"You really enjoy keeping me in the dark, don't you?"
Owen settled into his seat.
"Only when it's funny."
Lucius closed the door behind them.
"I hope you realise that one day, your sense of humour is going to get you killed."
Owen leaned back.
"At least I'll die laughing."
For a while, neither spoke.
The carriage moved steadily along the paved road, its wheels rattling over the occasional uneven patch of stone. Sunlight filtered through the curtains, casting shifting patterns across the interior.
Lucius watched Owen sitting around with his hands resting loosely in his lap, his expression was as blank as a new canvas.
Eventually, Lucius realized he wouldn't be getting his long awaited explanation.
"All right. You've had your fun. Now explain."
Owen turned towards him.
"Explain what?"
Lucius slowly removed his spectacles.
Owen sighed.
"You're really going to make me do this?"
"Yes."
"Fine."
He leaned forward slightly.
"Before Glauderia came looking for me in Landergrey last year, I was supposed to come here."
Lucius's expression sharpened.
"Here? Haika?"
Owen nodded.
"I'd been offered a position as a bodyguard for the Baron's son. It was arranged through Reinhardt."
"Reinhardt arranged a position for you in Haika Barony?"
"Yes."
"And you never thought to mention that?"
"Well... you never asked."
Lucius stared at him.
Owen returned the look without the slightest hint of remorse.
Lucius rubbed his forehead.
"Please continue before I develop an aneurysm."
Owen's expression became more serious.
"Apparently, there was an incident involving the Baron's son. He was attacked and nearly killed. Then later there was an attempt to kidnap him."
Lucius's gaze narrowed.
"The Baron's son..."
He paused.
"Luke Haika?"
Owen nodded slowly.
Lucius leaned back against his seat.
He knew the name.
Luke Haika wasn't someone who could be dismissed as another nobleman's sheltered child. Even before the recent troubles surrounding his family, he had possessed a reputation of his own.
The fact that someone had targeted him was concerning.
The fact that the attack had nearly succeeded was even more so.
But there was something else.
Something Owen had yet to explain.
"All right," Lucius said. "Let's assume the incident is connected to our investigation. Why would Garten der Schatten be related to the incident with the Baron's son?"
"I don't know."
Lucius frowned.
"What?"
"Luke isn't the person we're looking for."
Owen turned towards the window, watching a row of houses pass by.
"His father is."
For several seconds, Lucius said nothing.
Then he slowly turned back.
"You're telling me the Baron himself is a member of Garten der Schatten?"
"Yes."
"And you know this because...?"
"He invited me to join them."
Lucius's expression changed.
The humour disappeared from his face.
Owen continued speaking as though he'd just mentioned an unpleasant conversation over dinner.
"Back when I was still an adventurer I happened to meet the Baron, he invited me to one of their gatherings. He didn't exactly hide what they were. He offered me a place in the organization."
Lucius stared at him.
"You've got to be joking."
"I'm not."
"And you intend to walk into his manor?"
"That's the idea."
Lucius leaned forward.
"Owen, I want you to think very carefully about what you're saying. We're talking about a man who holds considerable authority in this territory. If he is genuinely a high-ranking member of Garten der Schatten, then his manor may be one of the most dangerous places we could possibly investigate. We cannot simply walk in, announce ourselves, and hope that he decides to be hospitable."
Owen tilted his head.
"Who said anything about announcing ourselves?"
Lucius paused.
Then his eyes narrowed.
"You're planning on sneaking in?"
"Not exactly."
"Then what?"
Owen smiled.
"We're going to understand the situation first."
Lucius studied him.
Owen continued.
"We don't know how much the Baron knows about what happened in Stonehaven. We don't know whether his involvement in Garten der Schatten is public knowledge within his own household, or whether there are people in his service who are involved without his knowledge. And we certainly don't know whether the attack on his son had anything to do with the organisation."
He paused.
