We arrived at some kind of station, standing right next to the wall on the second level of the city. Even larger in size than the one outside, at least in the dark it seemed that way. It's a pity, I personally hoped that the station would be right on the second level, as I understand, it's not so easy to get deeper, but oh well.
Having left the carriage, we walked towards the exit without any obstacles. And why was I embarrassed to take my rapier? No one cares at all. Okay, taking my baby with me was still a bad decision because it raises questions anyway. Big questions that we don't need. Therefore, there is really nothing to regret.
-Where do we go next? — apparently, Azula was somehow confused, looking at the huge city. And it really is, at the moment, the largest of those that I have seen. And I saw many cities.
"We'll find some hotel and just rent a room there," I shrugged, "I think it simply doesn't make sense to look for something else."
"It does," the princess disagreed and, approaching me a step, I would say, intimately close, she said, "it's somehow suspicious to come and live in a hotel for a long time, this will raise unnecessary questions."
"Firstly, I'm sure they don't have the same level of intelligence here," I answered her, "secondly, we plan to get to the capital itself, so we simply won't stay in one hotel for a long time."
"Okay," Azula closed her eyes, sighing heavily, "maybe you're right." Let's think about it in the morning, I'm too sleepy. Where could there be a hotel?
"Walk along the main street and you'll find everything you need," I shrugged, "the golden rule." And the main street is right in front of us," I waved my hand towards the big road, along which various carts were now moving and quite a lot of people were walking. Considering that it was night now, I don't think it's worth asking which street is the main one?
"Great, then follow me," Azula said, turning on her heels slightly away from me in the direction of movement towards that very street.
We didn't have to go far; literally ten steps later an establishment with a helpful "Hotel" sign was waiting for us. Well, without thinking twice, we turned there.
"Good evening," a somehow unnaturally smiling girl in some traditional clothes greeted us with a bow, "my name is Judy, how can I help?"
Something was itching right in my head, how I didn't like this girl. There was something strange and incomprehensible about her. But, however, we have nothing to fear; we will have to become familiar when we climb into the very center.
"We should rent a room for a couple of days," I said.
"Of course," said the girl at the reception desk, still without changing her expression.
Oh, I don't like this.
However, after paying the money, we were given a key and taken to a room on the second floor of a four-story building. Afterwards, Judy, with the same smile and careful bow, said goodbye and left us alone.
"Are you getting chills down your spine from this Judy too?" - I asked my companion.
Azula just shrugged her shoulders at this, but after thinking for a couple of seconds, funnyly raising her eyes to the ceiling, she said:
- Yes, something is clearly wrong here.
"That's what I mean," I chuckled, "something's wrong." People don't smile like that, even when they try to smile.
"Well, why," objected the princess, slightly curling her lips in a smile, "you need to look at the faces of some at the palace, there... what is it?"
Azula's reaction can be understood, because the room was not that big and only had one double bed in the middle.
"Hmm, I didn't think about it," I said, twitching my upper lip, "but we have a legend, and we must stick to it."
- Yes?! — the princess turned her gaze to me, "aren't you overstepping your boundaries?" What's next?
- Further? - I also got a little angry, - then I go to bed. And you do what you want. You can go ask for another room, but that smiling Judy will probably ask, what the hell? But I think we'll survive somehow, right?!
"Hmm," Azula replied, looking me straight in the eyes. And there was almost no space between us, her chest almost touched mine while breathing, however, after looking at me for a second, she turned on her heels, but the gesture was not so effective, considering that there was nowhere to go, but she didn't care I was worried - now I'm going to go for a swim - yes, there is some semblance of plumbing here, which rather surprised me. I was afraid that such amenities would include a stone tub of water and a wooden pot, but no, something vaguely similar to a sewer for a toilet and a system with a shower, where water flows through some pipes in a conventional watering can. Apparently there is a water tower somewhere above? Well, judging by the price, we ended up in one of the best hotels in the outer region. Because such "technologies" compare favorably with the rest of the surroundings, and the building itself does not look old or shabby, rather, the most ordinary - and you will stay here. Or do you want to come with me? For the sake of secrecy, of course," Azula said sarcastically.
"I won't even think about it," I answered, falling onto the bed, deciding not to cross any boundaries and not answer too sarcasticly. The idea of washing together, simply standing with our backs to each other for the sake of greater speed, was not voiced by me, although it was discussed before this disagreement. Still, my eyes are already sticking together, and I really want to sleep.
