(Nippur) Cleaning up the streets [Great]

[Victor Wolfe]

The pair briskly walked towards the bakery, one of the few businesses that had survived the last two years, apparently even the bandits didn't want to lose their supply of warm bread, evident by a large number of breadcrumbs that had covered the dining areas in the castle. The exorcist had done his homework well, with one look at the board the assassin had pieced together a lot of the information, but the new captain had spotted things that even the master of subterfuge himself had not noticed. And in the time that it took for the swordsman to explain his plan Victor had managed to eye up a lot of the local talent, Nippur had many fine women and the desert heat encouraged less clothing than in his own homeland, he was certain this place would one day be a true paradise. 

The pair walked in silence for most of the journey down the cobbled streets, the tension from the guardsman's first impressions of the Lord combined with not wanting their potential enemies to figure out that they where on to them, as anyone around them could be the puppet master behind the schemes to overthrow or destabilize their fractured city-state or just a stooge that would sell out their king on the chance that it might just get them in a better position under the next regime. Either way, Victor was already formulating a plan that might just help to catch them all in one quick move, but it would all depend on how well the man next to him could lead and order the guards of Nippur, and if he could play along. 

Turning into the small side street that the bakery was situated in the pair felt a chill run down their spines, it was like entering another world, no longer where they surrounded by the hustle and bustle of a repairing city, the smiling faces and bows from grateful citizens, but now they where met with a site that could have fit any of the ghost town stories from the overseas colonies that Victor had read about. Not a single person was visible, yet it felt like as they walked the piercing gazes of hidden observers tracked their every move. The air heavy with a sudden feeling of paranoia, curiosity and underneath it all the unmistakable feeling of murderous intent. Almost instinctively Victor moved his golden lion head pin under his cloak. 

The occasional flutter our possible whisper caused the eyes of the pair to dart, was it just the wind? Causing the curtains to move? Or was it someone peaking out and making a call to the puppet master who appeared to have a deeper grip on this district than even the assassin though possible. The feeling was almost nostalgic, like walking through a newly conquered territory trying to figure out who would just be a grunt rebelling out of crowd mentality, and who were the people who would actively set off the powder-kegs of revenge and nationalism. 

Victors eyes almost reflected the sun with their violent glow, this sensation was bringing back the predatory urge that he had not felt in so long, so much of this world had been people actively trying to fight back or seak him out but now there was an enemy trying to play him at his own game, working from the shadows and only striking when they think they can not possibly lose. Almost like a game of cat and mouse where the role of the players would not be revealed until the glorious ending. The hunt was on and Victor was ecstatic with the anticipation of finally coming up against a foe that would not just punch their way through their problems. 

The Bakery came into view, sandstone like the usual Nippur architecture and with a chimney letting out the sweet and relaxing smell of freshly made bread, if this place was simply a front for a shadow organisation they at least tried to keep up the illusion that it was a legitimate business, so they could not just storm in and start making arrests like the good guardsman would probably like to do, no, they would have to be subtle, with how suspicious this place was Victor doubted that the baker himself could tell them to much, probably a lower ranking member. however, he could be a good little stooge and pass on a message for them if they played it right. 

Feeling like there where fewer eyes on them than usual Victor noticed an alleyway to their side, no windows looking out onto it and another just like it symmetrical across the street creating a very small blind spot, making his move with great speed and surprising strength Victor grabbed the captain of the guards and pulled him into the dark and cold alleyway. He looked ready to complain and pull out his sword but Victor put a finger to his lips.

"I have a plan Candy, how about rather than trying to get this guy to slip up, we make it look like we slipped up." The assassin smirked as the guardsman looked annoyed, but moved his hand away from the fake sword as his hip, causing Victor to remove his finger from his lips.

"That is rediculo.." the assassin almost immediately cuts off the increasingly annoyed captain, who was apparently getting sick of babysitting the person who he clearly thought was only fit to be lord of the fools at a local freak show. 

"You did not let me finish honey, you see this guy is a bit too suspicious, it feels like its to good to be true. A scapegoat, someone who has been promised something but knows very little about the grand schemes. Like an early warning system, if he gets arrested they could just go into hiding them strike when we think we have won and are safe. Not a weak link but a sacrificial lamb. However, we know what their goals involve and he must have a way to  get into contact this organisation." The guard captain seemed to be following along with the assassins logic, apparently, he had more intellectual capabilities than the average prime Victor had met so far, other than that particularly wordy corpse that he had the displeasure of meeting when he first arrived. Omni had a weird sense of humour summoning that brute at the same time as a refined gentleman such as himself.

"So we go in as a routine patrol, just scouting out the area like we are across the rest of the city, nothing too suspicious, even the King himself is probably doing stuff to rebuild. And we get to talking, and I be myself and say some possibly treacherous stuff about our amazing and divine Goldie, nothing like maybe we should overthrow him that would give the game away but little noticeable hints of dissatisfaction, make them think that I am not as loyal as I could be. Then we argue a little, I can do smug, you can do straightlaced and argumentative. We don't find a weakness we make the weakness, let them think that they can win me over and get me into their fold. And after an argument I say something in an outburst, then you hit me." 

The last statement seemed to leave the guardsman dumbfounded "you want me to?"

"Hit me, I am a tough guy, I can take it, and then you storm off, let them approach me without you there, its the perfect reverse trap is it not? And don't hold back on it either Candy, I know that this face is almost too perfect to risk damaging but I do have a regeneration ability so I really want you to make it look like an explosion of emotion, can you do that sweetie?" Victor smiled.