556 Operating in the Dark

I AM BACK!

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*3 Days Later, Riften*

"Hurry up, we'll be caught!"

"I can… I…"

*Swoosh* *Swoosh*

Two arrows made a murderous sound as they targeted two individuals only to miss them by a hair's width each.

"Fuck! They are playing us."

"Run!"

The two individuals kept running as if their lives depended on it because that was the truth. They were being pushed towards a desperate situation. They knew their pursuers weren't actually out for their blood but when they stood their ground last time, they lost a member of their crew.

The two thieves desperately ran out of options except to go from the alleyway to the streets but they were well-aware of how dangerous this would turn out to be. The guards are looking for them everywhere and now they have this crazy guy after them. It was infuriating but when they were finally running out of options, a glimmer of hope appeared before them.

In a corner of the city, there was a small house that wasn't used by anyone that much and according to the rumors, no one lives there. Honeyside Manor. The desperate thieves ran towards the Manor and kicked the door together.

Two kicks from an adult Argonian and an adult Imperial should easily knock open any door but for some unknown and mysterious reason, the door kicked back. In actuality, it was someone who kicked the door from inside before the thieves kicked it from the outside which resulted in blowing the thieves away.

"Riften! Tremble in fear for I am back!"

A morbid presence came from behind the Manor's door as the owner of the leg stepped after lowering his head to pass from the door. He was terrifyingly large.

It didn't take the thieves a second glance to see the man and turn tail running away towards the streets and getting caught by the guards the moment they were seen. The man who went out of Honeyside Manor kept looking at the scene and trying to figure out what just happened. Did his presence really cause Riften to tremble in fear?

"Sorry… I guess." Jon shook his shoulder not bothering to figure out what really happened.

"Don't be. Those assholes deserved it." A voice replied to him from a masked woman who stood above the roof of the manor.

Jon looked up to see the woman stepping over the edge of the roof and jumping towards him. He simply received her without any trouble and as their bodies collided together, Jon held her firmly from her butt and brought her even closer to him. Looking at her eyes through the mask on her face, he smiled and slapped her butt cheek once.

"Solid buttock, squishy boobs, only my Jully Psycho has such a flexible figure."

Jullanar rolled her eyes upwards as she entertained Jon, if she is lucky, she may have him tonight all for herself.

"You're visiting without a notice." She said.

"Fine, can you stop doing what you're doing in public." She looked around trying to warn him about the spectators.

"Let them watch and die from envy." Jon replied with a cheeky smile making Jullanar smile back.

"Ehem! Hey there, Jonny boy."

"Fuck off, Delvin."

"Tsk! The fooking brat! Just don't go starkers middle of the goddamned road."

Jon was already out of mood just by hearing Delvin so he let Jullanar down and faced his old friend.

"No love for your elders you sad brat?"

"Have you looked at the mirror?"

"Not again!"

"Exactly."

Jon laughed and shook hands with Delvin who was all friendly all of a sudden.

"How is the guild doing?"

"Like shite!"

"That bad, eh?"

"You won't even hear the end of it. Goddamn robbers and mercenaries are even running after the little we have."

"Hola hola!" Jon didn't understand the situation, "What exactly are you up against?"

For some reason, there seemed to be a situation that Jon didn't know about from the game and it was unfolding all around Riften. The last transmission from Jullanar, which is the reason why he's here, said something about a chaotic situation in the Rift.

"Truth be told, I haven't the faintest idea. The guards are as tight as an arse all of a sudden and many strangers popping up around the town. They say a Treasure has appeared near the Rift."

"A treasure appeared? Like magically popped out of butt-fuck nowhere?"

"Exact…" Delvin was going to confirm it but he halted for a second and started thinking, "You're the expert in Magic, can such a thing really happen?"

Jon shrugged his shoulders.

"Depends on what treasure we're talking about. The Elder Scrolls do that all the time but that's their nature. The most powerful artifacts which belong to Daedra are the same because the Daedra control them. Others are just cursed to disappear and reappear. Any idea what treasure that is?"

Delvin shook his head.

"The drawing we had is that of something circular. It can be as small as a circlet or even a ring. It can also be some kind of artifact with specific use regardless of the shape." Delvin said.

"So all you know is that it is a ring-shaped object. That is more confusing than being a lead. Sounds like someone has an ulterior motive behind spreading the rumor." Jon nodded.

"Well ain't you a bright bastard! You may be right though but I ain't sticking my head for just a rumor, no thanks. It is making people turn into animals." Delvin spat on the ground as he replied.

"Then why are you two going out chasing people? That isn't how you usually act." Jon said.

"Nah, just thinning the competition. We want the guard to catch those assholes so we can know who's after them."

"Wait! You make the guards interrogate them for you when you have my Jully Psycho? Are you looking down on our skills?" Jon felt offended.

"For Dagon's sake! Why on bloody Nirn do you two freaks get horny when you think of interrogation? Is it some sort of foreplay or something?" Delvin felt disgusted looking between Jon and Jull.

On the other hand, the two looked at each other not wanting to admit it.

"Oblivion… I was right, wasn't I?"

"Anyway…" Jon changed the subject, "Why are you letting the guards capture them?"

"Someone will have to bail them out. That someone will lead us to their source you see."

"Aha! Smart. Still, this ring situation is similar to another one happening in Whiterun, I sent my people to check it out."

"Piss off! Sending people around like you're some kind of a big shot!"

"I'm a big shot."