"Walking in and accusing him of being a member would be stupid."
Lucius stared at him.
"...You can actually think?"
Owen's smile vanished.
"Do you want to walk the rest of the way?"
Lucius raised both hands.
"My apologies. Please continue, oh wise and mysterious master of terrible communication."
Owen ignored him.
"The first thing we need is information. We observe the household, figure out what's changed since the attack, and find out who we can trust. If the Baron really is involved, we'll eventually find something that connects him to the organisation."
Lucius considered the plan.
It was sensible.
More importantly, it was cautious.
For someone who seemed determined to throw himself into every dangerous situation imaginable, Owen had occasionally demonstrated a surprising capacity for patience.
Lucius wasn't sure whether that made him more or less concerning.
"And that's why you brought me along?" he asked.
Owen grinned.
"Bingo."
Lucius stared at him.
Then he sighed.
"You're an idiot."
"You already said that."
"And I'll continue saying it until you give me a reason to stop."
Owen leaned back in his seat.
"Besides, you catch on quickly. I figured you'd be useful."
Lucius's expression softened for the briefest moment.
Then he scoffed.
"How generous of you."
"Don't mention it."
"I wasn't thanking you."
"Sure sounded like it."
Lucius shook his head.
There were moments when he genuinely wondered whether Owen was deliberately trying to irritate him.
Then again, given the man's personality, he couldn't rule out the possibility that this was simply how he behaved.
"One more question," Lucius said.
Owen glanced at him.
"What?"
"Won't the Baron recognize you?"
Owen's smile returned.
"No."
Lucius blinked.
"You're certain?"
"We've met four times."
"And he doesn't remember you?"
"Not that I know of."
Lucius looked at him for a long moment.
Then he slowly put his spectacles back on.
"Remarkable."
"What is?"
"Your ability to attract trouble while simultaneously being forgettable."
Owen chuckled.
"Jealous?"
"Deeply."
The carriage began to slow.
Outside, the streets grew wider, the buildings more imposing. Tall iron fences appeared along the roadside, separating carefully maintained gardens from the public thoroughfare. Beyond them stood grand residences surrounded by trimmed hedges and ornamental trees.
The carriage turned through a set of open gates.
Owen glanced outside.
There it was.
The Haika estate.
The manor stood at the end of a broad, immaculate driveway, its pale stone walls rising above the surrounding gardens. Tall windows reflected the afternoon sun, while decorative pillars framed the entrance. Several servants moved between the manor and a smaller building to the side, carrying baskets and bundles of linen.
Knights stood guard near the entrance.
Everything appeared orderly.
Almost unnervingly so.
Owen's lips curled into a smile.
The carriage rolled to a stop.
The chauffeur climbed down and opened the door.
"Here we are, gentlemen."
Lucius stepped out first, straightening his jacket before offering a brief glance towards the manor.
Owen followed.
For a moment, the two stood beside the carriage, surveying the estate.
Then Owen turned towards Lucius.
"All right. Remember our names."
Lucius adjusted his spectacles.
"I was under the impression that I possessed a functioning memory."
"Good. Then this should be easy."
Owen's smile widened.
"You're Cain."
Lucius nodded once.
"And you?"
"Caelum."
Lucius glanced at him.
"Caelum?"
"Problem?"
"No. I simply find it interesting that you chose a name that sounds considerably more dignified than your actual personality."
Owen shrugged.
"Try not to ruin it for me."
"I make no promises."
Owen turned towards the manor.
For a brief moment, the smile disappeared from his face.
Then he began walking.
Lucius followed beside him.
Two strangers in black suits, arriving at the home of a man who had once invited Owen into the very organisation they were now hunting.
Neither drew a weapon.
Neither revealed their intentions.
And as they approached the manor's grand entrance, Owen wore the pleasant expression of a man who had come to pay an old acquaintance a perfectly ordinary visit.
For now, they were merely two guests arriving at the Baron's door.