But in general, it's good that I didn't voice it, because I somehow lost my frame during our trip here. Azula is not my pretty friend, no matter what my hormones think about it, she is the princess of the Fire Nation. And we need to treat it accordingly, of course, without going overboard, but we also need to somehow get around such moments.
Azula came out wearing a spare set of clothes that she apparently considered suitable for sleeping. It looked more expensive and simply better than what we were wearing. Banal pants and a shirt, but made of soft fabrics, so we can say that they are pajamas. I didn't have the same thing, to my deep regret, I somehow didn't think about such a moment. Well, it's okay, it's easier for me in this matter, I'll just go without a top.
And I'm not going to listen to my common sense, I don't want to sleep in one of the street shirts.
Azula, without saying anything, simply walked to the other side of the bed, and I, in turn, got up and went to swim. What can I say? The warm shower was really nice, even if I was actually pretty clean considering even the locals.
There's only one problem. The princess's clothes are quite thin, not so thin as to be see-through, but enough so that you can see some of the curves of her body. Which I tried not to do, but I have a good visual memory.
And now I'm simply standing in the shower with a boner and don't know what to do. However, can you just turn on cold water right away?
I came out of the shower a good ten minutes later, putting on more or less soft pants from my not too large set.
- Do you see the dagger? - Azula greeted me, lying on the bed, - he will lie between us if you cross this line...
She did not clarify what would happen to me, but it was clear. I didn't answer this, just falling on my side of the bed.
"Are you still going to sleep?" — the princess clarified with some strange intonation.
"I don't have suitable clothes to sleep in," I replied.
Azula just chuckled smugly at this. No seriously?
However, after the candles went out, it took me two minutes to pass out.
Perhaps Aang regretted that they chose Lump as their teacher. He simply didn't fit into the team at all. For him, Sokka, Katara, and the Avatar himself were kids who didn't understand anything at all, and therefore he didn't even listen to their opinions wherever possible. It's good that at least Appa wasn't eager to control it, and they could choose the flight direction themselves.
But he teaches Earth Bending quite well. This turned out to be more difficult than Aang thought, much more difficult, because Earth is the opposite of Air, and everything that he was taught and what remained in the subcortex of his brain had to be changed to earth bending.
Don't dodge, but meet head on, don't come up with some kind of workaround, but just take it and do it. It was hard, but progress was slowly moving forward.
Unlike relationships in a team. Glyba didn't even try to understand the ideas or help in the plans of the guys themselves. True, one day, when the topic touched on Kira, Aang's new teacher intervened in a rather serious tone, which was rare for him. He usually interacted with them as if they were children.
— By the way, have you fought with him yet? - he asked.
"Yes," Aang answered for everyone, "it was he who deprived Katara of her hand and left this scar," he pointed to his face, where a barely noticeable line after Koshi Island could still be discerned.
"Hmm," Glyba scratched his chin, "are you saying he defeated you?"
"He doesn't fight honestly," Aang jumped to his feet, "he always either attacks very quickly with his sword, trying to kill me, or tries to chat, or attacks my friends...
"I understand," the man nodded, "in general, it definitely works, right?"
"Yes," confirmed Sokka, "apparently, he has no goal of testing his strength in a battle with Aang and does not even expect to defeat him in direct combat." He acts for sure, if not to kill Aang, then to try to weaken his team. That is us.
"Yes," said Glyba, "that's in his spirit...
- Do you know him? - Katara exclaimed, already rising to her feet. Recently, she hates Kira with all her soul.
"Yes," the man nodded, "some time ago a new participant came to our arena." Covered in bandages and looking like he hadn't eaten in years. Sunken cheeks, thin as a fish bone. They thought he decided to commit suicide in such an interesting way, but, to everyone's surprise, he very quickly moved up the tournament grid. Without using bending, only his sword and only one hand. And then it was time to fight with the permanent core. Here everyone already thought that he had no chance, but, nevertheless, the One-Armed Sword, as we called it, began to defeat us. One by one. Until it was the Blind Bandit's turn.
- Until whom? - Aang asked.
