The attention of every single member in the room was placed squarely on Baal for a moment that felt almost like an eternity before returning to Kobari. As suddenly as it came, the silence was shattered by a ferocious intensity of shouting throughout the chamber!

“HOW DON’T YOU KNOW WHAT YOU’RE SELLING? YOU MUST GET US THE NAME OF THIS CRAFTSMAN AT ONCE!!” Patrician Antonious, his eyes alight with a fresh fire, nearly leapt from his seat!

“A malady?! Here?! Brunhilde, send out orders to double guards at the gates and conduct full examinations of anyone entering or leaving the city! We have to-” Baronette Harald began shouting orders before he was swiftly cut off by Baronette Sverkir. “This is absolutely absurd! Belay that order, we must confirm this report before taking such drastic actions!”

“Do you have any idea of the financial damage we will take on if word of this gets out? We should lock down all reports immediately!” Brineholdt gripped his hair with one hand, as he feverishly calculated the costs of a mass outbreak. “For once we agree, Brineholdt. If we lose our imports of grain and meat due to fear, we won’t be able to restock our reserves before winter!” Gortrub’s deep voice resonated, albeit with much more calm.

“Pah! Why should we depend on those cowardly farmers? Get me 500 good men to put behind the mast and the ocean will provide again, as it did for our forefathers and their forefathers before them!” Ragnar roared over the other patricians, his eyes alight with indignation and determination.

“Only madmen would get on a ship with a malady loose! If the monsters from the depths don’t kill them, then disease surely would, along with every person aboard those ships! Dedicate your faith and prayers to Ishtar, and she shall grant us deliverance! Heed my words-” Abbot Costello shot up from his seat, shunting the chair behind him with surprising speed, almost as if he was preparing to deliver a righteous proclamation.

“SILENCE! SILENCE IN THE CHAMBER!” Ivar’s voice boomed once again, resonating far louder than before, enhanced by the power of his mana as he brought order back to the meeting. Baron Halfgaar smirked momentarily as he watched the scene play out.

“Have a moment of patience, and we will address all our concerns imminently, but we will continue with order, am I clear?” Ivar continued, as he glared across the assembled councilmembers, daring anyone to challenge him.

“Good. Now then, manager Baal, am I correct in assuming you are not properly aware of what is being sold from your guild house?” His question was clearly a spring loaded trap, waiting to be sprung. However, Baal had fully recovered from his momentary shock during the chaos.

Before this gets any further out of hand… I need to figure out if they bought the potions I am thinking of… and if they did… how will I maintain control of this and stop it from leaking out?

“If I may make one thing clear, we do not offer a single item that is advertised as a cure for any diseases, as that is a specialty of the temples. However, should any of our members have enough skill to make their own potions and their quality is approved by our resident potions master, then we may offer those as alternatives when our official stock runs out, based on circumstance. Now, to be perfectly clear, can priest Kobari please give me all the details on the potions you have acquired?”

“Hmm? Indeed I can, it was quite unique… a light-pink healing potion that reacted quite violently on contact with the afflicted area. That is all we know of it.”

Baal’s face remained calm, in spite of his deep internal turmoil.

Without a doubt… its Lord Dagon’s potion. He put up so few for sale though… so how? How did they wind up being the ones used for… this! Did he know a malady was coming? Why do they work against a magical malady? According to Elsie… he told her it works like a normal healing potion… AHHHH! Fuck, when all else fails, take the offensive!

“I see. Yes, we did have some of those potions available for sale. However, according to our guild charter, and in accordance with the Adventurer’s Guild contract to operate in the Kingdom of Luthas, we have the right to protect the privacy of any of our members as long as they are not directly accused of criminal behavior. You cannot possibly be seeking to accuse us of criminality for selling potions that work better than advertised, are you?” Baal locked eyes with Ivar, a small smile creeping up from the sides of his mouth. Ivar didn’t even flinch, as he moved to corner Baal.

“Not in the slightest, manager Baal. However, in light of this emergency, do not force us to compel the guild to provide us with this information. Do you think that you can maintain your position once word gets out that you intentionally allowed a malady to spread unhindered?! What will happen should your provider die before we learned how to mitigate this crisis?”

You think I wouldn’t be able to handle the consequences?! The more that I think about it… we could turn this to our advantage! If anything, should we hold on as the sole provider of a new potion that can also slow the spread of a magical malady, wouldn’t that cement the guild’s power throughout the world? With an achievement like that, I could finally get Eric promoted to Branch Manager and rid myself of him!

“A single case is still an overblown matter. Furthermore, did I say we would not render assistance? The guild takes great pride in protecting our members, as that was a founding principle from the first guild master, and I will continue to stand behind them! We will provide all the assistance we can muster! However, due to the nature of an adventurer’s job… it may take a few days before we can get a hold of them and acquire more potions. ” Baal continued to jockey with the chief minister, countering his attempts to box him in.

“This takes precedence over any other issued work! If you would simply provide us with their name, we can dedicate the full resources of the city to-” Ivar stopped for a moment, appearing almost unsurprised as Baron Halfgaar interrupted him.

“A moment, Chief Minister. Rather than charge head-first into a confrontation with the Adventurer’s Guild over a single dubious case, we shall instead complete a full and proper investigation of this supposed ‘malady’ by an officially ranked chief priest, such as Abbot Costello, rather than take risks on the conjecture of an acting chief priest. While I do appreciate your efforts, this moment calls for calm, and not extremes.” The Baron spoke with all the authority and dignity he could muster, his apparent disinterest from earlier having seemingly disappeared. As he finished speaking, he glanced towards the magistrate.

“Indeed. The Baron’s decision is fully correct within the confines of the law. The body present today has witnessed the Chief Minister’s actions, and this can be considered a grave overreach for power.” Magistrate Baram picked up right after the Baron left off, exaggerating reaching out with his hands as he spoke. However, Ivar nonchalantly cut in the moment the magistrate paused in his speech!

“Ahh… about that single case, Kobari, I presume there is more you had to say on that matter?” Even though his face was stoic, Ivar’s eyes were gleaming as he locked in on the Baron.

“Yes, Chief Minister… although it would be best be spoken by one who can directly account on what he witnessed, and whose credentials cannot be questioned. SGT Alain Dufount, please enter the chamber!”

As the doors to the chamber flung open, Baal had a sinking feeling.

This… is not gonna be an easy fight. This conniving bastard already spoke with that damned priest and knew what was going on! The Baron might be caught in his trap… but you won’t corner me that easily!

Baal gritted his teeth as the Imperial Knight strode in to the room and stopped directly to the right of his desk, standing at perfect attention.

Here we go…