First-Rank Field Master Jin Hanlon tapped his cane on the red carpet inside the entrance of the Guild Union's main headquarters. A shiver ran through him as the cold settled from the recent rain that saturated his clothes. He ran a wrist over his forehead and winced under the bright light of the chandeliers holding the mana-infused caricthmian crystals. Even with the overcast sky the stained-glass windows managed to display water-colored depictions along the marble floor.

“Fucking rain came out of nowhere,” Jin muttered.

He realized that he might've avoided the sudden downpour if it wasn't for the spellcasters wearing their ridiculous rainbow robes around the city. The members of the Spire were still begrudgingly hard at work with their daily quota of monster screenings. It had been a few months since the Siren Incident that pushed the High Council to take such measures. Unfortunately, despite their outward unwillingness, the Spire spellcasters took the job seriously and used it as an opportunity to exact their authority. It was obvious that some of them just wanted to make themselves a royal pain in the arse so that the overseers had an excuse to dismiss them back to their studies. The tactic wasn't effective, judging by the number of spellcasters still meandering about.

So far, the monster screenings had yielded no results. Jin expected as much. If there were monsters still hiding in the city, then they had retreated underground when news spread about the death of the Siren. They would wait until the civil unrest died down before blending in with society once again.

It was a sobering thought. The strategically placed wards on the city walls were fed with specific flesh samples to detect monsters if they managed to pass the guards at the gates situated in each cardinal direction. If some really did break through then it must have been during the western border war some twenty years earlier.

An alarming theory had been presented at a recent High Council meeting: What if the monsters were far wiser than the humans had anticipated? What if they had planted their spies during, or even before, the monster war if they thought there was a possibility of losing? It would mean that the monsters, at least some of them, had a united front with a leader.

With all the inaccurate quests that were putting adventurers at risk, the Siren Incident and the rise of the dungeon in Lamfell...it was becoming a more distinct possibility that couldn't be ignored. However, with some of the evidence and scrutiny that Jin kept among only his most-trusted comrades, it was possible that those within the High Council might also be a part of some greater scheme.

Jin Hanlon stabbed his cane into the red carpet to will himself forward. He proceeded with his slight limp towards the reception desk where two young women were engrossed in discussion. They wore the usual open-collared dress suits with black skirts that designated them as employees.

The blonde receptionist was the first to notice him as he came within a few strides of the desk. Jin opened his mouth to greet her, but he was interrupted when he heard a voice call his name.

“Hanlon? Is that you, lad?”

Jin turned in the voice's direction that was among the individuals gathered at the standing tables in the union hall. He frowned as he scanned the many faces until he settled on one near the stairs leading to the second story meeting rooms. An older, balding gentleman waved to him enthusiastically. He was turned in such a way that Jin could clearly make out the insignia on his sleeve of two crossed swords and an anvil. Beneath the stitching were two cerulean bars that indicated he was a captain of the city guard.

Jin nodded an apology to the blonde receptionist. “I'm sorry. He's an acquaintance of mine. I'll be just a moment.”

The receptionist bowed professionally. “Of course, sir. Take your time.”

The guard captain raised a hand to the guild receptionist and requested that a drink be sent over for Jin. The field master could only shake his head in helpless bemusement as the blonde woman sent the younger receptionist to issue the order.

Guess they're a little understaffed, Jin thought offhandedly.

He rested his cane against the table and winced as he attempted to find a comfortable position for his impaired leg. Jin was starting to hate the thing. It made him more conscientious of the pain. He'd worked so hard over the years to psychologically acclimate himself, and the cane served as a constant reminder. But he needed it for more than simple support.

The older man ran a hand over his balding head and frowned apologetically. “Ah, I'm sorry. I forgot about that old wound. I shouldn't be keeping yah.”

Jin waved him off good-naturedly. “It's nothing. Evelyn finally convinced me to use the damn thing, and it hasn't been so bad.” He patted the head of the cane and turned it inward so that it rested closer to his right hand.

The captain rested his arms on the table and lowered his voice to barely above a whisper. It probably wasn't entirely necessary with all the conversations around them, but Jin remembered he was always one for caution. It was one of the reasons why he trusted him to keep an eye on things and report to him any strange findings in his designated district. Sadly, this trust only went so far when it came to the bigger picture. The understanding went both ways since Jin was kept in the dark on certain matters as well. A balance of advantages kept people honest.

“Speaking of Evelyn, how is she?” the man asked. “I heard about the attack in the demihuman district.”

“She will make a full recovery,” Jin answered. “She's been stubbornly up and about.”