"The Blind Bandit," repeated Lump, "is our permanent champion." A blind girl, about ten years old, who defeated us with a couple of moves. And for the third time everyone thought that, well, he certainly wouldn't do anything here. And he won. Or was it a draw? I don't remember the details anymore, because they are not important, but I remember their fight itself for the rest of my life. This really can't be described in words... And now knowing that this is Kira, I'm afraid to think about how strong he is. Being virtually without an arm and with only one sword, he defeated us, who were far from the worst, I want to say, earth mages. And then he recently came to the arena already as Kira and killed half of us. Their princess and prince were there. In general, they did not like the buffoonish image of one of ours. They came to fix the showdown, but we didn't know who it was. So they began to send them far and wide... in general, in almost a box made of earth, two fire mages killed a dozen not-so-bad earth mages. That's it, guys.
- What was he doing in this city, and even crippled? - Sokka asked.
"Who would know," Glyba shrugged, "I'm more interested in who is capable of crippling him?" And where is he hiding, if, as you say, even the Avatar has not yet been able to defeat him.
"I... in my opinion, he's not a Firebender," Aang decided to try to cast the bait again.
- Aang, we've already discussed this! - Sokka exclaimed, - this simply cannot be!
- What can't happen? - asked Glyba.
"I saw Kira use Air bending," Aang said, "he was chasing me on a glider, but Sokka shot him down with his boomerang, and Kira slowed his fall with air."
"Aang, no one can control two elements at the same time!" - Sokka continued to insist, - except for the Avatar. Everyone knows this.
"But, nevertheless, I saw," Aang said quietly.
"That makes sense," said Lump, again starting to scratch his chin, "I noticed this when I was training Aang, your styles are very similar." He dodged all attacks with the same ease, with too much ease. Fire Mages don't have that kind of dexterity. But Kira has it.
- Are you saying we need to defeat some second Avatar? - Sokka said in a rather frightened voice.
There was no answer, everyone decided to remain silent and just think about their own things, because the news was not good at all.
Guess who ended up getting into whose half? That's right, I was still lying there, and Azula, brazenly ignoring the dagger, moved closer, burying her face somewhere in my back and throwing her hand over me. I wonder when she wakes up, will she kill me right away, or is there a possibility that she will look at the situation first?
***
The moment the sleeping beauty woke up was very interesting. I felt with my back how she was sleeping and began to toss and turn, waking up slightly. She immediately jerked, jumping up, but I pretended that I was still sleeping. Maybe she won't beat the sleeping man?
But no reactions after...
"He would have gone to bed completely naked," Azula interrupted my thoughts with her muttering, "he's lying here warm and naked..."
And then she lay down on the other side and, apparently, fell asleep again. Well, good, well, lucky, one might say. I just quietly and slightly breathed out a sigh of relief. The main thing here is to be quiet so that she doesn't understand that I noticed her embarrassment, otherwise I won't blow my head off.
I didn't go to bed again, I just thought about life. Well, in terms of who is to blame and what to do? It's somehow quite scary to realize that this locality is clearly facing a not very good period very soon.
No, in the long term, on the contrary, everything will only be better for them, the people of Fire will rebuild such a large and significant city and make it better, maybe even emphasizing some ideas for themselves, but this is in the long term.
But the coming year promises to be very difficult. Because a change in the top leadership in the city will have the greatest impact on the outer layer of the population, the very ones who don't have money anyway. But nothing can be done about it. Unfortunately, the process was started by our ancestors, and somehow it is no longer possible to stop it.
Only an avatar, the master of all four elements... hm, it got me, in general, only an avatar can, not caring about everyone and everything, think that if he ends the war right now, the problem will be solved.
Nope, no shit, war is always a consequence. No one starts a war for fun, only because of certain reasons, and very compelling ones, because it is a very expensive pleasure. Very.
I'm sure in the original, when the avatar finished all this, something happened next. Either a new war, or someone made concessions, because there was a lot of blood, and in Aang's opinion, all the land should be given to the people of the earth. That is, many of the Fire Nation will go to islands where there will be a shortage of food and work for the population. Which will lead to not the best times. Rebellion, new government, new solution - war.
Purely in theory, if you leave everything within the current borders, and everyone will suddenly become happy... but this is impossible, absolutely everyone has invested immeasurable amounts of money in the war, and simply everyone, except ordinary military men and people, does not want to stop the war. At least for now.
Well, as I already mentioned, the same Beifongs made a fortune from this, and even now if the war stops, their influx of money will be tens of times less, if not end at all.
My thoughts were interrupted by Azula, who apparently had "slept" and had already gotten up quite loudly and started calling me. It's time for me to "wake up".
