A dwarf is walking briskly through the well-lit streets of the capital. He is nervously looking around, trying to discern a hidden nature from each passerby he encounters. At the same time, he is trying to play off his nervousness as mere anxiety.

He finally reaches his destination, exhaling out a sigh in relief, and quickly focusing his senses. The dwarf enters a popular restaurant, if the number of clientele is taken into account. The kitchen is bustling with activity, the patrons are having calm—and occasionally, silent—conversations, most of them couples, soft ambient music is playing from somewhere. The place has a relaxed atmosphere.

The newest arrival spots someone he recognizes and heads to the table they are sitting by. He smiles at me and pulls out a seat.

"Good to see you again," he says, his voice betraying some of the nervousness he displayed outside.

"You too. I was afraid you weren't going to show."

The dwarf flinches in surprise, clattering some of the cutlery on the table. He tries to discreetly look at the room, afraid he caught someone's attention. Another sigh of relief escapes his lips. None of the other dwarves are even remotely concerned with what is happening around them.

A server approaches the table, levitating a few plates full of food and a bottle of wine next to herself. She places them down, and after a reassuring smile from me, leaves us to our dinner.

"Took the liberty of ordering for you," I say. "My timing did not disappoint. I hope the food won't either."

My companion reads something hidden in my tone and words, the nervousness returning with full force. He barely speaks out, "Smells delicious."

I wave my hand in a short arc. A transparent bubble shimmers for a moment around our table, drowning out any of the sounds present in the restaurant.

I start pouring us each some of the wine. "Remember that people can still see us. Try to calm down. If it's any help, you are doing the right thing, and your loyalty will be rewarded. Handsomely."

The dwarf fakes a smile, picking up the glass I filled for him, but hesitating to take a drink, covering up the hesitation by swishing it around and studying the wine's aroma.

I take a few gulps out of mine, looking him in the eyes after. "Hurtful. If I wanted you dead, I wouldn't have waited. And you know, you can just as easily poison the glass. It's average wine, so you aren't losing much either way." I place the glass down, redirecting my attention to the food.

He blinks a few times, his face flashing with fear. My disinterest in his reaction calms him down again. "I serve the empire."

I scrunch up my face a bit. "Relax. You are making us sound like the bad guys with that shit."

The dwarf calms down fully, starting to look at his own food too. After taking a bite and appreciating the taste, he asks me a question, "What do we do now?"

I swallow a bite of my own, the taste lacking. "Well, first, what can you tell me? How much are you privy to?"

He thinks for a moment. "Not a lot. Only broad plans and my own assignments."

"Eh. You'll be surprised how much can be reconstructed from bits and pieces. Any of your buddies share your wits?"

The dwarf is confused. "What do you mean? Oh... I don't know. We don't talk about things like that."

"You don't need to talk with someone to know how they are feeling and what they are thinking."

He contemplates a little longer this time. Then he shakes his head. "No. Or at least no one I can be sure of."

I shrug. "That's fine. Wouldn't want to burn you if you start asking questions you shouldn't be asking."

My companion starts to say something, but stops, looking around. He lifts his hand to attempt something, but a pulse of mana staggers him. An unsurmountable force freezes him in place, making him unable to even lift a finger. His eyes frantically looking around and his chest rising and falling in shallow movements are the only actions permitted to the bound dwarf.

The bubble of silence around me disperses to reveal more silence. Every dwarf is looking at us with blank expressions. Two approach our table slowly. One of them raises a hand above the bound dwarf, the appendage looming ominously.

Before he can bring it down, I gain his attention with a clear of my throat. "Stonefist requested... leniency." The dwarf slowly lowers his hand. "Wouldn't you want to see him justly judged?" The dwarf appears almost distraught by the rushed decision he was about to make, taking a step back.

When the magically bound dwarf is secured with what appears to be heavily enchanted shackles and then teleported away, I stand up to leave. The restaurant and its patrons return to their meals like nothing ever happened, paying me no mind.

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When I am somewhere private, I blink away.

My current shell changes to a particular individual. An individual that will not have an ironclad alibi for the next few hours. On account of being asleep and all that. More than enough time. And honestly, kinda his fault. Look at me. Multitasker extraordinaire.

Suddenly, the weight of what I am about to do and have been doing crashes down on me, squishing out the last bits of levity I had left.

You are only introducing doubt, paranoia. Don't let it distract you. He'll be fine.

He's a monster. He deserves everything that might come his way.

I... I still see the good in him. A twisted love for his people, his country. A love that will pay any price. A love that has paid many prices. A kindness. A burning passion. A sadistic nature. Sacrifice.

As I start opening a door, my amateurish attempt at illusion magic disperses just before an ill-timed patrol can glean its quality. The two dwarves catch a glimpse of my features. Their golem companions appear indifferent to the strange feeling the soldiers just got. I fully enter the building, hastily closing the door behind me. The dwarves shrug to themselves, soon forgetting the encounter.

