After leaving Lieve in the inn, Lee returned to the streets. He wasn’t worried about her running off – if she did he was free to think of other ways to get a spatial spark. What he focused now on was information gathering.
The more Lee listened to people’s stories, the more he beca sure his initial assumptions were correct. There were nuances he didn’t understand yet, but if everything went well, so people would clear things up on their own. It was their encounter with the blond chick that made him think of a plan after he heard that her father was the one organizing the current event.
The place of the eting he arranged was carefully thought out. It was a spacious room in an expensive inn, right next to the central square of Stonegate – directly across the rift gate. Watching the cargo and people coming and going to and from Hollowreach was probably the only entertainnt available here. As a result, room cost three tis the usual rate.
What Lee was interested in wasn’t the scenery, but the countless escape routes. Well, not really countless – there were four in the room: the window, the door, and the two trapdoors – one leading to the roof and the other to a lower floor. If things went awry and he managed to get out, he’d have plenty of options to blend into the crowd.
Fighting an elental lord in open was a suicide mission, but until they beca an overlord, it was very unlikely for them to find a needle in a haystack. That is, if they didn’t intend to burn it down. Fortunately, knowing who their guests were going to be, Lee was sure he’ll be able to escape in the crowd.
Regarding Lieve – he went with the plan because he was certain of his assumptions. In the worst case scenario – at least she would find peace before passing away. After all, she was supposed to die under a steamrunner and Lee was the one who prolonged her agony. For her the past months were full of suffering and it was clear that facing her inner demons was the best way out.
Obviously, these were just excuses Lee found for himself. He knew that he was putting the young woman at risk, but he also knew she would surely die if left alone. He was not going to play nanny forever, and what he was about to do was basically their final gambit.
Done with the arrangents, Lee wrote a couple of letters – one in his own handwriting, and the other by forging Lieve’s. He delivered them by using a couple of random people, but followed them to make sure they did their part.
On both occasions the ssengers were imdiately detained for questioning, but released soon after, and Lee could only curse in regret for not pretending to be one. It would’ve been a great prelude to the following show if he had t the targets before, but it was too late to change anything.
Late in the evening, while the plaza in front of the rift gate was busy with singing and dancing people, Lee opened the trapdoor in the floor. Under the watch four curious pairs of eyes, he climbed up from the room below.
Lieve followed him and was surprised to see the haughty smile on the blondie in a white fur coat. Next to her stood an elderly person, and behind them, two young n – well build and with elegant swords at their sides.
Lee knew their guests would arrive ahead of the ti and chose to wait in the room below. He didn’t fill Lieve in on the plan, and the questioning look she threw at him now was understandable. Sadly, the best course of action was him shrugging in return, and his reaction was received with a giggle.
"You didn’t expect your lover to give you up, did you?" Sanne said with a laugh, "So n are the worst. Where in the world did you pick up this loser?"
"Sanne ... you ... why ..." Lieve was trying to find the right words, but she was blanking out from the sudden surge of inner pain.
"What do you an – why?" Sanne snickered, "You dared to take my man! From the day I was born Giel was destined to be mine, but you showed up form nowhere and ssed up everything! Every ti I saw you I had to hold back to not strangle you with my bare hands on the spot!"
"But ... we’re friends ..." Lieve whispered, her eyes full of tears.
Seeing her reaction, Lee regretted putting her through this emotional roller coaster. When he planned the event, he kind of missed this aspect, mostly focusing on the fun he would have observing it. Now the best he could do was to pray no one would get angry at him later.
"Friends? Don’t make laugh! Look how hideous you look ... dirty, hair a couple of inches long, dressed in dregs ... you’re an embarrassnt!" Sanne coldly said, "I just took a pity on you when daddy was about to kill you, that’s it! Do you even know how hard it is to get shackles like those in Hollowreach? And I gifted you two! Hahaha!"
’So that’s how it is!’ Lee realized the real reason for the assassination attempt, ’No sane grownup woman calls her father ’daddy’! This bitch has serious father issues!’
Turns out he was wrong.
"Get them!" The old man said, "I don’t intend to risk the future of the Teuling clan again!"
Apparently this wasn’t a simple love triangle Lee assud it to be. He was certain that the blondie had set eyes on Lieve’s husband and organized her disappearance, but clearly there was more to it. His initial plan basically ended here, but as it turns out there was more fun to be had.
’In that case ...’ Lee had another idea.
After hearing the command, the two n stepped forth, but froze half way when Lee said, "Stop! I’ll blow up the ceiling and the whole Stonegate will witness your actions!"
His fists were covered in flas, clearly indicating he was a fire elental master.
"Why don’t we go with the initial agreent?" Lee continued, "You give a spatial spark and I’ll disappear."
Lieve looked at Lee in shock, but Sanne began to laugh, "Hahaha! See? That’s all you’re worth! A lousy spark! Your lover sold you out for a spark! Hahaha!"
Lieve knew Lee’s goal for coming to Hollowreach. In fact he had never hidden it, but his betrayal was unexpected. Lee saw Lieve swaying – the young woman was barely able to stand from the emotional hits she took one after another.
The old man also noticed that, and said, "I didn’t agree to such deal, but fine! You can take one from her body and leave afterwards!"
"Great!" Lee’s cheery answer caught everyone unprepared. All of the present expected him to continue to haggle, but were caught off-guard when he happily agreed. His following words were confusing, though, "Lieve, who’s the old geezer?"
"Lars Teuling ..." She chanically replied, but Lee answered with another Great! again.
And no one expected the next part.
Without warning, and with the sa happy smile across his face, Lee vanished from the spot and reappeared back an eye-blink later. The only one who noticed Lee stabbing his two n in the neck was old Teuling, but even he was too slow to save them. The attack was too sudden, without any prior indication. Even though Lars Teuling could effortlessly match the speed, he expected Lee to be a fire cultivator because of the flaming fists earlier.
It was embarrassing to think he could get hoodwinked so easily despite his age and experience. The two dead elental masters were his favorite goons, and spatial particles began to revolve around him as he prepared to pay back for their deaths.
Lee’s life probably would’ve ended right there if not for his next words.
"Alright! Two on two left!" He cheered again, looking at Soulcleaver in his hand. It didn’t have a drop of blood on it, but for so reason Lee had this illusion that the sword was demanding more. Lee knew it was unlikely to happen, but he had to stall for a mont – it was clear that the old man was going to make his move.
He said, "Lieve, can you take care of the old man? He looks kind of weak. I’ll fuck the blondie ... she’s pissing off!"
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