Six days left. That's how long I had to prepare for what would either be the most important mission of my life or my elaborate suicide. No pressure at all.
I spent the first morning tracking down Thorne Blackwood to formally accept his invitation. I found him at the Merchants' Exchange, discussing future business arrangements with a crystal trader. The conversation stopped when he spotted me approaching.
"Jin," he greeted me with that calculating smile. "Come to give me an answer?"
"I'm in," I said simply. "When and where?"
"Excellent." Thorne concluded his business with the trader, pocketing a substantial payment. "We leave at dawn in six days. East Gate, same as before. I've recruited two more party members since we last spoke."
"Anyone I know?"
"Kira and Marcus Stonefist, veteran warrior." He studied my expression, and I caught a hint of satisfaction in his smile. "Kira changed her mind about working with me again. Apparently, her financial situation became more pressing."
I nodded, trying to process this information. Kira had been adamant about never working with Blackwood again. What has changed? And did this make the expedition safer or more dangerous?
"What convinced her?" I asked.
"The Iron Syndicate has been expanding their operations," Thorne said with a shrug. "Lot of independent fighters finding themselves in need of quick coin these days. Amazing how flexible people's principles become when their rent comes due."
There was something cold in the way he said it, like he took satisfaction in forcing people into desperate situations. I filed that away for my Guild report.
"Same terms as discussed?" I asked, pushing down my concern for Kira.
"Triple shares, split four ways after expedition costs." His eyes narrowed slightly. "Though I do hope you'll both prove more observant than our previous expedition. Your trap detection skills, combined with Kira's combat experience, could be invaluable."
There it was again, his interest in my abilities. I forced myself to look pleased by the compliment rather than suspicious.
"I'll do my best," I said. "Anything specific I should prepare?"
"Standard dungeon gear, plus climbing equipment. We'll be taking a more ambitious route this time." Thorne leaned closer, lowering his voice. "The Labyrinth has been active lately. New passages opening, old ones shifting. There are opportunities for those bold enough to seize them."
"Opportunities" that would probably get most of us killed, if the pattern held. But I just nodded and shook his hand, sealing the deal.
"Six days," I confirmed. "I'll be ready."
As I walked away, I couldn't shake the feeling that Blackwood was watching me more carefully than before. Had something in my manner given away my real purpose? Or was I just being paranoid?
Probably both.
My next stop was a small inn on the outskirts of the Guild district, where Reyne had instructed me to meet her for a proper briefing. I found her in a private dining room, a collection of items spread across the table that looked innocent enough individually but took on sinister implications when viewed together.
"Punctual as always," she said as I entered. "How did Blackwood react to your acceptance?"
"Pleased. Suspicious. Hard to tell which." I sat across from her, eyeing the array of objects. "What's all this?"
"Your equipment for the mission." Reyne began pointing to items. "This appears to be a standard journal for recording expedition notes. It's actually enchanted to preserve whatever you write, even if the pages are destroyed. This looks like a simple brass compass. It will send a magical signal to Guild headquarters if you break the glass face."
She picked up what appeared to be an ordinary copper coin. "Emergency communication device. Bite down on it to activate a one-time message spell. Range is limited, but it should work anywhere in the Labyrinth."
"And if Blackwood finds any of this?"
"The journal and compass will pass casual inspection. The coin... well, try not to let him search you too thoroughly." Reyne's expression was serious. "These tools will help, but your real protection is staying alert and maintaining your cover."
"Speaking of which, what exactly am I looking for?"
Reyne pulled out a detailed list. "Evidence of deliberate sabotage. Routes that are unnecessarily dangerous. Equipment failures that seem suspicious. Most importantly, any indication that he's deliberately putting party members at risk for personal gain."
I scanned the list, memorizing the key points. "What about the other party members? Are they in on it, or potential victims?"
"Unknown. Kira has worked with Blackwood before and survived, but she was strongly opposed to joining him again. Something changed her mind, probably financial pressure. Marcus Stonefist is new to Ravengate, minimal background information available." She gathered the surveillance equipment. "Assume everyone except yourself could be compromised until proven otherwise."
"Even Kira?" The question slipped out before I could stop it.
Reyne's silver eyes studied my face. "Especially people you care about, Mr. Harker. Blackwood has a talent for exploiting personal connections."
Great. Walk into a dungeon with a probable killer, two unknown allies who might be accomplices, and try to gather evidence while staying alive. Simple.
"One more thing," Reyne said as I prepared to leave. "If you find yourself in immediate danger, your cover is expendable. Use the emergency communication device and extract. A dead informant is worthless to the Guild."
"Comforting," I muttered.
"It's meant to be practical, not comforting." She stood. "You have five days to prepare. Use them wisely."
The next day, my first stop was Korren's Outfitters, where I upgraded my gear with an emphasis on survival over combat. Better armor, quality climbing equipment, emergency supplies that might keep me alive if everything went wrong. Korren didn't ask why I needed gear suitable for "extended dungeon survival under adverse conditions," which was probably for the best.
"Planning something ambitious?" he asked as he wrapped my purchases.
"Something like that," I replied. "How good is this armor against... workplace accidents?"
Korren's expression grew serious. "Accidents happen to everyone, son. Smart adventurers prepare for them." He handed me an additional small package. "Courtesy of the house. Emergency beacon. One use, but it might save your life if you get separated from your party."
I thanked him and left, wondering if everyone in Ravengate's adventuring community knew more about the dangers of expedition work than they let on.
My final preparation was more personal. I sat in my room the night before departure, thinking about the receipt system and what I knew — or didn't know — about how it worked.
The Kobold Warren had given me a receipt, but Dain's death in the Crimson Labyrinth hadn't. I had theories but no real understanding.
For all I knew, the system was completely random.
What worried me more was Kira. She'd survived one expedition with Blackwood, but her luck might not hold twice. If I could keep her and Marcus alive while gathering evidence against Blackwood, maybe I'd understand more about when the receipt system activated.
If they died... well, at least I'd learn something from that too. The thought made me feel sick, but I couldn't deny its logic.
As I packed my gear for the morning departure, I made myself a promise: whatever happened in the Crimson Labyrinth, I would not become another casualty in Thorne Blackwood's pattern of survival.
Even if it meant becoming something I'd never intended to be: a hero.
The thought should have been comforting. Instead, it terrified me almost as much as the expedition itself.
Heroes, in my experience, had a disturbing tendency to die young.