Assassin's creed Stagnation

Author note: Hi, this is the writer here. I am just here to thank those who followed or favorited the story or both, as well as clarify a few story questions that were left unanswered from the first two chapters.

The setting is going to be in London around late December 1868 onwards, but the locations from late 1869 onwards will change as I aim to have the protagonist travel a lot. As of now, I aim to have theaters of war in several important British colonies at this latter half of the century including the whole of the British mainland.

Evie and Henry's romance was too sudden in game, even though time passed. I am aiming to expand on that romantic spark, rather than just make it an undertone over the destruction of London. I was very dissatisfied with the game, so think of this fic as a punishment of sorts towards the unlikable protagonists in my opinion.

Disclaimer: I do not own Assassin's creed in any way, shape or form. All credits save for my created characters which are mine, go to Ubisoft. A note to Ubisoft, just stop spamming the game, actually make use of the time instead or snorkling crack on islands as redundant as this message would be.

Uploading Animus memory data is corrupted…incoming message from unknown source

Receiving message…

Received, translation:

H8r8 9ay5 t7e wol4

Attempted jacking subject memory of Aatto Bonhem failed.


Maxwell Roth.

The name is a constant reminder of the family I lost. He came to our manor once, a guest invited by Rupert Ferris, where he met my aunt. Back then, I was still in training of academic knowledge and so I paid little attention, though I did notice how Maxwell would speak to my aunt, a condescending and belittlement of her while she remained unshakable in his presence. Of course in private, my aunt was angered at Starrick's decision to allow Rupert Ferris to be in charge as his dispassionate approach to our workers suffered profits despite efficiency. Maxwell was simply the man who taunted and prodded the hornet's nest, dropping by to drink and act merry despite my aunt and I being the masters of the home.

In no time we were slowly the guests than the masters, Ferris inviting all sorts of men to our home while Starrick remained in his home and industrial office, slowly losing his grip on reality.

Things came to a head however, when I was twenty. On my birthday, the first day of May, my aunt disappeared from the manor grounds one night and Maxwell Roth did not enter our home ever again. Ferris began to detach himself from working my farms and breweries, eventually he packed up and left for the outside of London five years later in the early months of 1868 with no sign of my surrogate mother or Brewster in sight, I did not want to spend my resources so I took to the streets of London in my carriage, leaving the running of my farms and breweries to a handful of experienced workers in whom I found honesty and compassion to their workers.

I did not find my surrogate mother, my dear aunt who I cared and loved for being there when my parents did not. However I found something else as valuable that day too when I had the chance to open my eyes and see the world as a fresh new naïve being, wandering as I did through those streets. It came in the form of a person, screaming at the top of his lungs at a nearby rally, to whom the men and women of the working class listened with intent ears and a desire for knowledge, forbidden knowledge.

The man called himself Karl Marx. I watched him as he preached the social gap between the upper and lower classes, I saw the people's hands and fists pound and slap the air cheering on this man. I marveled then, how could this man, this simple man hold so much sway over the populace? How was this man able to speak such words that would be considered blasphemy to the nobility, the Queen, and the nation's respect? After the rally ended, I asked my driver to meet me at the City of London's district while I followed with my escort, a burly man from the farm called Little John who handled one of my local breweries turned bodyguard. I caught up to this man, he recognized my walk as a status of the nobility but despite his apprehension I spoke with him, invited him to dine at a local café with me where we could speak.

He accepted, and I took him to Westminster where we sat at a quiet café, isolated from the presence of noble lords and ladies. I asked him about his philosophy, and he showed me the manifest, explaining his views and answering whatever questions I had. But it was not the experience that changed me, but the relation of his words to the current order was almost exactly aligned together.

For the first time, there was a confrontation of my belief that the people were well on the outside under our jurisdiction. Back then, I was younger and had no place in handling the affairs of the home due to circumstances, despite my place as an adult. To Ferris, Roth, Starrick even my aunt I was powerless. So long as my aunt was my surrogate parent she controlled major decisions, with her disappearance I felt lost. I left that café, with the manifest in my hand, and for the next day or two I began to read it carefully.

As for my aunt, I never saw her again.

To continue my personal story, the experience with Karl Marx was enlightening to me, although there were times during our discussion that I pointed out that nobility were covered in a shroud of illusion, that such authority was followed blindly. Karl was patient with me, for that I am thankful, answering my questions with another perspective that shook my beliefs at the roots. If not for him, I would have been a coward unable to write these words that you read.


