With a Smile and a wave to the receptionist, Jared left the Housing office.
Outside he took a breath and walked in the direction of the Inn, after a couple of streets he couldn’t hold it in anymore a started laughing.
The people around him started to stare but he didn’t care at that moment.
Just thinking about everything that happened in the office made him giddy all over again. He couldn’t believe he did it or that it worked for that matter.
Calming down enough to stop laughing he kept walking.
The trick with the picture was just his Distract skill creating a visual illusion, sure the quality was crab and the picture was tiny but it was enough for him to push Charles over the edge.
Hiding his hands that were shaking with adrenaline in his coat pockets he turned right into South-street.
He also hoped it wasn’t noticeable that he spent about half the time using his Speedy Mind skill but there was no choice. Jared needed time to think and it worked out fine as far he knew, even if half the things he said were cliches out of a movie or book but who cares it wasn’t as if anyone would notice here.
Now with his accommodations being free, he had a lot more room with the money he made. Though he wouldn’t be going to his apartment today he would case the place tomorrow to see if Charles didn’t try anything stupid or smart for that matter.
Arriving at the Inn he went inside and like yesterday evening the tables were mostly full. Jared smiled at the success of the Inn, Amanda and her family were nice and he liked that they were doing good.
Keeping the smile on his face he walked to an empty seat at the bar, Amanda finishing with a customer came over.
“Hey there, what got you smiling, having a good day,” she said with her usual peppy attitude.
Jared's smile slipped a bit but he regained it easily enough.” Pretty good and I’m famished what do you recommend.”
“If you want the meat option then you need to try the Duck otherwise our onion soup is killer, so what can I get you?”
“Let's get with the Duck I feel hungry today.”
After finishing his meal, and noticing that his Language Translation skill took some liberties because while this was a bird it wasn‘t a duck, Jared went upstairs to finally end the day.
He changed into his sleepwear and went to bed. Pulling a book out of his Inventory to read instead of sleeping.
After a few minutes of reading, he shot up and yelled.”I FORGOT THE KEY!”
Rolling around in his bed and hitting himself with his book he thought,
” How could I forget the damn keys to the apartment.”
He had no idea how he would get into the place now, it wasn’t like he could go ask a blacksmith. “Hey, I need a few lockpicks for breaking and entering, huh why are you calling these nice inspectors over?”
And he could definitely not go back to Charles, the only reason he managed to get the apartment was because of his sure attitude and Charles lack of spine if he went back and asked him “Hi remember me your blackmailer yeah sorry I was way in over my head yesterday and forgot to ask about the keys.”
He sighed what he needed were friends as corny as that sounds. That way he could ask them things like “How do I get my hands on lock picks.” or something like that, without instantly calling the law enforcers on him.
But all that was tomorrow's Jared problem and right now he just wanted to shut off his brain and let that damn day pass.
So he picked up his book again and did exactly that.
The next day he went out earlier to get some different deliveries hopefully to some of the city offices maybe even the Inspector Headquarters. He could do more South-district deliveries in the afternoon.
He got to the main hall seeing only Baros preparing for the day and walked over.
“Hi there big guy,” He said dropping his room keys on the counter,” I found myself an apartment so this is my last day here, but don’t worry I will always remember our time together.”
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Getting only a grunt in return Jared chuckled and moved to the door,” Tell Amanda that I come over again for a meal.”
Outside he watched the few people out this early going about their business, the sun just coming out, and sprinted to the guild.
Jared arrived with his mouth hanging open, about fifty people were already there talking or rather arguing about spots closer to the door, one guy even slept leaning against the wall of the guild.
Trying to get his bearing he saw the overly friendly Jack walk in his direction with another guy in tow.
Jillfred Bobby Lvl 13
Runner
“Hi how are doing this fine morning,” Stopping his enthusiastic greeting to think,” I don’t think I ever got your name yesterday.”
“It’s Jared.”
“Jared wonderful name, this is Jibby,” nodding to the man next to him,” so you came earlier today but if you want to get a spot at the front you need to show up at least two hours earlier.”
“But worry not, stick with me and we get you a couple of good ones, but less talking more walking the doors are almost open,” he said putting an arm over Jared's shoulders again and dragging him closer to the side of the door.
