"And this, who the fuck is this, Uton?!" A loud shout destroyed the calm, nearly comfy atmosphere of the room I had been waiting in.

If someone told me that somebody could enter a room loudly, no LOUDLY, I would probably take it as a joke. But now? The new arrival had kicked the half-closed door open, shoved it with such force that it nearly broke as it smashed while closing, and proceeded towards the other padded seat in the room, one across the table near me while clanging as if made of metal.

Hearing the words I started this part of my [Record] with, I opened my eyes, looking towards the source of all the noise. If I had to describe the man in a few words, I would probably settle on three, pretentious, glittery, and loud.

His chainmail was covered by a surcoat of fine cloth, dark blue with the tower and bird of the Baron's coat of arms. Even so, it glittered as just polished and specially made to call the attention. And all the golden rivets along the shoulders also screaming - look at me.

Golden rings, some with stones, some without, on all of his fingers, and his neatly combed brown hair, combined with the disgusted look and voice as he spoke, made me instinctively think of him as an arrogant showoff.

After all, the armor and sword on him, plus the ease he walked into the room, meant he was a soldier. A high-standing one, yes, but a soldier nonetheless. But with such attire and under-average stats, the only thing standing out being his [Noble] title. What else could I think except idiot, or as to word it correctly, peacock?

I didn't even consider getting up, as I basically was of the same, if not higher, status than some unlanded noble, even if mine was fake. But Uton? He bowed as if it was the King who entered the room, although I am pretty sure he did it to hide the disdain on his face.

"Commander Foth, this man is the missing [Vruz Trade Guild Branch] guard commander, Rador." Uton explained in a grave voice as he rose from his bow with a similar, solemn expression, even if I nearly laughed at how the man was trying to keep himself from saying something different.

Foth's reaction was to immediately change his expression, showering me with a bright smile. And without any preparation, he started asking how I was, if I got injured, and so on. In short, Foth showed all the care in the world. And without even reaching his seat!

I was too exhausted from the previous events to do anything but smile back and respond with a similar, pretended friendliness. I continued with the same line of not revealing anything before speaking with Gudea. Still, I did thank the peacock for his concerns (a lot, formally, even if nearly puking from the clear fakeness of our amiable conversation).

"Uton, our guest probably faced a lot of dangers, and yet I see you haven't offered him even a single glass of water, not to mention anything else!" Foth scolded Uton in a showy manner before turning to me, who had just finished explaining my situation, and continuing, "Would you like some wine? Food? Maybe something else? Please speak out! After all, I don't doubt your hardships are worth a story, so how much of a good host would we be if we don't at least try to alleviate some of the basic ones."

A couple of rounds of "How could I impose" and "Don't worry about that, just speak up" followed. And after that, I ended up nursing a cup of pretty decent wine, not worse than the privileged ones I had tried before.

"Thank you, Foth." Somehow I ended up calling the nobleman by his name, on his permission, and if not for the notable artificial amity of our talk, we appeared as the best of friends.

Uton had informed his leader, as Foth turned out as the Commander of all the Baron's soldiers in the Inner City, of what I was waiting for, and while I had no desire to spend the time in the room, not in the latter's company, Foth nearly begged me to stay in his office.

***

An hour! A damn hour of a heavy and very faked friendly chat. And all that time, words, pleasantries, and ass-kissing led to zero results. Leaving aside his appearance, Foth turned out to be the same inside, with a lot of fluff and no real skill, knowledge, or anything that I could latch on to get either a useful or at least decent conversation. Being somewhat related to the ruling family of the [Old Anear] Barony was probably his only innate quality. As for feats, I only discovered he was loyal to Farald Ane'd, the Baron and actually a distant relative of his.

Well, if he's so loyal, then at least I can understand why Foth, and not someone else, was put in charge of the Barony soldiers in Chubu.

Uton suffered all this in silence, continuing his act of loyal watchdog. Although every time Foth said something about the so-great Viscount or the even more fantastic Baron, it was apparent Uton didn't think so. The only ass-kissing Uton didn't frown on was when Foth called Gudea a godsend for the city, which was probably the only surprising thing in the entire conversation.

The conversation, already dying and repetitive, was terminated by a knock on the door. Uton approached the latter, questioning who was calling, and after some low-voiced talk with the guard outside, informed Foth and me of the arrival of the Trade Guild personnel.

The new arrival was a small man of ambiguous age dressed in simple clothes but holding a silver badge of the [Cadowden Trade Guild] in his hands. Of small height, thin build, sparse hair, cleanly shaven, and sporting heavy eyebags, the man bowed towards Foth and then turned towards me as he introduced himself, "I am Maester Gudea's aide, Gilcalm."

Most of his stats were in the lower range of my established average, but his [Economics] and [Counting] were at 15, above what I had seen in most merchants. As for the badge in his hands, it wasn't his, but Gudea's, and the latter had sent it to prove that it was on his orders and responsibility that I, Rador, had to be released and sent to him posthaste.

