If there was something good with accepting the offer and selling my silence, it was the change to my role in the game, which changed from disposable all the way up to an indispensable part of my buyers' plans.

Thanks to this change, not only did Bigradh and Megvuroz branches know of the changes thanks to the use of message orbs (poetically called [News From Afar Sphere]), but I would reach Bigradh safely, even under escort. And escorted by no one else than a person I had recently fought, the leader of [Zlolim] mercenary group, Lady Ezilda.

Gudea, the head of Chubu's [Cadowden Trade Guild] branch, went against all protocols and rules, registering me as not only a guest but also an official in the employ of the head (!) branch. In short, he did the possible to ensure that I would have no trouble entering Bigradh or reaching Megvuroz.

And so, when I reached the city where I had to have appeared several days before, not only the Trade Guild knew of me, but even the guards did. And as I took out the bronze badge and mentioned my name, they let me through the already closed gates, then escorted me to the local guild's compound, showing the utmost consideration for such a significant and awaited messenger. Or at least such information was the one I learned while moving across half of the city, escorted by not less than five armed guards, with the night patrol captain leading the way by himself.

The thin-as-a-match Sidharth, Bigradh's Trade Guild boss, was a bit surprised by the summons that brought him out from his quarters, where he had already retired to, the time, an hour before midnight, considered. Yet, as he saw me, the tirade he probably prepared died off, and in turn, he slightly bowed to the guard's captain, indicating his gratitude for bringing me.

"No, no, Maester Sidharth, it is only our duty, especially with you being the one to inform the alderman, and us, of the developments." Seeing the grey-haired man bow to him, no matter how slightly, the guard captain, probably younger than me, panicked. His face turned red as he bowed nearly to the ground, back, quickly excusing himself and his soldiers and leaving me alone before the enormous two-storied building, one that looked like the proverbial Goliath compared to the smaller houses around.

"I would have expected anyone else to be the one to bring news, but you, Lindar? What the ten did you forget in Chubu?" Sidharth, or simply Sid, baronet of the Realm and a silver member of the [Cadowden Trade Guild], didn't try to hide his surprise as he questioned me.

"Life sometimes is strange, isn't it?" What else could I reply with but the words I have repeated, inwardly and not, during the last couple of days?

"Indeed it is. Well, come in, I did receive a message about the arrival of an important messenger bearing news for the Megvuroz branch, even if I expected the arrival to be tomorrow. But Yona can abandon me if I thought it to be you." Sidharth, as it seemed, wasn't given any names, just notified of my arrival, which wasn't too strange, as the messaging orbs were far from safe. At least to what I knew.

{Now, let's hope they did tell him about the other matter I asked them to.} Recalling yet another thing I had accepted to do, even though by myself and to full knowledge, I could barely contain myself from nervously laughing. And indeed, from nobody to hero, well, messenger and errand boy.

***

To say that Sidharth Cutton, a senior member of the [Cadowden Merchant Guild] and Baronet of the Realm, wasn't interested in knowing more than what I could and was meant to say would be to lie.

He hinted at it every moment, even if safely, not trusting even his heavily magically protected room. I could have also missed it before. But now? How could I think it something else if even when we reached the [Office] on the first floor, after traveling the veritable maze-like corridors, his first words weren't even about the report I was supposed to give, but a general, bordering the safe, question?

"But I am glad to see you are fine! I heard Chubu is pretty dangerous right now, especially the roads. So, how did your journey here go?" As if he was truly worried about my travels and not about how did I arrive so quickly and safely, Sid asked as he offered me a seat.

"For that, I should first touch on the events happening in the Viscounty. After all, my journey, safe and quick as it was, only worked because of an escort. A special escort provided by the Viscount to guarantee my arrival." Maybe I would have preferred to talk directly, especially with Sid appearing as someone trustworthy and Reuben, my first acquaintance from the [Trade Guild], having introduced him as one, but I simply couldn't. Not after accepting the combined offer of Chubu's Viscount, the Lake Anear Baroness, and Lelani, the latter speaking in the name of the [Royal Hounds].

"I see, then, let us proceed to hear the report Maester Gudea said you would pass. The one for branches like mine."

***

The talk went as expected, at least to what Aison and Lelani instructed me to expect from the man. Sidharth, a baronet of the Realm, resident, and title-holder in one of the New Cities created by no one else than the King, was definitively nothing but a Monarchist. And so, how could he not suspect information coming from Chubu, with Viscount Je'dacr De'pae known as a pawn of the [Royal Council]?

Thus, the sudden spike in the wine he himself served me, as bottles changed, was not just under my own expectations but even to the puppeteers I was supposedly dancing to now. For Sepyre's sake, they even provided me with the antidote, which I should have taken before talking with Sidharth. Well, and which I would swallow if not for the lack of need.

Afflictions: Lodarr's Blessing, Poison, Resisted.

They even feared some poison on top of that, but it was clear that Sidharth would only use something like this.

Side note; Lodarr, the god of [Deterrence, Truth, and Retribution], is usually considered as the one of the Ten to be the closest to the role of the god of justice. The herb named after him, [Lodarr's Predilection], is also the main component of the [Lodarr's Blessing], the latter nothing but a potion of truth.

*Or well, it would at least make one speak out his mind openly, which was a fair take on what I would call a truth serum.

"Baronet Cutton, I would appreciate it if you just accept my report and await the one from the Throne." I had to show some teeth, as planned. And this gave me the opportunity, even if I was to find something else.

Teeth and biting aside, I would not act further on the suddenly paling Sidharth but merely complete what I was told to say, not even lying, for the most part.

Indeed, maybe the report I was supposed to share was severely cut short, even somewhat doctored, but there were no actual lies in there, at least not if one knew of all the dirt and cloak & dagger going on back in Chubu.

The Baron of Old Anear attacked the Viscount first. Well, he didn't do so openly, but didn't he send Master Renrith after Gudea, a man of the Viscount?

The Baron planned all this alone? Well, maybe he didn't, but at the same time, who could say it wasn't so? His own relative, the head of the [Royal Council], the Count of Central, had washed hands of the matter right away, condemning the Baron and agreeing to the King's acceptance of the Viscount's actions to capture or kill as it would turn out, the Baron on charges of treason.

***

Having played my part and slightly (hopefully) shocked Sid by my sudden change of roles from a hired worker to someone who a Viscount sent an escort to protect, I ended the conversation. Then, I would leave the room, take hold of one of the [Clerk] rooms without asking, and sleep with no concerns. And why wouldn't I?

By this point, I was sure that nothing could happen to me, not after our talk. And definitively not after nearly half of the city's higher-ups were, by now, notified about my arrival. And even if I held some fears, they were easily dispelled by the knowledge that my sleep would be safe, the local [Royal Hounds] looking after me, both Aison and Lelani, definitively making it happen.

The next day, after a brief breakfast and an even briefer meeting with Sidharth. Outside the city, on the road leading towards the crossroads, starting out towards Megvuroz.

*Gulp*

Gulping down the medicines prepared to quicken my healing, no matter how unrequired they were by now, I took the chance to look at my new companion, Dart, again.

{Well, he's definitively something else. No wonder Soni laughed on the part of who will escort who...}