Ch64 Triple Agent

Jericho paced around the room, before turning to the Wanderer. "So what was your original goal in impersonating Vincent?"

"I can't reveal all my cards," the Wanderer said. "You have to agree to our deal first."

Jericho snapped his head toward him. "Then show me the sword."

The Wanderer slammed his palm onto the desk. "We don't have time for this. Isn't the boy's reaction enough confirmation? At least for now?"

Jericho stared at him, trying to distinguish the truth between the lies.

The Wanderer sighed. "Nigel was working for a secret organization that aims to change the power system in the entire kingdom."

Jericho smirked. "It all makes sense now."

"You noticed something about him?" the Wanderer asked.

Jericho waved his hand dismissively. "Never mind that for now."

The Wanderer narrowed his eyes. "How did you catch him, though? I wasn't able to get that information from the records."

"You already know enough," Jericho said flatly. "Nigel killed himself before we could get any useful information out of him."

The Wanderer extended his hand. "Do we have a deal?"

Jericho walked right past the outstretched hand. "First, tell me about this organization."

The Wanderer pulled his hand back. "They are aiming for something massive. Something that will shake all of Avaris. That's all I can say for now. Once you agree, I'll use my resources to get more information."

Jericho frowned, processing the words for a second before a sudden realization hit him. He looked at the Wanderer in horror. "Draemir!"

He rasped. "The organization wants to hand the kingdom over on a silver platter." He spun around and ran toward the door. "I must inform the council."

The Wanderer stepped into his path. "Why are you so sure?"

"The increased Draemiran refugees, the terrorist attacks..." Jericho gasped, his eyes searching the Wanderer's face. "And Nigel. We caught him meeting in secret with Draemirans."

He tried to push past the Wanderer to open the door, but the Wanderer grabbed him by the shoulder.

"We don't have evidence of this yet," the Wanderer said, trying to bring him to his senses "And given your reputation right now, not even the council would believe you."

Jericho’s arms dropped to his sides as he stared blankly at the floor.

The Wanderer kept his grip tight on the older man's shoulder. "Besides, this isn't their only goal. I suspected they were paving the road for a Draemiran invasion, but there is a far greater threat."

He looked right at Jericho. "We need to work together to get solid evidence before handing it to the council, or even to the king."

Jericho sank into a nearby chair.

He looked up slowly. "What do you need?"

The Wanderer grinned. "As I said, the same deal stands. I'll leave the council for you to convince."

Jericho nodded slowly, his eyes fixed on the floor.

The Wanderer turned toward the door to leave, but Jericho's voice barked out behind him. "Wait."

The Wanderer paused, looking back over his shoulder.

"You can't roam freely until the council approves," Jericho said, waking up from his panic. He shouted toward the hallway. "Guards!"

Two guards rushed into the office.

"Take this man back to the guest house," Jericho ordered. "He is not allowed to leave."

The guards moved toward the Wanderer, grabbing him firmly by the arms. As they pulled him back, the Wanderer said. "What about my family?"

Jericho rubbed his head, looking exhausted. "The rest of the Black Crowns will join you there."

"One last thing," the Wanderer said, stopping his momentum.

Jericho shouted in frustration, "What?!"

The Wanderer said softly, almost human. "Helen... she doesn't know. I'd like to keep it that way."

Jericho stared at him for a moment, then nodded slowly before turning back to the mess of papers on his desk. "Take him."

The guards accompanied the Wanderer back across the citadel to the guest house.

A few minutes passed before the doors opened again.

The guards threw the bleeding body of Sunny inside, letting him slide across the stone floor before slamming the door shut.

The Wanderer crouched down to help him up.

But the moment he touched him, Sunny threw his weight forward, swinging a shaky punch at the Wanderer's face. "You fucking bastard!"

The punch missed, and Sunny collapsed back onto the ground. The Wanderer quickly moved in, pinning his shoulders to the floor to keep him from hurting himself further.

"Calm down," the Wanderer said. "I'm a man of my word. The deal is secure."

Sunny flailed his limbs wildly, trying to break free of his grip in vain. Tears cut tracks through the dried blood on his face, his chest heaving. "You're a curse," he rasped between the sobs. "You are just another curse for this family."

Looking down at the boy, the Wanderer saw Kuma. The same fragility, the same desperate anger and the same innocent smile that didn't belong in this brutal world.

The Wanderer slowly let go of his grip.

Sunny rolled onto his side and cried his heart out against the cold floor.

The Wanderer sat down on the floor beside him, sorrow bleeding into Vincent’s face.

"I understand what you're going through," the Wanderer said softly, staring blankly at the far wall. "I lie more than I breathe these days. I know you don't trust me... and you shouldn't."

Tears began forming in the Wanderer's eyes. "I had a friend once... the only one I ever had. He also went through hell in Valoria. His family was killed by the mage seekers." He smiled bitterly, looking down at his hand. "We used to argue a lot, but I knew he had my back. Until the day I didn't have his.

My friend died because I was stupid enough to let him fight alone."

He wiped his eyes, turning his gaze back to Sunny. "I promised him I'd be the best version of myself since then. All those threats I gave your family... they were lies. I don't wish to hurt innocents."

