Chapter 26: Infiltrate

Ardent packs in his armor and weapons into the wagon before making sure Kurgren, Erhardt, Solaina, and Louise fake slave collars are comfortable tight.

Ardent was chosen to lead the operation, as he is the only one in the group that can pose a slaver as he is Human, with his group, alongside Piper and Zarad who wanted to save Sofia, joining him.

While Wolfgang, Ekon, Ignatz and Delilah stays back to help the rebels and convince the second level to help.

The plan to infiltrate the third level is for Ardent to use a passport, which they stole from a noble they imprisoned a week ago, to enter with his group pretending to his slaves, as the sewage pipes from the second to third floor being too small for even a Halfling to fit in. While bringing a cart, which is modified with a hidden compartment below to smuggle both their equipment and Sofia, Soloman, and the survivor.

Ardent wears white ruffle shirt with black silk pants and riding boot. Over his shirt is then a navy-blue overcoat, and on his finger is a golden ring which bears the noble house sigil.

meanwhile Kurgren and the rest wore ragged sackcloth 'tunics', with him and the men having it with equally thread-bare pants while the ladies have the hem lengthen to their upper thighs, with footwraps and manacles on their arms and iron collar on their necks, though specially modified with cushions beneath to reduce injuries with the manacles being easily able to detach from each other, and all connected by a chain held by Ardent.

They then go to the meeting room again, the round table now folded up against the wall, where Wolfgang check if Ardent remembers his lines and Ignatz passing a pouch to Kurgren and Solaina.

"A gift to use in dire straits."

They then open the pouch and see lead bullets, five for Kurgren and ten for Solaina, before examing more closely and seeing a rune carved on it.

"Their enchanted bullets. Given the spell to explode like a grenade upon impact. Use them wisely for they cost a fortune."

Kurgren and Solaina thanks him for the gift.

For enchanted missile, while giving it enough power for a regular arrow to pierce through standard chainmail like a normal arrow, was incredibly expensive, a single bullet costing about fifty silvers; the average price of a standard spear, that loses it's enchantments upon impact, and are only utilized in small numbers of specialized rounds for sharpshooters.

Both of them then quickly mark their bags, with Kurgren one having a black thread woven into a k, and puts them in the wagon.

Then, with everything checked, they begin.

Where Wolfgang gives Ardent a poncho and larger boots to wear over his shoes. And Delilah cast a spell to protect Ardent from dirt, grime and smell.

"You may need this to protect that outfit from where you'll be exiting here."

He then opens the sewer grate, which was hidden by the table till now, when the realization sinks in.

Wolfgang then explains that they can't risk them exiting the warehouse, since the old portal network they used was destroyed to prevent the soldiers from finding them, and giving off their location so the sewers are the safest, much to the group, minus Piper and Zarad, groans.

Ardent then put on the poncho and boots, where Wolfgang informs him that they will put the wagon outside and cover it as a package for him, and enters.

It was then where Kurgren and the rest realized they won't get such mess protection, only protection from disease, as the sewage will help them look, and smell, more slave-like.

A few minutes then passes as they go through the sewer, guided by Ignaz, before resurfacing in an alleyway.

Kurgren and the rest then quickly takes out their robes, to make the second level people think their actually Ardent's caravan guards then slaves like other slavers do, which they found out also prevents the wearer smell from radiating. And sandals with boot soles to look like shoes at first glance.

They then quickly walk to the warehouse and pick up the wagon then move out.

They quickly move to the third level checkpoint, with only a few people glancing at them, and meets the guards.

"Name."

"Leo Tavros."

"Business."

"Trading. Of goods common and exotic."

"Passport and sigil please."

Ardent then shows him the passport, thankful that only Volksgard passport have photo of the wearer, then shows his ring.

The guard then briefly looks over his papers.

"All checks out. Welcome to Leona's third district."

Ardent then goes through before reaching the second gate, where two guards wearing segmentata, with great helmets, armed with a halberd and gladius.

"Stop for inspection." One of them said.

"Go ahead."

But as the guards goes past Ardent he felt something, a familiar sense that was cultivated in his training at the academy, and examines the guards.

While it is hard to see their face due to their helmets, he could see bits of black and white veins and cracked, dehydrated, skins on the bits of exposed neck.

They are Tieflings, Human daemons.

The guards then quickly look through the wagon, sifting through bags of grains and dried meats, before giving the clearance.

But before they could enter the guards demand Ardent supposed slave to remove their cloaks.

"We're already out of the public eye so there's no need to pretend. And we also need to see what you own and want to sell."

The six of them quickly complies and the guards whistle in glee.

One of them then walks to Solaina.

"My my. What a beautiful Elf you have. Is she your concubine or are you going to sell her?"

He then pinches and rub her ear, causing her to fidget and suppress a moan.

"You know what the most beautiful of them all. It's how sensitive they are, whether pain or pleasure, they will react loudly. Their moans and screams sounding like the beautiful music of the mythical mermaids."

Solaina then shivers, her ears now pointing skyward and lying flat against her head, and Ardent pushes him away.

"I didn't say that you could touch my property."

The guard then apologizes when the second one look to Erhardt in amusement.

"How hilarious. To see a Dwarf in chains."

He then pats his head and stares him down.

"How is like runt. To feel the shackles chain to your wrist or the collar on your neck and treated like the property you are. Like your ancestors have before."

Erhardt breathed heavily, his anger evident, and clenches his fist till his nails cut into his palm before beginning to wind up his arm.

When Ardent quickly yanks at his chain and stops him.

"STAND DOWN! You filthy earthloving runt. Lest I need to discipline you again."

The guard then back away before both looks towards Kurgren in awe.

"My my. This is the first time I've actually seen a half-born."

"It's a damn wonder on how such vile creatures could mate with us."

"I wonder how he was born."

"The obvious of course. His Orc father had most likely raped an innocent woman before being executed. His poor mother most likely dying upon seeing his hideous face."

"Of course. There's no way such way for a monstrous, black-eyed creature, to make others fall for them. The only way they could breed to others is by killing the women's husband then claiming her. Most likely disappointed at producing such a disgusting half breed."

Kurgren fidgets in his chains, holding back his desire to rip out the bastard's throats, with only Ardent gently tugging at his neck preventing him from attacking.

The guards then continue examining the rest before giving all clear, when one of them whispers to his ear.

"You should probably gag that half breed and the runt. Or, better yet, bind their legs and keep them on a shorter leash."

They then enter the district. And when they were far away from the guards they duck in an alley.

Ardent then profusely apologized to them, his uncaring façade gone and replaced with remorse, when Erhardt stops him.

"It's alright and, frankly, I'm grateful for what you did to me. If I had let my temper flare, we could have jeopardized the mission."

Kurgren nods, following what Erhardt said, as Solaina rubs the ear the guard touched in anger, as it's common knowledge that it's taboo for anyone but a lover to touch an Elf's ear.

Ardent then sighs in relief. Then orders them to go back in character as they now enter the city proper.