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Nicholas contemplated Kell’s words as he looked out at the night scene before him. He then took in a deep breath and asked, «And you want me to help you prevent this?»

Kell smiled and turned his head slowly to Nicholas, «Yes, of course, Mr. Winters.»

«And you will provide me with British citizenship and continued access to my funds?»

«British citizenship and access to your accounts I can guarantee–”

«And I want safe passage to London after I complete my mission here,” he interrupted.

«London?» Kell asked with a furrowed brow. «London,” he whispered as he turned to analyze the Chinese painting on the bed. «Travel may have to wait for there is much to do here. But really, Mr. Winters, what your ambitions are in regards to your future destinations is none of my concern.»

«Fine then, how is it that I can help you prevent this future war?»

«Good, Mr. Winters, good,” he said with a sly grin as he placed his glass on the round table. «The Righteous and Harmonious Fists are boxers, but you know the fighting styles of this land as taught to you by your manservant, Yao Xi Wang.»

«That was long ago.»

«You have a sufficient understanding of Mandarin, do you not, Mr. Winters?»

He laughed, «I understand maybe twenty percent of what is said.»

«You are able to read Japanese, and thus, Chinese characters.»

«Yes, but no more than any novice.»

«These are all fine, Mr. Winters. You see we want you to be kidnapped by this secret society and you have already, unwillingly, made contact with one who could bring you to them.»

«Who?» he asked puzzled.

«The girl from the calligraphy gallery. The gallery is a front. She is there to bring in foreigners from the Astor House, gain their friendship, or love, and get whatever information she can regarding their political, military, or economic intent in Shanghai.

«She already believes you to be of very high social standing considering the room you are able to afford at this hotel.»

«She knows which room I am in?»

«Yes, of course, Mr. Winters. This hotel employs so many Chinamen. They observe and report.»

«And you want me to do the same, report from their end?»

«Exactly.»

«And how will I report back?»

«We have the technology that will enable you to communicate with us through Morse code. But, we will get to that later. For now we want you to report back on the obvious: their leaders, their numbers, their locations, their networks, their weapons, and so forth, but we want you to pay particular attention toward this energy source called Chi or Qi that is supposedly being utilized by the master fighters among them. If you ask me it is silly superstition emanating from the imagination of a people feeling the adverse effects of opium. But there is concern that if these Qi masters are able to accomplish what they say they can: super human strength, skin resistant to strong cuts, bodies resistant to bullets, then their numbers could obviously overwhelm ours. Again, it is foolishness, much akin to the Ghost Dances of the Sioux Indians, but my superiors want to know more. Perhaps if this Qi energy can be harnessed it can be used to power our machines and gone are the days of steam,” he quickly scoffed at the idea. «In any case, it is late, Mr. Winters. For now we are watching you and you are safe. Rest for tomorrow there is much to discuss, and much to do.»

He took his Victorian top hat from the bed and made for the door, but before he made his exit, he turned to face Nicholas and said, «Since you are now one of us, Mr. Winters, a shadow man, the name is, Vernon; Vernon George Waldegrave Kell.» He bowed his head and said before he closed the door, «I bid you good night.»

And as Kell made his way down the dark hall toward the lift he smiled at how easy it was to turn Nicholas to their side and whispered, «If he only knew that it was us who destroyed the Maine.»

Domenico Italo Compost—Hart (TheLegacyCycle) is the author of Dark Legacy: Book I - Trinity of The Legacy Cycle series. He was born and raised in Chicago, Illinois. He studied Archaeology and Anthropology at Boston University and lived in Tokyo, Japan for over three years pursuing a career as a freelance musician.

He currently teaches American and modern European history, geography, and economics at an international high school. He lives with his wife and son in Barcelona, Spain.

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