Chapter 130: Monsters Talk to Monsters
[Null POV] Year 5, Day 207 (Evening, Borderwatch)
Master was reading testimonies from the attackers. It had been about 2 hours since he'd arrived, and he'd used most of that time just reading — working through every story, absorbing what had happened and what they faced going forward.
They'd all collected in one of the many meeting rooms scattered throughout the establishment for a fast sync to coordinate next steps.
But the testimonies had taken all of Master's attention so far. He'd been reading every one and processing each victim's story completely, absorbed in the details.
Given that Master himself had been the victim of a mind attack this morning — an assassination attempt with a curse that nearly killed him — he clearly felt deep sympathy for these people. For the attackers, the victims, and everyone used as weapons. A connection forming through shared trauma.
"We need to help them," Master said with firm commitment. "Half of them wrecked their lives completely by being used and weaponized to come here. We can't just abandon them or wash our hands of what happened."
Kira responded with practical strategic caution. "They're definitely victims too. But we need to be clever about how we help them — can't show ourselves as too softhearted and exploitable. Plus just giving them coin may not actually fix their underlying problems or solve the deeper complications."
Master looked at Kira. "You have ideas worked out?"
Kira thought for a moment, planning the structure in her head. "Let's keep all of them for a few weeks. Get full understanding of their individual situations and specific problems. See if any more information can be extracted about the attack — the caster, the methods, any pattern we can use."
She continued. "Those who are fine — financially stable, no major problems — we can just release. No complications, clean exit. Legally questionable anyway to hold them longer, unless we want to raise any charges."
"Others though? Those with debt problems and ruined lives? Let's offer some kind of contract. Doesn't even matter what work — they can water trees for a few years if nothing better fits. Simple honest work that buys them time until things are mostly forgotten and their lives can be rebuilt."
She added the important clause. "Via this contract, we take ownership of their debts and legal issues among other obligations. We have a much stronger position to negotiate with various shady loan sharks than they ever would alone — more leverage, more capability, more protection. Even if we just gave them coin to fix things themselves, the underlying power imbalance would still wreck them."
Master nodded in understanding. "Okay. Helping covertly through structure rather than direct charity. This will work — I approve."
Null then decided to add her own suggestion. "If possible, perhaps seed one or two of them also."
Master looked surprised. "Why? What purpose would that serve?"
Null explained with clinical practicality. "Perhaps the seed can show us something more about this attack — additional insight my normal mind reading can't reach. My abilities always work stronger against those carrying seeds. Deeper connection, sharper reading."
She thought more. "At least one I observed was watching our maids almost with envy — longing visible on her face. This moneykin woman, the book clerk. She'd tried applying for servant positions in the past, hunting for more stable income and belonging than her short jobs gave her. She would accept the offer willingly, maybe even desperately."
Kira grabbed papers from the table and searched through them. "Shop clerk who sold books. Various other short jobs in her past. We can definitely use someone with her skills — literacy, organization, customer service. All things we need more hands for."
Nora added to it. "I can think of two more that Mistress didn't manage to check personally. Candidates who might fit us and would accept the offer willingly."
Master spoke firmly, his boundary clear. "Only if they're willing. No forcing, no pressure, no coercion of any kind. They've had enough horrors in their lives — we don't need to add more trauma on top of what's already been done to them."
Kira confirmed. "We won't force anything. I'll talk with them over the next few days — once they're calmer and understand nothing bad happens here. Then I'll offer, explain, and let them choose on their own."
Nora added darker context. "Attackers who ended up here are definitely among the more lucky ones. Due to Cookie Fairy's prompt actions, more were captured alive here than at all other attack locations combined. Other places had massacres — lots of deaths."
She let the weight settle. "Plus one location already announced that no attackers survived the night. They probably just killed everyone to make sure there would be no later questions, no investigations, no witnesses to complicate things. Clean and final."
Null felt Master didn't like what he heard or the implications of how close these people came to being executed elsewhere. But there was nothing he could do — couldn't save those already dead or change what had happened in other places.
Null herself didn't really care about the attackers either — they were ants who'd been used as weapons, strangers whose fates barely registered for her. But Master's empathy was real, and that was what she paid attention to.
If anything, this news about the fates of attackers elsewhere across the Republic only reinforced his will to help those here. To save and protect everyone he could reach, to give mercy where mercy was still possible.