The second awakening literally ten minutes later was more than successful. Azula immediately went into the bathroom, and I went into the hall, I need to find out where I can get something to eat.
As it turned out, there is a kind of cafe/dining room right in the next room, I still didn't understand. There was nothing to do, so I went upstairs to pick up our figurative princess and go have breakfast and discuss our plans.
- So, what is our rough plan? — I asked the question when we were already in place and grabbed something edible.
"Look around," Azula shrugged, "let's walk around and take a closer look and get our bearings."
"You know, I have an absolutely crazy plan in my head," I cast the bait, "but I'm not sure we can handle it."
- Hmm? And which one?
"We just need to catch the local youth, I'm not sure what they do, but, despite what kind of city it is, it's a city, not a village, which means there should be loafers of our age here who will open up their inner kitchen for us."
- What kind of? — the princess raised her eyebrow.
"How to get to the next level of the city, where it's dangerous to walk, where there's no... something like that," I shrugged.
- And where can we find them?
"Somewhere," I chuckled, "we need to look for bars and meet some people." And there it's been a couple of days to breed them, and all the questions remain.
"Hmm," was all Azula answered to this, "I'd better try to reach out to local gangs, it won't be a problem for us to crush them, and then we'll find out all the information."
"Hmm," I now answered her option, "in principle, nothing prevents us from combining." How do you plan to find the local robbers?
"To flash gold somewhere, and then go down a dark corridor," Azula shrugged, "we're already in their sights, most likely, simply because we lived in an expensive hotel and are having dinner in an equally expensive establishment." So, as soon as we go out somewhere where it's not so crowded, I'm sure they'll try to rob us, and then we'll go out to higher places—the question is not at all difficult.
"Sounds like a plan," I shrugged, "we'll find out the official schedules through the youth, and the real ones through the mob." And then we'll think about what and how.
"Yeah, but we need to do this as quickly as possible," Azula said, gesturing with the hand in which she holds the chopsticks, "because we have almost no time, we can't afford to stay in this part of the city even for a week." We must find a way further and at the same time accurately scout out what is here and how, and pass on the information further.
"Wrap up," I said, seeing two ladies sit down at a table not far from us, with exactly the same artificial smiles as Judy's, and immediately began to silently eat their food. "What do you think, if this is the outer city, then how beautiful are the inner ones?" cities?
"I think the food there is definitely better than here," Azula chimed in as best she could, vilifying everything around her, "and the people will be cleaner."
"Yes," I nodded, "I wonder if I can get a job as a blacksmith here or not?" To start earning money.
We carried on a dialogue at approximately this level for a good ten minutes, well at least it was not stressful for us, and I carefully watched the ladies not far from me, who silently finished their meal and got up and left.
Azula also noted this moment and, leaning towards me, as if wanting to hug or maybe kiss me, whispered:
"We need to discuss our affairs less generally," she said, "and carefully monitor our surroundings." These "smiles" really freeze me, cold sweat runs down my back.
"I agree," I answered, "but smiles are not an indicator, at least not yet. Because we may make a mistake due to a low sample.
"What clever words you know," the princess said with a drop of venom, already moving away from me, "but I agree."
"Uh-huh," I muttered, "okay, let's go to a secluded corner first or let's look for a more interesting company?"
"I think it's the second one," Azula answered, "we'll do the first one on the way back, but in the meantime we need to do some more shopping."
Yeah, shine it in gold, got it.
Actually, with these words we got up from the table, time to take a walk around the city from a typical fantasy? So far everything is stable: a little mystery and intrigue, a great mission and a city surrounded by walls. What's next on the list?
Find the cat slave girl and save her?
Or maybe join the local army, which once every five years goes beyond the wall with huge losses?
Um, by the way.
"Listen," I drew Azula's attention to myself and, leaning towards my ear, began to whisper, "first of all, smile, as if I'm telling you something vulgar." Secondly, what do you think about joining the army here?
"I think you shouldn't just disguise yourself like that," the princess rolled her eyes, "I don't think it's a very good idea." Well, you'll go, what's next? There will be no way back unless you hide, but what are the bonuses?
"Hmm," I thought, "on one hand, you're right, but on the other hand, I'll find out exactly where and what is here." And at the same time, I will join the company of people from whom I can learn various information, and I think there I can advance to a higher level of the city.
"Yeah, after a couple of years," the princess rolled her eyes, "we have a plan, and let's stick to it?" And don't come up with a plan, the reliability of which is built on some random thoughts and the hope that everything will go as you planned.
