"Please, miss Garami! You have to help!" - ???

Eh...who is this guy again? He came in along with Mira, and it seems that he knows me. Those super-plain features, where have I...

"Ah! You're that chef-guy with the cat!" - Garami

"Pollen! It is Marcus Pollen! But thank you for remembering me, even if not completely!" - Marcus Pollen

Yup. That's the Migrant who is running that restaurant downtown where they sell Migrant-inspired food. Rather, he is using that Extra Skill, [Dimension Merchant], to obtain ingredients from anywhere in the world that's got a contract with the Merchants' Union.

"And? Where is the fire?" - Garami

"There's no fire, just a theft! My poor wallet!!" - Mira

"Miss Mira, you are forgetting about poor Milo! Miss Garami, they struck again! Those people from the last time you visited have kidnapped my sweet Milo!!" - Marcus Pollen

Milo...? AH! That cat! He got catnapped for real this time?

"Hmm? Excuse me, I am a little confused..." - Noire

"Oh, I am sorry about that. Miss Garami, this person is...?" - Marcus Pollen

"Just a passerby." - Garami

"How cruel!" - Noire

"Eh..., okay. But more importantly, you need to save my precious Milo! He might be cold and hungry as we speak!" - Marcus Pollen

"I was set aside like a week-old fries?!" - Noire

I mentally moved Noire aside and focused on Mira, asking her to calm down and explain why she and Pollen came to the Union together.

"Well, fine... It started back at the docks. I wanted to buy a fishing rod of my own after seeing how much Alf loved fishing, but then a bunch of thugs crashed into me and ran away without even saying sorry. When I got myself together, I noticed that my wallet was gone. I hadn't dropped it, so there was just one logical explanation left, so I went after those thieves that had done the hit-and-run." - Mira

"You sure didn't waste time figuring that out." - Garami

"Why would I? There was money on the line. MY money." - Mira

That explains it...

"Anyway, I followed the thugs to a docked ship, but they took off before I could jump on. There was no other ship I could 'borrow' to catch up to them, so I was forced to only hurl insults at them." - Mira

"That is when I finally caught up. I had been chasing those people after they had broken into my shop and taken my dear Milo." - Marcus Pollen

"After hearing his story, I brought Pollen with me here, and you know the rest." - Mira

"That's fine and all, but why didn't you go to the city guards? Isn't thievery and kidnapping something the police should take care of?" - Garami

"I was saying the same thing, but miss Mira..." - Marcus Pollen

"It's no good. Those guys' jurisdiction is limited to these towers only. They don't have the authority to catch people who've left the city, nor do they have the manpower to spare anyway. After the incident with those fake entry passes, the city guards' membership has reached an all-time low." - Mira

Ugh... This isn't my fault! I was a victim of those passes, so nobody can push the blame on me! Nobody!!

"It sounds like you four have a problem. Mind if I give a hand?" - ???

Someone suddenly spoke to us from behind me..., but I already know who they are, thanks to the 3D map. And I also recognize his voice.

"Yo, Union Master." - Garami

"It's nice to see you two back in town, Garami and Mira. After all that island jumping you have done, I was afraid you would not show your faces here again." - Karion

The blond elf replied jokingly to my greeting as he sat down on a free seat at the table before introducing himself to Pollen.

"Now, I overheard that there has been a kidnapping, or rather, a catnapping taken place?" - Karion

"And a wallet-napping!" - Mira

"Yes, let us not forget that. Unfortunately, it's not only the city guards who wish to borrow even a cat's hand lately. Not that it seems likely for even that to happen anymore." - Karion

"What's up with that idiom? It's strange." - Mira

"Really? It is quite popular with people from the Wakoku empire." - Karion

" Ehm, are you talking about how this Hall is empty?" asked Noire, who seems to have been looking for a chance to rejoin the conversation ever since she got pushed out.

"You are the rising newbie, Noire, correct?" - Karion

"Rising newbie..., well, it IS the truth~." - Noire

Only because you've been working with us.

