I take my leave from Rysia and Brygida not much later. I have taken up enough of their time already after all. Well, I have taken up Brygida's time mostly and she got something out of it too, but in principle it's still true and I don't want to overstay my welcome. Thus, after sharing my story I'm off with one last wave and a smile.

The conversation with Brygida brought one very important point to mind though and I keep pondering it even as I leave the shop behind. I can't exactly go and use [Change Shape] every other step. For this skill it's prudent to always keep enough Mana in reserve for one more quick change. Even more importantly though, I have to be careful not to be seen while changing. This particular trump card of mine I want to keep secret. No exceptions for as long as possible.

The only other skill I have that makes use of Mana is [Identify] and I can't use it left and right as I want exactly either. Someone might take offense even if I only use it on their wares and not themselves. That too is something would rather avoid.

My conclusion from this little dilemma? I need to learn some other skill that uses Mana. Some kind of spell. Preferably one that is useful. What exactly is useful though? A simple light spell certainly can come in handy. I have no doubt about it. I'm not entirely sure it'll fit me though. The temptation to learn combat magic is very real as well. A fireball can come in handy too for sure. Id rather avoid situations though where a spell like that is the only viable solution.

What other options are there though? I simply have no clue. I can't help but admit that my understanding of magic is sorely lacking. I'll need to do some more studying, one way or the other, to change that.

A spell that will let me implant a suggestion in someone's mind might be more befitting for me. I can't help but chuckle, as I imagine myself standing in front of a guard, telling them with a casual wave of my hand that I'm not the scoundrel they are looking for. Yes, that certainly wouldn't be the worst possible option. A spell that provides some chameleon like camouflage might be nice too.

I wouldn't be surprised though if any spell caster that knows spells like these might be a little reluctant to teach them to me. The potential for abuse is rather obvious after all. Well, it's another bridge I'll have to cross eventually. Once I get there.

For now I can keep myself busy with the occasional use of [Identify] and some regular [Meditation]. And of course I'll need to earn more coin. I'll look into the available quests at the adventurers' guild tomorrow morning. Those seem to pay pretty well in general.

First I'll drop by the tavern at the waterfront though to have a chat with Jerzy, or whoever else is on duty today. Maybe they still need someone for a job. The day is far from over yet and if someone still needs a pair of hands or eyes for one job or another, I should still have pretty decent chances to get in on whatever is going down. If something is going down that is. If not, I might as well get in a good night of sleep. I certainly won't complain about that either.

As I enter the tavern it's indeed Jerzy who is sitting at his usual table and not anyone else. I guess not even he can rope other people into doing his work every day. Right now he is talking with Matylda though, thus I decide not to interrupt and slink over to the bar to get myself a beer. I don't want to appear importunate after all.

I put a penny on the counter, since I have enough small change right now, and receive a tankard of beer in exchange. I turn back around to take stock of the tavern's dimly lit common room while I enjoy the first sip of my beer.

While I stand there Wiktor comes in through the front door too. He too decides not to get involved in whatever business Matylda is talking with Jerzy. Instead he joins me over at the counter, getting a beer himself.

"Well, well, well. Look who is in. Got some time tonight? I need to do some heavy lifting and could use another hand or two."

That is surprisingly direct, even if he doesn't actually say what he needs my help with. I raise an eyebrow.

"I was thinking about getting some beauty sleep, but I guess could make some time, since you are asking nicely. Where do you want us to meet up?"

He flashes me a smile and takes a quick sip from his drink before he finally answers.

"You remember when we brought in that shipment of spirits from just outside of town? The little side street near the upstream waterfront warehouses, where our carts got held up for a little?"

So this is what it's about? Well, I sure remember, thus I nod.

"Sure I remember. Do I need to bring anything other than myself and a little time? And when should I show up?"

He shakes his head, as he finishes his beer surprisingly fast.

A case of content theft: this narrative is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.

"No need to bring anything. I really just need someone who can help do some heavy lifting. And if you don't have any other plans, we could in fact head right over. If that's alright with you?"

I just shrug and finish my beer as well, even if I wish I could have taken a little longer. A good drink needs to be enjoyed after all.

"Let's get going then."

That's all the prompting he needs. With a smile he pushes off the counter and heads off in the direction of the door.

I put my empty mug down on the counter and follow him back out onto the street.

It's getting a lot more busy now that the working day is coming to a close and other people are on their way to have dinner. Together we make our way across the town, essentially from one waterfront to the other. Even with the additional people out and about it doesn't take us too long. In a way the crowd is even beneficial, as it allows us to blend in.

