We left the rest of the information for later, deciding that the remnants of the gang needed to be subdued. Therefore, we decided not to remove the corpses, but hung the hog by the chains and hung the still living leader from the ceiling. And they sat down to wait.
Hog clearly valued comfort, so he had a luxurious wooden table with a bunch of different interesting papers right in front of the entrance. Azula sat down at it, and I stood behind her.
As we expected, the crowd burst in happy and did all sorts of crap around the city. But all the hubbub ended abruptly when they saw the situation and Azula and me.
I must give credit to the princess, she looked gorgeous, she leaned back in her chair and put her feet up on the table, and rested her head on her arm, resting her elbow on the armrest.
And the look, of course, is as arrogant as possible.
We must give credit to the local gang. They had at least a rudimentary intelligence, because they decided not to attack when they saw a bunch of their brothers dead and the leader hanging in chains from the ceiling and muttering something inaudibly because of a gag and knocked out teeth.
"You are now my slaves," the princess stretched her lips even more in a smile.
***
Living with a gang network throughout the city turned out to be much more interesting. Opportunities have appeared, and most importantly, strength. It is still unreliable, it is clear that it cannot be used against the same army of the earth, but if you give this gang a goal that is less incredible... It turns out much more interesting.
Really, what kind of task should I give? Of course, there are opportunities to penetrate to higher levels. And to find little animal June, of course, although the chances are slim.
In general, you didn't have to look far for the answer: you could simply buy the way forward. Of course, for many, even for money the path is closed; if you show up somewhere as a bandit or do something bad, they won't let you in for any price.
But Azula and I can easily get there, since the money is now unlimited.
But we still have things to do here. We need to find out who's in charge here. The mayor, the military man or whoever is responsible for the outer circle. Of course, even here you didn't have to go beyond the North Pole to get the answer; there is a large building here, where a local guy of inconspicuous appearance lives.
Okay, in fact, there is a rather noticeable boar who is responsible for everything here. The poor thieves actually set off to comb the area and draw up a security plan and so on.
After two days of leisurely life, where Azula and I counted the hours and urged our subordinates on, it turned out that our comrades were somehow not serious about their work.
The security is purely symbolic from the local punks, they stand around the estate in different places, there is even a booth where one of them constantly sits and checks passes.
That same night we decided to go to work. If there had been more security, we would have abandoned this idea, because there is a lot at stake, but finding out a little more about the Boar, as we dubbed him, was useful. Roam around his office or something.
At night, there is almost no light in the windows anywhere, which means, most likely, the Pig is simply sleeping. We are confident enough in our abilities to put a little on the line.
Find dark clothes in a den of thieves and murderers? What could be easier?
But neither I nor Azula were idiots, and so the next day the gang was presented with Azula's right hand: June. Rumors about her strength have long passed, and they also tried to rob her, so no one began to argue. And this is good, on the night when the case takes place, June will gather everyone so that there is no leakage.
Surely no one wants a rat to show up at the most inopportune moment? Because even if we didn't give a date, you don't have to be a genius to understand something. They monitored the estate, drew up a plan, and then, that means, they were all immediately removed from surveillance. Moreover, they require characteristic clothing.
But we couldn't choose another date, the clock was ticking. And not global ones, we have time until date X, but smaller ones. Someday, someone who supervised the leader will ask the question: what is happening here, why did the reports stop coming, and why did the gold become less? And then they will come to the gang. But shining is not an option for Azula and I.
But June may shine. We discussed this with her, and there is nothing strange in the fact that she took over the gang. This division happens all the time, so when observers come, they just look and shrug their shoulders. The main thing for them is that they get paid.
Under the cover of darkness, like real ninjas, we simply jumped over the fence and climbed along the wall to the second floor, to where the window was open. It was somehow quite ironic, but it turned out to be an office.
Where were the documents we needed? Which we had to quickly read and isolate the rest, because we shouldn't even give the slightest hint that anyone was there.
