It was right after notifying Sister Jess about her task that Quin put his plan into motion. Master Hartold''s personal issued mission since a few months ago--and his own personal matters. Both coincided that it perfectly fit Quin for the job. It was about time to harvest the weeks-long plan.
“With the festival high—they should be letting their guard down. Ray should be fine with Cavien, so I don’t have to worry.” Quin got back to his home for the necessary materials; a vial, a short rope, a pair of tension wrench and pick, a pocket knife, a handkerchief, a slip of paper, a pen, a withered flower. Lastly, two identical leather strips. All stored in a sizable handy pouch.
He set off to his first destination: an unassuming two-story brick building located in a lonely corner of the town where no one frequents, with the head entrance bearing the name: General Security Company. He entered the first floor, which was an ordinary reception hall with stacks of ads plastered on one side of the wall. There was only a bored-looking aunty by the reception desk, who didn’t mind him any attention. Quin called for her attention.
“Excuse me, may I know if the other members of the Club are upstairs?” The reception lady eyed him and nodded. Slowly.
“If that’s the case, please give me the knowledge token.” The lady fished out a wooden chip in the shape of a book under the desk.
“Thank you very much.” Quin took it as he climbed up the stairs. Whereupon reaching it, finding a couple of rooms with spotless white doors. A sticker of a hexagon, of a book, of a sword and shield, of a staff, of a beast maw, of a board, was attached to each of the distinct doors.
He knocked on the door with the book sticker. He waited before a person wearing a frog mask opened the door. She, at least shaped like a woman, gestured for Quin to come in the bright room silently. The inside was unlike one’s expectations, far larger and expansive than it appeared as people of various cultural attire with different organization insignia could be seen roaming about, particularly clustering to the many reception cubicles. A staff member, all wearing a mask, manned cubicle to talk to the clients. Quin himself headed to one of the empty ones as soon as possible.
He brought out a gold coin with a barely constrained shaking hand and a barely twitching face to the staff member.
“I want confirmation on the location of the highly-confidential mining operation plan of Stoneheart Haven’s Solquar Plant Chem Inc. in the years 22<sup>nd</sup> and 23<sup>rd</sup> Eagle Moon Cycle.” The staff member received the gold coin swiftly. They took some papers under their desk, searched the cabinets, with a hint of frustration before calling on their stationed telephone. Quin was starting to become nervous when another staff member came by and gave the requisite documents.
“Here.” The envelope slid into the glass slot. Quin scanned it quickly with a discerning eye, and upon confirming its final location, the same as the tip he got—he gave his gratitude and left the information guild’s hall. Before he left though, he went by the billboard listing the most popular trendy news as he unwrapped his leather strip and made it coil around his ear.
“I want information on the Amber Fortress’ general—"
“4<sup>th</sup> Princess of the Selune Lunar Empire scandal—”
“Betrayal at the house of the hill, killed…”
“Dragons, and a dungeon, a donkey, and what?”
“Ashwind’s undefeatable championship streak…”
“Last rumors on the Vanatoria’s secret heir…’
“Risque pictures of Garahuta’s prized 12-year old…”
Alright, the last one made him stop. Nothing of interest except that. Just as he went his way out after replacing his leather strip, someone caught him by the wrist. When he looked up with startlement, he saw it was a scary-looking guard.
“Your leather strip. What kind of artifact is it?” Calmly, without any ripple in his voice nor expression, Quin unwrapped it and gave it to the guard—except it was a counterfeit and the original one was in his left-arm’s sleeve behind his back.
“As you can see sir, it’s just a normal minor focus leather strip so I can quickly scan the announcement billboard.” The guard took a close look, weighing it in his hands before finally giving it back. The guard didn’t even excuse themselves as they stomped away. Quin released his breath before exiting the hall.
“It’s hard to believe that old rat gave me a genuine tip for once. I’ll thank him personally next time.” Quin then departed out of the General Security building and headed for the outskirts. However, he did not notice when he passed through a main street, Jess saw him.
She was about to call out to him when Quin disappeared from her sights. The nun looked around some more and it was only when she peeked at an alleyway that she saw a glimpse of Quin scaling a fence.
“What in Serath’s name…?” Immediately, Jess’ alarm bells rung off. This wasn’t the first time she noticed peculiarities in the sub-church staff’s behavior. Often times, he could be seen doing shady stuff with the older people and other times, he could barely be seen with Raynel in their own home. Raynel didn’t even know where his brother went to at some nights when Jess asked about it.
In the end, Jess decided she’d follow him. Eventually, they passed the threshold between the outskirts and the town. With the way Quin was moving, Jess had all but confirmed he was doing something criminal. The choice was: confront and stop him, or follow him and see what he’s up to. Jess chose the latter.
For a while, Quin seemed to be going in random places: a tavern, a diner, local junk shops, a shabby inn, and even visited a dingy building with a somewhat scantily clad woman in the entrance smoking. Quin gave five bronze coins to the woman before he went in. Realizing what sort of place this was made Jess disgusted but it wasn’t even five minutes before Quin came out. What exactly happened inside?!
