To say the guild was in uproar was a bit of an understatement.
"YOU'VE BARELY BEEN HERE FIVE DAYS! HOW IN THE FLYING FURIES HELLISH CLAWS ARE YOU ALREADY IN THIS MUCH TROUBLE!?!"
The guild master in particular was frothing at the mouth trying to understand what I could've done. Ever since I reported it to the guild this morning, things have been fairly hectic.
"I beat several Ogres to a pulp and knocked out Utbrot. I got Kent to step down as the leader of his team. I spoke to the governor, whose maid was missing. I also spoke with both Haley and Cynane of the guard upon my initial arrival and when I departed for the forest."
"YOU- Wait, could you elaborate on the governor's part?"
"Of course. The governor's maid was absent from her duty of guiding us to the governor, and failed to do so for Priest Gavol as well."
"We can attest to that."
From the loud argumentative crowd, the Thorne Hearts stepped forward. They were fully armed and wearing armour. Even with Anesa, who was a mage, one could see the edges of chainmail showing at the ends of her sleeves. Rose and Xanthe were dressed in their respective kits, and it seems my musings were correct.
Xanthe was another frontliner geared towards defence rather than Rose's mobile offensive style. A six foot tower shield sat on her back while a short sword sat on her hip. She wore heavy steel armour that covered important parts of her body like her torso, shoulders, forearms, hands, and legs. Instead of sabatons howevers, she wore a pair of steel toed leather boots. The leather itself was curious as it was also present wherever she wasn't wearing steel, almost like a scale mail undersuit.
If I was in a less troublesome situation, I may have asked about it.
Alas, the guildmaster was not so accommodating.
"So you're saying she was missing at the time of your entry?
"And exit, me and Acros even thought it was strange, as the office itself felt strange."
"Wait, you guys noticed something and didn't tell us!?"
"Xa~nthe, we told you to be more open with us about things like that."
"Rose, Anesa, I was more open about it. Someone knew this time."
"I was in fact informed about that."
"But your suppos-"
"ENOUGH OF THE CHATTER, please, enough for a moment. Pleith, come here."
Pleith, the receptionist in the glasses Utbrot and I once met, made his way over after stamping a few papers.
"I would like you to send a formal letter of investigation to the governor."
"Oh come on! Thats gonna give away our element of surprise!"
"Two things. One, don't yell at me. I will abuse my authority in ways you cannot imagine. Two, I am legally obligated to offer him a detailed letter of investigation as he is a sitting member of the high noble caucus."
"Stupid laws are for stupid people. I saw we should go and get her ourselves."
A few adventurer chuckled at her words before the guildmaster shot them a glare. Even so, Rose kept staring at him like a little girl demanding an explanation.
Massaging his forehead, the man sighed.
"Why did you bring this up in front of everyone in the main hall?"
"It is not a particularly pressing matter. Especially since the offender was human."
"They were human! Now that's surprising."
"Indeed, they also lacked killing intent."
"Are we just going to ignore the storm the mansion idea?"
"It's treason so "yes""
"Ugh, you guys are so boring."
"I'd rather be boring than a criminal."
"So what do we do for now then?"
Everyone turned to the guildmaster who was deep in thought.
"Acros, would you accept a protective detail for now?"
"As long as it does not impede on my ability to continue my planning."
"Thank you for being reasonable this time. Mirabelle!"
The door behind the counter swung open as Mirabelle came out, lazily eyeing the guildmaster.
"Yes?"
"I need you to create a detail for Acros, preferably one that can survive his antics."
"'Alright, I'll have it done soon."
"Thank you."
"Alright then, now for the rest of the da-"
*RRrrrnnnn*
The door of the guild creaked open as a small woman in a black cloak and half mask walked through. The only things discernable within the shadow of her cloak were her turquoise eyes and brown boots, and the instant our gazes met I recognized her.
"That's her."
The whole guild froze for a moment as they looked towards the door.
For a moment, nobody moved. Then, a second later, there was a deafening clatter as everyone stood and drew their weapons.
"Bold aren't we?"
"Stupid more like it."
"She's in for it now."
"I bet she gargles her own piss to smell that bad."
"Yea- wait what?"
"Enough! All of you! Intruder! If you surrender now, you will retain your right to live. As you have assaulted an adventurer, and a high ranking guest of the state, that is you're one and only right."
The woman didn't respond to the guildmasters words and instead lifted her hands out from the cloak, presenting them to the crowd. Two civil guard members got up from beside the bar, with one pulling out a pair of shackles. The adventurers parted to allow them through and the moment they reached the woman they placed the shackles on her wrist, and pulled off her cloak and mask.
"HUH!"
"WHAT THE-"
"WHY!"
Gasps rang out amongst the adventurers as the unfamiliar woman was unmasked. At least she was unfamiliar to me.
Everyone from the guildmaster, Plieth, and Mirabelle to the Thorne Hearts and rabble adventurers seemed to recognize her.
Eventually the crowd calmed down and she was brought before the guildmaster and I.
"Ernst, what in the world could've driven you to do this."
Before me, on both knees, was Ernst. She was a small brown haired woman with freckled cheeks and a cold stern face that matched her icy glare. She was strange though. She was lean and toned slightly, but she wasn't muscular in the right places. It was as though she had developed improperly.
Truly strange.
"Answer me Ernst!"
The guild fell silent as the guildmaster glared at her. Even so, she wouldn't meet his gaze. After all, her eyes never left me once she saw me.
"Fine then, I treat you well, I give you a home, and this is how you treat me!? Fine. Then I'll do things by the book.
Under article 19 of imperial law, you are now under the jurisdiction of Acros. Acros, what would you like to do with her?"
Some people turned to me as others focused on Ernst while whispering.
The trio to my right were simply watching impassively. Rose was even bothering Anesa for some ice in her cup.
'Amusing.'
"If I may, I would like to question her in a private space. Guildmaster, I welcome you and the two guardsmen to aid me in this endeavor.
"I understand. Mirabelle, I will be unavailable for the time being. Tell Pleith to cancel the investigation order. It was already a stretch, and now I would simply be pushing my luck for no good reason. Also, inform that haughty girl that she is in charge until I return."
"Perhap-"
"You can't be in charge. I know you're capable, but it would be irresponsible of me."
"I understand."
"Thank you. Now then, you two. Haul Ernst to room 010. It's time we figured out what in the three great hells is going on here."