Chapter 66: Investigator

The next day since we didn't have work, we decided to visit Bronan.

"Welcome! Please come in!" He said.

"Hey Bronan, we have the day off so we wanted to come over. I hope you don't mind," I said.

"No, not at all, I was just getting things ready to start teaching you two. Eh...by the way, what did you say you wanted to learn first?"

"I don't think we did, but...I'm not feeling too particular about which we start with. They all sound very interesting," I said.

"I agree! They all sound amazing!" Isabella said cheerfully.

Interestingly enough, even though we still had regular nightmares about the shadow dragon, as well as the end of the world, both of us were quite happy lately. Especially Isabella.

"Okay, lets start with alchemy then. I'll teach you what I know and then we can move onto machines."

"Sounds good," I said.

We spent the entire day learning about alchemy equipment, brewing processes, ingredient types, and potions themselves.

Alchemy was often used for brewing potions, making medicine as well as other things. Certain magics could be used to convert objects into other items via the law of equivalent exchange.

It turns out that Bronan wasn't just a simple inventor. He was actually a renowned genius of his crafts.

As the day went on, we took a break and Bronan came over for dinner.

He stayed for a while and later that night after he had gone home, we heard a knock at the door.

"Hello? Bronan?" Isabella said.

The door opened and there was a different dwarf standing there in a royal uniform.

"May I come in?" He said casually.

I looked over at Isabella and she nodded.

If he started anything, we were ready to defend our home.

"Ah, my apologies for bothering you two lovely young people. I have a few questions for you both. You can call me Dufoth. I'm a royal investigator for the crown."

Dufoth walked over to the table and sat down.

Isabella and I sat down with him and he smiled.

"You can both relax. I'm not here to start anything. And if our reports are to be believed, I likely wouldn't survive if I did," he said.

"You would probably be correct to make that assumption," I said.

"Now, who are you two? And please be truthful with me," Dufoth said.

I sighed.

"We're the heirs to the throne of Albatross. I'm Prince Mizik Iratus and this is Princess Isabella."

"Aye, we know. I just wanted to ask," he said.

"Did Bronan tell you about us?" Isabella asked.

"No, he hasn't said anything to anyone. We've been watching since you arrived. Your appearance matches the descriptions from Kalsa and the underground guild. They marked you for death for killing Tyranus, by the way...not that it matters. They have ceased to be since the destruction of three of their biggest countries. Also, one does not usually arrive in a town and spend so much gold without anyone noticing. Lastly, your unusual physical abilities while working with the construction company..." Dufoth explained.

"First of all, let me say something," I began. "We have no interest in getting involved with anything dangerous. We retired from adventuring. Actually, we would prefer to just be left alone."

"Understandable. You told the guards that you knew nothing about the Black Ooze...but is that really true? Please just tell me."

"If you insist. Although, I'm sorry in advance if you lose all hope like we have..."

I spent the next hour or so explaining mine and Isabella's experiences with the Black Ooze. I even showed him my notes...of which now included a detailed report on the shadow dragon.

Once we finished, Dufoth furrowed his brow and swore under his breath.

"This...shadow dragon over in Hakumo... You said it isn't as powerful as the Source? And even this thing was invincible to you both? Which...both of you are level 150?" He asked nervously.

"Yes. We won't be getting involved because doing so would be pointless. The world is doomed. Isabella and I just want to enjoy what time we have left together..." I said.

"You...really know how to scare someone to death..." Dufoth said.

"To be fair, you wanted to know everything."

"Aye... Well...I suppose I can't hire you two to help in any way with the defense of our city? If there's even a small chance..."

"We're not unwilling to fight when the time comes along, but keep your money. We won't need it. We weren't planning to just lay down and die at the drop of a hat. We'll fight until our dying breath, but don't expect us to go poking the hive, is what I mean," I said.

"Then that settles it. But if I may impose..." Dufoth began. "We would like some extra muscle for a job. If you help us out, we will not bother you again. It also concerns Bronan."

I raised an eyebrow signaling him to continue.

"Aye. Thank ye. Bronan, if you weren't aware, has a great interest in the ancient mechanisms of past civilizations. He owns a company that searches for such things but they only contact him when they make interesting finds. We want to search a new cavern that opened up, but it's infested with some creatures... And before you ask, in light of the end of the world, we would prefer to at least try to maintain a sense of normalcy...if at possible."

"We won't fight the Ooze. Not until it attacks," I said.

"Aye, of course. The monsters we found aren't of the Ooze. They are something else. They appear to be a type of golem. We believe that they're guarding something and we want it," Dufoth said.

"Do you know what it is? And if we find something, what are you planning to do with it?" I asked.

