Magnifico

The journey begins

In the morning, Viruz was the first to wake up. He managed to get some firewood together and lit a fire. He started preparing food which they will eat before they take off finally in the morning. While half-way to being through, the General woke up too and saw him busy cooking...

“Hey Viruz, how was your night?” Sun asked.

Jonas who was stirring the soup on the pot looked at the General, and he said “Morning sir. My night was fine. And yours?”

“Good. Good.” Sun replied. He had a stick in his mouth which he used to remove dirt from his mouth. Jonas, without wasting much time woke up too and did the same. They later ate the food and left for Akhan. Before they get to Akhan, they must get close to the Alaphas border and they couldn’t risk being detected by the soldiers in this region. Jonas most specifically couldn’t allow himself to be seen because he could easily be spotted among the three of them.

They got there to Alaphas' border region exactly in the afternoon. This was a bad time and anyone could easily be detected if they are not careful enough and Jonas suddenly became aware of this. They were riding and they suddenly started slowing down, Jonas made a sudden stop immediately as he saw a military patrol far away from them. Others made a sudden stop as he did.

“Why did you stop?” Sun asked.

“I could see a military patrol on our north side. You know most of these soldiers can spot me out if they get close enough and we can’t risk that. So I suggest we find an alternative.”

“What type of alternative?” Viruz asked curiously.

“I think we should follow routes that would help us evade being seen. I know this side well enough so I think we should get down from our horses and trek it while we take our horses along. Galloping through these plains will raise dust and noise and we may get followed. If by mistake they see me, they would report it to Magnifico and our mission will fail," Jonas said.

Jumping down from his horse, the General carried the small backpack he had with him and placed it on top of his horse. “I think I agree with what you just said. Viruz, get down and hold your horse's rein with your hands. We have got to lay low as much as we can and make it across here. We can’t risk anything now.”

“Alright, sir!” Viruz replied.

He got down from his horse and the three of them walked their horse through the woods. They luckily crossed the whole area unspotted. When they were finally convinced that they had passed through the risk level, they mounted back to their horses and sped off. They had to make up for the delay they had walking through the plains so they were accelerating to get to Akhans as soon as possible. They have arrived in the coastal city of Akhan. The General could tell by the fiery looking faces of the men he saw, men of the underworld who looked bloodthirsty, dangerous, mean, and could do anything bad without blinking an eye. The noise from the splashing water of the sea could be heard from the distance and the current of the flow was quite noticeable.

“Welcome to Akhan. This is a mystery land so, it is mysterious and we must treat it as such" Jonas said. They slowed down their horses and made the horses walk instead of driving them while they run. Suspicious Eye contacts were being made by some blood hungry-looking men, they could tell that the General and the two other Gentlemen that arrived with him to the city are foreigners. Maybe because their clothes seemed shiny and their appearance was outlandish. Sun could tell that there was danger, from his line of work, it was no surprise. They went close to a popular fish shop and settled down. They ordered plates of tilapia each for themselves. When the fish was brought, Sun asked the server if he had seen Finder around.

“Please, I want to ask you about something," Sun said as he taps the server on his clothes to get his attention. "Where can we see Finder? We will appreciate it if you will tell us where to find him” Sun told the server.

The server tightening his face in a little frown said “No, I don’t know who you are talking about. I am sorry sir, but I can’t help you.” The server said. Trying to leave, Viruz held him in the hand, “please tell us, we need to know” Viruz begged...

“I said, I don’t know.” The server said and he forcefully pulled out Viruz's hands from his clothes. He went away suspiciously.

“I think he knows something. I’m sure he does" Viruz said.

“Of course, he does. But the General wouldn’t have asked the question openly like that. It will expose us to more unwanted friends.” Jonas said. He carried his plate in his hands, brought it closer to his mouth, he started eating his fish. “You guys better go on and eat. We need as much energy as we can get because the way I see it, problems more than you and I can imagine lies here" Jonas said...

“What would I have done? We need to find him as soon as possible.” Sun said.

“Please eat General, before your food gets cold,” Jonas said advised.

“Stop addressing me with that title. You don’t know who is listening and you are exposing us to more danger more than I have already done according to you" Sun said with a little tension in his voice.

