Chapter 169: Steaming Lotus

The western district of the capital boasted wide paved avenues and pristine white stone architecture. It was a haven for the wealthy elite seeking temporary escape from the suffocating political atmosphere of the city.

The Gilded Lily stood at the end of a long manicured promenade. The massive structure featured beautiful domed roofs and ornate marble columns. Thick plumes of white steam drifted lazily from the upper vents carrying the sweet intoxicating scent of crushed lotus flowers and imported essential oils.

A sleek hired carriage pulled to a halt near the grand entrance.

Leon stepped out onto the pristine paving stones. He wore a luxurious dark silk robe over a pair of loose linen trousers projecting the image of an eccentric foreign merchant.

He had left his massive blunt steel hidden in the carriage relying instead on the twin concealed daggers strapped to his forearms.

He offered his hand to Captain Nyx. The corsair stepped down looking incredibly dangerous and breathtakingly beautiful. Valeriana had worked a minor miracle pulling a stunning crimson bathing gown from her underworld contacts.

The sheer fabric clung tightly to Nyx’s athletic curves leaving very little to the imagination. She kept her twin curved cutlasses hidden beneath a long velvet shawl.

"Try not to look like you want to stab everyone," Leon murmured offering his arm with a charming smile.

"I make no promises," Nyx muttered linking her arm through his.

They walked up the wide marble steps presenting their forged golden entry tokens to the heavily muscled attendants waiting by the doors. The guards inspected the tokens with bored expressions waving them through into the grand reception hall.

The interior of the bathhouse was a sprawling maze of heated pools and private lounging alcoves. Wealthy patrons waded through the shallow steaming water sipping expensive wines served by silent graceful workers.

The air was incredibly humid clinging to their skin like a warm damp blanket.

Leon swept his gaze across the luxurious environment. His senses pierced through the thick fragrant steam analyzing the subtle magical fluctuations in the room.

He felt a faint rhythmic pulse of corrupted violet energy radiating from beneath the polished marble floors.

"The anchor is directly below us," Leon whispered leading Nyx toward a secluded private pool near the back of the facility. "We need to find the maintenance stairwell."

They slipped into a private alcove enclosed by thin silk curtains. A large circular hot spring bubbled invitingly in the center of the small room.

Nyx dropped her velvet shawl onto a wooden bench revealing the scandalous crimson bathing gown in its entirety. She stretched her arms feigning relaxation while her sharp eyes scanned the stone walls for hidden doorways.

"The architecture here is older than the rest of the building," Nyx noted running her fingers along the smooth stone. "The original geothermal vents are usually capped by heavy iron grates. If the Syndicate is funneling power they would have reinforced the main access point."

The digital interface chimed softly projecting a bright pink box over the bubbling hot spring.

[System Notice: The Corsair’s Tension]

[Your beautiful companion is too focused on the mission to enjoy the scenery. A true warlord knows how to mix business with scandalous pleasure.]

[Objective: Step into the shallow water. Pull Nyx into the pool with you. Wrap your arms around her waist and whisper that she needs to act natural before the guards get suspicious.]

[Reward: +20 Agility, 550 Shameless Points.]

Leon grinned stepping out of his leather boots. He waded into the steaming hot spring the water rising to his waist. The intense heat felt wonderful against his recovering muscles soothing the lingering aches from yesterday’s battles.

He reached out and grabbed Nyx by the hand.

Before the corsair could protest he gently pulled her forward. She stumbled slightly splashing into the warm water with a surprised gasp. Her crimson gown instantly soaked through clinging transparently to her toned stomach and generous chest.

Leon wrapped his strong arms around her waist pulling her flush against his chest.

"What are you doing?" Nyx hissed her hands coming up to rest against his wet shoulders.

"Acting natural," Leon whispered leaning down until his lips hovered near her ear. "There is a guard patrolling the hallway outside our curtain. We are supposed to be a wealthy couple enjoying a private bath. Make it look convincing."

Nyx swallowed hard her heart hammering against her ribs. She was a seasoned fighter but the blistering heat of the water combined with his crushing physical dominance left her mind spinning in a chaotic circle. She leaned into his embrace resting her cheek against his wet chest trying to ignore the sudden overwhelming surge of breathless desire pooling in her core.

A sudden surge of speed flooded his nervous system marking the completion of the prompt.

Footsteps paused outside their silk curtain. The silhouette of a burly guard lingered for a moment clearly listening for any suspicious activity. Hearing nothing but the soft splashing of water and Nyx’s ragged breathing the guard eventually moved on continuing his patrol down the corridor.

Leon slowly released his grip allowing the corsair some room to breathe.

"He is gone," Leon stated his dark eyes scanning the far wall of the alcove. "And I think he just showed us the door."

He waded across the pool stopping in front of a decorative stone waterfall trickling down the wall. He reached behind the falling water his calloused fingers finding a deep hidden groove in the rock.

He channeled a small burst of kinetic energy twisting the hidden mechanism. The stone wall groaned softly sliding sideways to reveal a dark damp stairwell leading deep into the earth. The faint sinister glow of violet magic pulsed from the shadows below.

"Found it," Leon murmured pulling himself out of the hot spring.

Nyx followed him grabbing her velvet shawl to retrieve her hidden cutlasses. The romantic tension from the pool was instantly replaced by cold lethal focus.

They had a job to do and the second anchor was waiting in the dark.