A figure stood before me, projecting poise and power in their stance. A black cloak shielded their identity, but her petite frame was clear to appraise with an observant eye like mine. Her hands rested at their side as her aura flickered darkly. She wore a mask that hid her features from view, but I knew from experience she was a dangerous woman.
"It has been a while, but I assume you aren't here to exchange pleasantries. Take me to meet with your employer, and I will follow."
In my line of work, there are few people you could feasibly trust. Most underground organizations are nothing more than violent thugs and killers. They'd betray you in a heartbeat, but that was not the case for this woman; she was loyal for better or worse. Unlike the other uncouth dogs of the underground, this woman, Ripper as I've come to know her, was considerably less murderous than your typical vagrant. Despite that inherent weakness, her skill set was almost as varied and useful as mine. That meant certain purses well sought her.
We met a year prior in Westford, where fate allowed us to work for the same patron. Our roles were different, but overall, it was a lucrative job. My role was to infiltrate a local noble's manor. With my skill set, it was a straightforward experience.
The noblewoman in question was an avid collector of exotic weaponry and magical artifacts. I have no idea how she obtained the various types of named weapons and artifacts, but I do know I greatly benefited from the heist. The forked dagger I used to this day was an extra I managed to swipe from her vault, and it has served me well.
They say her husband was put to the sword for his treachery, but he vehemently denied his involvement despite the eyewitnesses' placing him there. Unfortunately for him, the eye sees what the eye sees, and my abilities allowed me to alter that perception. Ripper knew that which caused her to appear multiple times before me over the last year. Her jobs were often simple, but they were usually worth their weight in silver.
I had no problem lending her talents since she was one of the few who valued them. Without a single word, Ripper would gesture for me to follow, and I did. The armor I wore shifted into a more civilian-friendly outfit. My hair paled into a light green, and my ears stretched to match those of an elf. Altering my eyes into a darker green was the final detail needed to appear like a completely different individual. Anyone who saw me now would assume I was a normal citizen performing his daily business.
We traveled to the edge of the Silver District, and as the buildings became less extravagant, the people's mutterings became more evident.
"A lot of monsters and bandits are appearing on the roads leaving the city recently. A traveling wagon was attacked by those fiendish Gold Coin Brigands," a grey-haired human man said.
"I heard they took over Ava village to the south. How could that happen under Lady Ana's watch?" another bearded human asked.
"Not to mention the damage to the forest heading toward the west. The guards are saying a monster rampaged nearby earlier this week, but Arch-Captain Silvers managed to subdue it. I hope it didn't come this far from the Grotto."
"A lot of events are happening so fast. I hope Lady Ana gets a grip on things soon, or I might pack it up and return to Westford."
I would hate to be the bearer of bad news for those old men, but their days will worsen when news of the late Baronet reaches their ears. It's none of my concern, though. The disheveled state of the buildings in this district only worsened the closer we became to the Bronze District. For all of their hopes in their leader, I fail to understand why. This city may be a backwater, but compared to the other large cities in the area, Astana is laughable if you compare its state to the others.
I would have expected more from the sister of the lord of Freeling Port, but I digress. The nobility often took care of their own, so it's not surprising to see the drastic difference between the districts in this city. Each one was its own world, but I would use that to my advantage.
As soon as the clear sky darkened with clouds, we arrived at a building resembling an abandoned two-story tavern. The street was relatively clear, and a few people were moving to take shelter from the incoming rain. Ripper firmly knocked on the door without looking back at me. After a few minutes, the door creaked open. A light drizzle had begun to sprinkle, but that was the least of my concerns. Standing in the doorway was a wolfkin, who strikingly resembles a foxkin in appearance. His round eyes narrowed as if he could read my thoughts, but he didn't voice any objections. He took in our appearances before opening the door to grant us entrance.
The ears of the wolfkin twitched with annoyance as I walked past, and I thought I heard a light snarling from the man. It was an amusing feature of beastmen or beastkin like him. They snarled as an intimidation tactic, but it was often harmless beastkin children who did so.