“Oh! I have almost forgotten. I am sorry.” Jonas said apologetically.

A few moments later, eight huge angry-looking men came inside the shop and came close to their table. The one who appeared to be their leader looked skinny but tall. He had bruises on his face and had marks that look like knife cuts which were still visible. Immediately they came very close to their table, Sun, Jonas, and Viruz knew the problem has arrived.

“Hey! Look at what we have here? Three wonderful looking gentlemen, well dressed and all looks educated.” Their leader who was also their spokesman said while some of the men were smiling with their brown-looking teeth shown.

“Where are you guys from? Alaphas? Akhans? No, I don’t think so. You can not come from here.” He paused, looking closely at Sun, and the rest he said “I am sure I have not seen you, people, around. I know a lot of people from this city, and most of them, I know them by their names. So, I can say for sure that the three of you are from elsewhere.” He said while he giggled. Both Sun nor the other two made a statement or replied to him. Sun was busy eating his fish as if nothing was happening meanwhile Viruz was maintaining a straight face, he refused to regard the man that was talking. Jonas himself was also drinking and eating at the same time.

The skinny man was surprised that nobody was regarding him or looking at him or even cared to reply to him.

Laughing hysterically, “I can’t just be talking to myself,” he said.

“Boys, can one talk to himself?” he asked and his crew gave a chorus answer, “No.”

Glancing through the plate of fish on the table, he took the plate of fish that belongs to Viruz and ate the fish in it. When he was done, he spat inside the plate and kept it back on the table. He walked just a bit forward to Sun who was sitting at the right-hand side of Viruz, he slowly brought down his head and said “Hey you. I think your fish looks sweeter and looks tasty. I think I would have a taste.”

“Actually, that would be a bad idea,” Sun told him. Jonas looked at Sun immediately he made that statement and wished Sun didn't say anything, maybe just allow them to fool around and go back later where they come from.

“Ha-ha. Boys, did you just hear what this sweet looking gentleman said? He said it would be a bad idea if I have a taste of this delicacy. Actually, I love things bad and I would want to see a bad idea in eating an innocent dead fish" The Skinny man said.

“Please, I do not want your trouble. And you won’t like mine. There is strength in numbers but sometimes numbers can be deceiving. Kindly take your boys out of here while there is still time so I get to enjoy my fish.” Sun said. Jonas and Viruz knew immediately he said this, he has really made it inevitable to avoid their trouble so, they consciously became ready for what they may see or about do face.

The skinny man is aggravated by what Sun said became enraged and brought his hands close to Sun's plate to take his fish, Sun on the other hand quickly brought out a dagger he had in his pocket, used it to pierce through the skinny man's palm and nailed the hand to the table where his plate was. He shouted like an animal that was being skinned alive. The huge man, heavily bearded, close to the skinny man tried to bring out his sword to kill Sun instantly but Sun quickly removed the dagger which he had used to nail the skinny man's hand to the table and used it to lob into the man's femoral artery. At least two men were down, and the third and fourth men who were just adjacent to where Viruz was also rushed to attack the General. But Viruz was fast enough to kick the table by force to their direction and they both fell to the ground while the two men who were standing at the left and right-hand side of Jonas met their waterloo when Jonas brought out two well-sharpened blades he had hidden in his legs to chuck-in through their stomach and quickly bringing out the knife, he did same to their lower neck. It was quite obvious the angry-looking men didn’t know that Sun and his men were a bad market, they were heavily trained military men from Quinax and Jonas too was a good fighter. They killed all the seven men and left only the skinny man alive. By this time most people in the shop had run away to avoid getting wounded.

“You see what I told you, numbers can be deceiving. Now, I want you to tell me something” Sun said as he used his small dagger to further tear the skinny man's hands. He continued shouting while Sun continued doing what he was doing. “Please, what is it? Tell me what you want, please. I will do it for you, just don’t hurt me.” The skinny leader begged.

“I want you to tell me where I can see Finder. Tell me exactly where he is, I have got a business with him.” Sun said as he forcefully removed his dagger from skinny's hand.