"Yeah, you snooty brat… who fooking thought! Either way, we heard about Whiterun's situation but the Imperial Legion is involved. Word is they are hunting down everyone who's snooping around their search. Kill first, ask later kind of protocol. Those who are fool enough to mess with the Legion are the ones who the ones snooping there."

"I'm snooping there."

"You're fool enough."

Jon and Delvin kept exchanging insults moving from subject to another like old friends on a reunion.

"Damn you, Jonny boy. Two years out in the wild and the last we hear from you are raiding a Jarl's palace then showing up in the same place announcing your arrival and sponsoring the bloody Dragonborn on top of it. That was like a fookin legend. You learned from the best indeed."

"Fuck you very much."

"You're welcome."

"Hey, lad. Is it true? I heard all Nords across Skyrim heard something three days ago. Brynjolf kept spacing out for three hours straight after it." Suddenly, Delvin remembered some event and asked a strange question.

"Ah! You're talking about that. Yeah, all Nords heard it." Jon nodded.

"Fuck me dead! You fookin Nords have gone crazy all of you!"

The event Delvin was asking about is clearly something that completely shook Skyrim far and wide. The "Hail to Ysmir" incident.

One peaceful night, every Nord without exception heard the Voice of the Sky praising Ysmir, the Ysmir in this Era is no one but the Dragonborn whose name is not known.

Hail to Ysmir, three nights have passed since then and the shock was like never before. Many Nords flooded to Winterhold looking for the Dragonborn since then which forced Jon to run away after dealing with so much trouble. To simply summarize what followed, every Nord in Winterhold was out there looking around for Jon's identity and making trouble for Jon who is guaranteed to be the only knowledge of his identity. If not for Alina's wisdom, Jon would have had to answer to all the fanatic Nords who were there to join the Dragonborn regardless of political allegiance.

Alina's foresight led her to open a new section in the Temple of Kyne called the Corner of Ysmir to receive the Blessing of the Dragonborn. In actuality, it was a shrine made of a real Dragon Skull that Jon reluctantly spared to entertain the visitors, those who saw it were filled with awe and went on a fervent state of worship.

Thankfully, Jon managed to keep his identity a secret and even with Onikkeindrog knowing of Jon's identity. It even seemed that Onikkeindrog kept Jon's secret in order to stop the Dragons from recklessly challenging him. With the agreement between the two, Onikkeindrog accepted the exile judgment and left Tamriel. Of course, this exiling situation was still starting as a rumor.

All in all, Jon confirmed to Delvin that the Voice of the Sky has indeed spoken and greeted the Dragonborn in the name of Ysmir. A miracle that is causing an uproar all across the nine holds.

"Alright, smartass. Nords are going head over heels to know the name of the man you're hiding. Who knows how long you will keep a secret! People are paying us to go find out who's your guy."

"I'm not hiding him, that's his will. The only man I'm hiding is down here." Jon pointed at Little Jon.

"Hah! Twenty years and you haven't grown up one fookin year. Nevermind! I'm off now. Miss Jullanar, be seeing you for the next job."

"See ya!"

Jon and Jullanar watched Delvin leave and they looked towards each other mischievously once again.

"Nice mask!" Jon pointed at the mask she's wearing.

Jullanar took it off and handed it over to Jon.

"Catatoskr's mask is a heavy responsibility. It is as notorious as the Cowl of the Grey Fox itself." She said.

"Keep it, I'll take it back when I need it. Catatoskr is a Riften exclusive identity, keep the reputation to the standards."

"I understand." She nodded.

"So… your report."

"Ah! That report, right. Okay, where to start?"

"Start with Delphine." Jon said

"Alright. She left Riften yesterday with the elderly man known as Esbern. I assume they will reach Winterhold a week or two. She used the chaotic situation in Riften and slipped into the Ratway killing a lot of Thalmor in the process. Bitch is hateful but she has some skill I give her that."

After the situation with Onikkeindrog unfolded, Delphine was extremely upset at Jon accusing him of not being true to his title as Dragonborn. Jon had to beat the living shit out of her then he told her about Esbern, another ex-Blade Agent in hiding in Riften. He told her she can go save him if she wants to and he won't involve himself with them. Tho happened opposite to the game where Delphine sends the player for Esbern, not the other way around.

This Esbern is a Blade scholar and a friend to Jonrad. Also, he is one of the most knowledgeable people of Dragons and Jon wanted something very specific from him.

"Fine, it seems that Delphine can at least be this useful. What about your duty in the Guild?"

"I am doing fine. Keeping an eye on Mercer is nothing hard. Also, I'm hearing about a sabotage operation Brynjolf wants to give me regarding Goldenglow Estate. It is mentioned in your notes that I must take it."

"Yes. Don't miss that one."

"That's about the guild. I am also keeping an eye on Mercer Frey and Maven Black-Briar."

"Jolly good work. I am curious about this treasure that appeared so I'll be snooping around Riften and traveling between the other Holds. The defeat of the Wise Dragons will stir up Alduin and his goons so I'll be highly active these next few days."

"Hehehe! I'll see you a lot then. We can have as much fun as we want all alone." Jullanar laughed gleefully and stuck closer to Jon.

"That's what you think of? Alright, you have been a good girl lately so I don't mind rewarding you." Jon hugged her tight and whispered to her

"Yay!"

Jon carried Jullanar over his shoulder and entered the Manor only him and her. Not minding the neighborhood, the two animals of pleasure moaned and screamed until the next morning.

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