The newly arrived strangers gathered many looks in the tavern. The miners shamelessly stared at them in silence.

Nez was a little more discreet.

The big figure led the way. The other two followed suit, one of which held a long staff that ended with a crescent moon shaped edge.

Was it a mage? That was rare in that part of Yronburg.

When the three figures got close to the counter, they suddenly stopped. Beneath the hoods, their gazes were fixed on Nez.

He could clearly imagine their shocked expression in seeing his bright yellow eyes and slit pupils.

Catching on quickly, Dhana the bartender put her hands on the counter. “Don't worry about him, fellas. That's a well behaved Devil Touched. He won't bite”.

“Not in public” Nez said jokingly after knocking back a sip of cider, exposing his pointy canine teeth.

Feeling the increasing concern in the three figures, he quickly added: “I was kidding”.

People had no sense of humor.

The one with the mage staff sat down at the counter first, followed by the other small one. The big figure remained behind them like a bodyguard, vigilant to their surroundings.

They were a very interesting bunch... Nez was growing more curious by the second.

“You are new to Yronburg” he said without turning towards them.

The closest cloaked figure replied with a female voice. “What makes you say that?”.

Nez started to trace the rim of his cup with a finger. “I never saw nor heard of you. Plus, anyone who's at least a little acquainted with this side of the city would know better than to walk around with the kind of attire you're badly hiding”.

In that brief time, Nez could see enough stuff on them that could fetch a small fortune. Nice clothes, a heavy suit of armor, the mage staff, a fancy rapier, a couple of jewels...

Surely he wasn't the only one who had noticed.

“It's dangerous to thread on an unknown territory so carelessly... Especially when you look like you want to hide something”.

He was met with a few moments of silence, then the one who spoke lowered her hood to reveal a redheaded young face with a braid and a golden circlet.

“We aren't really hiding” she said unconvincingly.

The big figure behind her took a step closer. “Be careful, my lady”

But the girl shut him up. “It's fine, Bortheus. We weren't fooling anyone, anyway”.

Almost against his will, the big guy conceded and also lowered his hood. He was a young man, with blonde hair shorter to the sides and deep blue eyes. Judging by the bulky armor, he must have been quite muscular.

The second minute figure sighed with hesitation, also a female. “I hope you are right, Delilah”. She revealed a pair of round glasses on her nose, behind of which were a pair of pink eyes. Her bobbed hair was the same color.

Nez almost chocked on his drink. He was looking at an animated doll. That was even rarer than a mage... and she also was one, apparently.

But the initial surprise went away pretty fast, and he didn't feel like staring or prying about the subject. He knew better than to fixate on one's aspect.

“We don't usually get people as colorful as you around here” said Nez with his usual placid demeanor. “Must be a special occasion”.

Bortheus towered over him. “Mind your business, Devil Touched”.

Unfazed, Nez kept drinking. “I have a name”.

Before Bortheus could speak again, Delilah intervened. “And what is your name?”.

That was the first time Nez was asked in a long while. Usually people didn't care, and Delilah's tone seemed civil.

“Nez” he replied.

The pink haired girl pushed her glasses up her nose. “That is mostly uncommon” said softly, almost like she was afraid to speak but couldn't stop herself. “Devil Touched are given devil names”.

“It's short for Nezefaril” explained Nez. “But it doesn't roll off the tongue really well, so...”.

“Oh”. The mage seemed embarrassed. “I should have guessed... It's obvious”.

Delilah let out a warm smile. “Forgive my friend. Sometimes she focuses on the details without seeing what's right in front of her”.

The mage bowed slightly. “My name is Project Heir 153 Novice Automaton, code PH153NA” she introduced herself. “But people call me Phisena”.

Nez couldn't help but go wide eyed.

And I thought my name was weird.

“Phisena will do” he said, already forgetting her full designation. Her creator must have been a real weirdo.

Although... now that he thought about it, automated dolls stayed mostly with their creators or masters.

