Chapter 162: A silent plan

"They should've just said they missed each other," Jhonatan remarked, watching the two women help each other up, even though they both looked utterly beaten.

"That's why you're still single," Marlon teased him, grabbing another bottle of beer and placing it on the counter.

Despite their battered appearance, the two women made their way over to the bar, leaning on each other for support.

"This reminds me of that day," Jhonatan said, but his eyes drifted away from the scene, focusing back on his drink.

"Careful with what you say, or they'll kill you if you say the wrong thing," Marlon warned, as Samira sat down in front of him. "Another round," she ordered, and Rogue gave him the same look.

"Coming right up, ladies," Marlon said with a smile as he poured the beer into a large mug, "On the house."

His unspoken plea was clear: Please don't wreck my bar! Samira and Rogue got the message loud and clear.

"So, why did you come back?" Rogue asked, taking a sip of her overflowing beer.

"It's a long story..." Samira murmured, resting her elbows on the counter and her head in her hands, her body visibly exhausted.

"We've got time for long stories," Rogue replied, taking another swig of her beer.

"I'm looking for someone... Someone who has information about the Duchy of Vorah. Does that ring any bells?" Samira asked.

"That depends on what information you're looking for," Rogue responded, the request too vague for her to narrow it down.

"Well... Ah..." Samira sighed, "They're posing as a merchant or working with one, arrived about a week ago, no physical description, but probably has the demeanor of a cultivator." She explained the limited intel Strax had provided to track down this person.

"We?" Rogue inquired, catching onto the subtle shift in Samira's words. "Oh, right... I got married recently. I mean, there was no formal ceremony, but he calls me his wife, and I call him my husband, so... yeah, I guess I'm married? I think so," Samira said nonchalantly, leaving the three utterly stunned.

"Huh? Why the shocked faces?" Samira asked, noticing their open-mouthed expressions. How could this woman, this wild barbarian, have found love?

Samira kept talking, ignoring the dumbfounded looks on their faces.

"My 'husband' is an amazing person, even though we didn't have a formal ceremony. It's a bit confusing, I know." She said, taking another drink of her beer.

"I'll introduce him later," she added, but then quickly backtracked, "No, actually, I won't."

She remembered what her husband was like, and the mere thought of introducing him to Rogue sent alarm bells ringing in her head. 'Definitely NOT!' she screamed internally, realizing she wouldn't be able to handle the chaos that would ensue if her husband...

'No! Better not even think about it!'

"What? You're not going to introduce him?! I want to meet him!" Rogue said, her excitement clear. Of course, she wanted to meet the man who could win the heart of this fierce woman!

Of course, as a well-trained assassin, he was simply doing his job as quickly as possible, especially knowing who that man was and what he was preparing.

"Damn dragon..." he muttered again, as he entered a strange, narrow tunnel—this was the city's sewage system.

"So many places to hide... why here of all places..." Carlos grumbled, following the tube with caution, clearly uncomfortable with the claustrophobia the place induced.

"After this job... I'm getting out of this city, getting a new identity, and living happily in some village far away from these crazy people."

He was already making plans to get out of this mess unscathed.

As he walked, he could smell the foul stench of the environment, hear the distant sounds of rats fighting over scraps, and the disgusting sound of water sloshing through the pipes grated on his ears.

"How should I handle this? Should I tell her? Damn... it's so hard being me," he murmured, finally spotting some kind of sign—a place where shadows clearly danced around a fire.

The flickering flames cast light ahead, and he crept forward cautiously.

"Black Blade..." he muttered as he approached, sneaking closer.

The tension in the air grew suddenly; his body stiffened as he fought against the fear that it might not be his boss waiting for him.

As he got closer, Carlos finally saw who was sitting in front of the fire. It was a hooded woman, with a mysterious appearance and an aura that radiated a sense of latent danger.

"You're late, you know?" The angelic voice sounded, one he knew all too well. "Cut the crap and get over here," she ordered, and Carlos quickly rushed to her.

"Boss, why here?" was his first question.

"I don't have time for that. Did the Young Master Strax arrive safely?" she asked, her tone indicating she had some pressing concerns that required Strax's presence.

"Yes, they're at an inn. He said he wanted to see you," Carlos reported, and Cristine just smiled beneath her mask.

"Tell him I'll meet him soon. I just need a bit of help with my sister, and I'll meet him by tomorrow night," she said, and Carlos looked at her, confused by her next words, "I think it's time for you to leave..."

"What do you mean, leave?" he questioned.

"The guild is going to end soon... I'm giving you a heads up so you can prepare. Deliver the message to Strax and get out of the city..." Cristine said as she began to remove her mask.

"I'm giving you this chance because I'm the one who recruited you, so find something else to live for and forget the guild." Her words slowly instilled fear in him.

"I'm going to wipe out the entire guild, leaving not a single high-ranking member alive," she declared, her dark face revealed to Carlos, making him tremble...

That woman... despite being beautiful... seemed like the embodiment of evil, her eyes so indifferent...