Leona began to sweat cold and she could feel her lower back becoming increasingly drenched. She knew Murakano was no ordinary man, but to figure out that she was the famous ‘Princess Tactician’ of Arcadia was something she wasn’t expecting. Luckily for her he didn’t say it out loud so none of the patrons nor the staff members could hear him.

“Excuse me lord Murakano, but I think you have me mistaken for someone else.”

She narrowed her eyes a bit as if trying to get a read on the man’s face but he seemed indifferent and just leaned back on the chair as he continued.

“Lady Ravness, I still don’t think it is wise to hide things from a benefactor.” While his tone was calm, Leona noticed the subtle hint of annoyance in his expression. “Especially not in a place so far from home.”

Both Krieg and Phoebe reached for their weapons but Leona intervened by rising from her chair and with a clear voice say.

“My, how rude of me. Let me once again reintroduce myself.” However her tone also changed to a challenging attitude. “My name is Leona Crossford, sole heir of the Crossford family, candidate to the Arcadian throne. A benefactor you may be, but I advise against threatening me.”

He chuckled.

“Oh do not worry, I meant nothing by it. Though it would be wise for your retainers to not attack here, lest they want their lives cut short.”

His dark brown eyes were letting out an eerie feeling that sent chills down Leona’s spine.

“Phoebe, Krieg.”

Leona shook her head as she looked at them.

“Tch.”

The high elf clicked her tongue as she sheathed the concealed dagger.

“Now, now, I mean no harm by it, you see.” Murakano had a smile on his face as he leaned closer while rubbing both of his hands. “As a citizen of a city that thrives on trade, material or otherwise, I pride myself in the acquisition of information. You wouldn’t want to pass up on an opportunity like this, would you? Princess tactician.”

She clenched her hands into fists under the table.

‘Outmaneuvered in every sense of the word.’ Leona thought, frustrated by the superior information advantage that he had. ‘Even if captain Olivia suggested to see this man, this is just-’

“Mu- ra- ka- no-!”

A shouting female voice came from the entrance of the lobby which almost made the tactician jump from her seat.

“Oh no…”

The man muttered as he noticed a young woman running towards him. She was young, around her twenties, wore a beige flat cap on her curled chestnut hair, her white wool shirt was half covered by a brown overalls that had dark stains around the chest and thighs, some of them even went down to her dark leather boots.

“I told you to solve that nest problem yesterday didn’t I?!” Her frowning was even more amplified by her mesmerizing amber eyes as she leaned in closer to his face. “Murakano! Oi!”

She kept poking his forehead until he sighed and dodged the last poke before addressing her.

“Lady Charlotte, I’m sure you are well aware just how busy I am so must you come screaming into my establishment every afternoon?”

“Well that nest has been sitting there for the last couple of days and seeing how sending a formal approval didn’t work, I’m here to inform you that the guildmaster herself has made that elimination task your personal appointment.”

He held his nose ridge between his thumb and index finger.

“You can’t just use your position like that Charlotte.”

“Oh yes I can.” She gave him a mischievous smile before showing him a piece of parchment. “I just did.”

“Goddess give me patience to not strangle my lady.”

He shook his head in disappointment. In the meantime Leona was about to stand up to leave but unfortunately for her, the young woman noticed and approached her with both brows furrowed.

“I apologize for interrupting you, my fair lady. Would you accept a meal as an apology?”

“Charlotte!”

“What? I’m just being polite.”

“That is the complete opposite of polite.”

Leona raised both of her hands with a fake smile on her face.

“No need, thank you. Me and lord Murakano were done talking anyway.”

“Wait… your face is familiar…” Charlotte tilted her head while looking attentively at her. “I’m sure I know you from somewhere.”

Leona turned to the side in order to avoid eye contact but the woman simply walked around in order to look at her face. Though really awkward, she tried her best to dismiss her without sounding rude.

“I think you are mistaken, I have never been to this town before.”

