Assassin's Creed: Renegade
Chapter 2: The King
Vienna, Austria-Hungary, 1912 AD, October
"Sicarius, your next assignment will be of vital importance." Tobias said as he took out the letter from his desk. "You see this letter is sent to a man codenamed the King. The letter is full of Templar codes that we, unfortunately cannot decode. DO you know anyone in all of Austria-Hungary, most specifically, Graz, who is called the King?"
Sicarius shook his head in negative. Tobias sighed as he said "I would think not, right now. But in Graz, the King is a reference to a person who is sought after by the authorities, or so they say."
The assassin cocked his head sideways in confusion as he asked "Who is he then?"
"Alwin Muller. He owns the Graz Production Industries. Years ago he was caught in a case of slavery and was brought before the king where he was cast into prison for many years. About five years ago he was released, which is odd, as the consequences of such actions delegate death penalty. But even though he is now, free, the authorities have really never let their suspicions go as they have kept him under unofficial house arrest."
"What do you want me to do then?"
"Go to him. It's obvious he has already delved into Templar business. Take the letter with you. Make him translate the codes, kill him and return here. Free the slaves, which I presume he has under the noses of the authorities, on the way if you can." Tobias recited.
Sicarius lifted his hood and nodded as he departed for his mission.
X.X.X
Graz, 5 days later
Sicarius stood in front of the Graz Production Industries main building as he surveyed the area from his vantage point from atop the church. He hadn't used his gift in years. But it seemed it would be off good use now. He penetrated his mind as he heard an eagle's cry somewhere in the distance. He opened his eyes. Except he did not see from his perspective at all. Sicarius was the owner of an eagle he had since he was 16. He had named him Jager (Hunter) and for some uncanny situation when he concentrated Sicarius could see through the eyes of his pet eagle. Tobias, the mentor had called this eagle vision. It was uncanny in many parts. Not only did he see like an eagle he was granted temporary control of Jager's body while using it. He could see his benefactors and enemies and differentiate them. He could see tracks that were supposed to be long erased.
He tracked the building while in control of Jager. He saw about 40 to 50 guards surveying the area. Quite the number of guards for a measly factory. Tobias it seemed was correct. In a small room off the southern wing of the Factory was a group of slaves forced to sit down together and being whipped. Sicarius cut his connection with Jager off as he leaped from the church in a leap of Faith. He landed gracefully on his legs.
He entered the factory calmly as the receptionist asked him "Sir, do you have an appointment?"
Sicarius looked at the woman and said "Why yes I do."
"With whom sir? The Factory manager Jack Francis or Company owner Alwin Muller?"
"Both of them." Sicarius replied. It wasn't a lie technically anyway.
"Then you can go and see them sir." The receptionist said as Sicarius nodded. He headed off into the corner as he looked upwards and saw a maze of beams on the floor above. He triggered his rope launcher as he was accelerated upwards and landed on his feet on a beam that was connected to so many other beams. He turned towards the southern area as he could free the slaves and get rid off some guards while creating a diversion. He walked stealthily across the platforms and beams as he finally reached the area. He could simply fall down and kill the guards and open the doors or he could go into the room and kill the two guards from behind. He opted to go after the second option.
He entered the room via the beams on the floor above the room as he fell down silently. The slaves looked at him in fear thinking he as an employee of the Graz Company. He shushed them as he took out a pin. He entered the pin in the keyhole and slowly worked its magic into opening the door. The door clicked. He silently opened the door as he saw the two guards just playing chess a small distance away.
Sicarius beckoned the slaves to keep put as he went towards the guards and said "A nice day for a good game of chess don't you think?"
Both the guards didn't lift their heads as they said "Indeed. It's a fine day for a fine game indeed."
Those were their last words as Sicarius launched his hidden blades onto their jugular. They fell down into a heap.
Sicarius looked at the slaves and said "Go get out. There's a short cut via the second alleyway through the hallway."
The slaves thanked him as they took off in a hurry. Using his rope launcher he went towards the beams once again.
He walked towards the second ward where he supposed Jack Francis's office was located. Well at least this room was cut off from the beams. Sicarius looked down to see six guards talking to themselves.
"Looks like the slaves have given the run."
"Yup. Boss Francis was in such a foul mood. He said he's going to the boiler room."
That was all the assassin wanted to hear as he took out his rope launcher and shot the six of them dead. He then headed towards the boiler room. He walked into a platform as he heard voices downstairs. He looked from a veranda downstairs that it was Jack talking to an employee. Well he was threatening to be exact. Sicarius did not care for what they were talking. He climbed on the veranda as he got ready to launch an air assassination.
