The man behind the counter smiles as I walk in, greeting me. I don't recognize him, however, as a cheery voice welcomes me. He is quite odd and mechanical in his facial features. It weirds me out, and I push Ether into my eyes for Deadeye's Gaze just to make sure I don't miss anything. Anton is very careful with his work, and there is something up with this clerk.

"Hello there, sir? Would you like to look around? Or do you have something in mind?"

I glance around the store to find shelves full of oddities. From dolls to actual bullet casings, there are just so many things here that it overwhelmed my mind. But as the man asks if I have something in mind, I catch a glimpse of Ether through a hole in the counter that the man stands behind.

It's impossible to tell what he's doing, but it instantly puts me on alert. My hand goes to my hip as I walk around the store. I tell the man something that Anton used to use as an identifier for customers. I can only hope it still works.

"I'm here for a pocket of sunshine. Just a little bit of relaxation, y'know? The swamps can be quite dreary."

A pause ensues awkwardly as I speak aloud, but after a few seconds, a voice from the back reaches out with a mild muffle and echo.

"Come through the counter into the back, Johnny. I'd recognize that voice anywhere."

I walk back to the counter and nod at the clerk at the surprising voice. It's Anton's. It does sound a bit gruffer than I'm used to, even for him. But as I nod at the clerk, the man just mechanically smiles at me. It feels odd, and as I lift the portion of the counter that lets me past, I see why.

The man isn't a man. It's a Pygmy creation. One of their Mannequins. They use these creations of Ether to look and roughly act like people to draw Hunters or civilians out at night and to kill or capture them. I can only tell by looking and not by breaking it open because it is already cracked open. The entire bottom half of the creation is destroyed, with Ether constantly leaking out from the bottom into the outside world.

That's why I saw the Ether behind the counter.

I shake off my confusion but keep my caution. My hand never leaves Downpour as I step through the door into the back of the store. When I do, Anton, sitting on a chair behind a broad table, greets me much like the Mannequin. The bear-like man, however, has much more emotion despite being threatening in nature. He speaks fast yet understandable as he runs through his sentences like an auctioneer.

"Ah! Johnny! It's been so long, pardner'. How you been? What you need? You look rough; do you need a place to stay? A drink?"

I wave him off and sit across from him in the open chair in the small back room of his that is just filled with boxes and organized paper as he rails at me with questions. I look deeply at Anton with Deadeye's Gaze to make sure that he's not a Mannequin or anything, just in case, and I notice several more scars than he used to have. It's been rough for us both, it seems.

"Hasn't been easy, I'll tell you what, Anton. But what's up with that Mannequin out front?"

Anton laughs as he shakes the whole room with his mass of muscle and fat intertwined just as a grizzly is. He puts a meaty hand on the table as he tells me a short story.

"I got a deal to investigate the Pygmies on their way to Vallens a few months ago from Kai, and he let me keep one of the Mannequins that I acquired. There were dozens that we captured from a roaming lot that we attacked and interrogated for information. Kai had a Craftsman that could work with their Ether a tad to change them, and the man was able to even make one of them snitch. Douglas out there was the least damaged one, so I figured I'd save on labor costs, y'know?"

Hearing his story, my caution drops a bit, but it spikes as another part of my mind thinks of something. He doesn't work with Pillars or any kind of government at all. What's he doing working for Kai?

"How come you got a job with Kai? I thought you stuck with lower-level people?"

Anton wipes a bit of the table off from the papers as he shrugs. Then he looks at me with a smile as ink drips from his finger onto the paper right in front of him, turning into words as he speaks. I can't read upside down quickly, so I just focus on what he's saying.

"I had a bit of a change. I stuck low before because I was unconfident in keeping it confidential. If a powerful person can walk in and threaten my life for information, I'm not a very good informant, aye? But now, I have a Sigil, just as you do, my friend. Though, I do believe you outdid me a bit ago if my information is up to date."

I nod at him but am surprised. It's been almost five years since we last met, but he was a 3rd Sigil back then. I assume he means he is a 5th Sigil by his words. The jump is quite impressive. I clear my throat before asking the true question of why I'm here. I don't mind catching up, but Anton isn't one whom I'd be willing to tell everything with. He's not someone like Sacate who'd I trust my life with. He's just an old acquaintance. That, and if I spend too much time here, I'm just as likely to be found by someone else who will let Kai know I'm here. I doubt he'd rat me out, for if he did, he'd be a shitty confidant.