In the end we slip in through the side entrance of a building without anyone bothering to glance our way a second time. My [Stealth] skill benefits from this once again.

The interior is overflowing with crates, barrels, sacks and bundles of various wares. Most of the stuff is in all likelihood even perfectly legal. At least the seals I see suggest as much, as do the people working here without a care. They don't pay us any heed either though, thus I suspect that they are in on the guild's deal.

We don't stop there either. Instead we navigate the labyrinth of crates and bundles to a cleverly hidden latch in the floor. I wouldn't exactly call it a secret door, but it comes close. One of the workers, pretending to be on break there, even has to roll a few barrels of salted fish aside for us.

Wiktor nods in thanks and so do I as I descend the revealed ladder after the senior thief. My mind races as I do. Isn't this building a little too close to the waterfront for a basement? Water lines along the stone walls, left by bygone floods, support that line of thought. Nothing down here rests on the floor either, although that is a proper stone floor too and not dirt or mud.

Instead what wares are stored down here, out of sight of the authorities, rest on sturdy wooden shelves. In fact the shelves seem sturdy enough that they might just double as bracing for the underground construction.

I nod in appreciation.

"Well, damn, I guess every fox needs a burrow."

Wiktor chuckles but doesn't even break his stride, as he leads me deeper into the underground part of the warehouse. It's pretty dark down here, but not completely so. He certainly has no problem finding his way and leads me to some very familiar crates. They too now are adorned by the seal I have seen on things above.

It's not just the crates waiting for us either. Slywia is leaning against them too, looking bored, at least at first. She perks up a little as she spots me.

"Oh, so our master duelist roped you into helping out too? Well, I won't complain if I don't have to lug all of these crates across the city on my own."

Wiktor puts a finger against his lips, calling for silence in response.

"Hushed tones down here only. The tunnels we will be using are connected to various basements, even if it's only through small openings, for ventilation and not everyone these basements belong to is in the know. If you haven't guessed yet, we would like to keep it that way."

He looks around for a moment, before pulling some wooden carrying frames from a nook.

"We'll be using these. We should easily be able to carry two crates each with those. Much easier that way than if we were carrying them with our hands. We'll help each other load up. And please do try not to drop any of these crates."

Without wasting any more time we each slip into one of the frames. Then we help each other load up with the crates. Even with these carrying frames we'll be making several trips each. There is no way around it. With more people it would be easier, but I guess that isn't really an option, due to the secrecy of these tunnels.

The frames distribute the weight pretty well, but the walk through the narrow tunnel, with Wiktor in the lead and Sylwia bringing up the rear behind me, is still quite exhausting and a little unpleasant.

I'm glad, even if I don't express it in words, when I finally get to put down the heavy load in a similar warehouse at the other waterfront. At least I can relax a little on our way back. I can pay a little more attention to the tunnel too.

It's in fact not just a single tunnel. Now that I have time to pay proper attention I can spot several forks I missed when coming in from the other direction. It's probably due to the way these tunnels are constructed.

At first I'm a little worried about getting lost, but that fear quickly evaporates. Not just because Wiktor knows the way either. By paying attention to the state of the walls, and thus by proxy the ground beyond them, as well as the smells on the air, I can roughly map the tunnel's course to the streets above.

As a result both my [Perception] and my [Streetwise] skill improve a little.

I still have no clue though where the other branching and intersecting tunnels lead. I might just have to find out one of these days. Or at least I'll have to take more jobs that will allow me to explore them since I doubt the guild, either in person of Wiktor or Jerzy, would appreciate me snooping around on my own.

We make this trip several more times before Wiktor calls for a first break. Sylwia of course looks utterly unimpressed with him. She could easily have kept going. I'm quite thankful for the breather though. I decide to strike up a little conversation before we load up with more crates.

"Aren't you afraid the tunnels might be discovered one day if the city officials decide to build sewers?"

Sylwia frowns for a moment, but before she can add anything Wiktor waves my concern away.

"They are in fact thinking about building sewers. Both as storm and flood drains and to get rid of waste. We really don't have to worry yet though. The need is currently not urgent enough to secure funding for a project like that. And should that change we happen to have the most capable builders for such a project on payroll."

I tilt my head slightly.

"So you can use these tunnels as a base for the sewers and embezzle some of the funding? Or you could use the sewer construction as a cover for an expansion of these tunnels? An expansion paid for by the city?"

He downright beams at me at my words.

"I like the way you think!"

If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know < report chapter > so we can fix it as soon as possible.