London, 1869 January

Night

Henry Green was a patient hunter, if there was anything his father taught him, it was to be this when committing to a contract rather than rush in swords drawn. The night sky was without stars casting a bleaker shadow over London, the moonlight only served as minimal light for the Assassin as his bright colored cloak lit up the corner he was snuggling against Henry hearing distant footsteps and voices of rowdy men and women in the bar not far down the street.

Breathing sharply, Henry glanced over his shoulder, seeing the bar's lights dimly shining as a beacon for the thirsty, desperate and weary. Henry sighed, even with Starrick gone the social structure had not even budged, nor was the gap closed and this troubled Henry more than he would have liked. Reaching into his pocket, he withdrew the item that directed him here in the first place, out in the cold.

L,

The bar at Westminster, tonight around the corner near Starrick industries' company branch and opposite the general store, we need to talk about A.

Come alone.

R.

Henry glanced at the bar, he had scoped it out since evening without any sign of Templar presence, their lack of muscle was surprising to Henry who expected a concentrated presence, meaning whoever was present at the meeting were either unimportant with valuable information or simply overconfident. Henry peeked out of the corner, his eyes spying every patron that exited but none are a pair that Henry could make out. Too bad he wasn't in there scoping the parties involved. The reason for this unfavorable role, he asked himself? Jacob had insisted that he tailed the meeting rather than Henry by racing ahead leaving the latter to wait outside, though it had been fifteen full minutes and Henry was left outside hesitant to interrupt Jacob yet confused about the length of time.

He didn't have to wait long, Henry spying a familiar broad figure with his coat and top hat strode out of the bar with the light bathed behind him, the Indian removing himself from cover to meet with Jacob Frye, who was looking disgruntled. Henry felt an unsettling feeling as he saw Jacob twirling a small item between his index and middle finger, Jacob raising his head to see Henry. "Greenie, lovely night that we have this evening...you wait long?"

"I have no time for games, Mr. Frye. What happened back there?" Henry said disguising his anticipation and irritancy to the information he was withheld from. Jacob only shook his head while his eyes dulled, the man glancing at Henry before he cast a sidelong glance at the bar. "When I got there, the two men were slumped over. Bartender said they were passed out from drink, but they were dead when I got there and checked their pulse when they didn't turn."

Henry blinked, clearly surprised by the turn of events. "Dead, both of them?" Seeing Jacob nod, Henry shook his head in confusion. "The note spoke of a meeting at the bar, and I checked the directions, it was held here."

"The bartender saw no one other than the two, there was no one else and I did interrogate the bartender to squeeze out whatever information he had." Jacob reported as Henry looked extremely doubtful. "I have to admit this whole situation is too weird to be dismissed as a waste of time. Did you find anything on them?" Henry asked gesturing to the item in question as Jacob handed it to Henry, the latter taking in the shape using his sense of touch.

"A ring, but it isn't a Templar insignia." Jacob helpfully supplied to Henry, the latter placing a finger on his lip. "We'll ask the urchins tomorrow, see what they know. In the meantime, good work Jacob…I'm still not used to being actively participating in missions, information is still my specialty."

"Don't worry yourself, Greenie I'm just glad that you're playing your part." Jacob said patting Henry on the back. Since Buckingham, Jacob had been growing slowly accustomed to Henry being Evie's fiancée and soon to be wife, though resistance towards their romantic relationship was rather steep. Henry encountered many plots by Jacob to adorably ruin his and Evie's dates out in London, which resulted in them leaving for France as a way to get back at Jacob for the period of romance hell. Evie had a few talks with Jacob upon their return, and soon after Jacob had mellowed out, but the nickname stayed.

"We shall see, but I do not appreciate having a dead end to the search, there must be more to this than a few weeks of waiting."

"Take a break Greenie, or else Sister will get worried, and you know how she gets." Jacob jested as Henry's patient face cracked a little at the last time he was sick. To put it mildly, he had never seen so many precautions or preventive measures locking him inside the train carriage, or booby trapping the doors. Fear stretched its tendrils around his mind, the memories straining Henry.

"Never again." He uttered as he turned up to see that Jacob had disappeared, leaving him alone in the middle of the street as Henry did a 360 turn of his head catching a glimpse of a broad shadow leaping over a nearby row of houses. Henry sighed.

"I'll just…walk back to the train then."


Two weeks later, England

Shao Ru felt nervous.

