Chapter 15 Loot Goblin
Isaac and Lenna arrived at the warehouse they had left Lenny and James at to the sight of a dozen guards and the brothers trying to blend into the warehouse wall. James was still wrapped in the blanket Lenna had given him but was looking much better than he had been. He was still covered in blood, most if not all of it his own, but the swelling was down and some of his bruises had completely disappeared. Lenny was clutching Lenna's bottomless bag like it was a life raft in a thunderstorm as he tried to hide under his hooded cloak.
The guards had the entire building on lockdown. One of the men who looked to be in charge approached Isaac and Lenna as the pair arrived. “I’m sorry but this area is off limits.” The guard said to the duo.
“I know.” Isaac replied. “Those two are my men.” Isaac told the guard and gestured towards James and Lenny. “We’re the ones who found the warehouse and… liberated it, in the first place.”
The guard noticed Lenna’s badge and Isaac’s silver eyes. He managed to hide his surprise well enough under his helmet that the only reason the duo knew that he had finally realized who they were was because he admitted it. “I’m sorry I didn’t recognize you Lord Wexler, Lady V’Nova, I don’t believe we’ve met.” He gave them both a deep nod of respect before continuing. “I’m Sergeant Avory Williams, it’s a pleasure.”
“It’s good to meet you too, Sergeant.” Isaac replied.
“Likewise.” Lenna added with a brief nod before her attention turned elsewhere.
“Are you aware that this warehouse is involved in an ongoing investigation?” Isaac asked the Sergeant.
The role reversal seemed to catch the man off guard for a moment. “Um, yes sir, I am.” Avory replied. “Are you working with Court Mage Alexander?”
Isaac shook his head. “Not directly. He stumbled into our investigation on account of our lead suspect using a high level teleportation spell in town.” Isaac explained. “We have loose ends to clean up that will be more difficult if we are tripping over each other.”
“I understand sir but we can’t just drop an investigation part way through.” Sergeant Williams replied. “If you would be willing to cooperate with us I believe we would be able to wrap this whole mess up quicker.”
Isaac nodded and smiled at the man. “I am not opposed to that. Firstly, what are you doing with the contents of that warehouse?” Isaac questioned.
“At present, we’re only cataloging it.” Sergeant Williams answered. “Once it has been cataloged we will be transporting it to evidence and eventually, hopefully, back to the original owners.” He looked at Isaac quizzically. “Why?”
“That’s good enough for me.” Isaac replied and looked to Lenna for any objections.
This story originates from Royal Road. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.
“You’re the decision guy, I’m the, cut things in half, lady.” She replied simply and continued scanning the guards. “There, him.” She told Isaac and Avory while pointing at a guard.
Isaac appeared behind the guard with his hand on the man’s shoulder. “Something you want to share with the class?” Isaac asked.
Two of the nearby guards reached for their weapons upon Isaac’s abrupt entrance. The guard he had grabbed froze. Sergeant Williams started heading towards them in a jog with Lenna walking casually behind him while still observing the rest of the guards. “I-I don’t know what you’re talking about, Lord Wexler, sir.” The guard stammered out. “I’m just doing my job.”
“Lord Wexler,” Avory began when he arrived before looking back over his shoulder at Lenna. “Lady V’Nova, what is the meaning of this?”
“You have a goblin problem.” Isaac replied casually without removing his hand from the guard’s shoulder.
“A goblin problem?” Avory questioned.
“I-I’m no goblin sirs.” The guard in question tried to interject.
“Let the grown ups talk.” Isaac told the man before returning his focus to Avory and Lenna who had just arrived. “A loot goblin problem to be precise.”
Lenna walked over to the guard and ripped his coin purse off of his belt before dumping it out on the ground. A cascade of platinum coins clanged against the cold stone beneath them. Avory’s eye twitched. “Thank you for bringing this to my attention.” He told the duo while the ‘loot goblin’ looked like he wished he was anywhere but where he was. “My job is bad enough without me having to doubt my own men.” Avory continued and glanced over to one of the other guards who had stopped to watch the comotion. “Take him to the cells, I’ll deal with him later.”
“W-Wait sir, please.” The culprit pleaded. “It was just once, plenty of others have done it before, it was just a few coins.”
“Get a move on.” Avory told the guard who had come to collect the pleading man. “I will make sure the Captain is aware of this incident.” He turned back to Isaac and Lenna. “How did you know?” He asked Lenna curiously.
“I want to know too.” Isaac added.
“He looked antsy.” Lenna explained. “There was no reason for it. There was no danger.”
“How did you even know to look?” Isaac wondered.
“It’s a problem in drow cities too. Guards left unsupervised tend to get sticky fingers.” She explained.
“I see.” Avory replied. “Thank you again for catching it. Now, where were we?”
“Our collaboration on this case.” Isaac answered. “I have a list of known employees and contacts. I would like you to acquire every individual on the list. I haven’t had a chance to go through it yet.”
“Employees and contacts of whom?” Avory asked. “How is this connected to the incident at the smithy?”
“They are the same incident Sergeant.” Isaac explained. “The only reason you or Alexander are even aware of any of this is because it got messy. You are moving in on our job, not the other way around. I thought that was clear.”
Avory nodded slowly. “Alright, I think we can help you with your quest, Lord Wexler. Tell me more about this incident and those involved.” And so Isaac did. He gave Avory a quick rundown on Mr. Nobody and the scale of their operation. He also explained to the Sergeant that the other two buildings were not to be touched as Isaac had already taken everything of importance out of them and he had a plan for the buildings in the future. A plan that having a dozen guards turning the places upside down wouldn’t help. Eventually Isaac handed over the stack of papers, he had taken from Tic’s Trinkets, to Sergeant Williams to be sorted through. “I will do my best to arrest those specified but I doubt I’ll be able to get them all.” Avory told Isaac while accepting the paperwork. “Safeharbor is both bigger and smaller than it seems.”
Isaac nodded. “I am aware.” He replied. “It is a huge place full of hidden corners when you are searching for something even though the population and physical size of the city aren’t that large.”
“Yes.” Avory agreed. “Where can I reach you? I will let you know who we are unable to get within the next few days. Those people are unlikely to be caught at all.”
“Have Alexander send Lenna a message telepathically.” Isaac told the Sergeant. “We have more loose ends to wrap up in Ben’s End. I’ll need the names and descriptions of any of their associates that are specified to be in Ben’s End or Outpost Charles. If you can get that to the Adventurers’ Guild by the end of the day then we won’t have to use Alexander as a messenger. Lenna and I will be gone by morning.”
“Understood. I will inform the Captain and get right on it.” Sergeant Williams replied. He gave Isaac and Lenna a nod before heading off to find someone to leave in charge of the clean up and transport.
Isaac and Lenna walked over to their favorite thieves. “Hey boys.” Isaac greeted them. “Let’s get you home.”