Paxton drifted in and out of consciousness, aware only of the rough fabric of a sack against his skull and the sensation of being dragged along uneven ground. Time blurred, minutes or hours passing without distinction until finally, the movement ceased. Muffled voices filtered through the burlap, growing clearer as his senses sharpened.

"Boss, this little snoop's been asking questions all over town," a melodious female voice said. "Don't know who sent him, but I figured we should interrogate him ourselves."

The sack was yanked open, flooding Paxton's vision with dim light. As his eye sockets adjusted, he found himself staring up at a bearded man with piercing eyes. Beside him stood the kindly old woman who had lured Paxton into this trap.

What happened next defied belief. The elderly woman stretched languorously, her body elongating and filling out. Wrinkles smoothed away, revealing youthful skin. Gray hair blazed to vibrant red. In moments, a curvaceous young woman stood where the crone had been, her tattered disguise barely containing an hourglass figure clad in revealing leather.

"Ugh, I hate that form," the transformed woman complained, running fingers through her fiery locks. "Next time, can't I be someone sexier?"

The bearded man's brow furrowed. "Fiona, enough."

Fiona sidled up to him, pressing close. "Don't be such a grump, Boss Matt," she purred. "We've been cooped up here forever. How about we have some fun?"

Matt gently but firmly pushed her away. "Have Karl and Baron reported back yet?"

Fiona's playful demeanor vanished. "Nothing for two days now. I'm worried they've run into trouble..."

"Hey, bag-bones!" Fiona suddenly called out. "I know you're awake in there. Get over here."

Paxton struggled to his feet, taking in the scene. Both Matt and Fiona bore black scorpion tattoos—members of the infamous Black Scorpion Thieves' Guild. Fiona exuded dangerous allure, while Matt's imposing stature and hawk-like gaze promised swift violence.

"Alright, alright," Paxton said, breaking the tense silence. "I overheard you talking, but I swear I'm not a spy. I'm just trying to help a friend. She owns a clothing shop, and a really valuable wedding dress went missing. I was wondering if maybe, by some chance, you might have... acquired it through your, uh, professional means?"

"We stole it," Fiona interrupted bluntly.

Paxton blinked. "Oh. Well... any chance you'd be willing to return it? My friend would pay generously—"

"Not happening," Fiona cut him off again. "We have a client, and we honor our contracts."

Paxton's mind raced, searching for an angle. Before he could speak, Fiona turned to Matt. "Let's toss this sack of bones in the underground river. The shadow sharks could use a snack."

"Wait!" Paxton blurted. "I can help save your friends!"

Fiona scoffed. "Shut it, you—"

Matt raised a hand, silencing her. He fixed Paxton with an intense stare. "You know what happened to our comrades?"

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Paxton met his gaze steadily. "They're being held prisoner in the palace dungeons."

Shock flashed across both thieves' faces. Paxton inwardly rejoiced—not at any investigative brilliance, but because his quest system had just updated. The second phase of his "Master Claudia's Shadow Bridal Gown" mission now read: "Rescue Karl and Baron of the Black Scorpion Thieves' Guild from the palace dungeons. Escort all guild members safely out of the palace. Reward: Unknown."

Matt's expression hardened. "Our people were indeed on a reconnaissance mission at the palace when they vanished. I don't know how you came by this information, but if you can truly help us rescue them, I swear by the Sun Goddess herself that you'll be richly rewarded."

Paxton scratched his bony head. "About that reward... any chance it could be the wedding dress?"

Fiona's boot connected with Paxton's ribcage, sending him sprawling. She grabbed Matt's arm. "Boss, forget this clown. Now that we know where they are, let's go get our own."

"Hold on!" Paxton called after them. "How about this? The dress is yours fair and square now, I get that. But it means the world to my friend. If I help rescue your buddies, lend me the dress for ten minutes. I'll sketch the design right in front of you so my friend can recreate it. No tricks, I promise."

Fiona opened her mouth to object, but Matt was already striding back. He clapped a meaty hand on Paxton's shoulder. "Deal."

Paxton's quest log chimed: "Master Claudia's Shadow Bridal Gown - Phase Two: Rescue the Black Scorpion Thieves. Save Karl and Baron from the palace dungeons. Ensure all guild members escape alive. Reward: Temporary possession of 'Shadow Master Claudia's Shadow Bridal Gown - Masterwork Quality' for 10 minutes before Phase Three begins."

"Perfect," Paxton thought. "One minute to watch an ad and duplicate an exact magical replica? More than enough."

As they discussed the mission, Matt revealed more details. A wealthy, anonymous client had hired the Black Scorpions for two tasks: steal Master Claudia's Shadow Bridal Gown and gather intelligence on Princess Merida. The client hadn't specified what information they wanted—just to collect as much as possible.

Matt's tone softened as he spoke of his guild. "The four of us grew up in the same orphanage," he explained. "We learned the art of thievery together, formed the Black Scorpions, and clawed our way to the top."

Fiona chimed in, a rare warmth in her voice. "Matt took me in when I was just a scrawny pickpocket. Taught me shapeshifting, made me feel like I belonged somewhere."

"Fiona's grown to be our master of disguise," Matt smiled. "Give her five minutes and the right materials, she can become anyone. Baron was our muscle, but he had a heart of gold - once stole a whole cart of apples just to feed the street kids. And Karl? Never met a lock he couldn't pick or a trap he couldn't disarm."

Paxton nodded, beginning to understand the fierce loyalty that bound this makeshift family. "So, how were you planning to infiltrate the palace originally?"

Matt outlined their strategy, and Paxton suggested they stick to it—himself included. He explained that once they were within a thousand meters of Karl and Baron's location, he had a means of pinpointing them precisely. Until then, they'd need to rely on their original intel.

To Paxton's surprise, neither Matt nor Fiona questioned his claim or seemed overly concerned about the danger. Their focus was singular: rescuing their companions, no matter the cost.

As they neared the underground city's heart, Paxton's expectations of a modest subterranean keep were shattered. Before them rose a palace of impossible grandeur, its soaring spires and graceful arches defying the very notion of what could exist beneath the earth.

Crystalline walls glowed with an inner phosphorescence, bathing the cavern in ethereal light. Bridges of living stone spanned phosphorescent rivers, their waters teeming with bioluminescent fish. Ornate carvings adorned every surface, telling the story of the underground realm's history in intricate detail.

Paxton gaped at the sheer scale of it all. The palace seemed to defy the laws of physics, its impossible architecture a testament to the power of magic in this world. For a moment, the enormity of their task threatened to overwhelm him.

Matt's gruff voice snapped him back to reality. "Over here," he hissed, gesturing to a shadowy alcove. "This is our way in."

Paxton's spirits sank as he beheld the narrow, twisting tunnel. Memories of his first subterranean crawl flooded back—the claustrophobia, the discomfort, the utter darkness. But there was no other choice. Steeling himself, he followed Matt and Fiona into the passage.