Around the underground market place, though, he’d noticed the conspicuous stalker.
‘Impressive. Someone already noticed I was scouting out their hideouts one by one.’ Locking his mind in, Quin only needed three rounds of misdirection before he lost them.
At one corner of the underground market, an alleyway’s had a draped banner over its entryway. A pair of the bandana thugs was guarding the entrance.
“Now now, how do I go about distracting them… there’s only one way in.” Quin contemplated. He can’t outright fight them, that has to be avoided at all costs. He’s not a fighter per se, except maybe he has good senses and deft hands. A disturbance has to be created or he has to trick himself way in. The latter he could do but was he willing to take a risk?
Just as he decided on what to do, someone tapped him on the shoulder.
“Who!?”
“Ah!” A surprised gasp came out from the nun.This tale has been unlawfully obtained from Royal Road. If you discover it on Amazon, kindly report it.
“Jess!? How in the goddess are you here? Wait,” Realization crept on his face. “Were you the one following me?”
“I could ask you the same. I always knew you were an odd fellow with his own motives for joining the church, but I didn’t expect for you to be a member of this gang—are you here to steal some of our treasures? Profane Mother Laresa’s secret?”
“Goodness no, what are you talking about? I am not a part of them—this is, damn, I can’t explain now. I will tell you everything later, first we have to go away before they notice us—” But it was too late.
“What’s a nun doin’ here?” An imposing voice fell on their ears as the thug towered over them. Quin''s mind rapidly spun and he''d arrived at the best solution: bullshitting.
“Ah you see sir; I have some shipments to deliver to Mr. Gun Hotez. I need to deliver this to him personally.” Quin fished out the very same documents he’d received from the information guild hall. Of course, inside were just some random papers he’d scooped from the various places he visited. The thug scoffed.
“Personally? Hand it over, I’ll deliver it myself.” Quin put on a helpless expression.
“Ah I knew you were gonna say that. See, the boss strictly instructed me to not give this document to anyone. Inside are pictures of some… let’s say salacious pictures of his favorite, the 2<sup>nd</sup> daughter of Mayor Gathos; Jaina Dunewalker in her bare body. I assume you know the consequences if someone else were to see this? Even I am not safe from delivering this.” Saying the last line, Quin’s hands were visibly shaking with a flash of fear haunting his eyes. The thug’s face also changed at this.
“Still, I must know your identity at least, I cannot let a rival gang member get inside and assassinate our boss just like that.”
‘As if that guy is important enough to be assassinated, even Tryndale doesn’t bother with him.’ Quin thought inwardly as he brought out his secret weapon. Yet, there was one problem. The nun he was blocking, slapped his hand away with a simmering red rage.
“I cannot believe this. All just to provide a little bit of dirty income, you resort desecrating the body of a pure maiden? So that is why you were good friends to Jaina Dunewalker! You despicable bastard, may Serath smite you!”
‘Ah… this is my greatest mistake of the lifetime. Second greatest. How do I deal with this? I can’t deal with her roughly—there’s only one choice.’ Gritting his teeth and hardening his heart, Quin prepared himself to tell the second greatest lie he would utter.
“Sister Jess, this is untrue—I was threatened by Mr. Gun himself that if I were not to do his bidding, he would harm my little brother. Please believe me when I say this!” Quin pleaded, pouring out his sincere emotions into his words.
‘Please don’t make this worse—I cannot afford you to get involved in this. I’ll explain everything later!’ Jess, unknown if she saw the look in his eyes, went quiet. Her face transformed into a stone-like mask as utter cold emanate from her inky black eyes. She turned around and walked away.
“You’re a disappointment.” The nun muttered, heard by the people in the vicinity. Quin secretly sighed a relief and turned to the astonished thug, the face of someone who just witnessed a drama play right in front of his eyes.
“My true name is Lemay. Do you know of him?”
“Ah, the outskirts’ deranged rambler, a trusted lapdog of the boss. But you don’t look like a deranged rambler at all…”
“It’s an act. Even this face is the use of an artifact lent by Sir Gun. Hurry, hurry let me in!” As if turning rabid, Quin spat at the thug’s face. With a disgusted expression, the thug finally allowed him inside the alley, where at the end lies a door.
The door led to a series of steps going down. After arriving at the bottom, an underground tunnel extended out. Along the tunnel’s path were identical doors like the one they came in from. Eventually, they paused on an entryway of stairs where the wall beside them had the massive graffiti of a gun. The thug seemed to admire, even paying respects to the graffiti before they went up.
At the destination, Quin saw a tall abandoned stone tower in the middle of the forest. Draped in vines, ivy, moss and bushes, gates rusted with chains, windows and openings nailed by —the Outskirt Syndicate’s hideout was a living creature of nature.
Apparently, it was a scouting post once. By the first floor, there were only dirty broken furniture around with used plates and kitchen utensils before coffee tables, and a smell akin to dust and alcohol lingering around in the air. More thugs could be seen playing and joking around on the first floor.
