V2Ch76 New Poison

While this man never seemed to hide his identity, I had not seen him outside of these sewers even once. Either he was very good at hiding in the shadows, or he never actually left the sewers.

He's a large fish-man. Hammerhead shark to be precise. His head was propped up on a long neck and had scars all over the front of his hammer-like nose. A large fin was protruding from his back and he had a short tail. He had three webbed digits per hand.

"Hey!"

His gruff voice was grating on the ears. I tried to ignore him.

"Hey, pup! Wrath is talking to you."

He was following me now. I walked a little faster and turned a corner. As I did, I leaped into an opening that leads up to a manhole cover. I was hoping he would pass by and continue looking for me. The sight of him looking up at me was a clear sign of failure.

"Git down here. Why are you avoiding Wrath?"

I clicked my tongue in disappointment. I let go of the sides and fell to the ground. He had backed up just enough for me to land without touching him. I stood up. My eyes were met with his armored torso. He was much taller than me and had a lot more obvious muscle.

I took a step back and saw his hand reaching out toward my hood.

"Show Wrath your face when Wrath is talking to you."

In one quick movement, I knelt down and shot back about ten feet.

"Don't touch."

I warned him.

"Ehhh! Brat! Wrath has been here a lot longer than you. Wrath has killed so many people that Wrath is in line to be the next head assassin. Wrath has seen the tasks you turn in. You haven't killed a single person. All you do is collect parts. You don't have the balls to kill anyone. What makes you think you can talk back to Wrath when you can't take a life?"

I looked up a little. I let him see the fake smile on my face with what little light was down here.

"You're so proud of your ability to take someone's life into your hands. I bet you look into their eyes as they die. Maybe you sing them a lullaby to ease your own tormented soul as they fall into the deep sleep. You think that makes you a pro. Have you ever killed someone without letting them sense your presence? Just let them think they are falling asleep on their own? That's how a pro does it. That's how I collect. My victims don't even realize that they are missing parts until I'm long gone."

I could tell he was listening. I don't know if he was calling my bluff or not. Maybe a test? I pointed toward his right hand at his waist.

"Have you checked your fingers recently? Sometimes I collect without thinking."

I lowered my head to hide it in shadow again. I watched as almost everyone in earshot was nervously checking their hands. Even the big guy.

"Oh? I guess you were lucky today."

"Don't fuck with Wrath, whelp."

He began to stomp toward me. He lifted a hand like he was going to open palm slam me to the ground. It would be child's play for him if I hadn't responded with an exposed dagger in the path of his palm. He stopped before the rocksteady blade could pierce his skin. He pulled his hand away. I could see his eye twitch.

"You react differently than I thought... Maybe you have killed before."

"I'll tell you a secret. I've killed more people than everyone in this assassins guild combined. It's not that I can't, I just don't want to anymore."

I spun around and lifted my cloak as I did so.

On the outside, I was calm and ready to continue my evening. On the inside, I was almost jumping for joy because I got to do a freaking cool cloak swoosh move in front of a group. I feel like such a badass right now.

Wrath... I'd rather avoid him if at all possible. He's annoying.

I found my usual poison dealer.

"More? How much do you use? Half of the city should be dead with how much you buy. You do know that each bottle can kill 40 or 50 men if you dilute it properly, right?"

"Irrelevant. What's the strongest poison you got?"

He let out a sigh. His hand reached under his table. He pulled out a key and used it to open a hidden wall safe in the back of his stall. The bottle he pulled out was just like any other. The contents were obviously different. It was a mesmerizing sight. Black clouds swirled with a deep forest green liquid. Every so often, it looked like lightning would flash inside, turning the green liquid a putrid purple color for a fraction of a second.

"How much?"

He placed it on the table and sat down without letting go. I started to reach out for the bottle. His first response was to begin pulling the bottle back.

"This is the real shit. You can't let accidents happen with this stuff. The lid stays on. You have to use a needle and syringe to extract it. Make sure there is water in the syringe to dilute it and prevent its exposure to the air. It's a compressed poison. If it gets released into the air, It could kill thousands over the period of a week. It depends on the wind and foot traffic. Highly toxic to anything alive."

"Good. How much?"

He let out another sigh and rubbed his face as if he was deciding whether or not to sell.

...

"Tell me the truth. Are you planning to use it in Fricity? Do you plan to expose it to the air near a group?"

"I'm experimenting, so to speak. Though, I don't have a syringe. If you spot me one, then I won't have a need to expose it to the air."

"Experimenting? What kind of experiments?"

I kept quiet. He didn't need to know.

He let out yet another sigh.

"Fine. It's not cheap. 190 gold. That includes this."

He pulled out a syringe and placed it next to the bottle.

"I have 150 right now, I can..."

"I won't take I-owe-you's. All or nothing."

"I have the gold, I just don't travel with more than 150 at a time. You know I'm good for it. If I must, I supposed I could go get the rest right now. It may take me an hour, though."

"You really are pushy. Tell you what. You know where the church is?"

I nodded my head.

"The building straight across from the church entrance is a poisoners shop. It's where I get my materials. I owe her 30 gold. Give her the remaining 40 gold that you owe me, and our deal will be done. You can take the stuff now. If she asks about the extra ten, tell her it's interest."

"Done. As always, thank you."

"If he isn't paid before morning, you might have an assassin's mark on your head."

I nodded my head and left with an empty coin pouch.