Not sure I could actually pull off fooling three people for over an hour, my high school acting career tragically cut short – I tried out due to a crush on a theater girl and was one of three people who didn't get picked for anything – Inara helped dress me for the occasion.

My first instinct was to wear my nicest outfit but my team leader said that sent the message that I knew the meeting was more important than it should be. It was supposed to be a routine first discussion with a smaller merchant group, not the head of an important corporation or closing a large deal.

Instead, we tried on many different outfits from my wardrobe.

Really, it was a way for both of us to let out our nervous energy, mine more than hers. We pretended like our morning meeting that Inga hijacked wasn't supposed to be a deep conversation about whether we should continue working together and instead joked and japed for an hour.

At some point, our conversation drifted to the fight we had with the previous group of assassins from The Church of Unullification on our way back from Pitola to Velez. It was where I first killed someone. The only time I'd killed someone.

Inara quickly realized it wasn't a great topic for me so we moved back to trying to keep things light. However, it was still a heavy weight in the back of my mind.

Clearing my head as best as I could, I focused on what had to be done. The plan really was quite simple.

I just had to execute on it.

Setting aside the lunch invite from Vesna, someone who I desperately needed to chat with, but couldn't then and there, I headed to the Pitolan trade building.

Rather than a large Town Hall, bedecked in finery and full of life, the plain building was on a side street, not too far from the city center, but still mostly away from the hustle and bustle of the large city. Apparently, it was often the place for quiet meetings with city officials that were best left out of the public eye.

My feelings on spending time in two government building specifically designed to not be noticed in one day were mixed.

As I entered, a guard escorted me into a side room, taking away all my items that were even the faintest bit magical. The 'play nice' rooms reacted oddly with anything that used magic and wasn't fully inside someone, often damaging some of the room's enchantments. But more often, the damage was to whoever was holding the items.

Finally, it was time.

My deep breath helped to center me as I put on my best Nikolaj impression. Inara had helped me roleplay a bit but we mostly veered off into just saying more and more ridiculous things instead of staying on topic.

When she tried to sell me the right to pet Steve, for which my bond was willing to take payment in treats, I knew we'd gone off the rails but it still helped keep me calm.

If I do this right, I might eliminate one of the blades at my back. If I fuck it up, more enemies.

So, don't fuck it up.

If our little sting operation failed, it would likely lead The Church to lash out. While they weren't well-organized, they certainly were well-resourced and not afraid of violence.

Using my half full mana pool, I cast [Poison Resistance] on myself, feeling the spell surge through my body as my mana dropped to near zero again.

I walked into the room, head held high.

Of the three people I was there to 'make a deal' with, none met my eye. Even as we shook hands, it was clear these were not the best of the best, all behaving like a dog standing in the middle of the strewn wreckage of a garbage can.

If they had tails, all would be between their legs.

The door shut with a resounding thunk.

I guess it's do or die. No, bad phrasing. We know the poison potency and my spell is at least five times more powerful. Just relax, you're safe.

But are they?

I started to wonder if the antidotes provided would really be effective. If The Church didn't send their A team, then having all their representatives die in some fake murder-suicide plot wouldn't leave any weaknesses to catch those higher in the organization.

But even if that were true, there wasn't much I could do other than play my part.

Inga and I agreed, if we stopped the plot early, letting all involved know before they tried to kill me, it would endanger people that weren't trying to kill me, including myself. Our man on the inside, the one who helped us orchestrate things on such a tight timeline, would definitely be at risk. We needed them to be loose lipped to 'the dying heretic'.

And while showing the leaders of the various Church sects we could infiltrate their organizations and set them up might make some of the less ardent church members rethink, it would almost certainly send the more fervent ones into a rage, targeting me – and anyone seen as on my side – all the more.

We needed to wrap up as many of the various elements of The Church in one go as we could.

I can't let the idea of collateral damage to my literal enemy stop me.

Getting my head back in the game, I had to turn down starting the meeting with soup. Normally, I would want to laugh but I had to marvel at just how unprepared these people were. My acting skills were put fully to the test simply to not react.

