When we enter the guild, there's still an hour or so left until sunset, but the guild is already filling up with adventurers ending their days.
I make sure that Zara and Alto don their hoods to minimize attention, but Nina's and I's presence has drawn quite a bit of attention on its own. It seems that we are getting a reputation, and their comments reflect that.
"Oh ho, look, it's the hothead and her pet!"
"Hey, kid, now that you've ridden her coattails up to B-rank, how about sharing with the rest of us!"
"Hey boy, ignore these idiots, I'm sure you're useful for something other than magic! Every new team needs a meat shield!"
I glance at Zara and Alto. Alto seems amused and Zara annoyed, both for the same reason I'd guess. They're just two different personalities. From Nina, I sense…curiosity? I look at her and she's staring towards reception. Melanie has noticed us and is frantically making her way over.
"Uhm…hello everyone. Mizuki, Gerard wanted to speak with you as soon as possible." (Melanie)
Yeah…figures.
"That's fine Melanie. I'll tell you what, if you and Nina stay here and get my friends registered with the guild, I'll go up and talk to Gerard immediately. How's that?" (Mizuki)
Melanie nods her agreement. Honestly, she seems relieved not to have to deal with me. Should I be offended or flattered?
I give quick thought communication instructions to everyone.
[Alto, Zara, it should be fine to be completely truthful on your registration forms. Alto, I'll support you if you want to lie about being an elf, but that information will be hard to hide indefinitely, and they'll ban you if they find out. Zara, you shouldn't have any issues. Nina, keep the riffraff away please. See you all in a bit!] (Mizuki)
With that, I make my way up to Gerard's office and knock.
"Enter!" (Gerard)
I enter his office and close the door behind me, then make my way to the couch. Gerard is sitting behind his desk with a tired look on his face.
"Hi Gerard, I heard you wanted to see me. What's up?" (Mizuki)
He narrows his eyes at me, with an expression like, 'don't play dumb'.
"Ah, Mizuki. So, I've heard whispers that numerous mercenaries are frantically searching Cedonia and its surrounding areas for something. Allegedly, they're looking for high value merchandise that went missing last night, and the guarded warehouse it was stored in was found abandoned this morning. You know anything about that?" (Gerard)
"Oh my. Sounds like maybe the night guards made off with the merchandise. It's hard to find reliable people to hire, I guess. On an unrelated note, I did some investigating for that job you requested of us in Cedonia. Turns out there are no elf slaves in the city." (Mizuki)
Gerard gives me a dumbfounded look, and is quite for several moments.
"Is this…a joke to you?" (Gerard)
I can do it…I can avoid laughing.
"Definitely not. What's funny about you giving me false information?" (Mizuki)
Gerard glares at me for several moments, then he hangs his head with a deep sigh and begins rubbing his temples. After a while, he looks up at me seriously.
"There was another matter I wanted to discuss with you. It seems that one of our adventurers has gone missing." (Gerard)
So, they finally noticed Kent and his goons, huh?
"Oh? Just one doesn't seem so crazy. I assumed that adventurers come and go from the city all the time without notice. What does it take for the guild to consider someone to be missing?" (Mizuki)
Gerard nods, like he's annoyed by those points being presented as relevant here.
"That's true, but this person was a long-time resident of the city and our best A-ranked adventurer. So, people notice when he goes missing. According to his party, two other acquaintances of his also haven't been seen or heard from for a while." (Gerard)
"Oh, are you talking about Kent by chance? He was a guy who said he was the best adventurer in the city, and he tried to recruit Nina and I our first night at the guild. He seemed like a friendly and capable guy, so I'm sure he'll turn up eventually." (Mizuki)
He definitely won't, though.
"Yes, I'd heard he spoke to you two. So, you haven't seen him since that night? You or Nina?" (Gerard)
He stares at me intently, with heavy suspicion. I'm not particularly fazed – no body, no crime. Plus, Nina has an alibi, and I don't have the magic skill on file to kill an A-ranker.
"No, not since that night. Normally I wouldn't speak for Nina, but she's by my side pretty much constantly, so she couldn't have seen him either." (Mizuki)
"Well, that's unfortunate. Losing someone like that is a real hit to the guild's workforce." (Gerard)
I promise you, keeping him around would cost you even more of your workforce.
"Well, if you really need some A-rankers, you could just promote Nina and I. We did just complete that A-ranked job for you after all." (Mizuki)
Gerard rolls his eyes.
"I thought you said there were no elven slaves in the city?" (Gerard)
"Yes, exactly. Our job was to report their number and location, and if possible, how they were captured. There were zero, and they weren't in the city. Consequently, it's not possible to report how these nonexistent elves were captured. That's all the criteria you requested. I'm reporting this job as completed, guild master!" (Mizuki)
Gerard shakes his head in exasperation.
"Anyone ever tell you that you're a real smartass?" (Gerard)
"Separately, sure." (Mizuki)
Gerard seems to mutter something under his breath.