Hi everybody! :)

Another instalment is finally here! :) I'm sorry it took ages as usual. The chapter is much longer than I originally planned. That's one of the main reasons why it took so long to update.

Since my English is not perfect, the chapter is more understandable thanks to gyikhu! I bow before of your knowledge, patience and kindness. And of course, your writing abilities. ;)

For this chapter I used some information from the internet about Gundy... ehm, Marten Gunderson. :) (And the Irish Connussie was mentioned in Tomb Raider: Chronicles.)

I hope you will like it. :)

Disclaimer: All rights (Lara Croft and Tomb Raider) belonged or belong to Core Design, Eidos Interactive, Crystal Dynamics and Square Enix. I do not own any of the characters except the original ones who appear in this story. Neither I own any plots from Tomb Raider.

I make absolutely no profit from this fanfiction. (Except from fan's happiness.)

Chapter 10: Help Wanted

Lara and Winston were sitting together behind the simple white table in the kitchen. The adventurer had just finished her talk about the cause of the quarrel between her and Kurtis. As a matter of fact, she hadn't been eager to go over the whole issue with Winston. But on the other hand, Lara recognized that the old man deserved at least some answers. Eventually she provided him with an adjusted version of what had happened. Although she had left out the supernatural part of the story, she had managed to explain the core of the problem to her butler.

"So you see, Lara. It's exactly like you said. Everything was only a misunderstanding," the old man noted in a reassuring voice. "I'm sure Mister Trent will realize this fact soon and will come to apologize to you."

"That would be nice," she uttered and sipped the relaxing tea her butler had prepared for her.

"But when that time comes," Winston carried on, "promise me you won't shoot him right away when he appears in front of you, alright?" He placed his hand on hers and gave her a kind smile.

Lara returned the man's gesture by a subtle grin. "I'll try," she replied and downed the rest of her drink.

It also depends on his behaviour though, she remarked to herself inwardly.

"Great tea." She put the empty cup back on the saucer. "Thank you, Winston."

"I'm glad you enjoyed it," he noted, clearly pleased with her satisfaction.

"Okay," Lara said as she stood. "Now let's get Zip on the phone. We have a work to do."

Marten Gunderson skilfully checked the magazine of his pistol and re-inserted it with ease. Subsequently he put the gun into the holster.

The last job had proved to be a complete failure. And even now, several days later, he still felt rage because of it. And also shame.

Damn Eckhardt and his plans. Such a disgrace... he though, clenching his fist.

The whole operation in Prague had got screwed up in the worst possible way. In the end Gunderson could be glad that he and most of his men had managed to get out alive from the Strahov fortress without being arrested by the Czech police. He had never thought it all would have ended up the way it had. And that they would have had to run away like that. The mercenary was used to retreat within his missions. But it was always a part of a plan. Not only a desperate attempt to escape and save their skins. He was accustomed to have superiority.

The good thing was that many of his own men had not been acquainted with all facts in advance. He had concealed some information from them. And Gunderson now presumed it was one of the best decisions he had ever made. Also thanks to that, the Agency still had its good name in his world. And that was the most important for him.

Earlier he would have probably never believed in the supernatural. However, the events of the last days had convinced him about the opposite. But the mercenary assumed that now things were different. Now Gunderson knew what he was dealing with. And he and his men would be ready for all measures that would be needed to take. This time he would be more careful with all his future actions, too.

The Agency together with his name had always had - and at present still had - some prestige. And Gunderson would do anything to keep it that way. His feelings had never been the main decisive factor for him. The Agency always came first.

The last job had brought loss of several capable men and no cash. But the ex-soldier assumed the recent task should bring him and his Agency more than any other contract before. Besides, there was also a high possibility that he would get something he personally yearned for. For both himself and the Agency's name.

I don't forgive debts to anyone. If this turns out well, I will get at least this one repaid since I can't vent my anger on Eckhardt anymore, he thought.

He clapped the suitcase full of entirely new flashlights, flares, guns, walkie-talkies and other military equipment shut. With confident steps, Gunderson left the room and went to devote himself to his new - and this time very richly paid - duties.

She ran right into the middle of the open space without hesitation, ready to act. Her eyes immediately registered the movement. Lara swiftly unholstered her two pistols and disposed of both stationary enemies on her left, closely followed by the new two on the right. As she proceeded, she managed to eliminate all emerging imaginary opponents. With now only two practicing targets left on each side, her mind suddenly wandered to the events of the last hours. However she did her best to fully focus on the task she had given to herself.