"Hopefully an artifact that could destroy the Source...but maybe I'm just being hopeful. Regardless, if something of great interest is found, we will contact Bronan after it has been thoroughly examined. If he takes interest, we will deliver the item for him to look at. Once he learns something, if he learns anything that is, we will use that information for the betterment of our society...as pointless as that may be due to the end of the world being upon us..."

"Fine. We'll take the job as long as you leave us alone when it's done. Even if we don't find anything," I said.

"Thank you. I am very sorry to bother you, once again. We appreciate your cooperation and we will contact you again tomorrow."

After that, Dufoth stood up and left.

Once he was gone, Isabella finally spoke up.

"Sorry...I might have overdone it with the money..." She said.

I put my hand on her shoulder and shook my head.

"Don't worry about it. It was bound to happen eventually."

"Still, don't you think this is all very interesting? Being part of an excavation, and all. I'm just glad that it has nothing to do with the Black Ooze for once," Isabella said.

"I can't deny that I'm curious, so it isn't too bad. Let's get a good sleep tonight, Isabella."

Isabella smiled at me and nodded.

* * *

The next day, we decided to visit Bronan with a few questions.

We found him tinkering with something at his workbench.

"Bronan, can we talk?" I asked.

"Oi! Shouldn't you warn people before waltzing in!?" He said.

"Sorry, it's important," I said.

Isabella bowed her head in apology as I spoke.

"Aye, what is it, Lad?" Bronan said

"You didn't tell us you owned a company," I said.

Bronan shook his head.

"I own Ironheart Industries, but I have only a few things to do with them nowadays. Mostly, they just send me junk to examine. Did they contact you?" He asked.

"A dwarf named Dufoth came to our home after you left last night. He had a job for us," Isabella said.

"I know Dufoth. He's a good dwarf. He's an investigator for the royal authority and he's also got stock in my company. If he has a job for ye, it's likely to be a good one. Did you take it?" Bronan asked.

"We did. They want us to explore a cavern or something," I said.

"Aye, that sounds like something they'd have you doing. Be careful, okay? I don't want to lose my new friends!" Bronan said happily.

"Bronan...are we the only people you talk to?" Isabella asked.

He averted his eyes.

"You two are the only people I've spent time with in a long while. Most of my family is already gone and I don't keep in contact with acquaintances. In fact, I own the company in name only. I usually don't have contact with them."

"Do you have any children?" Isabella asked.

I forgot to tell you, didn't I?

"A son and a daughter...just a son now. We don't talk..." He said sadly.

"Why not? Don't you love your son?" She asked curiously.

"I do. More than anything. He's all I have left of my wife, but I can't bring myself to speak with him again. We had a falling out... That's all I'll say for now."

"Well, I hope one day you can talk to him again. Maybe he loves you just the same," Isabella said.

After she spoke, I could see tears welling up in Bronan's eyes.

"Isabella..." I said.

"No. It's quite alright. Dust in the air is gettin' to me. You two should go look for Investigator Dufoth. I'll be alright here," Bronan said.

"If you say so," I said.

With that, the two of us went to stop by the house and found Dufoth waiting for us already.

"Sorry to drop in, but I wanted to know if you two were ready for the job," Dufoth said.

"Yeah, I'll just get my armor on," I said.

Before I could leave, Dufoth held up a viewer stone.

"Mind if I use this? I'd like to see what we're dealing with first."

The two of us both used the stone and after we were done, Dufoth checked it.

His eyes went wide and a moment later he composed himself.

"By the King's beard. You two are like gods among mortals. This job should be easy!" He said.

After that, Isabella and I left to get our armor on.

I say we, but she just pulled out Bravery and auto-equipped the Aegis Armor.

I had to manually put mine on. I was a bit jealous...

After we had finished, we followed Dufoth to the deep caverns entrance.

* * *

Isabella and I stood next to the cave entrance as several dwarves with armor and various weapons waited at the ready.

They held shields and axes. Some of them with hammers while others held crossbows and another type of weapon...

It looked like a long pole with a handle on the end. It had a sort of grip with a trigger just like a crossbow.

I assumed immediately that it was a type of ranged weapon based on the hole at the end.

All in all, a fairly large group of dwarves had gathered. Including Investigator Dufoth in his armor. He held a large hammer at his side.

"Alright, lads! Listen up! I'm only saying this once! The pink-haired woman is Isabella. And the green-eyed man is Mizik. Isabella will protect all of us, so stay behind her. Mizik will kill anything that gets too close. So stay the hell out of his way! These two will be leading us further into the caverns. Stick close and be vigilant!" Dufoth said.

Once that was done and over with, we were led into the deepest and most recently explored part of the caves.

After that, we took the lead.