“How exactly are we going to do “our” job, as you so generously called it, if we haven’t even a faintest clue where to find that fucking body” Ted asked Lucas, after aimlessly walking the streets for half an hour after leaving the Bruce’s office.
Before Lucas managed to muster any answer, Chen interjected.
“I have something resembling a plan, but it’s a long shot, as Rosenborg is aware we can use illusions”
“What do you have in mind?” Lucas asked, Chen’s words managing to get his curiosity aroused.
“I propose we find him right now and then I will summon the illusion of the murdered man. A passing – by there, a turn around the corner here and hopefully enough doubt will be sown to force Rosenborg to bring the body for all to see” Chen explained his plan. Lucas could see the merit in it, but there was one glaring issue he couldn’t see a way around.
“Do you even know how he looks like?” he asked Chen with resignation in his voice, fully expecting to hear “No” as a response, which would shatter the plan.
“Please, Lucas, I’m a professional with experience in covert work. First thing I did was memorized the picture of our murder victim” Chen said proudly.
“When exactly did you have experience with covert work? You are close to our age and we certainly haven’t seen any organized spy network until now” Maggie asked, her look incredulous.
“I can recreate him perfectly, it is just a matter of timing” Chen continued, ignoring Maggie’s question. Lucas noticed how nervous he was suddenly and that was something of interest, but not right now. He caught Maggie’s gaze and signaled her subtly to drop the subject.
“Okay, then it’s just a matter of waiting until a right time” Lucas spoke “I would like to include Leon into it. Rosenborg will have hard time denying her if managed to stir the matter enough” he concluded.
The rest of his party agreed and with their course set for the tavern to share their findings until now and their future steps with Rose. Entering, they surprisingly found her alone. She was looking a bit fatigued by endless meetings she held, but her grooming hadn’t suffered for it, still in perfect state. She spotted them entering and waved to them, although Lucas was fairly certain she was sighing internally, hoping for some free time.
“Have a minute?” Lucas asked politely.
“Sure. What can I do for you?” the woman responded with same politeness.
Lucas started recounting the plan Chen suggested, stressing the part where she would need her help. She listened to him and by the end of conversation she was perked up, signaling to Lucas she thought it was a good plan.
“Well, it looks you aren’t just dumb muscles as it would seem” she said, Lucas uncertain whether that was a compliment or insult. He decided to take it as a compliment and write off the clumsy delivery on the tiredness woman must felt.
“I’m glad you agree. Have any suggestions?” Lucas asked
“If I were to lead this, I would say to you to open up this ploy here. I have some more guests coming and if they spot Rosenborg’s staunchest ally that was supposed to be dead seemingly alive and well, they would sure spread the word” Rose explained.
The plan set, they moved to one of the nearby tables, ordered some food and drink and settled in some conversation to pass the time as they waited. When Leon’s guest arrived, Chen got to work, exiting the tavern to conjure his illusion. A minute had passed and door swung open once again, a hooded figure entering and occupying one of the empty tables. Leon’s table looked up when the door squeaked and paid it little mind. Chen followed it quickly, returning to the table party occupied and there was routine settling, Chen illusion mostly still or with some soft movement, preserving the mana of the Illusionist.
Stolen from Royal Road, this story should be reported if encountered on Amazon.
After some amount of time had passed, Lucas stood up to complete his part. He started moving towards the door and passing by the illusion, he tripped, spilling the drink all over. The illusion bent over, allowing Chen time to modify it, simulating the hood drop. After some mumbled excuses and content at attention he got, Lucas continued to the door, leaving it open behind him. As he went away from the tavern, step by step, he heard some commotion from the tavern and soon Chen’s illusion run past him, dissolving in thin air five or so steps away and not a moment later as Leon’s guests came running immediately, one of them stopping to ask Lucas if he had seen a man run past him. He nodded and and explained how he quickly climbed one of the roofs after going past him and jumping on the other side.
“It looks like our gambit was successful” Lucas thought to himself as the group returned to the tavern, disappointed their mark escaped them. The rest of his party joined him after five minutes had passed, carrying the news their little ploy was complete success, as Leon herself put it. She was now assuring her guests she will get to the bottom of this, having to make up some reason to delay it. Leaving her to her devices, trusting that she will buy them enough time to spread doubt in the Adventurer’s guild headquarters, former prison of Hangman’s row. Lucas and his party started running on familiar path, making their way towards the castle that was placed somewhere away from the city. They passed the site where once upon a time they attacked the camp of the General’s unit, baiting them into attack before routing them completely. Field that was surrounding the castle had more people now then back then when it served as a prison and the party was forced to slow down a bit, trying to avoid attention.
Arriving at the courtyard walls, Chen conjured another illusion of Rosenborg’s murdered lackey, making him walk towards the corner on the opposite side from them. He wasn’t noticed by many people, but those who did recognized and started relying the information to whomever they happened to be with.
“Slow down a bit” Lucas told Chen after fifth illusion managed to dodge closer inspection by rounding the corner and disappearing into thin air, Illusionist taking full advantage of maze – like architecture of the castle. Their ploy was causing quite a stir by now, at every new place they moved, seemingly everybody talking about the sightings and new developments. They spotted some of the man Lucas recognized from that night in the tavern scouring the halls, looking for the culprit behind the commotion. They even spotted Rosenborg himself, surrounded by at least five people who were inquiring about the sightings. The whole atmosphere was tense, forcing the party to be even more careful.
“I have mana for one more and then I will need a refill” Chen said.
“What if we have him scaling the wall?” Margaret suggested. She was having so much fun with this ploy and Lucas got a feeling she was reluctant to end it.
“No, it would be better if we manifest it in front of Rosenborg, so he cannot deny it anymore” Maggie said. Lucas almost agreed with her automatically like every time he heard her voice speaking, before recollecting himself and taking time to think about it. Rosenborg was clearly suspecting something, positioning himself in vast area with no immediate extraction routes. Other option was to conjure an illusion of the man scaling the wall and retreating into wilderness, allowing themselves time to withdrew themselves. Or they could just wait for Rose to come by, reducing the chance to be caught red – handed.
“I think it’s time to wait. We did what we could and I suspect Leon will not be able to delay much longer and hopefully word of new sightings had already reached her. Let us exit so we can enter again when the time comes” Lucas decided. He just gave additional instruction to Ted to run to Bruce, where he hoped he would find Goldilocks, to warn them to prepare their weapon seller as a witness. Ted nodded and as soon as they vacated the premises of the castle, he was already running to his destination. He was lighting fast, only person who could almost Lucas’s speed and that was with Lucas’s passive skill that increased his speed with every step. As soon as they were a safe distance away from the castle, almost back to the town proper, a cloaked figure appeared next to Lucas.
“The boss got your message and will deliver on it. Also, Leon woman is on her way to the guild headquarters, presumably to confront Rosenborg. Be ready, endgame approaches” a masculine voice whispered in his ear before the figure turning the other way and soon disappearing from view.
“We did it, everything is going according to plan. We will soon be needed again” he said as they went towards the central plaza, trying to make themselves as visible as they could possibly could.