“Ah! Wait! That blonde hair, aquamarine eyes, small physique, you are-! Hmmpgh-”

Murakano quickly stuffed her mouth with the nearest pastry that came into range thanks to one of the waiters and grabbed her by the shoulders.

“I think we should head to a more private location, wouldn’t you agree, lady Ravness?”

Leona’s eyes twitched a bit in annoyance but after discreetly sighing, she agreed to the proposition nonetheless. While it was highly unlikely that someone from Arcadia could be there, she wasn’t about to take any unnecessary risks.

“...Lead the way.”

She said as she stood up with Phoebe and Krieg doing the same. The tension was almost tangible as Murakano dragged Charlotte upstairs, staff members and patrons alike looked at the group taking off with whispers breaking out in each of the respective groups.

They were led to a spacious room behind elegant wooden double doors. Inside, there were a few fancy leather armchairs with one turned towards the door with a wide glass window behind it. The side walls were adorned with landscape paintings and ceramic vases on top of shelves though what caught Leona’s attention was a faint smell of baked goods lingering in the air.

After seating the young lady whom he carried, Murakano sat down in the couch faced towards the door and with his open right palm, gestured to the trio in front of him while looking at his liege.

“Now, lady Charlotte, I’d like to formally introduce you to our esteemed guest, the Arcadian Princess tactician, Leona Crossford.”

“I figured it out as much.”

She replied while pouting.

“Though I’m unaware of her circumstances as to why she came to this place so far from her home kingdom, she did personally meet a good friend of mine in Londria and was about to ask for aid.”

“Aid?”

She turned to Leona who was still standing with both Phoebe and Krieg right behind her and without any hint of hesitation she answered.

“I need a way to travel to Nara as soon as possible.”

“Oh?” Hearing a straight answer from a noble was something uncommon, given how politics are usually involved in a trade with one. But she was different, Charlotte could feel something different from her eyes alone, the sheer determination in her sharp glare made the young woman smile. “Very well, I can personally take you there with my trading ship. As a matter of fact, we almost have an entire cargo planned to leave in two days.”

Leona’s eyes widened.

“Really?! How much do I owe you?”

“Oh no I don’t want coins. What I need is for someone to find a way to deal with the kobold menace that has been plaguing our trade routes as of late, you do that and I’ll make sure you’ll reach Nara in no time.”

“Lady Charlotte!” Murakano intervened. “You can’t make that decision yoursel-”

She took out the previous piece of parchment she had in her pocket.

“I’m sure I have the authority to do so, fellow guildmaster.” After seeing how he went quiet, she turned her attention back to Leona and her group. “Now, I won’t ask you to fight alongside the troops, but a renowned tactician such as yourself should have no problem coming up with a plan of attack, right?”

“I need to know what I’m dealing with first.” Her mind was racing as she was beginning to remember the kobold physiology. As they are humanoid beasts, intelligence wise they would be on par with a human child. “You mentioned a nest, but how big is it? Do they have equipment? How desperate are they for food? Have they been successful in raiding caravans?”

Charlotte raised both of her hands as she gestured to her to slow down.

“I don’t know much about the details. To be frank, Murakano here knows more about the situation than me since he’s the one running the warrior’s guild.”

The man sighed discreetly and began to explain as he scratched under his chin.

“It’s sizable, not anything unusual but there should be thirty to forty of them. They made their way inside a cave and kept expanding inwards, the entrance is watched almost all the time.”

“Wouldn’t collapsing the entrance the most sensible thing to do then?” Phoebe asked. “After all if they are in a cave-”

“They usually have other exits.” Leona explained. “And since there was no mention of finding another exit it’s safe to assume your troops haven’t found it yet?”

Murakano shook his head.

“I can’t spare any more soldiers than I already have. Death angels are coming by the dozens lately so I’ve had the guild reinforce the shore defenses.”

“I see…” She had a pensive expression on her face as she held her chin between both thumbs while rubbing her nose ridge with both index fingers, muttering under her breath. “If we can’t rely on intel then one thing we could do is flush them out.” She then turned to Murakano once again. “Do you happen to have a few barrels of gunpowder?”