"Do we have anything else to discuss," Master asked, "or can we all call it a night? End this."
Nora spoke up. "Yes. About Cookie Fairy. Wanted to talk about this earlier, but Master, you ended up so busy with testimonies that I decided to wait. Give you time to process attackers first. Let you understand that situation before adding more complications."
"Let me bring 22 and Pebble here too," Nora said as Null felt her making many seed calls through the network. "They need to hear this — they're involved and have context Mistress should know."
Pebble was quite logical to include. She was the only one who'd talked with Cookie Fairy during the attack—had direct contact and conversation with her. And was already waiting close by, ready and available.
But 22? She'd been busy with other mages reviewing hot spring plans—coordinating, verifying, planning. How was she related to Cookie Fairy? What connection existed? What relevance applied?
Pebble arrived in a minute—fast and ready.
It took a bit longer for 22 to arrive. Had to disengage from the mages, excuse herself, and travel over. But soon present and ready to listen.
When everyone was assembled, Nora continued. "Due to 22's hint, we managed to find out who Cookie Fairy actually is — who helped us during the attack. And all of this is quite strange and concerning, more complicated than any of us expected."
22's instant reaction was surprise. Almost terror. "So I was right? It's really her? Actually her?"
"Yes," Nora confirmed simply.
"What?" Void asked. "Who is she? What's happening?"
22 explained carefully, voice tight. "As soon as I heard about a strong harpy with the name Sara, I had a premonition that it might be her. So I asked Nora to check if there were any records of this individual's activities in our area — sightings, reports, anything that could confirm or deny."
"Sara. The Painting Lunatic. Harpy assassin who, over the last five centuries, has racked up a body count that puts even Mistress's hunts to shame. Makes them look small and controlled, almost reasonable in comparison."
"She's from the same part of the world where my tower was located. And no, before you ask, she's not an old friend of mine. I only saw her once. Centuries ago. And it gave me nightmares for years afterward."
Void sounded nervous and confused. "You're saying we were helped by some lunatic mass murderer last night? That's who saved us? That's who captured the attackers? That's who Cookie Fairy actually is?"
Null felt confusion radiating from Pebble — who clearly wasn't agreeing with that assessment. It didn't match what she'd seen and felt during her conversation with Sara. A complete disconnect between this label and the woman she'd met.
22 corrected herself. "Well. We have a few mass murderers behind this same table right now. So perhaps we shouldn't be too quick to label or condemn without first understanding what's actually going on."
"But before we fully understand Sara's motivations — why she's here, what she wants, what she's planning — we should be careful around her. Cautious and prepared."
"Explain," Void demanded. "What should we be watching for?"
22 explained. "She has a track record of stalking elven masters in the past, going back centuries. The pattern is visible and consistent, documented across multiple verified cases."
"She helps them randomly — intervenes, protects, saves their lives from disasters. Then disappears completely. In some cases, those same masters ended up dead later, probably murdered by this same protector. Nobody can really explain her behavior or predict her actions. Just chaos and random violence wrapped in inexplicable choices."
"Like how she takes contracts from the assassin guild. Almost like she doesn't care about value at all — just looks for things that catch her attention or seem fun or meaningful in some way only she understands. For example, there's a case where she murdered an entire royal family over a contract worth less than one gold coin. Meaningless payment, maximum violence, zero correlation between cause and effect."
Everyone around the table was wordless and silent — processing, trying to reconcile helpful Cookie Fairy with Painting Lunatic mass murderer. Trying to make any kind of sense of the contradiction.
Void's mouth moved, trying to form words and comment. But nothing came out. Just shock, confusion, and maybe fear.
Even Null wasn't sure what to say or conclude about this. [Enigmatic protector who's also a helpful murderer, a stalking savior leaving random violence in her wake. Monster logic, maybe — but a monster logic Null herself doesn't understand. Different type of creature operating on entirely different reasoning.]
Finally, Nora decided to share what she'd discovered. "Well. I put up several requests in information guilds about any information regarding this Sara. If she's in the area. What she's been doing. Where she's been. What she wants."
"And it seems she moved into the Republic a few years ago. But there's no actual proof she's taken any contracts since then — no assassinations, no jobs, no guild work of any kind. Just... other strange activities going on instead."
