Micky and Prin were walking the girls that had just been divined down to the adventurer’s guild. While they couldn’t yet become true adventurers they could find appropriate work there to gain some levels. Like clearing rats from sellers or other such small but annoyingly prolific monsters. Of particular note would be gaining permissions to dive the [Crawl] in some of the less dangerous areas like the slime dens. These places needed to be cleaned out regularly anyway, and they needed to be specially cleaned out while they were in a monster siege.

So Micky walked them toward his blacksmith instructor to make sure they were properly outfitted. They had daggers and a bit of armor from what Micky’s house had given them but would need much more if they were going to actually dive. Particularly if they were going to be leveled high enough that they would be even remotely close to their opponents in the wager. While it’s true that Micky was going to be helping them giving them a significant handicap that wouldn’t be enough to help them overcome the beginning levels… at the start.

So Micky wanted to get set up quickly before heading over to the Adventurer’s guild to grab a quick quest or two.

That had been Micky’s intention until he saw that receptionist and his cronies down a dark alley. At that point Micky decided to hurry it up and get out of there. But it was too late. They saw him, he saw them. And their stoned boss had a brainfart and two neurons rubbed together remembering the yelling he got from his father. Even his mom couldn’t stop father from yelling his head off.

So now he had a righteous vendetta to avenge! And it was even better it looked like he was there with his family too!

“Hey you! You punk! Stop right there!” Said the stoner Micky didn’t even know the name of. Of course he did not stop.

The guard on the other hand looked on questioningly. There were a few other guards that came out of the woodwork when they heard yelling. They had seen this kind of thing before. But they found it strange that they were coming out of the back alley?

Micky of course did not stop or even look back. But that did not deter the posse. They came up and started yelling and jeering.

“Oh man, I’m going to have so much fun with you and your girlfriends, hahaha. You think your the little turd mountain don’t you? You think you can walk your little mice legs away before the big bad goblin can shove his pike up your ass?” Said the stoner. Micky turned around as he heard him walking up to him and finally looked at him. Yup, still stoned.

The stoner and his cronies drew their weapons. The guards looked on this but only tightened their knuckles on their weapons. The blood running dry from their hands leaving them pale and cold as death. But they only looked on.

Micky and Prin looked at each other and put the kids behind themselves. This was going to be trouble.

The cronies charged and Prin and Micky prepared to receive them. And received they were! It was valiant like a wrecking ball. The guards ran through the druggies like they were nothing.

“Do you think us blind!” One of the guards screamed. The druggies broke and ran. But they were quickly caught up. Only three made it to the edge of the alley. One escaped scott free by shoving his friend into the guard but the other one was grabbed by the coat. He shed it like a salamander’s tail and ran off like he was being chased by a devil’s hounds. The guards stopped in front of the alley like there was an invisible barrier preventing their crossing.

Micky and Prin slowly lowered their arms, wondering what just happened. The stoner was screaming about his father and how they should know him. The guards looked on him apathetically. Most of the guards were wondering if he actually knew which barony he was in.

“We’ll have to take you in as well in order to settle this. We don’t want to take in the wrong people now, you see.” Said one of the guards as he leered over Micky and Prin. That was actually pretty impressive since Prin was so tall herself.

Before Prin could make an outburst Micky himself said “Please sir, we’ll go but what about the children?” In his most pathetic voice. Micky had been in trouble with the ‘coppers’ before and new how to deal with the metal tin. Act as pathetic as you can.

“You’re all going with me to jail. And your going to like it!” Said the guard. He was done with this.

Prin looked like she still wanted to fight. She knew her rights and that Micky was a noble and couldn’t be so easily treated like this. Of course that brat was a noble but he held no real rights and wasn’t even a real noble or heir. He didn’t have any claim at all to a title. But Micky had already acquiesced and there was nothing she could do.

So they all went down to the slamer and were quickly locked up. Which didn’t last long since Micky quickly told them who he was and about who he served. Making sure they knew he was nobility.

He now sat in front of the recently promoted [Guard Captain]. This was at least a forth tier promotion that also required a specific title to achieve. This meant that his power also leveraged with the weight of his title, making him a very powerful man.

Prin was also brought in shortly afterword at spit and fire and nowhere to turn it on.

“That was some impressive work there son, I must say.” Said the guard captain.

Prin looked on confused “What? What’s going on?” She said.

“What is going on is that because he isn’t a noble the peasants are screaming bloody murder. Of course I might add, some of them are screaming we murder you. But most are screaming we murder the other guy.” Said the guard captain.

Prin said “But he is a noble?”

“Yes, but the other [Citizen]s don’t know that. Because he didn’t state who he was when the guards arrested him they think he is just another one of their own ‘maltreated’ [Citizen]s and is being abused. But because he is a noble he has rights and should not have been arrested in the first place. Instead I am now in a bit of a pickle because he both has witnesses and noble status absolving him of all fault. Well played sir. This is usually where we get a quick bribe to help fund our protection efforts but I can’t even get that out of this or there will be near rebellion.” Said the guard captain.

Prin spluttered. This was not what she was expecting when she came in here, and she was the one that came from a family of criminals. She expected to have to go hole hog and buckle down kicking and screaming. She also didn’t expect to have the guard captain openly admit in this room that he was excepting bribes. And she escpecialy didn’t expect Micky to hand one over just like that despite him saying he couldn’t ask.

“Why? What? Why are you bribing him? I don’t even...” Said Prin. Her world view collapsing. Of course her father bribed guards but that was a private thing and not… whatever was happening here. It usually happened out in the woods somewhere that even her own people didn’t know about. And when he did take her siblings to learn it almost gets them all killed every time. This, was, new?

“Prin, there isn’t a guard captain in the world that walks the straight and narrow. He is the line between the dark and the light. He is what keeps the bribed guards in the wrong side of town and the right guards in the other side. He’s both and he’s more politician then guard.” Said Micky.

“Hey! I take resemblance to that remark!” The guard captain laughed. “But seriously he’s right. I had to clean up the mess the previous guard captain left. A little going away present to make sure he was never removed for long, fat lot of good that did him. The town was almost in rebellion a few times. But no, I keep the right guards in the right place. Can’t have the straight and narrow guards riding herd over the slums if you will. While the nobles would have this whole kingdom burned to the ground in some demonic ritual should the guards that take side jobs, while on the job, be allowed to patrol the ‘proper’ districts. And he bribed me for future favors. Something you should well know Princess.” Said the guard captain.

Prin tensed up. Her full name was not something to be uttered so casually.

“Relax I know your dad pretty well. He works with me most of the time. He’s doing fine by the way, but says you should probably write more. Your mother has been missing you dearly and wants to ‘replace’ the empty spot in her heart as fast as possible. Your father isn’t sure he has enough stamina to survive till you leave town. I must admit I find myself envious of him sometimes. Gertrude is never as… energetic.”

Micky turned the sly look on his face as he saw Prin’s world melt. This was all things she knew but that didn’t make it stuff she wanted to be hearing about. Micky was sure she was about ready to scream sing “Lalalalala!” as loud as her lungs could make it.