Talio DuBell
Yesterday was a good day for business, but when has that not been the case for me? Last night, a few of my hits were successful, but one stood out from the rest. Thanks to the generous coin from some pompous elites, my coffers are looking full, but I have an opportunity to rake it in big.
"You want my people to take out a foxkin? That is a simple matter, but why the large bounty on his head? Is this one a noble in Biikar?"
That was one of the only questions I asked my patron, a low-ranking son of the De La Rouge family. One of the sons of the much more critical Blois family favored this peculiar son, which meant that he had much more money to spend than the usual individuals who purchased my services. They were quick to voice their dismay with a member of the Angea family and openly wished me to deal with her and her subordinate. I explored my informants from Astana's underbelly. I learned that there was a significant anti-Angea movement surging in popularity after the rumor that Governor Ana von Angea was supposedly assassinated a few weeks ago.
This was eye-opening to me, considering her daughter was eliminated as well. None of the nobles in the upper echelon officially stated about their disappearance, but many significant figures were suddenly out of the city. A new high mage was quietly installed, and Arch Captain Mordred Blois was promoted to Captain and appointed Guard Commander.
Significant changes were happening in this city, and I had to benefit from them. This was my opportunity to make a massive profit and regain some of my family's lost status. I am a DuBell, after all, and we are owed our due.
"This peculiar foxkin has a big mouth and stands next to an important target. The bounty is for her, but it is recommended that you use the foxkin to get to her. She is incredibly illusive, so don't underestimate her ability to go dark." The nobleman said to me.
Patrons sought me for jobs similar to this before; the occasional hitjob on an overly ambitious noble, peasant, or whatever vagrant dumb enough to piss off a patron with enough coin. However, I soon found this simple job more interesting than I had imagined. After I met with our patrons, I rallied a key member of my organization and met with him in my office within the Silver district. Thanks to the proximity of my building to the bronze district, costs to keep my organization afloat have been lowered significantly compared to the immense profit I have experienced throughout the years.
My office was small but reliable. Inside were only four rooms, two of which were used as temporary housing for our hired hands when they arrived. In the front of the building was an open room with a few tables and sectionals. I believe a low-income restaurant once used this building until it went out of business. It was the center of my organization, but soon, all that would change.
My connections have been explored and expanded, so as I pondered the massive profit I could acquire by taking out this target and her subordinates, I wondered which market I should expand into.
"What says you, Cedarro? Theoscyran, Westford, or perhaps, Locarista? All ripe for the taking with the bank we'll acquire if we do this correctly," I said with an amused chuckle.
Cedarro was once a street urchin in the slums of Sturburg who turned his life around as a mercenary and bandit. I recognized his talents for violence and decided to make him a deal: Join me and walk the path to wealth or die in irrelevance for spare change as a mercenary. Seeing that the wolfkin sat in front of me in my office meant he was wise. He was tall but lean for a mercenary, but I didn't allow that to sway me. When angered, Cedarro is as vicious as they come.
"Theoscyran is a gamble even for you. Locarista is closer, and the investment there could be more beneficial in strengthening our foundation. Several faces have begun moving on our territory, and a few of the men are beginning to question our seriousness. They are leaving to join the competition," Cedarro stated as he poured himself a glass of high-grade elixir.
"Let them. They were mercenaries at the end of the day. Quickly paid and easily swayed. What I need is competent and loyal men who are here for the long haul. In our laps is an opportunity to push beyond our current status and reach for something greater. I expended all of the favors I could to get partnered with Project Anvil, and thanks to that hard work, we have the chance at a massive cash-out."
Cedarro wasn't convinced, but even the wolfkin's dark gray ears twitched when I muttered the payment.
"You can't be serious..." He gasped. The sharp gaze of the wolfkin moved my way as he placed his empty glass on the brown table in front of him. "Five hundred silver for the Foxkin and seven hundred fifty gold for the noblewoman?! That is insane."
"It is an opportunity and one I plan on taking seriously. That is unfortunate for those fools who lacked faith because you and I will be swimming in riches soon," I declared with a mischievous grin.
That was my plan, but I soon realized that others were more serious than I was about the foxkin and had their sights set on him. I knew I had to move quickly, so I reached out to a business partner I had worked with in the past and convinced her to come on board. Ripper was more suited to roughing up individuals and reconnaissance rather than assassinating targets. Her skills proved as reliable as ever when he tracked down the foxkin as he traveled the city looking for a map shop. I had no idea why he would do so, but his brazen action allowed us to make the first move.
