"How long would it take to reach there?" Kyther asked as he got tired sitting in the horse-cart for so long.
"It will take half a day more," Niko replied.
They had booked a horse-cart and headed to Rusty city. They carried the wooden chest with the sapphire. They were travelling since hours, and were passing through meadows, forests, and hills.
"You were about to tell us about those masked assassins," Joseph pointed out.
"Ah, yeah, I was about to tell you. I had forgot, sorry," Niko responded.
"Tell us, what are they?"
At this, Niko thought for a while with a quizzical expression and said, "They are called 'The Black Zombies' or 'The Order of Assassins' in some places. A long time ago, a bandit named Jason Adamos created this organization and terrorized not only the local population but even the aristocrats."
Joseph and others listened to him carefully.
He continued, "Jason assassinated the aristocrats who did not meet his demand, which was to pay tribute to him. He spread his wings throughout the country in a brief period of time."
"So, these Black Zombies are everywhere, right?" Joseph asked in between.
"Nope," Niko replied. "That was during their peak time under Jason and his son Hector. Around a century and a half ago, when a different political power took the country, they carried out a mission to eradicate these zombies. There was a war that spanned two decades which annihilated those assassins almost completely. But…" He paused.
"But?" Joseph said. "Did they gain power again?"
"Their fourth leader escaped to the mountains and reconstructed the organization. He created spies and spread them everywhere. He now started a new era for the assassins. They took advantage of the weakening power of the kingdom and made a web around the state. But here was the catch. What the fifth leader did after him was completely unthinkable."
"What did he do?" Kyther asked as he gobbled up a large chunk of meat.
"He submitted to the state and offered his services to the king."
"What?" Joseph was surprised. "Was he scared of the state?"
"The state was not strong enough to deal with them because of rebellions and constant wars with the neighboring states. Yet the fifth 'Jason', this is what they called their leader, offered his services. He used his spies, who had entered the courts of neighboring states during the period of the fourth Jason, in favor of the state."
"Are you telling me we are against the state?" Tyler asked as he listened closely.
"I am not sure because their influence gradually dropped throughout the years as the other states exterminated the spies who had entered their courts and countries, but their influence continued to increase in this country. The king feared losing his power if he did not handle them carefully. Around forty years ago, the second war between the state and the assassins ensued. This time, the assassins lost completely. They were exterminated, or at least, a majority of them."
"What happened after that?" Joseph questioned.
"Rest is what the rumors say. The remaining black zombies scattered everywhere and changed their identities to save their lives."
"Why are the people still scared of them if their influence has ended?" Tyler asked.
"It is because of the current rumors," Niko responded.
"What rumors?"
"They are being used as a tool by some nobles, and even governors. In return, they are allowed to spread their wings again under the nose of the kingdom. Although, we do not know for sure, but people are scared to talk about them. They had still not forgotten their terror. It is rumored that those assassins built another intelligence network, even more effective than the previous one."
"But these are just rumors. They are not very reliable," Kyther said.
"This is what I thought until I heard your story," Niko responded. Tyler and Joseph knew what he exactly talked about while Kyther seemed to have some clue. "They have gained enough power to raid a warrior tribe without thinking for the consequences. It looks like…"
As Niko was speaking, Tyler spoke and added to his sentence. "... they indeed have the backing of some influential people."
"So we might not be against the state, but we might be against those with power and influence in the state," Joseph said with a quizzical expression.
"But why would they want the sphere?" Kyther asked.
"The answer lies in the sphere, not them," Niko mentioned. "It could be something too valuable. If what I am thinking is correct, then…" Niko went into thoughts.
"Then?" Joseph said in between which made Niko to jump out of his thoughts.
"Ah, it is nothing." Niko scratched his cheek awkwardly. It was as if he hesitated to tell something.
"If what you said is true, then we need a plan to deal with them," Tyler mentioned. "We can not be reckless." He eyed at Joseph and Kyther for them to understand this specific part.
Joseph had realized until now that it was bigger than expected. The fire of the vengeance grew stronger. "Just what are you, Mogu?" He said in his mind.