I blink away. A small cache of mana crystals and metal in various states of shaping are warped in, quite expertly hidden too. A Good Samaritan will be making an anonymous complaint tomorrow, about shady individuals leaving and entering this building. I wonder whose station will that complaint be addressed to? Could connect a few dots with some more dots I've been setting up. Who knows.

But one might ask, isn't this too obvious? Wouldn't he just teleport inside? Yup, he would. And would such a strong fighter—allegedly a vitally important part of the rebellion—even be taking such a big risk, exposing himself like this? Nope, he wouldn't. But the moment they start questioning what they can actually believe, Iffir will lose trust in those he does not have absolute control over.

My shell changes again. Another dwarf. Another piece. Another dilemma.

I enter an inn, the building's size much more indicative of a hotel. The interior of the lobby is simple and clean, the definition of average.

The lone dwarf staffing the front desk appears wary of my appearance, trying to decide her next course of action. I start walking toward some stairs going up. Just as the frozen dwarf settles on an approach, I toss a clinking pouch at her in an arc. She is momentarily startled but still manages to catch the projectile. When she feels the contents, surprise and wariness disappear. The dwarf stows the pouch away and forgets my existence.

I go up two floors, turn down a hallway, and stop in front of a particular door. I knock two times. The door cracks open, revealing a cautious eye. The eye studies me for a few moments, and the door slowly opens further, revealing the darkness of the room it leads to.

I walk in. The door closes behind me, barring the light of the hallway. After a soft sound, the room I am in is illuminated.

The dwarf that let me in speaks up, "Take that off. I need to search you." He adds with some frustration, "No idea how you even convinced the boss. Try anything and you are gone."

I shrug. With a slow and deliberate movement, I slip off the hood of my enchanted cloak. As my long hair spills down, the magic no longer obscures my face, allowing the other dwarf a good look.

He sighs. "Dispel that shit, or I am going to do it for you." I wait motionless. "Suit yourself." The dwarf places a hand on my shoulder, and a pulse of mana hits me. He draws out an exasperated 'fuck'.

Then he turns around and flops face down on the singular bed inside the room.

I look at him in confusion. "You tired?"

A muffled reply sounds out, "Drop the act. I'm not leading you to my boys."

"I believe there's been a misunderstanding." When there is no squad of dwarves materializing inside the room to apprehend him, he deigns me with a look of distrust. "Do you really think I would personally bother with the likes of you? No offense."

He turns over and sits up, looking at me fully. "Yet here you are."

"That should clue you in on how important my actual task is. Now, can we hurry this up and go? I have places to be."

The dwarf thinks for a long moment. A long moment during which I am narrowing my eyes further and further, the scowl on my face forming and then deepening. As a shiver runs through him, he stands up.

"Fine. But if you are lying, I can't guarantee you'll be walking out alive. In fact, none of us will be."

"Cute. I almost believe you." I receive a sigh of resignation in response.

The dwarf stands up and approaches me. He engages a teleportation spell. After around a minute of channeling power, we move to another building just a few kilometers away. We appear inside another room. There are a few dwarves sitting around a table, and a few more hidden around the building lying in wait. The caster tiredly ambles to a chair, crashing down on it, and joining his compatriots.

The seated dwarves study my appearance. I see a string of emotions flashing on their faces. The only thing keeping them unmoving is the inaction of a single individual. The older-looking dwarf stands up and gestures for me to sit, patiently waiting for me to take a seat before sitting back down himself.

He addresses me, "You've just forced me to pick a side."

"There's not going to be another side for long. You wanted a meeting, you have it," I say, my voice bored.

"And the rebellion has made quite the statement sending you."

"Can you fulfill our request or not?" I ask.

"Yes, we can."

"The correct decision." My statement causes his outwardly composed demeanor to nearly break. I pull a piece of paper outlining a location and an amount, placing it on the table. "Instructions." Then I pull out a pouch, placing it next to the note. This pouch is spatially enchanted and contains a lot more coins than the previous one I utilized tonight. "Payment. When you go to deposit the mana crystals, you'll find the next set of instructions and the next payment there. See how I didn't mention the optionality of your continued compliance? I didn't forget." The joy of receiving their coins upfront sours instantly. I turn to the dwarf that teleported me here. "Are you going to bring me back, or can I leave?"

The leader answers for him, motioning behind me, "You can leave. Pleasure doing business."

I stand up, put my hood back on, and make my way out of the building, constantly under the watchful eyes of many dwarves shaking in terror.

This jolly bunch was one of the organized crime syndicates I've left alone until now. Best categorization for them would be 'poachers'. As all dungeons in the empire are its sole property, procurement of any dungeon goods is strictly regulated. Too bad these unlawful fellows aren't a hundred percent on board with the rebellion. I probably won't be getting the mana crystals I ordered. Well, the dwarf I am impersonating won't. Bummer.

I think two of Iffir's strongest fighters have had enough of being naughty for tonight.

My core is relocated back to the Belhir shell, still sleeping soundly and snoring quite loudly. Good thing the walls are adequately soundproofed.

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