Episode-742
Chapter : 1483
For Jasmin, he bought a simple but high-quality dress of pale blue linen. It was modest, clean, and made her look like a servant from a good house.
"It's so soft," Jasmin whispered, touching the fabric.
"Don't get used to it," Lloyd teased. "It's a costume. Don't spill tea on it."
For Ken, it was harder. Nothing off the rack fit his massive shoulders. They had to find a large tunic and a vest that strained at the buttons. Lloyd added a sash to hide the inevitable knives Ken would be carrying.
"You look like a bear in a tuxedo," Lloyd commented.
Ken grunted. He looked uncomfortable. He tugged at the collar. "It restricts movement."
"Just don't fight anyone," Lloyd said. "If you have to fight, rip the shirt. It will be dramatic."
They returned to the safe house. Lloyd spent the evening coaching them.
"Jia," he said. "If anyone speaks to you, you curtsy. You say, 'The Doctor is very wise.' And that's it. Don't engage. Don't talk about politics. Don't talk about the weather."
"The Doctor is very wise," Jasmin repeated.
"Good. Kasim. You stand behind me. You look stoic. If someone offers you food, you shake your head. You are on duty. The loyal dog."
Ken narrowed his eyes. "Dog?"
"Wolf," Lloyd corrected quickly. "The loyal wolf."
He paced the room. "The goal is information. I need to get Vance's colleagues talking. I need to steer the conversation towards their work. Challenges. Difficulties. Bureaucrats love to complain about 'special projects' that eat up their budget."
He looked at them.
"This is the first step into the deep water," Lloyd said. "If we mess this up, we get kicked out. Or arrested. So, best behavior. No squeaking, Jia. No killing, Kasim."
"Understood," they said in unison.
----
Friday evening arrived. The hired carriage took them to the Upper District. The streets here were paved with white stone. Magical lamps glowed with a soft, amber light. The houses were mansions, gated and guarded.
They arrived at Lord Vance's estate. It wasn't a palace, but it was substantial. A walled garden, a fountain, a main house with pillars.
Lloyd took a deep breath. He adjusted his new spectacles.
"Remember," he whispered. "We belong here. We are interesting. We are the flavor of the week."
They stepped out. A servant announced them.
"Doctor Zayn of Rizvan!"
They entered the main hall. It was filled with people. Soft music played from a string quartet in the corner. People stood in clusters, holding crystal glasses, murmuring politely.
Lord Vance spotted them immediately. He broke away from a group and rushed over, beaming.
"Doctor!" Vance cried. "You came! Welcome, welcome!"
He grabbed Lloyd’s hand. "Everyone, this is the man! The man who cured Courtney!"
Heads turned. Curious gazes swept over Lloyd.
Lloyd bowed deeply, a perfect, humble scholar's bow. "You honor me, my lord. I am but a student of the body."
"Nonsense!" Vance said. "You are a genius! Come, come. I want you to meet some people."
He dragged Lloyd into the room. Jasmin trailed behind, clutching the medical bag (which contained nothing but dried mint and a notebook). Ken followed, a silent shadow.
Vance led them to a group of men standing near the buffet. They looked important. They had the soft hands and tired eyes of career bureaucrats.
"Gentlemen," Vance said. "This is Doctor Zayn. Doctor, this is Lord Harin from the Treasury, and Lord Silas from the Department of Interior Logistics."
Lloyd’s internal radar pinged. Logistics. That was the jackpot. Logistics meant supplies. Supplies meant trucks. Trucks went to places.
"An honor," Lloyd said smoothly. "Logistics. The lifeblood of the city. Without you, the gears stop turning, yes?"
Lord Silas, a portly man with a red face, puffed up. "Exactly! Finally, someone who understands. Everyone thinks it's just counting beans. But it is the art of movement! The art of supply!"
"Fascinating," Lloyd lied. "I imagine it must be terribly complex. Keepng a city like Saber fed and watered."
"You have no idea," Silas groaned. "And not just the city. The... other obligations."
He took a sip of wine.
Lloyd’s ears perked up. Other obligations.
"Surely the military takes up most of your time?" Lloyd prodded gently. "With the... tensions at the border?"
"The army is easy," Silas waved a hand. "They eat bread and beef. They are predictable. It's the... special divisions. The research wings. They need rare things. Weird things. And they need them yesterday."
"Research wings?" Lloyd asked, wide-eyed. "For alchemy?"
