Kwazele, Second among the Inner Chosen Ones of Mhambi Meshindi, contemplated his lord and master, standing at the prow of the admiral ship of the fleet. The shipwrights had named it Ishandlwana, after the place where the Gate opened, and it was at the vanguard of the pack of brand new ships that comprised the expedition.

Meshindi had not left that place since they launched, back after coming from far Zhōngguó. They’d left a few “advisors” and “liaisons” – spies in all but name – with the Chinese, and while Zenzele had managed to put trustworthy ones there, not all reported to him. At least two were true believers. Thankfully, the Zulus could not spare too many powerful tiers so his agents would not have to deal with more. In case.

Multiple times, he’d spotted the Steadfast Astute Vanquisher standing with eyes closed for hours. Just like now. But as before, once he came close enough, the eyelids snapped open, although the God-King gave no other sign of acknowledging his presence for a while.

“You too can learn to sleep standing,” he suddenly said, breaking the silence.

“Is it so, Mhambi Meshindi?”

Others would have used flowery titles, but the ruler of the Zulu Confederacy always insisted on his name, full and without additions. Even those who had seen his Professional designation when brought into the inner Chosen cadre were not to use it.

“All it takes is enough Stamina. And will, but that is not measured by the Labyrinth. You should have enough already.”

“If you think this is necessary, then I will do so.”

“When you stand watch alone in the Labyrinth, it is useful. No beast can lay you down in one strike, and thus you can respond.”

Kwazele almost asked what kind of beasts could threaten his God-King, but he could guess. If the speculation on the tiers were correct, a tier-fourteen or at least thirteen Profession implied tier-fourteen zones and creatures, who would be as terrible as Meshindi himself. Minions more dangerous than the tier-seven Legendary guardian he’d spotted last year in Bolmagne, Hesriaumza, he of the seven fur tails.

Gauge Enemy told you the name of each Profession, provided you had enough ranks, but not the details. Even the shared team descriptor didn’t let you access that. Barring the right Plaza, the only one who could confirm the speculation was Mhambi Meshindi, and since he forbade seeing his descriptor even in general… Kwazele was not going to be the one to ask.

So instead, he turned to face the open sea, looking in the same direction. Watching waves and the thin and distant line of the western shores of Africa, now visible again as the fleet moved into the northern hemisphere.

“We are not making good progress, but the captains are doing their best.”

“That cannot be helped. I am of the Labyrinth, not the sea. I couldn’t tell them more. The shipwrights under Shaka did well with what they had.”

“It is so.”

After a long silence, he probed a bit.

“How are we going to conquer France then?”

“If all had gone right, you would have, in time. Sooner but not later. But no one rules fate. So, I will break them, and the Chosen Ones will rule the country. And more importantly, the Gate.”

“It’s where we are going.”

“Holding it is crucial. If the French start to use it improperly…”

Mhambi Meshindi didn’t finish. Kwazele waited, but whatever consequences of the “improper use” there were, the God-King wouldn’t say, apparently.

“We land on the western shores of France and make for Versailles immediately. The Bonaparte must be removed immediately,” he said finally.

“It will be done.”

“And once our Chinese tools have secured the British Isles… maybe I will finally see Ireland as it is. Before the end.”

Kwazele was used to Meshindi’s often cryptic pronouncements, but that one was even weirder than the usual.

The Duke of Wellington leaned in his chair behind the desk, taking in the news. Jonas fidgeted nervously, unsure of what would come.

“I would be very, very disappointed if you were to leave my service,” Arthur Wellesley said with a chuckle.

“I know, although we are officially at peace now that Louis XVIII is on the throne…”

“Yes, that’s true. Even though we may yet mobilize Professionals once the Gate reopens, this will certainly be a high-tier battle. You are only technically tier-four… probably ‘real’ tier-four by then, so I do not expect to require your services on this one.”

“How many high tiers can Bonaparte have?” Jonas asked.

“We’ve got a few lists. He kept most in his memory, apparently, but thank quartermasters that are paying the stipend for his troops. Guesses are possibly fifty tier-six or above. That includes around over a dozen tier-seven, but no more. The rest are dispersed on Earth, and we’ve got some surrenders already.”

Jonas winced.

“Like you, I’ll be happier to have that behind us. Although I suspect the solution will be more diplomatic than military. Once he realizes he’s lost the Dominion and will not get it back, he’ll settle for a reasonable offer and guarantees. He’s ruthless but pragmatic.”

