[Ren’s POV]
By the time I reached Sera Voss’s estate, the sun had climbed high enough to make the journey back considerably less pleasant than it had been that morning. My legs were beginning to complain, and the leather case tucked beneath my arm was starting to feel heavier than it had any right to be.
I glanced at it.
For something that had nearly cost a man his life, it wasn’t particularly impressive. No glowing runes, no mysterious aura, not even a dramatic seal that would make me feel as though I was carrying something important. Just a leather case and a handful of papers.
Still, it was apparently valuable enough for three men to abduct a courier over it. People in this world really needed to find better hobbies.
The guards at the estate gates recognised me almost immediately. One stepped forward while the other reached for the gate latch.
"Valiant Traveller. Her Ladyship is inside."
"Good. I was hoping she hadn’t decided to go on holiday."
The guard gave me a brief, uncertain look. I smiled and walked past him before he could decide whether that was supposed to be funny.
I was led through the entrance hall and along the same corridor as before. The paintings lining the walls were still as extravagant as I remembered, although I was beginning to suspect that the real purpose of the decorations was to remind visitors just how much money Sera had.
It was certainly working.
The guard stopped before the familiar wooden doors and knocked.
"Her Ladyship, the Valiant Traveller has returned."
"Send him in."
I entered the study.
Sera was seated beside the window, a teacup resting in one hand. She had changed her dress again, this time wearing something dark and elegant that suited her far better than the nightgown I’d seen during our previous meeting. Her black bob framed her face neatly, and the documents on the table suggested she had been occupied before my arrival.
Her eyes moved from me to the leather case beneath my arm.
"You’re back sooner than I expected."
"That’s what happens when you hire someone competent."
A faint smile touched her lips.
"How fortunate for me."
I approached the table and placed the case in front of her. "Your courier is alive. A little battered, but he’ll recover. I’ve left him resting at an inn near the merchant quarter."
Sera examined the case before opening it. She checked the contents carefully, paying particular attention to the sealed envelope. Only after confirming that everything was there did she close it again.
"Good. I appreciate your efficiency, Traveller."
"You’re welcome. I also appreciate payment for my services, preferably in the form of the information we discussed."
"Straight to business?"
"Well, I didn’t walk across half the city because I missed your company."
She gave a quiet laugh and set the case aside.
"Before we discuss that, tell me what happened."
I explained how I’d found the courier, the three men holding him, and the document they had been trying to take. I also mentioned that the courier believed the men had known what he was carrying and where he was going. I deliberately avoided making any claims about who might have informed them. I had no evidence that the leak came from inside Sera’s organisation, and I wasn’t about to start accusing people based on a hunch.
Sera listened without interrupting.
"Did they give you their names?"
"No. They weren’t particularly talkative after I introduced myself."
"Did you recognise them?"
"No. But they seemed to know about the delivery. Your courier thinks someone must have told them."
"An unfortunate possibility."
"Is it a possibility you were already considering?"
Her fingers rested against the handle of her teacup. "I consider many possibilities. It would be unwise to settle on one before I have evidence."
I nodded. At least we agreed on that much.
"Well, your courier can tell you the rest himself once he’s recovered. I’d suggest asking him about the people who approached him before the delivery. He might remember something useful."
"I will."
For a moment, neither of us spoke. Sera continued watching me, and I had the uncomfortable feeling that she was evaluating something beyond the success of my little errand.
Then she leaned back.
"There’s something else I wanted to ask you."
"Go ahead."
"I know about the incident at the festival in Millhaven."
I raised an eyebrow.
"Do you?"
"I know you interfered with an operation carried out by the Thorn Collective. Had you not intervened, things might have gone rather smoothly for us."
There was no accusation in her voice, which somehow made the statement more interesting. She spoke as though she were discussing an unfortunate delay in a merchant’s delivery rather than an operation that had involved abducting someone.
"I suppose I ruined your evening."
"Something like that."
I shrugged. "It wasn’t personal."
"Are you not afraid I might take revenge?"
I looked at her for a moment before leaning back in my chair.
"You can try, but I can guarantee that you will fail, miserably so."
Sera stared at me.
Then she laughed.
It wasn’t a nervous laugh or the sort people gave when they were trying to hide their discomfort. She genuinely seemed amused by my answer.
"You’re quite confident."
"I’ve been told it’s one of my better qualities."
"By whom?"
"People who appreciate confidence."
"How convenient."