After several more shots had echoed through the outside area, she stopped firing. Lara furrowed her eyebrows and headed to the back to check her aiming. The British woman grimaced in dissatisfaction when she found out that she had completely missed the very last target.

Lara had to admit the information she had received from Kurtis worried her. She was well aware that the threat posed by Karel and his possible plans could prove to be fatal with time. On the basis of Karel's speech in Prague she was afraid the Nephilim would try to revive his biblical race again. And finish what Eckhardt had started.

Except this reason she had a personal interest in stopping Karel, too. Right after hearing Kurtis' words, Lara hadn't really come to realize it also meant that Von Croy's murderer had escaped punishment. When the realization had hit her several moments later, she felt wrath. Like right now. And several heavily damaged targets were proving that.

However the Nephilim was not the only thing that was distracting her and making her head ache. She had to admit that Kurtis' burst of anger had thrown her off a bit as well. To her displeasure, somehow Lara wasn't sure what was troubling her more at the moment. But it was the image of Kurtis' enraged face that made her miss her target. Trent had said to her he would kill her. But would she be able to pull the trigger if it came to it? If she had to? If there was no other option?

If it was him or me... Probably, she pondered.

But then the British woman immediately realized she absolutely hated the idea of killing someone she knew - and could consider sort of a friend - just because of some stupid misunderstanding. The one she had caused.

Moreover, she still had in mind that Kurtis was the person who had saved her life and had been helping her before. And now Lara also remembered the feeling of happiness she had felt, founding out that he had survived his fight with Boaz.

She guessed Trent was currently likely close on Karel's trail. The Tomb Raider considered Kurtis could very possibly be in his immediate proximity even right at this moment. But at the same time Lara knew that the fact that the American obviously didn't believe in the Nephilim's ability to change appearance was putting him into a significant disadvantage. And she was also afraid that Kurtis' hatred towards Eckhardt could adversely affect his judgment. Trent didn't believe in the shape-shifter's very existence, after all.

Furthermore, she thought that this all was simply too big for only one person. Even for a man with special Lux Veritatis abilities like Kurtis Trent. Even an experienced adventurer as herself had made use of his aid in Paris and Prague. And now, as far as she knew, Kurtis was alone in this fight.

As she herself had found out, Joachim Karel had proved to be way more cunning than Pieter Van Eckhardt. And therefore also more dangerous. However, according to information Lara had, it was The Black Alchemist who had managed to turn the Lux Veritatis order practically completely into the dust. And since Eckhardt had almost succeeded in wreaking havoc on Earth, she didn't want to even think about what Karel could eventually cause. And what his final intentions were.

Lara sighed. The exercise at the shooting range did not bring her even nearly as much of relax as she had been hoping for. The negative thoughts kept mercilessly attacking her. Finally, the Tomb Raider put her guns back into the holsters. Then she turned away from the undamaged target and set out back into the house to await her friend's visit.

Zip's presence and the energy radiating from him immediately brought Lara positive vibes. Even though her friend wasn't exactly giving her a warm greeting right after he had spotted her.

"Croft! How the hell do you imagine not calling me right after your return from that damned Egypt! Or at least later? It's already been a while. And why the hell did you ignore my calls? I was really afraid about ya, girl. Y'know?" he complained, hurt.

At first the adventurer suspected her friend was overplaying a little bit. But later she speculated that his expression was maybe more sincere than it appeared.

"I thought you completely forgot about me."

Lara was indeed full of remorse for not devoting herself enough to her close ones. After she had returned from Egypt, she simply hadn't felt like talking to anyone. That time, she had preferred spending her time alone and mostly only dwelling in her gloomy tuned thoughts. The adventurer had found a certain peace in loneliness and welcomed the manor's walls where she had retired to. They had been giving her a feeling that they were holding back the world from which she had been staying aloof.

It was not like she had stopped loving her friends. But the scar left by Von Croy was deep and back then still fresh. The problem also didn't lie in her not trusting people close to her anymore. She didn't want them to get hurt at the first place. Back then, the recent memories of the Bedouin tribe she couldn't protect had brought her to this conclusion. Lara didn't want to see people willing to help her dead. The less people would be in her closeness, the better for them. They would be safer that way. It was how she had been looking at it.

Most of her friends had respected her decision, giving her some time. But Winston didn't let himself be driven away. The old man had been the only one she had accepted around herself in the end.