But the point stands. I can't let Kai know I'm here under any circumstances other than one where I save his life. Only then would he likely let me go alive. I have a bounty, and to the Pillars, I am no different than the Myriad in the east who leads the Resistance.

My words are a bit rough, and my throat is parched from the marathon here, but that's life. I keep the information on my own strength unclear to be safe. Information always goes both ways.

"I may have. It's nice to see you again, Anton, but I need something. I'm hunting down a creature nearby, and it specializes in the mental. Likely a powerful Mentalist or something intertwined with that Sigil. Do you think you could help me find them?"

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Anton nods at my words and asks me some questions for more clarification. He can't find a creature he knows nothing about after all.

"And what's the general strength? Is it antagonistic, or will it only attack what attacks it? Is it humanoid or bestial? Demonic? And what's the payment? If you're here looking for me with your situation, this means it's a big deal. A very big one."

I reach down carefully and slowly to not alert him, he is quite skittish after all, and I then very slowly pull out Downpour and place it on the table with the cylinder out. I unload the six Beast-killing rounds in it and put them in my pocket. The Colt has served me well for many years, but I need an upgrade, and there is nothing else I can pay with. My word is not enough in this business. Collateral is needed, at the very least.

His eyes go completely wide at my demonstration as he whispers under his breath.

"Hot damn. That serious? You're givin' her up?"

I nod solemnly. Downpour has been with me for over a decade. The 5th Sigil Colt has been incredible. The unlimited rounds that it produces using Ether and its durability have kept me alive through so much. Any other Colt would have been nigh useless in the Underworld or the Wilds, where bullets are few and worth more than some lives. I'll miss her.

"This job I have for you is more important than her or me, Anton. The creature is strong, very strong, but it is not that dangerous from what I've heard. It only fights what attacks it. Though, some people might have gaps in memory or hallucinations while near it. The people you send to find this creature cannot fail and have to be fast. Do you understand?"

I leave out Aniwye's name, race, and true strength. Panic will ensue if they know, but I keep the seriousness at an all-time high. Earl better gets that damn Coltsmith. That, or that Vault of Edmund's, better have a Colt for me.

Anton writes everything I say down with ink that drips from his fingers. He must be some kind of Scholar or something with that odd ability. Other Sigils combined could be something like Shaman, Rogue, or Nightowl, but it's unclear. One thing I am sure of, though, is that ink is not limited to writing. Few Sigil skills I've ever heard of are that limited in scope. And if they are, then they are powerful.

After he finishes, he looks up at me and gingerly takes Downpour, leaving me feeling naked without my Colt. I have a backup, but only six bullets to go with it, not counting the ones in it already. It's also just a normal revolver. I gave out all the other artifacts before the fight in Rustbank. The ones left behind by the dead went to their friends and family. They were no longer mine once I gave them out.

Anton then looks at me as he puts the papers away. A sly smile comes upon his face after he tells me he's going to work on my case right away.

"Okay. I'll put this one at the highest priority and get on it immediately. Let me know where you will be the next day or so, so I can inform you of progress. But say, do you have anything juicy for me? I know you've been busy lately, and I'll pay for it handsomely. Heard you fought Darkstep? Any news on her strength? Some would like to know how she's aging."

The discussion in the Underworld comes to mind about Darkstep as a sly smile stretches onto my face as well. Shit is about to hit the fan anyway, right? If Aniwye truly ends up winning against Kai, then the frontier and the Territories will be in so much chaos. Perhaps Darkstep will be unable to even attack us at all after I rat her out. That's not a guarantee, but it's possible. I'm willing to take the gamble. I am going to stay quiet about all the things in the Underworld, though. The world does not need to know how bad it is.

"I do, actually. You know how Darkstep was chasing after me?"

Anton nods. Of course, he knows; I was just making sure, I suppose. I continue after his confirmation.

"She is not human. She is a Nahullo undercover."

Anton's eyebrows raise enough that I can see his full eyeball. His expression shows the same level of surprise that I had when I first found out during our fight. He recovers after a moment, though, and asks for proof. He won't believe me just from word of mouth. He has to make sure. Even if he can read lies and determine the truth, there are always exceptions to powers. Especially something as important as this.

"Let's say that what you say is true. That one of the five strongest non-Angels in the Territories is an imposter. Even if it might make sense to someone like me, do you have any proof? Or is this just the word of an Outlaw? A rebel?"