"At a minimum, this is a topic that needs to be discussed with our future "friends"," I shrugged, "I'm not saying to go sign up right now."
"Better look where a group of our age might live," muttered the princess.
"Listen, this plan is of course a good one, because I came up with it, but I have no idea how we can join them." Somehow, you know, it's usually difficult for me with friends...
"Shut up," Azula interrupted me, "look at how the crowd is rushing into that bar," and nodded towards such a typical tavern.
This was clearly not a place where young people gathered; rather, dubious personalities came there and drank heavily, discussing some of their affairs, and now it enjoyed some incredible popularity, because the crowd there was visible even from the outside.
- What's going on here? — I asked a random drunkard when we had already approached the building.
-Didn't you hear? - he said in a slightly drunken voice, - here some woman is defeating everyone in her arms. She's a beautiful woman, by the way, I'd be with someone like that...
"I see, thank you," I interrupted him and just moved on.
I caught a little déjà vu, but it was actually very unlikely. Frankly speaking, the scenario is unrealistic. Almost. Making my way through the crowd closer and closer, I already realized that the unreal is real.
June sat at a table right in the middle of the establishment. Who was completely drunk and defeated various big men and received money from it.
- Well, who else... hic... still wants? - Having defeated the next one, June called.
"I," I decided to volunteer, sitting down at the table opposite her.
I saw recognition in the girl's eyes, but when she saw me and my gaze, which hinted that she should remain silent, she simply put out her hand. Which I took up, and we began to fight.
The crowd roared, and after struggling for a couple of minutes, I stupidly gave in and lost. With an upset face, he got up from the table and, having paid a couple of coins, went to Azula. I acted for women's smiling faces that seemed to flash in the crowd.
"You..." Azula began to be indignant, squeezing my hand very tightly. In response, I simply hugged her so that I could press my mouth directly to her ear.
"This is my old friend, a mercenary, I don't know what she's doing here, but we can find out a lot, I just made myself known," and let her go after her.
To my words, the princess only nodded subtly.
After about another half hour and a dozen idiots who simply gave their money to the girl, she, having already sobered up and stopped drinking so much, began to say goodbye to everyone. Having met her gaze, I pointed towards the exit, where Azula and I headed.
After which, already on the street, we walked in one direction for about ten minutes and only then went, leaving the main street, into some establishment, where the mercenary also went.
"Well, hello," with these words she fell down at the table.
"Hello," I nodded, "what fates."
There were almost no people around us, and the bartender behind the counter was at a decent distance from us so as not to hear. The establishment was clearly not very popular.
"My Nyla was stolen, and all traces lead here," she said immediately, "I'm not asking about you, and that's understandable."
"Then I'm sure we can help each other," I nodded, "if everything goes well with us, finding Nyla won't be a problem."
"I understand," she nodded, "how long have you been here?"
- First day.
"So you probably want me to fill you in on the matter," she chuckled, "this is a sewer." Full. No one here knows anything about the war, which would seem surprising, given that the city is accepting refugees, but recently someone lost his nerve and started screaming on the main street for people to wake up. I saw him the next day and he had no idea about the war and thought he had lived in Basings all his life.
"Fun," Azula said. I wisely did not introduce her.
"Yeah," June nodded, "I think you've already met smiling girls who all respond to Judy?" So, they are almost everywhere around, they are quite similar to each other, they always smile and are clearly not for beauty.
"We already understood that," I chuckled, "how to get further?"
"I don't know," June shrugged, "I haven't found any methods yet." But I didn't look very hard, I'm afraid to become the same as Lee. In one moment become a "native" resident. Therefore, I acted very carefully.
-Are there any gangs or something like that? — I asked the next question.
"Yes, how could they not be," June shrugged, "some fool with a knife tried to rape me, and when I beat him, the next day a dozen people found me, I had to beat them too and no longer walk far from crowds of people, because next time two dozen will come and I won't be able to cope.
"I see," I nodded, "look: we checked into a hotel...
— Near the station? - June continued for me, - everyone settles there at first. I live in "Turtle", a fairly popular establishment, room ten.
"We have the two hundred and third," I said, "we won't shine together anymore unless necessary, so that everyone doesn't get caught at once, if anything happens." Smiles follow us...
It was at this moment that two ladies entered the establishment with tense smiles on their faces. Judging by how slightly the bartender got closer, we are not the only ones who understand that something is wrong here.
