The morning light shines down upon Jacob and I as we walk through the streets of Lambeth, searching for any of the local merchants that happen to sell this so-called Soothing Syrup. I couldn't help but let out a sigh of content, enjoying the feel of being able to go back out into the field, instead of lying around doing nothing while I waited for my wound to heal.
"You seem to be enjoying yourself, and so early in the morning to. Care to explain why?" Jacob said.
"It just feels so good to be back to work, I hate sitting around and doing nothing all day, not when I could be doing something, anything, to help." I replied as I watched people pass us by, keeping a lookout for the merchant, or even for any sort of trouble.
"I understand the feeling, but we couldn't have you working, not with the chance of causing anymore damage. I...we need you if we are to have any chance at reclaiming London. Sure, Evie and I could have possibly succeeded, but we have a better chance with you by our side. I mean, the more the merrier, right?" I couldn't help but notice how he seemed to be rambling on, but I hadn't the heart to stop him. I've come to like the sound of his voice, however rough it may be.
"Well, it has certainly been quite interesting so far, I wonder what is yet to come."
"You'll just have to stick around to find out." I could hear the playful tone in his voice, and I couldn't help but giggle just a little.
"Is that so Mr. Frye? Who's to stay that I won't simply grow bored and find myself craving something that I can't find here?" I replied with a playful, yet teasing tone, curious to see as to where this conversation may lead to. Jacob had stopped in his tracks and looked at me with curiosity.
"Pray tell Miss (Last name), is there something more you might be looking for?" He said as he inched closer. I felt my heart beat rapidly against my chest due to the close proximity, but I remained calm, on the outside at least.
"Perhaps there is, perhaps there isn't. Who can truly tell with people these days as to what it is they are looking for, something they truly desire perhaps?" I replied, my voice dropping to a mere whisper.
"Is there something you truly desire?" He spoke in a low, and husky tone. His face grew closer to mine as he spoke, his eyes looking into mine with an emotion I had trouble deciphering, for it was one I rarely see these days.
"Perhaps there is something I truly desire, but that's my little secret." Before anything else could be said, we heard a voice yell out.
"Get Starrick's Soothing Syrup right here!" The unfamiliar voice caused Jacob and I to step back, creating a bit of distance between us, as if the last few minutes didn't happen.
"Looks like we've found our merchant." Jacob said.
"Let's go pay him a visit." I said. With a small nod, we walked over to the stall, where we found the merchant and a woman, who looked none to happy from what I could see.
"It's all he drinks, your syrup is liquefying him. It's turning him simple-headed." The woman said with an angry tone to her voice.
"Look now, you are scaring away my customers. Why don't you bugger off or I'll give you something to remember me by?" The merchant said, to which Jacob and I began walking straight up to both the merchant and the woman, wanting to make sure nothing bad happens.
"You can't talk to me like that you little gutterling." The woman said, enraged by the mens' words.
"What's all this then?" Jacob said as we approached within mere centimetres of the arguing pair.
"You know, that's no way to treat a woman, especially when she's right about this Soothing Syrup." I said, to which the merchant yelled out,
"Sod off!" Before pulling out a knife.
"Are you really that stupid? There's two of us, and one of you. Even with a knife, you would still be overpowered by us. Why not drop the knife and tell us what we want to know?"
"Like hell I would do that." Before anything else was said, he had flung the knife straight at the woman, embedding it into her arm, and then began to run off. The woman had let out a scream of pain and fell to the ground clutching her arm.
"Damn him." Jacob said as he looked between the woman and the merchant.
"You go after him, I'll look after her." I said as I ran over towards the woman. I heard another set of footsteps run off and knew that Jacob was chasing the merchant down. Knowing that he had it under control, I said to the woman,
"I'm going to take the knife out, but it's going to hurt."
"Please, just do it. This pain is unbearable." I gave her a small, but reassuring smile and placed my hand on the knife. Before she could say anything, I ripped it out. Then, I ripped a piece of my robe and tied it around her arm, wrapping it tightly so that she won't lose anymore blood. "Thank you."
"You're welcome. And, I'm sorry this happened to you. That man will pay for what he has done to you, and to anyone else that he has sold that Soothing Syrup to." I replied.
"It's nice to see that there are still some good people left in the world. Please, stop this before it's too late."
"Don't worry, my partner and I plan to stop this as soon as possible and free the people of London from such tyranny and slavery. We will stop at nothing until we accomplish our goal, no matter the price we pay."
"You and your partner certainly sound like the type of people we need. I gotta say though, you've certainly chosen wisely, he is indeed rather handsome, and seems to be quite a man as well." I understood exactly what she was implying, to which I rapidly shook my head and said,
"Oh, no we're not r-romantically involved. I-it's nothing like that, I-I mean I've only met him not long ago, a-and we're just w-working together to achieve the same goal." My cheeks felt as if they were on fire as I stuttered. I couldn't help but look to the ground as I felt embarrassed.
"Then why are you embarrassed dear? Surely you wouldn't be if nothing was going on." I could hear the slight teasing in her voice and all I could do was keep quiet, not trusting the sound of my voice. After a few moments, she spoke up and said, "Well, you ought to catch up with your partner. Surely by now he would have caught that merchant." Her words brought me back to reality.
"Right, I'll be leaving now." I said. However, just before I left, the woman spoke up once more.
"Thank you again for helping me. Oh, and I wish you luck with your partner, who knows what could happen between the both of you." Before I could respond to her words, she left. Embarrassed by her words, I simply shook my head and ran off into the same direction that Jacob took while he chased the merchant.
Mini time skip
After a few minutes of running, I managed to find Jacob, who had the merchant cornered.
"That didn't take long." I said as I approached them.
