Chapter 180: More Information...

"A secret tunnel in... who would have thought..." Strax thought as he silently followed Cristine. The tunnel was narrow; in fact, it looked more like a stairway to a basement or something similar, hidden behind a door behind the counter.

"You're not new here, but this one... who is he?" the man asked. It was common for spies and informants to have codenames, but Strax had none. "Call him Dragon. He's my... husband," she said, trying to convey confidence so the man wouldn't cause trouble for Strax.

After all... being marked by all the assassins, spies, and messengers in a city known for being dominated by the black market... well, that wouldn't be good for him.

"Husband, huh..." he murmured so quietly that his voice barely came out from the mask. He, of course, couldn't help but smile a little; after all, her first thought was "Husband? How strange..."

"I see, you can call me White Hawk," he said, glancing sideways. "Pleasure to meet you," Strax replied, his muffled voice calm, though he was somewhat nervous about the situation.

"Dragon, hmm? I'll definitely remember that," he said, sounding a bit suspicious, but continued walking until they finally arrived at what looked like an office, a library with walls filled with books.

'This is quite rustic,' Strax thought as he observed how the room was organized, without even a speck of dust. 'Is he obsessed with cleanliness? This place looks like it was just cleaned.'

The man then moved behind the desk and waved for both to sit in the chairs, which they did. He sat and looked directly at Cristine's mask. "So, what kind of 'feed' are you looking for, Assassin Queen?" he asked.

Cristine sighed lightly before responding. "I need all the information available on the Black Association, particularly concerning the Assassin Branch." She paused before adding, "And also a complete list of all the guests and anyone of note in the city who could pose a threat to the auction."

"That will come at a considerable cost," White Hawk said, his voice serious. "The guest list in Eldoria is relatively easy to obtain, but the Black Association isn't something I can provide without external assistance. That will require additional resources."

"How much?" Cristine asked, her tone firm.

"Eighty gold coins," White Hawk announced. "In advance."

'He's charging a fortune without even guaranteeing the accuracy of the information,' Strax thought, surprised by the exorbitant amount. 'Is he trying to scam us?'

"That's more than I expected," Cristine said, maintaining her composure. "I offer forty coins now and the rest when the information is delivered."

Cristine sighed, evaluating the options. "Understood. We'll return tomorrow to finalize the details and the full payment," she said, leaving a sack of coins in front of him. "I hope the information is good." She commented.

"Perfect," White Hawk said, with a tone indicating the closing of the deal. "See you tomorrow then."

Cristine stood up, signaling that the meeting was over. Strax did the same, and both headed for the exit, their minds full of the new information and the possible implications for the auction.

They left the place through the back doors, passing through another tunnel until they emerged at the back of the shop, and thus, they finally removed their masks.

"Ahh... what a drag," Cristine said, sighing. "At least we know there's more than just the Dragon Heart and the Ginseng." Strax commented. Before they could continue.

"Quiet." Cristine murmured, Strax immediately looked at Cristine, his eyes narrowing. "Did you feel that?" he murmured, his body tensing.

Before he could react, Cristine pulled him sharply close, their backs colliding with the damp stone wall. With a firm hand on his chest, she pressed him against her, hiding them in the curve of a narrow corner. Her warmth contrasted with the cold of the night, and the sound of Cristine's soft breathing filled the tense silence.

The man who exuded that deadly aura passed slowly through the alley, his eyes scanning the surroundings for his prey. He moved strangely, as if hunting some hidden enemy.

'Who is this?' Strax thought, while Cristine kept them close.

Strax held his breath, his body so close to hers that he could feel the rapid beating of her heart. Their faces were dangerously close, and for a moment, their gazes met. Cristine's touch on his chest and the warmth emanating from her created a different tension—not of danger, but of something more intimate, something Strax hadn't expected to feel at that moment.

"Stay quiet," she whispered almost soundlessly, her lips barely moving. Strax nodded slowly, his eyes locked on hers.

The heavy footsteps of the man echoed one last time in the alley, and then he stopped. The silence stretched for a few seconds that felt like an eternity. The man muttered something inaudible before continuing on his way, disappearing into the darkness.

Cristine relaxed but kept Strax close for a moment longer. Their bodies were still too close, and for a moment, the imminent danger had vanished, leaving only the silent warmth between them. She slowly released him, but not before allowing her fingers to slide gently across his chest as she pulled away.

"He's gone," Cristine said softly, with a small smile at the corner of her lips, but her eyes still carried an intense glimmer, a mix of relief...

"Strange... Why was an Inquisitor here?" Cristine questioned, forgetting to move a bit further away from Strax...