So, we wound up heading back to the guild. It was Zaion’s suggestion that we turn the badges in and then use the bodies as compost for his mushrooms. He was fairly confident, and detailed, about how well they could get the bodies to decompose. The only problem, apparently, was the actual bones, which would need to be recovered and ground up to add to the soil.

  By the time we got back to the guild, I knew far more than I wanted about the process of disposing of unwanted corpses using mycology. I, creepily enough, also got the Gardening skill just from his explanation.

  Gardening

  Whether it’s growing your own food and herbs or making a bare plot of earth look pretty, you are now more capable of maintaining a garden.

  Tier 0: You know that seeds go in the dirt and they need to be watered occasionally.

  Inside the guild house, I got back in line with Zaion. It was shorter so we didn’t wait long before Zaion dropped the adventurer’s ID on the counter. “I would like to report an attempted assault.”

  I covered my face with my hand and tried not to groan as the clerk asked us to wait while he consulted with someone. We stepped off to the side, and I finally said, “Really, Zaion? Attempted assault?”

  “Is that not what they were attempting?” Zaion said with his neutral tone. “The fact that they are now dead is why it was attempted.”

  “I think it still counts as assault, even if you kill them for it.” I muttered. I didn’t actually know, since I was still only passably familiar with the laws of the world, let alone the ones of the city.

  We waited for several minutes while other clerks ushered people through the lines, taking care of normal business. Eventually, the clerk helping us came back and escorted us towards an office I’d been in before. Sure enough, a bird man with tawny brown feathers wearing a vest walked in. There was a disappointed cooing sound as he went to sit behind the desk. “How many?” He asked.

  “Four.” Zaion noted, and set the badges on the man’s desk. “They likely followed us from the guildhouse.”

  Pathos, the guildmaster, took the one that identified the tier 2 woman and sighed, “Haley had some potential too. A shame.” He flicked it back into the pile with the other three. “I assume you had a reason.”

  Zaion produced the pouch and held it out to the guildmaster. The birdman’s brow lifted as he took it. After taking the note and giving it a once over, he let out a cooing sigh, “And just when I thought the situation couldn’t get more complicated.”

  “What’s the problem? If you don’t mind me asking.” I said as I took a seat opposite Pathos. Zaion took the other one as soon as I was seated.

  “The Xianite Construction Group is trying to pin Paige with criminal conspiracy and interference charges. They’re using the assault as an excuse to label her as a dangerous member of society, regardless of if it was justified.” The man started massaging his temples with two taloned fingers. “Unfortunately, they have proof she maliciously interfered with their agents while they investigated the sinkholes.”

  I blinked, “What?”

  “They claim the adventurers that she stabbed were agents of the XGC, and she was preventing them from doing their job. The more absurd claim, which we have evidence to refute, is that she actively revealed company secrets to hurt their business.” The man sounded exhausted as he told us this. “Considering the secrets that got revealed were the Prius Cicada nests.”

  “Why go through all this? It doesn’t make any sense.” I complained.

  “I don’t know why, but they want Paige in jail, and we can’t really do much to keep her out of it. All we can do is hold her for a few more days, then we have to turn her over regardless of whether or not our own internal investigation is ongoing. Which, it isn’t. We already know all the claims are mirages.” Pathos let out another cooing sigh.

  “And we can’t prove Jason sent those people after us, since they’re dead now…” I said, turning to look at Zaion. Zaion, for his part, did not look the least apologetic.

  “No, and now we have to hold Zaion as well while we investigate THAT incident.” Pathos said, staring at the elf. “I understand why you did it, but if you’d shown a little restraint this would be much simpler.”

  Zaion just nodded, not saying anything. I didn’t take that as a good sign. I asked, “So, do I need to stay too?”

  “No, fortunately for you there is enough mitigating circumstances to say you were just ‘caught up’ in it. It’s nonsense, but whoever is doing all of this is taking pains to leave you specifically out of it.” Pathos said, pointing at me. “And I don’t blame them.”

  “My father?” I asked, already knowing the answer.

  “Your father.” He confirmed. “He shields you a great deal, even while away. Though if he doesn’t make an appearance soon, people may wonder if he’s dead.”

  “Calmar just came back from a visit with him. Apparently he’s just camped out on a lower floor.” I told the guildmaster. “I’d think a fresh round of supplies from the dungeon would be enough to lay that to rest.”

  Taken from Royal Road, this narrative should be reported if found on Amazon.

  The birdman nodded, “That’s good to hear.”

  There was quiet as Pathos started to go through the pouch, counting out the crystals and other things that were inside. Besides the crystals and the note, there were a couple of rings, a small vial of blue liquid bundled in a bunch of cloth, and a small metal disc. When Pathos focused a little on it, his features softened, “Oh dear.”

  I leaned in to get a closer look as a small display appeared from the disc. On it was a boy with a silver collar around his neck. He looked like he’d been crying recently. The boy was holding a sign that said Do as we say, or you’ll get the other nine. As I looked closer… the boy was missing his fourth finger on his left hand.

  “What the fuck…” I said, leaning back into my seat.

  “Unfortunately a common tactic.” Pathos said as he turned the display off. “At least they didn’t put the seals on him, though I doubt we’ll be able to find him to rescue him. If he isn’t dead by the end of the day or sold to a slaver, I’d be surprised.”

  “Despicable.” Zaion muttered. “It is not the first time I have seen such cruelty, though.”

  “So… this is normal?” I said, unable to fully process it. “People just… kidnap children, slap collars on them and blackmail their parents?”