“Then we will be at peace.”

“That doesn’t mean you can emigrate to the States like that, though,” the Duke said.

“Actually, it does,” a voice from behind Jonas said.

Both men stood up and turned. Jonas hesitated, then dredged his memories just as the Duke bowed slightly.

“Lord High Chancellor.”

John Scott, Earl of Eldon, and the most important politician of the realm stood at the closed door. Obviously, he’d entered discreetly and had been listening to at least part of the previous conversation.

“I was coming for a different matter, but it seems I am at an opportune moment,” he said.

“We were discussing a strange proposition, made to one of my faithful employees.”

John Scott laughed.

“I am well aware of who the six Adjusted are.”

“Well, someone is trying to poach them, my Lord.”

“Who’s doing that?” the Chancellor asked.

“A tier-five Professional who was apparently sent by the FBLA to investigate the Gates matter,” the Duke replied. “I was discussing her with Sir Sims.”

“I wasn’t aware that the Federal Bureau of Labyrinth Affairs employed Professionals.”

“She doesn’t seem to be one such employee. My speculations were that her appointment might be political, although Sims says it’s linked to her handling the Core purchases in the States. Much to the dismay of my brother.”

“Political?”

“She’s connected. The Underwoods are a prominent merchant concern. Her father managed to get into the consortium that took over the Hudson’s Bay Company’s properties after the Northern War.”

“Well, if she wants to invite Sir Sims or his team, we should oblige.”

Both men startled again. The Lord High Chancellor smiled and explained.

“Not everyone sees the same, but I remain convinced that another war with the USA is inevitable. If not right now, then at one point not too far in the future. Their politics are more volatile than ours, and even though the Federalists may finally get their say next year, there is no guarantee they will retain their generally favourable disposition to the Empire.”

“Not everyone thinks so, even in the War Office,” the Duke answered.

“It’s not a matter of ‘if’, it’s merely a matter of ‘when’. And thus, we should prepare, as the saying goes.”

“And our Professionals will be ready.”

“But some could be more than ready. Like you and your team, Sims.”

“I’ll be happy to oblige, but we will be ready in a couple of decades, not before. Even with our Milestones, catching up to their high tiers take time.”

“That’s where you’re wrong, Sims. You are ready… you’re just in the wrong place.”

The Duke crossed his arms, frowning.

“After the attack on London and our closure of Versailles, everyone will watch very, very carefully their Great Gilded Gate. On both sides. We were caught by surprise, the sneak attack on the French is unlikely to be repeated… so everyone will make sure no sabotage can be done.”

“We’ve already drafted a rotation of tier-six teams, my Lord,” Wellesley said.

“And I’m sure China and the States have done the same by now. Or they will soon. But you do not need to stand next to a Gate to close it.”

Jonas blinked in realization.

“Yes. They could be watching their main Gate as tightly as they can, but there’s, at least in the States’ case, four other Gates nearby. And those are not going to be watched as much as the rest.”

“There is no guarantee it will propagate as much as it did. Or that closing a Labyrinth Gate can lead to a Great Gate being affected. We can’t experiment on that,” Jonas objected.

“Our strategy wouldn’t revolve around that attack. Napoleon’s mistake was to assume he’d not only succeed, but it would be more or less permanent. If he waited, even with the risk of spies disclosing the existence of the weapon, he’d have known and not made it a centrepiece of his plan. No, this would be a diversion, an opportunity to sow chaos in the enemy lines. And we do have the only six people who can do so.”

“And that’s why you want us to follow on the proposition,” Jonas said.

“And you have a plausible invitation by an accredited agent of the FBLA. You can acquire – legitimately – a Gate leading into Marsden. If called upon, you can use your Labyrinth ability, step in, and fire Gate Closers before anyone can spot you.”

“Well… our problem is that, right now, we’re preparing to be ready when the Gates reach full stability and force them to reopen. That takes time to set up a gear set to be able to do so.”

The Duke snorted.

“You aren’t using the proper mindset, Sims.”

“Uh?”

“If Laufrey or Minkton want you to re-open their main pathways, make them pay for it. They’ve got an entire company devoted to cleaning lairs. They can afford to lend you the gear you need.”

“First lesson of politics, Sims. Never use your own money to do something other people want,” John Scott added. “Besides, you have time. War isn’t there yet.”