"Of course it didn't." Jacob said before turning towards the man. "Now then, tell us where the syrup originates."
"All I know is that they make a run each day." The man says.
"And to where are these runs made?" I said.
"Between the gasometers and the Asylum. You'll have to find the distributor."
"Thank you, you can leave now." Jacob said as he released the man.
"Oh, and one more thing." I begin to say to the man. "If I find you harming another innocent, or selling that dreadful syrup again, you'll have me to deal with. Are we clear?" I glared at him as I spoke, wanting him to be fully clear that I will be coming after him if I need to.
"Y-Yes ma'am." With that, he ran as if his life depended on it, which it kinda did.
"Well then, let's go find us a distributor." Jacob said and we set off.
Time skip
After searching for some time, we had finally found who we were looking for, who just so happened to be using a carriage. Thankfully, it was parked near a building. Unfortunately, he had three Blighters surrounding him, and two of them happened to be Brutes. Jacob was just about to run straight up to them, most likely to start a fight, but I managed to stop him in time.
"What?" He said.
"We don't need to fight, why not steal whatever it is the distributor has on him and then plan our next step?" I replied.
"And how do you plan on doing that?"
"Just watch and learn Jacob." With that, I made a silent motion saying 'follow me' before walking over to a building, using it to hide myself as I remained out of sight from the Blighters.
"What are you doing?" Jacob asked as I pulled out a throwing knife. Instead of answering, I simply aimed for the Blighter that sitting at the front of the carriage. With perfect aim, I threw knife, killing him instantly. Then, I grabbed a smoke bomb and threw it near the horses, scaring them enough to cause them the flee.
"Now, let's wait for the distributor to exit the building, then one of us throw a smoke bomb to cause a distraction and steal whatever the distributor has." I said.
"Alright, we'll do it your way." Was all Jacob said before we waited. Thankfully, we didn't have to wait long before the distributor exited the building, only to become confused as he realised that the carriage is no longer there. I looked at Jacob and, with a small nod, indicated to him to throw a smoke bomb. As soon as he threw it, I ran up to the distributor and stole a piece of paper that happened to be sticking out of his pocket. Then, we ran as the smoke began to clear.
"Now then, let's find out where that syrup is made." I said as we looked at the price of paper. It read,
Distribution Boss
The distribution boss knows the location of Starrick's Soothing Syrup Distillery. He frequents the fight club in the Southwark Foundry.
"It would seem that the man in charge of the syrup distributing runs a fighting club at the foundry." Jacob said.
"Seems we ought to pay him a visit." With that, we made our way to the foundry.
Time skip
Upon approaching the foundry, I decided to activate my eagle vision to search for our target.
"He's inside, but there are also a few Blighters in there as well." I said as I deactivated my eagle vision.
"So, what do you have in mind?" Jacob said, which caught me rather off guard.
"You don't want to just charge right in and start a fight? That seems rather odd." I said.
"You had a marvellous plan to steal from the distributor and we managed to get away unnoticed. I'm open to ideas, just not Evie's. Yours however, seem to work out rather well. So tell me, what have you got in mind?" I was surprised at his answer, but tried not to show it.
"Well, since stealth isn't really your speciality, I'll deal with the Blighters quickly and quietly and then kidnap the boss while you remain hidden out of sight. Then, I'll bring him out here for questioning."
"Alright, I'll be waiting for you." For some reason, it felt as if his words had a hidden meaning to them, but then I quickly shook my head to be rid of the thought. With nothing else said, I scaled up the building, making my way to the other side and used my hidden blade to assassinate the Blighter that was guarding the entrance. Upon killing him, I made my way into the foundry, finding a hiding spot as soon as possible. Once hidden, I looked around and saw another Blighter within the crowd, a little to close for my liking. As quickly as I could, I grabbed a throwing knife and, with swift precision and aim, I flung it at his skull, embedded it deep and killing him instantly. 'Two down, only a few to go.' I thought. Looking around to make sure that no one would notice, since they happen to be focused on the fight, I used my upgraded bracer to climb up onto the railing hanging just above me. Once I've pulled myself up, I looked around and noticed two Blighters on either side of the building. I pulled out another throwing knife and threw it at the Brute, killing him instantly. Then, I walked over to where the other Blighter was residing and jumped off the railing, embedded my hidden blade deep within his torso. 'Just one more to go.' I thought as I located the last one, that just so happens to be located near the boss. Pulling out my last throwing knife, I threw it at the last Blighter, causing the boss to investigate. As quickly and as quietly as I could, I jumped down, landing directly behind him. I then punched him in the head before grabbing his arm and holding it behind his back, making sure my hidden blade was pressed right on his back, making sure he knows that I could kill him in an instant.
"What the..." He said.
"Shut your mouth and come quietly." Was all I said before leading him out of the foundry. Not long after, we made our way to Jacob. "Here you go, one distribution boss at your service."
"Bloody hell love, you're good." Jacob said before looking at the boss. "Now, where is the syrup made? Speak now or forever hold your..."
"The distillery! It's the large building beside the brewery." The boss said, effectively cutting Jacob off.
"Well, that was rather easy." I said.
"Not use to it being easy sometimes?" Jacob said.
"In this line of work, nope. Whenever something is easy, it just means trouble is closer than we think."
"Speaking from experience?"
"That's a story for another time."
"Um," the boss said, interrupting Jacob and I. "May I possibly go now?" Without saying anything, I pulled his head back and slit his throat.
"You can go to hell, apologies if that's not what you meant." I said.
"Well, with that out of the way, it's time to stop Soothing Syrup Production once and for all." Jacob said.
"Indeed." Was all I said before we walked away from the foundry, leaving the body behind.