In Chapter 2 of Valor Mortis, you can find An Unheard Farewell, an optional quest that is easy to miss entirely. With no map or quest marker to guide you, finding your way depends on landmarks and climbing. An Adjudant trapped in a wrecked wagon asks about the scouts he sent out ahead; completing his request rewards you with the Sleight of Hand Amber and the Aggressive Reconnaissance achievement.
Quick answer: Talk to the Adjudant in the overturned wagon in the Valley of Ashes, clear the infected lift, burn into the hidden cave, defeat the scout commander, grab the orders, then return and report back for the Sleight of Hand Amber.
Where to find the Adjudant in the Valley of Ashes
The quest takes place in the Valley of Ashes in Chapter 2, unlocked after your first battle against General Lothaire. Fast travel to the Guidepost Lantern, then stay on the sole road ahead. At a wooden ledge, turn right and jump over to the opposite side.
A large enemy that hurls grenades, the Risen Grenadier, will appear ahead; spotting it means you are headed the right way. Take it down and get beyond the shattered cage. The Adjudant Sous-Officier then calls to you from an overturned military carriage stuck above the road.
The wagon sits above you, so the talk prompt is easy to miss. Stand underneath it and aim your view upward until the interact prompt appears.
Speak with him and select Help to take on the quest. He wants you to learn the fate of the men he dispatched into the dark.
Reach the cave below the broken bridge
Defeat the scout commander and take the orders
In the cavern, which is dark and flooded, the scout commander remains: a corrupted mini-boss and the unit’s sole survivor still on his feet. His speed and large health pool make distance useful; use fire transmutation and toss any grenades you kept. Once you recognize his rushing attack pattern, the encounter becomes much easier to handle.
After the fight, go to the cave’s far end. You will find Pure Blade Material in an ornate red chest, while the officer’s orders rest on a crate next to a lantern. Take the document named Letter to All Commanding Officers of the Line Infantry; the Adjudant needs this item.
Exit the cave using the wooden ladder beside the note on its left. Make your way along the cliffside scaffolding and collect anything you come across, continuing until you are back atop the broken bridge. Knock down the shortcut ladder to return directly to the road near the wagon.
Tell the truth or lie: the second reward
Return to the Adjudant and speak with him to choose between Tell the truth and Lie. Either response finishes the quest and awards the Sleight of Hand Amber, but changes the conversation’s tone and the extra item you receive later. No matter your answer, the Adjudant persuades himself that his comrades charged off eagerly after the enemy.
| Choice | Second reward | Where to collect it |
|---|---|---|
| Tell the truth | Catalyst Clot | Rest at any Lantern, then return to the wagon |
| Lie |  Remnant’s Return | Rest at any Lantern, then return to the cave by the lift |
Remnant’s Returns are less common, and they let you reclaim lost Catalysts without trekking back to where you died, so lying is the practical pick if you want that item. Either way, rest at a Lantern first to trigger the follow-up, then the second reward appears.
Sleight of Hand Amber effect and how to equip it
After you give your report, a QUEST COMPLETE prompt appears, the Sleight of Hand Amber is added to your inventory, and the Aggressive Reconnaissance achievement unlocks. If completion does not trigger, check that you broke both red bulbs at the upper lift and battled the scout commander; locating the remains by itself will not complete the quest.
Sleight of Hand makes firearms reload faster and lets you switch weapons more quickly. Equip the Amber in your loadout by interacting with a Lantern. It is a simple quality-of-life boost if you use pistols often or change between your current and previous weapon during combat.
Items you pick up during the quest
Two notable items pass through your hands on this run. Pure Blade Material comes from the red chest in the cave, and Remnant’s Return is the lie-path reward. Here is what each one is worth and does.
| Item | Use | Buy | Sell |
|---|---|---|---|
 Pure Blade Material | Upgrades blades (Saber, Rapier, Claymore) | $3,000 | — |
| Remnant’s Return | Absorbs Catalysts lost on death automatically | 1,000 | 500 |
Pure Blade Material feeds blade upgrades from level 5 onward, taking one unit for a Claymore level 5 and up to three for level 7, so holding onto it pays off once your melee weapon starts demanding it. Remnant’s Return stacks up to 99 and saves you the backtrack to a death spot, which is why it is the more useful of the two second rewards if you tend to die far from a Lantern.
