After walking up the long stairs, Nier saw a door in sight. The stairs were highlighted by lamps so it wasn't dark.
Magnus reached to the door and pushed it open as Nier followed soon.
'What!? Is this a wardrobe?'
Nier saw many clothes hanging in front of him, he then looked behind and realized that the 'door' was actually a painting.
They were in a 'room' so small that Nier felt a little clostrophobic. He was relieved as Magnus opened another door and exited.
Nier followed him and realized his conjecture was correct. A soothing aroma hit his nose as he immediately relaxed.
"This is an house owned by a simple office worker who is inconspicuous and simply irrelevant in society. That's all" Magnus said as he looked at Nier with a smile
Nier immediately realized what Magnus meant and nodded.
Magnus signaled Nier to stay where he was as he went back inside. He came a minute later dressed in ordinary clothes. A black pant, gray vest and a beige coat.
Nier felt it was wrong but he kept silence.
"Hmm...All set...- take this"
Magnus threw Nier a piece of cloth as he patted his clothes.
"You should cover your head with this and follow me. We'll get your disguise now"
Nier wrapped the cloth around his face and realized that he could see through it. He was currently wearing a black shirt with a black vest and black pants. It was to avoid the dust from his training to be seen.
'No way this won't be suspicious' he thought when Magnus threw another piece of clothing. It was a large white robe.
'Am I going to act as a priest? Whatever'
Nier thought as he draped it over
They exited the room into the hall and soon reached an exit door.
Nier realized it was a backdoor as he entered an alleyway engulfed in darkness.
The streets were emptier than he expected but he realized that it was probably on purpose. A secret exit for the prince was obviously going to be in a crowd less place.
"This is the Canal Street, Its a place that is too extravagant for the average middle class and too inadequate for the upperclass leaving it relatively empty."
Magnus said as they walked towards another building.
Occasionally Nier would see some people down the streets or peeking through their windows.
After sometime, they reached an inconspicuous building which seemed like a clothes shop.
Entering it, Nier wasn't much surprised that it wasn't bustling so he looked towards Magnus who beckened him to enter a changing room.
Nier followed through and looked around the changing room. There were clothes hanging on his left, on the right was a wooden wall and in the front was a large mirror.
Magnus entered the room and went to the mirror. He crouched and grabbed it's edge at a rather low height and suddenly pulled as the mirror opened like a door.
He entered it.
Nier was in awe and opened his mouth to say something but ultimately kept it shut and followed Magnus
After walking straight in darkness for less than a minute, Nier reached the other side by a similar mirror in a similar room. Magnus stood there smiling and besides him was Jan Ironstar.
Nier stood there for a moment before pulling off the disguise clothes.
For a moment Nier felt disgusted to call that a disguise...wait, why did I need a disguise?
If there were spies who were monitoring the prince than they would have seen me already...I guess it's not to show that I'm actively searching for a disguise and that I'll be leaving for the mission soon.
Nier determined as he pulled of the last piece of the cloth.
"So what now?"
"Yeah about that- You see all the clothes hanging here- try them one by one and we'll see what suits you. If it's alright- remove your eye-mask while doing so, we'll be waiting outside" Magnus said as he pointed at the door behind him.
Nier hesitated for a moment before nodding.
As the Ironmountain duo left the room. Nier looked at the various suits hanging on the stand right besides him.
...
After some minutes, The Ironmountain duo saw the gate of the changing room open.
Nier walked out in a new dress. He was wearing a white linen shirt with a dark blue vest with patterns on it. A double breasted frock coat that was brown in colour. Black pants together with the black boots which were unchanged.
His hair which were still messy were covered by a top halved hat.
His eye mask was wrapped around his neck blending with the coat collar.
Since he would definitely have to use his eyes at full capacity during the mission, he thought that there was no problem in showing his eyes.
The duo's eyes widened before they looked at each other with some sort of tacit understanding.
Jan said after deliberation
"I'm honestly speechless...U-um, You should try the next one"
Nier turned around and entered the changing room again.
"This guy....He might even be better looking than you... Should we change plans?"
Jan said looking at Magnus with an impressed look on his face.
Magnus nodded with a thoughtful expression
"Pen Gui' son- Koh Zui Noir will probably travel to Khanshi for the Festival of Light. Pen Gui would definetely send a strong bodyguard for him, someone who has inside knowledge. If we can capture such a person, chances are that we'll be successful in catching Pen Gui. But against such a person, only you will stand a chance but that is if the city lord doesn't send reinforcement" Magnus took a deep breath and continued
"Instead of a direct fight- you should hope for using Koh Zui as a hostage. I've heard that he is a lecher who likes to visit the brothels"
"Are you thinking what I am thinking?" Jan asked softly
Magnus turned to look at Jan in the face and slowly nodded.
Jan nodded back
The door suddenly opened again as Nier looked at the duo. He felt a chill down his spine for a moment wondering what the brothers were planning.
This time he was wearing a white linen shirt just like before with a grey vest with patterns. A black pant and a black trench coat that reached his knees. The same hat but the mask blended better with the same colour.
Magnus and Jan nodded with a weird smile on their faces which creeped Nier
...
After deciding the clothes.
Magnus brought Nier towards a hair dresser. He was wearing a plain white shirt with his sleeves rolled back. His hair were smooth and slicked back. A rugged face with a hint of elegance.
The man beckoned Nier to sit.
Magnus found a chair to sit on and waited.
After some time- Nier walked towards him. His hair completely black without a hint of the previous white and combed to the side. He had his hair which were unkept and long shortened giving him a gentlemanly look.
Magnus looked at Nier and smiled.
He had given Nier a shades which Nier was currently wearing since he felt that the eye-mask was too eye-catching. He himself had used some items to tamper with his appearance but to get them for Nier wasn't something he could do.
So he had used an item called the Tree heart Chameleon's paste and had Nier apply it on himself. The paste was brown in color but once applied gradually blended with the face changing the skin color to bronze and adding an illusionary lair of fat to the face.
Jan approved with a smile and left to attend the matters at the Ironmountain Squad headquarters while Magnus took Nier to the teleportation stand.
"So where are we going?" Nier asked as he felt the ethereal mana pass over him.
"Hmm...A dungeon."
"Dungeon? That's...Are they real? This will my first time" Nier said as a hint of excitement came in him.
My friends wanted to explore one together...
His expression turned sour as he calmly looked around as if is excitement was an illusion
Standing in the familiar dome shaped building. Nier followed Magnus. They were in Logueville City which was situated in the Uhlman State. He was currently wearing the very first dress he had tried today and thinking back to how the prince paid the teleportation fees of 50 Earth coins like he was breathing.
The teleportation stands had limited range of 444 kilometers and Logueville City was at the very edge of it.
'Damn spoiled brat' Nier silently cursed but was curious of what the prince planned to do.
Nier walked calmly as he looked at the many people passing by. He suddenly felt a strange sense of loneliness as he looked at the endless wave of humans passing by, ignoring him- busy in their work. They were moving rapidly in contrast to his slow walk.
The world seemed to blur in his eyes as the intensity of the crowd's noise increased in his ears hammering his mind. As Nier felt nauseous, like he was drowning, a hand pulled him back as he turned.
Magnus Ironstar, still in disguise- looked at him with worry.
"Are you feeling ill? We could return if you are"
Nier's eyes widened for a split second before he replied
"I'm fine"
Saying so- he shook his head
Magnus' expression showed that he didn't believe Nier but he didn't decline his wish.
With a sigh, he walked off.
Nier looked at the tall back in thought before he followed him.