章 32: The Adventurers' Guild
Translator: Cinder Translations
...
Paul Grayman walked with Morrison through the room, asking, "Is there any treasure or the like here?"
"I'm not sure about that. The Shark Gang's finances are managed very strictly, and only a few core members usually know about it. However, about two hours ago, a group of people came and took away some large and small boxes."
"It seems they really did flee with the money. Pray to the Lord of Light that they get what's coming to them. But to have internal strife at a time like this, they really don't know what's good for them."
Morrison looked puzzled. "Internal strife? I've never seen pirates have internal strife before."
Paul asked, "Then what about the bodies of those pirates?"
Morrison looked bewildered. "Didn't your men do it? I heard the commotion and hid."
Paul panicked upon hearing this, immediately ordering the surrounding soldiers, "Stay alert, there may be others lying in ambush here." Afterward, he loaded ammunition into his pistol from a powder bottle.
The soldiers were extremely vigilant, escorting the count to the ground floor lobby.
At this moment, a soldier ran out from a nearby corridor and stood in front of Paul, reporting, "Report! Supervisor Cecil found a basement, where some suspicious individuals were discovered and have now all been disarmed. However, they claim they are not pirates and seek your guidance on how to proceed."
"Oh? So there really are other people here in this church. Let's go, lead the way."
...
"We've said it countless times already, we're not pirates. Have you ever seen a beautiful girl pirate like me?"
The leader of the Lichman Adventurer's Guild, Meru Hammer, protested loudly with a furrowed brow. Currently, her hands were bound, and this was the only way she could vent her frustration.
However, no matter how much she protested, the stern-faced man remained indifferent, just standing with his arms crossed.
"Neither are you killing us, nor are you releasing us, what do you want?" Meru asked loudly again, but her words fell on deaf ears once more.
The green-haired girl with the scholar's hat advised, "Meru, stop shouting for now. I guess this person is waiting for his superiors to handle us."
Sigh, this is really a mess! Dean sighed inwardly.
At first, everything was going smoothly. After two strange noises were heard outside the city, most of the pirates guarding the church were reassigned. They ambushed near the church and waited quietly for a while. Fortunately, there were already very few pirates left in the church, and a group of them carried several large boxes out on carts toward the docks. They judged that the pirates couldn't hold out any longer and planned to flee, so they had to seize the opportunity. If the pirates transferred the hostages later, it would be disastrous.
The members of the adventurers' guild displayed their talents and launched a surprise attack on the church. There were still a few pirates left in the church, probably checking for any important items left behind. However, in terms of combat effectiveness, they were no match at all and were quickly dealt with. After the battle, they carefully searched the church and found an entrance to a basement at the end of a corridor. Upon descending, they found only Susan's grandfather, who had been tortured to unconsciousness. Their initial target, the young master Burn of the Horn Bay Alliance, was not here.
Team leader Meru Hammer made a quick decision to let the green-haired girl, Ladia, help Susan's grandfather back first, while the others went to chase the pirates. However, just as they were about to return to the surface, they heard the sound of footsteps from above, so they had to retreat back to the basement.
Upon entering the basement with the intelligence officer Cecil and his soldiers, they noticed the presence of people inside and immediately ordered these "pirates" to surrender their weapons. Cecil declared that Lord Paul's army had arrived and resistance would be futile to the end.
The adventuring party finally understood that the attack on Frand was carried out by the local lord's army. They hurriedly explained that they were not pirates but adventurers who had come to rescue kidnapped hostages.
The naturally suspicious intelligence chief was not easily convinced and insisted that the adventurers disarm. The party leader, Meru Hamer, being impatient, clashed with him. Just as tensions were escalating, Dean and Ladia, the usually level-headed members of the party, intervened and persuaded their leader to comply. Reluctantly, the group surrendered their weapons, and Cecil ordered their hands bound before sending someone to inform Paul.
Time ticked by slowly, and after what felt like an eternity to the adventurers, someone finally descended the stairs into the basement.
"A boy?" The group looked puzzled after seeing the newcomer.
Paul asked, "Are these the suspicious individuals you caught?" There was a pink-haired flat-chested girl, a blue-haired young man, a yellow-haired punk, and a green-haired girl wearing a scholar's hat, whose features were difficult to discern due to the hat and dim lighting.
Cecil respectfully replied, "Yes, sir. They claim to be adventurers from the south, here to rescue hostages kidnapped by pirates. But I thought it best to exercise caution."
Paul nodded. "Hmm, you did well."
He turned to the adventurers. "So, how do you prove your identity?"
The members of the Leechman Adventuring Party were surprised. Judging from the boy's voice, he was clearly going through puberty, making him around fifteen years old. It seemed quite young for a lord.
Meru urgently said, "You're the lord here? We really are here to rescue people. Please release us."
Dean, feeling despair, whispered to Meru, "Leader, we're like lambs to the slaughter right now. At least address him with some respect. He's a noble of his own domain, not as easygoing as the nobles we're used to. I heard these northern lords are tough and ruthless. If we rub him the wrong way, he could easily find an excuse to chop us up, and who would listen to reason then?"
Seeing them whispering, Paul became wary. "What are you whispering about? I warn you not to conspire!"
Dean was about to explain when their silent companion, Ladia, suddenly spoke up. "Esteemed lord, I believe you should prioritize the safety of your people. The old man beside you, tortured by pirates until he's unconscious, is the local mayor. Please lend a hand. His family can vouch for our identity."
Paul looked at the green-haired girl speaking and she met his gaze, revealing her face.
She wore the attire of a traveling scholar, fully covered, with a face that exuded a charm far beyond ordinary women. Her eyes, however, held a rare crimson hue in this world.
As Paul locked eyes with her, he felt a subtle glint in the girl's crimson pupils. Was it an illusion?
A slight dizziness washed over him, and he shook his head to dispel the feeling, thinking, "Ah, last night's excitement for the siege got the better of me, stayed up all night. Now my spirits are low. I really need to catch up on sleep."
He suppressed the urge to yawn and said, "Alright, you have a point. Cecil, do you know the mayor of Frand?"
Cecil looked embarrassed. "Sorry, sir. I know the mayor is an old man, but I'm not sure what he looks like exactly."
"Go find a medic to tend to the old man and get some townsfolk to confirm his identity," Paul ordered. The steward in charge of territorial affairs, Ford, might know the local mayor, but he hadn't come with the army.
"Yes, sir!" Cecil responded, signaling two soldiers to carry the old man out.
Paul turned to the adventurers. "As for you, you'll wait until the old man wakes up and confirms your innocence before you can leave." He wouldn't easily believe one side just because there was a beautiful woman among them.
Dean spoke up, "My lord, when we arrived, the mayor was already unconscious. He doesn't recognize us. But you can find his granddaughter, Susan, to testify for us." He then provided Susan's address.
Paul agreed, "I'll bring her immediately. I hope you are truly innocent."
No one noticed the green-haired girl nearby letting out a sigh of relief.
(End of this chapter)
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