Making his way down to the main floor he gave a wave to Amanda and Baros and left the Inn.

As Jared went to the office Julie pointed out, he noticed a pair of peculiar dressed people. They were wearing sturdy boots, black pants with a white shirt, and a small triangle hat similar to pirates, at the front of their long dark blue coat was a small metal badge in the form of a circle with a crossed-out S.

Jeffrey Stans Lvl 46

Inspector

Phil Carlins Lvl 19

Seer

Looking at the sky, it was still early enough so Jared decided to follow the two as they walked with purpose across the street into the West-district.

Jared split his attention between his Unnoticed skill and the two men, the younger one excitedly talking to the older.

He wanted to listen in on their conversation bud didn't dare to get to close.

After about 10 minutes they came to a smaller 2 story house in a more posh street and walking up the front steps banged on the door.“Open up, Inspectors.” the older one Jeffrey bellowed.

After a few seconds, a heavyset woman in her late forties opened in what could only be described as a bathrobe. The two inspectors said a few things Jared couldn’t hear and went inside the house.

Frustrated Jared turned and was about to go on his way when he saw an open window at the side of the house on the first floor. Stopping for a second in front of the alley, he moved over and leaned against the wall under the window slightly to the right and tried to listen in.

“Listen to me Ms. Saller the man is a conman he already took two widows for almost everything they had, you shouldn’t protect him, but yourself, and we have multiple witness testimonies seeing him with you.” The Inspector said kindly but with frustration in his voice.

The woman answered with a stutter.”I d-don’t know anyone called Philippe and I will not allow you to further disrupt my….”

Interrupting the younger inspector said.” Sir someone else is in the house, could be the suspect.”

There was a second of silence before a crash sounded inside the house and Inspector Stans shouted.” After him!”

Listening intently at the new development Jared noticed a man, dressed in only his pants, jump out of the window above him.

Surprised and activating his Speedy Mind skill he saw him falling in slow-motion.

Philippe Jardon Lvl 31

Charlatan

The man would be handsome if his face wasn't distorted in fear and floating to the ground.

Jared needed to come to a decision fast, should he try to catch the charlatan or pretend to be run over. But having a positive image in the eyes of the local law enforcer was probably his best bet.

So he twisted and lowered his body sending a slow punch, at least in his view, to the side of the man's legs in mid-air destabilizing him. Afterward, he reached up to grab his wrist and pulled him lower before putting his other hand at the back of the man's head pushing it into the ground.

Wincing at the crack he heard and hoping it was just a nose, Jared let go of the man and ended the skill.

When he did a sharp pain shot through his muscles making him buckle over before it was replaced by a wash of heat and he felt normal again.

Apparently pushing your body to a higher speed because your mind moved faster was most likely hell on his muscle and joints, even outrunning his Everlasting Life skill for a second before it could catch up to repair the damage.

Jared was just happy that it did, or he would be lying in bed for the next week maybe longer, he guessed by the amount of pain he was in a moment ago.

All of this happened in the time it took the man to drop from the window, so when the younger inspector came to the window ready to jump after the criminal he stopped in confusion.

There lying on the ground unconscious and with a bleeding nose was his suspect next to a young man on his knees and hands starting to get up.

He startled out of his surprise by the impatient voice of his superior.

“What are you doing Carlins, go after him!”

”Sir I don’t think that is necessary anymore the Suspect is unconscious.” Carlins said turning to the older man.

“What! Let me look” he said and pushed Carlins out of the way. Seeing the same thing the younger man did, he jumped out of the window landing as if he was just taking a big step and shouted at Jared.” You there what happened here!” A blue glint appearing in his eyes.

Jared pretending to be scared by the shouting man, and making sure not to lie because of the inspector class, said,” I was just in this alley when the man jumped almost on top of me, we tangled for a bit before you jumped after him.”

He looked at Jared for a second before turning to the criminal and leaving him not knowing if he could go. Jared hoped his half-truths worked but the light sheen of sweat from the shock of pain helped most likely.

As this was going on Carlins followed a lot less nimble and checked on the unconscious man.

“Knocked out cold sir.” Carlins said with mirth,” we should call for transport I don’t want to carry him all the way to lock up.”