I paid him no mind, knowing that if he tried to attack me, then I'd put him down where he stood. A mere wolfkin is no threat to me, and my disregard for his snarl showcased that to him. I followed Ripper into the first room and noted the change in appearance compared to the building's exterior. The interior was far more impressive compared to the outside.
If I hadn't known any better, I would have assumed that the tavern was up and running. Many of the pieces of furniture were in fine condition, and red paint was on the walls. The scent indicated that the paint had been recently added to the building. Ripper walked to where the kitchen would be before waiting for the wolfkin. He arrived a moment after we entered the lightly furnished room before leading us to a staircase in the next room over. I would note the limp the wolfkin moved with. He was likely suffering from some injury.
The tail of the wolfkin swayed with each step up the stairs, and after following him down a hallway, we arrived at a door. The hallway we traveled was far more decorative than the rest of the building. Potted plants and fresh red paint coated this wall, too. My gaze shifted around before landing on the masked Ripper. She was agitated.
The wolfkin knocked on the door, announcing our presence before promptly opening the door into the room.
"Come on in. There is no need to knock."
A masculine voice appeared from the other side, but we had already entered without his blessing. The wolfkin pushed the door open, allowing the room to grace my vision. Compared to the rest of the building, this office was far above everything else. A black mat covered the floor when we stepped inside the room. There were two couches and a desk, both hinting at considerable wealth from the owner. He had likely stolen it, but I wouldn't bet against the idea he purchased it.
The room's sole occupant was a red-haired elf who oozed sophistication even while lying on the couch. He wore clothes befitting a peasant, but he had an air of nobility on him. Without knowing his name, I was certain this confident man was the leader of this building. He opened one of his eyes, catching a glimpse of our appearance. His gaze lingered on Ripper for a moment before opening both of his eyes, then shifting his gaze to me.
"Cedarro, please get our guests a drink. Help yourself while you're at it. I have the good stuff here," the elf said, chuckling.
The wolfkin, known as Cedarro, grumbled his response before traveling across the room to a cabinet. Ripper took a step toward the other couch before halting in her tracks. The masked woman suddenly snatched an item out of the air and then examined it. It was a pouch of coins, which clattered from the jarring movement. The elf had tossed them to her and grinned at her lack of response.
"I spoke to the patron and negotiated new terms of our deal. He was pleased with your information and asked me to deliver the payment. You have impressed him, Ripper, so keep it up," the elf said confidently.
He shifted his body to a sitting position before standing. Although the man was shorter than I was, he fearlessly extended his hand in my direction. Confidence oozed from his body as we exchanged a handshake.
"You must be the one. I am Tailo, and my associate over there is Cedarro," the red-haired elf said.
"You may call me... Shifter." I said with a grin.
"Shifter it is then," Talio responded as we broke the handshake. He gestured for us to sit across from him, and we did so. "Now, I doubt our friend has explained to you why you are here, so I'll get introductions out of the way."
The wolfkin would grumble under his breath as he placed four glasses on the table and placed a bottle of red elixir in the middle. He narrowed his eyes at Talio before the elf chuckled.
"I was teasing. You don't have to pour us anything," Talio remarked as he poured himself a glass and then poured ours.
I watched the man carefully as he brought the glass to his lips and took a sip. His eyes narrowed as seriousness returned to Talio's face.
"I'll get straight to the point," Talio declared, leaning back against his couch. "We are looking to expand our roster of talents to match an interesting target. He has repelled our first attempt, and I believe he will become an issue if left unresolved. An employer with deep pockets would appreciate it if we captured four high-priority targets."
"Four targets?" I asked.
The way he spoke about the employer's deep pockets implied that this was a job from someone with noble blood. He didn't specify the employer's name, but as long as the individual's pockets are deep, I suppose it doesn't matter. I lifted the glass of elixir to my nose and took a whiff. I was able to detect common poisons by smell alone, so I relaxed when I detected none in the drink.
