Jared was on his way to the baron and thinking if he should get another ten before he’ll have his lunch with Jack and Jibby at noon, when he noticed that there already were two people knocking on the door, he appraised them and activated his Speedy Mind skill.

Oliver Kent Lvl 46

Merchant

Mallerd Snickel Lvl 48

Mind Mage

As his thoughts sped up he contemplated,” It could be nothing just a nice visit of a merchant with his friend the mind mage, and is that a gnome or just a really short person?” Jared was figuring out what he should do, just turn around and come back at a later time or try something to gather some information.

Making a quick plan he ended the skill and pulled his water bottle and journal out of his Inventory, ripping out the last page and writing a short message, he wetted his hair, face, and the collar of his shirt.

He ran at full speed to the front door, it was already open for the two-men by a petite maid.

Constantly thinking,” I have an important letter to deliver, I have an important letter to deliver, I have an important letter to deliver….”.

The three people turned in his direction hearing him run on the gravel driveway. Jared ignored the 2 men standing in front of the door and almost yelled.”I have an important letter to deliver!”

The young maid startled and looking at him wide-eyed just stood there as Jared pretended to be out of breath.” Hurry I have an urgent letter for the Baron.”

The maid still didn’t answer him, looking between him and the two visitors when a calm male voice came from behind,” It’s OK Melissa I will accompany the young man to the Baron, please if you could bring our visitors to the parlor for some refreshments while they wait.”

Visibly relieved to know what to do, the polite smile returned if a bit strained and she said,” Of course if you could please follow me to the parlor.”

They walked past him giving him a curious look and Jared peppered his mind with dirty fantasies of the small maid.

Once he was alone in the entrance with the man he thought,” Are all butlers hidden badasses?!”

John Sillus Lvl 84

Flawless Duelist

“Follow me young man.” the butler said to Jared and walked through the finely decorated foyer, and doing just that he looked around trying to find something interesting but everything here looked so expensive that nothing stood out, at least to his view.

After a short, while they came to a closed-door, Sillus knocked and said,

”Sir a Courier is here with an urgent message and Mr. Kent is waiting for you in the parlor.”

After a short while a “Come in.” came from behind the door and the butler opened it motioning for Jared to go ahead.

Inside he took a quick look around, it was a beautiful office/library, in front of the window stood a heavy dark wood desk facing the room, walls left and right lined with bookshelves with the exception of a small fireplace which had a little sitting area arranged in front of it.

The man behind the desk looked younger than the image Jared had of a noble, mid-thirties with neatly combed black hair. His expression was friendly as he looked at him and asked,” You have a message for me?”

Henry von Aschenbaum Lvl 56

Attentive Fencer

Jared getting into the role he had planned said as he rummaged through his bag,” Yes of course Sir.” after a moment he pulled out the letter he was supposed to deliver together with the small note he wrote before.

With a “Your office is awesome!” he handed them both to the baron, turning his head left and right eyeing everything.

Chuckling the baron took them and gave the letter a quick scan before putting it down and unfolding the note.

The baron read it and called out,” John take a look at this.” and waved to the butler.

He went to the baron and also read the note before calmly saying.” Should I escort the guests out and reschedule for another time?”

Shaking his head the baron put his attention on Jared “No not yet, young man what is your name and where did you get this message.” pointing to the note.

“Oh I’m Jared and a man gave it to me after my last delivery the one before this one he said it was urgent and that I get paid real good,” he answered becoming more eager at the mentioning of getting paid.

“And this man just knew you were going deliver a letter in the middle of your route.” the baron asked raising one of his eyebrows.

Looking confused for a second,” Yeah that is weird, don’t know didn’t think much about.”

“Hmm, what did he look like?”

“I don’t know, like old in his forties black hair normal looking, do I get paid now,” Jared said getting impatient.

Leaning back in his chair continuing to stare at him and before saying,

” The truth please now.” the butler taking the cue from his employer moved closer to Jared.

He was shocked and activated his Speedy Mind skill to give himself more time, he forgot how often he did so during his visit to the baron.

“What happened I didn’t mess up, sure the story was a bit out there but I’m just a peppy young courier.”

Jared went through the encounter over and over again but couldn't find where he messed up.

Hearing no answer from him the baron smiled and said,” Oh don’t get me wrong you were good, I almost believed the wide-eyed youngster routine.”

Thinking for a way out and not finding one except denial, he sighed out loud and dropped the act, his shoulder slumped slightly as he put his hands into the pockets of his coat, and his face lost the smiling expression.

“Haaa what did me in? I went over the whole conversation but I couldn't find anything I did wrong and please don’t say that it was just a test.” he drawled frustrated.

It seemed like the butler didn’t notice Jareds act because a flash of surprise showed on his face or maybe it was the tone in which he talked to the baron.

Letting out a laugh the baron said,” No not a test while I may not be as high a level as some of my family, I was still extensively trained in the art of combat, especially how to read the body of my opponents, and you were a lot calmer than a normal low-rank courier would be even a clueless one when standing in front of a noble.”