With a grunt the inspector pulled out a crystal stick about the length of his hand and thickness of a thump, after starting to glow blue he brought it closer to his face. “Headquarters,” he said and waited for a second before a female voice came from the crystal.” This the Velluneno Inspector Headquarters how can I help you?”

“This is Inspector Jeffery Stans we request transport and a medic to Alling Lane for a single suspect.” And a short while later the voice answered.”The transport is on his way, would that be all inspector”

“Yes,” he said and put the crystal back into his coat. Stans motioned from Carlins to Jared and said.” Let's see if you have learned how to question a witness.”

Startled to be put into the spotlight, he fumbled a small note pad out of his coat, went to Jared, and awkwardly said.” Hello citizen could you answer a few questions for me?”

Jared reminded himself not to lie and with an unsure smile answered,

”Yes, of course, anything.”

“Awesome,” he exclaimed only for Stans to slap the back of his head and he went back to his serious face,

” so what are your name and occupation.”

”Jared Jotter and I’m a courier”

“Good and what are you doing here today during the event.” Scribbling on his notepad.

“I need to go to the Housing office today and when I was in the alley that man almost dropped on me.” All true and he hoped the older one with the weak blue glow behind his eyes didn’t notice the loophole.

“OK, and what happened afterward.”

“There was a short scuffle after he almost dropped on me and after that, both of us were on the ground.”

“And you knocked him out?”

“There was luck involved, and couriers need to be able to defend themselves.”

Jared was nervous if his comment about luck would trigger anything but luck was part of everything, with really bad luck a meteor could have dropped on him during the fight.

“Yes that should be all, but where can we reach you if we have some more questions.”

“As I said I’m on may to the Housing office so I don’t know where I will live but you can reach me through the guild,” Jared answered with relief, it could be annoying if the Inspectors would know where he lived.

Seemingly flustered with the answer he shot his superior a look and getting a nod,” That is OK you can go on your way now citizen.” he finished with a smile.

Jared said his goodbye and left the crime scene behind and after rounding a corner breathed a huge sigh of relief.

“That went good I think and even better, I can run into the friendly one Carlins by “accident” to strike up a conversation maybe even make a friend out of him.”He thought pulling out his journal and writing down the information about the two officers, the charlatan, and the widow.

“And I need to gather more information on that magical communicator Stans had, is that only for the inspectors or can anyone buy one.”

He also needed to train himself in combat, the reason the fight went so smoothly was because of the situation and his new skill, and even that would have crippled him if he didn’t have Everlasting Life.

Putting the book into his inventory Jared made his way through the streets of the West district.

It didn’t take long until he arrived at the Housing office.

Jared almost ran past it, the office looked like any building in the street the only difference being a small sign over the door.

He walked over and pushed the door open, inside was a reception taking almost all of the first floor with a seating area and what he guessed a break room next to the stairs to the second floor.

Behind the reception was a pretty secretary taking some kind of payment from a man and writing something down.

After the man was gone Jared went forward getting a, “Hello Sir what can we do for you.” he asked.”Hi, I’m looking for an apartment and heard you can help me.”

The Receptionist started answering him but Jared wasn’t listening already activating his Speedy Mind skill.

Out of the break room came a man he remembered and he didn’t know if he should laugh or cry.

Jared felt more like crying, "What a fucking day this was", first he joined the courier guild only to murder someone on a delivery and afterward tailed a pair of inspectors only to be involved in their case.

He just wanted this day to be over and hit his head until falling unconscious. Jared could ignore the man and get himself an apartment enjoying the rest of the day, but he made the choice to be different, and maybe he was lucky and misunderstood the man's situation.

So he put on a smile he really wasn’t feeling, brought up the information he had in his memory,

Camilla Lock Lvl 47 -> Charles Rand Lvl 55

Seductress Mathematical Scholar

Woman; late twenties, blond, extremely beautiful, small mole under her left eye; possible occupation, gold digger, mistress, spy.

Men; mid-fifties, grey hair slightly balding, expensive-looking clothes; possible occupation, accountant, banker, city official.

and called out to the man.