“I am feeling iffy. Can I go to the restroom for a sec’?” The thug glanced at him and gestured at the corner where the toilet was. Going inside the men’s and locked inside a cubicle, Quin quickly took out things from his pouch. He coiled his leather strip around his ear, written a few words on his slip of paper with his pen placed it on the toilet cover and whispered:
“An echo of the night
The ghosts of future
Makes a haunting tale
Reoccurring the silence
Where sound touches mirror
Reflecting weary siren
A call of the night.” After enchanting the paper, Quin unwind the short rope and tied it around the wooden bar for locking. When he went out by the cubicle door with the rope under the door, he pulled it down.
*Cachak* The bar was put into place. After which, he retrieved the rope. Master plan done, now he has to hide behind the toilet room’s door and activate the paper slip.
“Help, I need help! Ahhgh! Kuhack!” It was his voice, desperate and muddled with the sounds of vomiting, but it didn’t come out from his mouth. It came from the paper slip. The thug outside was alerted and came to check on the cubicle door. When he was distracted, Quin surreptitiously got to his back and placed the drugged handkerchief on their mouth!
“HmmM! HMMM!” With a masterful twist of their arm, the thug was unable to resist and was soon pulled to slumber. Gasping for breath, Quin quickly placed the thug in one of the stalls and replaced their clothes.
“I still have half of the vial. Should be enough for the big guy.” Donning the thugs’ clothes, he went out—headed towards the end of the hallway. Quin saw that the staircase leading to the second floor was barred. He ignored it and found the boss’s room. He knocked on the door and entered.
Inside was Gun Hotez, a large man with thick muscles the size of a man’s waist was drinking alcohol in the sofa along with two barely clothed beautiful men by his side. They appeared to be flirting with Gun. The guy himself did not mind them, continuing to read a book: “Insights into the Seduction Aether Spells: How to Use Magic Formulas to Make a Monster Fall in Love With You.”
“Sir, I have a new delivery from the outside by Lemay. Says it might interest you with the pictures of a young nubile woman.” Quin naturally was changing his voice into a more rough, hoarse deep one. Gun gazed at him by his book.
“Didn’t he just give me this book just yesterday? Besides, I have my hand full with these two desserts by my side. And I told you don’t disturb – wait, you don’t look familiar. I know my goon’s face in and out, are you a new recruit?” Quin respectfully bowed, carefully hiding his face.
“Yes sir, I got tired of all the outskirt festivities and wanted to join this Outskirt Syndicate. Yesterday, my wife just left me, I want to take revenge against the world.” Quin… can’t help but cringe with his obvious lie. Who even says something like that? Yet for some reason, Gun accepted it naturally.
“Oh yes, the world is filled with injustice. That bastard Gathos can’t hurry up even with all the suffering we’re all enduring that I just can’t help but take matters into my hands—tell me, am I at fault for acting like a tyrant? For acting like a sexual deviant!? I have no choice when my godforsaken spiritual pathway Tezhe forced me into this path, tell me am I at fault?!”
““No sir, you are our beloved!”” The two men cooed by his side. Seeing this scene, Quin almost couldn’t hold back his retch. What in the abomination was even this man?
“Sir, I believe Lemay specifically told me he got it from an insider from the Church—good friends with Jaina Dunewalker themselves. It coincided with the festival’s first day because of the LandScape Rush earlier. I believe you should take a look.” At that mention, Gun Hotez’s eyes lit up.
“Okay give it to me here.” Quin gave it to the man himself by the table and stood behind the sofa as naturally as possible. When Gun opened the envelope which contained only scrap papers and the withered flower, Quin finally used his Tezhe.
“Bloom Iris.” A violet-infused crystal iris grew from the withered flower in front of Gun and exploded in an instant—showering a scatter of a multitude of petals and blossoms. Momentarily blinded and stunned by the blossoms—Quin firmly pressed the handkerchief into Gun Hotez’ mouth. In seconds, Gun Hotez wasn’t resisting no more.
“Kyaaah!” The two escorts screamed. Quin flashed his pocket knife out and threatened with a dangerous smile.
“Get the hell out of here if you don’t want to get hurt. I’ll roughen your pretty faces up in 3, 2, 1…” And they’re gone like the wind.
‘I better be quick before the other thugs come.’ He jammed the door with a chair and a desk. He hurriedly searched around and found the inner room’s door. Quin expertly picked the lock within five seconds and entered the room. Inside were sacks, desks, bags of coin, plentiful artifacts, and a desk. Quin came by to the desk and opened the drawers one by one, until eventually he got what he wanted.
*21<sup>st</sup>Eagle Moon Cycle Factory Mining Operation Schematic Plan – Solquar Plant Chem Inc.*
*21<sup>st</sup> Eagle Moon Cycle Factory Mining Operation Report – Solquar Plant Chem Inc.*
*22<sup>nd</sup> Eagle Moon Cycle Mining Operation Schematic Plan – Solquar Plant Chem Inc.*
*22<sup>rd</sup> Eagle Moon Cycle Factory Mining Operation Report – Solquar Plant Chem Inc.*