“Must've been some tough opponents to take down Evelyn,” the man said. “A top-tier spellcaster with two elements under her strings is not someone you usually mess with.”

Jin nodded and took note of his plural word usage. The guard captain was right about Evelyn. She was a rare spellcaster who had gone to Forgedalk's prestigious university and spent most of her life delving into combat magic. Most graduating students preferred a less hectic lifestyle of research that involved secluding oneself in a room with mountains of books. She had been at the western border war with Jin those twenty years ago as one of the first through the breach.

Jin released a breath of air that he didn't realize he'd been holding. He found himself reminiscing as of late after a mysterious alchemist and his black-garbed assistant appeared with Evelyn gravely wounded after the battle against an enemy spellcaster. She'd been impaled through the abdomen, but somehow managed to avoid being struck in any vitals that would kill her instantly. The blood loss was significant, and the internal bleeding threatened to collapse her whole body. But then the alchemist had given him some strange concoction to assist with the usual healing magic.

She was stubborn and insisted on accompanying him to the Guild Union so that he had some sort of protection in case there was another attack. His words held little sway over her, but her former master, another spellcaster known as Bevka, was the final deciding factor that forced her to stay behind and rest.

Jin found himself smiling. Evelyn could be so adamant and fiercely loyal.

He decided to shift the conversation away from his friend. “I heard that the guys in your district are having a tough time, Leon.”

The old captain, Leon, nodded his thanks to the young receptionist who arrived with their drinks. He took a swig before answering, “Aye. Bruce had a few more scuffles in his place over the past month. We tolerate that sort of shit, but most of them are sissies – just slapping hands and playing grab ass. Terribly boring.” He laughed and raised a finger. “Although there was a real good one around two weeks back. Some demihuman came in, and Saizo gave her a hard time.”

Jin frowned. Demihuman?

“Yah should've seen her, my friend. That girl's got some fire in her. She took out five guys like nothing. Took their punches like a champ and even had Saizo bow out after a few exchanges. I won't be seeing anything fun like that for a while, let me tell you.”

Jin leaned forward on the table and searched the face of the captain. It was obvious after a few seconds that he didn't bring up the story just to have a random conversation. This was purposeful. Jin knew about Saizo, and he knew that the mercenary wasn't just a simple mercenary.

“What was the demihuman's name?” Jin asked.

Leon hummed to himself for a moment and smacked his lips together. “Ah, hard to forget her since she's part of that GRIM guild. Kirie, it was. The poor girl thought we were taking her in when the fight was done.”

Jin grabbed the handle of his mug, stared at it for a brief second and downed half of his beer in one go.

GRIM. The guild that was starting to make waves throughout Forgedalk. Its members had only consisted of an outworlder human and two demihumans. Two new outworld adventurers had joined their ranks, as well as two natives barely into adulthood who acted in a sort of apprenticeship.

They were the reason Jin was at the Guild Union in the first place. Plenty of mystery surrounded the guild, but it was mostly formed from their direct role in the Siren Incident. Then there was Councilman Altham Volkest, son of the chief councilman, who seemed to have a disquieting fascination with outworlder scouts. There were plenty of pieces of the puzzle that were waiting to form a picture of what conspiracies were going on in the Central Kingdom of Tevilandis, but they were too spread out to make anything clear.

Jin pushed his half-finished drink to the center of the table. He glanced at the reception desk and saw that the blonde receptionist was staring at him intently. She averted her gaze and stood straight, eyes forward and focused on the Guild Union's entrance.

“Where can I find Saizo?” Jin asked Leon.

“If he isn't in a cell cooling off, you'll probably find him at Bruce's shop around evening towards the end of the week. Better make it quick though. Apparently, he has a job in La'abrine.”

La'abrine, Jin thought. The new information only reaffirmed his suspicions. There was no longer a remote possibility of coincidence. With the help of Bevka, Jin had sent Evan McCarthy and his guild to the port city in order to keep them away from the High Council's influence. Now Saizo was headed there as well.

Jin grabbed his cane and raised it in a quick salute. “Thanks for the drink. Say 'hello' to the missus for me.”

Leon raised his mug. “Will do. Try to stay out of trouble.”

Jin took the advice to heart as he made his way back to the reception desk. The blonde receptionist gave him a stiff bow as he approached and introduced herself as Kaede. She extended both hands and presented a blank, sealed envelope.

“I apologize, sir. I recognized your name when that man called, so I retrieved a missive for you,” she said.

Jin accepted the letter uncertainly and turned it over to observe the plain wax seal. He made sure there were no breaks anywhere on the envelope before opening it. Inside was about what he expected, even though he found himself holding his breath again with anticipation. He unfolded the parchment and frowned. The message was written at the center and purposefully direct.