Explaining the debit card system to… 'not the sharpest crayons in the knife drawer' as my grandpa was fond of saying… was actually helpful. It made me focus on the why instead of the what, that it was about providing access to banking to those the rich rarely focused on.

And I was shocked to see all three of the people at the table leaning in, like they were actually interested in the pitch.

And maybe they are. It is pretty great what we're doing.

Still, I had my part to play in the situation. The woman, Stefania, got up with as much grace as a drunk cow, saying loudly, "Yes, I am getting so thirsty, may I please have some of that delicious smelling soup?"

The narrative has been taken without permission. Report any sightings.

We have water and tea. Why would you use a thick soup to deal with thirst?

Stefania sat down and started literally blowing bubbles into her spoon. The slurping sounds were exceptionally distracting, even taking Lev out of his thoughts momentarily. "Oh wow, this is soooo good," she said unconvincingly. "You all should get some before I eat it all." Her bad acting was replaced with a genuine reaction, it clearly being to her liking.

The farce went on as Armen, another member of Stefania's sect according to our intelligence, got his first then his second bowl. I wondered just how strong the poison was if he wasn't worried but guessed it was probably the strength of the antidote. Our insider told us half a bowl was enough to likely kill a peak Tier 1 so I presumed they had a strong counter.

Okay, they don't seem to suspect anything. Time for the soup.

The young man in the corner nodded subtly to me but stood back as I approached, letting me ladle my own soup. I thought it odd but figured there could be no suspicion of him slipping me an antidote that way.

I sat back down and worked my way through the delicious concoction, eating quickly but still savoring every spoonful. I noted to myself to get the recipe for later.

As their smiles grew, I knew I had them. I just had to stick to the plan.

Before I could begin to fake the poison's effect, Armen started coughing violently, blood flecks splattering across the pristine table to splash against my empty bowl.

Lev's eyes widened but seemed to grow even more excited.

Stefania suddenly looked to her sect mate, horror etched onto her face. "You knew you were only supposed to have one bowl!"

"Wha—" he sputtered. "Wa pposed ta say wa gooood," he managed to get out before another wracking cough overtook him, his face turning more purple. "Only hi' wa' 'pposed to be poidon."

"What are you talking about? The antidote! It only was guaranteed to work on one bowl," Stefania screeched.

"'ntidoe?" he questioned, pulling at his swelling throat.

Stefania shrieked, "You idiot! You didn't read your messages again, did you? We changed the plan two bells ago!" Armen shrugged sheepishly, blood dribbling from his mouth in the process. He was somehow purple in the face but still looked pale. "Lev, we have to get him out of here, get him an antidote!" she yelled.

Will I let them leave? I have to agree to open the lock before the timer. I think this might actually be helpful to getting them to open up if they really are bad people; his death shows what will happen to me so they might talk.

And this is the direct result of his own actions, foolish as he may be. Do I let a man die to further my own goals?

It was a question I didn't have to answer, my introspection interrupted.

Lev smiled, his eyes manic. "He signed up for this. He knew there was risk." He turned to the dying man. "Armen, you are being cleansed, joining The Light. Fear not and rejoice!"

Stefania socked Lev in the face. It did nothing.

A small screen popped up on my AAI: [Stefania Kopic wishes to disengage the safety protocol 'room lock' on 'play nice room two'. Do you agree? Yes/no] It winked out before I could answer, Lev clearly rejecting it.

Armen slumped into unconsciousness and I was happy at least he wasn't suffering anymore.

My actions caused his death. I could have prevented all of this, not gone along with the plan. Is it worth it? That he died to increase my safety? Is it bad that all I can think is yes, it was worth it?

I put my self-reflection to the side to again play my part.

Stefania wailed before Lev rounded on her. "We have a job to do. Stay focused!"

Realizing that was probably my best cue, I said, "But what happened? I don't understand. We're supposed to be safe in here, right?"

Lev started chuckling which soon became cackling. "You HERETIC. You moron. You are getting what shall come to you, the justice for opposing The Cleansing of the NULL! Feel the poison course through you. Today shall be your last." His spittle was flying wildly so I ducked to avoid it, turning it into a fake stumble as I lowered myself to the ground.

