You slid into the seat across from the coated foreigner with the casual ease of someone who has nothing to offer, and thus nothing to lose. He was younger than you thought from afar, young enough that he could pass for a student fresh out of his hometown. Why 'could pass', and not was? It was in how he carried himself. He wasn't curious, didn't explore the town through his eyes like a natural academic. He also lacked the age lines and gray hair of an older bureaucrat looking for additional accolades to climb the political ladder. No, this large-eyed, soft-faced boy was at the Academy for a very specific reason. And you were pretty sure it was nothing upright and honest.
"Good view?" You ask him, nodding towards the soldier who's back his eyes are burned into.
He ignores you, which was really just as expected. But he wouldn't have left his room just to brood. You lean into his face, obscuring his view of the veteran, and he scowls at you.
"You know, if you stare that intently, you'll send the wrong message," You inform him liltingly.
He scoffs, rising for the bait. "I wasn't looking at you."
"Sure you weren't," you wink, before turning completely serious. "But I didn't mean in that way."
You draw your money pouch to pay for your drink. As you pop it open, your letter opener glints in the afternoon light. His eyes immediately turn sharp at the golden knife. Hooks sunk in, you close up your bag again, enough cash to cover both bills with a decent tip left on the table.
-2 gold
It was always tough to do business with martial artists. The study of the self took only the most devoted, and the people tended toward the most extreme. It was commonly known that high level martial artists could hear and see more than the average man, but you had it on good authority that they could also do things like sense lies and blood thirst when skilled enough. And if you knew, an expert like the one in front of you knew as well. He discarded you at a glance, because you weren't threatening. Imply some things, suggest you know more than you actually do, and his hyperactive mind would fill in the gaps.
"My name's Katarin. It's a bit noisy here. How do you feel about heading somewhere more quiet?" You invite the foreigner, pushing back your chair and standing up.
"Seth," he replies curtly, but is willing enough to walk with you.
You lead him on a nice walk, through the immaculately empty gardens of the High Towers. Perhaps an hour ago you would've been chased out of here by enforcers, but thanks to your distraction, the guard has been thinned enough for you two to slip through. You run your hand down the massive frond of a plant you're sure could never grow in this climate, sprouted in defiance of nature via gardening expertise and not magic. Imported fruits from one of those plants sold for nearly ten times the buying price if you were willing to brave the oceans. In the Academy, the fruits littered the dirt beneath your feet, rotting.
"So, you know that guy?" You ask 'Seth'. "He seemed a bit dangerous."
He grunts. "The Lord of Enforcers."
One of the Board, you mentally translated. In the Western Reaches, nobility was not powerful. Or rather, nobility was not strong, but rich. Certainly, they traveled with a personal guard stronger than many armies, but if it came down to a scrap they might not fare even as well as a peasant, silver spooned as they were. Even in the Empire, where ministers were chosen more by their blood relations than their talent, you wouldn't expect a fifth rank official to fight, unless he was a general. The Academy, though? Old mages were old because they were skilled, and old martial artists even more so.
You whistled. "Bit big of a fish to fry, that one. Got a grudge, then?"
"Just precautions."
"Precautions, huh. Well, I guess we both have something to worry about, where he's concerned."
He tilts his head, sizing you up in a different manner. "You were the cause of that disturbance earlier." It's not a question.
"I don't like to do much personally," you demure, concealing the way your heart raced by inspecting another leaf of the tropical plant. Even if you were hinting that way pretty intensely, it still shook you to be 'discovered'. "But you look like you're looking for something I could offer."
"You want something from me." he replies instead of affirming, but you can tell he's somewhat interested.
"I'm sure we can arrange something," you extend your hand for a handshake.
He takes it, and is gone a second later, disappearing into the shadows.
You're not sure you got a perfect measure, but you have a decent idea of who he was.
'Seth'
Lethality: ??
Vitality: ??
Stealth: 9
Awareness: 10
Traits:
??
Seth is guaranteed as an interviewee next turn.
–
Four of us managed to just walk up to the edge of his workshop. I led Zheng and Ryung to shattering a few of his bottled acids with torches. Elainus tried to attack us with a lash incantation, but stopped when the acids ignited. The four sent ahead incapacitated him and took his research notes, valuables, and any visible gold before leaving fast. Zheng stayed behind to make sure he didn't recover before the room fully burned.
-Alexa Tahlin
The mission report is pretty much what you expected, though the extra income is a nice present to have. Actually, it outstripped what the hit paid, by a fair amount.
+26 gold
And you also recovered the notes that were supposedly stolen. To your eye, it doesn't look like they matched the handwriting of this Calvin. Well, you didn't really worry too much about asking questions. You just went around asking about Calvin's whereabouts, then sent one of your henchmen to give him a gentle reminder of what he owed. The money ended up dropped off in Xiran hall's gardens the next day. It was on the low end of what you expected, but given your overall haul you didn't mind.
+10 gold
And so the season ended, with a bit of a bang. You still had some finances left to do, but for the most part you were comfortable to sit back and let information trickle to you via osmosis while your reputation developed. But one piece of news caught your attention more than the rest:
[]The Third Prince of the Empire of Yong announced his plans for graduation.
[]The daughter of the Duke Knightley of the Western Kingdoms has attendance plans.
[]Charles has someone he'd like you to meet.
[]The Enforcer investigation of the Xiran hall fire.