"Hey, can we move on? You said something about not having enough people to do the job?" - Garami

"That is true. You people visited Little Wasteland recently, correct? Then you should know about the new tortoise monster species that has recently appeared there." - Karion

"We did hear rumors about it, yes, but we never encountered one." - Mira

"Turns out those creatures have a C-rank 'boss', so to say. They and the recently returned Sahuagin tribe have started a territorial war. And for some reason, the Sahuagins have some strong allies thanks to a new race of dinosaur-type monsters. Multiple C-ranks have been seen on their side too." - Karion

Ah..., I think I know the identity behind all those monsters. It's gonna be annoying if I speak up, so let's carry that secret to the grave.

"How's that anything to do with the lack of adventurers? I honestly can't say that interfering with a monster war seems that profitable for those guys." - Garami

"It is because we asked them to do just that. Those turtle monsters are the worst invasive species Little Wasteland could ever have. Their numbers and levels have sharply increased after settling down on the island. If nothing is done, the whole ecosystem there will be destroyed, and we will have to rename the place into 'Turtle Island' at the cost of the various monster breeds we could hunt there." - Karion

"That...is not good. Even an ordinary citizen like me can see that." - Marcus Pollen

"Thank you for your understanding. That is why most adventurers are working to assist the Sahuagin army on Little Wasteland, while also trying to repopulate some of the turtle monsters to the Isla de Mina. The goblin and ogre population there will keep the turtles' numbers in check." - Karion

That sounds like a pain in the ass. No wonder there isn't anyone left here in the city.

"Guh..., then, how can I get back my poor little Milo?!" - Marcus Pollen

"We have a group of adventures twiddling their thumbs right here. Let them take the quest." - Karion

Uh-oh. We're getting called.

"That was my goal from the start! I'll make those thugs cough up both my wallet AND the cat!" - Mira

"Stop it, pause! Enthusiasm alone won't help us here. Those crooks may have fled the country already." - Garami

"No, I do not think that is possible. There are a limited number of gates to enter and exit the country of Velantas by boat, and if they had made such a ruckus lately, the city guards would have already warned the gate guards about them by now." - Noire

"Noire is right. Even if they didn't, it is a common fact that the lake gates have a 93% capture rate on smugglers and thieves trying to enter or exit this country. You would have to be crazy to attempt trying to leave that way." - Karion

"Hmm... Then, what's their plan? Are they trying to hide somewhere until the heat goes down?" - Garami

"Fancy you should say that. I have the same idea. In that case, there are just a few areas where they can hide, now that the city is aware of them being thieves and catnappers." - Karion

The Union Master spread a map of the lake country over the table and started to point out the different islands while putting a white or black rock on them, starting from the city by placing a white one on it.

"Little Wasteland is busy right now, so there are too many eyes there for the thieves to head that way. Plain Island is only open to official ships, so it is also not likely to be their goal. And Mayhem Island is also under our supervision, but less so now due to the monster war on Little Wasteland, so it is a 50/50 chance there." - Karion

A white stone was added to both Little Wasteland and Plain Island, while Mayhem got both a white and a black rock.

"As for Isla de Mina, the goblin population and the adventurers busy repopulating the tortoise monsters we have captured make it too risky for them to land there. And Iron Isle Mines is too dangerous in the first place thanks to being a semi-active volcano, and lately, a giant snake-type monster has been seen there, doubling the dangers for the average person to step foot there." - Karion

Both the dangerous locations got a white rock added to them.

"As for Tir na Nog, undead creatures roam the borders of the island while the rest is blocked by a huge barrier, making it impossible to settle down there due to a lack of space and the constant monster attacks." - Karion

"Couldn't they use it as a base at least during the day?" - Garami

"No dice. The undead on that island is special. Even the weakest Skeleton can walk underneath the sun without taking any visual damage." - Karion

Hold on, is that true!? Here I've been racking my brains to figure out a way to allow me to use my necromancy at any time of the day, and some random island (may) have a solution for that?! I gotta have Bloom look into that place after this.

"Then the only place left is..., Garami! I'm taking your boat to Tree Sea Isle!!" - Mira

"Wait, wait, wait! There isn't any proof for that-" - Garami

"She's not wrong. The Tree Sea is a perfect place for criminals to hide." - Karion

TCH! Here I wanted to investigate that "Tir na Nog"-place!