She had spent a big part of her life with him and was used to his company. From a practical point of view, the good thing was that Winston was taking care of the Croft manor as always. Another reason was that she didn't even know if he had anywhere else to go. As far as she knew, there was no one waiting for him at Connussie, his Irish birthplace. Plus Lara had been telling herself she also had to take regards on his high age. But now the British woman was really grateful for his stubbornness. Winston had always supported her in all situations. And unlike some other people he even had an understanding for her past-Egypt introversion. He was one of a few people who had stopped asking her about the whole Egyptian episode. And she had really welcomed it.

At that time she'd refused to follow her butler's advice about not hiding from the rest of the world. But now, the events of the last days made her reconsider her attitude towards certain things. She felt like the whole Paris-Prague matter somewhat finally had woken her up. Von Croy was dead and she herself had almost lost her life. As nearly had Kurtis. Lara had decided that it was time to follow her butler's opinion and face the world again, including her friends.

As for Zip, it could be said he was a colleague of her's and also a very good friend. Especially in Zip's case, Lara had supposed that he, being a sociable person he was, couldn't have missed her company too much. All in all, they hadn't technically spent much time together as they hadn't been seeing each other on a regular basis. But now it looked to her like she had been wrong.

Lara was hoping she wouldn't regret her decision to call Zip. She assumed that the American's easy-going attitude could serve as a pleasant distraction. And considered that maybe it was exactly what she needed at the moment. On the other hand, she knew the issue itself was so essential that it would likely require her full attention and concentration. There was still a possibility that Karel didn't have any dangerous card in his sleeve. But Lara recognized that such a serious matter definitely needed to be investigated nonetheless.

Zip was the first choice that had come on her mind. Their cooperation had already proved to be effective in the past. Thanks to his technical skills her infiltration in Von Croy Industries had been possible and also successful. And Lara knew she could fully rely on him. On top of it all, Zip was one of her few true friends. Even after she had basically ignored him for several months.

"It was kind of tough to be dead and then come alive, Zip," she started, trying to sound as if talking about nothing serious. But then her expression changed into one full of sincere guilt. "But now seriously. I'm sorry about that. I really am. I just... needed to spend some time alone. Everything was... difficult. It's hard to explain."

"Right. I get it, Lara. Don't let it bother ya. I'm glad to see you are doin' okay now."

"Well, it could be better. And that's why you're here."

"Yeah, I've figured it out from your call. And here I thought you missed my irreplaceable, charming and entertaining company."

"That's another reason," Lara said in a flattering manner. "Your remarks are often unmistakably comical, indeed," she added a little less friendly.

Zip ignored her remark. "In any case, I'm glad you called. And... I wanted to tell you I'm sorry about Von Croy. And that you were... you know... blamed for his death. It seems to me you can't have a moment of peace."

"Thanks Zip," she said dully.

"Okay," he clasped his hands together, rubbing them. Zip looked as if he was eager to start working on something. "So... Where do we start?"

"I'll tell you the whole story," she started. "But I warn you it's rather long. And... well. Some parts are kind of unusual."

"I've already experienced bunch of extraordinary things with ya, lady. Who else than you would dare to infiltrate a heavy guarded building in the middle of New York with a hang glider? And then who would be crazy enough to be runnin' around there among guards and cyborgs without any gun for a while? And see, it all worked out splendidly. Also thanks to my vital assistance, of course," he added with a smug grin. "Try to surprise me, Croft," he challenged her.

Lara gladly obliged. She was in a certain sense looking forward to Zip's poor attempt to trying to hide his shocked and maybe even scared face. Alchemy and beings able to change their appearance weren't often heard about outside the world of fiction. Lara could only hope that her American friend wouldn't doubt her sanity.

Zip was listening carefully to her every word. He let her speak without any interruption. The only change in her friend's behaviour she took notice of were some significant looks when she briefly mentioned Kurtis. She also managed to successfully ignore his lifting eyebrows and exaggerated blinking, and didn't let herself be distracted. As she went deeper in the story, his expression changed into a deadly serious one. At the end of her long monologue, Zip remained silent for a minute, staring into nothingness.

He finally understood I'm not kidding. That's a good start, Lara thought with a certain form of mischievous satisfaction.

"You gotta be kiddin' me!" he exclaimed, wide-eyed.

She only gave him a compassionate look.

