As they walked back to their room, Halven couldn't shake the feeling that they were being watched. He kept looking over his shoulder, but he didn't see anyone suspicious.
As they got to the streets of Verkinis, Halven and Kurten couldn't shake off the feeling that they were being watched. They had just met with Sophia, and her proposal had left them with more questions than answers.
"I don't trust her," Kurten said, his voice low. "There's something she's not telling us."
Halven nodded in agreement. "I know what you mean," he said. "But we need to be careful. We don't know what we're up against."
As they turned a corner, they noticed a figure watching them from across the street. It was Sophia, her eyes fixed intently on them.
"I think we're in trouble," Kurten said, his voice barely above a whisper.
Halven's heart sank. What did Sophia want from them now?
Sophia began to walk towards them, a sly smile spreading across her face. "I see you're still considering my proposal," she said, her eyes glinting with amusement.
Kurten's expression turned grim. "We're not interested," he said, his voice firm.
Sophia's smile never wavered. "I think you are," she said. "You see, my investor is very interested in working with you. And I think you'll find that their offer is... persuasive."
Halven felt a shiver run down his spine. There was something unsettling about Sophia's smile, something that made him feel like they were in grave danger.
"What do you mean?" Kurten asked, his voice wary.
Sophia's smile grew wider. "Why don't I show you?" she said, her eyes glinting with amusement.
And with that, she turned and began to walk away, beckoning them to follow her.
Halven and Kurten exchanged a wary glance. They didn't like the sound of Sophia's proposal, and they certainly didn't trust her.
But despite their reservations, they found themselves following Sophia as she led them through the winding streets of Verkinis.
As they walked, Halven couldn't shake the feeling that they were being led into a trap. He kept looking over his shoulder, expecting to see Sophia's investor or one of her minions lurking in the shadows.
But the streets were empty, and they seemed to be the only ones out and about.
Sophia eventually stopped in front of a large, ornate building. She turned to them with a smile.
"Welcome to the investor's headquarters," she said. "I think you'll find that they have a very... persuasive proposal for you."
Halven's heart sank as Sophia pushed open the door and beckoned them inside. He didn't like the sound of this one bit.
But Kurten seemed undaunted. He nodded at Halven, and together they followed Sophia into the unknow.
As they stepped inside, Halven's eyes adjusted to the dim light. The interior of the building was lavishly decorated, with intricate carvings and expensive-looking artwork adorning the walls.
Sophia led them to a large, ornate door at the far end of the hall. She pushed it open, revealing a spacious office with a large, wooden desk at its center.
Behind the desk sat a figure shrouded in shadows. Halven couldn't make out their features, but he could sense their eyes on him.
"Welcome, Kurten and Halven," the figure said in a low, gravelly voice. "I've been expecting you."
Sophia stepped forward, a smile on her face. "I've told them about the proposal, sir," she said.
The figure nodded, its eyes glinting in the dim light. "Good," it said. "I think you'll find that our proposal is... mutually beneficial."
The figure smiled."We'll provide all the necessary equipment and supplies"."All we need from you is your... willingness to take a few risks."
"What do we need to do?" Kurten asked, his voice cautious.
The figure smiled again, seeming to savor the moment. "Excellent," it said. "As I'm sure Sophia has told you, our proposal is a simple one. We want to partner with you, Kurten and Halven, to explore the ruins of the ancient city."
Halven's eyes narrowed. "Wait, what?" he said. "Sophia never mentioned anything about exploring ruins. She just proposed a business investment deal for our new tradeline."
The figure chuckled. "Ah, yes, well, Sophia can be a bit... vague at times," it said. "But rest assured, this is a much more... lucrative opportunity."
Halven's eyes narrowed. "What's in it for us?" he asked.
The figure chuckled. "Ah, a wise question, Halven," it said. "In exchange for your expertise and assistance, we are willing to offer you a 50/50 share of any profits or discoveries made during the expedition."
Kurten's eyes widened. "That's a generous offer,"he taught.