Phisena, on the other hand, seemed to act independently and less rigidly. Also, Delilah and Bortheus didn't strike as the type to create an animated doll.

“I'm Delilah” said the redhead, courteously. “And this is Bortheus” she pointed at the armored guy, who was looking at Nez inquisitively.

“Did anyone ever tell you that you have amazing skin?” Dhana interrupted them, examining Delilah's face with intensity. “It looks so smooth...”.

Nez cleared his throat to hide his laughter. “Only you could care about that when a Devil Touched and an artificial human are sitting at your counter”.

“I thought it would be rude to talk about it” Dhana defended herself.

Delilah gave Nez a deep look, like she was examining his soul. “I never heard of such an easygoing and jovial Devil Touched”.

Nez raised an eyebrow. “It's the best way to hide my suffering” he said sarcastically. “If you want the scary me, you should see me when I'm working”. This time he was only half joking.

For some reason Phisena was looking at him with a serious intent, as if she was taking part to a lecture.

“And on the topic of work” Nez continued smoothly. “I believe you could use my assistance”.

Bortheus inhaled sharply. “Oh, do we?”.

Nez nodded with decision. “Of course. Just tell me why you're here and what you're looking for”.

“He can get find whatever or whoever you need” Dhana backed him up. “And you can expect the maximum discretion”.

She was the best bartender in the entire world.

Delilah, who seemed to be the leader of the group, didn't seem completely convinced yet. “Why should we confide in a stranger?”.

If you come across this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it.

That was a very legitimate question.

“Because I'm the best in what I do... and I can offer you dinner” Nez replied placing the whole pouch of coins he earned earlier.

It was both a gesture of good will, and an investment. Those three were loaded, it was clear as day, so chances were that Nez could gain much more than a bunch of silver coins.

“I do not require sustenance” Phisena interjected. She pushed her glasses up her nose once again. “You have no need to spend your money for me”.

“Noted”. Nez turned to the other two. “What about you?”.

Delilah replied with a smile. “We gladly accept”.

“My lady...” Bortheus cautioned her.

But Delilah seemed to have made up her mind.

They all sat down at a table and ate together.

To be able to fit on a chair, Bortheus had to set down the two shields he was carrying on his back.

Never mind the astonishment Nez felt when he saw he was carrying not one, but two of them... He couldn't help but noticed the man took care into not showing the front of the shields.

Very curious.

“I won't get into the details” Delilah began to explain. “But we need a cart and supplies for a long trip”.

Nez didn't think it was that weird of a request.

“The lowest the cost, the better”. Delilah swallowed a piece of roasted potato. “And we don't want any question from the seller... And the purchase must not lead back to us”.

Ah, now we are talking.

“In short, you want to deal with the black market” Nez summed up.

“Shut up, you idiot!” Bortheus said angrily, his eyes darting all around to the other tavern clients. “Do you want to alert the entire town?”.

Nez gave him an entertained look. “Do you think anyone in here care about a shady deal?”.

Unbelievable... Where did they think they were?

“This are the slums” Nez reminded him. “The average dweller would be weirded out if you tried to look for something legit”.

As to prove his words, nobody in the tavern batted an eye.

Phisena carefully examined her surroundings. “I think he's right”.

Nez clicked his tongue and leaned back against the chair. “So, now that we established what you need we can talk about my rates”.

Before they could do that, however, the tavern door swung open and a bunch of guys with ugly mugs walked in, all armed. One of them even had the same kind of rifle some guards used.

The last one to enter was actually a notorious face around those parts, which meant nothing good.

He had a big scar on his cheek, and a heavy looking hammer on his belt.

“Oh great” Nez said under his breath. “That's Ulfric, the boss of the local smuggling gang” he explained to his new acquaintances.

Something told him Ulfric was looking for them...

“Those are the three little mice I've been told about!” Ulfric explained with a wide grin, pointing at Delilah and her companions.

Nez covered his face with the palm of his hand. “Just stay calm and don't make a scene” he said to the group in front of him.