The team stepped out into Rayleche. Jonas looked briefly at the island beach on which their Gate opened before turning and heading back into Vuneras.

“So… we’re actually doing this?” Ira asked.

“We do. Chancellor’s orders: get a tier-one Gate,” Jonas confirmed.

“Wooohoooo!” he yelled. “Exploration!”

Jonas pulled the sheet on which he’d copied the hastily scribbled list from Sylvia, along with additional notes.

“Mirolon is the last zone partially mapped in the Archive references. I went to ask the Grey’s team – they all have taken residence outside of Gatepost these days. Even though they also have access to the USA, they don’t want to be cut from Earth if they can’t avoid it. But Lady Louisa Grey and the rest are in the Labyrinth, so I didn’t get anything more than the list of names and levels they left at the Archives. Most of the lairs they did were high since her team were all high tier-four or five.”

“We’ll do a proper job, right?” Ira asked.

“Of course. We’re not that sloppy. Laura?”

She made a face.

“Not to disparage the Duke, but I am doubtful of that scheme. Full vitals gear isn’t that common. If they call upon us and we ask for gear, the answer is going to be ‘don’t have those in stock, you’ll have to take a risk. It’s only a death anyway’.”

“Yea, right. And then, we’re out for two days, even if the Gate hasn’t restarted. In addition, we still have to get enabled for whatever zones they want to reopen. We can do the tier-two zones next to Grailburg, but we’ll need access further. But good point. We don’t have a real deadline, so… we do every single lair we can find on the way.”

Ira’s grin was almost contagious. And besides, Jonas admitted that he could see grinding the same zones over and over could end up being tedious. No wonder high tiers were relatively rare – levelling could be boring.

“Then we'd better be started,” Laura said.

“Yes. We start by doing our lairs here, those in Markandon… and then it’s onwards to Mirolon.

The clearing in the depths of Markandon’s forests seemed empty. But Jonas could remember the way Cowen had approached the Six Stars lair, back when she rescued them. Six cairns with packs of veteran creatures seemingly made of shadows.

There was a single jewelled box in the middle, and although Jonas couldn’t see the descriptor from where they were, Jonathan had just enough Focus to do so from the edge.

Six Stars

Elder Treasure

Exceptional equipment

Requires: Level 126

“It’s not the Ancient,” he said.

Jonas didn’t know if he was relieved or disappointed.

“I remember how close I was to dying on that one.”

“It’s when Cowen discovered we were leeching skills from gear,” Laura said, looking at her midnight-black trousers.

“The look on her face,” Guss said.

“Yes, but we’re still not ready to tackle the ancient version of the lair,” Jonas said.

“It’s… close to 150?”

“Correct. I’m going to say, we need at least one Milestone if not two.”

“I’m close to it,” she noted.

Laura had been the first to switch over to tier four, giving her a small lead on levelling. The gap was slowly closing as each level took more and more, but she still led. Jonathan’s lopsided built gave him more levels overall, but he was still behind in terms of levels with the tier-four progression.

“Then let’s do it,” Jonas said, pointing the first pack of three veterans “shadows”.

Shadow-filled Void

Level 148 elder

Health: 4699

Mind: 7086

Stamina: 1132

Aether: 12793

“Weak,” Ira commented as the inhuman scream that announced the appearance of the lone guardian dissipated.

“Don’t dismiss it,” Jonas replied. “Granted, it’s only an elder, but the ancient version nearly instantly killed me.”

“You were barely over 50 at the time,” Ira noted.

“Yea, but it was still a 300 damage blast. This one might have a slightly weaker version…”

“But that’s what I’m here for,” Guss replied.

“Take places,” Jonathan said.

“I thought you said…”

“It’s not an Ancient. Yet,” the Calculating Guardian replied.

Shadow-filled Void opens. -15 to random potential, changing every 10 sec.

Jonathan’s swords sliced into the smoky presence of the void, trailing streamers of darkness. He was close enough that he could hear some breeze-like whistling as if the slashes moved air rather than whatever the guardian was made of.

The three melees covered the distance, taking positions. Without any real shape, it was impossible to figure out, but Alton simply took the side opposite to Jonathan, assuming this would be the “rear” of the creature. Knives fell into the roiling smoke, seemingly without purchase, and without the notifications, it would have been easy to assume he wasn’t doing anything.