"She's been using assassin guild as a kind of shop for various services and information. Probably because nobody else would serve monsters like her. Wouldn't deal with her. Wouldn't accept her business. And assassin guild is known to sell everything—including information about their own transactions. So given I used an entire fortune today on inquiries, got back some interesting information about her activities."
"Oldest record is more than 5 years ago when she bought information about elven masters in the Republic — clearly searching for someone specific or running broad research on the population."
"After that, there's a fair amount of evidence indicating she's been keeping watch over this area — or even us specifically — for years. Consistent surveillance, ongoing interest in everything we do."
"A few examples. Days after the legal mess with the Guild Master was sorted, she ordered an entire Republic and Guilds legal library from the closest assassin guild location. Complete and expensive collection, the kind that costs a small fortune."
The connection clicked for Null. [That's how Sara knew the laws so well during the City Guards confrontation — she'd literally bought the entire legal library and studied it for some reason. The battle of wits wasn't luck, it was prepared knowledge.]
"Other things that may explain her clothing — that maid dress she wore. She ordered something from the seamstress using a middleman in Central's assassin guild. We're not sure what exactly, but given that the seamstress also made our dresses, perhaps she made or sold one more to Sara — a similar design with matching aesthetic, possibly an intentional connection."
Null remembered something. The strange hint the seamstress had given her. That cryptic statement. That odd design on the wall.
She repeated what the seamstress had said. "'Strange client. But nice girl inside when you ignore all the nightmare parts.'"
Everyone looked at Null in clear confusion, wanting to know what that meant and what it implied about the seamstress's other client.
Null gave them the context they needed. "In the seamstress's workshop, there was a design for a dress like ours but different somehow—modified and adapted strangely. When I asked about it, the seamstress said that about whoever ordered it."
"She then asked something about the Blood Guild—connections, history. Then said I might meet this client one day but had no idea when. Quote: 'Hard to tell what runs in her head.' It all looked cryptic and mysterious, so I kind of ignored it at the time."
Nora connected the dots. "Well. This explains how the harpy has a dress like ours—bought it from the seamstress, commissioned and acquired it intentionally."
"We should try contacting the seamstress. Ask if she knows anything more about Sara — her motivations, plans, or anything else that might be useful to us right now."
Kira added a practical approach. "After Null's gift of those legendary clothing pieces, the seamstress agreed to make us more dresses happily — she felt obligated and grateful enough that we have real leverage. So when we have our next contact or delivery, let's try asking softly and casually. No pressure or demands. Just inquiry and interest."
Nora approved. "Yes. We can use that angle and opportunity."
"Chances the seamstress knows something useful are low. And she may not want to share about clients anyway—should be careful not to push her on it."
"But there was one more name that came up with this contract. The middleman Sara used to access the seamstress. Dominos Penthante."
"I'd heard this name before during my time in the information guild. She's quite a legendary figure at Central's assassin guild headquarters—boot lady, neutral ground user, professional survivor."
Void sounded alarmed. "More assassins lurking around us? More criminals? More complications?"
Nora clarified. "Well. Yes. Or in her case... ex-prostitute, ex-poisoner, ex-torturer. Probably a few more 'ex' titles too. She's been using assassin guild boot neutrality over the last century to stay alive — a real survivor who's professional at avoiding entanglements."
"So my hunches said maybe there's something worth investigating. Asked some of my old colleagues in Central to look into her. Check her out. See what they could find."
"And what came back was quite surprising — more unexpected than any of us thought it would be."
"Guards on her house were able to describe a scary-looking harpy lady visiting her not that long ago—matching Sara's description and profile. Connection confirmed."
"After that, they made a small break-in into her apartment. They found several boxes of documents about our home — about us, the establishment, everything. She'd been investigating us in real detail using both public and private channels. Systematic research at professional levels."
"One of the most interesting things found there was quite extensive research about Courtesan 1, the dryad. Files, documents, notes, and analysis. There's high chance she's being hunted by some shadowy group of organ harvesters who may have orchestrated her fall — caused her to destroy that noble garden, which resulted in her ending up at the agency. So she may be the victim of a conspiracy."
Bunny finally spoke up. "So you're saying that perhaps the reason Courtesan 1 was so annoying and resistant was because she was just angry at the world? Innocent but punished, trapped in a life she never chose, used by people who set her up for it?"
