James got up early the following day and completed his absolutions before heading out of the Dungeon with Onyx. He was hoping to arrive at the Del Torro residence for breakfast. Fortune smiled on him for once, and he came in time to join them as they sat down to eat. James spent a pleasant hour chatting with both Veronika and Ferdinand before Ferdinand needed to go and deal with some guild business.
James took Veronika's hand as they walked from the breakfast room and headed down the hall. It didn't take any special powers to notice more guards around the house.
"Expecting more trouble?" James inquired.
"I don't think so," Veronika shook her head, "But father wants to make more precautions. He is afraid someone may see what happened as a sign of weakness and try to remove him."
James looked around to ensure no one was listening, "If either of you needs anything. All you need do is ask."
Veronika smiled at him, her eyes lighting up and causing his heart to skip a beat, "That is very nice to say, but we are still in the information gathering stage."
James wanted to comment about how he was improving that Skill himself, but he didn't think they were using the same methods.
"Veronika, dear. Could you teach me something," James tried to ask sweetly.
Veronika gave him the stink-eye, "Nice try, but not even close. My Mental Resistance is much too high for your inept Charms."
"Inept?" James cried, clutching his heart, "You wound me."
Veronika laughed and slapped his shoulder, "How can I help, James?"
"I need to learn the Skill Slight of Hand and practice it in a safe area. Don't want to get thrown in prison or have my hand cut off," James explained.
"Those would be very unpleasant, indeed. As for teaching you, I can do that. But..." she drew out the last word.
'But?" James cringed.
"I have a party tomorrow night, and I don't have a date. Any chance you could escort me? You will need to protect my virtue from the prying eyes of unsavoury men," she laughed.
James paused, a serious tone taking his words, "I can try, but I can't make any promises. This whole situation is getting complex. Champions trying to kill me. Trying to reach the top 500 and trying to not to die has me a little busy right now."
Veronika narrowed her eyes at him. She wasn't sure if he was teasing or being an ass. Finally, she decided on him being serious, "That is why you haven't been around much lately?" It was more of a statement than a question.
James nodded and continued to the stairs that led to his room on the second floor, "Ya. Your father also has me running these errands across the continent, and I finished a Dungeon yesterday. Or was it the day before?"
"I understand," Veronika smiled, "If I teach you, it will allow us to spend some time together. So that is a win for both of us."
James returned the smile, "Absolutely."
*************************************
Training with Veronika was not what he expected. She started using a gold coin she asked James to put in one of his pockets. Then she would lift it off of him. Everything he tried failed to stop her from finding and stealing the coin. Her Slight of Hand Skills were masterful, and she moved the coin around without him noticing, but she was more about misdirection and distraction. He would watch one hand while the other did the work. Then when he caught on and checked her second hand, she would laugh and show him the coin in the first hand.
She didn't focus on pickpocketing but used it as an example. She also showed him how to palm small objects and then drop them in a pocket, either his or someone else's. Veronika recruited the help of her lady in waiting and her maid. They showed James a few impressive tricks between the three of them. He soon realized that he was the only one without the Skill and the only reason he still had coins in his pocket was that they allowed it.
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It only took half an hour for him to learn the Skill. The rest of the morning and afternoon was spent practicing with the three ladies. The Lady in Waiting taught him a game he was already familiar with called Three Card Monte. There are three cards, and one of them is the Queen. One person shuffles the cards around while the other person tries to find the Queen. The trick is to have the fourth card and replace the Queen with the fourth card without the first person noticing. Then, when they pick the wrong card, put the Queen back on the table and remove the fourth card without notice. It was not an easy trick to do, but the Lady in Waiting was very skilled, and James had a hard time noticing her swapping out the cards, even when he knew to watch for it and with his high Perception. She was adept at showing him how to move the card without anyone seeing it. It was masterful the way she redirected attention away from her hands. She also explained that it was important not to do it every time. If you used Slight of Hand too often, it increased the chances of being found out.
