Milton Adventurer Guild Branch

Tabitha knocked twice before entering. It was more of a courtesy than anything. She held a high enough position where she reported to this office often. The Guild Master often forgot to speak to her as she handed in her daily reports, but today the grizzled man addressed her as soon as she entered. He recognized her knock.

"Tabitha. Nice to see you."

He didn't tear his eyes away from the window he was looking out of. The third-story portal to the outside was paned with expensive glass.

"You see me every day, Guild Master."

"Do I? How is Harold?"

The two had known each other a long time. Harold, the barkeep who listened to her woes every other night, was a longtime friend of the Guild Master. Apparently, Harold started out in the Guild Master's adventuring party, but he took an arrow to the knee before they ever really got anywhere. The two stayed in touch even after Harold quit and opened a bar. The old party drank thereafter every adventure. Now that the famous party was mostly defunct and separated, Tabitha was one of the only visitors to The Low Well.

"He still believes that the caterpillar he's nurturing on his upper lip makes up for his bald head."

A throaty chuckle.

"I can tell he is still calling you names. It is out of affection, you know?"

"I do. But that doesn't mean I will suddenly like it."

The old adventurer scratched his peppered beard. He looked more like a pirate dressed up in clean clothes. His tanned, rough skin appeared youthful despite its wear. His not-so-hidden muscles stretched his sky blue button-up shirt as he crossed his arms in thought.

"It isn't time to clock out yet. Did something happen?"

"I need a favor."

The Guild Master finally looked away from the view. His expression was neutral, mostly hidden behind his beard. He moved to sit at his desk, kicking his legs up and interlacing his thick fingers.

"You are going to use your favor here? You chose not to use it even while planning the rescue of Omar."

Tabitha only had one favor. It was an old debt that landed her this job in the first place. She vowed never to use it until she was old and gray because the favor of the Guild Master was a treasure that could move mountains. Even when it came to her cousin, she couldn't bear to use it. Part of the reason was that she didn't want to involve the Guild Master and potentially make him culpable in her plan. Another part was that she felt confident in the way she was doing things. There shouldn't have been a need.

"It concerns Omar. But... I don't know anymore. Everything was simple before, but someone's managed to throw a monkey wrench into my plan. It might not even be viable anymore. If it fails, whether I have a favor or not won't matter anymore. That's why I need you to look into someone."

Tabitha marched forward and dropped a heavy folder on the desk, nearly jamming a finger through it as she gestured.

"This? This is too much."

"What is it?"

"Everything! My entire plan was laid out in full. The timing, the people involved, the provisions I purchased, where the shopowners obtained it... This thing lays out each fault with my plan. It includes ones I discovered on my own and accepted as a necessity and ones I didn't account for. It flips the entire operation on its head. It is practically an entirely new plan. One with no faults that I can find what-so-ever. And that's not all."

Her breath became quicker.

"It contains personal information. Not just of the people I chose. It describes my habits, where and what I like to eat, when I wake up every morning, and even mentions my childhood. It knows about my parents. It knows about you. It knows about Omar, who he is, and how he got captured. Its... Its... "

Taking a deep breath barely calmed her.

"I can't imagine the amount of research it took. It was as if this person had an eye looking over my shoulder my whole life and everyone I've ever been around. Do you know how frightening that is?"

"Hrm."

"I'm going to burn this folder, but before I do, I need to know who this guy is. This goes beyond threats."

The Guild Master chewed his tongue, making odd expressions.

"Can you find out who he is?"

"No."

The suddenness of his answer cut her off. Her brain functions halting to process his refusal. The silence reigned long enough that she came to a horrifying conclusion.

"Did he threaten you too?"

He snorted.

"Ha! No. I got a letter, but it wasn't a threat. The opposite, in fact. He called in a favor."

"WHAT! How does he have a favor with you? You knew this jerk?"

"Now, now, take a seat. To answer your question, no. I don't know him. I've never met anyone named Daire King."

Tabitha paled.

"King? No way."

"Shit. Shouldn't have mentioned that. Forget you heard that. It's not what you think. He isn't royalty, I would know. Likely an unfortunate coincidence. Here. You can read the letter for yourself and determine why I've decided to grant his favor."