There was no signature, but it didn't take long for Jin to figure out who it was from.

Evan McCarthy, Jin thought.

He glanced up at Kaede and observed her face for any shift in demeanor, but she remained professionally stoic.

Jin reread the simple letter:

“Ask for adventurer reports concerning Alexander Lozinski.”

Jin tapped a finger on the back side of the letter as he considered his original intent for visiting the Guild Union. Reviewing guild reports was limited to ten a day, and anyone that wished to read the reports was required to do so in a room designated at the Guild Union. Furthermore, an employee must accompany the individual to ensure that no changes were made to the documents. As a field master working for Forgedalk's Field Investigation Office, Jin could technically override this rule by bringing a guild representative to the office with approval from his superiors. The problem was that Jin didn't trust most people in his department, especially his superiors. Loyalties were divided thanks to the High Council's attempts to enact drastic policies. The Lamfell dungeon also placed a forced conscription method on the table as a possibility for recruiting adventurers.

And at the center of it all was Altham Volkest. Jin couldn't take that chance. Everything needed to be left off the record regarding his investigation into adventurer deaths and Volkest's incorrigible obsession with Evan McCarthy's guild.

Asking for the records regarding this Alexander Lozinski would set him back a day. But the request was from Evan McCarthy, so it couldn't be ignored.

Jin observed the receptionist again for any signs of discomfort. She gave him a warm smile instead.

“I need adventurer reports involving an adventurer named Alexander Lozinski,” Jin said. He reached into his overcoat and presented the badge indicating his rank as a First-Rank Field Master.

Kaede nodded. “Of course, sir. Will you be needing a representative to accompany you to the office?”

“No, I'll be conducting my research here.”

“Very well, sir.” Kaede signaled to the other receptionist. “Cynthia, could you hold the fort while I retrieve some documents? I also need to act as Observer.”

The young brunette named Cynthia bowed. “Sure thing.”

Jin waited patiently for Kaede to return with the documents. He shifted a bit as the pain in his leg intensified. He knew that it wasn't just the standing that agitated him. Something felt off about the receptionist's procedure. He'd been to the Guild Union a few times to request documents for a number of cases he worked. Usually, it was the junior receptionist that assumed the role of Observer when individuals researched documents. Kaede was clearly the senior of the two.

Kaede returned and gestured for Jin to follow her up the wide staircase that led to the meeting rooms. She made slow, purposeful steps as the field master ignored the distress from his leg.

They walked the full length of the long hall before Kaede stopped at the last door. She disengaged the multiple locks and stood to the side. Jin nodded to her and observed the basic room with its long oak table and plush chairs. Inkwells rested alongside parchment on a few desks hugging the wall. A blackboard with chalk was scrubbed clean on the wall.

Jin settled himself down in one of the chairs and thanked Kaede as she set the stack of adventurer reports in front of him. She had already anticipated that he would need the parchment and ink. When she retrieved it for him, there was an obvious falter in her step as she glanced at the door.

“Two hours should be enough,” Jin said purposefully, following her gaze. He was hoping to get another reaction out of her, but to her absolute credit she remained composed.

“Very well, sir,” Kaede answered. She double-checked the locks on the door before making her way to the opposite end of the table to give him some space to work.

Jin separated the documents based on date and began reading the ones that seemed pertinent based on graded difficulty. Some of the jobs were pretty straightforward: goblin hunting, herb gathering, etc. Some involved mapping certain dungeons with a scout named Alphonse Kneller –

Wait a minute, Jin thought. He swallowed hard when he returned to the fifth report and read the name again.

Alphonse Kneller... Jin thought. Alphonse Kneller...

He pushed the document forward and rested his elbows on the table. He massaged his temples and closed his eyes as the familiar name registered.

Alphonse Kneller.

Jin stopped abruptly, and his eyes shot open as he recalled exactly where he saw the name. It was among many others during a High Council meeting. The members of the council had been debating the possible draft law that would force adventurers into certain jobs under the direct authority of the government. The idea received a large amount of support, but there was an adamant majority that stamped it out before gaining too much leverage. The possibility of the conscription method still remained along with Altham Volkest's list of potential scouts to map the Lamfell dungeon. Some of the scouts on the list were deceased.

Alphonse Kneller was one of them.

Jin stared at the four other reports he'd already read and decided they required further scrutiny. He went through each of them again, searching for specific keywords and names. Sure enough, his suspicions were confirmed. He read through three more reports.