"Okay, okay. I got it. So, this... Muffin-something—"

"Nephilim," she corrected him, trying to hide her smile.

"Yeah, sure. Awesome. The dark alchemist..."

More precisely The Black alchemist, she specified to herself.

"That sounds pretty oldschool, by the way. So this evil guy who killed Von Croy and put the blame on you, wanted to resurrect some slumbering pal. Not human. And then there was some show-off chap from the old mysterious order who was helping you. How colourful. So, what can I do for ya?"

"That newspaper reporter I mentioned, Luddick, showed me some of his files. Besides the members of Cabal there was another man, Marten Gunderson. A mercenary. Based on my personal experience a not very nice one. I would try to look there. Maybe if we find something about his whereabouts, it could tell us if he's still working in the same field. And for whom," she shrugged.

"Got it. So, now you are trying to find one mercenary bloke you met in the Strahov because he might work for that alchemist's ex-colleague now. I mean that facelift weirdo you were talking about."

Lara thought she had noticed something weird in his tone. Was he doubting the Nephilim's existence as had Kurtis? She decided to let it be for now.

"Did I get it right?"

"Quite. You obviously have a very good short-time memory, Zip."

She heard him sigh.

"That's all we have. The only possible lead I can think of now. At least as I see it at the moment... I know it's not much."

"Look, I'm okay with that. I'll be glad to help. But wouldn't it be easier to try to find that fellow... Trent of yours and ask him for help? According to what you just told me, the guy probably knows the most about all of this stuff of all people. Well, except the bad guys who surely won't help us."

"I've told you that right now he is convinced I'm working for them." She sighed, clasped her hands together and rested them on the table. It's difficult. Trent wasn't exactly a patient listener and I don't know him that well to try to provoke him. He seemed really angry. I would rather evade that, if possible. I bet we will meet each other again. And it won't take long. Spying on him behind his back would hardly make the situation better. On top of it, I can handle it on my own."

"Are you sure?" he asked in a doubtful tone.

"Absolutely," she said without hesitation. "Your technical help is fully sufficient. In case you'll manage to find Gunderson's whereabouts, of course."

Zip seemed to be deep in thought, frowning.

"But in any case, I'm glad to have you here," she added quickly.

"Okay," Zip sighed. "But I just wanna let ya know that I don't like this. Maybe that Lax Vetaratis guy could... you know. Watch your back."

She even didn't bother to correct her friend this time. "Look," Lara said matter-of-factly, "the plan is to check the situation out," she tried to calm him down. "I just need to assure myself that Joachim Karel can't pull another trick on all of us. I'll be fine," the adventurer said, quite surprised how plausible it sounded. Then her tone changed into even more serious one. "But still, there is a possibility that this can turn out ugly. First I want you to decide if you really want to get involved. The people implicated in this are really dangerous and a few people have died already. Let it go through your head properly first. I will understand if you—"

"You can count me in!" he answered, little too cheerfully for her taste. "We'll kick their asses, whoever or whatever they are! We're the champions here. I'm with you in this, girl."

"I was hoping you would say that," she admitted with a slight smile and patted his shoulder as a sign of satisfaction. But in the back of her mind a foreboding was present as she wasn't sure if her friend had fully understood the seriousness of the whole situation.

Several days had passed since Kurtis' visit. And to Lara's disappointment, she and Zip didn't get anywhere yet.

"So, what do we have so far? Have you got something big yet?" the adventurer inquired her helper as she entered the room.

Her technical assistant had already spent several hours behind the computer screen today. As he had several days before. "Not much," Zip admitted reluctantly. "This Gunderson guy is like a ghost. I got some basic data on him though." He finished typing into the keyboard and turned to her with his chair. "'Cause I'm maestro at findin' information, as you know," Zip grimaced and blinked at her before reaching for the pack of papers on the further table.

The gesture immediately reminded Lara her companion from Prague.

I wonder what Kurtis is doing right now... Has he already found out Eckhardt is really dead and I was telling the truth?

Zip's voice brought her back to reality. "Like..." he listed through the printed out pages. "This Gunderson is a war veteran. According to this, as a soldier he was engaged in several worldwide conflicts... blah, blah. But nothing on his current whereabouts. Some files mention that this big guy is officially runnin' a ''security agency''." Zip made a grimace. "But it's most likely just a cover for something illegal. Kind of a typical fraud example, but in legal terms bulletproof. The merc knows how to play this game."

"These people usually do. Unfortunately."

