Chapter 55 – Proof of their fraudulence

Russell's POV

 And then, I looked at Adrian, who was feeling uneased. "Man, Adrian-kun might be emotionally sensitive and delicate…" I thought in my mind. Then, Alder's father looked at me and said, "Don't worry, Russell-san, we got this. We'll keep an eye on her."

 "Okay, yes," I replied back with agreement.

After that, me and my party and group left the house, with Alder staying with his family to keep an eye on Aeri during her party's suspension period.

 Later after that, we all went back to the house on the city's forested outskirts. There Rai, Ria, and Kelly are playing with John while the old woman was sweeping some fallen leaves in the surrounding yards. "We're back," Azalea said to them.

The dragon family and John then looked at us.

 "Oh, you're back."

 "How was it?"

 "Well…" Taryn replied back to them, "…Alder is staying at his family's home to keep an eye on his stupid younger half-sister for the entire suspension period of her party."

 "Oh, okay then," Ria responded.

 "Yeah, it seems that either Aeri or the Elai party were here somewhere," Azalea replied, before going over to my bus to look at it.

I nodded, before thinking, "So Aeri was that girl's name…"

 Later, I continued my investigation on the fraudulent-looking people who sold snake oil-style medicine to my friends yesterday, monitoring their movement and activity all morning long. John wanted to join in, saying that he, as a Dark wolf, can blend into the shadows to eavesdrop on their conversations. Taryn and Cassius volunteered, too. So, I accepted their requests, and together, we monitored their activities around the city, trying to get proofs of their fraudulent crimes. We saw them selling the same products and reporting to their boss of some sorts about their recent profits.

Third person POV

 At the same time, while Russell and his team were gone, Azalea wanted to go to Leafmight to inquire Denali about the Elai party's suspension and any new quests available. But, she felt she couldn't because she was far away from that town and that Russell, the one who drives the fastest mode of transportation, was too busy. So, she expressed that dilemma to Kelly, who luckily offered her a ride as a dragon to Leafmight. Adrian was busy trying to calm down from his shock from last time, and Ria and Rai are trying to calm him down.

 "Wait, really?" Azalea was surprised.

 "Yes, I'll be fast then," Kelly happily responded back.

Thinking that she was so lucky now, Azalea accepted it.

 And so, both of them went to a secluded part of the forest so Kelly would transform into her dragon form in secret. She did so, and Azalea jumped towards her back. And, both flew off towards Leafmight under Azalea's directions. The flight was fast, and 12 minutes later, both managed to arrive in Leafmight safe and sound. There the dragon landed in a secluded part outside of town away from any human.

 "Alright, go and do your thing," Kelly said to her, "I'll wait here."

Azalea then positively nodded, before getting off and walking into town.

She then headed towards the Emerald Guild fast.

 There she entered in and went into the receptionist's desk. "Hi there, Denali-chan," she greeted. Denali then looked at her and positively greeted back, "Hi there, Azalea-chan, how are you?"

 "I'm having so much fun with my party." Azalea smiled at her for a few seconds.

 "Wow, that's good to hear. It seems that Russell was the right party leader for you."

 "Yes, he is and everything about him is very good."

 After that, Azalea asked her about the Elai party's suspension period. "Yes, they were suspended, but it seemed that they went out and never came back." Azalea got a hunch that the hero party was in Fernlay City at this time, so she said that to her. Then, Denali was shocked and figured out their current whereabouts. "Oh…"

 "Yes, and it seems that one of them, Aeri, was trying to get back at Russell by shooting an arrow at his back," Azalea responded back.

Denali was shocked by what Aeri tried to do to Russell so she apologized to her, "I'm sorry for what she did to you and Russell. Tell Russell I'm sorry."

 "Um, it's okay, it wasn't your fault," Azalea replied back while being overwhelmed by her apology.

 "Thank you," Denali nicely and positively responded. "Don't worry, I'll scold Aeri when she came back here."

 "Don't worry, her family in Fernlay City did that."

 "Oh, her family did that?"

Azalea then nodded. "Yes, she has an older brother and 2 parents."

 "I see…"

 Once that was done, Azalea asked for her any available quests for her and her party. At this time, Azalea was currently an A-ranked adventurer, putting her in the same rank as Russell. "Well…" Denali replied back, before checking the copies of the latest available quests. She checked them by rank requirements. And then, she found 3 of them are suitable for Azalea and her party and gave them to Azalea so she could choose one of them. "Here, choose one from these three."

Azalea looked at them and grabbed them with her hands, reading each of them.

The three suitable quests are:

Quest 1: Clear a forest from monsters south of Hadrianwood.

Quest 2: Escort a wealthy and influential merchant on his trip from Marewell to Rossley and protect him from bandits.

Quest 3: Deliver medicine from Marewell to Halestone.

Each quest had a reward ranging from 100 gold coins to 120 gold coins.

 So, Azalea began to choose one of them, but she began to think about Russell choosing instead. But, he and his party are at Fernlay City currently so Azalea decided to take all three quests and fly back to Fernlay City so she could give them to her party. In turn, Russell and his party would choose what is suitable for them. And so, she did so and said to Denali, "I'll take them all and go to Fernlay City so my party would choose."

 "Oh, okay," responded Denali back, "they're in Fernlay City currently?"

Azalea then nodded.

 "Okay, that was quite far, but okay then. Return the others once they had chosen one of them, okay?"

 "Okay!"

With that, Azalea left the guild and went back to the secluded part outside of town, where Kelly was waiting for her to come back.