Chapter 203 – A smelly lead

Lina Lauriat sat scribbling in the documents when she felt the main hall going quieter. She looked up, seeing Paula Stormringer and her teammate Ria entering the building under the silent gazes of all the adventurers that were in the guild.

The moment Lina glanced up her eyes were instantly met with both of their gazes as if they came looking specifically for her.

The two women walked straight toward her stall, not breaking eye contact with her for a moment.

“Paula. Ria. How can I help you two today?” Asked Lina as the two women came over leaning on the table in front of her and glancing around the room, which raised Lina's suspicion quite a bit. The people around the hall glanced sideways going in their way not daring to cross gazes with any of the two women and the noise in the hall immediately returned although softer than before.

“How ya doin'?” Asked Ria making Lina raise an eyebrow in suspicion.

“Fine. Thank you.” Answered Lina emotionlessly.

“Ay. You look healthier than usual. Had a good night?” Said Ria again with a smirk.

“I don’t under….” Started to say Lina but was interrupted by Paula.

“Cut the crap, Ria.” Said Paula before turning to the receptionist. “Did he come and where is he?” She asked, looking intently at Lina.

“What are you talking about?” Asked Lina her face painting a confusion.

“Your little noble boy toy. We know he’s in town. We spent the night trying to find him but he slipped away.” Said Ria.

“Did you meet him?” Asked Paula.

“Noah?” Whispered Lina surprised. “You sure?”

“Oh damn. This lead is a dud too. I was sure he’d scratch her itch before doing rounds in brothels.” Said Ria making Lina's eyebrow twitch.

Paula simply watched Lina in silence, her face not showing any emotions before turning to walk away.

“If he does come, tell him he better be ready for an exam when we meet. Because I don’t take students just for show. If he did not progress a shit, I’ll bury him in that forest as all my mistakes.” Said Paula before the two women walked off passing by the people next in line.

“You are back?” Whispered Lina.

“Hello.” Said woman’s voice, interrupting Lina’s thoughts. Lina snapped back to reality surprised that she did not even notice a whole team of adventurers coming over.

Five women stood in front of her stall, looking at her with questioning gazes.

“Oh. I am sorry. How can I help you?”

“We would like to register as adventurers.” Said the woman in the center of the group.

Lina looked them over her eyebrows creasing slightly, but she kept her professional face with a soft smile on.

The team consisted entirely of women. It wasn’t strange. Such teams were not a rarity. The women themselves however were quite peculiar.

For once they all were quite tall and Lina had to look up to meet eyes with all five of them. All of them had quite lovely faces, but Lina noticed that they did not smile and the look in their eyes was quite odd. She saw such looks in adventurers who lost their party members in the Labyrinth. Deep dark look of sadness.

The other thing that attracted Lina’s interest was their bodies. In short, these women were all voluptuous and quite shapely. And even as she quickly threw her gaze around the room she noticed multiple male gazes concentrated on these women.

At first, Lina thought they could be from some Noble clan or some household, but judging by the clothes they wore, they were just simple villagers as they were dressed in the simplest of clothes that you could find in town. However, that could be just a disguise.

“Just to make sure.” Said Lina. “Are you with some mercenary company or maybe associated with some noble household?”

“Why do you ask?” Asked the woman who seemed to be the party leader.

“You don’t need to answer if you don’t want to. It’s just that for the guild it’s easier to judge the capability of our adventurers when we have more wider information about them.”

“No, we are not associated with anyone. And we are not locals.”

“I see. So you are newbies? Do you have experience with weapons?”

“Yes, we are newbies. However, most of us had quite a bit of experience with weapons. We can stand up for ourselves.”

“Good." Said Lina looking over their muscles and postures that told of their identities as fighters. "Then I am reassured. Sometimes we get applicants who don’t even know how to hold a sword so we appoint them a free tutor that would teach them the basics. Would you need it? It is a free service as I said.” Said Lina

“No need. Thank you.”