"He got lost out of scope completely for the last... approximately ten months?"

"That would be the work for the Cabal I presume," she pointed out thoughtfully.

"Yeah, that makes sense I guess." Zip turned another page. "He and his company choose carefully where they work. And for who. So it's unlikely he would be willing to guard a supermarket or your beautiful manor with his goons," he added in a joke. "What an image," Zip chuckled.

"For a big cash, maybe they would. They are mercenaries, after all.

"But it's kind of good news, ain't it? We could possibly bribe 'em, if we somewhere get a fortune to give away."

"Nice thought. But I guess the vision of immortality is a more tempting reward," she objected. "Not many people would refuse it."

"I don't agree. I would be soo bored," he said with a yawn and stretched himself to stress his statement.

"So nothing useful for our purpose?" she asked to the point.

"Not yet, but I'm not givin' up yet. I've found some files which look promising. But it requires several passwords and it's heavily protected like a high-tech prison fortress for the worst guys. It won't be easy. But I think I'll get through. Maybe I'll stumble upon something there."

Lara held out her hand and took the papers from him. She briefly read through the notes:

...Gunderson Marten...

...a veteran soldier...

...security work...

She sighed and put the folder on the nearest table. Lara didn't like the idea of pleading Kurtis for help. But now she was seriously considering that tracking Kurtis Trent down would be the only way to move forward.

Lara's contemplations were interrupted by the buzz of the door bell. She ignored it, knowing her butler is on his way to answer it. She briefly recalled that Zip had mentioned ordering some equipment.

I will give it one more day... And then I'll be left with nothing but to try to find the man who threatened to kill me. Great.

The adventurer sighed in disappointment. "Okay. Keep looking."

"Sure thing," he answered, his eyes already glued back to the computer monitor in front of him.

"But before that you should go and get your new toys. I won't be carrying it all for you. And I won't let Winston do it either—"

"That won't be necessary for now," she heard her butler say behind her.

"Lara?" Winston addressed her carefully from the other end of the room as if afraid not to interrupt her.

Lara lifted her glance from the page and arched her eyebrows in curiosity.

"Yes?... I hope it's not some journalist again," she stated.

"Oh, these ugly journalists," she could heard Zip mimic in joke. "But you're right. I met one some time ago. Asking about your lovely person. Annoying as a bedbug, I'm telling ya."

Very helpful, she thought. Sometimes Zip simply talked too much and too jovial for her taste.

"No. And it is not the postal service either. Mister Trent is waiting for you."

Lara gave her butler a surprised look.

Trent. Right.

Mixed feelings were currently struggling inside her. She knew that not telling Kurtis the whole truth right from the start had been a mistake. And she now regretted her past decision. But Lara was in a certain way angry with him. The things the American had said to her were pretty harsh. And unnecessary. Besides, she was partly annoyed at herself that she hadn't thrown him out with more coolness, too. Also thanks to the lack of success in making a significant progress during the last days, this second, resentful side was now winning.

"Okay. Thanks, Winston," she said, trying to sound indifferent. I'll be right there."

She looked back at Zip and found him grimacing at her.

"Don't get your hopes up," she reacted on his easy-going expression. "I still want you to work on this. Nothing changes."

"You don't need to worry, Lara," he grinned. "I'll be right here, workin' like a busy bee. I won't interrupt the conversation of you two... Or anything else." His grimace grew even wider.

The adventurer rolled her eyes in annoyance and irritation as she shook her head. "What's with both of you?" Lara muttered as she turned and headed to the door. "First Winston and now you..." she growled.

"But I would love to meet the guy later if he gains your acceptance!" She could yet still hear Zip's cheerful remark.

Oh, Zip. You Yankee. You're such an annoying chatterbox.

She passed several doors of the Croft Manor's rooms, went down the stairs and finally ended up in the main hall.

Kurtis stepped towards her in the minute he saw her. "Hello Lara."

As far as Lara could tell, she heard no hints of regrets in his voice. In connection with gaining zero useable information today, this fact made her irritation grow.

"What are you doing here?" Lara said as she crossed her arms.

"We need to talk. I have some bad news."

"I thought we were done with talking last time," she said coldly, giving the man standing opposite to her a hard glance.

"Look Lara, this is really important—"

"Like what exactly?" she asked with an obvious bitterness in her voice.

"I need your help."

"Oh, so now you need my help," she said in disbelief and threw up her hands in irritation. "Wasn't I supposed to not to get into your way?"