She sat in her seat on the moving metal beast, her eyes fascinated by the speed of the moving train passing through the cityscape, observing the movements of people and carriages while various buildings of red brick with smoke billowing into the sky, sullying the appearance of the once blue horizon with a fog of black clouds choking the sunlight above. Shao Ru observed this atmosphere lazily, her attitude souring from this gloomy picture of society as she tried to fill her mind with the image of her homeland, recalling the tranquility of the mountains, the skies above a bright blue than the ocean clear of the choking grey.

As she continued to sit her eyes unable to keep focus on the dark environment, she could hear the chatter of the other passengers sitting on the other side of the train, her ears picking up pieces of conversation from arguments to gossip, discussions in hushed whispers. This phenomenon was part of the Assassin training, the ability to hear and discern snippets of dialogue from a far distance, which she later knew came from the strange water she drank for her initiation. Scanning the carriage, her trained eye moving to the corner while her face was still, noticing a couple looking at her direction curiously before the Assassin's gaze caused them to turn away, Shao Ru lifting a hand to shift a small tuff of raven black hair above her left eye, her thumb and forefinger nipped a collection of strands rubbing them against her skin. She was dressed in a scarlet hooded cheongsam with elbow length sleeves with rolled cuffs, cut at the hip her lower body clothed in a pair of grey pants secured by a red sash tied around her waist, the hood draped over her face preventing recognition.

Not that it prevented staring, prior to her journey she had read books from her Brotherhood's library cache, spending hours upon hours reading on the writings of the invaders who tore their land apart with ships and gunpowder, exploring every detail of their limited records since their arrival to China's shores decades before. Gazing upon at the cities' denizens in particular since the trip by sea from France across the English Channel, Shao Ru had come to realize how much there was to discover that their knowledge could not offer. For instance Shao Ru was captivated by the way the women around her wore obnoxiously large dresses, the appearance and how it affected movement was odd as women stiffly walked around as though trapped within the confines restricting comfort. But that wasn't close to what she discovered when entering the changing rooms segregated for women, Shao Ru was personally horrified that women in the West were forced to wear metal cages around their waist. The appearance of the item in question was nothing less of a metallic tyrant, the image of a bird cage with square grids acting like a snare for the waist down made the Assassin cringe, yet she was getting stares for her modest wear of pants which seemed to elicit an adverse effect on the men who looked at her strangely.

Indeed Europe was an interesting and fascinating place.

"Excuse me miss," Shao Ru heard a voice close to her right, the Assassin turning her head to see a small girl with chestnut brown shoulder length hair, dressed in a simple yellow dress with layers of frills puffing out from almost all corners and sleeves of the dress.

"Yes?" Shao Ru smiled as she addressed the girl, the latter looking at her lap. "What clothes are those, they look amazing!"

Shao Ru gestured at her clothing while she tried to answer the girl as best she could, the English words coming to her slowly due to her inexperience talking with anyone during her trip. "They are from China, silk tailored by caterpillars." The answer satisfied the girl who looked at her with twinkling brown eyes, clearly fascinated.

"I've never heard of a place that could do that! Do you know a place where we can get it here?"

"I…don't know." Shao Ru answered honestly, the pronunciation came off as strange, and the lack of Chinese emphasis and meaning seemed hollow for a language. "My first time in…uh, Lon…err, London."

"Oh, so you don't speak much English?"

"No…" Shao Ru answered with a shake of her head. The girl opened her mouth to speak before a harsh hiss from the couple Shao Ru spied earlier stopped her, the girl giving a sad nod as she bowed her head. "Sorry miss, but my parents are calling me now." Shao Ru could only nod as she watched the girl trudge back to her parents, the woman avoiding contact with the pair staring out of the window. Even with the basic lessons, her English was still in need of practice, though the words still sounded strange Shao Ru felt she could manage for the mission at hand.

The Brotherhood in London had been busy spreading their influence across the world, using the British Empire's borders as the starting point. Since the Opium Wars and the forceful opening of China's isolation, Shao Ru had been exposed to effects from the slow takeover of China's proud leadership crippled by Western hands. A puppet emperor, the dynasty in shambles while Westerners poke and prod their guns than words, taking the respectful refusals of China and squashing it with a navy ordered to kill. Despite all this, Shao Ru was surprised to find that the Brotherhood in England, one of the factions who perpetrated the end of isolationism did nothing to influence their government of this horrendous decision. Her journey to London itself was not a vacation, her Mentor had ordered her to speak with the Council on their behalf regarding the intent of Western powers in China due to an invitation from the Brotherhood Council in England, however Shao Ru personally saw it as a courtesy to the Chinese Brotherhood, without concern for the circumstances surrounding the forceful abandonment of isolationism China had imposed upon themselves. Another thing her Mentor asked her to observe when she was with the Brotherhood there, determining the strength of the Brotherhood to even intervene in their struggle with their own enemies before further plans could be drawn.

