Solo Work Arc: Chapter 34.
Melric Gehlen followed up on what he previously said, to fetch Winter Icecream the first thing in the morning. The sun hadn't even fully risen when he fetched Winter and his new companion, Felt Mae Puppy, bringing them inside the garrison's barracks.
Winter and Felt were led to a room, lit by two magical torches. The room was small but enough for a small meeting. The air had a persistent smell of sweat and iron. Winter noted the smell and didn't like it.
Winter and Felt took their seats at the table, facing Melric, who sat on the opposite side. They were offered some warm tea, but both declined, citing that their empty stomachs needed food, not tea.
"We've investigated the Amogush estate, and we've found horrid things," Melric said, pausing for effect and fishing for any reactions. Winter kept that neutral frown on his face, whereas Felt remained expressively clueless.
"As of right now, Anya is the sole survivor of the Amogush Noble Family Massacre."
(They've already given it a name, huh?)
◆ [ Remain calm, they don't suspect that you're a former member of the Peasant's Revolutionary Commoner Brotherhood. ] ◆
(I wasn't a member!)
"We've already informed the city." Melric added while holding his hands together and slowly scanning the two.
"Newbie Town?" Winter added, raising a brow.
Melric's brows furrowed. Winter had used an archaic name for the city. A term mostly used and written in history books. "You mean, Newbie City. Town is an old slang." He corrected him and waved his hand dismissively.
"As of right now and as per your admission. The Peasant's Revolutionary Commoner Brotherhood are the main suspects. The scene of the crime and the witnesses' testimonies proved it."
"The question that I have for you is how you were able to save Anya Amogush considering what was happening in the estate?"
"You didn't ask her? I thought she was already healed." Winter added, crossing his arms and leaning back against the chair.
"Healed? Yes. Recovered? No." Melric sighed heavily, shaking his head. "She's not cooperative. It's understandable since all her family is dead."
Winter gazed down and slightly lowered his head. "I was just in the right time." He said, picking up the interest of both Melric and Felt.
"I was in the forest nearby, hunting some stray wolves and goblins. I've heard some faint screams up ahead and I followed it. That was when I chanced upon the estate. Of course, I instantly charged in to see what was happening."
"But, I was already too late. There were already bodies all around the house. I then hurried upstairs and found two people, a man and a woman, torturing a young woman."
"That young woman was Anya. I then managed to outmaneuver the two and grab the injured Anya out of there."
"How did the fight go?" Melric asked, prompting Winter to pause. The question caught him off guard, and he wondered for a moment how to answer properly.
"Like a normal fight, I guess? Both sides trying to kill each other. Anyway, I didn't really get a good look at them, but I know, by the way they talk, that they were revolutionaries.
"You should ask Anya once she fully recovers. The perpetrators were masked by the time that I arrived, maybe Anya saw their faces."
The meeting then went on for another thirty minutes. Melric prodded and asked whatever questions he could, and would always interrupt for clarification. Sometimes, he would signal Winter to stop to jot down some notes.
Eventually, after exhausting all possible questions.
Melric changed the topic. The topic was now about the strange goblin, Goon Undertale. Winter, feeling the weight of his starving and empty stomach, resorted to answering swiftly.
He drank a lot of alcohol last night; the strong pull of the hangover and lack of hydration made his body function like a snail. The same thing applied to Felt.
Winter explained Goon Undertale. The ability to effortlessly lead hordes of goblins. The nascent manufacturing capability. The strange, magical spells. The location of the goblin headquarters.
And finally, the rescue of the enslaved women.
Felt corroborated Winter's statements.
Melric, somewhat satisfied, finally let them go. He gave them a small sum of Pisas for the information exchange. Thanking them politely while bowing his head.
◆ [ You've handled that well. Melric's opinion of you have increased. ] ◆
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Winter was now walking around the marketplace along with Felt. They bought some needed rations and medicinal herbs. Although it was made quite clear that they couldn't stock up well due to Winter's financial issues.
"I thought you were loaded with Pisas." Felt said, scanning Winter's figure and equipment.
"I kinda was, but I left my money in a place I am no longer welcome." Winter mused, most of his Pisas were in the small house that Claudia and Petel resided in. (Most of the money I got from turning in that assassin woman and that culling task is now out of my reach.)
(I had a lot there. Roughly more than one hundred thousand Pisas.)
"We'll have to make do with what we have." Winter mulled. "Felt, could you go to the local adventurer's league building and take some job posts? It doesn't matter how difficult, I can handle it." He grew more confident after acquiring a new class.
◆ [ Careful, you're not an effective healer nor support yet. ] ◆
"Yes, I'll go look for silver or gold tiered job posts." Felt said with a can-do attitude that surprised Winter. She gave a small thumbs-up and then left.
His healing could mitigate his recklessness. Not only that, he now has a personal walking inventory. Felt.
(Is it rude to ask more about her ability to store things? I feel like it is...)
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After a few minutes...
Winter was still in the marketplace, trying free samples from the stalls and inquiring more about the local landscape. Oakerhaven was surrounded by dense magical forests that housed manifested creatures or goblins.
The manifested creatures were the biggest threat to this city. They'd attack from time to time, always keeping the local garrison on their toes. (No wonder those garrison soldiers look so experienced and physically toned. They're always fighting.)
The more Winter inquired, the more the people around here relied on and worshipped the local garrison. The people revered them like regal knights. Winter talked to some garrison guards, and they spoke like they demanded respect.
They didn't speak their demand plainly but hinted at it in a way that made Winter raised a brow due to the audacity and pride.
The one that stuck the most was: "You're looking at the third most manifested creature slayer in the whole city. Now, I don't have time for stories but feel free to look at the spear that decimated hundreds."
Winter silently scoffed at the spear; it was just another aged spear with maybe some history.
"Winter, I got two job posts!" Felt arrived. "One is about culling a manifested troll infestation and the other, some orc manifestation culling."
The same, but with noticeable differences in difficulty. "Alright, give it here," Winter said, then scanned the two job posts. He found them doable.
◆ [ I have sufficient data about Orcs and Trolls. I suggest going after the Orcs first. I'll provide key insights along the way. ] ◆