Guto stood there, his gaze locked onto the man who had driven the caravan. The man's eyes widened with fear, his breath trembling as he stammered, "Look, if you kill me, you'll regret it, I swear."
But before the man could utter another word, Guto swiftly closed the distance between them. His dagger gleamed in the dim light as it found its mark slicing the man's neck open, and the man's voice was silenced forever.
Amber watched the scene unfold, her expression unreadable. She knew that in their world, mercy was often a luxury they couldn't afford but still she felt it was not right. With a determined nod, she joined Guto in securing the flasks, carefully placing them into bags they had brought for this very purpose.
Time was of the essence, and they couldn't afford to linger. With the flasks secured and their presence concealed once more, Guto and Amber melted into the shadows, leaving behind only silence and the memory of their swift, lethal encounter.
***
In their secluded camp, nestled in the heart of the forest, Guto carefully penned a letter to Hector. His tiny rat companion, perched on his shoulder, observed with keen interest as the words flowed from Guto's quill.
The campfire crackled nearby, casting flickering shadows that danced across the page. Once the letter was complete, Guto gently rolled it up, securing it with a small piece of twine. He then attached it to a tiny harness on the rat's back.
"Alright, my friend," Guto whispered to the rat. "You know what to do. Find Hector and deliver this letter. Be quick and discreet."
With a flick of his wrist, Guto released the rat, and it scurried off into the night, disappearing into the shadows as it embarked on its journey through the quiet city.
As the rat navigated the maze-like streets and alleys, it encountered only a few night owls, the city's nocturnal denizens. Unseen and unnoticed, the tiny messenger pressed on, driven by its master's mission.
Finally, the rat arrived at its destination "Rikard Enterprises." where Hector resided. It climbed a vine-covered wall and slipped through an open window, entering the dimly lit room.
Hector sat at a wooden table strewn with maps and parchments. He glanced up as the rat entered, his eyes narrowing in curiosity. With practiced ease, the rat scurried onto the table and deposited the letter before him.
Hector carefully picked up the letter, his fingers tracing the twine and seal. He broke the seal and began to read Guto's message. The contents were meant for his eyes alone, and as he read, his expression shifted from curiosity to a deep and solemn understanding.
When he had finished, Hector gently set the letter aside, his thoughts consumed by the weight of its contents.
***
Hector and his five men arrived at Guto and Amber's secluded forest camp, their arrival marked by the rustling of leaves and the soft tread of boots on the forest floor. The two parties regarded each other cautiously, with the campfire casting long shadows that danced around them.
With a nod from Hector, his men retrieved a chest filled with gleaming gold coins and placed it at the center of the camp. Hector opened the chest, revealing the wealth that awaited Guto and Amber.
Guto approached the chest, his eyes fixed on the glittering treasure within. The promise of gold had been their motivation from the beginning, a means to start a new life together.
As Guto examined the gold, Hector's demeanor shifted. He leaned in, his tone laced with a peculiar curiosity. "Tell me," he began, his gaze sharp and penetrating, "where do you plan on spending all this money? And what's your next move from here?"
Amber exchanged a knowing glance with Guto before answering, her voice measured. "We have our reasons for keeping our destination and future plans close to our chests, Hector. You know how it is."
Hector chuckled, though his eyes retained a shrewd glint. "Ah, secrecy and discretion, I understand. Well, I hope that we can continue our profitable partnership in the future. You two have been quite... resourceful in your endeavors, and you've made me a substantial amount of money."
Guto nodded, acknowledging the unspoken agreement between them. "We'll be in touch when the time is right. Until then, Hector."
With that, Hector and his men departed into the forest, leaving the chest of gold behind as they retreated into the night. Guto and Amber watched them go, the weight of their newfound wealth resting heavily on their minds.
As the forest settled into silence once more, Guto turned to Amber with a weary smile. "Well, it looks like we've struck quite a deal. Now, let's change the location of the camp to get some rest. We'll need our strength for whatever lies ahead."
Amber agreed, and together they settled down by the campfire, the flickering flames casting a warm and comforting glow as they contemplated the uncertain path that awaited them.