The Guild Master held out an opened envelope. Tabitha tried to take it, but he held onto it, making it impossible to take without tearing it apart.

"What?"

He scratched his neck with a free hand.

"You know... I believe this is the second time. First Harold and now me. I didn't think his instincts were right at first, but after reading this letter, I am convinced."

He let go.

Tabitha processed what had been said and methodically opened the letter. The contents are as followed:

Dear Guild Master Krane

I won't waste the time of a busy man. I would like a favor. In exchange, I will gift you the information regarding your missing Ranker, Moris the Bright. After the incident involving the Green Moon Army and the subsequent clashes in the Baltic Archipelago, Moris the Bright disappeared along with General Sang-Jun and his army. Many believe General Sang Jun finally aligned with his homeland and turned traitor, but that is far from the case.

The only clues leading to the disappearance were the boastings of the enemy that they "fled into the sky". The consensus is that the translation implies that they were killed in battle and ascended to the third heaven. But the initial translation was done poorly.

The true translation is that they "fled into a sphere".

I don't blame the translator for getting it wrong since it doesn't make any sense this way. But when you combine it with the fact that the "Apple" was spotted in that location only six months prior. Things line up.

With this information, I assume you can start preparing for...

Tabitha almost crumpled the paper. The information was solid. No one made the connection, but now that the line was drawn, it made too much sense. The Apple. Moris the Bright. The strange loyalty of General Sang-Jun. The sudden disappearance. The way the enemy didn't seem happy that their opponents were sent off to heaven.

"This isn't fair."

The words left her mouth involuntarily. It sounded petulant and childish, but Tabitha couldn't act any other way at the moment.

"Did you finish the whole thing?"

"No."

She placed the letter on the table and sat back, not wanting to read anymore. It was as she feared. He knew things that people would kill for—likely things ten times as valuable than Moris the Bright and the Apple.

"What was he asking for?"

Krane brought an old pipe to his lips. A bad habit that he mostly kicked after retiring. He brought it out whenever he had a lot on his mind and was a sign of some sort of cosmic imbalance.

"He said he is upset, and he is holding onto your favor."

She felt her spirit crushing. Not only had she not gained anything, but her precious favor was snatched out of her hands.

"He also asked for a proper apology before you two can become friends again."

Tabitha latched onto the final word. Again. Like she had his friendship before. Then she remembered the night of drinking, laughing, talking easily, and getting to know someone decent other than stupid Harold.

[You owe that boy an apology, Tabitha.]

Dammit. Harold told her to apologize. But she went and made it worse. She couldn't even blame it on the alcohol.

"Curious."

Krane blew smoke through his nose. Tabitha waved it away annoyingly. She asked anyway since it seemed like he wanted her to.

"What's curious?"

He gazed blankly into the air, seeing something that wasn't there.

"Why did he give you so much?"

"..."

"He gave me valuable information for a conversely light cost. I can understand that because he wanted to take you down a peg for threatening his partner."

"And?"

"But he gave you seemingly everything. It works as a threat. Saying somethin' along the lines of, "I have my eye on you at all times" or "I can reach you easily". But if everything is in there, what else do you have to fear?"

"What does it matter. I'll never regain any peace of mind even after this is all over. The damage is done."

"Stop. Use your head for a minute and think like you usually do. What was his intention? We know why he wanted to threaten you, but why would he do it in this fashion. What was the main reason you mistrusted him?"

Tabitha calmed her head to think. The Guild Master didn't usually talk so much. She owed it to herself to not cave or give in to silly threats. So what if this guy knows everything about her? She could change her habits and routines easily. Now that he revealed himself, she could keep her eye on him and plan. She could find whatever he cared about and-

*Whack*

"OW! What was that for?"

She rubbed her head soothingly. That pipe hurt!

"It isn't just about revenge. It is about apologies. Ahh-ah. Forget it. If you aren't going to figure it out, you can leave. Take that folder with you; it's cluttering up my desk."

Tabitha had a momentary thought of burning the folder along with the desk but decided she still valued her life.

Fleeing the room, she returned to work entirely unsatisfied, and minus a precious favor.