Chapter 28: The Serpent’s Guile

Alea Len, despite her prickly attitude, was one of the few people who was receptive to the strange outsiders. Her receptiveness was about as comfortable as bathing in an Antarctic ice bath, but they could still bathe. Those of Shanyin, while fringe members of society themselves, were wary of those that would break the tenuous balance that Shanyin had established with Sanshi. Once those of the mountain’s shadow learnt they weren’t dangerous, the people had been more welcoming, and they found a place for themselves in their patchwork quilt society.

They had a few encounters with each other on jobs back in the world of the light, and John and Eufemia had even saved her life once. While she wasn’t quite their ally, she was not their enemy.

Alea Len looked up from her table. She was sitting in the lobby of the Moonlight Society, where several other members were maintaining their equipment. She was cleansing and polishing knives, lockpicks, and magical artifacts dedicated to cracking magical locks. Standard equipment, for someone in her profession. Since most were only partial essence users or completely normal, they relied on tools, physical fitness, and skills instead of innate magic to get the job done.

Like many others, Alea was working towards a full set of essences, either through service or through saving the contract payment to purchase their own. In her case, she was dedicated to the head of the Nisei family in the area, Erin Nisei. Whether or not she’d join the Adventure Society or continue her service to the Nisei family was negotiable.

“Lady Nisei is looking for the two of you,” she said, turning her attention back towards her tools. “She has a job for you.”

“Is she here or at her manor?”

“Her manor.”

“Thanks for the heads up, Alea.”

She snorted, “Don’t thank me. Lady Nisei finds the two of you useful for some reason.”

“Don’t be like that, just admit we’re skillful,” John said with a grin.

“I can admit that you’re useful—as handymen. I don’t know what Lady Nisei is doing for you in turn, but is it worth it to get involved in this side? I have a feeling the two of you can get by without the risk.”

“You work for Erin Nisei,” Eufemia said pointedly. “And you’re talking about risk? Why don’t you shove it.”

Alea shrugged, “I’m aware of what I’m doing is risky, and I’m satisfied with the terms of our agreement.”

“What’s to say our terms aren’t equally satisfactory,” Eufemia said.

Alea looked at them up and down with a displeased expression, “You two help people for free just on your walk back home. If you aren’t being cheated, I'll break all my knives.”

“You won’t do that.” Eufemia said, “You’re wiping down those knives like they’re family heirlooms.”

“I would never break my knives,” Alea agreed, “I lied. So kill me.”

Their business concluded at the Moonlight Society, John and Eufemia headed towards the Nisei Manor. The shadow path to the manor was accessed by climbing a ladder that should have led to the top of a building.

Transported through the darkness, they dropped from a few centimeters onto the stone path with uncanny precision.

“I hate that path.” Eufemia complained.

“Why? Because you’ve fallen from the top of the ladder on the way back, bruising your arse?”

“You should work on your manner around a lady, John.”

“My apologies, Lady Eufemia.” John said, performing a formal bow.

She frowned, “Don’t do that. I feel this indescribable revulsion when I hear you speak like that.”

John shrugged, walking into the manor in the way he always did. The man always seemed to have a pep in his step, despite his unusual circumstances. But Eufemia knew John long enough that he was frustrated by his lack of progress in his quest to return home.

The Nisei manor stood out from Shanyin, a city perpetually cast in pockets of shadow. It was made of polished white stone, a beacon of light in a sea of grey.

A butler greeted them at the door.

“Mister Aurelius, miss Eufemia, please follow me.”

They had been guided to the Nisei’s waiting room before and were familiar with this one path through the manor, but they obediently followed him.

Erin Nisei was silver rank, and not one to be trifled with.

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John and Eufemia were enjoying the tea that had been served to them when the door opened to reveal Lady Erin Nisei.

“John Aurelius, Eufemia Teresina, it’s always a pleasure to see the two of you in my parlor.”

Erin Nisei was a glamorous, enchanting woman. A celestine, like Eufemia, but of bewitching onyx hair that extended down to her lower back. Her two dark eyes seemed to glitter with the light of a starry sky. Her mouth, ever curved in a gentle crescent that beheld unattainable secrets within.

“Miss Nisei,” John greeted politely, “I heard you have a job for the two of us. What are the details?”

“Always prudent, aren’t you John. How long have we known each other? No need for such caution, is there?”

She ran her fingers delicately across his shoulder, like a butterfly touching down for nectar.

Eufemia rolled her eyes, “Cut the theatrics, Miss Nisei. What do you need us for?”

Erin let out a mournful sigh, “Despite my so-called position as the local head of the Nisei family, with access to both the Moonlight Society and the Adventure Society, competent people are hard to find. Especially investigators.”

She swirled a finger, pointing up at the sky, “Those adventurers above don’t have the patience for a slow, tiresome, and thorough investigation. And they shouldn’t really, not with the challenge they must put themselves through. Investigation just won’t cut it.”

Her finger gestured to the city of Shanyin below, “There are decent spies and thieves here, but none with quite the specific skillset you have, John. I have to say I’m quite enamored with what you have to offer.”

“Nothing about me?” Eufemia huffed.

