"Nothing is ever pure coincidence. The Undead Plague is raging outside, and the monastery and Hearthglen have to face the Undead threat directly. Anyone heading to the monastery could be risking their life. At a time like this, Baron Soroson's son wants to go there, yet Baron Soroson hasn't used his connections to stop him. That's very unusual."
Miles frowned. "Our investigation found that another mid-level mage was originally supposed to lead the reinforcements this morning, but something came up at the last minute and he couldn't go. Only then did the task fall to Mage Nolan. There's definitely something fishy here. It was also because of this last-minute change that the departure was scheduled for the afternoon."
Leaving in the morning would allow them to cover more ground. If they left in the afternoon, they probably wouldn't reach the nearest town until very late. The wilderness was unsafe, and even more so after nightfall.
Jiang Jie hurriedly waved his hands. "Lord Miles, you already know something fishy is going on, and you still dare send a rogue apprentice like me to investigate? Mage Nolan is a mid-level mage! What do you think I could find out? He might just kill me and dump me in the wilderness to feed the wolves!"
Miles shook his head. "Don't worry. Mage Nolan definitely has no connection to Baron Soroson. The one you need to investigate is Dudley. Keep a close eye on him and see just what he's trying to do. Report to me immediately if you discover anything wrong! In an emergency, you have full authority to act on my behalf. Even if you kill Dudley, that's fine."
He held out his hand and passed Jiang Jie an amulet. "This is a Vanish Amulet. Activating it puts you into a vanished state while removing all negative effects. It can save your life at a critical moment. The Assassins' Order has lost a lot of people over the past few days. I really have no one left, so I can only send you. There shouldn't be any danger. Don't worry."
Jiang Jie nodded slightly, but he couldn't truly feel reassured.
Ordinarily, no one would dare do anything to the reinforcements Lordaeron sent to the monastery, but that was in the past.
Now Lordaeron was in troubled times, rotten inside and out, with danger lurking everywhere. And with Baron Soroson involved, things wouldn't be that simple. Jiang Jie kept feeling that something was wrong.
But he also knew very well that the Assassins' Order had its rules. No one could refuse an assigned mission. Whether he wanted to or not, he had to make this trip. There was no room for discussion.
"Go get ready. Gather at the city gate at two this afternoon." Miles waved a hand. "When you return, Widowmaker and Gut Ripper will be yours!"
Jiang Jie nodded and took his leave.
As soon as he stepped outside, Roand pulled him into a room and stuffed a money pouch into his hand, his eyes gleaming. "A standard-issue Assassin's Blade usually costs around ten gold coins. I'll give you twelve! Quick, give me the Assassin's Blade!"
Jiang Jie calmly pushed it back, looking at Roand with a faint, ambiguous smile. "Instructor Roand, even an excellent-quality Blade of Cunning costs ten gold coins. The Assassin's Blade ought to fetch at least... twenty, wouldn't you say?"
"Twenty gold coins! Nicholas, why don't you just rob someone!" Roand shouted. "A standard-issue Blade of Cunning costs four gold coins. Two only add up to eight, so I gave you two extra! There's only one Assassin's Blade. Twelve gold coins is plenty! Fine, thirteen... what? Still not enough? Fifteen gold coins, and that's my limit. I'm poor!"
Seeing Roand's resolute expression, Jiang Jie understood that this probably really was his limit.
Fifteen gold coins was more than some ordinary craftsmen could earn in a whole year of hard work. Roand was a mid-level rogue who had spent over a decade in the Assassins' Order, with no wife or children to help spend his money. Of course, his wealth amounted to more than this. But he would never willingly overpay by too much.
"Instructor Roand, for your sake, consider this a half-price giveaway!" Jiang Jie handed Roand the Assassin's Blade and said with a smile, "Once I get Widowmaker and Gut Ripper, they won't come so cheap!"
Roand hurriedly took the Assassin's Blade, unable to put it down, and said with a wry smile, "Nicholas,
Widowmaker is worth at least several dozen gold coins, and don't even think about Gut Ripper without three to five hundred. I can't afford them! Besides, Onias never used those two daggers, so I'm not interested. After the Assassin's Blade, Onias switched to 'The Lobotomizer' and 'Shadowblade.' They're no worse than Gut Ripper!" The Lobotomizer and Shadowblade? So they were in Master Onias's hands?
Those two epic daggers... really were pretty good!
After leaving the Assassins' Order's headquarters, Jiang Jie quickly headed to the palace to see Princess Calia and report that he was going on a mission.
Although the Assassins' Order's rules required missions to be kept secret, Jiang Jie's mission this time was an escort assignment rather than intelligence gathering or assassination, so there was no way to keep it secret. Besides, Princess Calia held an exalted position. Telling her wouldn't matter, and Miles wouldn't give him trouble over it.
"Sorry to trouble you with looking after the storytelling arrangements, Your Highness. I'll be back soon. The manuscripts I've finished will last several days, so there's no need to worry for now. Time is short, and I have to begin preparing immediately, so I won't disturb you any longer." Jiang Jie had no time to waste and quickly explained everything.
"So urgent? Well, that makes sense. Ever since Onias succeeded her teacher as leader of the Assassins' Order, its efficiency really has improved considerably. Father and Arthas have both praised her." Princess Calia nodded. "You aren't very familiar with Lordaeron. Whatever you need to buy, have Daphne accompany you. Wait a moment. I have something good for you."
Princess Calia went back to her room and soon returned, handing Jiang Jie a necklace. "This is an Elemental Necklace, set with four different gemstones. It was made by a master jeweler in Silvermoon City and personally enchanted by a Kirin Tor mage. If you face a lethal threat, it will activate automatically and release a layer of elemental armor to keep you safe."
Jiang Jie froze for a moment.
This was an exceptionally good magic item!
This was the real world, and the real world in year twenty of the Dark Portal at that, not the game world after year twenty-five of the Dark Portal. Magic was still monopolized by Dalaran and Silvermoon City. The other kingdoms could hardly train many high-level mages, let alone archmages. All human archmages came from the magical kingdom of Dalaran.
Because mages were scarce, and even more because of Dalaran's monopoly, magic items were extremely expensive, far more so than they would be a few years later.
A magical necklace like this probably cost at least fifty gold coins, perhaps even over a hundred!
"This is too valuable." Jiang Jie hastily tried to decline.
Princess Calia waved a hand and smiled, speaking half in jest. "Nicholas, you're a money tree now. If something happens to you, who will finish writing 'Tides of Darkness'? How will I make money then? Don't forget my thirty-percent share from 'Tides of Darkness'! Besides, you're the rising star of the Assassins' Order. Onias would be sad if anything happened to you!"
Well, those two reasons were quite sufficient, and Jiang Jie really did need something like this to save his life, so he accepted it.
"Nicholas, let's go! Whatever you want to buy, I'll help you haggle!" The young maid quickly pulled Jiang Jie away.