Offers without refusal

Rested and rejuvenated, they began their search for a repair dock. They found mostly small workshops with craftsmen who worked on small ships and minor repairs. Not everyone would take on damage as extensive as theirs, and those that did seemed unreliable.

Finally, they found a large workshop with several docks that was actively working on repairs.

After meeting with the owner and discussing the repair, he explained that all the docks were occupied and wouldn't be available for a while. He also quoted a price of five thousand gold pieces. At that price, Buck could barely keep his feet on the ground.

It was not only high, it was obscenely exorbitant. With half that amount, he could have built a new ship. Yes, it would take two more years, but it would be a brand new ship.

They had eight hundred gold pieces from sales and needed another 4200. Even without the pirate attack and if they had managed to sell everything, it would have been difficult to scrape together the necessary amount. The amount was just too overwhelming.

After questioning the local sailors, Kailen realized that they were being forced into a task. Local prices were much lower, according to the sailors. They needed to return to the same bar to confront the person responsible. But they had no proof and no way to refuse.

When they arrived at the bar, the stranger occupied a corner. It was as if he knew they were coming, knew they had no choice. Kailen approached and sat down opposite him.

"Tell me, what is the task?" Kailen said, determined to gather all the information he could to be fully prepared.

"A man of action, but such things cannot be discussed here. The walls have ears," the stranger replied, nodding toward the half-empty hall.

He stood and waved his hand, inviting them to follow. They climbed to the second floor and walked down the corridor to the last room. It was simple: a small bed, a nightstand, and a table with three chairs in the middle of the room. Once settled, the stranger went to the bedside table and took out some papers.

"The task is simple for someone like you, Sub-Zero. It will be easy," the stranger said. Kailen hadn't mentioned his name, and he didn't like that the stranger seemed to know a lot about him.

"How do you know my name?" Kailen asked.

"You are well known in certain circles, very well. I believe you are called the Ice Death?" the stranger asked. This was too much for Kailen, who grabbed the stranger by the throat and squeezed so hard that his face turned red from lack of air and he struggled to breathe.

"Let him go, Kailen, we need him," Buck intervened.

Kailen angrily threw him against the wall and the stranger fell, gasping for air. He realized his mistake and knew he had to be extremely polite to Kailen.

"Forgive me if my words offended you, but please do not react so violently," the stranger said, rubbing his neck.

"Get to the point," Buck said.

"Yes, of course," the stranger agreed. He straightened his clothes, brushed off dust and smoothed out wrinkles before sitting down again. "Your goal is to obtain secret correspondence between two individuals. They are plotting against the country, and it is vital for us to expose them. Due to certain circumstances, we cannot involve our own people. Therefore, we need outsiders who do not reside in Noxus."

"So far, this sounds like complete bullshit," Buck said.

"Who are these two people exchanging correspondence with?" Kailen asked.

"That's the least important information. The most important thing is to find the correspondence and deliver it to me. That is the primary task," the stranger replied.

"Cut the crap and tell us who they are," Kailen insisted.

"Ahem, they are nobles planning a conspiracy to overthrow the government. Believe me, your mission will lead to peace in our country, and we will not forget your help," the stranger replied, trying to steer the conversation away from the possible identification of the suspects.

"So you'll hide their identities? Then we have conditions: the ship's repairs begin tomorrow," Kailen demanded.

"Look, I can't agree to that. What if you fail and the resources are wasted?" the stranger protested.

"It's either that or nothing," Buck confirmed.

"I will discuss it, but I can't promise anything," the stranger replied. He didn't agree, but he didn't refuse outright either, suggesting that he might try to get them to act without formal agreements, or perhaps just deceive them.

"Where and when do we have to steal the documents?" Kailen asked.

"In two days, there will be an event for the nobility. Many will attend. While security will be tight around the castle, movement inside will be relatively free. We don't know where the documents are, and we couldn't infiltrate a spy. You will have to find the letters yourself," the stranger explained.

"What makes you think they even exist? I would have burned them a long time ago," Buck argued, perplexed. If you were plotting a conspiracy, keeping such secrets would be a dangerous risk.

"We are sure of it. They don't trust each other completely. This is how they keep leverage over each other. If one destroys the other's letters but keeps his own, he can easily clear his name if necessary," the stranger explained.

"Got it. We need some time to think about this," Buck said, leading Kailen by the arm out of the room.

Outside the room, Buck's expression turned grim. He understood that they were being used and that the blame would fall on them, making them scapegoats.