"I will admit that when I first took on this job, I imagined it would be simple. We'd capture one to lure out the rest and overpower them with a numerical advantage. However, I've come to learn their supposed weakest member, a foxkin, was a capable warrior."
His words made me raise my eyebrow.
"A foxkin?" I scoffed before laughter escaped my lips. "I didn't think I would be invited to a comedy routine, but I do appreciate the joke. A foxkin being a capable warrior doesn't bode well for your plans. I don't understand what weaklings you sent after him, but if they are unable to subdue a mere foxkin, then your coin is wasted."
"I would think the same if I hadn't witnessed his might with my own eyes. All things considered, you and I would not be having this conversation if he was a mere foxkin. We'd all be sitting on five hundred silver instead."
"Five hundred silver?" I questioned, narrowing my eyes in disbelief.
The man nodded, which made me reconsider my previous statement.
'Who would offer five hundred silver for a foxkin? Why?'
Those were the questions buzzing around my mind. Five hundred silver in a bounty is extremely lucrative on the silver tier, which indicated great importance for this particular foxkin. Whoever placed that bounty on him wanted to send a message, and I understood it clearly.
"You say he is a capable warrior, correct?" I asked, and Talio nodded.
He gestured toward Cedarro, who unwrapped his bandages to showcase his wounds. They were significant, almost as if he was mauled by a wild animal and barely survived. My eyes widened as the implications were considered.
"Are you telling me that a foxkin dealt that much damage to him? He should be significantly more powerful than a foxkin," I said.
It was shocking, to say the least, to hear that, but Talio seemed amused more than frustrated. He lifted his glass of elixir into the air and stared into the reddish liquid. He began swirling it as he spoke, "Our plan was flawless. We ambushed him in the rain on his way back to the city. He had a kid with him, so it was the perfect opportunity to bring him to heel. Cedarro was tasked with the initial contact because we thought the same way you did. In no world of ours should a foxkin be able to match a wolfkin when it comes to brute strength. Yet, that is what we witnessed. His words got into Cedarro's mind, and he provoked the primal rage inside of him."
"I take responsibility for my failure," Cedarro said bluntly. "I shouldn't have allowed his words to sway me, but his arrogance provoked me. The way he looked at me and how he carried himself triggered something within me. It's hard to explain."
"You allowed arrogance to sway your emotions? I assumed you weren't an amateur," I remarked, earning Cedarro's growl.
"Would you consider Ripper an amateur?" Talio asked.
His narrowed gaze shifted to the woman mentioned, and a dangerous aura flared from her body. She hadn't touched the glass of elixir in front of her, but the glass cracked from the intensity she produced.
"Ripper was present for this job, but even she couldn't subdue the foxkin; at that point, he had been run through by my sword. It should have been a fatal blow, but..." Talio frowned as he contemplated what he wanted to say next. "Cedarro was fully enhanced by embracing his primal rage, yet the foxkin still overpowered him. It was unreal. Seeing him repel Ripper's attack with a hole in his chest was... it shouldn't be possible."
My eyes widened as I processed his words. It was unbelievable, and that fact made me frown.
'Did they take me for a fool? Is this an elaborate prank or joke?'
"It is unbelievable that a foxkin, who is injured from a battle with an enraged wolfkin, suffers from a hole in his chest to defeat a skilled combatant such as Ripper. I've seen Ripper take down trained guards with little effort, but now you want me to believe that she allowed wounded prey to escape?" I asked.
"You haven't heard the best part," Talio said, setting his glass down with a low thud. "This encounter happened last night, but fate allowed us to meet again today."
"Fate?" I asked skeptically.
"Fate." He responded with a nod. "Thanks to fate, I learned that while Cedarro has weeks of recovery ahead of him, our target has recovered from his injuries."
I raised my eyebrow at the revelation.
"Wait...what?! That should be impossible! He was covered in more wounds than I was! When we last saw him, he was about to bleed to death!"
