Lucas was standing next to a old, pre – System stove, the hidden mana core which replaced old sources of fuel silently heating up the water for the coffee which was set u in preparations for the long night ahead of him. Margaret has volunteered to go fetch everybody relevant and Lucas reluctantly let her go. Even if she was the team member with the least levels and probably the weakest one in a straight combat, she was agile and knew how to move. She was also pretty sharp and Lucas could bet she was already nearing the house where Ted and Maggie could be found, to add protection from further attacks. Sighing, Lucas finished preparing the coffee and with a steaming cup he took a seat on the chair opposite of one which was occupied by his new captive. He was still unconscious, which suited Lucas just fine, seeing as he expected members of the Town guard soon. Without mistake, five minutes later he heard knocking on the door and giving the permission to enter. Two guard members entered and their eyes darted to the captive.
“I guess this is the one responsible for the mayhem outside, sir” one of the guardsmen said, saluting to Lucas.
“He and his two friends. I’m hoping their bodies will be cleaned before the morning. It wouldn’t do to interrupt the lives of citizenry over such matter” Lucas said, signaling to the guard he is at will.
“Aye, we found their bodies alright. Any idea who would send assassins after you?” the other guardsmen asked.
“That is what I intend to find out and the reason my friend is over at my place” he said while clapping the shoulders of the unconscious man.
“Sir, yes, sir. We wish you luck” the guardsmen said as they turned to exit.
“One more thing. There is an arm somewhere on the roofs above the bodies. Find it before it starts rotting and smelling terribly, will you?” Lucas said and guards saluted him, acknowledging his orders. He returned back, sipping his coffee and awaiting either for the rest of the party to arrive or for his would – be assassin to wake up. He even had time to change to a more casual appearance, finally getting out of his armor and into more comfortable clothes. Checking on his armor, he was pleased to see there wasn’t any visible cracks or dents, the steel coral constantly repairing itself and living up to its description. Hearing some stirring behind him, he turned to see his guest was finally awake. He was panicking after he realized the situation he was in, thrashing against the bonds and his eyes looking all around the room for potential escape route.
“Cut it out” Lucas said, but the man ether didn’t register him or decided to ignore him, still thrashing and squirming and trying to free himself.
“I said, cut it out” Lucas repeated, approaching the tied man. He lifted his hand and smacked the assassin, bringing the man back to reality. He eyed Lucas carefully, his aura emitting pure dread.
“Okay, I will bring you up to speed. I will ask you some questions and you are going to answer them swiftly and with the truth” Lucas explained “first question: Do you know who I am?”
Assassin shook his head, prompting Lucas to smack him again.
“You will use words and not mimicry or I will have to use harsher methods” Lucas said.
“No, I don’t know who you are. My buddy, the one with the knives told me he scored a big job and that the payout is massive” assassin finally spoke, his voice surprisingly soft for a man skulking dark places and murdering people.
“Let’s say I believe you. Who gave you the job?” Lucas continued his questioning.
“I don’t know, like I said it all went through my buddy” assassin responded.
“Where do you usually ply your trade?” Lucas asked next, wanting to see if there was crack in security in his settlements.
“We are local boys, street rats. We had jobs for some merchants and the likes, but it wasn’t assassination until now” assassin said in soft whisper.
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“Well, now you lie to me. I told you I want only the truth.” Lucas said as he smacked the unfortunate man. His head jerked as the slap was heard, drowning the sound of the door opening. His team entered the house, closely followed by Bruce. Lucas greeted them all, signaling for them to sit down.
“I know your next question. My friend here is going to tell you the story of what happened while I make you some beverages. And remember, only the truth” Lucas said as he went back to the stove to heat new batch of water, while listening the tied – up assassin retelling the tale of their meet – up and of the botched attacks. Lucas timed his return to the room just as the assassin finished his story, sharing beverages with the rest of people there.
“And now, there is only one thing I require of you. How long have you been in the business of assassination? And please, the truth this time” Lucas repeated his last question.
The assassin gulped and once again started looking for an escape route, but he quickly settled down when he realized there wasn’t any. “Two years now, with some pauses. I can even tell you all the names that I know of”
“Save it for the guard” Lucas said and hoisted the man on his shoulder. “I’m off to the guard. If you want, you can go with me, but I guess it’s better to stay here and get some rest”
“No, we are with you. You will not be alone when the next attack comes” Maggie was quickly to say and stood up to leave, the rest quickly agreeing with her. Lucas felt a wave of gratitude coursing through his body and he thanked them all before they set the pace to the headquarters of the guard. After the General’s troops forcefully disbanded the guard and its subsequent rebirth when Lucas dealt with the General, they have been moved on the central plaza of the town, judging that position as the better one to quickly respond to threats to the settlement. That decision proved fortunate now as Lucas didn’t had to walk too much from his house to the headquarters, arriving in just ten minutes after he left his house. He knocked on the door and guardsmen who wasn’t out on the night shift opened up for him. He left them the man with some quick instructions and recounted what the man told him so far.
“There is one more place we need to go before the night is done” Lucas told his party, and he guessed Bruce had the same idea, because he didn’t left for the guard headquarters with them, instead taking a different direction. He led them to Lucas’s old favorite tavern. On the outside, nothing had changed much, but Lucas new there was a new complex underneath the building, even if he doubted it was fully finished. He entered it and found the innkeeper, noting that the tavern had more people that the last time he visited, guessing all the new faces surely represented his men who were probably off duty right now.
“Who leads our friends?” Lucas simply asked. The innkeeper subtly pointed at the far table where the bearded man in his thirties sat, sipping his drink alone. Lucas thanked the innkeeper and went to the table which man occupied.
“Our esteemed leader comes to join the dredges” the man intoned when his table suddenly became full, five people joining him. The door of the tavern opened again and Bruce came through them, spotting Lucas and joining with them. The man nodded to each person who was sitting at his table before focusing all his attention to Lucas.
“You have become pretty fast” Bruce commented and only then Lucas spotted some puffing from the old Loremaster, indicating he was trying to move fast. Lucas chuckled at his mentor’s state.
“We had a situation this lovely evening” Lucas started, seeing the man slightly bending in his chair, listening intently “I was attacked by assassins. They are dealt with, but how did it slipped through our network?” Lucas finished with the question.
“Not to look for excuses, but this moving is killing us. But I will personally look into this matter.” Man said, his demeanor changed to maximum professionalism.
“We should also deal with assassins in our settlement” Lucas said, cutting to the heart of the matter.
“We cannot wed them out. If we start killing them, they will go underground” the man said.
“I think I have a better solution. We could make a deal with them, allow them to ply their trade freely if they check their marks with us first” Bruce interjected. Lucas took a moment to think about Bruce’s suggestion, finding some measure of logic in it. The guard and the assassins will continue their game, sharpening the skills of his man and if they played their cards right, nobody important will ever be killed in Camp Hearth.
“The problem with that is leverage, or the lack of it. We cannot make them bend to us” the man said, seriously considering Bruce’s words.
“Isn’t the mutual non – aggression pact leverage enough? I know we cannot wed them out, but the war with entire settlement will drain them of resources” Bruce defended his position.
“If only they were that centralized. But, there is merit to that idea, I must admit. We shall gather some intelligence first and then we will come with a plan. Let’s cheer in that name” the man finished as he ordered drinks for the whole table. They cheered and drank before departing. Once again this night, they said goodbyes one to another and this time, Lucas managed to arrive to his home unopposed and to finally fall asleep.