The smile that Lucius gave made Storm's heart run cold.
It was the smile of a man that knew he had the leverage required to force someone into something.
Something that Storm would probably find unpleasant.
"You are correct with your last statement, I was approached by a member of the Arcanium staff to assist in getting some supplies out of the island without anyone noticing.
He was the Magister of Logistics and Supply in fact. I believe he went by the name 'Benedict Ignatius '.
I head that he'd been incarcerated in the Arcanium Mage's Prison for fraud." Explained Lucius.
Leyocan eyed his counterpart suspiciously.
"I take it he never reached this Prison, did he?"
Lucius shook his head.
"Dissappeared without a trace while on route to the prison and cleverly replaced with a different prisoner using his name.
Whatever he discovered, someone in an powerful position doesn't want exposed.
And they went through a great deal of trouble to make him disappear. "
Storm's heart sank.
"Do you think they...?" Started Storm.
"I doubt they killed him! If they wanted him dead, they wouldn't have fabricated his charges and had him incarcerated.
They would have simply killed him 'resisting arrest ' when they came for him.
Presumably they want to interrogate him. Find out if anyone else know their plans.
Once they have what they want though, he'll only be an liability." Explained Lucius.
"Which means I need to act fast!!" Thought Storm.
"Do you have any leads on what he might have discovered that resulted in his capture?" Asked Aurora.
"I'm afraid not, Milady. He didn't tell us what he discovered, but he left something for us.
A few days after his capture, we received a message that was scheduled to be sent to us if he ever failed to report in.
It mentioned that he'd hidden all documents related to his investigation in a secret chamber in his office, as well as details of how to access this hidden space.
"I don't suppose his office is somewhere easily entered?" Asked Storm.
Lucius laughed.
"When has it ever been easy?
His office is located in the Magistrates Wing of the Arcanium.
That is regularly patrolled by latest Model of Sentry Golems that doesn't require sleep, can't be fooled by magic, and are virtually indestructible.
Including one Golem that reportably never leaves the office.
Leyocan glared at Lucius.
"And I suppose you know how to get past these things?"
"Unfortunately not. These Golems were designed to replace the old models and have been improved in every way.
They're faster, stronger, with better weapons, and senses that can even see through magic.
Fortunately for my people, they have not been mass produced yet, and are only located in the Arcanium.
It's only a matter of time until they flood the streets, but there may be a way to delay their release and discover any hidden weaknesses. " Explained Lucius.
He took a sip of water before continuing with his account.
"We've recently 'acquired' the inventor of those Golems, unfortunately he didn't reveal any weaknesses in the design and one of our novices were a bit to.... 'enthusiastic'... with our persuasion and he has expired and has been disposed of.
We did discover that there is a vault at the Arcanium that houses the original diagrams of those Golems.
That hopefully might contain the information we need.
I can get you 3 into the academy.
But I want those diagrams in exchange for getting you inside." Explained Lucius.
"Absolutely not!! If those diagrams are as important as you say!
Then stealing them will immediately raise the alarm!" Exclaimed Leyocan.
"I trust that you will find a way, 'brother '. You are the best infiltrator and burglar amongst the Nogitsune, are you not?!
Or has the tales of your exploits been exaggerated?"
Leyocan was silent as he considered his options.
"I make no promises to my success!
And I refuse to place my companions at risk for this, but I will try and recover those diagrams. " said Leyocan.
Lucius grinned.
"Excellent. You will take the inventor's place, Leyocan.
I'll have all information on him brought to you.
As well as an amulet that will mask your features and make you resembled the 'late' inventor.
"What about them? They have their own investigation to perform?" Asked Leyocan as he gestured to Storm and Aurora.
"Well... i did 'acquire' the identities of two newly inducted Arcanium members.
If they can manage to play these roles, then I can provide them for you.
I suggest that you 3 study your identities closely, it could mean the difference between you escaping, or you having to spend the rest of your lives as a wizard's pet." Explained Lucius.
With the meeting over, Lucius gave them the location of a safehouse where they could plan their infiltration and where they can stay when not at the Arcanium.
When they entered the safe house, they found 3 large packages waiting for them on a desk.
Inside were detailed information for 3 different mages.
Everything from Family history, hobbies, notable achievements and even their favorite foods, were stored in each package.
"How did they even get all this stuff?" Asked Aurora.
Lucius often arranges that mages gets kidnapped and interrogated for this information.
He then arranges that someone takes over their identities once he has what he needs." Explained Leyocan.
"And what happens to these mages once he's done?!" Asked Storm.
"They're usually killed and quietly disposed of when they are no longer useful.
Or he keeps them around and let's them take the fall for whatever crimes his infiltrators commit while using these cover strories.
Either way, they won't be a problem for us!" Explained Leyocan.
Leyocan's package contained a larger and thicker stack of information than the other two.
As the individual that he was meant to copy had interacted with more people than the ones Storm and Aurora had copied, his file was considerably larger than theirs.
Storm and Aurora meanwhile was going to enter without using external magic to alter their faces to those of the people they were pretending to be.
Instead, the fey hiding in their bodies would produce a hypnotic glamor that fooled anyone looking at them, into seeing the faces of their covers.