"I understand if you want to leave and find another ship. I'm sure you can find a trustworthy captain, and I can recommend a few," Buck said immediately. He had already received much from Kailen and didn't want to add to his troubles. It was more than he could ask for.

"You promised to take me to Ionia, so you must keep that promise. And in return, I'll do everything I can to help you get there. That was our agreement," Kailen replied.

"You know, I've met a lot of people, but I've never met anyone like you. I'll be grateful for the rest of my life," Buck said sincerely. He was used to solving all problems on his own, but now Kailen had come along. Although they had only known each other for a few weeks, Kailen had already saved his life twice and was ready to do it again.

"You've become a friend to me, and friends always support each other. So what do you think? You've been here longer than I have," Kailen asked, bringing the conversation back on track.

"Noxus is not a place where you can let your guard down. They despise weakness, much like your people. But here, it's not just brute force; they can blackmail, scheme, and bribe. Their plans for conquest involve a lot of maneuvering. It may be just talk for now, but they are already assembling a powerful army," Buck said.

"Then we must be doubly careful," Kailen concluded.

"Yes, or better yet, triple cautious. Since we decided to go through with this, we should squeeze everything we can out of them," Buck added. Then he rubbed his stubble and looked at Kailen. "And one day you'll have to tell me why they call you 'Icy Death'."

"Maybe one day I will," Kailen replied.

When they returned, they agreed to the job, and through tough negotiations they reached an agreement that the ship repairs would begin immediately and cost only a thousand gold coins. This confirmed their suspicion that they were being swindled.

The disturbing part was who they had to steal the documents from. They were very important nobles at the top of the power structure, with considerable influence in Noxus. If they were caught, their fate would be grim: torture, then execution.

The ball was scheduled for the next day at a nobleman's mansion. They would be escorting one of the guests, which would allow them to attend, but they would need appropriate attire for the evening. Fortunately, they were provided with free clothes for the occasion.

"Damn, these clothes cost a fortune, and they were stingy with the ship repairs," Buck said, looking at himself in the mirror. Despite his poor fighting skills, he had the skills of a true thief. He would be the one to search for hidden compartments and pick locks.

Kailen said nothing. His thoughts were elsewhere. How did he end up here? He had been a renowned warrior, revered by the people of his village. He had family and friends. Now he was about to become a thief for his own benefit, even though circumstances left him no choice. Everything could be fixed; this was just a rough patch in his life.

"Hey, why are you just standing there?" Buck's voice broke through Kailen's thoughts as he snapped his fingers in front of Kailen's face.

"Nothing, just thinking," Kailen replied.

"Sigh, I thought I was going to sail along and trade without a care in the world, but look how it turned out. Now I'm dressing up like a rooster and dancing to someone else's tune," Buck said.

"The main thing is to avoid going to the slaughterhouse," Kailen replied.

"Right, Sub-Zero, listen up. I've got a plan if things go wrong," Buck said, waving Kailen over and whispering in his ear. "If everything goes wrong, we'll make a run for the harbor. There's a captain I know. As soon as it looks like we're being set up, we'll take his ship and sail away. Forget my ship, our lives are more important."

"I understand," Kailen replied.

The final preparations were made, and the mission was to begin the next day. Information was minimal: no routes or numbers of guards, no suggested locations. It seemed that no one expected them to succeed.

Weapons were out of the question; they could only hide small lockpicks in their clothing. They were on their own. If they got caught, they'd have to fight their way out; no one would help them.

Their ship was taken to the repair docks, where extensive restoration began. The work would take several months.

After spending the day preparing, they finally made their way to the rendezvous point. The mansion was outside the harbor, and all guests were expected to arrive in carriages.

At the designated spot, Kailen and Buck waited for their escort. The carriage arrived on time, lavishly decorated and obviously expensive.

The driver dismounted and opened the door. When they stepped inside, they expected to see the stranger, but instead there sat a beautiful woman. Part of her face was hidden behind a fan, revealing only her eyes.

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Across from her, the carriage began its journey.

"I'll get you inside, but after that, you're on your own," the woman said.

"Lovely lady, may I have the honor of knowing your name?" Buck tried to make a connection.

"My name is as meaningless to you as you are to me," the lady replied with particular contempt. It seemed she too had been coerced into compliance, perhaps by blackmail.

"Understood," Buck replied simply, deciding not to press further.

