Author's Note: Sorry this is late, I've been swamped under atm with a new job and wedding prep. I quite enjoyed writing this chapter though so I hope you all enjoy it :)!
Shen and Akali restarted their search in the region outside of Kashuri. As the Fist of Shadow had rightly pointed out, the delay had destroyed all of the evidence from the scuffle but thankfully they had already deduced the likely destination of their foes. Instead of wasting unnecessary time scanning the area, the two ninjas headed for the nearby town, hoping to gain what information they could on the gang and their current stomping grounds.
Similarly, their journey over the mountain was slowed by their meticulous pursuit for information. Detouring through the smaller settlements along the way, it took them nine days before they finally found themselves in the port city of Zhyunia. While it was unlikely the Bladewood gang had stuck around in the city (especially given the time it had taken them to get there) the duo figured it was still the best place to gather information. After all, it was the last place the gang was known to be headed and their numerous detours had provided solid evidence that the gang frequented the area often, making it very likely that they had some sort of permanent base in the city. On top of all of that, if Kennen had escaped, this was almost certainly where he would be hiding.
Akali wrinkled her nose at the smell of rotting fish and salt that seemed to permeate the entire city before turning to her companion with a raised eyebrow.
What now? her expression clearly conveyed.
Shen answered her unspoken question, "In a city of this size we're better off splitting up. I'll cover the more 'official' route while you cover the streets. If Kennen has escaped, he'll have left a message for us to find him. Otherwise, I'm sure the locals will know something about the Bladewood's presence. Just, try not to terrorise them too much."
The green ninja bounced lightly on the balls of her feet, more than ready to take action. "No promises," she quipped. She could not fault their methodology so far. She knew from experience that time taken early to learn the patterns of the enemy would save them even more time later and, even if she didn't, she trusted her teammate's judgement. But it still put her on edge as she had to reign in her instincts until the time came to utilise them. "Meet back at the Lionturtle at ten?"
Shen nodded and the two parted to get to work.
The first place Shen checked out was to the city's medical centres, looking for anyone matching their companion's description or anyone with electrical injuries. It was the last place the ninja wanted to find the missing yordle, so when his search turned up nothing Shen didn't know whether to be relieved or concerned. Putting his unease aside, he continued to the peacekeepers' main office.
The short lady behind the desk startled when the Kinkou ninja entered, almost tripping over herself to help him when he explained why he was there. Stumbling over her words, she excused herself before returning with a large stack of scrolls.
"H-here's a copy of all the crimes the Bladewood gang has been linked to, as well as the ones they're thought to have been involved with," she told him. "It's a lot, I know. They're a nuisance to the city but most of what they do is too small for the department to bother with. I'm surprised the Kinkou are even interested in them."
She looked at the blue-clad ninja with curiousity before she realised what she was doing and turned away, red faced.
Shen just tilted his head towards her. "It seems they have become bolder in the aftermath of the war and are involved in something they shouldn't be," he explained briefly, giving the stout lady enough to be satisfied without revealing too much.
"Ah right," she responded. Still flustered, she handed the documentation over.
He thanked her before making his way out.
Since he knew Akali's work would take her late into the evening, the next place on Shen's list was the Lionturtle Inn. Once there, he booked a room for Akali and himself before he settled himself down at a corner table and began the long task of working his way through the information he'd been given. As he skimmed across the cases, he started to pick up patterns and a clearer picture of the gang's habits began to form.
Many hours passed before a disgruntled Akali sat down across from him.
"I take it things didn't go well," he said in a mild tone.
She ignored him, flagging down a waitress to order. Once the frog vastyan had left their table, she let out a long breath.
"Nothing," she finally answered. "I looked everywhere but there was no sign of him or the Bladewood Gang. And every lowlife and thug I interrogated was too low down the ladder to know anything of use. Please tell me you had more luck."
They both paused when the frog waitress came back with Akali's food.
"He wasn't at the medical centres," the blue ninja told her as he carefully turned the page, "and I haven't gotten through all of this information yet. However, if I was to hazard a guess, I'd say the best place for us to start looking would be down by the docks. It looks like they are on good terms with the gang that has territory down there."
"I already checked the docks," the green-clad female rebutted.
"All of them?" Shen queried, "What about the bigger ones near the centre of the harbour?"
Akali paused from her meal, sending him a probing look. "They have a base there?"
He nodded, scanning down the page before him. "I believe so. Most of their activity is tied to the outer edges of the port true, but there have been a few distinct, unsolved cases that match their style in the commercial area."
Akali finished her dumplings and set her bowl down with a decisive click. "We'll check it out tonight then."
The two ninjas dropped stealthily into the warehouse and paused, eyes and ears open for any security. However, just like the last two, the inside of the building was deserted. With a short nod to the other, they split up.
Akali silently slipped through the darkness of the cluttered store rooms. She took stock of the contents with a critical eye, storing the suspicious items to memory as she looked for any signs of live cargo or a scuffle.
Halfway through her search, the deadly female paused in one of the smaller rooms. Like the others, the walls of the store room were lined with crates, however, the middle of this one was strangely vacant. Akali took her time examining the room, combing every inch of it but her search found nothing of use. All she could find were some irregular scratches in the wooden floor and the faded sensation of strong magic.
With a sigh, the green-clad woman continued on. Before long, her investigation was complete and she made her way to the office Shen was searching.
He paused from shifting through records to ask softly, "Anything?"
Akali set herself up to guard the door as she answered, "I found several items that match those the Bladewood gang are known to have stolen so if this isn't their warehouse, then whoever owns it has some very strong ties to the gang. I also discovered signs of recent occupation and removed goods but there was no evidence that any of it involved Kennen."
