Perfect disguise for the job

Leaving the half-elf's lifeless body in the dark alley, Hunter's mind raced with thoughts. His face was still stained with blood, but he quickly wiped it away as he emerged from the shadows and back onto the busy street. Kolvar, his partner, was silent and confused, unsure why Hunter had been so ruthless with the half-elf.

Hunter, however, was lost in his own contemplation. The thief guild's attempt on his life only confirmed his suspicion that someone had informed them about his astral coins. He knew that he needed to get stronger to survive in this world, or he would end up like the half-elf - dead in a dark alley.

He knew that he needed a steady income and a base of operations to survive. His brewing business was his only chance to earn the astral coins he needed to level up quickly. While killing cultivators would give him experience points, it was a risky strategy that could easily draw the attention of someone stronger.

As he walked through the bustling streets towards the Golden Goose restaurant, Hunter focused on his goals. Finally, he arrived at the Golden Goose, a luxurious restaurant known for its exquisite food and wealthy clientele. Hunter knew that the Duke's daughter was dining there tonight, but he had no intention of getting close to her. Instead, he scanned the restaurant for any signs of weakness.

Hunter stood outside the Golden Goose, taking in its grandeur. The building was made of stone and was at least three stories tall. Its façade was decorated with intricate carvings and had a large wooden sign hanging over the door depicting a golden goose with its wings spread wide.

Hunter had been circling around the closed golden goose restaurant, searching for another way in, when he overheard the conversation between the young man and woman at the back of the building.

As he approached them, Hunter could see the young man was sweating profusely, his hands wringing together nervously. The young woman was trying to comfort him, her voice soft and soothing.

"That chef is crazy. I doubt how I am going to survive this dinner," the young man said, his voice trembling with anxiety.

"Don't worry, everything will be fine," the young woman replied, placing a comforting hand on his arm.

"How can I? Lady Marina doesn't come to dine in the golden goose every day. I wish she had picked another place," he said, his voice rising in panic.

Hunter leaned in closer, his curiosity piqued.

"And I have something that will make your mood better," the young woman whispered, glancing around cautiously.

"What is it?" the young man asked, leaning in eagerly.

"You can't tell anyone about this, okay? The head cook has hired a helper from the capital. He asked me to bring him here," she said, lowering her voice even further.

"Really?" the young man exclaimed, his eyes widening in surprise.

"Yes. He is staying in the golden griffin. After this break, I have to go there, bring him here, and get him up to speed with the menu before the head cook arrives," she said, checking her pocket watch.

"Why can't the head cook go get him? And why did he hire a helper from the capitol?" asked the young man.

"Apparently, this guy has some talents. From what I heard, the head cook hired him through someone he knew and never met him in person to test his skills,"

Hunter's mind was racing with possibilities. This helper from the capital could be his way into the golden goose. He had to act quickly.

"Do you know where the Golden Griffin is?" Hunter whispered to Kolvar, keeping his eyes on the young man and woman.

Kolvar nodded, "Yeah, it's a couple of buildings down there."

Hunter gestured to Kolvar to stay hidden and rushed towards the Golden Griffin. Despite the heavy sack of astral coins on his back, Hunter moved swiftly through the crowd, keeping an eye out for anyone who might be following him. After a few minutes, Hunter and Kolvar reached the luxurious inn run by the same family who owns the golden goose.

As he stood outside the Golden Griffin, his eyes scanned the exterior of the building. The luxurious inn was a grand, two-story structure made of polished wood and stone with gilded accents that shimmered in the sunlight. The roof was slanted, with several dormer windows lining the top. Hunter could see the inn's sign hanging from the eaves, depicting a majestic griffin in flight, its wings spread wide.

The surrounding area was a bustling part of the city, with narrow cobblestone streets lined with shops and small stalls selling all manner of goods. The air was thick with the aroma of cooking food and the sound of people haggling over prices. Hunter could hear the distant clang of metal from a nearby blacksmith's shop and the soft plucking of a lute from a street musician. He could also see a group of children running and laughing, playing a game of tag.

