it.
It was known among all educated Mystics that nothing real was truly invisible. Seeing was more a matter of noticing than anything else. Even that which was in plain sight could go unnoticed.
Two Mystics garbed in black, hooded tunics approached Nefarious Good from behind. A third assassin stood before their quarry, waiting for him to come closer. The three were neither heard nor seen. They drew two-handed short swords. One strike from any of the three would prove fatal. They had done this before, often. They would do so again. Nefarious Good approached the one. The other two neared Nefarious Good. There was no hurry. There was only the inevitable. One thrust to the vitals and a war hero would fall. Three strikes to his vitals and he would surely be dead. Nefarious Good was doomed without a fight. The three assassins were so close they could hear their quarry breathing. He heard them too.
Nefarious cut down the shadowy presence before him! He whirled about and parried the sudden strikes of two others! The warrior pressed the attack, startling the two assassins. He kicked the one and cut the guts out of the other! Nefarious lunged, running the third assassin through!
Gertrude Yellow was screaming! Only when the last body fell did Nefarious Good notice. He hurried over to the woman and embraced her, assuring her, “All is well! All is well. I have foiled my own murder.” His voice became eldritch with soothing resonance as he uttered the spell, “Calm of heart and peace of mind. Calm of heart and peace of mind. All is well for all shall be well.” The woman sobbed but her hysteria was ended. The towering Mystic raised her face by its chin. He smiled into her gaze, telling her, “Come, for we are leaving this place.”
Gertrude smiled and nodded.
Nefarious Good brought Miss Yellow to the safe house prepared by Wanton Morality. Mystic swordsmen and Delver gunmen guarded the place. Mr. Good and Miss Yellow were eating dinner when Mr. Morality arrived and joined them. The host apologized to Miss Yellow, “Pardon me, but Jingoan food is the only human food I have to offer you. I hope you like it.”
The woman’s yellow hood nodded. She softly uttered, in the voice like that of Mr. Morality’s prisoner of war slave girls, “Thank you, milord, for your grace and hospitality.” He smiled uncomfortably.
Nefarious Good and Gertrude Yellow spent the next few days in hiding. Wanton Morality began bringing the Concubine Merchant with him for meetings with the merchant Insidious Candor. One evening, Wanton returned to the safe house but without Miss Yellow. He told Nefarious, “You have been charged with the murder of thirty-nine citizens of the Greater Humanity Empire and three citizens of our Confederacy. Spark Prime did not perish yet you are charged with attempting to murder him. My friend, these charges are made by every administrator of the Administrative Triad. They shall be dropped, however, should you give your word that you shall tell nothing of the black lotus.”
“So long as Miss Yellow is spared reprisal or harm they have my word.”
Wanton nodded, “They have already agreed to these conditions. Forgive me, my friend, but they thought to banish you from this world. I dissuaded them from this by implying that you were willing to serve them… as a soldier of fortune, of course.”
Nefarious Good smirked. He wondered, “Where is Miss Yellow?”
“She has returned to her suite at the Red Dusk Hotel. She wishes to meet with you tomorrow at noon, at the place of your original meeting.”
“Wanton, you owe me nothing yet have done so much for me. I thank you.”
“Nefarious, I am honored to be your friend.”
The tall, slender form of Nefarious Good negotiated the crowded streets of For Now City for his final meeting with Miss Yellow. The Concubine Merchant was in her hooded robe sitting at the outside table of a restaurant that catered to humans. The Mystic joined her at the table. The woman told him, “Thank you for coming.”
“You are my client.”
“Mr. Good, I asked Mr. Morality to return the truck and its contents to Simon Fink. It was the only way to end our dangerous situation. I’m a merchant for my people and can’t do business under such circumstances.”
The Mystic assured, “Under such duress, you had no choice.”
The woman pulled up a briefcase and laid it on the table before Nefarious Good. He asked, “What is this?”
“Payment.”
“Miss Yellow, I have failed to fulfill my end of our bargain. You owe me nothing.”
The woman smiled under the hood of her yellow robe. She stood and bowed. “Thank you, Mr. Good,” she choked, “for everything.” She then left him.
Nefarious stared at the briefcase for a moment before eventually opening it. He counted six hundred thousand Confederate Shekels worth of banknotes. He closed the briefcase, wondering why he was paid such an exorbitant surplus. “Blessed be you, Miss Yellow.”
Nefarious Good made his way into the bustling, lawless streets of For Now City, hoping someone would try to rob him.
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