After they travelled for half a day, they could see the huge arched entrance of the Rusty city. "Whoa!" Kyther reacted as he saw the city was even more developed than Karma town. It was bigger, had more people, and had better architecture. The buildings were not cubes or cuboids, but they were actually planned architectures with different designs.
The cart left them just outside the entrance. Niko showed the permit to the guards at the gate. The guards let them pass after looking at it.
"This city is beautiful," Joseph said as he looked around. He could see people roaming around in markets who ate and drank together. He could see better security system than Karma town as he could see the soldiers everywhere. It might be because of the wedding of the governor's daughter. They decorated the whole city with flowers and colorful decoration papers.
"We need to reach the palace." Niko pointed ahead to show them the palace. Joseph and others could see some grayish minarets with pyramidal architecture at their tops and other parts of the palace behind the houses and buildings far at a distance. "We need to get there before the ceremony begins."
Joseph and others followed Niko to the palace. The density of soldiers increased as they got closer. Suddenly, the fireworks started which made Niko to run.
"We need to hurry. The ceremony will start soon," He said as he ran. Joseph and others ran behind him.
"Hey, where are you going? This area is restricted for the commoners." A soldier stopped them at the huge iron gate.
"What did you say?" Niko raised a brow. "Do you think we are commoners?" He took out an envelope and handed it to the soldier. "See it for yourself. I am a guest at the ceremony. Do you not know who I am!? I am Niko Portokalis."
The soldier saw the invitation and apologized. "I am sorry, sir. I guessed from the way you dressed that…"
"What? Do you find something wrong with my dress?" Niko charged at him.
The soldier felt embarrassed. "Ah, no, sir."
"Let's go," Niko said to Joseph and others and he walked inside.
"Hey, you three can not go," The soldier said and stopped Joseph and others. "Are you three invited as well? Where are your invitations?"
Niko turned. "They are my bodyguards. They are with me. Let them enter."
"I am sorry, sir. No bodyguards are allowed to enter," The soldier said. "Only the ones who are invited can pass."
"What?" Niko was about to argue, but Joseph stopped him.
"We will not enter. It is fine," He said and turned. "Let's go, guys," He said to Tyler and Kyther as he walked away.
Niko told a soldier to bring the chest with the sapphire inside the palace with him.
Meanwhile, the guests gathered in a hall inside the palace. There were lavish chandeliers, the red carpet, the purple silk curtains, and two red thrones for the bride and the groom. The guest chattered with each other.
Niko entered the hall and greeted a round old man with a thick moustache wearing a black suit. "Greeting, my lord. I must congratulate you for your daughter's wedding."
"Oh, it is you, Niko. I heard a bunch of thugs raided your cart. I had deployed soldiers to hunt them," The governor said. "They took my daughter's wedding gift. I will not forgive them."
"About that, sir, you do not have to worry. I have brought the gemstone with me. A soldier is carrying it outside," Niko responded.
"Oh, how did you get it from the bandits?"
"They are not bandits, my lord. I have brought them here as well."
"What?" The governor was surprised at his words.
"I want you to meet them after the wedding. They have something to tell you," Niko said as a handsome long-haired man arrived and greeted the governor. He was the groom. He wore a white coat with a rose flower embedded near the left breast.
"Hey, congrats, my lord," Niko said, but the man ignored him and walked away with the governor.
Before he walked away, the governor turned and said, "I will meet them after the ceremony."
Niko bowed in respect before the governor went away. As Niko stayed in the hall and chatted with a noblewoman, he saw a maid entering the hall and talking to the governor.
He observed the governor was furious when the maid told him something. The groom too looked uneasy. They both headed out of the hall with rapid steps.
"Excuse me." Niko excused himself and followed them secretly.
"How could she run away?" The governor spoke in anger. "She will make me lose my respect. What should I do with this girl?"
"Do not worry, my lord," The groom said. "I will find her and bring her to you."
Niko was eavesdropping on them. "The lady ran away?" He mouthed in surprise.