Cassian still wore a regretful expression, but the thought of cashing in his reward—soon to fill his pockets with riches—quickly lifted his spirits. After all, he'd have plenty more chances to feel Sher's breasts and explore other parts of her body if he played his cards right.
With that comforting thought, he asked, "So, where are we eating tonight?"
They continued deeper into the building, surprisingly heading underground. The halls grew shadier, lined with barred windows and metal doors that resembled jail cells. Oddly, Cassian couldn't sense any of them being occupied. The security presence here was much heavier than outside, with guards stationed every few meters. Their path eventually led to a narrow staircase spiraling downward.
Sher thought for a moment as they descended the stairs. "Well, there's this one good restaurant that serves amazing raw fish dishes—well, not exactly raw, more like smoked or something," she said, her voice echoing slightly in the narrow space. She continued, "Or how about roasted pig? They cook it right in front of you. It's pretty nice, watching your food being prepared while sipping wine and nibbling on some cheese."
"Both sound nice…" Cassian replied, a bit distracted as he glanced down, surprised he still couldn't see the bottom of the staircase.
"Yeah, but forget those. I'll take you to my favorite place. I've been going there since I first came to this city," Sher said with a smile.
Cassian found it surprising. He'd always thought of Sher as cold, someone who minded her own business and preferred giving orders with that sharp, commanding tone of hers. But this—talking casually like a friend—was new. Maybe it was because he was technically on a break from work, but it felt nice. Still, here and there, little traces of her authoritative personality slipped through.
Sher's smile lingered for a moment before her expression shifted, her tone slipping back into familiar territory—sharp and authoritative.
"Oh, and don't get too relaxed," she added, glancing over her shoulder at Cassian. "Make sure you're keeping up with the case files. There might be new reports coming in soon, and I don't want you slacking off just because you're technically 'on break.'"
"Yeah, yeah, I got it," he replied, stuffing his hands into his pockets as they continued down the seemingly endless staircase. "Wouldn't want to disappoint you, boss."
Sher smirked and said, "Damn right you wouldn't," as they finally reached the bottom of the stairs, stopping in front of a large door guarded by two men. Cassian could immediately sense they were Circle Warriors—stronger than him, but nowhere near Sher's level. Both guards saluted her before pressing their hands against etched markings on the door. A series of glowing magical circles lit up, casting a faint glow over the dim staircase behind them. The sound of shifting gears filled the air, followed by a loud metallic click as the door unlocked.
Cassian couldn't help but hope for a treasure room filled with gleaming riches beyond the door, but instead, there was another door just a few meters ahead. This one was larger, with an actual keyhole, and guarded by another Circle Warrior. Unlike the others, this guard's face was hidden behind a dirty, makeshift cloth mask with only two ragged holes for eyes. Despite trying, Cassian couldn't catch a glimpse of the person's eyes. Their clothes were rough, worn, and far from the standard guard uniform.
Without acknowledging them, Sher walked past as if the man didn't exist. The masked guard used a black key hanging from his neck to unlock the door. Cassian followed Sher, still trying to get a glimpse of the man's eyes, but failing. Once the door was shut behind them, the guard silently returned to his post.
Beyond the door was yet another large, imposing door with a keyhole but no guard this time. Sher pulled out a black key identical to the last and slid it into the lock. As she turned it, she casually said, "Oh, you were supposed to take an oath of confidentiality before entering the treasure vault, but I'm sure it won't be necessary for you. Just… try to keep whatever you see inside to yourself."
As the door creaked open, Cassian instinctively held his breath, expecting to be greeted by the dazzling sight of towering piles of gold, heaps of glittering jewels, and ornate treasures studded with rubies and priceless crystals. But what met his eyes was something entirely different.
The vault wasn't some chaotic hoard of wealth—it was meticulously organized, resembling a high-end shop straight out of the city's bazaar. Sleek glass display cases lined the walls, each item carefully placed under soft, enchanted lighting that highlighted their details. Weapons gleamed on stands, their blades polished to perfection. Ancient scrolls were sealed in crystal tubes, and artifacts sat neatly on velvet cushions inside transparent boxes. Even the smallest trinkets were displayed with the care of rare masterpieces.
Cassian blinked, his surprise evident. "This… isn't what I expected."
Sher chuckled softly, not even sparing the treasures a second glance as she strolled in. "What? You thought there'd be mountains of gold coins just lying around? Maybe a dragon curled up on top for good measure?"
Cassian huffed, rubbing the back of his neck. "I wouldn't have minded." His eyes darted from one display to another, drawn to a peculiar dagger with a black blade that seemed to drink in the light. "This looks more like a museum than a vault."
"That's because it's not just a vault," Sher replied, her tone casual as she approached a sealed pedestal in the center of the room. "Everything here isn't just valuable—it's dangerous. Some of these items could cause millions to die if they ended up in the wrong hands." She tapped the glass case lightly, the faint ripple of magical runes responding to her touch. "Gold's easy to get. This? This is what people kill for."
Cassian's curiosity grew as he stepped closer to one of the displays—a ring with an eerie dark green gem that looked more like a drop of flowing liquid than a solid stone. His reflection rippled across its shifting surface, but his eyes kept drifting back to the ring, drawn in by its strange allure.
"What does this do?" he asked without thinking.
Sher didn't even bother to glance back. "You don't want to know," she replied flatly, then added, "But if you're tempted to pick it—which I'd strongly advise against—try using your domain to get a feel for it. There are other things here much better suited for you."