After he tested his bow, Nikolai left the forest and returned to the city. He went to the fence, Ash. If there were anyone in the city knowledgeable about low-lives, it would be the one buying the stolen goods from them.

“Boy, it has been a while.” Ash slid his window and looked around. “Still a lone wolf, huh?”

“Always will be. I want to buy something.” Nikolai took out fifty silver and handed them over. “One Disguise Pill.”

“Hm.” Ash took the silvers and looked at Nikolai. “What would you need it for?”

“Is that a part of a fence’s job?”

“Only a curiosity.” Ash smiled, revealing his big teeth. “If there is profits, I want in.”

“We’re not that close.” Nikolai smiled. “And what I’m about to do wouldn’t fit your personality.”

“Try me.” Ash crossed his arms.

“Are you selling or not?” Nikolai frowned. Seeing his attitude, Ash shrugged and handed him the pill.

“It lasts for one hour,” Ash said. Nikolai grabbed the pill and nodded. Taking out another ten silvers, Nikolai placed them in front of the fence.

“I want you to tell me the name of Bone’s newest smuggler.”

“Bone?” Ash frowned heavily. “What are you getting yourself into?”

“Nothing,” Nikolai said. “I just have a new job, that’s all. Don’t worry. I’m not a part of Hyde’s gang now.”

“If you were, I would have known.” Ash squinted his eyes. “Bone is in charge of supplying Hyde with common but profitable goods. He’s always willing to take in new smugglers, and he just made some dealings with one.”

“Great, tell me about him and his lackeys. And, tell me where his most trusted lackey lives.” Nikolai smiled. “I know you have all the information about Hyde’s gang.”

Ash sighed and told him everything he needed. Afterward, Nikolai left the bakery and went toward the lower district. He followed Ash’s instructions and reached an abandoned building. Walking inside, Nikolai could see that it was inhabited.

“Who’s there?” Someone shouted as Nikolai made some noise. Covering his face with his hoodie and bandana, Nikolai took out his bow. He kicked a chair, making it produce a loud noise.

After that, Nikolai hid behind a cabinet. He nocked an arrow and used his fate points to create the effect of Knockout. As soon as the man came in, Nikolai released his arrow.

With a yelp, the man fell to the ground, unconscious. Nikolai walked out leisurely and stood beside the man. Without saying anything, Nikolai took out his dagger and slashed his arm.

Nikolai took out the pill and allowed it to absorb the man’s blood. It turned from white to red instantly. Pocketing it again, Nikolai looked at the abandoned building to find some ropes and tied the man.

After that, Nikolai left the building. He went toward an inn in a higher district where the man’s boss worked. This innkeeper worked as a smuggler for Bone, trading all sorts of illegal goods. He took the pill, and mana exploded from it to turn him into the man from earlier.

“Hey, Boss!” Even his voice was the same. The innkeeper glanced at his lackey and nodded. “Any work today?”

“Why are you so loud?” The boss frowned and looked around. He placed down his ledger. “There is. Get your ass ready.”

“I’m willing to work hard!” Nikolai said and walked over. “I won’t make you disappointed!”

His boss nodded in approval and handed Nikolai a piece of paper. It had a list of places, people, and deals to make. They mainly were low leveled merchants that worked for the innkeeper.

Nikolai took the paper and left hurriedly since his time was limited. He went to the nearest merchant and walked straight into the storage.

“Tell the boss that the goods are here, so he shouldn’t be worried.” The merchant said. “You look a little different.” The merchant frowned.

“That’s because I fucked your mom yesterday.” Nikolai scowled. “Show me the goods. The boss says there must be no mishaps.”

The merchant cursed Nikolai under his breath and hurried to reveal the goods. Nikolai’s eyes squinted as he saw the countless crates full of explosives. Telling the merchant to keep an eye out for suspicious people, Nikolai left and hurried back to the abandoned house.

He looked at the man who was tied up and nocked another arrow. The man looked at him pleadingly, but Nikolai shook his head.

“Don’t worry. You won’t remember anything.”

‘Memory Alteration and Transfer.’

[5 Fate Points are required.]

‘Damn it.’ Nikolai frowned but still infused the effect into the arrow. After all, he needed to make sure no one finds out. Nikolai chose to transfer the memories of the past hour and alter some of them.

He struck the man, who was still unconscious and changed his memories. Nikolai then untied him and carried him to the bed before leaving the house.

‘Bone is preparing a lot of explosives; I’ve heard about this before. Hyde asked him to blow up a dungeon’s entrance to create a distraction. This step will be the first of Hyde’s plans to steal Abani. The Union won’t have the resources available to send reinforcement to the ruins.’

Nikolai grinned as he walked through the streets. Even though he managed to lift off the curse, it would be pretty rewarding to have Madness interfere with Bone’s mission without him knowing.

That was how it is between Hyde’s lackeys, no trust between them. All of them would hide their dealings lest they get sabotaged by the others.

‘All I need to do now is alter the story to have Madness interfere with Hyde’s plan without knowing. He’ll believe because the curse wouldn’t allow me to deceive or betray him.’

Nikolai went toward Madness’s house and left a note under his door with the details of Bone’s ‘plan.’ Of course, he used codes he picked up from investigating Hyde’s gang in the past.

With this, he’ll have to sit back and wait for those Fate Points to come raining down on him. Nikolai walked back to the academy as he thought about saving that kid’s sister.

Once Madness betrays Hyde, he’ll be a goner. At that time, that girl will either be released or discarded. As long as she doesn’t die before then, Nikolai would find something out.

It wasn’t that he cared about the kid or his sister, but he wasn’t someone who would go back on a promise he made. Plus, that kid had seen him before when he pickpocketed Nikolai.

Nikolai walked back to the academy using the exact route of the poppy fields. As he entered the academy and began walking by the fence and through the training field, several people appeared and obstructed his way.