"There it is. See it in the distance?"
"Whoa… who would've thought something this huge was under our very feet? Was it always here?"
"I'm not quite sure, but I know its probably the biggest place for under-the-table business. Welcome to Mislokur, John. This is the world's most populated city of crime."
Not even ten minutes after visiting Duvari's workshop, Dignitas and John had already arrived at their destination. This was Mislokur, the only city that was said to span across the entire mainland of Regalian.
Here, much like Blacktear, criminals were a dime a dozen. Everywhere one looked, there were always shady deals being placed, crime of all sort being committed, and mischief of every kind was abundant.
Perhaps the biggest and most well-known landmark here was the large auction house in the middle known as the Sister Of Fate. Indeed, sister, and not sisters, because there were two more out there in the world that even Digntas didn't know about.
This place was set to be discovered by John during the fourth arc of the novel, but Dignitas had rendered that null and void the moment he brought him here.
During that arc, John was sent here by Curie in order to look for the very same artifact that brought the duo here today, except for reasons entirely different.
This was why Dignitas was getting anxious. If the event mentioned was brought forward to the present time much earlier than it needed to be, then that could also mean others were too.
And he understood that, from reading other novels of somewhat similar plot structure as his, that it was almost impossible to fight against the butterfly effect. One would only be sweeped off their legs and into their wings.
"I just hope the Rogue Guild doesn't have their fangs dug into the city too deep at this point. They're the ones who made the entire first quarter of John's third run so hard."
Dignitas had already heard from Andrea's report on Elliott's mission in Blacktear. Back then, the cowboy had a run-in with some Rogue Guild members, but was able to dispatch them relatively easily.
"The ones Elliott bumped into were part of the Assassin Branch of the Guild, so the one here should be the Recon Branch, or the War Branch. Please be the former, 'cause I don't think I can handle the one currently in charge of the latter."
But as Fate would have it, Dignitas would almost never, if at all, have the easy way handed to him. The idea must've never appealed to it.
"So what's the plan, Dignitas?" John said as he spied the city through a binocular.
"Well, since we don't have Andrea to guide us, it's vital we obtain a map. Mislokur is obnoxiously big, if that wasn't already clear."
There was a reason as to why Dignitas didn't allow Andrea to assist them in this mission as their Navigator. Two reasons, in fact.
Firstly, The Unseen already knew of this place, to an almost uncomfortable amount of detail. But for reasons Dignitas wasn't sure about, the guild had apparently concealed it's existence from Andrea.
And if Andrea didn't know about it, then Dignitas would be free to mess about in the city for as much as he wanted to without worrying about getting caught. That is, as long as he concealed any traces of him ever being there.
If that was taken care of, then he was free from any restrictions. This was the second reason.
"First thing's first…" Dignitas stood up. "We'll have to find our way around Mislokur without getting caught. Did you ask Curie for the items I told you about?"
"It took her quite some time to procure the items, since it was already late, but I'm glad she was able to receive them today."
John dug his hands into his pockets, took out a small cube, and pressed the button on top. Then, it began expanding rapidly, before eventually spewing out a rather sizable trench coat. Putting it on, he noticed that it was two sizes too large, but it would have to work as a disguise.
After that, the cube shook for a few more seconds before throwing up a pair of earpieces.
"What about you?" John asked, seeing as how Dignitas had asked him to bring only one coat.
"Oh, I'm good. I've got a skill to help me for times like this. Identity Warp."
Immediately after saying the skill's name, the upper, upper half of Dignitas face began to change rapidly, until his hair turned straight and tidy, and its color shifted to become golden blonde.
His nose noticeably moved a few milimeters downwards, and the shade of his pupils changed from being as black as the night, to crimson red.
"An appearance manipulation skill? Impressive, Dignitas."
"I learned it from a skill card, so that took away all the training needed to learn it, but yeah, it's pretty cool."
***
"The security's oddly lax here. I can sense that there really isn't a need for it."
"You're right. It's because everyone here is strong enough to fend for themselves. Even more reason for us to blend in. Just a single one of these guys could kick our behind."
Slowly, but surely, Dignitas and John made their way through the streets of Mislokur. It was tough to navigate without a map, and the city never appeared once on Midania Earth, as expected.
Without any sort of knowledge other than their goal, the two were left to wander through the city for an uncomfortable amount of time.
Mislokur was not quite different from how old Victorian cities were represented in famous media back in Dignitas' world. It was unfathomably dark, the streets were somehow always wet, and every place reeked with the stench of dead rats.
It didn't help that there was basically no sun here. The only shred of vitamin D the despots who lived down here got were from the Sun Affinity lamps that were hung up in a minimalistic way.
A perfect habitat for people who loved to stay perfectly away from the watchful eye of the Hero Association and the police.
"Help! Help, please!"
"Shut it, bitch! You're not getting away!"
It was only a matter of time before this happened. Now Dignitas was wondering if he really should've brought John.
Just at the edge of the street, at an alley to their left, the two spotted a little girl, probably no more than the age of adolesence, being dragged towards an small, secluded ditch by a thug twice her size.
It was easy to see what the outcome of this situation would be in the next few seconds, seeing as how the man was already beginning to tear what little rags the girl was wearing as clothes.
Suddenly, a crackle of mana sounded throughout Dignitas' ears, instantly sending the word urgency to his entire body. Acting fast, he grabbed onto John's left arm just as he was about to move, and slammed Dainsleif into the ground with his other arm.
Mana Maxima had powered John's initial burst of speed, sending him hurling at a force so strong that Dignitas could barely keep him.
"I know how angry you are right now, but just give me a second! If you act this very moment, our cover will be blown, if it hasn't been already!"
Dignitas knew how much goodness there was in John's heart. He was the very manifestation of kindness, and perhaps the only person in the world with the resolve to back up his stubborn nature.
But it couldn't fly this time, at least not at this very moment This whole mission would be a bust if he caused a ruckus.
"Do you not see what's happening, Dignitas!? The girl's about to be–"
"I know, goddamnit! Just hold on for one second, and I'll join you in kicking that bastard's face in as much as you want! Just not now!"
As if he was a car running at full speed had crashed into an insurmountable wall, John came to an abrupt halt, and his mana began receding.
Dignitas sighed in relief. "I'm glad you listened to me. Who knows what would've happened if you kept goi–"
And not even a second after that, the same crackle of mana echoed. But this time, he wasn't there to stop John. Whoom! Like a speeding bullet, he shot forward at a speed Dignitas didn't think he could reach.
"Why did I design John like this, again?"