Commander Foth approved but asked why the Maester didn't come himself, as was arranged. {Now that's interesting! Neither Uton nor Foth said that much earlier.} I thought as I awaited the developments. I planned to meet with Gudea since the start, even if I wanted to get a hold of Aison before, as some help could be very welcome for what I intended.

Gilcalm, as if he was expecting the question, explained right away, "Maester Gudea was summoned to the small chamber of the Viscount, so regretfully he had to send me in his place."

"Oh!" Foth first exclaimed, but then his wide and fake smile returned as he excused himself for asking such.

***

"Maester Gudea sends his regards and excuses himself for not being able to receive you as he should. The small chamber will probably take some time, as the Viscount is very worried about the situation. Hence the Maester instructed me to free you from the Baron's guards as soon as possible and then secure an appointment between you at nightfall." After we walked some streets away from the watchtower, Gilcalm stopped and explained as he slightly bowed toward me.

"Understood." I first acknowledged his words before asking, "Should I suppose I am free to pass what remains of the sun by myself? Or are there some other instructions?"

"No instructions. But, the Maester added two suggestions as he gave me my orders." Gilcalm said before pausing as he looked at me. Only after a nod from me, Gilcalm continued with the suggestions, "Maester Gudea would like to request Maester Rador to avoid any contacts with the dwarven people and, if able, to visit [The Rich Miner]."

"The latter, I understand. I went missing, and my friend can be there, or at least I can leave a message for him, but the former? Why avoid the dwarves? They owe me money!" I asked as I thought, considering it was perfectly rational for me to worry about friends and money.

"Maester Gudea will be better informed, but from what I know, tensions are above what can be resolved with a single talk, so the Maester considers it would be better to keep you out of it, at least before you learn of all the details." The probably same-age as me man responded in a low voice.

"Understood. Then, I will go to the inn and see if I can reach Aison." I nodded, considering I should leave it at that, but after some thought, I added, "I will spend the remaining hours of the daylight there and then move towards the mansion."

"Yes, that would be for the best." Gilcalm nodded back at me but, after thinking for a few seconds, nearly as me, added, "If there is any sudden issue or you are contacted by the out-dwarf or others of his race Maester Rador dealt with, I will be in the Guild's hall, the one next to the warehouses."

"Got it."

***

[The Rich Miner] met me the same as I left it. The narrow entrance, the soldier-looking scarred man at the counter, the single doorway leading towards the enormous hall lined with tables where I had met the [Zlolim] guys.

Considering the soldier-like caretaker as the person who Aison would definitively not ask questions or leave notes, I proceeded towards the tavern room, choosing a free seat away from the dozen people inside and waiting for the waitress.

I was lucky the one that approached me was the same young girl, about 15 years old, that had served me my beers the last time.

As she greeted me, I turned to face her, making her get a good look at my face under the oil lamps of the room and asked for the same I got the last time.

After some thought, she smiled as she recalled, "Oh, I remember!" She confirmed the order, "A boss from the Trade Guild, [Baron's Best] beer until you leave!"

"Right!" I smiled back and threw her a silver, which was a bit over the cost of three mugs.

"But..?" She tried to ask if I was paying upfront, but I shook my head.

"That's for remembering me. I will pay for my beers later." As she ran towards the small kitchen's door, smiling, I wondered if I was mistaken about Aison's ways, {He knew I stayed here and didn't know where he did, with that taken into account, I would return here if alive. And that makes her and the other servers his first bet, as he knows I hardly act as an asshole to serving people, so..?}

Nursing my first cup, I thought along the same lines but decided to continue sitting here. {If Aison didn't ask the people in the inn for some reason, he would still send someone here or towards the gates. In any case, I should stay here. It will be safer than running around the city anyway.} By the second wooden mug, I decided to remain until either Aison's manner of contacting me or the time to meet Gudea arrived.

Time passed, and even more beer entered me. But nothing related to my situation happened. But as I was thinking about what to do, a person suddenly approached me.

It was a mid-thirties woman dressed in a scarcely gold-thread-decorated dress. Between the attire, neat well-kempt hair, and fair skin without any sunburns or tan of the ordinary toiler, I concluded that she was one of the elite shops around Gudea's manor employees or the average affluent citizen in Megvuroz.

[Status Screen] was always active, but I kept it to a minimum to avoid being distracted. Still, as she was the one to approach me, I scanned her status, especially her stats.

And while the numbers weren't surprising, her dabbling in poisons, combat, and similar ways was so. But they weren't what made me respond and even follow her after she offered to change places to discuss some business offer for someone of my status. No, it was the [Royal Hounds] membership, though her's was without rank.

"Maester Lindar, Aison sends his regards." As we entered a room similar to the one I had stayed in, but a bit smaller, she half-bowed, her long milk-coffee hair nearly reaching the floor on the motion.

"I see, then I take he knows I am alive?"

"Not yet, he only asked a few of us to visit the places where you have been, and in case of meeting you, inform you of all the developments and ask you to wait, if able, or to take into account what we have learned, if not." The woman offered me to sit on the single chair in the room with a graceful, light movement of her arm, before starting to do what she was told, report to me.