I grow a bit exasperated. I figured this may happen, but I thought my word might be enough. Apparently not. My reputation is not strong enough. I'll try anyway.

"C'mon. Anton. Would I lie about this?"

Anton scratches his full beard as he thinks. The man seems to believe me but still wants proof. Fair.

"No. No, you wouldn't. But that doesn't matter. Few know that, and only a few more would believe it. No proof at all? Not even circumstantial? She has plenty of enemies. If you can give me reason enough, it will be worth a lot to them for an investigation. Lennon Hull from Qune has been on her ass for years. Too many have challenged his pride as the strongest Forerunner by saying it's Darkstep instead. Especially lately. And you know how that man hates when his achievements are challenged."

The large man squints his eyes at me as he gives me a bit more motivation for some kind of evidence. He's quite excited for this to be true.

"You know full well what the Diabolic would do if his opponent had even a chance of this being true. He'd rip her apart by the very seams. Nothing? No proof at all?"

I think for a moment, but I can only come up with one thing. And it's not really even foolproof. But to say it, I have to pull out a card. One of two aces. And the first is comatose right now. Is it worth it? I trust Anton, but there is a high chance that he will talk about something this important if pressed.

She's been relentless after me, coming with more and more every time. We only got away from the most recent attack because of my Golden Eyes and the environment of Sinscreak itself. If I can somehow slow her down, then it would be worth it, right? She must know I have an Absolution even if she doesn't know its nature.

Hmm. Revealing my strength for safety or hiding it for later?

Are there greater threats out there than Darkstep? Yeah. But they aren't after me. She is because it's both her mission and now likely her personal mission, due to my knowledge. But at the same time, what Otto said is true. Even if the information is leaked, she may still attack us.

So, it's not worth it to reveal Golden Eyes. That means I have to explain why she ran away without it. Without lying, as Anton can see through lies. Selective dissemination it is.

"I have something, I guess. When we fought, I was able to find out that she was a Nahullo without her knowledge of how or when. From this, when backed into a corner against her, I lied and said that if I were to die, I had people that were to disperse the knowledge that she was a Nahullo. Because of this, she ran away and left me alone, even to the point of letting some of those she brought with her perish."

Anton's eyes squint further at me as if he's studying the truthfulness of my statement. He is skeptical of my statement.

"And how exactly did you figure this out?"

I brush off the question, trying to keep the secret to myself after thinking it through. Telling him would make it easier, but it would also make the consequences far worse. Should Darkstep ever figure out exactly what my Absolution does, I am dead.

"That doesn't matter. What does is the sequence of events. The woman is known for her ruthlessness. I mean, we all know she leads the Estates' Damned in training and raising. Why else would Darkstep retreat from a guaranteed successful kill on me? Let's be honest here. She will kill me, no matter how we fight in a duel. Only if something so integral to her very life was challenged would she be willing to retreat, and would I survive."

Anton finally nods back at me, relenting on the facts. As he clears his throat, he flows some ink from his fingertips onto the paper below him.

"That… is a convincing argument... but only to me. But! I will take it. I know you wouldn't lie about this, and you've given me enough to wager on. I'll find a time to meet with Lennon soon, but it will have to wait until after this job you gave me, okay?"

A weight is pushed off of my shoulders the second he agrees. Getting Darkstep off of my ass is game-changing. Without her threat, we can focus on gathering supplies and preparing for the coming war. From there, we can try and either make changes to how things are run or simply wait it out to die and then rebuild it all.

I stand up and shake Anton's hand. He needs to get to work, and he can't do so while I'm here. I also need to stock up on some ammo and medical supplies. Carnal Hiern has to have a doctor, right?

"Thank you, Anton. I appreciate it. Truly."

He stands up and leads me out of the backroom past the Mannequin in the front.

"No problem, Johnny. Oh, and should Lennon pay a lot for that information, remember, I give fifty percent to the informant. You just have to be alive to receive it, okay?"

I laugh and walk out as I wave to him. It's his way of wishing me good luck.

"I gotcha, Anton. Don't worry, I will collect that money. I'm going to be around Kai's treehouse, so send people to look for me there."

And once I step out, I go looking for a doctor and a general store before going to search around Kai's place. I can't just leave Anton's men to look for me, but things are needed. Everyone needs more medical supplies and ammo when they get here. Might as well get some, right? Only one problem. I'm completely out of money.