He stood up and stretched his hand toward Sunny. "You don't need to trust me. But I won't be stupid this time. That is my promise to you."

Sunny stared at the outstretched hand for a moment before finally taking it. The Wanderer pulled him up to his feet, letting the boy lean against him as he guided him over to a nearby chair.

Sunny wiped his nose, trying to steady his ragged breath. "The Black Crowns aren't allowed outside of the city without heavy guards. If you truly mean what you just said... find a way to get us outside the whole kingdom."

The doors opened again. The guards shoved Helen and Harith into the room, locking it behind them.

"What the hell is going on?" Harith shouted, his face red with anger as he glared at the Wanderer.

Helen gasped, her eyes locking onto the chair. "Sunny!"

She rushed over to the boy, checking his injuries, while Harith stepped up directly in front of the Wanderer.

The Wanderer forced a calm smile. "Just a misunderstanding. Everything is good now."

"Who did this to him?" Helen snapped. "I'm going to beat those bastards!"

Sunny raised a shaky hand, stopping her. "I'm fine, Auntie," he grunted in pain as he tried to shift in the chair. "Just a few bruises. Don't worry."

Harith leaned in, whispering to the Wanderer. "You are going to get us all killed."

Helen bypassed Harith, stepping up to the Wanderer. "Vincent, I want to leave this cursed place. I want to go back to my home."

The Wanderer kept his smile reassuring. "We have to stay here for a little while longer. Just give me a couple of days."

She laid her hand softly against his cheek. "Son... you've been acting weird since your return. I don't know what you've been through out there, but believe me, wealth and nobility mean nothing if we aren't happy."

The Wanderer gently tapped her hand. "Everything will be okay. I'll make sure of it."

Helen pulled him into a hug. Over her shoulder, Harith crossed his arms and stared at him.

The Wanderer shifted his gaze past Harith, locking eyes with Sunny. He gave the boy a firm nod, silently approving the request to get them all out of the kingdom.

The next morning, the heavy iron lock on the guest house door clicked open. Jericho stood at the threshold and gestured for the Wanderer to step outside.

The Wanderer followed him and they walked into the open courtyard.

"I kept my word," Jericho said, keeping his eyes ahead. "Now it's your turn."

"The council approved?" the Wanderer asked.

Jericho said bitterly. "You put us in a situation they were desperate to get out of. With the king already expecting Vincent's arrival, they preferred to manage a toy noble rather than tell Altharion the truth. You might have talked your way out of the grave this time, stranger, but there won't be a second."

"That's all I need," the Wanderer said.

Jericho stopped pacing, turning to face him. "Who do you actually work for?"

"I can't say," the Wanderer replied. "For both of our sakes. But I don't wish for Valoria to fall. For all its flaws, it protected me in ways you wouldn't understand." The memory of Serenya flashed through his mind before he continued. "And its people are close to my heart."

Jericho sighed. "I can't trust a single word out of your mouth. But I don't have another option." He straightened his coat. "Get ready to leave tomorrow. We can't keep Altharion waiting for too long."

The Wanderer nodded. "I'll take Vincent’s family back to the slums today. They aren't exactly enjoying their stay here."

"Good," Jericho said. "You'd better avoid any direct contact with the citadel for now."

"I'll be investigating this organization while I'm in Valoria," the Wanderer noted, turning to head back. "So my return might be delayed."

Jericho’s voice stopped him in his tracks. "Remember, stranger. You tried to fool me once. I wouldn't care about Valoria, or Draemir if you try a second."

The Wanderer bowed mockingly. "I wouldn't dare, Lord Jericho."

An hour later, Vincent’s family was moving back to the slums.

Helen approached the Wanderer with a relieved smile. "You finally listened to me, dear son."

The Wanderer scanned their surroundings, checking the crowded street to ensure no one from the citadel was tracking their movements, then he leaned in close to her. "We won't be staying there either," he whispered.

Harith overheard, his brow furrowing as he whispered back, "Then where the hell are we going?"

"I'll explain everything later," the Wanderer replied quickly. "For now, wait for me at the house. I'll join you shortly."

In haste, he turned and walked away, leaving Helen and Harith staring blankly after him.

The Wanderer headed directly to the Hand of Justice. He burst through the front doors, straight to the counter. "Call Zero. Now!" he ordered the barkeep.

Startled by the urgency in the man's voice, the barkeep hurried into the back storage room. This time, the Wanderer followed him right inside.

The barkeep turned to him. "Wait outside, please."

"There is no time," the Wanderer snapped. "This is urgent."

The barkeep looked at him for a brief moment, then reluctantly nodded. He approached a wooden desk hidden in the darkness of the dim room. Lifting the hinged top section of the desk, he revealed a complex panel of strange buttons and transparent tubes pulsing with a glowing liquid.

The barkeep pressed a rapid sequence of buttons, and the Nullstone embedded in the center of the device began to glow.

A few tense minutes passed before Zero’s distorted voice finally came. "What is with the frequent calls? You think I sit by this device all day waiting for you?"

The barkeep stammered, "I'm sorry, sir, but-"

The Wanderer cut him. "I need to get out of Hosar. Tonight!"