Alphonse Kneller was involved in every single quest with Alexander Lozinski. Both are outworlders. Were they friends? Jin wondered.

The last stack of documents still involved Alex Lozinski, but it was written by another individual, an adventurer named Serena Malcott. At the report's conclusion, it was made abundantly clear that both Alexander Lozinski and Alphonse Kneller died in the dungeon.

At least...that was what the report indicated.

Jin gathered all the documents scattered about the table and stacked them in an unsystematic pile. He lifted the tower of paper and let it fall heavily on the table. The dull thud echoed around the room.

The field master stared at the receptionist to gauge her reaction. Unsurprisingly, she remained unmoving, straight-backed in her chair and professional.

“Is there something wrong, sir?” Kaede asked.

Jin gave her a measured look. He was about to ask her an important question against his better judgment, but he clamped his mouth shut and settled for staring at the adventurer reports. He ignored her question and went through the stack a third time.

He had lost track of time and was shaken from his ruminations when Kaede broke the heavy silence, “Sir, would you like more time?”

“No,” Jin answered immediately. He rested his palms flat on the table's cool surface. The papers were scattered all over again.

He understood now. Alexander Lozinski's name was just a diversion in case someone managed to get ahold of the letter addressed to him from Evan McCarthy. The real person he was supposed to be researching was Alphonse Kneller, the scout labeled as 'deceased' on the report concerning the dungeon in Mesatend Forest.

Alphonse Kneller...was betrayed in that dungeon, Jin finally concluded.

All of the individuals on Altham Volkest's list were outworlder scouts since they were the best suited for analyzing the Lamfell dungeon. This was due to the stats that were left exclusively to the outworlders upon arriving on Hovestile. Then there was the draft policy that was constantly pushed onto the High Council's discussions. Evan McCarthy, who was involved with the Siren Incident, wanted him to learn about this individual named Alphonse Kneller. There was also the battle against the spellcaster in the demihuman district, which Evan and his guild were also involved with to save Evelyn. She had also informed Jin that she mentioned their theory to Evan that the deaths of the outworlder scouts were not accidents and that the High Council might be involved in some way -- which also reverted back to the constant inaccurate quests that were supposed to be painstakingly analyzed by the Guild Union.

But there's something missing, he thought.

“Hold on,” Jin said. He looked up at Kaede. “Could I have ten more minutes?”

She nodded. “Of course, sir.”

He went through the last adventurer report.

Serena Malcott. An unknown archer. Why is this person nameless? Jin wondered. Two dead outworlders can't be a coincidence given everything else we know.

Jin replayed his interaction with Evan McCarthy after the Siren Incident. He had clearly been a victim, and so they had limited their meeting to basic questioning rather than interrogation. Evelyn had cast her lie detection spells and even ran an appraisal of his status. He wasn't wearing his gear that altered his information. He wondered if it was possible that Alphonse Kneller may have been a fake name from the very beginning when the outworlders arrived.

Jin shook his head and dismissed the theory almost immediately. The outworlders were readily accepted because the monster plight of Hovestile had them desperate for any assistance, but they were still put through the typical questioning, appraisals and monster screenings. Nobody could fake a name from the beginning, but it did take a considerable amount of time to go through the citizenship papers for hundreds of individuals at once. The process could take months while the outworlders accepted their quests.

There was only one way to know for certain.

“Kaede...” Jin trailed off as he considered how to pose his question.

Kaede nodded knowingly. “Yes, sir?”

“Is there a place you would recommend with good tea?”

Jin waited as the receptionist seemed taken aback by the question.

The tea shop in the demihuman district that McCarthy frequented was not unknown to Jin. Ever since the Siren Incident, he made sure to keep an eye on the people who observed at the behest of Altham Volkest. After the battle with the spellcaster, the survivors under Jin's charge had mentioned a black-garbed individual who murdered some of the men who clearly worked for Altham. This mysterious individual would have only done this to benefit two possible individuals: McCarthy, or the one known as Ashliv Diavelia. The dots were starting to connect.

“Yes, I recall a tea shop that an adventurer mentioned once,” Kaede said. “It's actually in the demihuman district, if you aren't entirely against the idea.” She made a deliberate pause and leaned forward. “I hear they brew a fantastic ripepev nuoir.”

LordAstrea

Went through a pile of notes and reread my own chapters a ton to try and get this right and accurate for our buddy, Jin Hanlon. Editing always takes a while too since I agonize.

Thank you all for the support. If you are enjoying my work then please consider following, favoriting and all that nice stuff. It definitely helps with my enthusiasm. Maybe even share with friends. A lot of work goes into each chapter. Thanks again! :D