"Can't we just forget about that?" he stated with an annoyed grimace after a minor hesitation.

Lara certainly didn't expect him bringing a bunch of flowers serving as an apology. But she did expect at least a simple 'sorry' from him. That would be a fully adequate and an acceptable variant for her. But she definitely didn't like this - in her eyes - cowardly attempt to pretend that nothing had happened.

"You should leave."

"Now it's not the time for these games, Lara!" Kurtis said with an urgency. "We can resolve our differences later if you insist on it, but right now, we must stop him."

"We?" she said in a tone full of irony. "No thanks. I'm not interested."

"So you don't wanna save your friends and family?"

"What?" Her eyes narrowed.

He's got some nerve...

"They will die. We all will if we don't do anything. You realize that, don't you? Don't you care?"

"Don't dare to talk about people close to me ever again," she hissed with a finger pointed to his chest. "I got your point the last time."

"Lara," he said with a serious expression. "We have far more important matters at hand right now. Our silly arguments are pointless in this moment. We must stop Karel. And I know how."

"Well, It's nice to hear you finally realized I was not lying about killing Eckhardt."

He shrugged. "Karel evidently knows well how to manipulate the situation. Obviously it was his plan to make us two argue."

"So what?" she spited. "Let me emphasise this. I am not interested in working with you. Especially not after that hateful performance of yours you demonstrated during your last visit."

Kurtis sighed. "Look," he looked at her as at a little misbehaving child. "Everyone can lose nerve sometimes. And I don't believe it has never happened to you so don't play the hurt one. Besides, the last days weren't the easiest ones for me, okay? You know that."

She looked aside, recalling their second talk in the airlock in Strahov when Kurtis had mentioned the loss of his father for the first time.

"But as you wish," he said, seemingly losing his patience with her when she wasn't saying anything. "When I fail because of your pride and unwillingness to collaborate just because of some stupid reason such as personal antipathies, and they will come for you and everyone you know one day, remember I warned you. All my ancestors, especially my dead father, will be surely excited about it. And not just them."

"I didn't say I'm not going to do anything," she defended herself, once again taken aback by the roughness of his words. "I'm just working alone."

"Yeah, well, you surely know where to start," the American said ironically. "And you are also aware that a Lux Veritatis member is needed, right? But it's okay. Back in Paris and Prague you didn't need my help either. I forgot," he stated, his words dripping with sarcasm.

"What do you know?" Lara asked reluctantly as she fidgeted a bit. The Tomb Raider had to admit to herself that she got into a dead end. She knew Zip had been right. Kurtis likely had the most information about the whole matter.

"Have you changed your mind? Cuz if not, I see no reason to tell you".

She narrowed her eyes. "Fine," she said abruptly as she crossed her arms once again. "Maybe we can cooperate. If you can bring some useful contribution. That's it."

"I definitely can. That's why I'm here. Otherwise I wouldn't have come. But start first. What have you got so far?"

Lara grimaced in irritation. She considered to argue, but decided to accept his game and put their disputes aside for now. "Not much. I was trying to track Marten Gunderson down with not much success. I supposed that if we manage to find his whereabouts, it could lead me to Karel. Or at least to Gunderson personally. And consequently allow me to get some information straight from him. But the problem is that he obviously knows well how to cover his tracks."

Kurtis said nothing.

"He is the man who we both met in the Strahov," she added as the American wasn't reacting. "He was the one who kicked you down from that platform in the arena with Boaz," she clarified.

"I know well who he is," he answered in an annoyed, haughty tone.

Lara could feel coldness in his voice. The British woman partly assigned his bad mood to him almost dying in Prague. Moreover she guessed he was mainly still angry with her because of how Eckhardt's demise had happened.

But still, he has not right to treat me like this, she concluded. So arrogantly.

The adventurer knew she had done her best back there in the Strahov fortress. And that she hadn't told Kurtis everything for his own good. At least that was her intention.

Or is there something else bugging him?...

Eventually she only gave him a narrowed look and shrugged. "Of course, you know everything. I forgot," she returned his earlier remark bitingly.

"I was doing a research on my own. You didn't expect me to wait and rely on your possible results and findings only, did you?"

"Well, you were patiently waiting for me to overcome all obstacles to get the painting at the Louvre, so you could just pick it up with ease from me, weren't you?" she retorted.

Kurtis half-smirked. "Exactly. And that's also precisely what I want from you this time."