Chapter : 1484
"Something like that," Silas muttered. "Pickyminds. Always demanding fresh... supplies. Biologicals. Hard to transport."
Lloyd’s heart skipped a beat. Biologicals.
"That sounds... delicate," Lloyd said. "As a doctor, I know how hard it is to keep biological samples fresh. You must have excellent facilities."
"We do," Silas bragged. "Top of the line. But the location... nightmare. Outside the city. Bad roads. My drivers hate it."
"Outside the city?" Lloyd asked innocently. "To the South? The roads there are terrible."
"No, no," Silas said. "North. Up near the old quarry. The woods are thick there. Damp. Ruins the wagon wheels."
North. Old quarry. Thick woods.
Lloyd filed the information away instantly. He smiled.
"You have my sympathy, my lord," Lloyd said. "Bureaucracy is a heavy burden."
"It is, it is," Silas agreed. "But enough of work. Tell me, Doctor... is it true you can cure gout?"
Lloyd spent the next hour charming the room. He diagnosed three cases of gout, one case of eczema, and prescribed a diet for a fat pug dog. He was the life of the party.
But his mind was racing. North. Quarry. Biological supplies.
It was vague. But it was a direction.
As the party wound down, Lord Vance clapped Lloyd on the shoulder.
"You were a hit, Doctor," Vance said. "Silas liked you. That's rare. He hates everyone."
"He seemed... passionate about his work," Lloyd said.
"He's stressed," Vance whispered conspiratorially. "The Obsidian Eye has been breathing down his neck. They are expanding the... facility. Need more resources. It's making everyone jumpy."
"The facility?" Lloyd asked.
"The Orchid House," Vance whispered the name like it was a curse. "Don't repeat that. It's not... officially acknowledged."
Boom.
There it was. The name. The confirmation.
Lloyd forced his face to remain calm. He looked confused. "Orchid House? Sounds like a greenhouse."
"It's not for flowers," Vance said grimly. "Just... stay away from the North Woods, Doctor. Bad air up there. Bad for the health."
"I shall heed your advice," Lloyd said solemnly.
He bowed. "Thank you for the tea, my lord. It was... illuminating."
Lloyd gathered his team. They walked out of the estate and into the cool night air. They got into their hired carriage.
As soon as the door closed, Lloyd slumped back. He let out a long, shaky breath.
"Did you hear?" Jasmin whispered.
"I heard," Lloyd said. His eyes were hard. "North Woods. Old Quarry. The Orchid House."
He looked at Ken.
"We have a name," Lloyd said. "And we have a location."
Ken nodded. "We hunt."
"Yes," Lloyd said. "But first... we need to get past the Obsidian Eye. If they are expanding, security will be tight."
He looked out the window at the dark silhouette of the northern mountains. Somewhere out there, Risa was waiting.
"One step closer," Lloyd whispered. "Hang on."
The party was in full swing. Crystal chandeliers cast a warm, golden glow over the gathered nobility of Saber. Servants moved like silent ghosts, offering trays of hors d'oeuvres that cost more than a peasant's yearly wage.
Lloyd Ferrum, disguised as the affable Doctor Zayn, stood near a marble pillar, holding a glass of sparkling cider. He looked relaxed, smiling and nodding as a minor baroness described her poodle's digestive issues in excruciating detail.
"And then, Fifi simply refused the paté!" the Baroness exclaimed. "Can you imagine?"
"Tragic," Lloyd murmured, his face a mask of polite concern. "Truly tragic. Perhaps a lighter diet? Boiled chicken?"
"Genius!" the Baroness declared. "You are a marvel, Doctor!"
She drifted away to spread the gospel of boiled chicken. Lloyd’s smile vanished for a split second, replaced by a look of intense boredom, before re-fixing itself.
"I hate parties," he muttered under his breath. "I would rather fight the Boar King again. At least the boars didn't talk about their dogs."
Beside him, Ken Park stood rigid. He was holding a tiny plate with a single, untouched cracker. He looked like he was calculating the velocity needed to throw the cracker through someone's skull.
"Smile, Kasim," Lloyd whispered. "You look like you're attending a funeral."
Ken’s lips twitched. It was the closest he got to a smile.
Jasmin was circulating near the edge of the room, holding Lloyd’s medical bag. She looked terrified but was holding her ground. She curtsied whenever someone looked at her.
Lloyd scanned the room. He spotted his targets. Lord Silas and a group of other officials were clustered near the fireplace, drinking heavy red wine and looking miserable.
"Target acquired," Lloyd whispered. "Going in."