Rosenborg stood at the main hall of the Adventurer’s guild, his rage boiling beneath the surface, some even seeping out no matter how much he tried to contain it. His carefully made plans were beginning to unravel and it was all because of that shithead that called himself the owner of this pathetic settlement, the man Rosenborg considered weak and wanted to replace. But when the time came, he suffered setback after setback, starting on that night in the tavern when he tried to bully and intimidate the man into submission after his planned assassination attempt failed, but achieving counter – effect and ended up intimidated by the man.

Luckily, Rosenborg wasn’t particularly stubborn man, so he changed his plans to eliminate Leon bitch from the race instead. The sacrifice of one of his most trusted man was regrettable, but the man was too weak and his fate was to be pawn of the more powerful, but even that plan was thwarted by the owner, stopping the incompetent assassin he send after the Leon in the dungeon. He would go himself and do the job right, but he made the foolish mistake of getting into the fight with the Town guard, which ended with him in prison, gaining notoriety that prevented going in prison.

“And that fucker managed to slip a fully organized spy network without my knowledge. I severely underestimated the ability of the man” Rosenborg thought, his body literally in physical pain as he remembered that major mistake he allowed to happen. He became aware of the spy network only this week, when one of man operatives overreached and managed to get caught, discovering in the process that they waged a shadow war to take assassins and other criminals from his grasp. Unfortunately, Rosenborg wasn’t in any position to counter right now, as the election race in the Adventurer’s guild was reaching its climax.

He put his mind to the task, thinking about the ways to salvage something from the train wreck that his schemes had become. The body he was forced to take out of hiding will prove that somebody tried to deceive the adventurers and turn them against Rosenborg and he was ready to put the blame squarely on Leon, but he was afraid that the whole ploy was aimed to bring the body out in the open, where somebody knowledgeable would be able to find the needle mark and absolve the bitch of responsibility for the murder. He was fairly certain he covered his track enough that there was no way for him to get blamed for the murder, but he sent a squad to take care of the last loose end, represented by the weapon seller that sold him the needles. He hoped that his squad would be able to recruit the man, as he was extremely talented in the art of the weapon making, but if he refused to cooperate, his head will serve nicely.

“Where is your usual cockiness, Rosenborg? The time is ticking and soon your time asked for will expire. Afraid your ruse will be over?” Leon taunted him, fully aware the man was truly dead. Rosenborg glared at her, his rage consuming his body.

“You are a hypocrite, Leon and you sold all of us for your interest. Body is on the way and then you will have to answer with whom you teamed up to cause this stirrup” Rosenborg snarled, growing even more frustrated seeing the smile on her face. She knew something he did not, that was painfully obvious and there wasn’t something he hated more than situation like this.

“You are getting repetitive, Rosenborg. And I told you already, my interest lies only with the guild and its wellbeing. Could you say the same?” Leon asked, striking a nerve. It was obvious he had bigger ambition that just to be the head of the Adventurer’s guild and that wasn’t something he would ever deny. He had a vision of what the world should look like, and everyone knew System liked when you take matter into your own hands. He planned to reforge the Earth to match his vision and this guild would just serve as his stepping stone, but first he had to manage this situation and escape unscathed.

“I thought so. You are using all of us as fuel for your ambition, Rosenborg. But people are not pawns and you will learn this lesson soon” Leon continued, seeing she will not get a response. Once again, fuel flared in Rosenborg, his whole body screaming against the statement woman just made. The weak had only one role in life, to serve as fodder and pawns in the game of more powerful and that lesson is something he will learn everyone in this wretched settlement.

Before he managed to muster a response, one of his lackeys that were part of the team sent to retrieve a body waved to grab Rosenborg attention, signaling that the body had arrived. The procession entered the main hall, carrying headless body on a stretcher between them. Rosenborg steeled his gaze on the body, trying to muster some fake emotions of sorrow to convey to the room. Leon also watched the body as it moved towards the center of the hall, his men putting the stretcher down.

“And here for your pleasure comes the dead man. Come closer, make sure it was him so we can avoid this situation going forward” Rosenborg shouted to the crowd, keeping his eyes on Leon. She turned her gaze towards the entrance to the main hall, looking like she expected someone to arrive, and Rosenborg could bet she was waiting for the owner of the town to arrive.

“Waiting for your patron, Leon? The one whose parlor tricks you used to try and discredit me?” he shouted as the crowd carefully approached to inspect the body “tell us now what had they promised you for your cooperation?” he finished, atmosphere in the crowd tensing as they waited for her response.

“I just know what I saw, Rosenborg, as did all the people present here. You have my apologies for doubting your words over some deceiver’s action” Leon said, trying to buy more time. Unfortunately, she sounded sincere enough, calming a crowd a little bit. Rosenborg set his mind in overdrive, trying to think some way to continue pressuring her.

Before he managed to think of anything, the entrance to the hall was filled with people. Rosenborg instantly recognized the owner of Camp Hearth, Lucas was his name if remembered correctly, and his lackeys. To Rosenborg’s great shock, between them walked the small man he recognized as the weapon seller and the man who sold him the needle he used to commit the murder. His squad obviously failed in securing the man’s cooperation and he instantly realized what Leon had been waiting for and what exactly was her plan, or more precisely, the plan of the owner which she helped be realized.

“Mister Rosenborg, I come in front of the Town guard to demand you hand the body of the victim to be examined” the last man he didn’t recognized, but assumed was captain of the Town guard. Rosenborg gritted his teeth and simply pointed to the center of the hall where the body laid.

The owner stepped forward with the weapon seller and together with the captain they started to examine the body, the smug look on the owner face telling Rosenborg he found what they were looking for.

“Do you see the mark of your crafted weapons on the body of the deceased?” owner asked loudly, drawing attention of the whole room.

“Yes” weapon seller simply responded.

“Do you claim that the murder weapon is the weapon you crafted?” the captain interjected, continuing the interrogation. Rosenborg kept his mouth shut on this breach of protocol, trying not sound petty and draw attention to himself.

“Yes”

“How can you tell?” captain asked, excitement in his voice palpable.

The seller asked for permission to get close to the body and once he got it, he approached it and showed the mark where Rosenborg stabbed his lieutenant, explaining the mechanics behind his needles. Rosenborg listened to him halfheartedly, thinking about a way out. He spotted owner watching him intently, smug expression on his face boiling the blood inside Rosenborg. The interrogation dragged on, captain wanting to make sure he got every detail.

“I’m sorry to interrupt, but I have one additional question” owner said when the captain finally exhausted the arsenal of question he meant to ask “did you have any business with anybody from the Adventurer’s guild?” he asked

“Yes” once again came the simple response.

“Would you mind to tell with whom?” the owner asked a follow – up question.

The seller started recounting names, and Rosenborg registered when his name dropped, luckily the crowd not paying much attention, mesmerized by the show. When the man finished, owner, Lucas, turned to the captain.

“I think we just narrowed our list of suspects”

“Agreed” the captain said, before turning to Leon “Miss Leon, I officially clear of you of suspicion of murder. I thank you for your cooperation” he said.

“You are welcome, captain” the bitch of the woman said, enraging Rosenborg. He just watched his whole plan falling apart. Owner noticed his change in demeanor before he managed to get it under control and turned to him.

“Tick – tack” he said to Rosenborg, threat in his voice clear before exiting the hall.