“Good. What about your equipment? I don’t see any weapons on any of you.”

“We left it at the inn. We did not intend to go on a quest today.”

“I see. Well then let’s fill in some papers and pass a check-up test. We would see if you have been previously registered and whether you have any criminal record within the country. Is this understandable?” Said Lina watching their expressions carefully. In some cases, fighters that don't associate with anyone could be criminals. If they heard of check-ups that should have dissuaded them from registering.

"Yes. We understand." Said the party leader.

"Very well." Said Lina nodding, before preparing all the necessaries to enlist this team of women.

*****

“Fuck. That bitch is at it again early in the morning.” Said Ria as she and Paula walked up the stairs to the second floor of the guild hall where they noticed the Green Giant party sitting at one of the tables with a catwoman Keena plastered to their team's ranger Rei, however, their party leader Jake wasn't with them.

“Do you come here to flirt, you wanton woman?” Murmured Ria barely audibly but Keena’s ears twitched in her direction for a split moment which meant she no doubt heard her and her posture slightly changed as she pressed her tits into Rei’s arm even harder.

“Good morning, Grandma Paula,” Said everyone, nodding as Paula and Ria neared them.

“It’s not good.” Grumbled Paula with her usual displeased scowl.

As everyone greeted them Keena did not even acknowledge the newcomers as all her attention was on her hubby.

“By the way, why is Keena here? Don’t you need to get ready for your team's departure tomorrow too?” Asked Bobby as Paula and Ria walked by.

“Fuck it. Margaret can do that. You all depart to the East today so I will not see my Rei-Rei for a long time. I am imbuing with his aura until the last moment.” Said Keena rubbing her cheek against Rei’s shoulder, who sat scratching his cheek with a red tint on his cheeks but a pleased smile plastered to his face.

But a few seconds later Rei felt Keena leaning back and smelling around with short quick inhales.

“Keena?” Asked Rei as Bobby and Kail raised their eyebrows in questioning expressions.

“This smell…” muttered Keena. “I recognize it. It’s that Tamer boy’s.”

“Noah?” Asked Rei surprised.

“Yeah.” Said Keena, making Paula and Ria stop cold, turning back to look at the cat beast woman still sniffing the air with her eyes closed.

“He is here?” Asked Rei looking around.

“Yeah.” Said Keena with creased eyebrows. “I swear I could sense his smell when Granny passed.”

“From us?” Asked Paula returning to their table.

“No…not exactly. It’s very faint and somehow diluted in several other smells. But it’s not coming from you. It just dragged after you when you came over.”

“Can you pinpoint it?” Asked Paula.

“I’ll see…Very faint. If I don’t use mana to enhance the sense of smell then I will not even notice it. It’s like an aftertaste in someone else's smell…several smells. One…two…Five different women smell.” She said, opening her eyes and looking over the porch of the balcony into the hall below them. “I sensed it in the stirred air when Ria and Granny passed by at first, but now that I have enhanced my senses I feel it coming from below.”

“Those five.” Said Paula walking over to the porch and looking down at the team of simply dressed tall women who were engaged in dialog with the receptionist. “They stood behind us when we talked with Lina. We passed them by when we walked here. Could it be coming from them?”

Keena concentrated again, sitting in silence for a few seconds before nodding.

“Yeah.” She said, confirming Paula’s words. “The smell that dilutes Noah’s faint smell is no doubt theirs.”

“Ria?” Said Paula glancing at her Ranger.

“I don't see his spiritual trace.” She answered while watching the five women with squinted eyes. “There are several traces that are common to all five of them, but they are all different from the one I know.”

“Hey, kitty girl.” Said Paula turning to Keena. “Are you sure it’s Noah’s?”

“Yeah. But it’s very faint. Maybe they simply bumped into him somewhere.” Said Keena ignoring Paula’s rudeness.

Paula squinted her eyes in silence as she looked at the women below, before turning and walking away toward the offices.