"I'll go to the police if you don't give us the money by tomorrow!" Azula jumped up.
- Ha, you brought me here for this? - June played along, - you can go for a walk, you are not the first, you are not the last who threatened me like that. Everything is fair.
"Let's get out of here, dear," I stood up and put both hands on the princess's shoulders, "there's no need to talk to this... this one."
And with these words we left the tavern.
"Details," the princess demanded.
"We met during my escape," I began to tell without arguing, "in the same way, there was a tavern where she cheated everyone out of money." I defeated her, and we began an easy romance. She gave me a lift to our positions.
- Novel? — the princess raised one eyebrow.
"We just slept for a while," I shrugged.
- And why do you trust her?
"She's an aristocrat," I shrugged, "without bending." I guess. She was put in a difficult position when, despite all her talents, her parents stupidly planned to sell her as a wife to some higher-ranking aristocrat. So she gave in. This is my guess, because if you noticed, she has a characteristic appearance and habits.
"Yes, characteristic, like you and me," she emphasized the last word, hinting that she also knew little about my past.
"Therefore, despite the fact that she drowns herself in alcohol, she is not a bad person and clearly "roots" for us, at least because she helped our army for quite a long time, until I sailed to the North Pole.
"And, in my opinion, she had another reason for helping you," Azula chuckled, "her look at you was too telling."
"I don't think so," I shrugged, although I doubted it inside. Who knows?
Maybe this is true.
- In any case, it seems that we are not on the same path with the local youth. If June says that there are no ways, then the youth are unlikely to help in this case," I chuckled, "which means it's time to go to the local market and spend left and right.
"Yeah, the main thing is not to bury yourself," Azula dripped venom, "we have limited money."
"Until we contact the local gang," I disagreed, "they, as expected, should have a common fund." Which we will clean out.
"How simple it is for you," the princess sighed, "okay, let's go, first we need to buy you some pajamas." And then we'll see what we need and what we don't need.
Heh, blame it on the fact that I was naked? Naive, I was dressed in the hay on that farm, but still woke up with a weight on my chest.
***
Today was a very ordinary day for Wei. As always, he needed to rob a couple of newcomers. He had been doing this work day after day for six months now. He was even caught, but only quickly released.
Wei was not an idiot, he understood why, in a rather closed city, they tried to take money from newcomers using this method. And then the chief takes them away from Wei himself. And the main one is probably his main one.
But there is nothing to be done; they paid very well by the standards of the outer circle. And by and large they can't do anything to him. Well, at most, some company can catch and kick, business as usual. Not for the first time.
He had already been patrolling the main street for several hours in search of new targets. He had a well-trained eye, and choosing harmless targets was a piece of cake for him. Therefore, having let through suspicious individuals and just people who gave off a slight chill, like these two people literally hissing at each other in low tones, he kept looking for those whom he could easily rob.
New victims were discovered very easily, as often happens, two young men with a bag of gold who behave like tourists. Wei hates these people the most.
They obviously fled from where, judging by the gold and behavior, a typical scene played out, how the girl was seduced by a pretty face and ran away from her parents with a lot of money, and now they will live together on this pile of money until it runs out, and then he will leave her.
This was already evident, judging by her loving gaze and his detachment and sometimes irritability from his companion.
"We don't need this," the guy repeated for the hundredth time, "why?"
- You think so, but I said: it's necessary! — the girl said insistently.
But all is not lost with her, Wei noted, even though it is clearly visible that she is in love with this goat, but she is resisting. In any case, the thief did not show up for a long time and, after following for another half hour, the couple expectedly left the main street somewhere to the side.
Of course, before this the guy leaned over and whispered something to the girl, clearly suggesting they have sex in the fresh air.
Already taught by various experiences, Wei was in no hurry to immediately rush at them, but at first carefully watched as they, without even looking back, walked on and turned from a side street somewhere into a path between buildings. Having looked with a small mirror and made sure that they were both walking along this street at a normal pace, without looking back, Wei, grabbing a knife, quickly ran up to the guy walking a little behind and struck several blows from behind in the back, a few just to be sure. All that remains is to pick up the wallet and maybe have a little fun with this aristocrat.
"I'm fucking telling you, you want to waste all our gold on this crap!?" - rude, yes, but there's no other way.