"Yet, he was walking around as if our attack had never occurred in the first place. It was daunting, but there is uncertainty in the air.", Talio said with a mischievous grin.
"Uncertainty for you or him?" I asked, glaring at the redhead.
"From him, of course. He held himself well, but I sensed his uncertainty when we met again, but that was because he accidentally presented our prize to me."
Tilting my head, I stared intently at the elf. He had finally said something that interested me. Sure, it was odd that a foxkin could perform miracle regeneration, but that was far too outlandish to be true. Everyone knew that a foxkin's healing was inferior to those of other beastkin and beastman. If that foxkin healed from a wound to the back and a furious battle with a superior wolfkin, one who was supposedly enhanced by the power of his primal rage, then I doubted he'd be a mere guard for some backwater noble.
An individual of that caliber would be a general in Biikar's army or a personal guard of their king. I was certain that he would not be here in this place. Hence, I was unconvinced. That meant Talio's story was a fabrication with the intent to stimulate my interest in his job.
"What is this prize you speak of?" I asked.
"Seven hundred fifty gold," Talio said.
Now, my interest was piqued. Forget tall tales of super foxkin; those weren't going to retire me, but a fraction of that gold would set me up greatly. Ripper must have agreed as the masked woman flinched at the amount. She leaned closer to the edge of her seat, urging the elf to continue. Sensing that I was unconvinced about his story of the foxkin, Talio shifted his focus solely on me. Cedarro would indulge himself with another glass of elixir.
"The backer of this foxkin is the one labeled with such a hefty bounty. Clarice von Angea, a family member of the governor of this city. She has proven quite illusive to our patron, and her bounty has increased with the new knowledge of her foxkin bodyguard," Talio explained, his eyes showcasing pride.
"Your patron believed that tale you weaved?" I asked skeptically.
"How long have you been in this city, Shifter?" Cedarro asked, his voice akin to a growl.
"I arrived two days ago from the east. Why do you ask?"
"A week ago, there was a supposed monster attack near the western gate. The official report declared that Arch-Captain Vanya Silvers subdued the monster quickly, but after it leveled a portion of the forest. Rumors say that it was the hands of an ogre, but none can confirm. That is until I reached out to a confidant who was stationed at the gate that day. He has placed our foxkin there alongside three others, including our target." Talio explained.
"I take it you want me to take on this foxkin next, is that it?" I asked, growing tired of his mention.
"No," Talio said bluntly. He shook his head for extra emphasis. "I have sent another after that target. I believe he would be capable enough of bringing down both of the foxkin and Clarice."
"Then why am I here?" I asked, annoyed.
Ignoring my annoyance, Talio would accept another glass of elixir. After a sip, he spoke, "After the appearance of the foxkin and his group, a banquet was held in honor of the youngest son of the Blois, Percival. Our patron had a physical altercation with the group there, and let's say it didn't go as he expected it would. Just like our foxkin, his allies, a human and an elf, proved to be quite formidable. I've had Ripper keep an eye on their location since learning that information from another contact, and it seems the recent situation with those infamous bandits was settled by the human."
"It is not uncommon for bandits to be handled by a capable individual." I retorted.
"Could this capable individual exchange blows with an Ursa? No weapon, pure strength?" Talio inquired.
"Another fallacy-"
"It's not."
My head snapped to the right as a feminine voice snapped from next to me. The voice was unfamiliar, but knowing there was only one woman [present, I immediately knew it was Ripper. I had never heard her speak during our partnership, but here she was, correcting me. It stunned me, if I were, to be honest.
"Everything he has said was true. I've witnessed both events with my own eyes."
Talio nodded in approval of her interjection before gesturing toward Cedarro. The wolfkin stood and exited the room. After a few minutes of silence, he returned carrying a small wooden chest. He placed it with a thud on the table in front of us.