He ended up escorting a young boy to the nearby village of Oa, and under the cover of rain, I permitted Cedarro to make the first move. He was more than pleased to do so, considering his history of being mistaken for a dreaded foxkin in his youth, which led to disaster for his family. It should have been a cut-and-dry hit, but the unexpected happened. Cedarro, a trained and armed mercenary turned assassin, lost handily to the foxkin.
The fight at first wasn't even close, and the foxkin ushered his charge closer to Astana. I couldn't allow them to get there, but to my relief, Cedarro intercepted him before he could arrive in the city. Empowered by his wrath state, Cedarro allowed his viciousness to be set free.
Their fight was much closer than before, but it was still not going to go Cedarro's way, so I had to step in. When things were at their worst for my ally, I plunged my blade into the foxkin's back. I would have wagered my entire savings on that being the kill shot, but I was stunned that night. Even though it was just last night, I still can't wrap my head around it. I know that was a kill shot. He should have been dead, and I collected our five hundred silver, but that... foxkin rose despite those injuries.
Ripper was sent next to handle him, and while she was better than Cedarro, the foxkin managed to overwhelm her, too. It was unbelievable. It took a lot to remain calm and present myself as confident, but even if I had my blade to his neck, I didn't feel confident about the situation. I feared that if we continued fighting, that man would have killed at least two of us with him. I could not afford to lose both Cedarro and Ripper. They were too valuable, but I couldn't allow our mark to walk away either.
It was then that another opportunity presented itself to us. The foxkin wanted to make a deal after reading the room. After seeing his strength, I was more than willing to make that deal with him to save face in the eyes of my employers. I had to give them something, and when the foxkin offered to be my inside man in Clarice von Angea's inner circle, I took the offer. I would allow him to walk away; in return, he is our informant. While not as ideal as collecting the five hundred silver for his head, I'll take the next best thing. I'll have to dig deep into my network to find someone capable of putting him down.
That is where The Ravager came in. It took a lot of silver and gold coins to find this man and bring him on board, but after learning that his target was a noblewoman, he was more than accommodating. All I had to do was locate the foxkin, and with Ripper's talents, it was only a matter of time.
That time came far quicker than I could have ever anticipated. The next day, the foxkin, who had miraculously healed from all his injuries, delivered his patron directly to me. It was unexpected that we would meet at the training center of my new allies at Project Anvil. I have an old friend of mine to thank for that, too. Svett Henstrong, son, an adventurer who owes me several silver coins, managed to deliver my targets to me. I almost wiped his father's debt clean for the act, but I'm not that generous. Times are tough, and one must keep one's coffers close to full to survive and be comfortable in these changing times.
I was more than willing to allow Svett to get in on the action as a reward, but I was aware that he was unneeded. The Ravager was in town, so I could quickly mobilize him and a few hands; the De La Rouge nobleman sent my way to make another attempt on the foxkin's life. I hope they kill the Angea noblewoman, too, and make this easier for me.
I had bigger goals and wouldn't let Cedarro and Ripper's efforts go unnoticed or unrewarded. They've supported me for a while, and I'd never short them on payment. After seeing Svett and The Ravager off, I called for a meeting with my two associates and left Project Anvil's training facility at the Adventerur's Guild. We would meet at Cedarro's home in the Bronze district. The place was unbefitting a normal noble, but as a member of a fallen house, I couldn't stick my nose up at it. It was a simple one-story building with evidence of maintenance. It appears the man had finally taken my suggestion to put some of his money toward the place. The last time I was here was several months ago, and it had made progress toward looking like a proper home.
He suggested turning this place into a second hideout if the need arises, but I am not fully committed just yet. In the meantime, he's taken it as his main residence. As I stepped inside the room, I noticed that the man had finally invested in a couch alongside the other furniture one might expect inside a low-class home like this. The couch seemed in suitable shape, so I silently walked over to it before sitting down.
"Enjoying your time off?" I asked the man, bemused.
Cedarro looked out the door for a moment, his gaze likely checking to ensure that I was not followed. I didn't visit here often, and when I did, it was at night with little visibility. I had to dress down like any other commoner to pass undetected for this meeting. A worn brown shirt and dull black pants with worker's boots could get you passed as one of their own to the people in this area. They wouldn't look twice in my direction, and even distinguished gentlemen like myself would suspect me.
