Traveling from planet to planet, Velvet learned about the issues they faced- or at least those raised by their loudest members in their largest cities. Obviously any individual would have different ideas about what was important, but either way Velvet couldn’t care about the details of everyone. Even Anton couldn’t do that, though he was more likely to pick up on local troubles and desire to help.

She wondered what he would do here, in enemy territory. She supposed it would be much like Ofrurg. Solving problems on a small scale first, then fixing the larger societal issues. But even if Velvet had the time or inclination to do such things, she would prefer to work closer to home. On the galactic scale, she might be neighbors with these planets- but on a practical scale, she was deep into enemy territory. Getting involved at all was foolish.

Her current disguise was that of a Life Transformation disciple of the Western Mirage Sect. A traveler that people would expect to see one moment and not the next, continuing about their business. Strong enough that nobody would bother her, but not so strong that she stood out. She had answers prepared about her identity, should anyone ask- but in general, people should not.

Spying required some level of curiosity to find pertinent information… which was also a risk. So when she heard a conflict and approached to see what was happening, it was both exactly what she was supposed to be doing and a risk.

It should have been a small one, she had calculated. She was just going to take a peek at the conflict from a distance. But a minute later, she was one of the few people left in the area after a rapid disaster, and by the time she considered fleeing she was already too late to not look suspicious.

A half dozen Life Transformation cultivators surrounded her. Nothing significant, even in straightforward combat. The man in the Integration stage was also not a threat, even combined with them. Not physically, anyway. She could take them all out in a few moments, but then she would truly have to flee.

“You there,” the man said, his aura flickering and twisting around him. The Northern Mirage Sect, which made things a little awkward but also would hopefully smooth things over. “What happened here?”

“I only saw part of the conflict,” Velvet said. “Several of your disciples got into conflict with some light element cultivator.” Velvet tilted her head as if trying to recall something. “It felt like the Citadel of Exalted Light, perhaps?” She was more than certain of that, but accusing a powerful sect of murder in the middle of the street was problematic. Even if those who had been harmed were asking.

“What happened with this conflict?” the man demanded.

“I don’t know what started it,” Velvet said truthfully. “I only noticed after the battle had already begun. I thought it reasonable to see what was going on, and arrived just in time to see an older man in Integration drive arrows of light through your disciples.” Velvet lied about that part. She observed the whole battle, even if it was only a bit longer than that. “Then he fled to the east.”

“I have further questions,” the man said. “Are you not a disciple of the Mirage Sect? How could you be so callous about the deaths of your fellow disciples?”

Velvet shook her head. “It was not my intention to seem callous. I was merely unable to respond in any way. And as for being fellow disciples, I am merely a member of the Western Mirage Sect.” She held up her acquired token, mostly to prevent him from inspecting her cultivation too closely. “Though we share similar origins, our connection has long been severed. Even so, I would have gladly aided them if I could have managed it.” A mix of truth and lies. She was physically capable of interfering. She was more than strong enough, after all. It would simply have compromised her position here… a position that was also in jeopardy in this very situation.

The man folded his arms in front of his chest. “Fine. And you said this man fled east? We came from that direction, but did not feel him pass by.”

“Let me clarify,” Velvet said, pointing. “He fled more or less directly that way. Your path came more or less from the southeast. He was moving rather quickly, so he could have been gone before you were close enough to notice.” Though it was kind of problematic that he wouldn’t notice. If this man’s senses weren’t good enough for that, how would he ever see through other members of his own sect? Though maybe it was best for Velvet at the current moment.

“You said you wished you could help, correct? Then lead us towards him.”

Velvet wanted to click her tongue. Was there really any other correct answer but ‘yes’? “Of course. How might I address you, senior?”

“Rainer,” the man said.

“Let us hurry, then,” Velvet said, beginning to move at a quick walk. Mostly, she was waiting for the disciples to get out of her way. If they wouldn’t let her past, she could always force it… but if they wanted to catch that individual, they’d have to move. Rainer gestured, and they left room. Velvet began to pick up the pace, looking back for the others- though she could easily sense their precise locations without looking. “I doubt it’s possible for me to catch up, but I can show you the furthest distance I sensed his retreat.”

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She led them a reasonable distance in the correct direction before pausing. Then she frowned, bending down to look at the ground.

“Hmm,” she said. “It seems he might have turned to the northeast.” Velvet didn’t really have much of a sign to pick out- she had just actually sensed the turn at a great distance. Though once she’d gotten to this point, she felt a slight lingering trace of light. The Citadel wasn’t exactly known for hiding.

“So you’re a tracker? Good. You can help us hunt him down.”

