The sloshing waters and the scurrying rats of the sewers were now able to last a little longer. The smell that would send ghouls reeling away in fear remained yet, but it was more bearable.
More bearable for the group of robed figures around the fire deep in the sewers of the city.
"Is everyone here?" The man in the golden mask asked. "Were any of you followed?"
"Nay, sire."
"Not at all."
"Hn."
The golden mask took a look over his members. Lion mask, wolf mask, silver mask, Jim, neck mask, ogre mask, and hero mask.
Seven people, as always.
The executives of his gang were gathered yet today.
"So," the sire began. "What do you mutts have for me? And there better be something."
His hands tapped on the table that was too small for the group.
"Ah, yes sire. My wife made pies when I told her of your opinion."
"Dearie me, you want to eat pies? Here, Jim? Athena forbid she make one as dimwitted as you again."
"Quiet, wolf. Those pies are worth the health hazard."
"Yes, but, I am not risking it." The sire intervened. "The sentiment is appreciated, Jim. But are you truly dimwitted?"
"Slander, sire! Slander!"
"Next time, let us convene at his house. The pies we could taste then."
"You do make sense."
At the sire's words, Jim's slanderer, wolf, and Jim bumped their fists where none could see. Their plan seemed to be working.
"Wait!" The sire screamed. "Enough of this! I do not need pie, I need dirt!"
"I cannot recommend consuming dirt," the neck mask said. "It is… not palatable."
"Ah… No! Not that dirt! Dirt on Kristine et Kaiser! You mutts have been barking around her nest for the last three days but still couldn't find a single fallen egg? She's a cuckoo in a crow's nest, how hard is it to prove?"
"Sire, the drapes were always pulled down, I couldn't see anything inside," said the lion.
"I tried to enter her new office, but the receptionist there looks so fashionable. It feels like I would displease her if I went in my commoner's attire, sire."
"I looked into the construction as well, and turns out they used more lime than gypsum sire, can we use that?"
"Of course not you dimwits!" The sire slammed his fists on the table. "I need something more concrete."
"I am afraid the best we can do is mortar."
"Shut up, Jim! Do you rats not get it? Scared to talk? Of course, you're supposed to sniff up dirt! Draped windows? Invade the place then! Construction? Who cares about that? You mutts, bring me something useful, something concrete! Secrets about that woman that no one knows!"
"Like, how she wears size six shoes?"
The group quietened down.
"Or how she's clumsy when it comes to washing the dishes? Or maybe how she's not very fond of tangerines and throws them away when her maids don't look?"
The neck mask's words spread through the room, making the sire smile.
"I found all of it when I inspected her trash."
"Yes, finally something useful!" The sire exclaimed. "It's still off, but better than the rest. Good job, neck mask…"
The sire then stopped.
He counted again.
Lion, wolf, neck, silver, Jim, ogre, hero, seven as always.
Lion. Wolf. Neck. Silver. Jim. Ogre. Hero… and himself! Golden! There were eight!
The sire jumped up to his feet and pointed at the neck mask.
"Who in the world are you!?"
The neck mask hooked his finger to his gaiter and lowered it. His golden eyes were like freshly polished jewels, his sharp and cold face that seemed as lacking of blemishes as his reactions, and his deep, dark, black hair that gently draped on his face.
The neck mask hooked his finger to his gaiter and lowered it. His golden eyes were like freshly polished jewels, his sharp and cold face that seemed as lacking of blemishes as his reactions, and his deep, dark, black hair that gently draped on his face.
"I-I… Isaac, Athenus!?"
The group all fell to their knees and bit the ground from the sheer pressure he exuded.
"Correct," Isaac said. "Now, you will do as I say."
His voice like the knells of underworld, his words as sharp as Hades' scythe.
"You will attack, Kristine et Kaiser."
And then, he will save her.
Foolproof plan! Foolproof!