669 woke in Bosgar’s arms within a Peony guest room.

“Before you ask how and why you’re here. I shall fill in a blank.”

He released him to take a seat in an armchair and watch 669 take his time to recover his senses and strength.

669 sat up on the four-poster bed and swung his legs over the end to stare at Bosgar.

“Explain.”

Bosgar frivolously took a sip of wine before he placed his goblet on the nearby nightstand and adjusted his position in the chair to be more upright with one leg crossed over the other.

669 frowned as the man casually explained that he had paid a visit to the tailor shop to pick up his suit and heard a commotion in the back. There had been no one out the front to serve him, which he thought was strange. So, he stepped out the back to see two women standing over his unconscious body. For any other man, that wouldn’t be untoward. But this was 669, who clearly wouldn’t fall for women’s charms.

“So I picked you up and carried you out to here.” He grabbed his goblet again and sipped more wine.

“You just walked in, picked me up and carried me out.”

Bosgar naturally withhold back the information that he had threatened to shut the business down in Lucy’s ear should she harm the man. The masked woman couldn’t withstand the magic from the ball magical artifact he had used to absorbed her inner virya to make her weak.

“Yes. They were sensible women.” He slammed the goblet back down to the nightstand and stood to help 669 off the bed. “You have a job to do.”

669 carefully stared at the playboy aristocrat, wondering what game was playing and how he fitted into it other being a casual sex partner. But now wasn’t the time to question the man’s motives. Especially, when he had saved him from a potential death.

“Yes. So, if you don’t mind, I’ll take my leave.”

Bosgar made way for him to fix up his him and walk out the door. He didn’t follow.

669 glanced over his shoulder, but when he didn’t see Bosgar follow him, he continued to look ahead and was about to descend the stairs to the ground floor when he was approached by a well-dressed and affluent woman in a maroon silk gown, with a white fur boa over her shoulders and fine black hair held in a half bun with jade and sapphire hairpins and combs holding it together. Her dark toned skin held a light shimmer from the powder she used to keep it flawless and smooth. She was highly attractive with large green eyes framed with manicured eyebrows, high set cheekbones and full red lips. Her manicured fingernails were painted red with peony and dragon emblems on the surfaces.

She approached him with a graceful glide to her steps with matching red slippers bearing the peony insignia on the material.

“Follow me.” She turned and retraced her steps down the stairway with the expectation of 669 following her lead.

He would follow her because she was Molly Babel, one crazy, psychotic woman who could level her enemies with one finger casting magic. She was once a feared henchman with scary fire magic descending from her Evil Phoenix bloodline. Even his former commander (007) wouldn’t cross her, and he was nicknamed the Mad Blade. Now days she played bodyguard and accountant to Maud Risk, co-running the Peony Soap House from the shadows from a security perspective.

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They eventually reached the destination of Maud’s office, where he had faced the arrow trap for his head. But the area had been swept clean of any potential hidden threats. No doubt Molly had seen to a reprimand from her security to make up for the failure.

Maud was seated in his power chair behind his writing desk. Molly showed 669 where to stand, then closed the door behind them and stood guard before it in the room. 669 glanced at her position over his shoulder then gave Maud his attention.

“My friend.” Maud got up to greet him like he was a dear friend. 669 smiled and played the game of pleasantries. It was better to go with the flow and learn what they wanted from him.

“How goes the investigation? I heard that you were accosted by two women at a tailor shop.”

“Word travels fast.”

Maud chuckled. “You had been unconscious for a whole day. But I’m honestly surprised they were able to take you out.”

669 huffed. If he hadn’t been still recovering his energies from the night before, they wouldn’t have. Still, something foul had happened and he needed answers.

“So, what do you need from me?”

Maud feigned disappointment at hearing his friend’s bluntness to the question. But when it looked like 669 wasn’t going to buy it, he got straight to the point.

“It’s clear your company is going after this Fairy Blossom. I want you to eliminate her.”

669 scoffed. “We’re not going after her. My company has been hired to shadow the Royal Guard on their case to solve Marcus Poirot’s murder.”

“And that is a very noble cause, one that points to Fairy Blossom. It’s clear she is the cause behind it.”

“What makes you say that? I am curious.” 669 folded his arms over his chest and stared at the man with curiosity.

“Did you find out who owned those arrows? If not, I can help you with a lead on it. One that points to Fairy Blossom.” Maud said as he returned to her power chair and gestured for Molly to step forward.

Molly stepped up next to 669 where she activated magic to her red belt pouch: a crossbow arrow and folded piece of paper materialized in her hands, which she passed to him.

“This is the weapon that was used to try and assassinate Master Risk. We traced the manufacturing back to the address on the paper. I believe this is where Fairy Blossom was last seen, as one of my guards had reported. This was before the incident with you.” Molly stated matter-of-factually.

“And passing me this, what do you expect me and my company to do?”

“One thing.” Maud eased back in his chair with a glower. “Eliminate this Fairy Blossom.”

“And if she turns out to be an innocent party?

“I guarantee she isn’t innocent.” Maud tossed a small vial at 669, which he caught with a free hand. The vial reeked of Corpse Puppet Resin. “This was found within her belongs by one of my guards.”

“Fine.” 669 transferred the items to his belt pouch and honored the transaction with a cordial bow.

“Excellent! I won’t keep you. Good luck and happy hunting.”

Molly opened the door for him to take his leave.

669 was keen to return to headquarters and talk things over with the others.

Things were delving further into complication with personal agendas from various parties starting to take shape.