116: Aristocratic District 2

June 26, 2022 – 2 minutes read – 418 words

As we walk through the aristocratic district, the group stops in front of a house.

“What do you want with the Stein family? If you have no business, leave the area immediately.” Gatekeeper

I look at the pompous gatekeeper coldly.

“I am Count Patrick von Snake.
I found a servant of Baron Stein in my territory injured and I brought the servant here.
I would like to turn him over to his master.” Pat said with a grin

I pulled one of the tied-up men over to the gatekeeper.
The gatekeeper blanches his face when gets a look at the person I’ve got.
It seems they know each other.
The gatekeeper may even know about the spying mission.

“I haven’t seen this man before, but I can check with the Baron.
Please wait a while.” Gatekeeper

It seems the gatekeeper has decided he doesn’t want to take responsibility for the matter and pawns the issue off on the Baron.
He runs at full pelt to the mansion, I was worried he would fall and hurt himself he was going so fast.

Soon the gatekeeper returned.

“The Baron says he doesn’t know that person.
Go away already.” Gatekeeper

Well, that’s what I expected, too scared to even claim it was a misunderstanding.

“Well, then I guess I should sell him to work in a mine for claiming he was a servant of a noble.
I’ll be on my way.” Pat says as he walks to the next house

The scorned man is looking at the gatekeeper with a deep hatred, but he didn’t say anything, that’s admirable loyalty.

The next house, the spy chose to speak up.

“You know me, help me! I don’t want to be sent to the mines!” Spy B

This visit was noisier, but again the spy was professed to be a stranger and ignored.
This one had given up as soon as a needle was inserted under the first nail, a fairly weak attitude.

I couldn’t go around to all the houses in one day, it actually took three.
I was surprised that only one house was willing to claim its wayward personnel.

That house invited me into the mansion, formally apologized, and promised to pay the “medical costs” (ransom) for the spy.
I was happy to see a noble like that and offered to waive the costs in exchange for getting acquainted in the near future.

That noble was Count Abbott of the North, also known as the Iron Fox of the North.

Editor Note: Right now, I'm heads down on wrapping up the last chapters for Volume 1 (translation and images).
Then I've got to tweak the combined chapters to make them cohesive and so on.
I've never tried to edit a book-length text before, it's…
interesting.