In a brief pause during our conversation, I took the chance and openly used a spell, [Analyze]. She didn't ask anything, probably aware of me being a mage and considering that such a check of her was correct. And indeed, she did mention Aison, but what proof there was of her being a [Hound]? Especially as she didn't call herself one openly. Not until the last part of the report, and it was after the check anyway.

Lelani, as she called herself, made sure that I knew of everything that happened in the few days I went missing. And I have to say there were enough events for a couple of months, not for the three days I disappeared.

Half of the events weren't related to me or my situation, so I only acknowledged them. From missing people reports to general unrest, with weird occurrences such as broken doors and windows but no further damage being the current talk of the town.

Other events were partially related to me, at least to what I knew, like a pair of dwarf soldiers who killed a person trying to infiltrate the trade embassy, three dwarven shops in the [Foreign District] burned down, an out-dwarf went missing, presumably killed, in the mines, and so on. Basically, the relationship between humans and dwarves was going down the drain, which only confirmed my information about the Baron working on, even cooking a conflict between both Kingdoms.

Now for the events directly related to me, there were only two. The first was the official stance on my disappearance, with Eithne and Lutrin considered missing as me. In short, Chubu's authority only declared us three, and the cargo never reached the city, with no signs of foul play found. Yet, I saw Lutrin die! But well, I also saw the area of the attack and how clean it was, so probably the official statement wasn't wrong about no signs of foul play or corpses found. Still, for Eithne to be considered missing, was she caught in the end, even with everything I did?

The second point of note was the rumors about what happened to us three. While there were some random talks of beasts, bandit groups, and what else, some people also spoke of how some dwarves that attacked all humans had abducted and probably killed us. They had been heard, seen, and even identified by the [Hounds] as related to the Baron of [Old Anear].

Lelani also shared another fact with me. One that I first discarded but then added to the ones somewhat, if not directly related to me. Viscount Je'dacr suddenly became interested in the events of the entire area, not only the city. Part of that interest was shown in his holding small room councils nearly every day, summoning everyone, including Gudea.

The other part of this information was even more interesting, as to not call it alarming, the Viscount suddenly started examining his own troops and maybe, for the first time in several years, decided to spend money to rearm them. It was almost as if he was preparing to go to war, something distressing considering the two potential scuffles to occur shortly, Baron Farald's attempt to clash with the dwarves, and the Baroness of [Lake Anear] preparing her own troops for something.

I didn't share everything with Lelani but threw enough hints for her to make a connection between the Viscount's troops and the current situation and share it with me. Yet, it seemed that she and the [Hounds] were unaware of anything else than the first, dwarven situation.

{Strange, it can't be they don't know about the [Lake Anear] troops getting supplied and armed, as even a random passerby as HER doll managed to find it out. Can it be that they know but don't want to share? Or maybe Lelani doesn't know what the others know?} I kept my thoughts to myself, preferring to nod and share some worries about a war between the two Kingdoms, especially as, from what I knew, no one had a clear idea of the [Sharagzian Kingdom] forces, power, or even their lands.

***

Having finished with Lelani by informing her of my current schedule and still counting on nearly two hours before proceeding to Gudea's mansion, I decided to return to the inn's eating and drinking area. I had no plans to leave it until the arranged time came, but I was yet to ask for a beer as a man in leather gloves, black pants, and a long blue tunic approached me.

With Aison's contact method found and not expecting anyone else to approach me, I went full guard, scanning the long-haired, bearded, somewhat disheveled-looking man even before he spoke. His stats had nothing interesting except [Entertainment] and [Deceit], at a whopping 16 both! Judging from the man's eyes, unfocused and reddened, as well as the smell of alcohol along his slurred speech, there was no doubt what kind of state he was in, but there was nothing on his [Afflictions] or [Health] info. {He's acting?}

"Maesster Radddorr?" I am even surprised I understood him as he asked, his speech being so bad that it may have been anything but my current name if I didn't pay attention.

With a named badge on my belt, there was no need to hide myself, so I confirmed as I asked him, "And who are you, friend?"

"Ey, thhey shay I'm Coper. Yesh, that's hows thhey call meh." He drew closer and then, in a manner that only I could hear him, spoke up clearly as if he wasn't drunk at all, "A friend of mine, and yours, asked me to give you this letter."

Before I could ask anything else, the man shoved a small rolled-up paper into my hand before returning to his previous manner of speech, "Massterr isn't por, righthh? Sho, he can shpare a copper for Coper? Fro a sihp?"

"Get out of here, you drunkard! You have the right to drink, but don't come here to ask for money! The owner said he will kick you out of here when he sees you again, so scram!" The soldier-like guy from the inn's reception appeared just as the guy asked for a coin. Before I responded to the sudden request or asked about what the fuck was going on. Dragging out the so-called Coper, he roughly excused himself and the inn for allowing such a person to ruin my rest and, still pulling the guy by the hem of the tunic, left with Coper, who didn't obtain his copper, heh.

Considering that reading the letter in the tavern wasn't a good idea, I decided to go to the bathroom, a pretty logical visit, as I had already been drinking before Lelani came. And then, with the door closed, facing the hole in the floor, I unfurled the small paper.

*

Trademaster Rador, I hope our courier encounters you in good health and unaffected by all the developments happening in the city. First, allow me to excuse myself. This latter as I inform you of the disappearance of the payment from our Trading Post to your person. As it happened during an operation by the local law enforcers, it probably will never reach you, even if it was an official payment issued by our Embassy.

Yet, our people take pride in being honest and straightforward in everything, including merchant deals. Thus, if you feel it is possible, our Ambassador would request your presence in the building of the Trading Post.

