City of Desire [Kingdom Building] - Chapter 910: Undercurrents

 Proofread by Thomas F

Sal’s Inn, Inam

“This is a great opportunity, one we will not lose,” I said to the team of twelve in front of me.

Like me, they are all masked and covered in cloaks and hoods. Aside from me, nobody knows his or her identity. Not even the other members of their own team.

“The city had become a fortress; there were guards at every step,” complained the man in the middle.

Well, a woman. She is using a skill that makes her look like a man.

“We already expected it, and this will work in our favour,” I replied, and couldn’t help smiling. There is going to be quite a choice of targets in the city tonight.

“I hope the preparations on your end are complete. We don’t want to be caught right after we finished the job,” said a thin man on the left.

“You have worked for me many times. You know, I leave nothing to chance,” I replied to the man.

This is the biggest chance we’ve had in a while.

Aside from the capitals of both princes and Namdar, this is the place where the most nobles have gathered.

With such numbers, protecting them all would be very hard.

“These are your targets and their information; commit it to memory,” I ordered as I placed the folders in front of them. It took me a lot of money to get this information.

They opened the folders and began to read through them.

I watched them; everything is hidden about them, but I could still sense a lot of things from my skill Surface Intent.

It’s not the first time I’m working in Inam. No, I had worked here many times before, but it’s my first time attempting this, and I am going to steal artifacts here.

Before the emperor died, I hadn’t even thought about it. Even here, we are at a port city, where I could escape quickly.

When the emperor was alive, this was too dangerous, but now he is gone, and the empire is in shambles. It is open season on artifacts, and I want to take advantage of it.

I want to earn enough to be set for life, and that will not be difficult as long as I succeed.

“It will be tough,” said the woman in the middle. “It’s an artifact, what do you expect?” I asked back. If they succeed, it will set them up for life.

It is very risky, and nobles are powerful, along with tough security, and not to mention, we won’t be the only ones doing that.

Other crews are working within the city.

It is why I carefully chose our targets. I did not go after the most powerful of the artifacts, even if they are in the hands of weak nobles.

Neither am I targeting the weakest artifact. I am going for the sweet middle part.

The four artifacts I am targeting are: two offensive, one utility, and one defensive. All of which are commanding a crazy price on the black market.

Soon, they finished reading the information and set the folders down.

I collected them and activated Evidence Erased. Immediately, all folders turned to dust, which spread around the room and went out the window.

The Lord of Inam had made high preparations and went so far as to hire a lot of powerhouses. So, I have to be very careful not to let anything trace back to me.

“Questions?” I asked. They all shook their heads. “Good,” I replied.

A minute later, they all disappeared before I walked out of the room. I am in a small inn, and as I walked out, nobody looked at me, even when I was wearing a mask.

Masked Face.

A skill that lets me hide my face; I do not have to wear a mask for it, but it is a protection against those who are powerful enough to see through my skill.

Even in this enormous city, there are a select few people who could do that, but it didn’t hurt to be cautious.

Unlike those I hired, I am not a rogue or of a combat class. I am a merchant; Merchant of Shadowy Deals.

To most people, I am a respectable merchant, the Vice-Guildmaster of my city’s merchant guild, but that is a façade I put on in front of everyone.

They do not know my class or level. Everything is hidden behind the façade.

This is the biggest gamble I have ever taken. It could destroy me, but it could also set me up for life, take my level higher. For it, I believe the risk is worth it.

I hope at least one of my team members succeeds. I have spent too much on it for it to fail completely.

I moved through streets and alleys, each time coming out with a different face, until I reached my carriage with my actual face and stepped inside.

“Back to the hotel,” I said.

I have to change to go to the legacy; my invitation had said that I need to pass through the gate between seven-fifty and eight o’ five. They have divided the entrance to the legacy into time slots.

The most important people would be the first to go in, and they would do so in a minute.

If I had been a guildmaster, I would have been able to go earlier. However, even that wouldn’t be enough to get a room in legacy. At least I will attend the party.

While I do that, my men will wait patiently for nobles to come out of the legacy.

Once they do, they will begin the job.

…

Lawrence Fisk

“Zander Bill is caught,” I informed, and a slight relief appeared on Lord Ralis’s face.

