118 And The Charade Continues (1/2)
Having agreed to his deal of creating some chaos in the planet, I ask him, ”While I'd be fun causing problems for Dues, do I get something out of all this?”
Cartel smiles and answers, ”Of course you do, my friend. I know how business works. I wouldn't have come to you if I didn't have anything to offer in return.”
He hands me what seems like a piece of paper but actually is … a certificate?
”That certificate is proof that you are a member of the little fan following that Temple of Temur guys have developed throughout the planet.”
”Well, am I a member though?” I ask, not being sure I want to associate myself with those guys much.
”Well, my friend, whether you are a real member or not is up to you – but this piece of paper will allow you to fake it, and get all the benefits.” He smirks as he says that, and so do I as I hear it.
And so, my journey past this point is supposedly going to turn up a notch – in the crazy department.
*****
”So?” Dues looks at me, not completely able to hide to anxiety in her eyes, ”How's your investigation going?”
”Pretty crappy.” I answer. She gives an irritated look, telling me to continue and so I do, ”Cartel Hopkins is nowhere to be found. There are no trails at all that we could be able to follow. And everyone who knew him says they never suspected something like this out of him, i. e., no idea what his motivations were. He was good enough to be able to completely hide them.”
”…” She looks at me a bit angrily and dejectedly, ”You are right. Those are some pretty crappy results. I am sure you'd be glad to know though that your friend has disappeared from my detection system.”
”What!?”
”I should be able to track Irium wherever on Frost he might be but somehow I am not able to. Someone out there is capable enough to block MY mage-craft.”
And that doesn't really make sense. I thought her detection mage-craft was her strong suit and since she is the strongest person in the universe now, it shouldn't be possible for anyone to be able to block her divination or scrying or whatever method she uses for these things.