Backstab hits for 135 piercing damage.

The heroic gift from the Archives – the Balanced Reinforced Iron Tantō – did hit for an enormous amount of damage. But then, it was originally from a tier-five lair, and while the potentials were lower due to under-levelling, the damage was almost on par with such a weapon.

While Alton needed to be careful about it, the enormous damage output was a significant factor in how they could tackle such lairs close to their level average. Combined with their higher vitals per level average, Cores, Jonas’s upper-tier spells… their team were able to do stuff few Professionals would dream about.

Shadow Starlight hits you for 218 damage (222-4). -33% Focus.

Healing Increased. +33% health regeneration for 90 sec (17/sec).

And here it strikes again, Jonas thought. It was weaker than the ancient version he remembered, but still a hefty chunk of health, over 10% of his health. Guss simply used a regeneration topper rather than immediate healing, because they did not expect too many…

Shadow Starlight hits you for 235 damage (239-4). -33% Focus (unchanged).

Again? And it’s not vulnerable to anything, Jonas thought, as he watched a ball of brown earth element streak away. Each of his Elemental Sprays had been a different type as if they were picked completely at random.

Another blacklight strike fell, this time on Laura, who simply ignored it. This, Jonas thought, was the kind of fight they were best at. A sprint of damage, killing the relatively low-health elder before its increasing bolts started to overwhelm Guss’s ability.

Shadow-filled Void: 4873XP/6 contributors = 786XP

Shadow-Leather Trousers

Legs

Exceptional equipment

Requires: Level 126

Provides: +64 defence rating, +13 STR, +154 health, +1% blunt damage

“That should still be an upgrade for you,” Guss noted.

“Oh, it is. I’m losing some defence, sure, but that’s mainly because it was the heroic version, even if underleveled. But… it doesn’t quite look the same way.”

The pair of leathers in her hand vanished, and the pair covering her legs slightly shifted, as she used her Puppet to swap the equipment. She looked down, and the trousers blinked once or twice again.

“Not quite, yes. The midnight ones are more uniform. Those have some imprint on them, like two different dark tints,” Jonas said.

“Strength levels matter, anyway. And it’s not as if I’m going to use those for mundane use. I wonder if I can get something good for them at Faire…”

“Don’t forget the skill. We need to keep it, in case you need to re-learn it later.”

“Not losing it on next tier since it’s an offensive sphere, but you’re right. To the bank with them.”

Laura Charlotte Harvey

Health: 2678/2678 (2111)

Mind: 1849/1849 (1496)

Endurance: 3160/3160 (2475)

Aether: 1029/1029 (898)

Effective level: 160

Level 35 Light Destroyer

Level 14 Precise Grinder

Level 39 Calculating Grinder

Level 42 Smasher

Level 30 Breaker

Experience: 53,215/129,630

Strength: 265 (112)

Dexterity: 75 (62)

Agility: 79 (53)

Constitution: 109 (55)

Stamina: 57

Wisdom: 62

Focus: 59

Presence: 66 (42)

Fortitude: 80 (51)

Intellect: 45

Defence rating: 245

35% faster levelling

16% blunt damage

3% offensive economy

0.4 end/STR

3% end/STA

5% weapon application

5% weapon damage

Milestones: Adjustment VII, Breaker II, Smasher III, Calculating Grinder III, Precise Grinder I, Light Destroyer II

Skills: Smash (5), Impact (4), Batter (2+2), Expose (0+1), Cripple (0), Slam (0), Kick (0), Underhanded Strike (0), Surprise (0), Bypass (0), Disembowel (0), Jab (0)

Equipment: Studded Brown Leather Band (15STR/178hp), Silver-Embroidered Leather Tunic (16STR/16FOR), Reinforced Grey Leather Glove (15STR/176end), Green Leafy Belt (11STR/136mind), Shadow-Leather Trousers (13STR/154hp/1%blunt), Ankle Furred Boots (13CON/12STR/139end), Bronze Serpentine Ring (15STR/12AGI/ 11CON), Diopside Bronze Pendant (19STR/ 19CON/238end/217mind/+1batter), Green Granite Orb (11STR/11CON/11PRE/163hp/132end/131aet/+1batter/+1expose/ +0.4end per STR/+3%end per STA), Bear-Stamped Mace (14AGI/13DEX/13STR), Iron Flat Hammer (18FOC), Wood Puppet (3/4 full)