.

"We're both butlers now." Sebastian sighed, and Jylan winked. They were now walking down a narrow corridor somewhere in the meeting building, which wasn't very noble-like (which would have usually meant grand architecture and expensive furniture) but instead closer to a large warehouse (which meant bare-bone walls and dusty boxes). They were both wearing identical butler suits, so now the question was who they worked for if they were both butlers. Ah, no matter. This is fantasy for a reason. 

"What are you planning to do, butler?" Sebastian asked, and Jylan grinned. "Speaking in such a manner! you're going to get us caught. Please just call me Jylan - and, in a way, I won't be doing anything. I'm simply exposing the people who deserve it. That whole kingdom is a disaster." Jylan said, turning to a hall and opening the door. Sebastian entered behind him, into a familiar room. Here, it was more of a party where everyone simply conversed in their respective circles - there was a large room, polished and decorated with smaller bits of furniture, with many different layers, floors, and niches in which people, in no bigger than groups of 4, conversed. 

This was exactly how it had always been in the past years when Sebastian had attended. 

Jylan grabbed a tray from another servant to appear waiter-like and then smiled at Sebastian. 

"Time to start, then."

Sebastian would have easily followed Jylan to the end of the world and beyond. But what he couldn't do was follow the waiter through exposing many criminals. The first thing the butler did was spill the glasses he was holding on a noble lady - and when she accepted the napkin he held out, she accidentally ripped her purse in half with a motion of her shoulder, and a large pile of stolen jewelry ended up spilling out. 

So, she was a pickpocket disguised as a noble lady who had been stealing from everyone else. 

And, again, Sebastian would have easily followed Jylan to the end of the world and beyond. But he was left staring in horror at the butler as he continued to expose illegal traders, tax evasion, thieves, and even people who had simply bought their way up. 

This was done in many many different ways. There were a few when Jyaln simply said words such as "Oh, remember that old lawsuit against Archduke Sarcuruse? I wonder what happened to it…" and the whole room would start chattering about how the Archduke had covered up the law case. 

Other times, Jylan had to ask other nobles and servants to come forward about crimes. Jylan kept taking people down, one by one, and then meeting up with Sebastian for a few minutes before choosing a new target. 

At Sebastian's gaping, Jylan promptly poked Sebastian's jaw, which was hanging open shut, and laughed brightly, almost tipping a tray of wine glasses but correcting himself at the last possible minute. By the end of the event, a decent amount of the kingdom had been sabotaged, which Sebastian somehow found too easy. Something was wrong. Now they were walking down a deserted corridor again, and Sebastian suddenly reached out to grab Jylan's wrist. His heart was pounding in his chest, strangely, and his palms were clammy. 

"Something's wrong." He said seriously, and Jylan stared at him, then sighed. "You're lucky I trust you, Sebas-"

Suddenly, a hooded figure descended on both of them, like a shadow, and knocked both of them out with a touch to the neck, probably poking a certain nerve to make them black out. Sebastian didn't even have time to scream before a dark black curtain closed his eyes. 

Both of them fell to the floor with a thud.