Just as she came to the guildmaster's room the door opened and Jake walked out.

“Oh Granny, morning. We are departing today.” Said Jake nodding.

“I know. Get back inside I have some talk with Raimond it might be useful for you to listen on as well, as you know of that matter too.” Said Paula entering the Guild master's office followed by Ria.

Jake looked at his team that sat down the hall watching him and nodded to them before returning to Guildmasters office and closing the door behind him.

“You have that anti-system skill finally working here, Raimond?” Asked Paula dropping onto the couch without even greeting the Guild Branch Master.

“Hello to you too Granny Paula.” Said Guild Master glancing at Paula and Ria before looking at Jake who returned to the office after them with raised eyebrows.

“Yes. It is operational.” He added as he saw Jake close the door and lean on the wall.

“Activate it. I have some private talk.”  Said Paula.

Raimond’s eyebrows rose in wonder but he did not question Paula’s motives for activating the barrier. It wasn't cheap to use it. But Paula knew what she was doing.

“So? What’s so important? And why is Jake here?”

“The Tamer boy. Noah. He’s back in town.” Said Paula.

“What?” Exclaimed Raimond leaning forward in his chair. “You found him? He’s here?”

“Not exactly.” Said Paula. “Ria found his spirit trace yesterday. Fresh. We tried to follow it for half a night but could not pinpoint his location. But we are sure he is in town. Or at least was here yesterday.”

“You found what he was up to?” Asked Raimond.

“We followed his trace to the red light district. But the trace there was too diluted. Several people seemed to have bumped into him here and there spreading the traces around but we located him until one certain location.”

“Red Lights district? Let me guess.” Said Raimond. “Madam Irene’s place?”

“Yeah." Said Ria. "How did you guess?"

“Interesting. That’s where Rei followed him to the last time. Is it a coincidence?” Muttered Raimond.

“He might be just too infatuated with elite whores. His true identity is noble right?” Said Ria sitting on the armrest of the couch.

“Or he has some business with her.” Said Jake with his arms crossed still leaning on the wall.

“Maybe but…” Said Raimond, glancing at Paula's ranger. “If that was so, Ria would have found a good trace to follow there. Right?"

“Yes.” Said Paula. “That’s what I was thinking up until we came here. I just wanted to notify you of it today. But something interesting just happened in the hall.” She added, shrugging her head toward the door. “That kitty girl Keena. She just felt his smell in the guild.”

“What?” Said Jake straightening his posture. “He’s here?”

“No. It doesn't seem so. It was a smell coming from a bunch of newbies that were registering at the reception. Keena thought that they may have bumped into him somewhere, but here’s what is interesting about it. Ria did not recognize his trace on any of them. If they bumped into him so long to leave a trace of his smell on them. There’s no way a spirit trace would not be left.” Said Paula.

“What does it mean?” Asked Jake.

“Could it be his skill…” muttered Raimond.

“Aah.” Voiced Paula affirmatively. “That’s what I thought as well. The boy has that strange skill to change identity that tricks even the guild's check-up test, right? You did not want to attract the main guild’s attention to it, right, Raimond? So you probably did not find out how he does it. So I contacted a few old guards from among the retired bunch and consulted with them if it was possible, purely theoretically. Their conclusion was quite interesting.”

“What did they conclude?” Asked Raimond.

“You would have to use spirit magic. Highly advanced one. Advance enough to even change your spirit trace." Said Paula.

“Fuck me sideways. He can do that?” Whispered Ria.

“I am not sure. But in theory, it's possible.” Answered Paula. “One old man theorized that if such a thing were possible the skill user most likely would have used a so-called pre-made image.”

“What does it mean?” Asked Raimond.

“Illusion mages use it. They don't imagine something from scratch all the time. But work on their imagination, preparing images in advance. They create a bunch of useful images and think them through. Then they use them as base in illusions. This way these images have fewer mistakes and so on, as they are not made on the spot but well thought through.