  “It is usually more subtle than that, but yes. To those with more power, wealth, or influence those without are just tools. Or products, in some cases.” Pathos leaned back in his own seat and stared up at the ceiling. “It’s a miracle there are some good people around in the world still with how rotten things have gotten.”

  Anger flashed through me and I slammed my hand on his desk. The wood cracked, “And what is the guild doing about it?! If you’re upset by it, what are you doing to fix it?!”

  “What we can…” Pathos said with a voice that sounded tired. “By design, we aren’t an army. We can’t sanction actions that would get us thrown out of the country, or worse. As frustrating as it is here, it’s better even a country over. Slavery is outlawed in Octavia. Gehlgar you won’t have any privacy, but everyone gets the same start.”

  “So, what? If you don’t like it, leave?” I asked, wondering where he was going with it.

  “That’s not what I’m saying.” Pathos said, returning his gaze to me. “What I am saying, is if you don’t like how the world is, get strong enough to do something about it. Both of those countries only work because someone strong at the top says that’s how it’s supposed to be. In this country too.”

  Wait… is he saying… My brow furrowed as I looked at him, “So… it’s intentionally designed like this…”

  “Take away from this conversation what you will.” Pathos said, diplomatically, “But unfortunately, Zaion will need to stay here. There’s a good chance in four days Paige will wind up in jail. Elayne will probably be let out with a fine.”

  “And me?” Zaion asked, raising his hand.

  Pathos rolled his eyes, “I’m assigning you classes for you to finish. Ethics in Adventuring and Live Capture classes will start in a week. If you can’t cover the costs, we can take it out of your pay for future assignments.”

  “How much are the classes?” I wanted to know since I had yet to investigate the classes that were taught here.

  “Ethics is often a disciplinary course and is ten thousand. Live Capture is two thousand.” Pathos said simply.

  When I looked at Zaion, he shook his head. “I do not have that much on me. I used all of my gains to increase my level, unfortunately.”

  I closed my eyes and sighed. I reached up and seemed to pull a crystal out of thin air. I pressed the sides to display the total to be sure it was twelve thousand before setting it down on the desk. “I’ll cover him.”

  The guildmaster hadn’t even blinked at what I did, simply taking the crystal. “I figured. It’s less paperwork and I’m sure Zaion would rather owe a friend crystals instead of the guild.”

  “I would indeed prefer that.” Zaion smiled gratefully at me. “Thank you, Danielle… uhm…” He cleared his throat. “I mean Dani.”

  I waved my hand dimissively before standing up. “Pay me back what you can when you can. Does he still need to stay here with the payment?”

  “He’ll need to fill out some paperwork and stay the night. Are you able to make it home on your own?” Pathos asked, suddenly concerned. I think he just realized that withou Zaion, I was left unattended.

  I just realized that without Zaion I was unattended. It was the first time since I woke up in the alley someone hadn’t been on hand to reign me in or guide me. The thought made me smile, “Oh, I think I’ll make it back alright.”

  I headed out of the office, not intending to head straight home.

  Pathos took a deep breath after the Rosecrest girl left and let it out with a long sigh. “That girl is going to be trouble.”

  “Guildmaster?” Zaion asked, not having left. “Will I be able to be with Elayne and Paige while in holding?”

  The birdman waved his hand in a dismissive gesture, “Yes yes. I’ll make it happen. They should be informed what happened anyway.” He hit a button on his desk and a minute later a clerk came into the room. “Please escort him to the holding cells and then send Maximilian here. I don’t care what he’s doing, tell him it’s urgent.”

  The clerk nodded and left with Zaion.

  Pathos triggered the projection disc again and sighed, looking at the boy. He started to look into the surroundings, but didn’t see anything to give away the location. It was self torture looking when he knew there was nothing there, but he still tried. When the door opened again, it was Maximilian walked in, wearing that ratty cloak and ugly boots.

  “What’s up boss? Why’s the shroom guy getting locked up?” The man stood on the other side of the desk, not making himself comfortable. He knew he wasn’t going to be in long.

  “Danielle Rosecrest just left about five minutes ago. Find her and follow her, discreetly. Make sure she gets home safe. The ‘shroom guy’ just helped her take out a group of tier twos.” Pathos motioned to the contents of the pouch. He then remembered the image from the disc and turned it off before sliding it towards his apprentice. “And while I don’t expect a miracle, see what you can do with that. It’s Haley’s kid, they were using her as a hostage.”

  Maximilian winced and took the disc, taking a quick look before sighing, “Needle in a haystack would be easier. I take it she’s…”

  “Dead, yes. More of the XCG situation.” Pathos rubbed at his eyes with his palms, “I’m ready to tell that woman in charge what I really think of her accusations and where she can put them.”

  “That bad?” Max said, a smirk creeping onto his face despite himself.

  “She said she’ll get the council to cut all funding to this branch, ignoring the fact that the Duke is the only one who can do that.” He suddenly looked up at Max, “What are you still doing here? You don’t have time to listen to me complain.”

  “Sir, how much trouble could she get into?” Maximilian asked, starting slowly towards the door.

  “Now!” Pathos said, firmly.

  Maximilian jumped and left, trying to hurry and catch up to Danielle Rosecrest. When he made it out the door, he looked around in hopes that she didn't make it far. She was nowhere in sight.

  "Shit."

  A distant sound of maniacal villainous laughter can be heard in the distance. "SHE'S UNSUPERVISED!"