บท 42: A Plan to Save Laws
"I'm pretty sure I know what's going on", I told Paul.
"You do?"
"Yeah, but this is something I need to tell you privately."
"What? You can't trust me?", Aurora seemed offended.
"No, it's not that. It's just that this is a private matter between me and my father. This is something I haven't even told Sylphy, so please don't take offense."
"Hmmf!", She puffed out her cheeks and turned to the side, basically telling us to go on then.
I guided Paul downstairs and we walked to the tavern next door to our inn. There were a lot of people here, but the place was loud and nobody would be listening in on us.
"So regarding Laws", I whispered, instantly grabbing Paul's attention. "I think he's been captured by the seventh prince."
"You mean the boy Roxy was tutoring?"
"Yes, exactly. You see, in my previous timeline, he had captured Lilia and Aisha after the teleportation incident, and was holding them hostage to try and lure Roxy here."
The moment I said that, I saw righteous fury welling up in Paul's face. It seemed he was about to waltz right on up to the Royal Palace and hunt down Pax himself.
"Woah! Woah! Calm down. Everything is fine!"
"That bastard! How dare he! I should cut him down myself!"
Paul's outburst had started gathering the attention of other nearby patrons. Luckily he hadn't mentioned any names yet.
"Calm down, father! I'll go get Laws myself! Don't do anything rash!"
"You think I'm just going to sit back and let you do this yourself! No! I'm coming with you!"
"That's fine. That's fine. Just calm down, and let me explain the plan."
Paul finally realized the rest of the bar had gone silent and everyone else was staring at us. He sat back down and I called out to the barkeep to bring us some drinks. After a short while the barkeep brought us some ale and we started drinking while the rest of the bar got loud again and people lost interest in our outburst.
"The reason Bragg and the other soldier looked ashamed and didn't want to help is most likely because Pax, the seventh prince, is holding their families hostage", I whispered to him.
I briefly saw the anger flash across Paul's face once again, but this time he managed to contain himself and took another sip from his drink.
"In addition to Bragg, the other members of the search group have likely also been conscripted to work for Pax. Laws is most likely being held hostage to keep them in line. Thankfully, we know what Pax is ultimately after, that being Roxy."
"Do you really plan to offer Roxy to him?", Paul asked in disgust.
"Of course not. Pax is an idiot. All we have to do is let it be known that I, Roxy's star pupil, am in town. He will send some guards to come get me in an attempt to hold me hostage to get Roxy's attention."
Paul raised his eyebrow at this.
"Won't that make things even more complicated if you get captured?"
"Heh, do you really think that fool could capture me?"
"I suppose not. So the plan is we go along with the guards and break Laws free when they escort us to prison?"
"Well, if this works out anything like last time, they will likely demand that I come alone. Last time, Ruijerd managed to track down where Pax was keeping the soldier's families hostage and he freed all of them. Without his ability to blackmail his soldier's, Pax's crimes were exposed and he was exiled from the country by his father, the King."
"So then what we really need to do is free those soldier's family members?"
"Exactly. The only problem with that is that I don't know where they are being kept. Ruijerd had freed them, and he had a knack for tracking people down thanks to that sixth sense of his."
"Leave that to me. While you go along with the guards to see Pax, I'll track down the hostages and free them."
"Are you sure you won't need any help?"
"Heh, who do you think you're talking to? You forget that I've spent the past year tracking down all the missing survivors of the displacement incident!"
"Very well. Then we have a plan. Tonight, I'll start putting the word out that I, Rudeus Greyrat, am looking for my esteemed tutor Roxy. Hopefully Pax's soldiers will come find me soon."
We walked back to our room at the Inn. Thankfully Aurora didn't try to tackle me this time.
I explained to Aurora that we found a lead on the location of our friend and would have to leave her alone again. I warned her not to answer the door unless Paul or I announced that it was us, and also that she should keep herself disguised as a commoner and act bedridden if anyone forced their way in.
That night, I went from tavern to tavern spreading the word that I was looking for Roxy. I also made sure to ask any guards about it when I saw them passing on the street. After about two hours of this, I was confident Pax would get word about it. Several of the soldiers looked surprised when I mentioned Roxy's name.
I made my way back to our Inn. Paul was already sleeping in a bedroll on the floor. Aurora was asleep in the bed. I pulled out my own bedroll and tried to get some sleep myself.
In the middle of the night, I was awoken by Aurora sneaking into my bedroll with me. I decided to pretend I was still sleeping and just let her get inside. I wasn't about to complain about having a beautiful woman to sleep next to, and it's not like I'm cheating on Sylphy. It's not like I'm the one sneaking into Aurora's bed.
When morning finally came, I woke up to find Aurora sprawled out on the floor, sound asleep with drool coming from the corner of her mouth. I couldn't help but laugh silently as I got up and started preparing breakfast.
Once Paul and Aurora finally woke up, I had food ready for them. I had prepared some rice that I bought at the market the day before in the midst of my barcrawl and cracked an egg over each serving.
"How very intriguing. I have never eaten rice like this", Aurora said as she took a bite.
"Same here", Paul agreed. "Where did you learn to cook like this?"
"You have to learn such things when you're stuck traveling the world like I was. The food in the Demon Continent isn't to my liking."
"You traveled the Demon Continent?", Aurora asked surprised.
"I was sent there during the displacement incident. I had to travel through it to make my way back home."
"Oh my! That must have been a very difficult time!"
"It wasn't as bad as it sounds. I had two friends who made the journey with me."
"That's good. It is never good to have to journey alone."
I couldn't help but think that Aurora was hinting for us to take her with us. I suppose it's true that she would be helpless if we left her outside the city all on her own.
"This is delicious! I've never had anything like it!", Aurora complimented.
It always felt good when people complimented my cooking. This was one of my favorite nostalgic meals from back in Japan.
Just then, our mealtime was interrupted by a knock at the door.
"Good morning!", a woman called out from the other side of the door. "Is this the room of Rudeus Greyrat?" I recognized the voice to belong to Ginger, Zanoba's trusted aide.
"Yes! I'll be right there!", I answered. I quickly gulped down the rest of my meal and went to the door.
"Would you be Lord Rudeus?", she asked.
"Yes."
Ginger stood up tall and raised her chin to address me formally.
"I am a member of the seventh prince of Shirone's royal guard. My name is Ginger York."
"It is an honor to meet you", I answered.
"Lord Rudeus, may I ask you to accompany me to the royal palace? Lady Roxy has summoned you."
I had to hold back a wry smile from forming on my face as I answered her, "Of course. Let me pack my things and I will be right out!"
I closed the door and went back into my room. Paul and Aurora were still silently seated at the table where we were eating. As I approached them I put my finger to my mouth and shushed them to stay quiet.
"Father, as expected I've been summoned by Pax Shirone."
"By Pax!? Why on earth would he be summoning you?", Aurora blurted out. Thankfully she had remembered to keep her voice down. I don't think Ginger heard her.
"Do not worry, Aurora. I was expecting this, we had business with him. He's going to help us find our missing friend."
"Pax is!?", Aurora seemed appropriately surprised.
"Yes. Trust me. Everything is under control. I will be back later today. Until then, stay hidden in this room and keep watch over our things."
"I trust you", Aurora said with resolve in her eyes.
Paul gave me a nod. He would follow through with his end of our plan.
I decided to leave my staff, Aqua Heartia, in the room and made my way back to Ginger emptyhanded.
"Are you ready to go?", Ginger questioned.
"I'm ready. Please lead the way."
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