Halven raised an eyebrow. "What makes you think we're qualified to explore a ruin?" he asked.
The figure chuckled again. "Oh, I think you'll find that your... unique perspectives will be quite valuable in this endeavor."
Kurten frowned. "But I'm just a trader," he said. "And Halven here is just a fourteen-year-old apprentice. What could we possibly bring to a ruin exploration?"
The figure leaned forward, its eyes glinting with amusement. "Ah, but that's where you're wrong, Kurten," it said. "Your experience as a trader will give you a keen eye for valuable artifacts and treasures. And Halven's... youthful curiosity will undoubtedly lead to discoveries that might otherwise go unnoticed."
Halven's eyes narrowed. "But what about the dangers of the ruin?" he asked.
The figure waved its hand dismissively. "Oh, don't worry about that," . "We'll provide you with all the necessary safety equipment and guides. You'll be perfectly safe."
Kurten and Halven exchanged a skeptical glance. They weren't convinced, but the promise of treasure and adventure was too enticing to resist.
Kurten hesitated for a moment, then nodded. "Yes," he said. "We accept."
Halven's heart sank as Kurten extended his hand to seal the deal. What had they just gotten themselves into.
Halven's instincts were still screaming at him to get out of there, but Kurten seemed convinced. And the promise of a 50/50 share of the profits was certainly tempting.
Halven felt a surge of unease. What kind of risks were they talking about? And what exactly did they mean by "necessary equipment and supplies"?
But before he could ask any questions, the figure was already standing up, signaling the end of the meeting.
"Welcome to the team, Kurten and Halven," its voice dripping with sincerity. "I think we're going to do great things together."
The figure turned to Sophia, who had been quietly observing the exchange. "Please show our new partners to their quarters," it said. "We'll begin briefing them on the expedition tomorrow morning."
Sophia nodded and gestured for Kurten and Halven to follow her. As they left the meeting room, Halven couldn't shake the feeling that they had just made a terrible mistake.
As they walked, Kurten turned to Halven with a look of excitement. "Can you believe it?" he said. "A 50/50 share of the profits! We're going to be rich!"
Halven just rolled his eyes. "I don't know, Kurten," he said. "Something about this just doesn't feel right."
Kurten chuckled. "Come on, Halven," he said. "Don't be such a worrier. We'll be fine."
But as they approached their quarters, Halven couldn't shake the feeling that they were in over their heads.
The next morning, Kurten and Halven were awoken by Sophia, who was standing in their doorway with a tray of breakfast food.
"Good morning, gentlemen," she said. "I trust you slept well?"
Kurten rubbed the sleep from his eyes. "Yeah, thanks," he said.
Halven just grunted, still feeling uneasy about the whole situation.
Sophia smiled and set the tray down on a nearby table. "I've brought you some breakfast," she said. "You'll need your strength for the briefing this morning."
Kurten's eyes lit up. "The briefing?" he repeated. "What's that all about?"
Sophia's smile grew wider. "That's when we'll tell you all about the expedition," she said. "And what you can expect to find in the ruins of the ancient city."
Halven's curiosity was piqued despite himself. What could they possibly find in the ruins that would be worth all this trouble?
As they ate their breakfast, Kurten couldn't stop talking about the expedition. "I've heard rumors of a lost treasure hidden deep within the ruins," he said. "Can you imagine it, Halven? Us, finding a treasure beyond our wildest dreams!"
Halven just rolled his eyes. "Let's not get ahead of ourselves, Kurten". "We don't even know what we're getting ourselves into yet."
But Kurten just laughed. "Come on, Halven," he said. "Lighten up. We're going to be rich!"
As they finished their breakfast, Sophia returned to escort them to the briefing. Halven's heart was racing with anticipation and fear. What would they learn at the briefing? And what lies for them in the ruins.
Halven's eyes narrowed. "Something feels off." He taught
But Kurten just looked at halven he knew what he is thinking . "Halven," he said.We'll figure something out .
As they walked, Halven couldn't shake the feeling that they had just made a terrible mistake.