Various estimates for purchases, reports on the army, it was all wrong. More precisely, we remembered, but with the "approximate" calculations that were carried out earlier, all this coincides, unexpectedly ten thousand benderss of Bumi's level will not crawl out of the ground, so we were looking for something more interesting.
And they found it. Delivery document for "Judy" in the amount of three hundred pieces. That's exactly what it says. And right there, not far from certain "Educational Procedures", to which a dozen people and... three Judys were sent.
This was already interesting, but it doesn't make it very clear. I hope there will be further explanatory documents there.
It was then that I felt people walking towards the office door from the back side. Literally four. But it was unusual and strange. I immediately signaled to Azula, who could hardly tear herself away from reading, and we jumped out of the window onto the ground, immediately running across and climbing onto the nearest building, from which we had a view of what was happening.
After a couple of seconds, exactly four people came inside, one of whom was recognized as Boar. The other two were simple warriors, at least they tried very hard to look like them, but something kept me from thinking so.
"Come on," Azula whispered.
"Just a second," I answered, the last fourth... he looked like someone. But to whom? And how did it happen that I didn't see his face, only the back of his head. But at one moment he turned to the table, thereby turning his side towards me.
And I immediately realized who it was and how I knew him. This is the son of a bitch who tortured me. He had a terrible scar on almost half his face, much worse than Zuko's, there was so much meat on his cheek that his teeth were visible, and his eye was a dull white color.
For a second I lost my breath. And I immediately grabbed Azula and tilted her so that we completely went behind the barrier and were not visible. And it was at that moment that the Dai Li turned his only eye to the place where we were. And then, after looking a little, he nodded to one of the fighters to close the window.
Now it's clear what gave me peace in this security. Stone gloves on hands. This is the Dai Li. The same ones.
- What's happening? Azula hissed.
"This is the one who tortured me," I explained, still not taking my eyes off the window, as if now they would fly out of there and rush at me, "I left him the scar." Actually, I thought he was dead. B-bitch.
"Looks like he's more important than Boar," Azula suggested.
"That's right," I nodded, "he's the local head of the secret service." Do you see the soldiers near him? They use stone gloves and very skillfully. Very dangerous opponents.
- Will I ever hear the full and real version of how you escaped? — the princess narrowed her eyes.
"Yes," I answered, "let's get out of here."
-Have you seen the documents about Judy? - Azula asked when we had already jumped off the building and walked along the dark streets towards the lair.
- Yes. And also about "educational procedures." And I do not like it. Categorically.
"We put quite a lot at stake with this outing and now we are simply leaving, without learning anything." "You shouldn't like this categorically," the princess sarcastically, "but the fact that some people are having some kind of conversation with some of the particularly violent ones or whatever is bullshit." In our capital, we also have special places for those beaten to death.
"You don't seem to understand," I shook my head, "if they have a real method of... let's say, hypnosis or suggestion of thoughts, then do you understand how dangerous everything becomes?" - I see by the raised eyebrow - no, - tomorrow they will catch you and me and convince us that we want the Avatar to win. The question is, how many weeks will it take the two of us, given our strength and credentials, to destroy the Fire Nation from the inside?
Ah, now it comes. I was scared. It even showed on his face.
"That's it," I chuckled, "so the further into the forest, the more often thoughts come to me that the most reliable option is to get out of here and calmly try to break through the wall and go by simple force."
"We can't," Azula shook her head, "we simply don't have such means right now." One time, which set us back ten years, was enough. And I don't think their method is that good, you've seen the same Judys, haven't you? They are basically idiots. Therefore, even if we are fooled like this, it is, of course, bad. Kira and the Princess will be lost to the Fire Nation, but not critically. At least not as critically as if we had failed in a head-on attack. Yes, even if they won like that, it would be a Pyrrhic victory. Too many will die.