When they arrived he also put a hand on Jibby's shoulder, who hadn’t said a single word yet.
Giving Jared a smirk as the doors opened Jack pursed his lips and whistled, before dragging Jared through the crowd into the guild.
Jared, confused for a second about what the fuss was about, noticed that all the people before the entrance flinched, and were slow to start because of it.
They sprinted to the board for the Twilight Well, an angry crowd hot on their heels, and the three of them grabbed ten requests at random before heading to the counter in a hurry.
Just as they were about to register them they heard the loud voice of a woman,” Jack Porter, what did I tell you about the use skills in the guild!” and everyone in the hall stood still.
Jared followed the voice with his eyes to the woman coming out of a door next to the counters.
Arabella Font Lvl 102
Loved by the Wind
She wore a suit with a skirt, less sexy more all business, hair pulled back in a tight ponytail, still, she was beautiful, actually, almost all the women Jared saw were attractive,” Do they put something into the water here?” he thought pushing down the impulse to take a sip of his water bottle.
Flinching at the voice Jack turned with his boyish smile,” Director technically I used the skill outside the guild so I didn’t break any rules.”
Seemingly happy with his excuse, Jack didn’t notice the director's darkening expression. The rest of the crowd looking on with schadenfreude.
Before Jack finished digging his own grave, Jared putt on a pitiable look and spoke up,” Director it was my fault, Jack knew that if I didn’t get some good requests I wouldn’t be able to pay my rent and I’m new in the guild so he wanted to help me out. I am so sorry for the disturbance.” doing a small bow at the end.
The director looked at Jared while the crowd was waiting in silence for her judgment, before she sighed and said,” This is your last warning Mr. Porter the next time I see you using a skill in the guild you will be suspended for a month.” before turning around and leaving through the door.
Jack started laughing and clapped Jared on the back, in the meantime the rest of the couriers started to take their requests shooting the trio dirty looks.
“Ha you saved my butt there buddy, let's eat lunch together today, it’s on me.”
“Sure meet you at noon next to the temple,” Jared answered with a shake of his head and the three of them went to the counter to get their deliveries.
As the requests were registered he looked them over, sadly seeing no address that sounded official, but maybe he was lucky. Stuffing everything into his bag/inventory he left the guild.
After a few stops, Jared understood why everyone showed up so early. He wasn’t up yesterday at this time and he was almost done with his deliveries.
He finished up collecting his payment from the guild counter and went to the boards to get another ten requests.
The ones for Twilight Well were gone but Silver Borough still had enough for a full ten and now he could choose which ones to take.
Most of them didn’t tell him anything just a name and an address but two of them had a title, both for barons.
Getting the letters from the counter he went on his way.
Silver Borough was obviously the wealthy part of town not only were there mansions instead of houses but the properties had front lawns and driveways for carriages, something he also saw a lot more of.
The streets were dotted with trees giving shade to the walkways and Jared slowed down to a jog to enjoy the scenery for a while.
He first delivered the letters without a title, sometimes the recipient would take the letter personally other time a servant took them, nothing out of the ordinary as far he could see.
Now he just had the to barons left.
Coming up to the first mansion Jared walked up the long driveway and noticed it was a lot bigger than most of the ones he passed. With a giant fountain at the front of it, shooting streams of water from statues, hedges along the path decoratively cut into what looked like griffons and a massive front door carved out of a single piece of wood.
Jared used the heavy metal ring to knock and waited until an older gentleman in a tailcoat opened the door and looking Jared up and down with a bored voice asked,” Yes what do you want?”
Using his customer smile for the first time he answered,” I have a delivery for Baron Peter Voller,” showing him the letter,” is he at home?”
“None of your business.” The butler said and faster than he could follow snatched the letter out of his hand and slammed the door in his face.
Blinking Jared stood there for a moment before making his way back down the driveway.
“Shady noble confirmed?” he thought with a chuckle and pulled out his journal to write down the description of the butler.
Cole Gens Lvl 76
Hidden Knife
Male; early to mid-fifties, Black-gray hair, tall about 1,90 wears glasses,
occupation; butler of baron Peter Voller, spy?, assassin?
He had no idea if the baron was really shady but it wouldn’t hurt to be careful from now on.
Putting the encounter into the back of his mind he ran to the last delivery.