"We are taking this job extremely seriously, so if you find my words outlandish, then you are free to leave. We don't need you, but if you want a serious coin, then I recommend that you take what I've said seriously. Our window of opportunity is closing, and if my associate fails to bring the foxkin and their patron down this time, then we will be forced into an uncomfortable situation." Talio explained, his whimsical and confident grin replaced with a fierce seriousness. "I'll get to the point now. I've heard from Ripper that you are good at infiltration as a master of disguise, so I need you to infiltrate the group. More specifically, I request you infiltrate the last two dressed as the foxkin and learn what you can."
"We require more detailed information about the inner workings of their group. Their dynamics and their goals. Anything useful so that we may intercept them in the future and capture them in the future. I want to wipe the smug smirk off the face of that fox-eared bastard's stupid face," Cedarro declared as he sat down.
"I think I've heard enough," I said, standing from the couch. "I imagined I would brought here for an actual opportunity, but it appears you've brought me to your tall tale club, Ripper. I expected better."
I turned on my heels and began to exit the room. The sound of Cedarro's snarls erupted behind me, but Talio's laughter filled the room soon after.
"I suppose the challenge is too great for a man of your simplicity. Had my target been a fat noble or old woman, then I have no doubt you'd accept it."
"When you present me a real job, then I may be inclined to accept. From where I stand, you are doing business drawn from fantasy. That is reckless and unbeneficial to me. My time is better suited elsewhere."
"Then you would never learn the connection of Horace Hildebrand and our fantastical foxkin." Talio declared as soon as my hand had reached the doorknob. "That wouldn't be a move a genius would make."
I frowned at his words and glared in their direction. The focus of my glare was Ripper. I didn't have to question how he knew that I was looking for that man. I imagined Ripper was spying on me during my interrogation of Baronet Aslong. Ripper sensed my hostility, so the masked woman stood from her chair. Her glass of elixir was notably empty, but she still held the glass in her hand. Her posture was oppressive, challenging me to act against her.
Cedarro was chomping at the bit for action as he stood, too. While I knew he was injured, he didn't appear bothered by it in the slightest. I reached into my jacket and retrieved my forked dagger. It pulsated with a red aura as I channeled my firey mana into it.
"I do not tolerate espionage against me, even from you, Ripper. Now, I suggest you tell me everything you know about Horace Hildebrand, or I'll be forced to take a more direct method," I ordered, scowling.
Unphased by the rising tension, Talio stood up and downed the remaining of his elixir. He properly placed it down on the table before walking in front of his allies. His gaze was light, but a sword slash lashed in my direction before I could react. I barely managed to deflect with my dagger, but the power of the attack promptly disarmed me. Cold steel pressed against my throat as the redheaded elf glared into my eyes.
'What happened?!'
"How did you do that? Where did that sword come from?!" I snapped, but the amused expression of the elf was all that was presented.
"There is no method more direct than going after your target in person," he said, pulling his blade away and then sheathing it with one fluid motion.
Upon the sword returning its hilt, the dagger vanished right before my eyes. My eyes widened at the sight of the vanishing sword. I sputtered, unable to find my words.
"Join us, and you'll have your man," Talio promoted before glancing toward Ripper, "Ripper? If you may, return that exotic dagger to our new associate."
Ripper followed his request. She moved to where the dagger had been knocked and brought it to my hand. I understood just what situation I found myself in. He was no longer requesting anything of me. He was ordering me, and I did not like that. However, if his sword was invisible, it would be unwise to fight the three of them here.
I would rather not die when I could align myself with them since they are still offering. Clenching the dagger in my hand, I returned it to the hiding spot in my jacket. Talio watched while Cedarro folded his arms across his chest. The wolfkin stood smugly as I was forced to play along.
'There's no getting around this...'
I prided myself on my ability to read the room, and my genius abilities told me that this was the best course of action. If this group was associated with Horace Hildebrand, then I'd have little to lose. I could be paid for my work in their organization while continuing my previous path. There were more upsides than down, so I'll play along with them for now.
"This foxkin... What does he look like?"