"So I came to the same conclusion," I nodded, "that so far our path is the most correct." And then we'll see. First, we need to figure out whether there is at least something holding us on the outer layer?
What followed was a banal repetition of a plan that had already been thoroughly studied, but this gave us some kind of sign of stability, which helped us to pull ourselves together a little.
We reached the building with the poor thieves pretty soon. There June, to our mutual surprise, organized... a drinking party. Everyone was walking, drinking, having fun and trying to defeat the mercenary in arm wrestling. Is this her superpower or what? Organize a pub around yourself. In any case, we didn't stand out in any way or stop what was happening, we just split up and decided to chat in a more informal atmosphere, and maybe relax a little ourselves.
True, very soon I realized that the contingent was not one with whom I could normally drink or relax, and the attitude was not the same, they were afraid of me, so talking calmly with someone else was a test.
But the alcohol did its job, and gradually a lot was forgotten, and we managed to have a little fun. Willingly, I remembered simpler times when I was at the academy, and that drunken party at graduation. That's when I rested and rested.
Next came to mind my drinking sessions with my poor fellows, the very first. The same ones who can now pass for elite warriors. And once upon a time there were such green ones, slightly arrogant, completely unaware of the realities of not only war, I myself didn't completely cut it off, to be honest, but even simple combat.
With regret I realized that I really don't have such moments anymore. I spent my whole life in some kind of race. I spent my entire second childhood doing something, spent my entire youth training, and now all my youth goes to war.
Nah.
— I never thought, what's next? - Azula interrupted my thoughts, sitting down next to me so that our shoulders touched each other.
- What's next? — I asked again, not particularly surprised that the princess could not withstand such an atmosphere.
I sat right on the roof of this building, from where I had a good view of the one-story houses and the outer wall. Apparently, Azula studied me well to understand where I was going. Well, what can I say, as an airbender, I love heights.
- Well, further. The city will fall, so will the avatar, and then what? In fact, that you and I have dedicated our lives to this war, so you know how to do something other than kill? - apparently, not only me, looking at all the people around, was struck by the thought that life somehow passes, and we are all at war.
Some sober and rather cold part of me understood that it was an easy recovery that was coming over both of us. It's somehow hard to live in constant tension.
"I can," I chuckled, "forge and draw a little." This is what I'll do next. "I will enjoy a peaceful and calm life," I said with slight irony, however, immediately adding, "I don't know." I was involved in war from an early age. When the war ends, I will go to work in the police. Or in any other structures where no one can sit on their ass.
"Good for you," Azula sighed, "but the princess can't do that."
"Yeah, this is not the king's business," I chuckled, "I don't believe that nothing can be invented."
"Maybe it's possible," she nodded, "but I could use a partner in this matter."
- Hm? — I raised one eyebrow, turning my head slightly. Azula did not ignore my gesture and turned her face in my direction. It turned out that the distance between our faces is not so great. I also realized that our princess was slightly drunk. Not much, more like it just wet my throat, but there is an effect.
"Yes, I think," Azula grinned slightly bitterly, but with a cunning smile, "life somehow passes by." Taking over the world is, of course, undeniably good, but eighteen only happens once in a lifetime, right?
I could somehow analyze where her thoughts were flowing and, perhaps, make some better decisions, but for some reason I didn't want to. Her face in the light of the moon was especially beautiful, and her amber eyes, even in the darkness, seemed to glow slightly, with a slightly drunken shine.
- And considering the likelihood that we will stay here, is it even worth living almost one day at a time? - the princess continued barely audibly, more convincing herself than me.
And then she moved slightly, although, it would seem, where else. I could already feel her breath on my face.
Why did the thought flash through my head, disturbing the whole atmosphere, that now something was bound to happen according to the classics of the genre, and we would be distracted, but this did not happen.
Her lips were incredibly hot, and I only felt them. It was as if everything had faded into the background, all the experiences, feelings and emotions, the coldness of the concrete under the ass and the cool breeze, just the feeling of hot lips.
