From within his shirt, Syl retrieved a worn set of lockpicking tools, smirking as he held them up.
Syl: “Keep an eye out for me, will ya...”
He knelt at the cellar doors, the tools slipping easily into the rusty keyhole as he began his work.
Jargen: “Still the same cunning rat you were before... Haven’t changed a bit.”
Syl: “‘Course I have! I’m breaking into mansions now, not the dumpy, hole-ridden shacks in the slums...”
He flashed a toothy grin as the mechanism clicked, the tumblers inside turning like a familiar tune.
Tyssa: “But something’s not adding up... Most of the slum houses don’t even have locks. Did Cabdan’s men rob the rich too?”
Jargen: “... Aye. Cabdan’s reach went far beyond the slums. Though he cut his teeth swindling and putting the slums' residents under his thumb, it wasn't long until he started making friends in high places. Making people 'disappear', break-in jobs, debt collection... He and his network started doing a bit of everything and expanding to other areas of the city.”
Syl: “And expand we did! Shame you left when you did, Jargen. If you knew what kind of cash he was throwing around, bet you’d still be around today.”
Jargen scowled, but before he could retort, the lock clicked open. Syl pushed the cellar doors wide, revealing a dark stairwell that descended into shadow.
Syl: “And there we are...! Come on now, the fun part’s just about to begin.”
The group descended into the dimly lit cellar, their senses assaulted by the overpowering stench emanating from a locked room to their right. A trail of dried blood led from the door to the stairwell ahead.
Syl: “Geez... What the hell’s he keepin’ back there?”
Jargen: “Focus! This is Cabdan’s house -- none of us should be surprised at what we find. We’re here for the documents and the antidote. Nothing else.”
Syl: “Ah, classic ‘stay focused’ Jargen... Just what any good, moral person would say when they’re probably walking past a murder scene!”
He snickered, but Jargen ignored him, pressing on toward the stairwell leading to the main house.
Syl: “Hey, easy! You’ll get us spotted in no time. Let me take the lead --”
Voices from beyond the stairwell door froze them in their tracks.
Muffled Voice: "... just one more, yet again. I swear this is his third "just one more". I'm telling you -- whatever going on inside that lab, I don't wanna be around to see it. You saw how many damn bodies we had to hide... Do you know how many are left at this point...?"
Other Muffled Voice: "... Save it. Got enough shit on my mind as it is, don't want to have to worry about what that madman's up to. Cabdan put him in charge, just do as he says... Shouldn't be long until he's back, he'll sort him out then."
Muffled Voice: "There ain't no 'sorting' that guy out, whatever was there to sort has long left the building... Guy's a lunatic. Anyway, gotta grab another for him. You wanna help?"
Other Muffled Voice: “Let me think... Help you or join the others for drinks...”
Muffled Voice: "Bah! No need to pour salt on the wound... Go on then, be with you fellas in a bit."
Footsteps approached the cellar door.
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Syl: “Shit... Behind the barrels, quick!”
The group scrambled to hide behind a cluster of dusty wine barrels, barely managing to duck out of sight before the door creaked open. A guard stepped inside, grumbling as he descended the wooden stairs.
Guard: “Still reeks in here... Goddamn Dmitri. Should make him clean this mess up himself.”
The guard unlocked the ominous door, unleashing a stench that nearly made Rel gag. From the shadows, they watched as the guard dragged a lifeless corpse out of the room and up the stairs.
Syl (hushed): “Dmitri... Fuck.”
Rel managed a glimpse of the body’s face as it passed by. His eyes widened in shock.
Rel: “No way...”
When the upstairs door closed behind the guard, the group emerged from their hiding spots.
Syl: “Right. We’re in deep shit, ladies and gents.”
Rel: “You’re not kidding. Did you see his face? That corpse... It was the guy who killed Miss Anya!”
Punjo nodded, his expression grim.
Punjo: “Aye... Makes no sense. He basically handed Cabdan to us on a platter. How’d Cabdan manage to get him after all that?”