Velvet had hoped they would simply run off where she directed, but she supposed she had seemed too competent. And now she was involved, whether she liked it or not. “I can try, but I’m not certain I’ll be able to keep the trail. He might have gone too far.” That was just an excuse. Actually, the target had holed up in a cave a few dozen kilometers outside the city. Just a few minute’s run for someone of his speed. It seemed rather foolishly close, but perhaps that trinket he’d stolen had something to do with his haste.

She led the group at about the maximum pace that she felt was reasonable. The Life Transformation Cultivators could run faster, but she was supposed to be one as well- and focused on tracking. She pointed out a few of the signs she happened to notice along the way.

“I think he slowed down,” she said. “We should probably hide our approach… if I’m right, at least.”

Rainer simply nodded. He and the disciples followed her lead, concealing themselves. Velvet had studied the Western Mirage Sect’s techniques properly, and while she didn’t find them that impressive she could at least replicate them. Any tweaks she included would be covered by the difference in style from the locals.

Soon enough she could feel a pulsing feeling of light. So that’s what this was. A simple killing over resources. And that also explained to Velvet why Rainer had arrived just a few moments too late. She was fairly certain he had legitimately missed the fleeing enemy, but as for not being on time for the battle… well, she could figure that out. He couldn’t be seen to steal directly from sectmates, after all.

People like him deserved to die. However… Velvet supposed that there could be overall more beneficial results from this scenario. Such as public conflict between the Citadel of Exalted Light and the Northern Mirage Sect. Whether or not anything would happen because of a single incident she was uncertain, but she could always hope for more internal conflict in the Exalted Quadrant. She might even work to foster some… but that would require a greater understanding of the political situation. Another mission for later, perhaps.

“I sense the fiend!” Rainer said. “We must catch him!” At that, he and the other disciples began running ahead. Velvet put in the effort to speed up, appearing as if she reached her maximum limit. But of course, she wasn’t anywhere close.

She passively followed them with her senses, taking in the fluctuations of their energy. They didn’t feel like much once they reached the cave, but she could feel more details when the battle began.

Velvet considered simply leaving. They were severely distracted, and they would never be able to track her down. However, they might notice her disappearance and that would make them more likely to be suspicious and remember her. A delicate balance.

Ultimately she decided to follow through on this whole endeavor. She continued at her current pace, happy to find that she would most likely arrive after the conclusion of the battle. The Integration cultivator in question might be able to swiftly kill three Life Transformation cultivators, but six and another who nearly matched him in power? That was clearly out of his ability. With the Northern Mirage Sect blocking the cave entrance, he was trapped inside with them.

During the final moments of the battle, the killer tried to rush past them- but he ultimately fell near the cave mouth. Velvet arrived just in time to see Rainer standing over the body.

“You avenged them, good,” Velvet tried to show some level of enthusiasm. Though not too much, given the tenuous connection. Rainer quickly picked some sort of mirror out of the man’s bag, appraising it visually. Time to blend in as much as she could. “Senior, I led you here so… what portion of the spoils am I entitled to?”

“Ah yes. Your contribution did indeed speed up the process,” Rainer nodded. He casually grabbed something from the man’s storage bag, tossing it to her.

A packet of medicinal pills. Not terribly high quality, Velvet determined, but certainly not valueless. “Thank you very much senior. I will be continuing on my journey now.”

Hopefully, now that their ‘business’ had been settled she would fade from his mind. That was why she had asked for payment but not haggled about the amount. If he was begrudging about the amount, he might instead choose to hunt her down and try to take it back. Or the others could, as they were likely more concerned with smaller values.

And then they would be dead, and her later attempts to spread rumors about a conflict between the two sects would be stifled by a lack of living examples. Even if it was true, nobody cared about a few dead people. But deaths on both sides, and the possession of some sort of valuable loot? That was something people might talk about. And from there, maybe more of these disciples would kill each other because of grudges.

She could only hope, of course. But hope was something she never went anywhere without. It guided her steps in the past, and it would bring her into the future. She had all sorts of hopes, mainly hinging around the Scarlet Alliance.

Which was exactly why she needed to get back to them alive. Because not being around to see better futures would be disappointing, and she had quite a few things to report that she couldn’t risk getting intercepted somehow. Just because she didn’t think anyone could do it didn’t mean the Exalted Quadrant didn’t have some method. And if they did, they wouldn’t want to make it known. Optimally, they would sit on the very fact that they could gather such information and accumulate a mountain of secrets, using information only when most beneficial to them.

At least, that is what she would do. And discounting the possibility would be foolish. But her information arriving at the Scarlet Alliance in some form was also quite important, and she had some contingencies in place that hopefully would never come into play.