I don't know how long we kissed, but it felt like it lasted too long and too fast at the same time. We didn't stop at a simple smack of lips, but began, as in life, to fight for an advantage. Then hands were used, without much impudence on both sides, but still there was little decent.
None of us had any intention of going somewhere far, but what we had was enough for us.
I wonder what will come of this?
***
Hmm, after the kiss it was awkward to look at each other. Well, somehow life didn't prepare me or her for this. Therefore, we actually behaved... well, in general, as people of our age should behave.
We're like teenagers. It's clear that we are not fifteen, but as if three years difference makes a difference? Especially considering our categorical inexperience in this matter. It's just about some feelings.
Of course, I had sex, but that's absolutely what it is. Almost nothing. These are different things, you know?
"Justify yourself," said a voice in my head, "Admit that you just fell in love like a boy. Otherwise you wouldn't be so soldered next to her."
Soldered?
- "Tch, have you seen yourself?" — the spirit would obviously roll his eyes if he could, "Despite your hormones, which are now available, in front of her you behave like some kind of teenage bully who can't think of another way to please a girl."
This is your personal opinion. You haven't seen me around her a lot, huh? I just like to tease her a little.
"As you know," the spirit mentally shrugged and fell silent.
Well, good. He only speaks to add some kind of confusion to my peace of mind.
But this dialogue helped to switch slightly and return to reality. We are still sitting on the roof, only we are both flushed and slightly disheveled and pointedly not looking at each other.
"Okay," I breathed, "and... what does that mean?" You started it, so what should you say?
"I don't know," Azula shrugged, showing with all her appearance that it was and was, why the fuck.
"Okay," I repeated, "and if I do this, what answer will follow?" — I asked, hugging and slightly squeezing the princess to me.
"Positive," Azula said, still trying not to show it, "I was cold."
"Yeah, that means denial will follow," I chuckled. What a tsundere.
Well, okay, actually I understand her. She really doesn't know what to do. Because she kind of needs it and is supposed to, and in general, she's a princess. And here is such an incident. On the other hand, I think she fully understands that I am an aristocrat. And this is at least something. Precisely by upbringing. Such things cannot be knocked out on the street, it is easy to see if you know where to look. And vice versa, it is difficult to teach a person to do this as an adult. Willy-nilly, there will be mistakes, exactly the same, unnoticeable, purely automatic.
And my title, in theory, gives me the right, let's put it this way.
But of course, I think it's cool, well done Aki, but what do you think?
I thought of the relationship with the princess solely as a headache. Because it won't work out if we move out when more than two people find out about our relationship.
On the other hand, I'm supposed to be a strong young man, huh? I can calmly stand up for myself at Agni Kai.
...
Of course, if by that time, I will still remain a "fire mage". I have a serious fear that if an avatar comes here, I will dress up and act openly as an airbender. Because with my "fire bending" I simply cannot defeat him. But something tells me that the child, due to all the circumstances, could have become embittered.
To be honest, if the avatar starts acting as it should, and not with all its childish naivety, then our heads will roll. We will definitely lose someone.
And I have an answer to this. But how will this end? I don't know. But clearly the outcome sounds better than our loss.
- Let's go to sleep? — I asked the princess, to which she simply nodded and we calmly went down the stairs towards the hotel.
Well, this time she lay down on me without hiding. And only now I realized why her kiss was so burning. As a Firebender, her body temperature is quite high. And if she's worried, then forty is not the limit.
And now there was a living heater lying on me. Who, of course, is worried, her heartbeat seems to be audible even to the neighbors.
Or is it me?
* * *
The next day was typical - the first week is behind us and we need to pass on instructions further. Now one of the poor fellows was supposed to sneak in here and check into the closest hotel at the exit point to the city - that is, the same one we were in.
We give him instructions in the form of a code that we all came up with together earlier. It is not very complicated, but it is difficult to reveal that this is a code, because in fact it looks like a collection of a novice author.
