I made my way through Ravengate's winding streets toward the Guild district, my mind racing through everything Morrigan had told me. Blackwood was alive, spinning lies, and apparently well-equipped with magical insurance policies that explained his impossible survival pattern.
The revelation about resurrection stones and escape talismans put everything in perspective. All those expeditions where he was the sole survivor weren't just luck or skill, they were calculated risks backed by expensive magical insurance. He could afford to put his party members in deadly situations because he knew he had ways to cheat death himself.
It made me sick, but it also made sense. No wonder the Guild couldn't build a case against him. How do you prove murder when the killer appears to take the same risks as everyone else?
The Guild Headquarters was busy with late afternoon activity. Clerks finishing paperwork, adventurers filing reports, officials conducting business in the grand marble lobby. The building itself was impressive, all soaring columns and enchanted lighting that never seemed to dim, but I'd learned to look past the grandeur to the bureaucracy beneath.
I approached the information desk, where a harried-looking clerk barely glanced up from his ledger. His desk was piled high with forms, expedition reports, and what looked like disciplinary paperwork for adventurers who'd broken Guild regulations.
"I need to speak with Investigator Reyne," I said. "It's urgent."
"Investigator Reyne doesn't take walk-in appointments," the clerk replied without looking up, his quill continuing to scratch across the parchment. "If you'd like to file a complaint or report suspicious activity, I can direct you to the appropriate department. Forms are available at the—"
"Tell her Jin Harker is back from his assignment," I interrupted. "She'll want to see me immediately."
That got his attention. He looked up, taking in my travel-stained appearance, the serious expression on my face, and the way I carried myself like someone who'd recently been in mortal danger. His demeanor shifted from bored dismissal to professional interest.
"Assignment?" He reached for a different ledger, one bound in black leather with official seals. "Let me check the registry."
After a moment of searching, he found what he was looking for. His eyebrows rose slightly as he read whatever was written there.
"Wait here," he said, standing quickly. "I'll inform the Investigator of your return."
He disappeared through a door marked "Authorized Personnel Only," leaving me alone in the lobby with my thoughts. I used the time to organize my mental report, sorting through the events in the Crimson Labyrinth and prioritizing the most damning evidence against Blackwood.
The attempted murder was clear enough, both Kira and I could testify to that. The pattern of deliberate endangerment was documented in my journal. The arrangement of previous victims' bones suggested a long history of feeding the dungeon with sacrificial expeditions.
But would it be enough? Morrigan's information about Blackwood's magical insurance raised new questions. If he had resurrection stones, why hadn't he used them for Marcus? Was his partner truly dead, or was that part of the cover story too?
The clerk returned within minutes, looking slightly flustered. "Investigator Reyne will see you immediately. Follow me, please."
He led me through a maze of corridors to a small meeting room on the third floor. The space was spartanly furnished, a simple table, four chairs, and walls lined with law books and case files. It felt like the kind of room where serious conversations happened, away from the public eye.
Reyne was waiting for me, seated at the table with the same professional setup I'd grown familiar with. Tea service, documents spread across the surface, and that calculating expression that meant she was already several steps ahead of whatever conversation we were about to have.
"Jin," she said as I entered, gesturing to the chair across from her. "You look like someone who's had an eventful day. Please, sit. I'm eager to hear your report."
I took the offered seat, pulling out my journal and setting it on the table between us. The leather cover was scuffed from our escape through the collapsing chamber, and some of the pages were stained with dungeon dust, but the writing inside was still legible.
"The mission was successful," I said without preamble. "I have documented evidence of Blackwood's methods, including a direct attempt to murder both myself and Kira in the Crimson Labyrinth."
Reyne's silver eyes sharpened with interest. "Tell me everything."
I began with our departure from Ravengate, walking her through each stage of the expedition. Blackwood's confidence about the dungeon's patterns. His specialized equipment for crystal detection.
When I reached the crystal chamber and Blackwood's revelation about feeding the dungeon, Reyne leaned forward, her professional mask slipping to reveal genuine shock.
"He admitted to deliberately sacrificing party members?" she asked.
"In those exact words. He said their lives were forfeit the moment they accepted his invitation, and that at least their deaths would serve a purpose." I flipped to the relevant page in my journal. "I documented his exact statements here."
Reyne read my notes carefully, her expression growing progressively more grim. "And Marcus Stonefist was his accomplice?"
"Hired muscle from the Iron Syndicate, according to what he told us. Blackwood's been working with them to force people into desperate situations." I described Marcus's betrayal, the animated skeletons, and our narrow escape from the collapsing chamber.
"Extraordinary," Reyne murmured, closing my journal. "This is more evidence than we've managed to gather in months of investigation. But there's one problem."
"Blackwood survived," I said. "Morrigan told me. He's already spinning a cover story."
"Indeed. He returned few hours ago with quite a tale about monster attacks and heroic sacrifices." Reyne's expression was troubled. "According to his account, you and Kira fled the chamber in panic, leaving him to attempt a rescue of Marcus. He claims he barely escaped with his life after Marcus died defending the group."
"And people believe that?"
"Blackwood has years of reputation to draw on. He's known as a successful, if dangerous, expedition leader. You're known as..." She paused diplomatically.
"A coward with a suspicious survival record," I finished. "I get it."
"The evidence in this journal is excellent, but without corroborating physical proof or additional witnesses, it becomes a matter of competing narratives." Reyne sipped her tea thoughtfully. "We need to be strategic about how we proceed."
I leaned back in my chair, feeling the weight of frustration. "So what happens now?"
"Now we watch and wait," she said. "Blackwood's pattern is broken. He's lost his partner, his methods are documented, and most importantly, he knows we're investigating him. That limits his options considerably."
"And if he comes after me or Kira?"
"Then we'll have him for assault or attempted murder — crimes that are much easier to prove in court than conspiracy." She gathered her papers. "In the meantime, I suggest you both remain vigilant. Blackwood is dangerous, but he's not stupid. Open retaliation would only confirm our suspicions."
"One more thing," Reyne said as I prepared to leave. "This journal contains detailed observations about the Crimson Labyrinth's behavior. The Guild's dungeon researchers would find this information invaluable. Would you be willing to share copies of those sections?"
I nodded. Knowledge was meant to be shared, especially if it could prevent future tragedies.
"Excellent work, Jin. Truly exceptional. Whatever comes next, know that you've already made a significant difference."
I left the Guild Headquarters feeling both vindicated and apprehensive. The mission had been a success, but success felt incomplete when the target was still free and potentially planning retaliation.
Still, I had allies now. Reyne's professional backing, Morrigan's information network, and possibly Kira's friendship, though that remained to be tested. More importantly, I had 1,000 points to spend on preparation.
Whatever Blackwood had planned for his inevitable revenge, I intended to be ready for it.