Nika's statent was t with Uriel's skepticism, not only because she wasn't interested in archaeology, but because the book of the dead was an enigmatic artifact that had puzzled Uriel ever since he acquired it.
Abilities aside, its content was obscure and although he could understand the ancient glyphs that gave birth to all modern languages, the contents of the book were a mystery. The sa applied for its origin and history despite Uriel dedicating a long ti to research about it in the library.
The closest thing he had found were the dead sea scrolls, though he deduced they were inspired on the cursed book that now rested in his museum.
"Why are you giving that look?" Nika asked offended.
"I don't intend to be an, but..."
"Here we go with the patronizing tone again." Nika scoffed.
"Put yourself in my shoes, would you believe if I told you I knew more than you in... in... what is your field of study anyway?" Uriel asked in genuine confusion.
"I'm not a nerd, okay? I just kick ass while looking pretty in my shorts." She crossed her arms and puffed her chest out in pride.
"I knew you were cold, but I never expected you to be so callous about soone's suffering. Is it really okay for you to disregard Nika's contributions just because she isn't smart?" Alice said in disbelief.
"See? The new girl knows what she's talking about...," Nika nodded, then continued once her last words sunk in. "What do you an I'm not smart."
"You're very pretty Miss Nika." Alice's empty flattery worked like a charm and Nika completely forgot why she was mad in the first place.
"Yeah, she's cute when she acts like that," Uriel followed on Alice's obvious sche. "but I don't see how you can help with this research."
"I have contacts." Nika stated with sharp eyes, suspecting foul play but failing to put her finger on it.
"What kind of contacts?" Uriel had his interest piqued realizing that they did spend a long ti separated and Nika eting soone more capable or with privileged knowledge wasn't impossible.
"The kind of contact who you don't want to deal with. I can arrange a eting, but you will have to promise you'll behave. This ans no killing, no torturing and being polite."
"Fine..." Uriel grunted because that left him almost zero negotiating tools.
"Also, you won't punish if things go wrong, if you don't like my contact or if it doesn't help." Nika said with a grin.
"You're pushing your luck too far." Uriel's eyes glinted in blue for a brief mont, but Nika knew he was bluffing and she had won the negotiation the mont Uriel declared out loud he didn't even know where to begin.
"Take it or leave it."
"Alright, who's this person." Uriel lifted his hands in surrender.
"You'll know when you have to know," Nika tapped on her cellphone a couple tis then started texting soone. She kept a serious expression the entire ti and remained focused, which told Uriel whoever this person was it had to be a big deal. "He says he can et us tonight at the 'Moody Trudie' and to bring cash."
Uriel was already wary, but asking to et at a bar located in the slums told Uriel all he needed to confirm his suspicions of the shady character of the person they were about to et, yet instead of making him second guess his decision it actually made him believe there was a chance it could be helpful.
Despite most of his knowledge about ancient artifacts coming from his studies, the past few months made him aware that people who dealt with artifacts weren't usually law abiding citizens and it was most often than not the opposite.
Throughout history the most valuable artifacts had made their way into rich people's hands only thanks to looters and smugglers. Art pieces, sacred figurines and even mummies were considered as luxury items by the wealthy families even before the arrival.
"Tonight as in... past curfew?" Alice stuttered.
"It's fine if you don't want to co." Uriel shrugged.
"I think it should be a good experience for her to co with. Besides, I think she will want to et my contact." Nika said with her typical mischievous grin.
After a day making preparations among which was to draw a suitcase's worth of credits in cash from the bank, the three hunters went to the appointed location. They sat on a table and a tough looking waitress with a no nonsense attitude ca up to them.
"If you're not going to order, then scram." She scoffed.
"The usual." Said Nika to the waitress who after recognizing her imdiately shifted her attitude.
"Of course, I'll be right back!" The woman rushed in and out of the bar coming back with enough beer to put down a horse.
"Nika, we're not here to get drunk." Uriel said through gritted teeth.
"We need to blend in, you're drawing too much attention." She said as she rrily poured herself so of the beer.
Uriel was anxious as he didn't know what to expect. It was almost curfew and after that, anyone who remained inside the bar would be forced to remain inside. This ant that Nika's contact was either already in there or about to enter, but no matter how hard Uriel focused on his mystical sense there weren't any powerful hunters nearby other than the two sitting on his table.
However, things changed at the exact ti of the curfew when a tall muscular man wearing a long silver embroidered black cape with shoulderpads walked in. He was a heavenly rank hunter and a powerful one at that, he was also handso, but more importantly, it was soone Uriel knew.
"Fuck off!" Uriel said as tipped the table in front of him and grabbed his revolver ready to open fire should the newcor take one step more towards them.
"Hey, you promised!" Nika said as she attempted to keep Uriel under control.
"Yeah, but you didn't tell your contact was Soul fucking fire!"
"Evening." The handso man said with an awkward smile.
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