Despite the noise and activity, Hunter felt a sense of calm as he stood outside the Golden Griffin. He knew this was his chance to get closer to Lady Marina and possibly find a way into the Golden Goose. He took a deep breath and squared his shoulders, ready to face whatever challenges lay ahead.

Kolvar felt his heart pounding as they made their way to the back alley. Hunter's energy was different this time, and Kolvar didn't like it. As they walked, Kolvar couldn't help but wonder who else Hunter was planning to kill.

"Are you going to kill him too?" Kolvar's voice trembled as he spoke.

Hunter stopped in his tracks and turned to face Kolvar. His eyes were blazing with an intensity that sent shivers down Kolvar's spine. Hunter moved closer until he was inches away from Kolvar's face, and then he grabbed him by the collar, slamming him against the wall.

"Listen to me," Hunter's voice was low and menacing.

"I am going to kill whoever stands in my way to the top. It's a dog-eat-dog world out there, and I have no intention of being the one who gets eaten. Do you understand?"

Kolvar nodded, too afraid to speak. He knew Hunter's dark side and didn't want to experience it again.

After looking into Kolvar's eyes for a brief moment, Hunter released Kolvar as he surveyed the area around the back of the building. Suddenly, Hunter's eyes lit up as he spotted an open window on the top floor of the Golden Griffin. He turned to Kolvar with a smirk on his face. The killer Kolvar he saw a few seconds ago was nowhere to be found, and Hunter seemed to have returned to his calm demeanor.

"Looks like we have an easy way in," he said.

Kolvar's eyes widened as he looked up at the window, realizing that it was at least ten feet above the ground.

"How are we going to get up there?" he asked.

Hunter's eyes scanned the area and spotted a stack of wooden crates nearby.

"That should do the trick," he said, walking over to the crates.

He examined them closely, testing their stability with a few kicks. Satisfied that they wouldn't fall over, he dragged them over to the wall of the building.

With Kolvar's help, Hunter stacked the crates one on top of the other, forming a makeshift staircase. Hunter tested the stack again, making sure it wouldn't topple over before he began to climb. Kolvar watched in amazement as Hunter climbed up the wall with the agility of a cat, placing his feet carefully on the top of each crate before pushing himself up onto the next one. When he reached the top, Hunter hoisted himself up onto the ledge of the open window and peered inside.

"Looks like nobody's home," he said, a smile spreading across his face.

"Stay put and keep an eye out for anyone coming our way," Hunter instructed Kolvar, who looked at him nervously. "And don't forget, if anyone asks, you're just taking a leak. Got it?"

Kolvar nodded, still looking a bit uneasy, but he was a loyal friend and would do as Hunter asked. Hunter climbed through the window, and found himself on a narrow corridor with several doors on either side. Some were tightly shut, while others were slightly open, revealing glimpses of the rooms inside.

The hallway was dimly lit, with only a few flickering candles casting shadows across the walls. Hunter took a deep breath and let it out slowly. The air was fresh and aromatic, indicating that the inn was well-maintained. It made sense since the Golden Griffin had a clientele of nobles and the wealthy. So, cleanliness and hygiene were of the utmost importance.

As Hunter crept down the hallway, keeping to the shadows as much as possible, he listened intently for any signs of movement or sound. However, all he could hear was the faint sound of creaking floorboards underfoot. He approached each door with caution, stopping and listening again, trying to determine if anyone was inside.

While some of the doors were locked, others were not. Hunter pushed gently against one of the unlocked doors, and it swung open silently. He peered inside, but the room was empty. He moved on to the next door, and then the next, checking each one carefully as he went.

As he made his way down the hallway, he realized that this part of the inn was reserved for guests staying the night. It was quiet, and he could hear nothing from the floors below where the tavern was located. Finally, he came to the end of the corridor and spotted a door with a small brass plate that read "VIP." He smiled to himself and walked towards it, feeling a sense of anticipation.

When he reached the door, Hunter could hear faint voices coming from inside. He placed his ear to the door, trying to make out what was being said. However, the voices were too muffled, and he couldn't quite hear what was being said. With a determined look on his face, Hunter tried the doorknob, and to his surprise, it turned easily. Once again, luck was on Hunter's side like it had always been.