He jumped down as he activated his hidden blades mid-flight and plunged them into the Jack's throat. The employee yelped as Sicarius loomed over him. "I give you a choice. You tell me where Alwin Muller's room is and I will let you go or you can die like your master here."
"It's in the northern most wing." He squeaked. "Can I go now?"
Sicarius nodded as the employee yelped and retreated. Sicarius wiped a tear from his eye as he took out his pistol from his back and let it shoot the employee.
Tenet number three: Do not compromise the brotherhood.
Regaining his composure he knelt down to the employee's corpse and found a key which he assumed was required for entering the room of Muller. He took out a handkerchief and wiped some blood onto it before saying "Ruhe in Frieden."
He then launched himself to the roofs again before heading towards the Northern Wing. Like Jack's room it was cut off from the beams. He looked down and saw ten guards around the room and hallway. He stood up on the beam as he took out a smoke bomb and let it drop. A huge smoke dust appeared as he heard shouts of surprise.
The smoke was nothing but a small itch for Sicarius. He had been trained to fight in these situations. He jumped down and swiftly killed two of the guards with his hidden blade. He crept up behind two other guards and plunged his blades into them.
He then saw a guard discern his location. He quickly launched a poisoned dart into his heart making him crumple down. He took out his gun and then fired his gun into the hearts of three guards. He then crept onto the last pair of guards before ending their lives.
The smoke started to settle after that as he entered the room. Alwin was doing some paperwork as he kept his head down and asked "What is it? I heard some shouts is there a riot going on?"
Sicarius then proceeded to reply in a cold and harsh voice "No, but there will be one soon."
"What?" Alwin looked up to see Sicarius with one hidden blade drawn right before his jugular. Alwin gulped as he said "What do you want?"
Sicarius simply ignored him and ripped some of the clothing of Alwin as he took out a Templar Necklace from the businessman. He then brought out the letter and thrust it in front of Alwin and said "Tell me the meaning of this letter, now. If you value your life at all."
Alwin looked at the letter and gulped. His eyes darted back and forth. The doors were closed. Thw indows were closed as well and no other exits were available. Seeing no other option he relented. "Fine. I will read the letter out for you.
Dear King
As you know the Austrian-Hungary Rite of Assassins have been inactive since the past ten years or so. It seems as a good time as many to pull off the plan. We have found some leads towards the precursor artifact that we are currently looking for. It is of great importance and we would win against the Assassins in a matter of microseconds if we had the artifact. Infact the artifact we are looking for has all the knowledge of the Ones Who Came Before. Their knowledge would benefit the Templar Order. I wish for you to send some of your best slaves to me by the next fortnight so that I can send them with my top explorers to the Alps to find more leads. For now I want you to send someone trustworthy to find a precursor artifact. I await your reply.
Francis Joseph"
Sicarius wrote the whole thing down as he nodded in appreciation before asking "What is this precursor artifact that the Templars are looking for?"
Alwin shook his head "Francis still does not trust me enough to divulge the name. But I do know it is a strange piece of eden. It is not an apple, shroud weapon or anything else. But he said it is something of knowledge."
Sicarius nodded as he then said "well then I don't have more use of you now do I?"
"What?"
One advice from the author-What is not a good last word testament. A hidden blade was plunged into the heart of Alwin Muller as Sicairus left the area.
X.X.X
The whole Factory was in shut down as the guards pursued Sicarius. Sicarius was currently using his rope launcher to great use as he reached the highest point of the factory.
The guards reached to him. "Stand down!" The leader said.
Sicarius grinned a bit. "How about no?"
With that he spread his arms. And Leaped.
X.X.X
After five days of travelling again Sicarius reached Vienna's Assassin Bureau. Tobias welcomed him. "I hope you have good news my student?"
"Yes I do mentor." Sicarius responded as he relayed all he had learnt to his mentor. The mentor sat down in worry as he stroked his beard. "This is surprising. I can only think that the Templars will lay low for a few years according to this letter. For the time being I will send a group of Assassins to the Alps to investigate anything that may give us a good lead. For now you have earned your rest my student. Go and rest. I will call you if I require of anything that needs your presence."
Sicarius nodded as he disappeared into the Bureau. He then went to his room as he plopped out a notebook. He started writing down everything he had learned into the notebook as he looked down onto his own work.
He yawned as he looked towards his old family picture one last time before dropping onto his bed and drifting onto the realm of the dreams.