“You’re a bonus,” Nisei said, her smile ever so slightly curving into one of a smirk.

“He’s married, snake,” Eufemia said.

“Doesn’t hurt to try. What is it that you’ve said before, John? ‘You miss all the shots you don’t take?’ I quite enjoy that.”

“You have quite the memory, Miss Nisei.” John said.

“I can raise you to silver rank, and you could experience what it’s like,” she said. “One of the many benefits of silver rank, on top of longevity and beauty. Just in case you’ve forgotten, John.”

Eufemia leaned in to whisper to John, “You don’t know how old she is John. She could be an old bag of bones in a pretty porcelain skin.”

“I’m married, Eufemia. I’m not tempted. And that’s rude.”

“Another benefit of silver rank,” Erin said, gently tugging on John’s other ear, “is enhanced hearing.”

She moved to sit across from John and Eufemia, her countenance slightly less playful.

“Finally,” Eufemia muttered, rolling her eyes. “Down to business.”

Erin nodded. “That’s right. I have an incident I’d like the two of you to investigate.” She unclasped a shoulder bag, pulling a folder larger than what should have fit inside and sliding it across the table. “I know you like physical information like this John.”

He took the folder from the table and flipped through the files.

“Missing researchers, inventors, and scientists?” John said after skimming the file.

Erin raised an eyebrow, “I’m not sure what you mean by ‘scientist’ but it's as you say, they’ve either gone missing...”

“Or turned up dead. This is why you need us.”

“It’s a worldwide phenomenon,” Erin further explained, “Most likely, it’s been occurring for a very long time now, but we’ve only recently noticed.”

“Why?”

“Recently, the gods have been moving. They’ve been bestowing their gift on individuals. Eye-catching in and of itself, but not usually something requiring additional investigation beyond the obvious.”

“What changed?” Eufemia asked.

“A great percentage of gift receivers have been researchers and inventors, greater than is normal.”

“You didn’t notice at first because the sample size is so small.” John said, “You had to accumulate data over time.”

The terminology caused Erin Nisei to raise an eyebrow as John’s translation ability did its work, “It has been a slow process, but we’ve realized the gods are trying to tell us something.”

“And what is that?” Eufemia said.

“Some force has been killing our researchers and inventors, across the world. Those in the Rowen Kingdom are untouched, likely due to their strong culture of innovation there.”

“Less likely to go unnoticed,” Eufemia remarked.

“But other regions have not been spared, Sanshi included. As a pioneer in new educational experiments, those above are upset with this revelation.”

“How can we possibly help with this?” Eufemia asked, “This seems beyond our capabilities as ordinary investigators. Go get some Adventure Society functionary to do this for you.”

Erin sighed, “Thos above are working on their approach to the problem, and I am working on mine. Less talk, Eufemia, you don’t have much to say.”

Eufemia’s lips formed a tight frown.

Erin continued with Eufemia to interrupt. “We have a general idea of how this enemy operates. They recruit locally and promise power and influence within their organization, or simple monetary incentives. These local recruits then do their bidding, investigating, abducting, isolating, or killing their targets.”

“It seems like a pretty loose operation,” John asked, “They haven’t been discovered already?”

“A lot of these researchers are small time; those who haven’t discovered anything of note. Honestly, we’re confused as to why they were targeted in the first time.”

John flipped a few pages through his files, “It says these researchers were isolated or expelled from the Magic Society.”

“Ridiculed for and harassed researching pointless topics,” Erin added, “these researchers eventually quit on their own or were expelled from the Magic Society.”

“Not so pointless if they’re being targeted,” said Eufemia. She couldn’t be kept down for long, especially not by the likes of Erin Nisei, who Eufemia instinctively didn’t like.

“I deal in information,” Erin said, leaning back, “but magic research is not my strength. I require the discerning eye of the two of you.”

“We’re not magic experts.” John said. “Almost the opposite. Neither of us have any formal training in magic, just tricks we’ve picked up from moonlighters, our travels, and our experiences.”

“I’ve had magic experts look at this,” Erin said, “We all have. I’m trying a different approach. My commission is this: find out why these researchers and inventors have been targeted. If you can, figure out which ones will be targeted in the future. Further, the base of operations and their local contacts, if you can do so without exposing yourselves. Will you accept?”

“Well? Payment?” Eufemia said, expression unamused.

“When have I not? You will not be disappointed.”

“Half up front,” Eufemia said.

“It’s a deal,” Erin said, tossing them a bag of spirit coins. The weighty bad landed with a heavy thud onto the ornately carved and polished darkwood table.

Eufemia was shocked, feeling the heft and hearing the clink of spirit coins in the pouch when she lifted it from the table. She looked up at Erin in realization, “You must be desperate. You don’t usually pay so much in advance. Not without some bargaining. The games you like to play.”

“This may not even be half, depending on what you find out,” Erin said. “The Adventure Society will fund results. We’re not desperate, Eufemia. We’re thorough.”

“We’ll see what we can do, Miss Nisei, but no promises, as always.” John said.

“Blessings of the serpent’s guile, John and Eufemia.” Her serpentine smile was not reassuring, “I pray you won’t need it.”