"I don't care what you're planning, or how much information you've managed to squeeze out of . Take your people and get out of here. Now. If you wait until the local patrols show up, this whole day will be a wash for all of us."
Magic Miss declared, her voice sharp and shrill.
"Don't be so hasty. I know I haven't been entirely fair, so I'm willing to tell you a little about my objective. There's no need to rush. The truth is, I was hired by local agents of the Church of War and Victory. They paid a hefty price because they have... business to conduct in Nolan. If you know anything about their creed, you'll understand what I an."
Jenkins had expected Magic Miss to remain adamant and throw the huntress and her group out. Instead, she froze, a stunned look on her face, before falling into deep thought.
This prompted Jenkins to begin pondering as well. He suddenly beca aware of an issue he had long overlooked: the stance of the Twelve Orthodox Churches on the all-out war between the Fidektri and Cheslan kingdoms.
It was a perplexing situation. The Churches had diligently maintained peace in the material world for centuries, yet this ti, they seed bizarrely unified in their lack of opposition to the war. In fact, so even seed to be subtly encouraging it from the shadows.
Ever since the collapse of the ancient Sicari Empire, the Orthodox Church's diplomacy and peacekeeping efforts had been one of the most critical factors in preventing another full-scale war in the material world.
The twelve churches each had their own interests. Jenkins wasn't entirely sure of the Sage Church's agenda, but he understood the goals of the Church of War and Victory all too well. The core domain of their great deity, the Lord of War, was 'War' itself. Every period of global turmoil was a pri opportunity for them to evangelize and spread their creed.
As for today's events, any outco would be advantageous for the Church of War and Victory. Whether the Royal Army successfully apprehended the pirates or the Royal Navy was ambushed, resulting in a tragic loss of civilian life, it all played into their hands. It was hardly surprising that they would send agents to ddle in the affair.
Magic Miss had clearly reached the sa conclusion, which was why she no longer insisted on kicking them out. If the huntress was telling the truth, then their interests didn't actually conflict. And if this group could be put to good use...
At this thought, she turned to the only accomplice she trusted in the warehouse.
"What are you looking at for?"
Jenkins whispered.
"Aren't you a follower of the Lying God? You of all people should be able to tell if that woman is lying."
Magic Miss pointed a finger straight at the huntress's face as she spoke. The other woman didn't seem to mind in the slightest—or at least, she didn't show it.
"You seem to have so misconceptions about my faith, though I can indeed tell..."
He paused, deliberating just how much of the truth he ought to reveal:
"What the huntress said is true, but it isn't the whole truth. At least, not when it cos to her identity. She is indeed a rcenary from the black market, but that doesn't preclude her from having other roles."
Jenkins was implying that the huntress herself was an agent of the Church of War and Victory, planted here in Nolan. For all he knew, this entire band of rcenaries might be followers of the Lord of War.
"It's hardly unusual for soone from the black market to have multiple identities. Whether she's a foreign agent or a church spy, as long as she was telling the truth just now, I don't care what else she's hiding."
Magic Miss stated, then turned her gaze back to the huntress.
"Can I trust you?"
"You must have heard of my reputation on the black market. I was in the wrong here, but since I've already taken your money, I will carry out my duties faithfully. Of course, I'll also be tending to my own business in the anti..."
With that, she extended her hand. This ti, Magic Miss didn't refuse. She took it and gave it a brief, perfunctory shake.
"I hope this plan goes smoothly. Otherwise, even if you flee to the ends of the earth, I will hunt you down and teach you what it ans to cross a follower of the God of Mystery and Rituals."
The day's plan had barely begun, and it had already nearly been scrapped. But at least the outco was favorable. Now that the huntress and her group had laid their cards on the table, they would likely carry out Magic Miss's instructions with even greater enthusiasm. As for what they planned to do afterward, both Jenkins and Magic Miss had the unspoken understanding not to ask. The huntress had guaranteed they had no intention of harming civilians, and that their own mission wouldn't interfere with Magic Miss's.
By the ti their eting with the rcenaries concluded, it was already seven in the morning. The Docklands were starting to bustle with activity, mostly laborers making the final preparations for the celebration scheduled in just a few hours.
The docks intended to welco the fleet had long been ready, but the warships' deep drafts made it impossible for the entire squadron to approach the shore. Thus, the only vessel that would receive the public's welco was the flagship, carrying the navy's top brass.
To prepare the welcoming area, the municipal authorities had not only brought in workers to erect temporary viewing platforms but had also allocated tax funds to resurface the surrounding ground.
Jenkins and Magic Miss now stood on these newly laid tiles, gazing out at the beach in the seven o'clock light. The tiling was beautiful, but anyone with a lick of common sense knew that a few months of saltwater spray would render it completely unrecognizable.
A few citizens had already arrived early at the coast, so Jenkins and Magic Miss didn't look at all out of place standing together. They weren't rely killing ti before the festivities began; Magic Miss was busy calculating the changes in the tide, wind direction, and humidity over the next several hours.
The spectacles she wore were a genuine Series B Extraordinary item, designated B-02-5-3781, the "Navigator's Assistant." Magic Miss had rented it from a friend for a steep price, and it could asure marine conditions with exceptional precision.
Jenkins, however, was wary of such items. He'd heard that when the Church had secured the spectacles back in year 392 of the Universal Calendar, they had been discovered on the deck of a rchant vessel whose entire crew had perished.
"The wind is perfect," she muttered. "I don't think I'll even need to factor in the lunar phase for the tide calculations. The weather today is ideal for a landing operation... though I doubt anyone would be insane enough to try sothing like that..."
Magic Miss continued to mutter rapidly, and it wasn't until half-past seven that she finally announced her preparations were complete. All that remained was to check on the steam bombs, and then they could wait for the celebration to begin.
The warehouse where Magic Miss stored her steam bombs was in an extrely remote location. According to her, this was to prevent any innocent bystanders from being hard should they need to resort to their secondary plan and detonate them. But after seeing the explosives, Jenkins felt she was being overly cautious. The bombs were so damp, he doubted they had enough power to blow the flimsy roof off the warehouse, let alone cause any real harm.
Reviews
All reviews (0)