Nora shook her head. "No idea about that specifically. But it's a fairly probable theory that could explain her behavior and resistance."
Null felt no sympathy budge from her position. [Still gives no excuse to act like an ass though. Doesn't justify being difficult or make her problems acceptable. Reasons aren't excuses — understanding her situation doesn't equal forgiving the behavior.]
Nora continued with the biggest news. "And then there's this. This Dominos traveled to Borderwatch using the same airship you all used. Arrived the evening before your flight. Boarded the return flight back to Central yesterday morning."
"However, she left quite unexpectedly at Riverton Station — disembarked early despite having a first-class ticket all the way to Central. Changed her plans mid-journey."
"The time she left was soon after the attack here. Almost like someone informed her about it and made her change course."
"After leaving the airship, she visited several inns still open in Riverton and bought food. Simple supplies. Then she just disappeared completely — no trail to follow."
Void sounded serious and worried. "So there are possibly two professional criminals stalking us for years from the shadows? Both Sara and Dominos, connected somehow, spying on us and helping us with unknown motivations? What the hell do they want from us?"
Nora confirmed. "Yes, Master. It's quite fair to say that — two professional criminals connected somehow. Watching us, helping us, possibly stalking us. Motivations and plans both unknown, the actual danger uncertain."
Bunny asked. "What about Courtesan 1? Dominos was building a file on her — she might have answers we don't."
Nora's expression darkened. "She disappeared. Boarded an airship from here to Iron Mountains — literally the first flight out, a fast and desperate escape."
"On the ship, she locked herself in her cabin and refused to come out. Gave no response or signs. When crew didn't get any life signs for more than a day, they entered forcibly. Found the cabin completely empty. No Courtesan 1. No trace or explanation."
"There are no traces of her leaving the airship at any point—no evidence, sightings, or records. So nobody really knows what happened. Perhaps she's hiding somewhere else on the ship. We'll know in about a day once the ship arrives and they can search thoroughly."
Null was too drained to engage with this thread further. [Too tired to think about Courtesan 1 complications. She escaped when hunted. Her behavior—even with all the reasons—is unforgivable.]
[Nobody in that agency had nice pasts. Trauma is almost the job requirement. Flower-siren might seem like an exception as a volunteer, but even she had her reasons for choosing it—survival and escape.]
[Every courtesan and sex worker I've seen—none dreamed of that life. None chose it freely. Just survived it and made it work.]
[But Sara. This Sara. We're definitely missing something. Some gap in understanding. Something fundamental we can't grasp.]
[Like the gap between humans and monsters. Like one side missing the rule book of the other. I've felt it myself — like the lake of death disaster. Wanted the best for Flower and ended up nearly killing her instead. Good intentions colliding with catastrophic results because of fundamental incompatibility between sides.]
[Probably something similar happening here with Sara. Need to approach this with proper care — let monsters talk to monsters, build context before any action is taken.]
Finally Null decided and stated clearly. "When we track down or have any chance to talk with Sara or Dominos—don't approach them yourselves. Let me or Twins handle it if I'm not available. Chance someone else messes up something is too high."
[Perhaps Kira would also work. She clearly sees things as they are now and doesn't care about useless social rules — doing it with a goblin in front of millions proved that. Or maybe not — let her get more control over herself first before assigning tasks like this. The dragon awakening is still too recent and unstable to add this kind of weight.]
She continued. "Think about every time I mess up interactions. Like the lake of death disaster. Sara may have the same issues—good intentions, catastrophic results. You wouldn't understand monster logic. Shouldn't try. Monsters talking to monsters is safest."
Void looked at Null seriously with understanding and trust. "I guess monsters talking to monsters is probably the best idea. Also probably the safest for everyone involved."
Once the info about Sara was shared and future steps decided, Void asked the room. "Anything else that can't wait until tomorrow? Any urgent matters left?"
Silence answered him. Everyone looked around, checking and considering — nothing pressing or urgent enough to keep them from rest and the clarity that came with sleep.
"Alright then," Void said tiredly. "Good evening, everyone. I'm going to sleep. Still flesh and blood here, with a busy day and almost no sleep last night. I just need to... stop."
He stood and left. Everyone else followed soon after.
Meeting concluded. People dispersing to their rooms. Seeking rest after everything compressed into one impossible day.
Null felt happiness as she watched everyone leave for their rooms. Home sweet home.