Jargen: “We’re forgetting something -- something I didn’t put together until now: we’ve seen his face before. Not just at the orphanage.”
Rel and Punjo furrowed their brows in thought, while Tyssa and Syl looked on, bewildered.
Jargen: “Back when Ballo saved us, he showed us the doctor’s last moments -- remember? The man who killed him was wearing dark armor. Same face. Same bastard.”
Rel’s eyes widened as realization dawned.
Rel: “The guy Ballo said could take over people’s bodies, twist their faces to look like his own... So, d'ya think that...”
He pointed toward the unlocked room the guard had entered. The stench of death hung thick in the air.
Rel: “T-that... there’s a whole pile of dead guys in there that look just like him...?”
Syl scoffed, shaking his head as he marched toward the eerie room.
Syl: “Dunno what the fuck y’all’ve been smoking, but that’s the dumbest shit I’ve ever heard --”
He stopped mid-sentence, his voice choking on disbelief as he stepped into the dimly lit room. There, sprawled on the floor, lay two additional corpses. Same body. Same face.
Syl: “... No way. What kind of fuckery is this?!”
Jargen stepped forward, his eyes narrowing.
Jargen: “This house must’ve been where they fought. This is where the doctor drew his last breath...”
Punjo: “I remember Ballo showin’ us Cabdan too. Bastard must’ve lured the doctor here to die... Set up a trap for ’im!”
Rel’s fist collided with his palm in a moment of eureka.
Rel: “And that trap was Barr...! Punjo, remember when one of Cabdan’s goons said he left to deal with his injuries?”
Punjo squinted, the pieces slowly falling into place.
Punjo: “So he used Barr’s injuries to lure the doctor here... Where this assassin was waitin’ to pounce. It all fits. Quite the bloody shitstorm.”
Tyssa crossed her arms, letting out a frustrated sigh.
Tyssa: “So, what I’m hearing is that Cabdan’s also responsible for the deaths of the doctor and for what happened to Barr... Even after death, his list of atrocities keeps growing and growing...”
Rel nodded.
Rel: “The whole Barr situation is especially concerning... Last time anyone saw him, he was half-dead. Now? He’s something else entirely. Cabdan wasn’t treating him; he was turning him into -- whatever he is now. Something not even human anymore.”
Jargen whirled on Syl, his fury bubbling over.
Jargen: “Do you fucking see?! See why I left? Cabdan wasn’t just a criminal, he was a goddamn monster! Even those loyal to him weren’t safe!”
Syl glared back, defiant.
Syl: “I know the price I paid for serving him, Jargen. Don’t need a damn lecture from you! And again, you’re one to talk about loyalty...”
Jargen’s fist shot up, his teeth bared.
Jargen: “That line’s getting old, Syl. Drop it -- or I’ll drop you.”
Syl pulled a small dagger from his pouch, pointing it at Jargen’s chest.
Syl: “Or what?! You think you can take me, soft as you’ve grown? Come on then, big man -- show me!”
Tyssa: “STOP!”
She shoved herself between them, her sudden action startling them both.
Tyssa: “He’s dead, alright? Dead and gone. Whatever allegiances or grudges you had, leave them in the dirt with him. We can’t afford to get wrapped up in this nonsense now. We’re here to pick up the pieces and scrape together some kind of future -- our future. Neither of you will have to see each other again after tonight, so for the love of the gods, just work together for the next couple of hours. Can’t you do that?”
The two men exchanged tense stares, their hostility simmering.
Syl: “Girl’s right. Wanna fight? We can do it after we’re rich.”
Jargen hesitated before nodding.
Jargen: “... Aye. Enough bickering.”
Syl turned away, taking a deep breath as he tried to gather his thoughts.
Syl: “Alright. So this... doctor of yours is dead. And this face-shifting killer is long gone, yeah? Freaky corpse clones aside, let’s focus on the real threat to this mission: the man called Dmitri.”
He crossed his arms, his tone growing grave.
Syl: “Sounds like you’re in luck after all. You might just meet the mastermind behind Faya’s poison himself...”