It feels like Azula, with a flash of money, meant to buy up half the market, and on a certain trinket that we don't even have room to carry, I lost my temper, and we've been hissing at each other for about two minutes, away from the flow of people under a small incomprehensible canopy.
- We have a lot of gold! - the princess said loudly in response, clearly still trying to attract the attention of the local devils, - I spend it on whatever I want!
"We still have a lot of time to live here, but, as it turns out, we don't have enough money to swim in," I said in pure snake language in the princess's ear.
"Pfft," she answered, "we'll soon rob the robbers and have as much money as we want."
- And if not? - I asked the question, - what will we do then? Rob ordinary people?
"If not, then ordinary bandits will kill us, but I don't believe that they are not here."
"But I'm just assuming the usual development of events, where it is quite possible that we will not be able to increase the amount of money in the near future," I continued, already switching to human.
"You somehow worry too much about such a trifle," Azula raised one eyebrow, "what's wrong with you?" Met an old flame and your hormones are raging?
"No," I rolled my eyes, noticing something interesting out of the corner of my eye, "And she's not my love, we were just fucking, how many times should I tell you," and then, leaning towards her ear, I whispered, "I noticed something." come follow me.
"Tch," was all Azula answered, making an inspired face and taking a step in that direction. I'm behind her.
As a result, we walked along a still large, but side street, and then turned straight into some kind of stereotypical alley.
- Ah-ah-ah-ah! - what can I say? We were a little late, our thief had already attacked the victims and, judging by the bloody knife and the lying body, the thief was not so simple. And the girl let out a squeal, very shrill.
When I ran up to the thief, he was already planning to run away, I can see it in his eyes, but he tried to put up a fight. But what kind of fight is there? A sharp blow with a knife, which I moved to the side and with a systematic blow to the head, knocked him out.
"Well, now you can return to your family," I shrugged and told the girl, throwing the thief over my shoulder and leaving.
Well, what lies ahead is not very good, but necessary work - torture.
Wei did not understand how and when he made a mistake. That screaming couple that sent a chill down his spine found him at the most crucial moment. Oh, it's not just that he didn't even look in their direction, you can't drink experience away.
He woke up in one of the alleys, judging by the appearance, very distant and forgotten by everyone, and two of his kidnappers stood in front of him and watched. With absolutely the same hard look.
A very beautiful girl and a slightly unnatural guy. How is it unnatural? Wei couldn't say, but he felt it with that very sense that helped him last so long in this matter and identify victims very well.
"Well, hello, thief," the guy turned to him, smiling slightly at the corner of his lips, "let's talk and maybe we'll be supportive and you'll get your freedom."
- Yeah, the true one? — Wei chuckled, realizing that his arms and legs were tied. At these words, both his captors smiled, as if they had heard a good joke.
"Look," the girl said, drawing attention to herself and squatting down opposite Wei, "we need to find the one who commands you."
"But we're somehow tired of the torture," the guy continued for her, "you know, we've had enough of it." So if you just tell us everything, then everything will end up pretty good for all of us.
"Ha," answered Wei, "even if I tell you everything and you let me go, they will find me and kill me or turn me into a vegetable."
"Hmm," the girl said, pointedly raising her finger to her lips and seemingly thinking, "believe it or not, we don't care what happens to you next." Are you going to talk or not?
Seeing how Wei hesitated, the guy added:
"Okay, whoever we're communicating with here understands only the language of power," he rolled his eyes, taking out some strange knife and immediately cutting off Wei's ear with one easy movement.
Of course, the thief screamed in pain. But the guy and girl were again not satisfied with something.
"Eh, apparently she'll dress up in a bad way," the girl said, getting up from her haunches - you don't want to talk. Clearly.
Before Wei had time to recover from the previous pain, the guy in front of him raised his leg and hit the thief in the knee with all his might. A new flash of pain almost made Wei pass out.
"You can count by subtracting seven from a thousand," the guy laughed for some reason.
- What? - Even his partner did not understand.
"You won't go crazy from torture," explained Wei's tormentor, "at least I heard about it."
"I..." Wei said through a cough that was caused by a scream in his throat, "I..."
"I don't hear," the tormentor chanted and hit the same knee again.
Wei couldn't scream, he immediately coughed and immediately vomited right on himself from everything that was happening, then wheezed again.
- It hurts, right? — Wei's tormentor leaned down to look straight into his eyes, "I thought you'd never find yourself in such a situation, right?" Did you think you would go unpunished? Wanted - killed, wanted - raped?