“Hey there I remember you.“He almost yelled across the reception area and startling the still talking receptionist, “Yeah I saw you walking on South-street with your wife, man was she pretty with that hourglass figure and long blonde hair.“

At first, Charles was confused about the stranger talking to him but the more he heard the wider his eyes got. Flustered and glancing at the receptionist he wanted to stop the young man, but that was when he noticed the not so friendly smile and knew that this wasn‘t just some friendly chat.

Smiling a strained smile,” Oh you must have made a mistake young man it’s a while since I was at South-street.”

“Yeah maybe I did.” but his tone suggested otherwise.

Knowing that he wasn’t just going to drop the subject Charles asked,” Can I ask why you are visiting the Housing office today.”

The receptionist getting a word into the conversation,“ Sir he is currently looking for an apartment I was just sending him to the second floor to…. .”

Interrupting the women Charles said,” Perfect I can help, let's go to my office and we have you sorted out in a jiffy.”

“But director you don’t have… .” The receptionist started only to get cut off again.

“Nonsense it’s been a while since I was able to get someone a new home, come on follow me,” he said waving the young man.

He walked up the stairs to his office on the third floor and thought frantically about what the man wanted and what he should do.

But he knew that he couldn’t let anyone tell his wife about Jules. Dammit, the only reason he got this cozy job was because of his wife's family. He could lose everything!

Arriving at his office the two men went inside and Charles closed it behind him.

“Here take a seat.” he said friendly pointing at one of the chairs before his desk, getting into his own behind it.”But I have to tell you that you are mistaken about what you think you saw. I was never in the company of the woman you described.”

“Oh really,” He said, the friendly demeanor gone and replaced with a cold smirk.” then what about this.”

He placed his hands onto the table forming a square with his index finger and thumbs and within the square a picture appeared.

It was flickering and the colors weren’t quite right but that was unmistakably him and with Jules pressed into his side both of them smiling.

Dabbing the sweat off his brows and gulping he said, ”What do you want?”

Taking his hands off the desk the picture dissipated and with the smirk growing answered,” Oh you're are lucky Charles, I can call you Charles right, anyway your receptionist wasn’t lying. I require an apartment, sadly my finances aren’t looking so good right now that’s why I need one that is cheap or better yet free.”

At the word “free” both his smirk and tone dropped leaving only cold eyes looking into his.

Gulping again he said.” I can’t do that, the rent for a house in the upper West-district is enormous I could never hide that.”

Looking around left and right trying to think of a way out of this situation he heard a sigh coming from the other side of his desk.

“Oh Charles I’m not a greedy person, I told you I was looking for an apartment, not a house, best on the border of the upper and lower West-district two rooms with bath and kitchen. That’s all I ask for.“All this was said as if explaining something to a, particularly slow child.

Grabbing the lifeline for all it was worth,” Yes, of course, I can do that give me one second.” Standing up in a hurry lest the man changed his mind, he ruffled through one of the wooden cabinets in the office.

Exclaiming in joy when he found the file, he went back to his desk laying it out, ”Here this is what you asked for.”

The man stood up and looked over the file before fishing out the renting agreement and pushing it him.” Sign it.”

Charles wanted to say something but after a look at the man's expression, he got his pen and signed to document. Waiting for him to sign it too, he was surprised when the man just took the whole file including the agreement and stashed it into his bag.

“Wait the rest of the file belongs to the Housing office it needs to get back into the cabinet,” he said explaining the normal procedure.

“No it doesn't, this is what is going to happen, after closing time when everyone left you’re are going to go into every office to remove this file from their cabinets and burn them in your nice fireplace,” the man said pointing to the fireplace.

“Afterward you will forget that this file ever existed and should I ever hear from someone about my apartment, well I will tell them that I have always paid my rent on time, why Director Charles even said to deliver the rent to him personally.

And I’m sure your receptionist will remember how you were so adamant about handling my case.”

The man moved towards the door, ignoring the baffled Charles, and when he was just about to open it, pointed at the wall next to it with his picture appearing again and said,” Of course your wife will also find out about how you spent your free time so don’t expect her to support your character, see you never Charles.”

And the door closed behind him.