Though a moment later, his expression stiffened. Information came from Mariha Baelir—someone we warned in very clear words not to spread her claws in our city.

She claimed this information came from her connection outside the city.

“Along with nobles, all the criminals seemed to have descended on my city,” he muttered, and I couldn’t help but nod. A lot of criminals have arrived in the city.

Not just the petty ones, but also the truly dangerous ones.

We have taken all known dangerous criminals in our city into preventive custody, including those who could cause trouble.

We are also arresting all the known criminals coming from outside and those that light up the skills of our law enforcement. Still, the powerful ones know how to avoid those things.

“Remind those damn nobles to keep us alerted to their movements and don’t run away from guards that we have placed with them for their safety,” he said, with gritting teeth.

Already knowing well that many of them will not heed it, but if something goes wrong, they will be the ones blaming us first.

“I already did,” I replied.

The nobles are the biggest targets. They always are, but since the emperor died, they have become bigger targets due to their artifacts.

“Also, remind Dalson and his captains that I will not forgive failure,” he stated.

I had talked to the man a few minutes ago and reminded him of what would happen if he failed in his job.

Failure is not an option we have, especially. Over the past six months, the city has been booming due to the legacy’s influence.

We project it to grow even faster after today.

The legacy is incredible; we knew it would be, but it has gone beyond our expectations. I could tell it’s eating at him, that he couldn’t control it directly, and take all the essence it generates, like he used to do with Vanis Tavern.

For five years, we will have to be satisfied with the essence stated in the contract and with the many direct and indirect benefits.

In the past four months, the city has earned the highest tax revenue since he took over, and each month it has increased.

It will continue to increase as long as we keep the city stable and safe.

We were discussing things when the door opened, and my sister walked in. “Finish quickly if you aren’t ready by seven; I will go there alone.” She warned.

“I will love,” replied Ralis.

My nephew and his wife had already gone to the legacy, even before it opened.

“Lawrence, you are coming too; others can handle the work,” she said, turning to me. “I will,” I replied. She gave me a look for a moment longer before walking away.

“Unless you need to take action personally. There is a need to stay further,” I said.

“Let’s go over the last few things before we leave for the legacy,” he stated. I nodded and began to go over things. 

Whether we stay here or in the legacy, it doesn’t matter. If a problem arises, our people will inform us immediately, and we will deal with it from there.

…

Tara Veyrault

“They have captured a lot of them, but there are more that are still freely roaming,” I said as I opened my eyes.

I have been spying on people, criminals, and nobles. It is quite easy, given the legacy’s abilities. There are only a few people with specific skills and artifacts who could sense me.

“Do you really want to do this?” asked Carla, her serious eyes boring into mine.

It’s very risky, not only for me, but also for Greltheaven and Velvet Garden.

“We cannot trust Mariha,” I said, and there is no disagreement from her. Six months is far from enough to earn trust, especially with someone like Mariha.

“Until we do, we need to have our own web of information and connections,” I added. I am doing nearly the same thing as Mariha, but there are some differences; she is a broker. I want to be an operator.

It’s extremely dangerous. I do not have vast experience like Mariha’s, but I know how these things work.

I was a whore for a gang; I know how criminals work and plan.

I wouldn’t have done this if we had trusted Mariha. Until we do, I don’t want Velvet Garden and Greltheaven totally dependent on her.

I understand how valuable the information is; it could decide the fate of things, and I would not want someone we do not trust to have sway over our fate.

“You are betting your career on this, Tara. I hope you know what you are doing,” she said, and her eyes were serious.

If I failed and got caught, being demoted and called back to the Velvet Garden would be the least of my worries. “I understand, but I believe I need to do this,” I replied, my voice filled with conviction.

It is not a spur–of–the–moment thing; I have been thinking about it since I left Lord Silver’s office after a full briefing.

“I will support you, but keep Master Silver and me in the loop,” she reminded.

“I will,” I replied.

I have ample freedom, but I know I must take permission before making important decisions. I will do that, and thankfully, I can contact Master Silver any time as long as I am in Twilight Hall or its domain.

“Good luck!” she wished and walked away, while I remained by the window, watching the gates of Twilight Hall open.

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