So if we imagine that Noah can change, spirit trace. He must realize that there are people who can see such traces as well. So if his trace changes randomly each time he would attract suspicion. would have to be the same or it would seem strange to people that can see it. To prevent that he must make an identity and give it certain criteria that would not change. A pre-made Image. Each image would have then its own face and spirit trace. ”

“I see. So people you followed yesterday were probably left by his Tamer identity. But women who have his smell today are acquainted with him in some other identity that Ria never met, that’s why she doesn’t recognize his spirit traces on them. So we can try to trace him by smell? Keena is free today, their team departs only tomorrow. I will ask Margaret to lend us her ranger. Why don’t you take her for a walk, Granny Paula?”

“Hold it. Hold it. There is something in this situation we did not consider.” Said Paula. “Searching for him with Keena’s help is indeed a good try. But I was wondering...

What if he can change his smell? Spirit magic is that mystic shit the Forest sluts use, right? It can trick the perception of the world, right? Can it change the smell as well?”

“Maybe he doesn’t have the skill for that yet? Or simply doesn’t realize the weak spot yet. He's a newbie, remember? He registered a few months ago. I don’t know what he was about the last few months. But he’s still a green boy.” Said Raimond

“You forget the type of missions he was on, Raimond. The boy had that Wolf with him. He is no idiot and should have seen through that weakness ages ago.” Said Jake.

“I agree.” Said Paula. “So he either doesn’t have a skill or he made a huge mistake once.”

“You think he forgot to change his smell today? Such a rookie mistake and today of all times?” Asked Raimond. “Too much of a coincidence.”

“No. I think he might have made a mistake when he was a complete rookie. He made a mistake when he created his first identity. His Tamer identity."

“His smell is the same as his true identity.” Muttered Jake.

“I see.” Said Raimond. “We all ever met him as a Tamer. But if he did not change his smell at that time, what his smell was back then is his true identity image. Young Count MacDaniels.” Said Raimond, thoughtfully. “If his other identities would have different smells then the reason Keena can recognise him while Ria can’t, means he met those women in his true identity. He met them as Count McDaniels.”

“Bingo. So why would he walk around in his true identity all of a sudden when he is hiding.” Said Paula.

“Oh. So that’s what you thought of, granny. Those bitches downstairs. They aren’t some random women. They are dealing with that boy’s true identity. They know Count McDaniels.”

“Or work for him. And the fact that they came to register here means he has some dealing here in this town.” Said Paula, nodding her head.

“I see. I will attach a tail to them. You should take Keena and investigate the place he visited yesterday.”

“Don’t order me, boy. I was going to do that without your meddling. All you need is contact Margaret and tell her you've borrowed the cat girl for me so that I don’t hear her nagging later.” Said Paula.

“Yeah, yeah.” Said Raimond, sighing. “As for you Jake…Good luck on your trip to the East,” he added glancing at the Green Giant party leader.

“Yeah, thanks. Well, I can’t help you all anyway as I am gone today. Good luck Granny, but…please don’t be too hard on the boy.”

“You blabber too much. Hurry up and be gone!” Said Paula waving him away with an annoyed face.

As they all walked out of the Guild Master’s office they came over to the table where Jak’s team was sitting.

“Sorry, Rei. Your lovey-dovey time’s over.” Said Jake.

“Wha…?” Started to say Keena glancing at Jake but was grabbed by steel-like fingers by the scruff and lifted up in one motion.

“Your rest is over, cat girl. Get up. You and I are going for a walk.” Said Paula.

“What? No! I have my last day with Rei before they all depart! I am not going. STOP! NOOOO.” Screamed Keena as she was carried away from her beloved one while hanging in the air. Paula lifted her with one hand like a small kitten and started to walk away.

“Nooooo! I don’t want to! Rei! REI!!” Shouted Keena struggling in Paula’s hold but could not get free of her steel-like grab.

People in the guild watched with surprise as Paula walked out of the guild with a hissing and floundering oversized cat in her hand.