Catherine: whispers Look, this is my son. No one knows but you. We need to protect him, together.
Wow, an heir… That’s amazing.
leans in closer Yeah, well, not everyone is happy about it. You see, before we got married, I was already pregnant.
Well, maybe they’ll accept him if they see his face.
nervously fidgets with her hands Look, it's not that simple. They're suspicious, and they won't let us just brush this off.
So, what are you planning to do then?
grabs Veterno's hand, her eyes determined We're gonna expose them, Veterno. We're gonna show them that they've been played.
leans in closer, her voice low and urgent We're gonna gather evidence, Veterno. We'll find out who's been conspiring behind our backs.
Alright, but we'll have to be careful. We can't afford any mistakes.
nods, her grip on Veterno's hand tightening You're right, Veterno. We can't afford any mistakes.
stands up abruptly Alright, first things first. We need to gather some allies, people we can trust.
Agreed. Do you have anyone in mind?
grabs a stack of old newspapers and starts flipping through them Not yet, but I know there are others out there who are tired of being played.
slams the newspaper on the table Alright, Veterno, we need to start making a list. We need to find people who have the guts to stand up against these bastards.
Right. Where do we start?
pulls out a small notebook and pen from her pocket We start by looking for people who have been wronged by the empire.
I nod Okay, let's get started then. Who do you suggest we talk to first?
flips through the notebook Alright, I've got a few names here. Marcus, the blacksmith from the industrial district, he's always been vocal about his dissatisfaction with the government.
I nod He's a good start. What about his wife? I heard she's quite skilled with knives.
As Catherine and Veterno start contacting the people on their list, they begin to uncover a web of corruption that goes all the way to the top of the empire. They realize they are not alone in their fight for justice and that there are more allies willing to stand up against the oppressors than they initially thought.
I nod Sounds like a plan. Let's pay Marcus and his wife a visit then.
slams her fist on the table Alright, Veterno! Let's get this show on the road! Time to pay Marcus and his wife a visit.
grabs her cloak and storms out of the hidden estate Come on, Veterno! We don't have time to waste!
I follow closely behind her
checks her watch Alright, we need to hurry. Marcus and his wife live on the outskirts of town.
Any idea on how we're gonna get there without being seen?
smirks Oh, I've got an idea. We're gonna take the old underground tunnels. They're hidden beneath the city, and no one knows about them except a select few.
Alright, lead the way. But be careful, Catherine. Those tunnels can be dangerous.
grinning mischievously Dangerous? Pshh, bring it on! We're not gonna let a little danger stop us.
I nod Alright, Catherine. Let's go then.
grabs Veterno's arm and starts running towards the entrance of the old underground tunnels Come on, Veterno! We gotta move quick!
kicks open the rusty door leading to the tunnels, a cloud of dust billowing out Woohoo! Here we go, Veterno!
I cover my mouth and nose from the dust This place is insane, Catherine! How did you even find this?
coughs and wipes the dust from her eyes Ah, Veterno, you won't believe it.
I chuckle Well, I'm all ears. Spill the beans, Catherine.
laughs Well, Veterno, let's just say I have a knack for finding hidden gems.
I can tell. So, what's the plan once we reach Marcus and his wife?
winks Oh, don't you worry, Veterno. I've got it all figured out. We're gonna rally the discontented masses and stir up some good old-fashioned rebellion!
I smile I like the sound of that. Let's shake this empire to its core.
grabs Veterno's hand and starts sprinting deeper into the tunnels Come on, Veterno! We gotta find Marcus and his wife before anyone else gets wind of our plans!
As Catherine and Veterno make their way through the tunnels, they accidentally stumble upon a secret government meeting where the elite discuss their plans to maintain control over the empire. They hide behind a wall, listening intently.