The maid was very skilled in palming objects. Small items like jewelry, coins and even a tiny knife could be in her hand, but you would not see them. She also knew how to put something down on the table and walk away. When you looked back at the table, the item was gone. She never left the thing on the table, but your eyes saw her leave it there. James quickly realized that the Skill of Slight of Hand relied heavily on misdirection and distraction.
By the end of the day, James had the Skill levelled to 6 and was delighted. Veronika was impressed with the speed at which he learned the Skill and wanted to reward him with a dinner out in the city. Sadly, James had to venture to the Vampire Lord's home and deliver some blood. A journey that would take a few hours. After dropping off the blood, he offered to return, but she said she would not welcome any late-night guests in her boudoir. James shook his head in confusion as she kissed him farewell, and James entered Astral Space.
James took a moment to review his progress from the last two days of Espionage training.
Charm +1
Acting +2
Deception +3
Negotiations +1
Slight of Hand +5
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James was not surprised when the door to the Baron's house opened before he even stepped onto the porch. Arnold stood in the doorway with a shielded candle in hand. Without words, he led James up to the second-floor study and opened the door after a quick knock. Baron Von Lux was already present when James entered the room, writing something with a white feathered quill. The room was lit with several candelabras and lamps attached to the wall. The Baron wore a creamed-coloured suit with a red ascot. It would have made James laugh, except that the man was an actual Vampire.
The Baron spoke without looking up or his hand pausing, "I will be with you in a moment. Please be seated."
James sat at a chair facing the Baron and waited for several minutes before the Baron called out to Arnold, "Make sure this gets delivered tonight." Arnold bowed and accepted the letter with both hands.
The Baron stood up and walked around the desk, "Now, Master James. I believe we have some business to complete."
James stood, pulled out the bag of holding from inside his cloak, and handed it to the Baron. They moved to a seating area where the Baron waved to a sofa, "Please be seated."
James looked at the near-white sofa and cringed. He didn't think his clothes were dirty, but he didn't want to take the chance of offending the Baron. While James weighed his options, the Baron moved to a serving table and grabbed several red wine glasses. Carrying them back to a low table between them, he sat down and looked into the Bag of Holding.
"There is more here than I expected," the Baron observed.
"My contact informed me to advise you that the stacks represent one-tenth of what she can create of that item. Except for the Vampire Blood. Each of those can only be duplicated 12 times." James explained.
"I am impressed by the quantity. Let us check the quality," the Baron remarked with a grin.
Taking out a vial from the bag, the Baron opened it and wafted the scent to his nose. With this satisfied, he carefully poured the contents into a glass and then examined them with light. Finally, he brought it up to his lips and took a sip.
"Gah!" he exclaimed, his face contorting into a grimace of distaste. "That is most disgusting! Foul even!"
James was concerned, "Is it not correct?"
The Baron waved his hand dismissively, "Yes. It tastes correct. But Were Wolf is almost as bad as Were Rat blood."
James frowned.
"Don't worry. I was expecting the taste. Mind you. You never get used to it. It was part of the test," the Baron remarked. Taking a white cloth, he wrapped the wine glass and then put it aside, "That will have to be destroyed. Once the glass gets bespoiled with Were Wolf blood, it can never be cleansed."
James nodded, "I've heard that."
"Don't be flippant," Rocko warned him.
The Baron went through several more vials of blood, but James was not sure which ones. In the end, only six were tested, "I am satisfied with the quality of the product. I will take fifteen Elf Blood and three of each of the Vampire Blood daily. I will let Master Del Torro know if there are to be any changes."
James nodded and said, "I am pleased you're pleased."
"Sit," the Baron directed him. "I have some other questions for you."
James sat down again and looked at Rocko. Rocko shrugged but moved closer.
"How can I help," James asked warily.
"I have a question," the Baron stated and then leaned forward. With a whisper, the Baron asked, "Are you from Earth?"