Hunter slowly opened the door and peeked inside. The young man sitting at the small table with a book in his hands looked up at him in surprise, almost dropping the papers in his hand. Hunter could see the fear in his eyes, but before he could say anything, Hunter spoke with a sense of urgency.

"Sorry to barge in like this, but I'm looking for someone," he said, his voice trembling with fear. "The head cook in the golden goose sent me to deliver a message to you. It's really important."

The young man looked up from his papers, eyeing Hunter with a doubtful expression. "What message?" he asked warily.

Hunter quickly improvised, hoping that his lie would sound convincing enough. "It's about the shipment that's coming in next week," he said, holding up the parchment he had taken from the half-elf's body. "The head cook wanted to make sure you were aware of the changes to the menu. He thought it would be best to inform you in person."

The young man stood from his chair and came closer to Hunter, still eyeing him suspiciously. "Let me see that," he said, holding out his hand for the parchment.

As the young man approached Hunter to take the parchment from his hand, Hunter drew his dagger, the Devil's Cry, and slashed the young man's throat in a swift motion. Blood spurted out from his throat, staining Hunter's clothes and the floor beneath him. The young man struggled to scream, but Hunter quickly covered his mouth, preventing any sound from escaping.

Hunter closed the door with his leg, making sure not to make a sound.

The young man's body crumpled to the ground, and Hunter felt a sense of satisfaction wash over him. He had accomplished his mission, and now he could move on to the next phase of his plan. As the light of life slowly faded away from the young man's eyes, Hunter placed his lifeless body on the messy bed, careful not to leave any trace of his presence behind.

Hunter then started to rummage through the room, looking for any clues or items that could help him in his mission. He saw a stack of papers on the desk, but they looked like they were written in a language he didn't understand. He saw a few books on the shelves, but they all seemed to be about cooking and recipes, nothing that would be of use to him.

But then, he spotted something hanging in the closet that caught his eye. It was a neatly pressed dress, similar to the attire worn by the young man and young woman he had seen behind the golden goose. Hunter's heart skipped a beat as he realized that this must be the attire for the helper of the head cook.

"Jackpot," Hunter whispered to himself, a sense of relief flooding over him. He knew that he had just hit the mother lode. With this dress, he could easily blend in with the other helpers and make his way into the kitchen, where he could carry out the rest of his mission without arousing any suspicion.

He quickly stripped off his blood-stained clothes and wiped himself down with one of the clean shirts he found in the young man's closet. Then he slipped into the dress, which fit him perfectly. He looked in the mirror and saw a completely different person staring back at him. It was almost like he had transformed into someone else entirely.

Satisfied with his disguise, Hunter exited the door, closing the door behind him. He then returned to the same opened window he climbed through and jumped back down to the ground instead of exiting the building through the front door on the ground floor.

As he turned a corner, he saw Kolvar standing against the wall, waiting for him. Kolvar's eyes widened as he took in Hunter's new appearance. He looked him up and down, taking in every detail of the dress, and a look of disbelief crossed his face.

"Whoa, I almost didn't recognize you in that dress!" Kolvar exclaimed a hint of shock in his voice. "You really pulled off that disguise."

Hunter felt a wave of relief wash over him at Kolvar's reaction. It was a relief to know that his disguise had worked.

However, as Kolvar continued staring at him, Hunter sensed something was bothering him. It was as if his friend was trying to avoid thinking about what had happened to the young man whose clothes he was wearing.

Hunter cleared his throat and handed over the black cloak and the sack filled with astral coins to Kolvar.

"Go to the adventurers guild and wait for me there. With the thief guild on our tail, that might be the only safe place for us to lay low," said Hunter.

With Kolvar dispatched, Hunter moved with purpose towards a darkened alley. He fumbled with the system, purchasing a wig and a fake mustache similar to the appearance of the helper he had just killed. Though the items had cost him three hundred precious badass points, it was a small price to pay for the disguise he required.

Hunter donned the wig and mustache with practiced ease, carefully examining his reflection in a nearby puddle to ensure he was unrecognizable. Satisfied with his disguise, he stepped out of the shadows and into the bustling street, his features now completely obscured.