The grandiose ball room resembled an odd mixture of high tech meets medieval, with nobility and officials milling about in their finest, whether that be a decorated uniform of a general or the flowing ball gown of a lady – to contrast this, robotic sentries sat motionless at their stations near the entrances and every couple of feet around the walls. They were mostly ignored, unless you were trying to get into the party. In which case you had to present the uniquely crafted ring that had been sent out as invitation to attend this gala. 

Shara played with the ring she had received, twirling it around her ring finger over and over again. She had abandoned her usual attire for this gala, instead being forced into a simplistic black dress cinched at the waist with a wide band. On her right wrist was a rather peculiar bracelet, and she wore flat shoes. No one couldn't force her into anything heeled. Heels meant tripping, and tripping when you were in her line of work meant something worse than a sprained ankle.

As she walked up to a sentry to be permitted in, she had to wonder where her partner, Atlas, was. She held out her ring for the robot to scan, and the robot let out a small [i]beep[/i] as the light from it's singular eye pinpointed the signet on the face of the ring.[b] “Welcome to the gala, Miss Kazan.”[/b] It finally said as it regained it's upright posture.

She felt her heart leap to her throat. [i]What the fuck?! How does it know that name?[/i] She pulled her hand back and glanced about, making sure no one was close.[b] “T-thank you.”[/b] Shara mumbled and marched away from the sentry with a determined stride, refusing to look back at it. [i]If it knows, then somebody else here knows. The person who hired me? That would make the most sense... Whatever! I'll think about it later, this isn't the time for that.[/i] She glanced about the room, looking first for Atlas, who she did not yet see, and then for the Archduke. She had received a photograph of him, and she visually recalled it in her head.

Male, mid to late thirties, usually wears ornate armor, even to events such as these... As Shara scanned the crowd, she noticed a small gathering around a male fitting exactly that description. 

[center][hider=the Archduke]

[img]http://i.imgur.com/gcXpffM.jpg[/img][/hider][/center]

She couldn't help but think that the cape was a bit... flamboyant. As she examined him, his eyes flicked to her and she felt a chill run down her spine as they locked eyes. He gave her a small smile, polite if you didn't notice the look in his eyes. [i]Why does every single nobleman have to be a lecherous pig?[/i] Shara couldn't help but suppress a sigh and return the smile charismatically. She [i]was[/i] here to get closer to him, and he was used to people giving him praise. He seemed self-important, even from this distance.

She faded into the crowd once again, so that she could watch him from a distance. Those around him seemed to hail from all walks of importance. Out of the fourteen, at least four were extremely well off merchants – the way they held themselves without the proper etiquette demanded from nobility was an easy tell. They didn't hold themselves like warriors, but a surprising amount did. Five warriors, or at least people used to combat, stood around him. Three were in the clothing of generals in the Empire's army, while two seemed like extremely lethal mercenaries. The two mercenaries, one obviously male from his muscled body and the other androgynous, set Shara slightly on edge.

Out of the fourteen, nine were not born nobility. That surprised her greatly, men like him usually didn't associate with anyone less than a lordling. The other five were nobility, three men and two women, obvious from their attire and the way they looked down their noses at everyone save for each other and the Archduke. The group was so varied that Shara could have spotted something amiss a mile away, yet no one else seemed to pay the odd gathering any mind. [i]I guess that's what kind of power comes with being the Archduke.[/i]

She would have to learn the names of those in question, yet how? How do you approach people mingling with somebody that high up on the social food chain? She looked through the people again, trying to pick out one of the weaker links. 

[i]Bingo.[/i] One of the merchants, a chubby man wearing slightly less expensive clothing than the rest. They could follow him out of the gala, and begin there... She would record the appearances of the rest of those gathered. She wouldn't touch the mercenaries with a hundred-foot pole, yet she still included them as she activated her bracelet. It barely made any sound as it snapped photos of each of those she indicated. She made sure to keep moving and appearing to mingle with the other guests. Most everyone, especially the younger noblegirls, only required her to compliment them and give them a small bow. They would walk away pleased and happy after receiving flowery words, and they helped keep her cover up.

Now, where was Atlas and what was he doing?