The General's Mask

Fooled

Hua Heng made her way out of her hiding spot just as Wen Ping slipped into Balto Hakkin's Office.

Taking one look at her in her fresh set of clothes, Wen Ping knew they had attracted enough attention. It wouldn't be a smart move to dress up like a girl again.

Wen Ping had actually changed before Hua Heng. The stench of the fart bombs clung to his clothes, even from a distance. The memory made him grumble in disgust, pinching his nose reflexively.

"How rude. I made sure to change and freshen up, except for those three below," Wen Ping muttered, wrinkling his nose at the lingering odor.

Hua Heng rolled her eyes, taking a whiff of herself and joked, "Hey, I smell good! I'm like a flower!"

Their brief banter was interrupted by the sound of approaching footsteps, prompting both to switch to stealth mode and slip away silently. The echoing footsteps drew closer, making them realize a full-scale combat couldn't be started until their comrades and the people below deck were on the move.

They had to avoid any confrontation for now. However, if they were cornered and had no choice, they were prepared to take action. The Chameleons weren't weaklings. They were sly, and their nature demanded survival.

Deciding to split up temporarily, with a plan to regroup on the deck once their companions were on board, Hua Heng and Wen Ping disappeared into the shadows, their every move calculated and cautious. Their goal was clear: stay out of sight until the timing was right, and then reassemble with their allies. The ship was their battleground, and every decision they made was critical to their survival in the face of growing dangers.

Antagonists: Garan (archer), Ivolk (spear), Shar (former assassin member of Cai Fei), Gado (a fighter mainly using big swords), Ryulin (hired assassin), Agur (leader).

Meanwhile two people went inside the office previously where Hua Heng and Wen Ping located, Balto Hakkin's Office.

"Shar, man, they were here not too long ago," Shar remarked, scanning the office with a furrowed brow.

"Where's that fatty politician, huh? He must be lurking around after his chat with Agur," Ryulin chimed in, his tone laced with intrigue.

"Probably knocked out cold or accidentally croaked by those two. Let's check for any missing files. This place doesn't look like it's been raided. They might've stashed a bunch of incriminating evidence unless they've got those magic bags," Shar added, his eyes darting around the room in anticipation.

Ryulin nodded thoughtfully, his gaze sweeping over the room, "You know, those magic bags would make things a whole lot easier for them. But let's not underestimate their cunning. They might have some sneaky tricks up their sleeves."

As they combed through the office, the tension in the air was palpable, a sense of anticipation mingling with the thrill of the chase. Each tidbit of evidence they stumbled upon could spell out trouble and fetch them a death sentence from the empire.

Shar's eyes widened as he spotted a concealed door beneath the floor, its red paint forming a distinct cross-shaped design on the knob. Evidently, their adversaries were one step ahead, stirring up trouble and signaling that they had been uncovered.

Shar chuckled slyly, "Well, well, looks like our friends have left us a little gift. Let's see what secrets they've left behind for us to find."

Ryulin, his eyes glinting with mischief, joined in, "It's like a game of cat and mouse. Except this time, we're the cats."

"Seems like Balto Hakkin's keeping a lot from us-time to uncover the secrets," Shar mumbled a glint of curiosity in his eyes.

With a firm grip on the red-painted knob, he twisted it open, revealing what lay beyond.