Ulfric, along with the eight thug he brought with him, circled their table like a school of sharks. Most of the other patrons left the tavern in a hurry.

“It was impolite of you, not to come and say hello”. Ulfric crossed his bulging arms. “Esteemed visitors like yourselves should be welcomed the proper way”.

Delilah's expression changed, becoming much sterner. “What's impolite, is barging in on a conversation” she admonished him with a surprisingly intense voice.

“I'm sure we can...” said Ulfric, but couldn't finish his sentence.

“State your business” Delilah commanded.

Ulfric and his gang were taken aback by the power of her voice.

The boss turned to Nez and dropped the amicable act. “I know you... Nez, am I right?”.

“The one and only”.

“You always acted smart and never tried to chew more than you can swallow” Ulric told him. “I like someone who knows their place”.

Nez's eyes went narrow. “We have a sweet talker, here” said with excitement.

“I have a proposal”. Ulfric pierced him with a mean stare. “How about you handle these three and make me a good sum, and I take you in?”.

He couldn't have made a worst deal. Not only it meant Nez wouldn't get paid nearly as much... if at all... but the prospect of working for that bonehead sent shivers down his spine.

Turning more towards the mob boss, Nez placed his elbow on the table. The other arm was low and out of sight, ready to use his secret weapon. “So, I do you a favor and in return you put a leash on me?” he asked tapping his lower lip with his index finger, a mischievous look on his face. “Not the best offer I got”.

The corner of Ulfric's mouth twitched. “I don't think you realize the gravity of your situation”.

“Oh, I do. Believe me” Nez reassured him with a bright look on his face. “It's that between being your lap dog and talking business with these three over the dinner I paid...”.

Ulfric slammed his fists on the table. “I don't give a rat's ass about That.” he replied, having lost his patience.

Nez squinted even harder. “How about you go squeeze money from someone else?” he proposed. “I'd hate to make a mess in here”.

Ulfric gritted his teeth so much they almost cracked. “You don't scare me, Devil Touched”.

We'll see about that.

“Sorry, Dhana” Nez said to the poor bartender shaking behind the counter. “I tried”.

“I know” she replied, resigned to the inevitable.

Ulfrick grasped his hammer.

“That's enough!”. Bortheus stood up and quickly donned a shield on each arm, finally revealing the raven emblem on them. “I will not allow you to bother my lady any longer”. His blue and silver armor was also exposed now, showing the same emblem on the chest.

Nez looked at the scene with amusement. It's gonna be fun.

He just needed to wait for the right moment...

“Wanna play the hero?” Ulfric asked, shaken by a profound laughter. “Are you protecting your girlfriend?”.

Both Delilah and Bortheus went bright red.

She also stood up and unsheathed her rapier, which was finely crafted. “You are crossing the line”.

In a more silent and timid manner, Phisena prepared for battle by holding her staff. She looked worried.

They both had dropped their cloaks by this point. Delilah was wearing a high quality red and white outfit kept tight with a sash, and a pair of comfortable trousers.

Phisena had simpler gray clothes with light blue shades and ample sleeves, more befitting of a mage. Still, all expensive stuff.

Nez didn't move an inch.

“The mice have claws!” Ulfric yelled mockingly.

“Ahem”. Nez got everybody's attention by clearing his throat. “You seem to have a full plate on your hands. Do you mind if I step out for a couple of minutes and come back once everything is settled?”.

Delilah gasped, looking at him with an accusatory expression. “You would leave us to fend for ourselves?”.

“You hired me to find contraband goods” Nez reminded her. “Not to be your bodyguard. Plus, you seem to be doing fine in that department” he added pointing at Bortheus, who looked like a solid wall of steel.

“You keep your ass on that chair, boy” Ulfric barked at him. “I'm done tolerating your presence in my district”.

Like you're the owner of the entire slums...

Nez shifted his finger from Bortheus to Ulfric. “However” he said, still talking to Delilah. “If I were to be personally threatened...”.