However from her experience and talk amongst her brethren, there was little to no doubt the Brotherhood of England was stretched if it could allow such madness. It was just a matter of confirming their incompetence to do anything, and then from there the next steps can be taken.


Aatto's manor, training wing

Aatto barely blocked the oncoming blade, the flash of light reflected from the polished steel crossguard of the rapier as his open palm forcefully pushed the oncoming fist for his gut aside, Aatto taking the opportunity to move his body 90 degrees to the right sliding his opponent's rapier to his left by lifting his rapier diagonally, only for his opponent to step backwards away from his disadvantaged spot. As he hesitated, the man opposite Aatto rushed him with a thrust as Aatto brought his rapier to his chest feeling a pain meeting his shoulder, the Templar Grandmaster soon felt a sharp prick in his side ending the match.

"Point, another one for me Grandmaster…you're thinking of movements that do not have a long term strategy," the man opposite him remarked as his rapier tapped his underarm for emphasis.

"We'll take a break today," Lupin intervened as Aatto lowered his sword, his forehead covered in sweat that slid down onto the floor of the training room. Opposite him, the fencing trainer, a man one decade older than him wearing a Calvary officer's uniform calmly sheathed his sword in the heavily decorated scabbard of gleaming silver and ash wood. Today with his dismissal as banker was the day Aatto was receiving his combat training through fencing, the Grandmaster admitted that he was unversed in skillfully wielding a sword let alone the current times where civilization had moved on from close up brutality of their enemies. For all the knowledge and training as a Templar, Aatto refrained from violence as the easiest method for achieving goals: it was simply not in his best interests and nature. The Assassins' actions against Starrick proved that, and Aatto knew that he was following their path to violence as a last resort, no matter how that is hypocritical to his beliefs.

"You have no strategy, reckless yet you are fight like a private fresh out of training. A far cry from someone who claims to know nothing about combat, wouldn't you say Grandmaster?"

"What can I say? Those five months taught me many things, but it was only enough to scrape by," Aatto replied with a shrug, his trainer shaking his head. "Five months merely gave you stamina, endurance but little else other than that. Using a revolver is simple, but the sword…it is still our means of protecting ourselves in close combat when all else fails." He lectured Aatto the Grandmaster grasping a towel from the nearby table where his clothes were, wiping his face.

"Hmm, I will accept further lessons that you can provide for me, as long as you are able." Aatto regarded the soldier respectfully, the Calvary officer nodding in approval as he turned to Lupin who was sitting in a corner with a table and a tea set ready at hand, drinking more of the herbal tea. "I like this man you picked up, Lupin. He's a respectful man, unlike the trainees in the barracks he has an idea of what he's doing too. Keep this one close to your side Lupin!"

"If only he spent more time being practical than being so passive about violence, perhaps he will reach my level." Lupin replied sending a knowing smile when Aatto gave him a roll of his eyes. "But it seems he holds more respect for a decorated man of war over an old feeble man past his prime!"

"Don't flatter me, Lupin I am not willing to turn to such methods to gain what I want all the time." Aatto said as he took his shirt off dumping them into the basket, which was then taken away by a servant who quickly took it to the laundry room.

"True, a lack of violence in my time was a necessity to defend ourselves, but that time is almost passed with the tensions running in the Order." The Calvary officer was the next to speak, chiding Aatto's statement.

"Come, walk with me gentlemen. Seeing the two of you duel certainly inspired me for a walk," Lupin rose from his seat as he gestured to the doors, the two men walking beside him while Aatto slung his towel around his neck the Grandmaster lagging two steps behind the pair who were engrossed in their own conversation. The garden at Aatto's manor was considered small compared to the larger nobilities in England, with much of the manor being kept for keeping the servants busy due to the lack of visitors and family. As protection a hedge wall of green giving a semblance of nature while a brick wall backed the hedge of bushes, the trio stopping in the middle where a gazebo stood sheltering their heads.

Aatto cleared his throat interrupting the two men as he walked beside Lupin. "So what are the next steps in your plan to overtake our enemies, Lupin?"

"Ah yes, Ferdinand here has been about to share a plan." Lupin replied, Aatto frowned lightly at the hesitation to answer him, the veteran Templar glanced at Ferdinand to his right, the trainer taking it as his cue to speak. "I figured that, Grandmaster, instead of sitting around and waiting we should take a more delicate approach to prod the hornet's nests so to speak. I am planning to host a military tournament which will have the invitation of the nobles, particularly our associates as part of the roster."

