I, the slave boy, awaken with the most potent seed!!

As Gustavo walked out of the oppressive atmosphere of the brotherhood's den, a sly smile crept across his face. His mind raced with the possibilities now unfolding before him.

'Perfect,' he thought. 'Those fools always were easy to manipulate. A few words about brotherhood and wealth, and they're eating out of my hand.'

The Brotherhood he just left were once a feared assassin's guild in Drakoria. They had been forced to flee their homeland after a failed assassination attempt against a powerful noble family.Under Xylar's leadership, they regrouped in Astoria, a city ripe with corruption and opportunity.

Here, they wove themselves into the hustle and bustle of the city,, manipulating events from the shadows and amassing both wealth and influence.

For years, Gustavo had been one of their most talented operatives, his loyalty unquestioned. That is, until the fateful night when he was tasked with eliminating Adrian Blackthorn, one of Astoria's most powerful merchants and nobles. But Blackthorn, ever the cunning businessman, had anticipated the attempt on his life.

Instead of fighting, he made Gustavo an offer that appealed to the assassin's growing disillusionment with the Brotherhood's cause.

Blackthorn promised Gustavo not just wealth, but a chance at legitimacy - a new identity, protection, and a position of respect within Astoria's noble class. It was everything Gustavo had secretly yearned for, a life of wealth, no matter how it came to be that is.

Seeing the opportunity at hand that moment, Gustavo made his choice. He betrayed his brothers, warning Blackthorn of the Brotherhood's plans and accepting the merchant's golden handshake. To the Brotherhood, it was the ultimate betrayal - choosing coin over the sacred bonds that held their order together.

Gustavo pulled out a crumpled paper from his pocket - a prescription from an alchemist. His eyes narrowed as he looked at it. 'I need to get this bounty fast. That filthy bastard's poison won't be the end of me. I can't die like this.'

Another cough wracked his body, and his smile twisted into a grimace. 'Just a little longer. Once I get those 20,000 Thalens, I'll be free.'

His mind danced with visions of his future. '3,000 to cure whatever this poison is, and the rest... oh, the rest will buy me a new life far from here. Maybe somewhere tropical, with plenty of wine and willing company.'

A mischievous glint appeared in his eye as he imagined the brotherhood's reaction when they realized they'd been duped. 'Those tattooed idiots will be running in circles in Astoria while I'm sipping cocktails on a beach in some foreign land. I almost wish I could see Xylar's face when he realizes he's been played.'

Gustavo chuckled to himself, the sound turning into another cough. 'They always said I was the clever one. Time to prove just how clever I can be.'

As he walked away, his steps grew lighter. The game was afoot, and he was determined to be the only winner.

He suddenly emerged from the shadowy alleys into the bustling part of the neighborhood. The noises drom traders and travelers washed over him, completely different from the oppressive silence he had left not long ago.

Spotting an empty cart, he climbed aboard, eager to distance himself from the brotherhood's domain.

The journey to Blackthorn's mansion was long. He struggled to control his cough each time it came, the poison taking a relentless toll on him. After several minutes, the cart pulled up at the mansion. Gustavo got down, handed the driver his pay and began his work towards the mansion's entrance.

As Gustavo entered the grand house, he noticed an unnatural silence. The usual bustle of maids was conspicuously absent, a sure sign that Blackthorn was not only home but awake and demanding solitude.

Cautiously, Gustavo made his way to the sitting room. There he found Blackthorn, seated on a plush couch, eyes closed, his posture one of deep contemplation. He did this a lot and Gustavo being his personal bodyguard knew more than anyone that the noble had a lot to worry about. Where to even begin? He lost his wife to a slaveboy?

Gustavo assuming his master was asleep, tried to slip away silently, trying not to disturb Blackthorn's sleep.

"Where have you been, Gustavo?" Blackthorn's voice, low and measured, cut through the silence.

Startled but quick to recover, Gustavo smoothly lied, "I've been out searching for any helpful information about your wife. I thought it best to leave no stone unturned."

Blackthorn remained motionless, his eyes still shut as he processed Gustavo's words. "And what of your findings? Any good news to report?" His voice was calm, betraying no emotion.

Gustavo swallowed hard, carefully crafting his response. "I'm afraid not, sir. There's... nothing. I've scoured the hoods, checked all her known properties. It's as if she's vanished without a trace."

He paused, allowing a hint of frustration to color his voice. "I've spoken to countless people, but no one has seen or heard anything. It's almost as if she's been erased from existence.

"It's most perplexing," Gustavo added, hoping to fill the uncomfortable void. "I assure you, I'm doing everything in my power to locate-"

He was suddenly overcome by a violent cough that he couldn't suppress. He tried to muffle it, but it was too late - Blackthorn had already noticed.

"Are you alright, Gustavo?" Blackthorn asked, his tone was one of concern. "I've noticed something's been off with you since our visit to the village."

Gustavo's mind raced, searching for a plausible explanation. "Everything's fine, sir," he managed between coughs. "It's just the stress of searching for the mistress. And I might have inhaled some dust during my investigations. I assure you, it will pass soon."

Inwardly, Gustavo was conflicted. Part of him wanted to confess the truth about Doctor Mensah's poison, to seek help from Blackthorn.

But fear held him back. 'If Blackthorn knows I'm sick, he might replace me with someone healthier, someone he thinks can protect him better. I can't risk losing this position now, not when I'm so close to getting that bounty.'

Blackthorn suddenly stood up and began pacing the room. "In all of Astoria's history," he started, "there has never been a case where such a substantial bounty failed to produce results within a day. No matter how cleverly someone tries to hide or how far they run."

Gustavo, seizing the opportunity to appear helpful, quickly interjected, "Perhaps, sir, it's not about the bounty. It's about your wife herself." He paused, choosing his words carefully. "We both know how intelligent she is. Wherever she's gone, she'll be keeping an extremely low profile."

A smile played across Blackthorn's lips. "Indeed. Smart people do tend to surround themselves with other smart people, don't they?"

He stopped his pacing abruptly, turning to face Gustavo. "Matilda and Cordelia were quite close. It's not unreasonable to think that Matilda might have shared certain... secrets with her. A hidden property, perhaps. Somewhere she could disappear to if the need arose."

"Let us go pay Cordelia and her husband a visit, then!" Blackthorn added after a pause.

"Both of us?" Gustavo asked, struggling to keep his voice neutral. "Are you sure that's wise? Perhaps I could go alone and report back to you. It might be less... intimidating for Cordelia."

Blackthorn paused at the door, turning to fix Gustavo with a penetrating stare. "No, I think it's best we both go. I want to gauge Cordelia's reactions for myself, and it's been long since I met her husband. Go and get the cart ready, we leave now."