The rest of the journey passed in silence. The road was paved with stones, a rare sight. As they approached the mansion, they saw various statues, mostly depicting warriors in battle.

Soon the mansion came into view, more like a castle with towering spires that seemed to reach for the sky. The walls surrounding it were several meters high. The soldiers at the gate, fully armed, exuded competence: perfect posture, cold stares, and battle scars.

"Damn, this just got a whole lot worse," Buck muttered when he saw the castle.

"Ahem," the woman cleared her throat in disapproval.

"I apologize for my manners, I'm not accustomed to etiquette," Buck apologized.

"I expected no better manners from someone like you," the woman said.

"What do you mean, 'someone like me'?" Buck exclaimed.

"You are clearly not a noble. Your clothes are expensive, but they don't suit you. That scar, though it appears to be from battle, doesn't make you a soldier. The conclusion is obvious: a commoner," the lady said, turning away and ending the conversation.

Buck seethed with indignation, but no words came out of his throat. Kaylen put a soothing hand on his friend's shoulder.

"And you, you are a completely different type. Your cold gaze sends shivers down one's spine. You are always alert, your body ready for battle at any moment. You've obviously survived many battles, despite your youthful appearance," the woman continued, turning to him.

It was difficult to read her emotions, but her eyes told much.

Just as Kaylen was about to answer, the door swung open. The coachman stood by the carriage and held out his hand. The woman rose and, taking his hand, stepped down. They had no choice but to follow her.

She waited by the carriage, holding out her hand to Kaylen. He hesitated in confusion.

"I thought you at least had some manners. You should offer a lady your arm when escorting her," she said. Seeing his lack of understanding, she took his arm herself and led him toward the gates.

They approached a post where many soldiers were standing, along with two men in civilian clothes holding several scrolls. In front of them was the entrance to the castle, surrounded by a raging river. To fall would mean certain death, and the bridge was the only link across the chasm.

"Duchess Swain," the woman announced.

The greeter opened a scroll and, scanning the list, nodded to the guards.

"We are honored to have you with us, Lady Swain," the steward said respectfully. "Are these two your escorts?" he asked, indicating Kaylen and Buck.

"Yes, they are with me," she replied.

"Very well, enjoy your evening," the steward said, signaling for the gates to open.

The golden gates swung open, allowing guests to enter as carriage after carriage of more distinguished visitors arrived. The nobles of Noxus were an unusual sight; many were scarred former soldiers who had risen from the depths of society to command positions and earned the recognition that allowed them to enter the upper echelons. Strength was prized in Noxus, and anyone who could use it for the good of the nation was elevated.

Nearing the main entrance of the castle, the Duchess stopped suddenly.

"You are being deceived. Do not trust their words," she warned them, before lowering her hands and walking off in an unknown direction.

Kaylen watched her thoughtfully.

"Psh, let's wait until everyone gets a little tipsy and then make our move," Buck whispered to him. He meant they should wait until people were drunk and less attentive. Inside, there weren't as many guards, but they were diligently keeping watch.

Entering the main hall, they saw an abundance of tables laden with various foods and drinks. It was hard to know where to start looking for the letters.

As the evening wore on, more and more people filled the hall. Music began to play, and the aristocrats formed a small circle where the men began to invite the ladies to dance, and soon they were all twirling on the dance floor.

Buck couldn't resist sampling the fancy food and made his way to the tables. No one noticed his scars and eyes, as if it were the norm. He even found a few warriors to chat with about whatever came to mind.

Kaylen stayed by the wall, keeping a watchful eye on the hall, looking for possible exits to slip away unnoticed and begin their mission. It was hard to see how he could get deeper into the castle. Some nobles wandered freely through the corridors without being stopped by the guards. He didn't know who they were or how they were related to the owner of the castle. Were they friends, free to roam as they pleased, while he did not have that luxury? He had to keep contact with the guards to a minimum and stay unnoticed.

All he could do was watch. His eyes shifted from side to side, but his head remained still. He controlled his body discreetly, not revealing where he was looking. Suddenly he felt that someone was watching him. He began to look for the source of the curiosity. On one of the balconies, he saw a man with black hair staring directly into his eyes. His lifeless gaze exuded a thirst for blood, a look born of countless deaths at the hands of the beholder.

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The staring contest didn't last long. Someone distracted him and he turned his gaze to the person approaching him. He tried to look away, not wanting to lose sight of the person who had piqued his interest. But when he finally ended the conversation and looked back to where Kaylen had been, he was already gone.