People in Astana saw what they wanted to see, allowing me to move freely. Cedarro seemed satisfied I wasn't followed as he closed the door and promptly locked it. He wore a similar outfit to me, but he wore dark blue for the shirt and light gray for his pants. Bandages wrapped around the wolfkin's arms, and he hobbled slightly from the aftereffects of his battle with the foxkin.
"It's only been a day, but I'm already going insane with boredom," Cedarro growls.
The wolfkin would hobble to his makeshift kitchen and pull a bottle of elixir from a crate on his counter. It was a small bottle, so he collected two of them. The light green liquid sparkled in the glass while he hobbled my way. I would chuckle at his discontent while accepting his hospitality.
"I would assume as much, but I need you to recover completely," I said as I opposed the cork on the elixir.
The sound of wood scrubbing filled my ear as Cedarro dragged his wooden chair near his couch. His tail swayed lifelessly as he sat with an audible sigh.
"Tch- That damned foxkin. How could he be so powerful? Foxkins are supposed to be weak," Cedarro huffed, shaking his head. "Had I prepared more, I wouldn't have lost that expensive ring! I feel so foolish!"
"Steady now," I said, swirling my elixir in its bottle. "It was a momentary blow to our capabilities, but those things are becoming more common these days. Another few jobs, and you'll be casting magic with the efficiency you are respected for. Last night, we merely encountered a setback, but I've reminded our patron of our style. I already pulled some favors for the next attempt, which should be done today."
Cedarro looked up from his drink with a puzzled expression. He shifted in his chair before speaking again, "Have you sent her after him? Perhaps she could strike him better than I did. I allowed my emotions to get the better of me."
I shook my head at his question, "That foxkin, as you said, is strong. I've come to understand just why he has such a large bounty on his head. Believe me when I say this: he will be easy to take down. The injuries you inflicted on him already seemed to be healed. He arrived with his mistress at the Adventurer's Guild, and not a single scratch was on him. He wasn't limping, nor was he appearing to be nursing any hidden injuries."
I swallowed a quarter of my elixir before letting out an exhale. Although it was warm, the elixir was still good. Cedarro's eyes flew wide at my explanation.
"Are you serious?! That shouldn't be possible! Not including my attack on him, but you stabbed him straight through. He should've died there on the spot, but he got up and fought off Ripper. Injuries like that, even for us beastkin, should take months to recover if we ever do," the wolfkin said, disbelief in his eyes.
"You should've seen it. There he was, a foxkin striding around Project Anvil's training ground without fear. I never imagined I would see one with that level of confidence. I had Ripper investigate him more because I believe our patron is ignorant of the threat he possesses. A man who could shake off a sword through the back is worth twice as much in silver coins. Five hundred is not enough," I stated with a mischievous grin. "Alas, they share a different perspective. The wrong perspective, mind you, but a different one nonetheless."
"What are you hoping to find?" Cedarro asked, and I shrugged.
"You saw him. A man that confidence isn't from around here. The foxkin in Masser usually have their ears clipped to showcase servitude. They were subjugated a long time ago, but there are some pockets that break from the mold. I recently heard from a supplier of mine that a foxkin collection has proven itself in the West. They call Biikar their home, and one has risen to prominence. Something like that wouldn't happen in Masser since his majesty prefers to stick to the tradition of domesticating them."
Cedarro's eyes hardened at my statement, which earned a smirk on my lips. I was aware of the similarities between certain patches of wolfkin and foxkin. To an uneducated eye, a dark-eared wolfkin like Cedarro could be mistaken as a foxkin. It isn't as rough around Astana due to the governor, Lady Ana, but they occasionally earn skeptical gazes.
"That being said, I am curious about why that particular foxkin has yet to be domesticated, and his ears clipped," I added.
"If what you say is true about his healing, then it'd be impossible to inflict that fate onto him. His ear would always heal. A clip to an ear is a less egregious wound than a blade to the back."
I nodded my agreement with the man. He was right about that, but that only made things more mysterious about the man.
'I should know more about him if I am to really pull this job off. Cedarro is out of the picture, but...'
The soft pattering on the windows drew my attention as my thoughts were stirred.
"I doubt the man would fail, but you never know in this world," I said, mostly speaking to myself.