"I have heard about it. The Tree Sea Isle is one of the largest islands in this country." - Noire

"THE biggest island. It is larger than this city. And it is filled with rare flora and monsters, but not enough of the latter to make it impossible for a crime ring to set up a hidden base or two there. There have been such incidents in the past, before the Great Drought." - Karion

"In that case, the boat-" - Mira

"Wait! We're still exhausted from Mayhem Island! Not to mention we're out of provisions and materials-" - Garami

"I-if you need food, I can help! Just please save my sweet Milo as fast as possible!" - Marcus Pollen

"Ugh... Even so..." - Garami

"We got eyes on all the other places they can flee to anyway, so if you can take a swipe over the Tree Sea, I'll gladly pay you the exploration quest reward from my pocket. A certain rookie with the best eyesight that the Velantas Adventurers' Union have seen in a while will be a good addition, so take her with you too." - Karion

"Hm~hmm~. Leave it to me~! I will spot those lawbreakers from a mile away~!" - Noire

"If you do, tell me where they are! I will slice and dice them into atoms for the crime of trying to steal my money!" - Mira

"MILOOOO! I AM COMIIIIING!!" - Marcus Pollen

Everyone is hyped up about this expedition. However...

"What's the catch?" - Garami

I pulled the Union Master away from the gang who was getting heated up without worrying about the potential dangers this expedition may have and asked him the million Sol question. Also, with "dangers", I'm not referring to the monsters living on this giant forest island.

"Catch? What are you talking about?" - Karion

"I wasn't born yesterday. I know there's nothing like a free meal. Now, spill it. What's the reason for you to be so cooperative? Ain't this exceeding what the Union Master should be doing?" - Garami

"The answer is simple: because I want a CHEAP meal at least!" - Karion

"Huh?" - Garami

"As you can see, I am an elf. And we prefer to eat vegetables and fruits above meat and fish. However, even if we have a dedicated farmland in Plain Island, the price of veggies is too high for my wallet. HOWEVER, Mr. Pollen's restaurant obtains its ingredients thanks to his [Dimension Merchant] skill, so it is many times cheaper to go there! Also, the man is a master at cooking!" - Karion

So it's for your appetite?! I have eaten there myself, and I have to agree that the food there beats most of the other places I've visited. That Marcus Pollen, he's got some heavy fans hidden. Maybe it's more than just the Union Master. ...Then why is risking earning those fellows' ire by kidnapping Pollen's cat? Is a good luck charm worth all those problems?

"Also, the Union's bank account is getting dangerously dry. We need the bounty from those villains to recover even so slightly! Wars against invasive species ain't cheap, I tell you!" - Karion

"No wonder." - Garami

"Thank you for your understanding. And finally, the rookie known as Noire, I definitively want her to stay in the Union." - Karion

"Noire? Why her?" - Garami

"Didn't you listen that the Union is in dire need of talents lately? Also, she used to be a member of those Nequitas-people, as you may know. Whether her getting fired from her position there is true or not, she may bring us some dirt on those people if we make her warm up to us." - Karion

Blot, you're suspicious even in the eyes of the Union. Shouldn't you try improving your image a little?

"In that case, we can recruit her to our Guild if that's fine with you." - Garami

"...As long as you keep on working for the Union. But are you sure? She may try to sell you out in exchange for getting her old job back." - Karion

"We'll just make sure she stays warm and toasty, just as you planned to do yourself. It's not like a completely new Guild such as ours have any skeletons in the closet yet." - Garami

Other than me being a Champion. But I doubt that getting known to the Nequitas' or the public even, would hurt me in the long run. I think...

"In exchange for keeping an eye on her and making her work for the sake of the Union, there are some stuff I want your help with." - Garami

"What is it? I don't have any info about any other Magic Stones if that's what you're asking for." - Karion

"Tch. Anyway, you said you were both a magician and an alchemist?" - Garami

When you have a problem, asking a professional is the best way to go after all. Especially since we're about to enter yet another dangerous territory. But I think I've gotten used to it by now. I don't like it, but I've gotten used to it...*sob*...