I put on my best stammer. "But, but, I don't understand. Who could be so clever? How high up in the government, in the nobility, could this go?"

Not my best but…

It was good enough. The man started to spew secrets left, right, and center.

I avoided looking at the man, Armen, slumped on the floor across the room, still feeling some responsibility for his death.

The information felt like a reasonable exchange for his death, especially as someone trying to kill me.

'The Church' had originally formed once the green essence's decline, a normal part of the essence rebirth cycle on Putijama, started to far exceed the normal rate of decrease. At first, it was mostly people just seeking guidance.

It wasn't uncommon in every rebirth cycle to see groups forming, people trying to figure out what to do next in the uncertainty of a rebirth.

However, once the null essence issue emerged, it truly was a 'this time is different' moment.

That's when 'the enlightened ones' took over. I thought a few might be actual believers but mostly, it was false prophets using scared people to make profit.

The head of Lev's sect, Bara Virant, was a noble from what sounded like a formerly prominent house, but one that fell on hard times in the last few years once Bara took over. Lev attributed said fall to evil enemies that would be cleansed soon enough.

Of course, Stefania shouted over him about how Lady Zinaida Vanda was better in every way. That she was the first to see what the null really was and 'not some little flashlight to shine around because you're a scared child'.

It was quite easy to keep them riled up and spilling secrets.

I asked, "And what about the other sects? Why couldn't they come up with such a brilliant plan?"

That was another nearly ten minute diatribe from the pair of them, throwing shade at the other two main sects and the tens of smaller splinter groups. I did my best to remember names but, under questioning, I figured the two would spill the beans on any and everything if someone mildly competent ran the interrogation.

Putting my best croak into my voice, I asked the question I was most curious about. "Who wanted me dead? Why go to all this effort?"

Lev laughed, a confident squawk. "It was little effort in the end, heretic. You tried to prevent the null from doing what is necessary. You are the enemy of us all. Yes, Lord Virant wasn't the one to send people after you previously, but this will get the full attention of The Cardinal, raising him up to be his right hand."

Stefania scoffed. "We brought two actual people, not an acolyte. We funded this. And Lady Vanda was the first to see his heretical ways, sending people to capture him, to rip whatever helps him attack the sacred null out of him. If only she'd sent us," she motioned to herself and Armen before remembering his state, "we would have ended him sooner…" she finished lamely.

Trying to be subtle and then realizing subtlety wasn't all that necessary, I pressed for information on The Cardinal but nothing came of it. Lev continued to boast and Stefania was vacillating wildly between utterly joyous and destroyed by the death of her teammate.

They didn't even notice when the door cracked and our AAI access returned – though sending messages externally was still blocked – such was their focus on yelling at my 'dying' body.

I wonder how long they'll continue. Armen died in about two minutes, I've been on the floor, asking questions, for over 30 minutes.

Knowing having a recording would be all the better, I asked them to recount all the names while my AAI was on. It took a minute but suddenly Stefania looked horrified, recognition dawning on her face as she slowly turned to see the slightly open door. While Lev listed off a few names, boasting of their great deeds, the woman flapped at his face.

Finally, he turned to yell at her. "What the hell are you doing?" At her finger point, he saw the open door too. "Good, our escape is secured and he's as good as dead!" Lev ran from the room, though we heard a scuffle a second later, a sharp yell followed by silence.

Stefania looked from me to Armen and back. "I'll come quietly," was all she said.

As she was escorted out, the acolyte also arrested to keep up the ruse, I flopped back to the floor, utterly drained.

This was the second time The Church came at me and the second time someone died because of my actions. Both felt like self-defense, especially the person who tried to split me in half with an axe. But it wasn't something I took lightly.

Who am I kidding, I was going to let him die no matter what…

Tiesa walked in and sat on the floor next to me, taking in the dead body. "You did the best you could, I'm sure of it." I didn't respond so she put her arm around me, giving my shoulder a tight squeeze. "If people put themselves in front of your fist, it's not your responsibility to shift the punch."

Turning to look at her, I gave a small nod and a smile.

"Great, that's the spirit. Now, let's get you cleaned up for your hot dinner date."

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