"No... no..." Wei tried to somehow deny at least something.
"Yes and yes," the tormentor said in an icy tone that penetrated the thief's brain even through the pain, "you thought so." Well, think again," and with these words he hit his knee for the third time, this time as if breaking it, because an unpleasant crunch was heard.
Wei's brain couldn't take it anymore and he passed out.
"If you killed him, I'll kill you," Azula said, "wasting time and looking for another one...
"No one has ever died from a cut off ear or a broken knee," I answered, slowly starting to let the air out of my head, "but now we'll pour some water on him, he'll wake up and then he'll be ready to tell you everything your soul wants."
"I hope," the princess rolled her eyes, and then, after a short silence, asked more quietly, "did you tell the truth about the bill?"
"I don't know," I shrugged, "on their own, without a reminder from the tormentor, at least some thoughts will fly out of your head." And what?
In response to my question, Azula just shrugged her shoulder. Well, I still get it. It is unknown how this mission will end, and in general our life is like this: different things can come in handy.
The thief woke up when I brought a bucket of water and poured it on him. He woke up and immediately whined.
"I think you're ready to talk now," I chuckled, to which he nodded furiously and began to mutter something. To this I lightly kicked him in the knee, which made him howl - I didn't even ask the question, shut up. Now listen. Tell everything you know about your gang, about other gangs: your location, your hierarchy, and so on and so forth.
Of course, the thief sang like a bird, trying to get any piece of information out of his head, however, that was enough.
The location was clear, the hierarchy was the same, and the fact that there was only one gang for this entire part of the outer circle was also clear. Looking at Azula, I saw her nod, and I simply snapped the thief's neck with one kick.
And we, with a simple step and with cold determination, headed towards the lair of the bandits. From what our prisoner said, the following situation emerged: they are being protected. They protect themselves very tightly, everyone in the gang gets away with most of the crimes, even moreover, instructions come from somewhere above, and if people like him are given permissiveness, what will happen?
That's right, he will do whatever he wants. As the others. We heard a lot, so we decided to act more than harshly.
Their main headquarters was located slightly underground, with only a small headquarters on the surface. Which we burst into, starting to kill one after another.
It was not difficult, the warriors among them are absolutely mediocre, so we quickly reached the very bottom of the "dungeon."
We entered the room where the remnants of the bandits and their leader were supposedly gathered, rather imposingly. Directly opening the doors and entering at the same time.
- Kill them! - shouted some strong guy behind the crowd, which immediately attacked us.
It wasn't even funny, we walked through them like a knife through butter, with meager movements sending one after another to rest. Their Boss looked with a kind of doomed, humble look at how his subordinates formed one after another.
And so, when he was left alone, it turned out that the leader was an earth mage. Mediocre, of course, but still. Therefore, they began to push us with a villainous speech from the category: "I need people like you, come over to my side..." And blah blah blah. In general, he tried to convince us that we could not win.
We are not convinced. Even taking into account that we were underground, there was no epic battle; he had been kicking around for so long that I decided to act for sure, just in case.
Definitely take him prisoner. And while he began to dance, two daggers flew at his feet, nailing his feet to the floor, for two seconds he was out of action, screaming in pain and looking down.
This time was enough for me to run up and knock him out with a precise blow to the jaw.
"Eh, interrogating another one," I sighed sadly and immediately explained, "I don't like this business at all."
- Do you remember what they did? — the princess said coldly, "Don't hesitate." If you want, I can do it.
"No," I chuckled, "my boot is ready to show this scum that it's better to talk to us."
"And I said there would be no gold," while I was saying my phrase, Azula had already found a pretty good bag of gold in the leader's room, about the same as ours.
"I just wanted to be prepared for different scenarios," I shrugged, "okay, according to the old scheme?" Bad cop and very bad cop?
The interrogation followed approximately the same pattern as the previous one, first to break him down, then to find out everything, only this time I did not act so radically, knocking information out of him.
Well, first of all, Azula and I were lucky, one might say. When we arrived, most of the gang was on the loose, namely scattered around the city and doing various shady things. We were lucky, of course, not because they were not there, but because they will return and will now serve us.
We somehow killed all the locals without a second thought, and that's bad. We need such a network, not a mountain of corpses.
According to this hog again, it is in this room that they should all arrive together in about ten minutes. It's clear why he was desperately stalling for time with his one-on-one dialogues, damn it.