I smiled. Honestly, if I were going to be threatened by every organisation whose plans I’d accidentally ruined, I’d never get anything done. Besides, I had a title, a System, and enough combat ability to handle myself against ordinary opponents. I wasn’t about to start trembling because a beautiful woman asked whether I was afraid of her.
Though, to be fair, she was a beautiful woman with an organisation full of people who probably knew how to make bodies disappear.
A little caution never hurt anyone.
Sera picked up her teacup again. "Now, about the people you’re looking for."
I straightened.
"Joseph and the Dale sisters."
"Yes. Clara and Maren."
"You know where they are?"
"I have people who can find out where they have been staying and what they have been doing. Haremdale is not a small city, but information has a way of travelling when the right people are listening."
"Then I assume you have something for me."
"I do."
She placed her cup down and folded her hands.
"Joseph has attracted some attention. Not enough to make him particularly important, but enough that his name has reached a few of my contacts."
I frowned. "What sort of attention?"
"Before the events in Millhaven, he apparently had a rather unimpressive reputation. A man who spent his time drinking, rarely worked, and was considered by most people to be of little consequence."
I stared at her.
That certainly sounded familiar.
I remembered Joseph from the tavern in Millhaven. The man I’d encountered there had been nothing like the useless drunk described in the reports. He’d been observant, suspiciously well-informed, and far too comfortable interfering in situations that should have had nothing to do with him.
The difference was difficult to ignore.
"So he went from being a useless drunk to someone worth talking about?" I asked.
"That is one way to describe it."
"Interesting."
Sera watched my reaction. "You seem particularly interested in him."
"Let’s just say he’s a difficult person to understand."
"Have you had trouble with him?"
"Nothing I couldn’t handle."
That was technically true. I hadn’t lost a fight against him, nor had he directly threatened me. But something about Joseph bothered me. He knew things he shouldn’t have known, appeared in places where he had no reason to be, and somehow managed to interfere with events before anyone else could react.
It was like dealing with a player who had somehow gained access to information that wasn’t supposed to be available yet.
And I really hated those players.
"Do you know why he’s interested in the Dale family?" I asked.
"I know that he has become closely associated with them. Beyond that, I wouldn’t want to speculate. My contacts have been more useful in identifying his movements than explaining his intentions."
Fair enough. At least she wasn’t pretending to know everything.
"Do you know where they are now?"
"I can make inquiries. I won’t promise an answer today, but I should be able to provide you with something more concrete once I’ve spoken to the right people."
I nodded. It wasn’t everything I’d wanted, but it was better than wandering around the city asking strangers whether they’d seen a man named Joseph.
There was still something bothering me, though.
"Can I ask you something?"
"Of course."
"Why are you interested in Joseph?"
Sera’s expression barely changed. She lifted her teacup, took a small sip, and looked at me over its rim.
"Business."
I waited.
She said nothing else.
I blinked. "That’s it?"
"Would you prefer a longer explanation?"
"Not particularly. I was just hoping for something a little more informative."
"Then I’m afraid you’ll have to settle for that."
I leaned back with a sigh. Wonderful. Another mysterious woman with secrets. This world was apparently full of them.
Still, I had no reason to push the matter. Sera had given me information, agreed to make further inquiries, and honoured the first part of our arrangement. Whatever business she had with Joseph was her concern until it became mine.
I stood and adjusted my clothes.
"All right. I suppose I’ll wait for your news."
"That would be sensible."
I turned towards the door, but her voice stopped me.
"Traveller."
I glanced over my shoulder.
"Yes?"
"Be careful when dealing with Joseph."
I considered her words before smiling.
"Don’t worry. I’m quite good at handling troublesome people."
"That remains to be seen."
I left the study with a faint grin.
The meeting hadn’t given me everything I wanted, but it had confirmed something I’d already suspected. Joseph wasn’t simply an ordinary man who had somehow become involved with the Dale family. There was something different about him, something that even Sera Voss had found worth investigating.
And now I had another reason to find him.
As I walked through the estate, I couldn’t help thinking about the strange collection of people I’d encountered since arriving in this world. A beautiful woman running a secretive organisation, a suspiciously capable NPC, and a pair of sisters caught in the middle of a political mess. If this were a game, I’d say the side quests were getting out of hand.
Unfortunately, there was no logout button.
I stepped through the golden gates and looked towards the busy streets of Haremdale.
At least I had a lead now. I would give Sera some time to gather information, and in the meantime, I could continue with my own plans. After all, I hadn’t forgotten my main quest.
The Dragon Kingdom was still waiting.
And I had a feeling Haremdale wasn’t going to let me leave anytime soon.