Chapter 27 – Asshole and a dead man

Jake was sitting in the meeting room with the guild manager in front of him across the table.

"So you are saying that the village most likely has connections to the dark guild or whatever they call themselves."

"From the looks of it. This is the most plausible answer

*Sigh. Breathe out the guild manager while guild attendant Lina Louriat put the freshly made tea on the table in front of them.

"We did suspect it already, so you're probably right. So? Did you check it."

"Well they all looked suspicious as fuck, but nothing of the sort we looked for." I am afraid we let them escape.

"Nonsense. You brought more than enough. They operated in a few cities already, yet no one got a clue. You on the other hand brought us more than enough to figure out their identities. A team of four women in at least middle rank levels that are probably ex-adventuers is not a common cabbage." Assured him to the adventurer guilds branch manager.

"I have questions." Said Jake not touching his tea.

"Hmm?" Looked at him guild manager.

"That summoner… You suspect someone."

"Why did you think this?"

"Miss Louriate asked to look out for a newbie tamer with an alpha wolf as a companion. Is there suspicions?

"Ah. I knew, this information would not slip by you, Jake. Yes. He is indeed very suspicious."

"How so?"

"What I will say to you now is a high level secret. None outside the people of this room are to know." Said guild.manager putting down his tea cup, while Jake straightened in his seat after hearing it.

"Have you heard a recent story of a High noble family's son dying in the Labyrinth?"

"Yes. Count McDaniel's son. What's about it?"

"Well here's the thing. We believe the newbie tamer that registered in our guild recently is the very kid in question."

"What? How is that possible?"

"That is only one of the questions we have. We believe he has a very unique system. After all, there are no mentions of his system in any documents I checked. There is a rumor he was systemless."

"Bullshit." Said Jake. "There's never been a systemless person in history."

"Yes. And that makes me wonder. What does the count family or the boy hide?"

"You say he forged identity? But that would come out on the registration check. There is no way that…"

"There was no way. But it looks like there is now. Right now we want to figure out his goals and who he works with."

"This sounds crazy to be honest. How did you figure him out if he is so good he passed the guild check?"

"I will not dwell on the specifics, but mis Louriate here has a very special skill. It helps her to always know if she met that person before. And she assures me that this man is the son of the McDaniel family that registered at her very guild attenders counter the day before his "death" and then came to register again a few days after his death."

Jake looked at Lina Louriat with a quizzical look. He never knew she had such skill.

"So, why are you telling me this?"

"Jake, you and your boys are the most trustworthy guys in town. If I need someone to follow him there is no one better."

"I see."

"However, what's your rough assumption on the level of threat he poses?" Asked Jake.

"We think he at least indirectly has something to do with the demon pollution case."

"But the Dryad Queen…" wanted to say Jake but was interrupted.

"Said only what we needed to hear. Roughly saying her words were: the case is solved now get out. She never said the culprit is dead." Said guild manager.

"Neither she told you it was indeed the demon that polluted the area." Put in her word Lina standing at the side of guild manager.

"Yes. Miss Louriat suspects it might be not a demon at all."

"Wait. Who else could have?"

"Someone with a very unique system maybe?" Said guild manager shrugging his shoulders. "After all, we believed no one can slip by our guild identity check test too. Yet there is a precedent now."

"Why not arrest him and interrogate."

"As I said, we want to know who he was connected to. Noble houses wanted to rule the guild for a long time. Although many sons of noble houses join the guild. The guild itself.never allowed to let the noble house rule us. However now there might be unidentified threats that can put us on our knees. Dark association that we hear more and more lately is getting bolder. The Guild suspects there are rats in our midst. We must uproot it in one go. And the boy might just be the one to help us with it."

"Ok. I'll keep my eyes on the boy."

"Thanks. And Jake. As I said, no one is outside this room."

"How do I explain it to my team?"

"Just say it top secret. They are your boys. I bet they will follow you even if you let them fight with eyes tied close."

*Sigh. Breathed Jake and walked out of the room.

"You try to get as much info from him as Lina." We need to work on all sides in this case.

"Sure."

"Still can't say how lucky I am to have such a person as you in my branch. You are a god given gift as a secretary."

"That's the only thing my system is worth for." Said Lina with a speck of sadness in her voice.

That's right. Not all people are born to be fighters. My system doesn't even give me EE from the hunts. She thought while watching at the yellow piece of paper glued to the guild manager's forehead, that he was not even aware of. On the sleep of paper was a phrase. //Raimond Neiland - ASSHOLE. Oh and my boss at the Greenville Town Adventurers guild.//

Secretary system, huh? Guess you are not as useless as you thought Lina. Thought miss Louriat, while taking away her bosses empty and untouched and still full Jake's cups.

Many people in town had such slippa.of paper, they were not aware of.

One of them was B-ranks adventurers team leader Jake.

The note on his forehead said: Jake Crowell. God those pecs! Hun I'd lick you all over!

There was also one note on Noah's forehead too.

//Noah McDaniel - cute little sweet thing I'd drag you in the dark alley and ufufufu….// But later there was and addition in a red text //DEAD MAN WALKING//