Getting an Audience

...

...

...

"Hahahaha! You must think I'm some kind of idiot, if you think I would believe you without any REAL proof!"

''THIS... GUY... IS A...!!'' -The girl was cursing inside her head, to the skinny man that was in front of her.

...

...

-(1 Hour Before)-

...

...

A pretty brunette with sapphire blue eyes wearing basic leather gear and a green traveling cape (the cloak was down), was dead-staring directly into the eyes of the man in front of her.

He was a local road guard, with almost the same quality of gear as the girl. A simple iron helmet that looked more like a pot, basic leather cuirass, hemp pants (like the ones roman legionnaires used) and a brown cape but without a cloak.

The guard whose name (in case anyone was interested in knowing it...) was Huniodes. And friendly Huniodes here, was in charge of guarding the entrance to a certain building...

Despite being associated with humble edifices by modern standards, this was an adobe and wood structure, but it was also professionally engineered and built nonetheless, giving it an air of excellent quality. Quite literally, a rich home of the 'ancient world'.

Although being only 96 m2 in size, this building was very particular. Not only because it was the only estate in Creekwood with a guard by the door, but also because of who inhabited it...

This was actually the whole point of what was going on between the girl and the guard...

The girl wanted to 'talk to the manager...' so to speak...

However, unlike a 'Karen' would, Jennie only wanted to cordially discuss something, that in her own words 'would determine the fate of everyone living around Hunter's Heaven...'

A little over the top? Maybe. But hers was definitely the right to speak with the man in charge of administrating this waypoint to Labistal... Or so she assumed anyhow...

Mainly because of how close she and her uncle lived, and that it was the only town from the region that wouldn't start asking questions about one's place of origin or home...

So many merchants coming from all parts of the Ivrune continent had its advantages for such people living in... particular conditions...

As a matter of fact, Creekwood was the critical point where the many roads that ran through the green fields of Oshur, and into the west part of the Hunter's Heaven forest...

...

...

"Look... lady, I really don't know what you're talking about!"

Huniodes the Guard was getting really flustered, with his face being as red as a tomato, to the point where he would be fuming out of his ears if he was an anime character...

"I assure you, Miss Luari was kind enough to provide me with the details... It appears you told her that you would first leave your wife and then marry her... isn't that right ∼Huniodes∼...?

Jennie was stabbing a metaphorical knife at the guard's neck...

Turns out, Huniodes wasn't all that friendly after all... as he had denied her entry over and over again into the administrator's house.

But Jennie had spent enough time talking and gossiping with many of the people that actually lived in Creekwood. Something to kill time while Lou went off to sell the meat and hides of the week...

It was mostly fun or crazy stories the travelers brought with them as they spent the night the inn, or restocked on food and water for the trip to Labistal...

Having their cottage positioned east from Creekwood and the main highway to Labistal, it made sense that Lou and Jennie would both be familiar with the town...

...

...

Jennie wouldn't normally blackmail someone with their personal affairs as she considered it to be the lowest of the low... but this cursed beast business was to be an exception to that rule.

"OK OK!! I'll... talk to Mister Alonius... I don't make any promises, but I'll tell him what you told me... That everyone in Creekwood is in danger... Is that enough?!"

"Sure, I guess that will have to do..."

Deep down, Jennie despised herself right now... She HATED manipulative people... But this had to be done, otherwise, who knows what Lou might have done to gain entry... if he came back before she had already spoken with the man in charge...

He was attending to some business that couldn't wait, so she went off to 'look around'.

Basically to do what they were supposed to be doing in the first place. The only problem was that Lou wasn't aware of Jennie's intentions...

'Sorry, Huniodes... For real...' -She mentally apologized to the guard.

...

...

...

One could see a skinny white man wearing noble clothing and long black hair tied in a ponytail victorian style. He had his feet over his desk, reclined as far as making his padded chair tilt. On one hand, he had a glass of wine, and in the other, what looked like a financial report of some kind.

He was enjoying another day at work, in his cozy and -slightly- more luxurious office than what the regulations allowed...

Then... a sudden banging on the door -rather than the decent knocking he preferred-, made him spill his wine all over his red plush rug under his desk...

"Goddammit!!! Huniodes, you piece of shit!!! I told you to knock not to try to murder my door!!!

The hell do you want anyway??!!"

Administrator Alonius was now pissed. Royally, pissed.

"Sir, I-I don't mean to interrupt your work... But there's someone here to see you...

A girl, that claims to have vital information for Creekwood's... and potentially even the capital's..."

It took the man with noble robes and polished shoes a few moments, contemplating how angry he would get if this turned out to be a waste of his 'precious' time...

"Hmmm... If what she has to say is ∼so∼ important... And, I am sure that she's aware that giving out false or misleading information to a government official is punishable by a hefty fine or even prison..."

"Y-yes s-sir... I have no doubt that her information is good..."

Alonius was no fool, and wouldn't let an opportunity to drain someone's pockets free of coin so easily... leave his door front...

The skinny white man gave a nod and slight handwave to Huniodes, indicating him to go out and get the girl.

Huniodes simply nodded back, gave a small bow and then rushedly walked towards the entrance.

As he tried to convince himself that he still had some dignity left, he adjusted his rusty metal helmet, got into a straight posture and then...

...

...

...

Jennie got up as soon as she heard footsteps rushing to the door...

'Finally...?' -she thought in hopes of getting to do what she was here for...

With some creaking, the door opened at last, revealing a clearly relaxed Huniodes.

Jennie was beginning to get worried, as they went inside and up the short stairs that led to the lobby of the residence...

'Could there be something... wrong...? Shoot... I knew I shouldn't have pulled that thing with his affair on his wife...' Regret and doubt were crawling up the back of Jennie's skull... When they arrived at the administrator's office...

"Here we are... -lady-..." That was evident scorn coming from a man that believed that woman in front of him was the reason for having his honor trampled on...

"Y-yes... thanks and... sorry about... -that-... I promise not to tell anyone..."

With a clear sign of disgust and contempt upon his face, the guard opened the inner door to the office and signaled Jennie with his hand for her to get inside.

"Whatever, my work is done. I'll be waiting here, so don't try -anything- with Administrator Alonius..."

"Sorry...!"

Jennie just uttered an apology, letting her emotions get control there for a moment.

She then got inside quickly, as Huniodes let the door slam on her back...

*PLAM*

"Ouch!" -Jennie exclaimed.

An intense and angered gaze was felt by her right after she was struck by the cold wood of the door...

"What IS the matter with that man and my door!"

"Ughhh..." -Grabbing the bridge of his nose with his right thumb and index fingers, showing a moderate amount of annoyance, and without even getting out from his comfortable position, the man introduced himself...

"I'm the Administrator of Creekwood.

You're the girl with the message? Then go ahead, I don't have time to spare."

He didn't give his name to Jennie. He also didn't let her answer his question, let alone ask for her name...

'Who in the name of rudeness, are you...?' -Jennie was already regretting coming here behind Lou's back...

...

...

...