“Also for short and repeated times, all your movement slowed down if I had to guess the Speedy Mind skill or something similar.”

Sighing again and kicking himself in his mind for thinking combat classes weren’t as good in ferreting out liars he asked,” OK yes you got me what now?”

Displaying the note Jared wrote,” First I want to know who wrote that note and if the information on is true.”

Dear Baron,

One of the men visiting you today has the class of Mind Mage and is of less than reputable standing, you should be on guard.

-The Bookworm

P.S. Please pay the courier for me.

“I wrote that one but I’m a bit iffy about the reputation part, the rest is true,” he said with a shrug.

Staring at Jared in that unnerving way again he said,” John could you please tell Mr. Kent that something urgent came up that needs my full attention and to reschedule for next week.”

Doing a small bow John left the room and after the door closed behind him Henry continued.

“How would you know the class of the man and why write the note in the first place or better yet how did you know about the meeting?”

“Simple, not answering the first question, making a connection for the second and for the third I didn’t, I just had a letter to deliver and recognized the Mind Mage, but I did look for letters of important people to deliver so having yours wasn’t a coincident.”

Jared hoped that being so forward would pay off. He wanted to get closer to the baron, that was why he wrote the note and signed it, the only difference was that the baron knew it was him.

So he took the gamble either he made a connection with the baron or he gets himself kicked out. He didn’t break the law and only hoped the Baron wasn’t the, kill the messenger type.

Raising an eyebrow the baron asked,” Why would you want to make a connection with me? I highly doubt you want to enter high society or ask for my hand in marriage.”

“Actually the high society thing doesn’t sound bad but no I wanted you as a customer. I collect, sell, and gather on request information, it’s my main business.”

The baron stood and looked out the window humming in contemplation, turning around he said,” OK maybe I can get you a job, what do you know about the man that just visited not the mage but the other.” walking around the desk he leaned against it and crossed his arms.

Frowning Jared answered,” Not much his name is Oliver Kent, works as a merchant but that is all.”

“Correct, he is part of a larger merchant group that is currently trying to gain permission to use Shrink Packages within the kingdom and my Farther is part of the committee that makes the decision.”

Stopping the baron before he could continue,” What’s a Shrink Package?”

“A Shrink Package is a one-time enchantment, the enchanted tarp is placed on the ground and goods are loaded onto it, once done the enchantment is activated and the tarp wraps around the goods sealing and shrinking them to the size of a small package reducing the weight. When the seal is broken the tarp unfolds and you can collect your goods.” Henry explains and continues.

“The use of Shrink Package enchantments is highly regulated and only the military and trusted merchant firms are allowed to use it.”

“So Kent wants to get the permission for the enchantment by trying to use you to get to your Farther with the Mind Mage.” Jared thought out loud.

“Maybe, he could have only wanted to figure out my thoughts about helping him, but bringing anyone with the ability to control the mind of a person in front of a noble with prior warning is highly inappropriate.” the baron said.

“And it wouldn’t be worth it to enrage a hole kingdom, especially my Farther, should his ploy come to light.”

“So your job or maybe you could call it a test is to find out information about Oliver Kent and more importantly what he planned today with his actions, of course, I have my people investigate too.” the baron said smiling and pointing to Jared.

Thinking for a second he answered,” OK, I can do that but you still owe for the Mind Mage info and I don’t work for free even for a test, 1 Royal for the note, and another for the job with Kent with an additional 4 if I should find anything important.”

Jared was trying to hide the fact that he was sweating because of nervousness, his attitude could crash the whole deal and then he would be back to scouring the streets for information with nobody to sell them to. But he needed to make it clear that his work didn’t come for free, people always valued things more that they paid for.

Letting out a short laugh Henry smiled at the nervous Jared and said.” You drive a hard bargain, but I always liked to invest in people and I have a feeling you could be worth it.”

Going around his desk he opened a drawer and pulled out 2 golden coins tossing them to Jared.

Catching them he gave the two royals a quick look before pocketing and said,” Well if this all I better be on my way.” turning towards the door.

“Be careful out there, people trying to mess with a nobles family have no trouble killing a little informant, Mr. Bookworm.” Henry said sitting back down and picking up some documents from his desk.”

“No need to worry I know what I do,” he answered and closed the door behind him.

Letting out a small sigh he took a short look at the closed office behind him before he moved through the mansion to the exit.

The Bookworm name was just a spur of the moment thing but he kind of liked it.

Shaking the thought away Jared had bigger problems, like how he had no idea what he was going to do but couldn’t say that to his only client.

Now how to gather information of an important and most likely extremely shady merchant.” But first things first.” He thought as he looked to the sky outside it was almost noon and he needs to meet with Jack and Jibby.

So that was what he did moving through the picturesque streets of the Silver Borough towards the plaza.