This letter will serve you as the entry pass at any time and day you feel acceptable. At the same time, I must inform you that deals between our Kingdoms, and even any kind of contact, may bring you more harm than good, and so the Ambassador considers that it is up to you, Trademaster, to accept, deny, or even ignore this letter.

Aide Yulmaeck, writing on the order of the honorable Craftamster and Ambassador of the Kingdom, Fondraic Honormaul.

*

With the letter being addressed to Rador and written in common and not dwarven, I would have probably doubted who was the actual someone behind the letter. Yet, the signature, Yulmaeck, was pretty informative. After all, I doubted that anyone in Chubu knew the dwarf as anyone but Yuld, the out-dwarf.

{So, he wants me to come to the Trade Post if I can, I see. I wonder why thought, they have a lot on their plate, and I am not one to help them, am I?} Sending the letter to [Inventory], I quickly used the bucket-like system to wash down the toilet and returned to my table as I mulled on the words I had just read.

It was clear that there was something the dwarves, or maybe just Yuld, wanted to tell me, but he knew it would be problematic, so he or they went in such a roundabout way. The hints about it being unwise to walk in openly were also easily readable between the lines.

{It only makes my visit to Gudea more worthwhile. I am sure he knows how to pass the gates without being seen, especially with his actual occupation being anything but a merchant.} Still unsure how I would force the fake merchant to help me. For Sepyre's sake..! I knew how it should happen but had no idea how to do it!

***

I thought about the matter while drinking, then as I walked, and some more as I smoked a pipe before approaching Gudea's mansion. The idea, kindly provided to me by my new divine-tier acquaintance, was of my liking - to make an offer he can not refuse.

Yet, the actual wording, how to not risk an altercation, as I was alone and doubted Gudea hadn't hidden at least some methods against enemies, and other things about the conversation occupied my mind. But even at that point, I remained blank about all of them.

And still, it seemed that Sepyre's domain of opportunities (invented by myself) wasn't just a lie. I was finishing my pipe when another person, the third one this evening, approached me. Or maybe I should say that it was the same one from the first time, as while covered with a hood and a cloak, walking, talking, and even breathing somewhat differently from the first time, there was no doubt it was Lelani.

One could disguise himself however they wanted, but [Status Screen] and a quick comparison made me able to guess who was who if I had already scanned them once. Plus, Lelani didn't hide her identity from me as she did from others, and I could confirm it was indeed her.

"I made the promised contact with our friend. He is against the meeting, but it is not like you can ignore it. Thus, he asked me and a few others to follow you." She explained as she nodded to some random people walking the street. "And help you if you have an acceptable plan." She added after a brief pause.

"I didn't have a plan until you appeared, but now, I think I do. First of all, Lelani, what do you know about the building I am about to enter? Any rumors about his owner?" I avoided talking names not because to feel like a movie spy but to avoid unnecessary attention. After all, Gudea's name would at least make people turn around, especially when one was next to his house.

"Nothing useful, for us, at least. We kept the man under a light watch as he's related to our noble target but never found anything that could be used against him or implied he was involved in anything. Even now, with the girls' situation, we only confirmed he has a hold on three places but has not done anything abnormal but administer them." A clear and concise report. Mmm, if I overlook, she didn't name anything, the same as me before.

"Do your results include any information on defenses or personnel? I could use a spell, but I am nearly sure there are countermeasures against magic." I asked while lowering my voice and attracting her to a dimmer corner. Dimmer just for a bit, as bluish light from the pavement illuminated everything, but at least there were no multi-colored magic lanterns like the one hanging on nearly every possible spot.

"Hmm?" Lelani was shocked by the question, probably not expecting me to ask it. But she quickly collected everything she knew in another concise report, "Four guards from his relative in the garden, two from his office inside, several servants. His butler accompanies him everywhere. Everyone else stays at their rooms or their posts."

"Well, he's lightly guarded, at least." That was a welcome bit of info as if the [Hounds] information was reliable, and it should, then there would be no sudden surprises from the human part.

"But, can I ask what is going to happen?" Lelani, ordered to help me if I had a plan, decided to ask directly.

"A negotiation between members of the same guild. A bit aggressive, maybe even some inside dirt, so I would prefer to avoid interruptions or know that I can deal with them." I couldn't reveal that Gudea was actually a foreign spy, not if I wanted him to remain alive and able to help me, so I told the truth about the blackmail but hinted for it to come from the [Trade Guild] side.

"Understood. We will make sure the outer guards don't get called inside. As well as prevent any alarms outside the building." Lelani didn't ask anything else, simply stating what they would do. So blackmail was an acceptable plan in her mind?

"Got it, thank you. And now, before I enter, do you know when our mutual friend will return to the city?"

"Not later than the 5th moon hour." She answered immediately.

{So about four hours from now, huh?} It was late afternoon, with the sun already having set down, and the first hour of the night had already started. So, Aison would arrive somewhere around midnight, maybe an hour later at max.

Note: Summertime has twelve sun hours and only ten moon ones. Moving from a 24-hour system to a 22 one was a bit strange. And so I went the easy way. I considered the 4th hour of the night as midnight and the 5th hour of the day as midday. At least during summer, as during midseasons and winter, it would be different, with the moon and sun hours varying.

"Then, if everything goes well and no alarms or other surprises ensue, make him come as soon as he arrives." With a clear plan in my mind, I felt far more assured as I gave my last instructions and started briskly walking towards the mansion's garden entrance.

And now, let's remember everything I can about how to make offers and follow the great Dons...