We started looking for the poor guy, but it had to be done by chance, unfortunately, we didn't think through this moment and the option with "go to the reception desk and ask about the last person who checked in" was, to be honest, as crap as possible. So we went and decided to sit in the hotel establishment for quite some time. Logically, he should do the same, plus or minus.
It's not enough, I drove these poor fellows like a bitch, oh, it's not enough. I realized when we were sitting for four hours and this devil, fidgeting, calmly walked into the establishment at one o'clock in the afternoon, ordered food and didn't even look around.
That is, he didn't see us point blank.
But when he put exactly the same book as Azula and I on the table, on the contrary, I suddenly realized that he had seen everything. But this does not change the fact that who on a combat mission wakes up so late?
The downside of this whole plan, by the way, was that we were absolutely not sure that there was a way out of the city. But as it turned out, there was: the trains traveled absolutely calmly back and forth.
I don't understand, are we such idiots that our intelligence could bring absolutely nothing to the table on this matter, or was it built recently?
Or, the worst case scenario, they are very good at revealing other nations and they are simply watching us until we get further.
Of course, according to Murphy's law, we had to prepare for this, but I hoped that it would pass. The avatar is not involved in this matter, at least not yet, so luck should not play a role here.
And identifying people different from your own... well, purely in theory it is possible, at least it once was, but now even Azula doesn't stand out so much with her eyes. Sometimes you meet here, even on the street, people with such pure blue eyes that it seems that in the dark they will shine like beacons.
True, these people suspiciously often passed by Azula and me and seemed to be watching. At the wrong time I remembered that Al had eyes of the same color.
Mmmm, I won't bother myself with such nonsense. Most likely it was some kind of local spirit of an Air Mage or something similar, and when I left the temple, he couldn't reach me. At least I hope so.
No, why now hold all people with blue eyes for some kind of spirit? And Azula with amber eyes, then who? Demon from hell?
Ha, well, I'm sure for many yes.
In any case, the princess and I stood up and I once again realized that the poor fellow had just noticed us, because his table was exactly between us and the exit, and his notebook was lying very much on the edge. Even slightly revealing.
That's why, when we were passing by, I "accidentally" touched her.
"Oh, sorry," I picked up the book, already giving him a completely different one - filled with us.
"It's okay," he nodded and continued eating.
We went further to the exit. I feel like I'm in some cheap movie about spies, but damn it, two of the "Judies" were already sitting at the table and looking at us very sideways.
At least it seemed so to me.
According to the plan, he did not have a notebook, so apparently they gave us some information with which we hurried back to the hotel and sat down on the bed and began to read.
It didn't turn out to be a very cheerful picture. Zuko, Iroh, and the others sat very tightly on Aang's tail as his animal began to moult.
And they managed to kill this bison; he simply couldn't fly from fatigue. But they were met by completely different kids. In general, we have wounded and losses.
The second is not clear, the drawing denoting the adjective of losses meant something like "minor", it is difficult to transform the entire vocabulary into drawings. Shark and I had to memorize them anyway.
But in general, as I understand it, none of the team died, only wounds. Katara turned out to have some kind of "replacement arm"; apparently they came up with some kind of prosthesis and Aang found some other teacher. Judging by the notes, the teacher is not a very strong earth mage and Toph even "identified" him, but he taught the kids not only the earth, but also dirty methods. In general, they attacked from an ambush, blew up the train and put up a very good fight, not hesitating to hit weak points. That is, not by benderss, focusing the attention of the main units on defense.
And then they flew away.
On one hand, I admire their rapid transition to new realities; on the other hand, this is becoming dangerous. The Avatar not only began to strike to defeat, he immediately stepped over the "win by any means" mark.
This was expected, of course, we discussed this option, because we drove him into a kind of corner, and as you know, a rat is driven into a corner...
