After the moon reached its zenith, the scalding air gradually cooled down. Tasa sat in the courtyard, able to see the scattered lights from the windows of taverns, brothels, and casinos in the distance. They shone like stars in the night sky, displaying the prosperity of this city.
Only in the inner city of the royal capital could such a scene be seen – even if nearly a third of the commoners in the outer city died after the Evil Plague, it wouldn't affect the inner city nobles' desire for drinking and merrymaking. If one listened carefully, they could even hear faint cries carried by the evening breeze.
This residence with a garden and pond cost him one hundred and fifty gold dragons. It was located on a hillside near the outer edge of the inner city, and even during the day, few people idled around. Apart from meeting informants and exchanging information, he usually didn't live here, but randomly chose hotels to stay overnight, or spent a few days in the Underground Horn.
"Lord, they have all arrived."
A person emerged from the room holding an oil lamp. It was Hil Fox, who was lurking in the Skull Fingers.
"Light the candles," Tasa nodded and walked into the house.
In the dim candlelight, Hil and five others sat around a round wooden table. They stood up and bowed their heads to salute when the bodyguard appeared. Tasa scanned them expressionlessly, hoping to discern whether they were reliable from their expressions and small movements. Unfortunately, Nightingale xiaojie had returned to Border Town with the fleet. If she were here, she could make the most accurate judgment immediately.
They were Hil's companions, members of the Pigeon and Top Hat Acrobatic Troupe, avengers filled with resentment towards the new king. During the dock siege a week ago, it was one of those lurking in the Dream Waters who provided the tip-off, allowing Tasa to learn of the rats' night attack plan in advance. Now that the Evil Plague was gradually subsiding, he decided to meet this group of people in the royal capital. If they were truly as Hil said, they would be good seeds for intelligence personnel.
"Apart from Mr. Fox, let the others briefly introduce themselves first," Tasa said.
"My name is Rock Mountain, Lord," said the most robust man in a booming voice. He was nearly six feet tall, and the bulging muscles on his arms looked powerful. "I play the strongman in the acrobatic troupe, and I have now joined the Blood Sails."
"I am Clown," the small man sitting next to Rock Mountain pointed to his nose. He looked like the youngest of all, around nineteen years old. "Of course, I'm also the clown in the troupe, but I didn't mix into the rats. Instead, I perform small tricks in various taverns."
"Jom and Neil," the next two were brothers, and they looked no different from the typical commoners in the outer city in terms of appearance or dress. They had dedicated all their property to the Fei Li priests and were now "devout believers" in the church. Tasa couldn't help but wonder if these two simultaneously harbored affection for Hil's wife. He suppressed his doubts and turned his gaze to the last person.
"They all call me Magician, Lord," the man bowed again. "I originally pretended to be a frustrated person and joined the Dream Waters, but unfortunately, most of them died or fled. Even Fang Tooth Tanis was killed by the church's Judgement Army. Everyone is busy looking for new masters."
"Died at the hands of the Judgement Army?" Tasa raised his eyebrows. "Aren't they secretly supported by the church?"
"I also heard it from others," he spread his hands. "After Tanis failed in the dock siege, he was ambushed by the Skull Fingers when he returned to the East District. In the end, he only had a few dozen people left by his side. That night, he angrily took the people guarding the nest to find the church. As a result, only two or three confidants came back the next day. According to those people, he had an argument with the Fei Li priest, and then he was stabbed through the chest by a Punishing Force soldier… In short, the Dream Waters are finished."
So that's how it is, Tasa thought. Probably because the strength they had painstakingly accumulated was lost, the head of Fang Tooth was in a precarious position, and he wanted to seek help from the church but was rejected, leading to the dispute. But these were all insignificant details. He only needed to know that the Dream Waters existed only in name now. Undoubtedly, this was good news. He might be able to take this opportunity to win over a group of rats with nowhere to go and expand his intelligence sources.
"I believe you have already learned my name from Hil," Tasa tapped the table and said in a deep voice. "I am Prince Roland Wimbledon's bodyguard, responsible for collecting intelligence from all over the kingdom for him. Since you are willing to come here, in a sense, you have already expressed your intentions. However, for the sake of formality, I still have to ask again, are you willing to serve His Highness?"
"We are willing!" the five said one after another.
"As long as I can get justice from Tifice Wimbledon, I am willing to do anything," Hil added, word by word.
"Very good. From now on, we will meet here at the same time every week. If there is any urgent information, you can report it to me in advance – just put a pot of purple flowers at the gate of the residence," Tasa instructed. "After I notice it, I will wait for you in the room that night. Remember to use the code of three long and two short knocks when you knock on the door, understand?"
Seeing them respond in unison, Tasa nodded in satisfaction. "A qualified intelligence officer will not easily expose himself. The first thing you have to do is to hide your identities well. Whether you are investigating intelligence yourself or developing subordinates to collect suspicious information, you must keep this in mind. If you need money, you can apply to me… Remember, don't act rashly. Tifice will not sit on the throne forever. This is Prince Roland's personal guarantee." He paused. "So, do you have anything else to say?"
"Lord, Tifice returned from the Eastern Territory today," Hil said. "You should have received this news as well."
The new king's knightly procession entered the city through the East District gate in the afternoon, holding high banners. Many residents witnessed this scene. Tasa did not respond, knowing that the other party must have something else to say.
"But just in the evening, I heard from Black Hammer that Tifice seems to be planning to conscript a group of rats into the army. The condition offered is to exchange them for the opportunity to become free citizens. Several heads of the Skull Fingers have already gone to the palace. It doesn't sound like fabrication."
Conscripting rats? Tasa maintained a calm appearance, but his heart sank sharply. Obviously, these rats couldn't be used as formal soldiers at all. Then, in all likelihood, they would be reinforced with pills and used as consumables in assault tactics, just like the last attack on Longsong Stronghold. But where was the target this time?
"That is an interesting piece of news," he said in a deep voice. "Remember to keep an eye on the whereabouts of the rats. Report to me immediately if you have any news."
I hope Tifice Wimbledon is not targeting the Western Territory, Tasa thought.