"Interesting," the Eye of Twilight murmured. "The records imply that none of the supplies in this warehouse have been moved for at least six weeks."
His companion shrugged, well aware of what he was insinuating but frustrated none-the-less. "Alright fine. So let's say Kennen was here," she argued. "That won't do us any good unless we can work out where either he or the Bladewoods went. And so far I haven't been able to find anything."
Shen didn't respond, merely staring at the page in front of him in deep thought. Suddenly, he straightened as a hunch struck him. "Akali, have a look at this. Can you tell me which of these items match up with the illegal goods you found?"
Akali took the page from Shen. Though the descriptions were vague and unassuming she immediately spotted a handful that matched up with what she had found. Unsure where this was going, she pointed them out.
"I suspected as much," Shen nodded. "I noticed a discrepancy earlier, where several of the items on the export list weren't on the import one. They were generally small in number and spread out enough that it initially looked like an error but there were still enough to draw my attention. And it just so happens that they include all of the ones you just pointed out."
"It's a code," the female realised.
"Not a very good one," the blue ninja affirmed. "The Bladewood gang has always been too cocky for their own good. It never mattered when they were small enough to overlook, but now its left us a paper-trail to follow. With this narrowed down list, we should be able to determine their next destination." He scanned down the articles left, trying to match them with his knowledge of the gang. As he did, one of the items pulled his attention. "Jyom Pass, that's where they'll be."
Soji Rida felt a sense of smug satisfaction as he surveyed their latest 'purchase': a valuable golem totem integral to the Blossom Festival of the Zhyun region. His gang had consolidated a lot of ground in the wake of the Noxian Invasion and now they were in the big leagues. As far as he was concerned, things were looking up.
His self-congratulation was broken as a cacophony of shouts and crashes made itself known, quickly coming closer. Instantly, his weapon was in his hands as the door to the warehouse was flung open. The leader's sword ended up inches from the figure in the doorway before he recognised the familiar face of Hojin and he pulled his strike. That was all the opportunity needed for the figure behind to shove the witless member into him, knocking them both over.
The green-clad ninja wasted no time leaping for the other shell-shocked members, systematically taking them out with ease. The lithe figure of his second-in-command dropped down behind the unsuspecting female but her back-stab was blocked by the sudden appearance of the ninja's companion.
Rida cursed to himself as he pushed his dazed underling off of him. He knew his gang was no match for the ninjas. The only reason they'd won before was due to the element of surprise and a cut and run strategy. They'd been banking on the fact that the clan would be too spread thin to pursue them, giving them the chance to lay low for a while. He had not expected them to track the gang all the way out here. None-the-less, he was not about to go down without a fight.
Before the gang leader could grab his weapon however, the female ninja had him by the front of his shirt, dragging him up to eye level and placing her kama against his throat.
"Where is he?" The cold steel of her blade and the matching steel in her dark, ruthless eyes told him that she had no qualms killing him should she not like his response.
Ever the masochist, Rida just leered at her. "You're going to have to be more specific."
Though her mask concealed her scowl, it did not hide the snarl that sounded as her blade pressed slightly deeper into his exposed throat, causing a thin line of blood to dribble from the conjunction. "Our teammate. The yordle you kidnapped when you ambushed us. Where is he?"
"Oh him," he feigned surprise. "He's not here."
"Then. Where. Is. He?" she ground out.
The Bladewood leader sneered in the ninja's face. "Why would I tell you? After all, what are you going to do if don't answer? Kill me? Then what?"
Her expression shifted ever so slightly, becoming colder and somehow even more terrifying (though the anger burning in her eyes remained). The pressure at his throat lessened but didn't disappear. "Oh please. You and I both know there are many ways I could get the information without killing you."
Rida had to suppress the shiver of fear that rose within him, schooling his features. "Do your worst."
"Rida!" the young gang member called out as he finally came to long enough to work out what was happening. The Bladewood leader sent him a glare but the young Ionian ignored it as he rushed unarmed at the green ninja.
Before he even reached her, the blue-clad male was in the way, knocking the teenager over and pinning him to the ground.
"Let him go!" he yelled out, struggling under the weight.
"Hojin stop," Rida ordered him emotionlessly.
"But Uncle-" the young man started but the older man cut him off with a harsher response.
"You know the rules. We never sell out a customer. No matter what."
Conflict warred over the teenager's face despite his uncle's words.
Spotting the opening, Shen gently loosened his hold on the young Ionian. "It doesn't have to be this way. We have no interest in the affairs of your gang. We simply wish to find our companion. If you give us that information, I promise that no further harm will come to you or your uncle by our hands."
Hesitant, Hojin regarded him questioningly. "You promise?"
The blue ninja nodded.
''Hojin no!" Rida called out but it was his nephew's turn to ignore him.
"We sold him to a Merchant in Zhyunia," he said, his voice wavering but determined. "Horace, Captain of the Lucky Lucinda. You'll find him frequenting the Snuggly Duckling in Raikkon."
Shen nodded to Akali, who reluctantly lowered her kama. Before the gang leader could even think about going for the knife in his boot, she swiftly drove two of her kunai through his clothes and into the wall behind him, anchoring him there. Similarly, Shen secured the young Ionian to a nearby crate.
"What are you doing?" he panicked. "You said-"
"That no harm would come to you," the Eye of Twilight overrode him calmly. "It will not. But we will be alerting the council to the location of their missing totem along with the other unorthodox items in your warehouse in Zhyunia. Take it as a warning not to obstruct us in the future. Next time we won't be so forgiving."
With those last ominous words, the two ninjas disappeared in a cloud of smoke.
And things are starting to come together :)! Life is starting to get back to normal so the next chapter should be on time. Should. I make no promises :P.
Until next time!