A cat girls arrival

A slight clunk rang out in the bustling streets of Alessa, drawing the attention of numerous bystanders. The source of this noise was a large sword hilted on the back of a petite cat girl with fuzzy black ears and a tail that swayed gently as she walked. Her eyes sparkled like twin pools of obsidian as they moved ever so slightly. Adventurers and citizens alike stared at this new arrival; no one believed that Fran and Master would return so easily, but due to the recent massacre, it was obvious why she was called back. Although her wolf named Jet was nowhere to be seen, those who knew them well, like Master himself, were aware that Jet was hidden within Fran's shadow.

As Fran and Master made their way to the Adventurer's Guild, a place where journeying warriors from all over congregated, they couldn't help but notice its distinct atmosphere. The scent of booze hit them like a tidal wave, an odor they had not experienced during the past seven days spent in the wilderness. Fran pinched her nose a tiny bit, trying to ignore the overpowering stench. Master, however, being a sentient sword, could only imagine what such an overwhelming smell must feel like.

Upon reaching the door of the Adventurer's Guild, Fran gave it a gentle push. The aroma of ale struck them once more as mugs clinked together, creating loud bursts of noise within the room. Adventurers of all types laughed and conversed, contributing to the lively environment that always seemed to surround such establishments. As Fran stepped inside, she couldn't help but notice those who took their business more seriously than others – their expressions filled with determination but some filled with concern.

Without wasting time, Fran approached the receptionist table where Nell stood. A woman with glasses and a uniform fit for a guild employee, she wore a fake smile that seemed to charm most adventurers.

"Nell!" Fran yelled out happily. Master knew Nell very well, and so did Fran; she had been a valuable friend in this world, earning Master's appreciation as well.

Despite his fondness for her, Master found Nell somewhat intimidating, especially when she forced adventurers to pay 100,000 gold coins for healing after getting injured due to Fran's actions. Additionally, her friendship with Amanda, an A-Rank adventurer with a fearsome reputation, served as another reminder of her connections.

"Ah, Fran! It's so nice to see you again," Nell said warmly, her fake smile transforming into a genuine one, which Master appreciated. Fran placed her arms on the counter and bounced slightly. Master guessed it was out of excitement, as Fran typically had a cool demeanor that only wavered around certain individuals or food, particularly curry.

"So, I'm guessing you're here to see Klimt?" Nell asked, her attitude turning serious and her smile quickly disappearing. This sudden shift in behavior made Master question how dire the situation must be, they had faced previous challenges in Alessa before, but never like this.

After a brief moment of hesitation, Master utilized telepathy to communicate with Fran. 'Let's go ahead and see Klimt,' he said. Fran nodded, giving a slight hum in agreement. Following this brief exchange, Nell led them towards Klimt's room while wearing a worried expression.

As they walked down the hallway, each step seemed to weigh heavier than the last, which left Master with a lingering sense of unease. He wondered just how chaotic things must have become for Nell to display such concern.

Upon entering the room of the guild master, Fran and Master couldn't help but notice the chaos surrounding Klimt. Stressed and disheveled, the guild master's eyes were bloodshot, reflecting countless sleepless nights. Papers littered his desk chaotically, some crumpled into balls, while others were covered in hastily scribbled notes, clearly indicating numerous failed attempts to navigate the situation or discover information.

Almost immediately upon entering the room, Klimt noticed Fran's arrival, and at the same moment, Nells made herself known as well. Even though the damage to his professional image had already been done, Klimt still made an effort to fix up his appearance and adopt a more composed demeanor. Master took note of this concerted attempt and admired how Klimt managed to handle the situation like a true leader, always prepared to correct his presence when necessary.

"Welcome, Fran! It's nice to see you again, even though it's only been a week," Klimt said, his voice wavering slightly from exhaustion. Despite his fatigue, he didn't let it prevent him from treating Fran with a certain level of respect, though she was just a child, and Master understood that absolute professionalism wasn't expected in her presence.

Klimt moved his hand to the stack of papers on the table and grabbed one from the top. "Here… Go ahead and read this, and you'll understand why I called you back so soon," he said as Fran reached out to take the piece of paper.

Both Master and Fran began to read the report simultaneously. The details were absolutely shocking, a single man had somehow managed to massacre an entire slave-ring filled with hundreds of slavers, including a few high-ranking individuals; this was something that Master expected Amanda to pull off but for some unknown man to do it.

'Fran, this is insane. Whoever did this must be incredibly powerful,' Master communicated privately through telepathy, a hint of concern etched in his voice. However, Master couldn't quite grasp the whole picture; if the man they were so worried about had eliminated a slave-ring, wouldn't that make him an ally?

Fran appeared unfazed by the news, but Master knew that this lack of concern could be attributed to her past experiences with slavers. She had been enslaved for quite some time before encountering Master, who eventually helped her gain her freedom. Moreover, her race had been systematically targeted and killed off by slavers, so it made sense that she wouldn't see a problem with the situation at hand.

"From what we've gathered, there's someone we've been trying to locate," Klimt explained, his face so serious that his tired expression seemed to drift away. "We've called you back because we need all the help we can get if he goes rogue."

Master was filled with absolute curiosity, who was this man? Was he a danger to Fran? How much power did he truly possess, and couldn't Amanda handle it alone? 'Hey Fran, can you ask Klimt what his name is?' He conveyed through telepathy, to which Fran simply nodded in response.

Taking the initiative, Fran spoke up, her voice calm but curious. "What's his name?"

Klimt hesitated for a moment, as though weighing the merits of divulging this information before finally deciding to share. "We believe the culprit behind the massacre is a man named Momonga. However, we're not entirely certain yet; just be cautious and keep one thing in mind, do not engage him. We don't know his full intentions or capabilities at this point."

'Ah don't worry Klimt we won't engage him right Fran?' Master passed through telepathy, although Fran didn't respond. 'Right… Fran?'