"Lure them out politely, then fetch for information."

"They will not make it easy, they'll bring guards for obvious reasons, especially now that your position within society is compromised they'll be on the lookout for you," Ferdinand nodded grimly but he soon had a smile of confidence. "Though you will not have to worry about it, for although the Templars do not approve of your rise to leadership, they will certainly heed to the presence of the old guard and will not assault them openly. The old guard still command respect amongst their noble allies of the rich, so they will spare no expense to ensure their own security is placed."

Aatto nodded in understanding. "And what of the information gathering on our esteemed rebels, who will be sent?" Lupin and Ferdinand looked at one another before both men settled their eyes on him.

"You will be accompanied by one of our agents, of course. You didn't think that you could escape responsibility could you?" Aatto's eyes widened a little though his face scrunched lightly wrinkling the skin of his forehead, gesturing to his cheek with a finger. "Me? I am not so sure that I will be of use to you at all if anything else…"

"Don't worry, you'll only need to break into a few houses and check their private offices." Lupin spoke, Aatto feeling sweat gather at his neck as he gulped, immediately feeling regret from trying to shirk. "And since you were reluctant to commit to violence it is the only duty available, unless you wish to test your mettle against men of war, Grandmaster?"

"I think I'll pass," Aatto visibly backed away from the pair as he said so, the thought of being brutal and harming men no matter their class seemed a little too glorified for him to forget the horrors it inflicts. Both men shrugged before they sat at the gazebo's interior where a table and four chairs were situated, Aatto following suit just as a servant walked out from the manor with a tea set placing it onto the table for them before he stood away from the trio. "So, Aatto how are the workers of your industry now that Starrick is gone?"

"To be honest, it's still going well. I did retract my shares ten days after Starrick died, so I managed to spare five months of agony watching shares drop. I used the money, or what little it was worth to send to the nearby orphanage." Aatto reported, earning a nod of approval from Ferdinand while Lupin did not reply, if the frown he sported was anything but accepting of charity. "I will drink to that, if we had beer instead of tea."

Aatto shook his head, lifting his cup as he took a sip. "That orphanage is one of my investments, though I have to say child labor were steps too far under command of Starrick."

"If not for child labor, those men and women sitting in their comfortable chairs, blissfully unaware of the sacrifices made…I also heard that you formed a recent partnership with Nightingale. A hospice is the last place I expect a Templar to invest some of his profits into, especially when meager at best."

"Apply yourself to the workings of man and acquiring intimate knowledge of their troubles, and you shall open the way to guidance."

"Yet beware, for every individual will do not correspond to your own, and from clashing wills betrayal can be found." Ferdinand advised Aatto. "As a military man who has achieved captaincy over a section of soldiers in his time, I can say that while it is the prerogative of the captain to be his own leader the men will inevitably clash on the battlefield when the realities of war exist."

"Then isn't wars a pointless endeavor to manipulate?" Aatto curiously inquired, Ferdinand's shoulders tensed upwards as he stiffened his back. "Out of tragedy, can occur the most beautiful virtues that humans can offer despite their vices, and according to Templar ideology alongside the Assassin ideals we are permitted to do as we please to achieve our aims…so to answer your questions yes, we use wars to achieve aims."

"Can't we try to influence the Parliament house, if politics are replacing wars as the new battlefield we should extend ourselves there rather than use more draconic methods to get what we want?" Aatto suggested to the two, noting the slightly soured expressions on both of them. "Think about it, the Empire is stumbling around trying to hold onto territories and engaging in expeditions too risky for the human conscience to take. Not only do we have that paranoia but Spain and the rest of Europe only whispered of it bringing fears to the Empire."

"Not our concern." Ferdinand was the first to speak, cutting Lupin from whatever lecture he had stored for Aatto. "Grandmaster, if you are to live up to the title and place these ambitions forward, the only way is to consolidate and affirm our presence and authority over those who have gone rogue."

"I know, it's just that we could plan our route besides dealing with our competition, we must have a vision to work towards even though the future is unseen."

"Speaking of which," Lupin intervened by placing his glass onto the table speaking to both men. "I have news that concerns the rogue Templar movements, belonging to one George Russell Clerk who had recently been staying in London since returning from India."

