and far more destructive."  He lifted another steal sword and for a split second a red tinged shadow started to surround it, though it sword liquefied before it consumed the blade.

"I now carry the best sword I could find, smithed by an Elven Master, the best one in the New World.  Even it can't withstand my full demonic power.  The only sword I know of that could contain my power is in a secret location that I've never revealed to another, though Abernathy knows that I am aware of its location and has warned me not to go for it."

"To put it simply, I need the Demon Sword "Soul Thief"."

"I heard about that," Linus said, "the blade that destroyed the city of Antwerp, then disappeared. And, let me guess, I'm not you, so I'm not bound by any promise not to go after it." Linus began to muse.

"I'd still prefer the Treasure Fleet. I have powers over Lightning as well, although much weaker than you have, contacts of my own, and a special power that gives me [i]some[/i] proficiency in skills I normally lack. The Spanish Treasure Fleet is well-protected, but they're still ships; they'll break and burn when struck by the thunderbolt."

"I'd even pay half the costs of hiring the privateers, although that's all I can do with my own resources."

He nodded.  "Have you every chartered a vessel?" he asked.  "Even an honest one would cost tens of thousands of pounds, and a pirate ship, if that is what you wish to hire, would cost far more.  I'm not comfortable attacking innocent people either, so you would be on your own if you took that path."

"If you want to retrieve the Sword for me, though, I will pay you and any companions you wish to take with you handsomely.  One hundred thousand to the group, and you can keep anything else that you find while executing the mission.  I will tell you, and train you in what you need to know to in order to succeed."

"If you are serious about defeating him, and quickly so that he ceases his terror on the city, this is the only way.  So, what do you think?  Will you do it?"

"Of course," said Linus, bowing a little. "I give my word for it, as a Demigod Scion of Jupiter and Convert to the Catholic Church - with Caveats." He then sighed.

"That said, though, I wish that the people I met in that tavern didn't just abandon me..."

"Money tends to bring people around." He said, taking the boy at his word.  "As for what you need, I would visit the market to get supplies."  He took a piece of paper from a tent at the side of the training ground and wrote a note, signed it, then rolled it up.  "Give this to my Butler on your way out and he'll give you an advance of twenty thousand for supplies."  He handed the rolled up paper to Linus.

"As for [i]who[/i] you should get, you'll need at least two other skilled fighters, assuming you can fight, and a cursed one."

Linus nodded, wishing that the undead sailor [i]had[/i] accompanied him...

James had been following the man and the girl since the tavern. Hearing Abernathy's name had certainly peaked his interest and when he heard that they were planning to kill him, and that there would be money involved; he knew he wanted in. The only hard part of tailing them was keeping up with the stage coach, it had been awhile since he sprinted a full mile. 

He was listening intently on the conversation between Abernathy's son, The woman, and Linus. When he heard the demon mention them needing more manpower he decided that it was time to show himself. He calmly walked out from behind a tree and approached the practice field.

"Hello lads, I think I might be able to lend a hand. James Goldfield, mercenary for hire; At your service."

Shumacher drew his sword, and anyone could tell from a glance at it why he was proud of the weapon.  "How did you get on my property?" he asked.  There was a stone wall around three sides of it, though it was covered in Ivy and had trees nearby in some places, and a cliff on the other side.

"Impressive stealth skills," Linus said, looking over the Half-Elf. Very good looking, with short blond hair and golden eyes, as well as a well-proportioned build. Too bad he was probably straight. What a pity.

James placed a hand on the handle of his own blade. "Calm down everyone, I mean you no harm. I got onto the property by climbing a nearby tree and hopping onto the ivy on your walls, rather shoddy security if you ask me. I know that you need two more people to help you kill Abernathy, and I want to be one of them." 

"Very well," Shumacher said, sheathing the blade.  "Though it's really up to him if he wants to hire you."  He looked at Linus.  "If you wish to test him, though, you can use the practice field."

"Thank you," said the Demigod, who then looked at James.