"This is bad," Azula breathed, "even worse than your kiss."
"Yeah," I didn't get it at first, "what?!"
"I thought you had at least some experience," the princess said somehow too feignedly, "but this is how it turned out." Of course, I don't remember exactly, but in my opinion….
I sat and walked around. Is this her way of trying to get me to "prove" it to her by kissing her again? And it was the hormones that got to my head? Not to mention that I'm not going to dance to her tune.
"... in my opinion, you need more experience," she said, blushing a little, betraying herself, how long did it take her to make up her mind? And she stared straight at me, looking with her amber eyes and intensely making an arrogant face.
Did I say something about some kind of pipe? To Agni. It seems I have a new fetish for arrogance. Experience is so experience.
* * *
I wonder what the poor fellow was thinking looking at us with his lips bitten and hickeys on his necks? Because literally, half an hour after we finished reading the message, he came straight into the room knocking.
I think he decided to pretend that he was an oak and generally had a machine gun attached to a gun and that it was none of his business, but the sly sparkle in his eyes gave him away completely.
"They didn't let me out," he immediately dumbfounded us, "sorry captain...
"Colonel already," I rolled my eyes. For some reason, for all of them I remained the captain; one might say, it became more of a nickname than a title.
"That's right, excuse me, Captain," apparently the poor fellows learned too much from me, "so, they are only released with special passes, to work at the refugee center or on the platform for their carts." No other way.
"Bad," I nodded. Starting to think. No, we have a plan, I can always use bending and calmly run, but not only will this raise a bunch of questions, but the method will not work when we move to the inner ring tomorrow. And even now it's very easy to fall asleep - wait at the hotel and try to behave as usual. And keep an eye on "Judy", have you seen any smiling girls? They are chasing us, so don't do anything unnecessary at all. You can even draw in a notebook, but don't break the code. Free.
"Yes, Captain," he answered and said on the way out, "by the way, your disguise is excellent!"
And left.
-...When did they become so impudent? — I said after a second of silence.
"Insolence," Azula chimed in.
And we fell silent. Topics for dialogue suddenly disappeared and in general we would have been happy to continue where we were interrupted, but... but.
"We need to go to our local gang to find out the ways." There are plenty of service staff...
- Yes, but it would be too suspicious. A person has just arrived, was interested in the opportunity to leave, and immediately receives a token to work in the outside world," Azula answered.
"That's also true," I sighed, "but I don't see any options." We need to transfer information there.
"Hmm," Shark thought, "are there any earth mages among the gang?"
- Undermining? - I raised an eyebrow, - original, but I'm afraid the benderss who can do that don't live in... such places. Remember the leader's strength? He couldn't do that, but he was the main big shot in this coniferous forest.
- Problem.
And what options do we have? In fact, as if there were no others, this same poor fellow must be sent to the outside world. But with this token it's too suspicious... to send the same thing at least.
What if... um, disguise it?
"Azula," I turned to the girl, "what if someone "kills" our poor fellow in the alley. And then some random person got a pass.
"Bloodthirsty," Azula chuckled, "don't you feel sorry for your poor fellow?" And why kill him?
"You don't understand," I shook my head, "this is the official version." In fact, it will be him. We'll put on some makeup, hand over a badge and fake documents, and let them in. There he will already find a falcon at the refugee point, should our people be on duty there?
"In theory, yes, several people are constantly hustling somewhere nearby trying to get passage, but they don't have documents," the princess retold the legend.
- That's all.
"How simple you are," the princess quipped, "all that's left is to find fake documents and a badge."
"I think the punks can handle it," I shrugged, "at least it sounds like a plan." It's time to go convey it to the performers.
Azula just rolled her eyes at my words.
Well, June, listening to our plan, even though she looked at me strangely, did not immediately say that I was an idiot, and this is an indicator in her case. After talking with the locals, it turned out that it is quite possible and, moreover, there are those in the gang who smuggle in this way.