"Russell Clerk? He's nothing more than a civil servant with ties to the East India Company, if anything he's a lackey." Ferdinand stated firmly as Lupin narrowed his eyes at Aatto who looked eagerly at him to fill him in. "Grandmaster, George Russell Clerk belongs to the militant faction of the Templar Order, once held in place by Charles Napier before his death. I trust you remember the man's exploits?"

Aatto nodded. "I recall that man well, Napier was the one who led troops into Sindh and managed to find a First Civilisation vault filled with stored artefacts as part of conquest."

"Correct, but Napier did not return any of the artefacts to us. Instead he used the artefacts to swindle control of Sindh under his rule for some time. The Assassins tried to kill him before and after the vault raid to take the artefacts, but he outsmarted them, including our watchful eyes."

"He was a cunning bastard, that Napier. He was lucky enough to have found several Pieces of Eden known for massive mind control and various properties that would be considered magical. The Assassins planned to use it against him, but the people turned against them instead."

"That means Sindh will be on my visitation list to find these lost artefacts?" Aatto stated as he looked at Lupin. "I wouldn't be so sure about that, Napier cleared out the vault and had the gall to return to us empty-handed save for an Apple of Eden, which was passed over to another branch before his death. No, Russell Clerk's sitting in the Council of India itself as a Templar for a brief period where Napier sought refuge as Commander in chief, India's remote places untouched by the natives from fear of taboo has many things to hide."

"So India will be tracked by your agents I presume?"

"I'm afraid not, both factions of Templars were split from us by different ambitions. One was to set about introducing a second age of conquest for the British Empire, while another plans to control their current empire's borders and strengthen it. Representatives from all the colonies have at least one or more Templars embedded within governments under the watchful eye of the East India Company, controlled by both. As aging traditionalists, we're given no authority within their circles, and Starrick's lack of leadership allowed these groups to formulate their own ideas."

"So we're helpless."

"As we've said multiple times, the Templars disloyal to us believe themselves to be the true Order's incarnation, the others are all liars and shame to the New World…there is no doubt the traditionalist faction will be wiped out, at the very least of our losses we will lose our grip on London." Lupin bluntly told the Grandmaster who frowned. "There must be a way to hold onto London and push out the Assassins at the same time, we're fighting giants."

"I actually have a solution for that," Ferdinand interrupted the pair raising a hand. "My friend in the immigration department has just got word that an Assassin has made it past France and is landing here, in London."

"Who?"

"Her name according to the pass she used is Shao Jun, a Chinese woman dressed in traditional clothing with a wooden pole, most likely a sheath on her back besides a small brown pack. In addition, according to him when he was off duty, he noticed a woman in the same dress code avoiding a group of five men and two women, noticeably looking out for her."

"A Templar hunting group," Lupin noted sourly tenting his fingers. "You got this message when?"

"Five days ago, she was at the port arranging her transport." Ferdinand answered as Lupin sighed rubbing his temple. "That's not very helpful, if this is barely a week ago she's out of our radar whether in France or London."

"Why not get into immigration, or the British transport companies?" Aatto asked.

"Since Pearl Attaway's death, transport is handled by the Assassins as a monopoly of small establishments which are being overshadowed by other ambitious businessmen and Templars, the Assassins would have covered her information to allow her safe passage amongst thousands of immigrants, and there is absolute certainty that we will not find her anytime soon until she comes to us."

"So what do we do?"

"Remember our little lead?" Aatto nodded. "The men were found dead two weeks ago, supposedly passing out from drink only for the Assassins to find out that it was not so." Aatto rubbed his temple, clearly irritated by this new report. "This means they have been searching for two weeks about their responsibility, and no doubt I'm their last resort once their attention is turned away from whatever has been keeping them occupied these two weeks."

"You're quite right, you best be aware of their approach, and I on the other hand will post guards and members of our Order to keep watch on your manor tonight in case something goes wrong." Lupin suggested before Aatto shook his head. "I refuse such an offer, I do not wish more blood to be shed more than is necessary, and besides if they come for me I'll think of a tempting offer that they can't refuse."

"And pray tell what would that be?"

"Information, the only weapon that prevents me from dying at their hands…and I would like to remind you that it was my life you're placing in peril than your own." Aatto replied as he sipped his cup, the Grandmaster drumming his fingers onto the table. The three men sat in silence, Aatto looking up at his allies with a grim expression.

"Well, let's wait till tonight and see what they will plan next."


End

Author's notes: This was all I could come up with for today, I apologize for the long delay as I have been reviewing my old stories and handling some stress. I will do my best to continue this particular story to its fullest.