The fresh morning air caressed my face when I opened my eyes.
I was not in the refuge, but in the woods, lying on a soil covered with foam.
And by my side, a mass of black hair rested peacefully against my chest.
Selene.
She was still sleeping, her regular breath touching my skin.
At least, this time, she did not steal my money.
A smirk took shape on my lips.
I put out a hand on my bag, always well attached to my belt.
"Oh ? A first ..."
Selene opened an eye, the voice still sowed.
"HM?"
"You didn't steal anything from me this time," Inoticed with fun.
She gave me a mid-exasperated look, half-amused.
"I don't always fly, you know ..."
"It remains to be seen," I sneered.
She sighed and closed her eyes, murmuring something incomprehensible.
I straightened up slightly, savoring the calm for a moment, when suddenly.
"Hey hey ... So like that, did you spend the night together?"
A mocking voice broke the moment.
I turned my head and saw Reinhardt approaching with a big sly smile.
"Tsk… that doesn't look at you," Iretorted, raising an eyebrow.
"Ah, really? he asked, crossing his arms. "However, you look very comfortable."
Selene stretched slowly before straightening up, realizing that she was still nestled against me.
A light red rose to his cheeks.
"Reinhardt ... that's not what you think," she is trying to say.
"Ah yeah?" he replied, smiling even more. "And what am I supposed to believe then?"
"HMPF," GruntSelene, looking away."
Reinhardt burst out laughing.
"Hahaha! Don't worry, I have nothing against it. I just find that funny."
I sighed.
This guy is really unbearable.
As we get up, a silhouette advanced through the trees.
An old woman with graying hair, dressed in a simple dress, leaned on a wooden stick.
"Ah, you are there finally," she said in a calm but firm voice.
Reinhardt turned to her and made a respectful head.
"Arhon, Selene, I present to you Mother Iluha."
The old woman watched us for a moment before noding her head.
"So it's you, the mercenary of which Reinhardt told me about," she said, putting her piercing eyes on me.
"It's me," I nodded.
She made a slight smile.
"I'm going to take care of children in your absence."
I raised an eyebrow and turned to Reinhardt.
"And where are we going exactly?"
Reinhardt crossed his arms, his gaze becoming serious.
"We are going to hit one of the strongest contacts and networks of Darius Venmorm."
Selene nodded.
"If we really want to destroy it, we should first cut these tentacles."
I let out a slight snicker.
"Hehe ... This becomes interesting."
We left the abandoned bastion under the innocent looks of the children who made us farewell signs.
They had asked them not to get too attached to us, but it was already too late.
Reinhardt raised his hand as an answer before leading us on the dusty path.
The sun was perceived through the clouds, bathed the road with a golden light.
Selene walked by my side, sometimes throwing backs back.
I understand ...
I too felt a strange sensation by leaving these children behind.
But it's not time to think about that.
We had a very specific objective.
The goal: to cut a head of the snake
Reinhardt broke the silence.
"Our target is a man by the name of Varnov, one of the main intermediaries of Darius Venmorm."
"Varnov?" I repeated, folding my eyes.
"A trafficker of weapons and human flesh," he said. "He manages one of the biggest clandestine markets in the region."
I made my neck crack, already feeling the irritation riding me.
"Where do we find it?"
"In the shadows sector, an underground district where all types of crime are flourishing."
Selene cleaned her fists.
"This place is a real hell ... I have already been there once ... I saw things that I would prefer to forget."
Reinhardt nodded.
"And that's precisely why we have to make him pay."
I smile slightly.
"I like this state of mind."
Reinhardt continued:
"We will infiltrate one of his warehouses by pretending to be potential buyers."
I raised an eyebrow.
"Buyers?"
"Yes. He is wary of new heads, but with a few gold coins and good words, we can get an interview with him."
I crossed my arms.
"Afterwards ?"
"Once you will be quite close, we will capture it and question it."
"Do you want to capture him alive?"
"Yes. He has too much information on Darius. If you kill it directly, you risk missing something important."
I made a skeptical pout.
"HM ..."
I didn't like it in his plan.
"What if instead of infiltrating us as a buyers, we attacked directly by hitting quickly and strong?"
Reinhardt looked at me with a smirk.
"This is a possibility, but there is a problem."
I haired an eyebrow.
"Which ?"
"His warehouse is filled with armed guards and slaves. If you go headlong, you risk having unnecessary hostages and losses."
I think for a moment.
"So we can sabotage the defenses before attacking."
Reinhardt crossed his arms.
"How ?"
"by spreading a rumor that would scare him."
Selene leaned her head.
"A rumor?"
I gained.
"Let's say that the hunters him down and that a contract was put on his head. "
Reinhardt frowned.
"He could strengthen his guard."
"Exactly. He will panic, he will summon his trusted men, and during this period of time, we isolate the target."
Reinhardt fixed me for a moment before sketching a smile.
"Not bad ... but there is a concern."
"Which ?"
"Time."
I frowned.
"Explain."
"To spread a credible rumor, we would need at least a week, and Varnov never stays in the same place for a long time."
I let out a sigh.
"I see..."
Reinhardt smiles.
"I like your way of thinking, but we don't have the luxury of time."
I looked at him with suspicion.
Wait ... Is he being influenced by my cape?
From the start, he had not refused my ideas directly, but always analyzed them calmly.
I was wondering how much he was under my influence.
One thing was certain ...
Whether he was influenced or not, we were going to destroy Varnov.
We left the abandoned bastion at dawn, while the sun pierced through the dead trees. The air was fresh, responsible for the smell of wet wood and the earth.
The silence reigned between the three of us. Only the noise of our steps and the rustling of the leaves accompanied our walk.
As we moved away, a notification appeared in my field of vision.
「System」
「Your reputation has increased by +120 in the abandoned bastion.」
「Your global reputation: "Unknown adventurer" → "Troubling figure".」
「Some groups are starting to take an interest in you.」
I folded my eyes.
"Troubling figure"?
It was vague, but it confirmed one thing: I started to make a name for myself.
I closed the interface and continued the walk.
We crossed the countryside by avoiding the main roads.
The plains stretched as far as the eye can see, and in the distance, the mountains drew a dark line under the cloudy sky.
Selene, who walked next to me, looked at Reinhardt.
"Are you sure that nothing is likely on this road?"
Reinhardt nodded.
"Darius mercenaries avoid this area. Too many wild beasts."
Selene sighed.
"Awesome…"
I smile slightly.
She prefers to face men than animals, huh ...
The trip lasted several hours, and when we finally saw the doors of the City of Pleasures, the sun was already high in the sky.
The city stretched in front of us, immense and chaotic.
The stone and wooden buildings formed a maze of alleys where you could smell the smell of wine, tobacco and sweat.
The cries of the merchants mixed with the fatty laughter of drunk men and the sighs of prostitutes leaning on the Balconies of the hostels.
As soon as we were nearby, Selene and Reinhardt folded down their hoods on their heads.
They were recognized and actively sought in this city.
Reinhardt adjusted the dark fabric covering his face and whispered:
"We must avoid attracting attention."
Selene nodded and tightened her hood around her face.
I looked around around us.
Darius Venmorm controls this place ... He must have eyes everywhere.
We had barely arrived.