Cedarro's ears flickered with interest as the man drank his elixir. With an exhale, the wolfkin began tapping his feet.
"What man? Did you find another to take my place?" Cedarro asked with a frown.
"Today, I did. I pulled strings to locate and meet with the man, ' The Ravager,'" I said, and Cedarro's eyes widened. He placed his now empty glass bottle onto the floor and stood up. "I sent him after our targets."
"You...You met with that man?!" Cedarro exclaimed before claiming himself and sitting down. I patiently sipped my elixir while the wolfkin wrestled with his thoughts and emotions. "Well, it doesn't matter who he is then. That foxkin was strong, but he wasn't Ravager strong, that's for sure. We'll be collecting our reward by the end of the day."
"I never expected him to be a team player, so it doesn't surprise me that he went alone for this hunt, especially if the perfect situation arose for him to strike. I met with a mutual acquaintance as well. Svett Henstrong of the Silver Stars."
Cedarro raised his eyebrow at my last statement, and I could understand why. The leader of the Silver Stars was an ambitious young man, but he lacked the maturity and foresight to assess a threat properly. That is why he will not go far in this harsh world. He may be a solid adventurer, but it takes more than passable sword skills to survive and thrive.
"It is just as you think. Svett was the one who delivered the foxkin to us, so I offered him an opportunity to formally join us if he succeeds with dealing with the foxkin and his mistress while teaming with The Ravager," I explained.
"Those twin brothers in the Silver Stars are renowned for their savagery and precision in their primal wrath. The Ravager himself was enough, but the Silver Stars were overkill. You would know that, but still, you asked Ripper to investigate the foxkin's origin. Why is that?" Cedarro asked while crossing his arms. The wolfkin's tail swayed with interest.
"We won't get far in this world if took everything at first glance. Sometimes, you need to contemplate what you know and then expand it. A tip from a friend at the western gate informed me that the foxkin had arrived with two other men. De La Rouge had two other related bounties, but they were smaller in reward. Two hundred fifty silver for a human and one hundred for an elf." I explained.
Cedarro nodded his head and became lost in thought. His tail swayed as he processed the information before the man stood and wobbled back toward his kitchen.
"You suspect they are in another organization?" he asked, lifting the crate top. He grabbed himself another bottle of elixir and immediately opened it.
"I freed and emboldened foxkin pairs with a noblewoman from The Angea house, and they just so happened to have a human and elf in their group?" I asked.
"That sounds normal, excluding the foxkin part. Mercenaries perhaps? They could be hired hands. All of them. That could explain the lack of ear clipping and the strength." Cedarro said before drinking. He would then choke and cough violently, to my surprise.
"You don't think he's a Kitsune, do you?!" Cedarro spat.
I laughed boisterously at his assertion.
"Of course not! Let's not give the man that much credit. Kitsunes are known to stray far from Masser or any developed nation. They'd be annihilated on sight, so I doubt that man is one unless he is truly arrogant."
Convinced by my words, Cedarro would nod in agreement. He would look at his elixir as it sloshed inside the bottle. "Yeah, you're right. I am getting ahead of myself. I just know that Kitsunes are infamous for their regeneration, but it is more likely he was able to drink a healing potion from his mistress. She is wealthy, after all."
It would be my turn to agree with him. A healing potion or potions could explain his rapid regeneration, but the idea of him being a Kitsune lingered longer than it should have. Shaking the thought out of my mind, I pivoted to the next objective in our discussion."
"Back to the other bounties. They are capture bounties rather than assassination, so I've asked Ripper to dig into her network on my behalf, and as expected, she did, and I'd admit that man has a very interesting set of skills. I've asked her to bring her associate here for a meeting. With that in mind, I want you to contact a few of your more rowdy mercenary pals. Tell them that an opportunity to earn a few silver has arrived, and all they'd have to do is get their hands dirty."
Cedarro grinned with glee, and that earned my smirk. For now, I'd leave the foxkin in the hands of Svett and The Ravager while I pivot my focus to his potential allies. I'd need to move many parts to defeat the noblewoman and grab that sweet gold with my hands. As Cedarro disappeared into another room, I shifted my gaze to the increasing drizzle outside the window with a smirk.
'Alright, foxkin... I'm onto you, and once I gather all of the cards at my disposal, no amount of regeneration will prevent me from achieving the wealth to become the powerbroker I was destined to be! Let the hunt begin!'