Without adding a single word, he clutched his secret weapon and raised his arm in a flash. He was holding a flintlock handgun, pointed right at the thug with the rifle.

He pressed the trigger and a bullet flew right at the thug's shoulder, making it impossible for him to take aim with that heavy weapon of his.

Taking advantage of the element of surprise Bortheus charged at two other of Ulric's underlings and sent them flying across the room across the room, while Delilah crossed blades with a third one who was wielding a short sword.

Before Ulfric could brandish his hammer, Nez jumped at him at pushed him to the ground. He placed his dagger at his throat, staring right in his eyes with a blank face. “What if I have been tolerating you this entire time, instead?”.

Now Ulfric looked afraid. “Do something, you incompetent idiots!” he yelled at the four men who weren't injured or engaging in a fight.

They approached Nez with knives in their hands, but Phisena tapped her staff on the ground and said: “Lapis”.

A floating small rock formed right in front of her and immediately flew at an incredibly high speed at one of the men, hitting him in the chest and knocking him unconscious.

“I must examine that firearm, so leave him alone”.

The other three hesitated long enough for Nez to lift Ulfric and hold the dagger to his throat. “I don't think you are ready to be unemployed” he said with a grin. “Great assist, by the way” he added, nodding at Phisena.

That was a very helpful trick.

The three henchmen in front of him, with the one that was fighting with Delilah and the one that got shot by Nez, stopped looked at each other with uncertainty.

“Would you do me a solid and tell your men to back down?” Nez asked politely to his captive.

Ulfric growled in anger. “Do as he said” he ordered, carefully moving his head. “You're dead, Devil Touched” he whispered to Nez.

“It's not the first time somebody told me”. Nez dragged him towards the entrance. “Hey, big guy” he called to Bortheus. “Catch!”.

Nez pushed Ulfric towards Bortheus, who bashed the mob boss with a shield right across the chin.

Ulfric fell to the floor, blacked out.

“Time to go”. Nez got out on the street, followed by the rest of the group.

As they fled, he could hear the thug's voices coming from the inside of the tavern.

“Boss, are you alright?”.

“Wake up, boss”.

“What the hell even happened?”.

“Let's call the others”.

After a couple of blocks, Nez slowed down. “You attracted the eyes of a lot of people, this evening” said to the three outsiders. He particularly peered at Bortheus and his conspicuous armor. “Mind telling me a little bit more?”.

“It's better if you don't know anything, for your sake” Delilah replied. She seemed to believe that.

Nez sighed. “Well, I know that that is the Kingdom of Enerya's royal family crest” he let her know pointing at the symbol bore by Bortheus.

The last time he saw it was a long while ago, but it would have been impossible not to recognize it.

“And if I'm not mistaken” he continued. “That is a royal knight's armor”.

It was very peculiar to find some of the Kingdom's citizens in the Temenin Alliance of independent cities, especially while their land was plagued by a storm elemental and no one was allowed to cross the borders.

Nobody, not the Temenin Alliance nor the Salisgor Republic, wanted to welcome refugees or get involved in a mess of huge proportions like that one.

The Temenin Alliance never took interest in foreign affairs, and the Salisgor republic claimed they didn't have the resources to spare.

The three exchanged worried looks.

“Relax” Nez reassured them. “I'm not gonna inform the authorities. They wouldn't believe me anyway”.

“You're okay with helping clandestine wanderers?” asked Delilah in disbelief.

Nez smiled playfully. “I am when those wanderers hired me for a job”. He raised his arms to his sides. “Who's gonna pay me if you end up in prison?”.

Phisena timidly stepped forward and tugged at Delilah's sleeve. “I think we can trust him”.

“You say it only because you wan to look at that gun of his” Bortheus grumbled.

Delilah went deep in thought, her gaze fixed on Nez. “Okay” she said after a long silence. “We need all the help we can get. Bring us to a safe place, and we'll tell you more”.

Nez's grin widened, showing his pointy teeth in their fullest. “It's a deal”.