“How am I supposed to know where Finder is? I am not his watchdog.” The Skinny leader said. Hearing this, Sun became aggravated, he brought out the dagger again and said “you told me earlier that you know everyone in this town. So I need you to tell me where to find him or else I will lob in this dagger where it belongs”

“Alright. Alright. Dagger should be in a small shop just opposite this shop. The shop is smaller than this one and it is very close to the coast. I don’t know if he will be around there now but certainly, he will come by in the evening if you can wait for him.”

“So, you don’t know where we can find him now?” Sun asked.

“No, I don’t. Please, let me go.” He pleaded. Sun allowed him to run away with the injury in his palm and drops of blood could be seen staining the ground as he was running outside.

Viruz watching as he was running away wasn’t too comfortable with Sun's decision to allow him to go, he said “We should not have allowed him to go. He could regroup and come back to haunt us down. I don’t trust him.”

“Neither do I. But sometimes you need to distinguish yourself from barbarians. We don’t need to behave the same way they do and that was why I allowed him to go. We only have to hope that we find Finder before anything else happens.” Sun said.

“I think we should move to the shop he said we could find him. Let’s move out of this place, there are too many dead bodies.” Jonas said. Immediately he said this, they all went out of the room and located the small fish shop by the coast side and went inside to settle down. This time around, they were vigilant as an eagle and watchful of any sort of surprises that may arise. Settling down in the shop, they had to separate themselves this time around and they sat in different directions. If they stick together as Sun said, they could easily be spotted out by other groups that may come into the shop and that was why he suggested that they separate from each other. Since Jonas was the only person that could identify Finder when he sees him, Sun told him to give a sign to them when he comes in inside the shop. They ordered another plate of tilapia from the shop owner while they wait till evening to see if Finder will come. It was evening when a man on a brown cloak made his way gently into the shop. Jonas could recognize him at first glance because of the absolute quietness he exudes while placing his footsteps. He sat down in a corner, even without ordering for anything, the shop owner brought him a plate of tilapia fish which appeared to be his best. Jonas gave Sun and Viruz a sing which means the man that had entered the shop, was the person they were looking for. Sun walked up to him in the corner and sat just opposite him and he took his plate of fish with him.

Sitting just opposite Finder, he looked at him in the face but it was dark, could barely be seen. Finder has used his cloak to form a headcover like a hoodie but it was manageable, at least that’s what Sun thought.

“Please, I would need your help. I need to find someone who took something that belongs to me. He came to our kingdom and stole something very important and we don’t find it, some people are going to die.” Sun pleaded. The shop owner brought the tilapia for Finder, “Sir, this is your plate of fish” the owner said and he left.

Finder started eating his fish without saying a word. Sun looked helplessly as he watched him eat. “please, I need to get see him before we run out of time. This mission is very important, it could save my life and could also save yours.” Sun said.

Hearing this, Finder stopped eating for a while and looked at the General. “What do you mean by that?” he asked.

“What I mean is, if I don’t find who I am looking for, it could backfire on us all. What he had stolen can be used against us. It is that strong that when it enters into the wrong hands, it could be manipulated and weaponized. We may all end up getting hurt in the end if we don’t get to stop him now while there is still time. Please help me!” Sun explained.

Finder taking up his plate, he started eating it again. He didn’t utter any more words and Jonas was watching closely from where he was. He had to intervene because he noticed the General's efforts weren’t yielding positive results. He knew what Finder needs; he needs to be paid for his services and not begged for it. He is not someone that does something for favours and doesn’t keep friends around who would owe him one. Jonas left his chair, and went to where the General and Finder was sitting and sat just opposite Finder, beside him was Sun.

“How much do you need? We don’t have much with us so please take these twenty gold coins.” Jonas said as he tosses the twenty gold coins just on top of the table. Looking at the gold coins, Finder didn’t take it rather he continued eating his food.

Sun brought out extra ten gold coins out from his pocket and tossed it on the table, “this is all we can afford. Kindly show us what we are looking for. We don’t have much time on our side” Sun said.

Finder continued what he was doing. “Fine, we better keep our money to ourselves,” Sun said as he angrily took away the money from the table. He continued “What’s the essence of coming here by the way. This was all waste of time. We should have stuck to our journey and searched for Kylian by ourselves. By now, we would have found him. Let’s go”

Jonas and Sun stood up and wanted to leave when they heard Finder said “wait, I will help you find him. But, I won’t be going there with you.”