Chapter 92 Guesswork From An Experienced Local

Isaac and Lenna walked side by side towards downtown while passing the bounty posters back and forth. Each trying to memorize the potential targets’ faces as well as reading what their crimes were.

“Why is this one even on here?” Isaac asked and showed the sketch of a man’s face to Lenna. “Public urination and ‘disorderly conduct’. Sounds like someone drank too much.”

“Probably.” Lenna agreed.

“He has a five silver bounty on his head for this? It’s a waste of time.” Isaac complained.

“We can ignore him.” Lenna reminded him. They didn’t have to bring any of them in if they didn’t want to.

“What do you think the punishment is for that anyway?” He asked her.

Lenna shrugged. “Probably a small fine.”

Isaac gave her a deadpan look. “Like a five silver fine?”

Lenna shrugged again. She looked at the next bounty target. As she read it she felt her body temperature rise as if the wrathful flames inside her were trying to be let loose. She handed it to Isaac. “I want this one.” She said with tension in her voice from her trying to stamp down her emotions.

Isaac took the paper and read it. “Wanted for sexual assault, aggravated assault, and petty theft.” He read evenly. He looked at her and could feel the heat coming off of her from a foot away. “Alright. When, not if, when we find him, you can have him.”

Lenna burned the man’s face into her mind. “Only a five gold bounty?” She asked with barely contained fury.

“The laws in this city need rebuilt from the ground up.” Isaac said, his voice monotone. “Any information on him?”

Lenna shook her head. “Just the usual.” She replied. Every bounty had the name, race, estimated height, age, and weight of the target on it. Some had a location like where someone had said the target frequented.

“Let’s stop for tea.” Isaac told Lenna and motioned towards a small stand that sold a type of mushroom tea. They hadn’t tried it yet and Isaac wanted to talk to Thomas.

The pair got their mushroom tea in ceramic cups that looked like they had been made to be cheap and fast to produce but sturdy enough to be used for daily use. They were plain like the stand itself, the woman running it, the street they were on, and most of the people walking by. Isaac and Lenna stood out, Isaac’s midnight black cloak with his piercing silver eyes and Lenna’s battle marked armor and gold adventurer’s badge hanging from her neck made quite the scene.

Isaac caught Thomas’s eyes and held out his hand for Lenna’s bounty. Lenna gave it to him and he held it facing Thomas in his hand that limply hung at his side. He stood casually while sipping at the bitter, earthy tea. “It’s… interesting.” Isaac commented on it after finishing about a quarter of it. He had to keep drinking it to make staying there look natural whether he liked it or not.

Lenna had removed her faceplate to drink it in an effort to keep the attention lower than last time. “It’s popular among the lower class in drow territory as well.” She explained. “It’s a stimulant.”

“I think I can tell, I feel too awake if you know what I mean.” Isaac replied. He noticed Thomas casually walking closer to the stand without looking at them. Once Thomas got close enough to hear a casual conversation clearly he spoke again. “This bounty target, he’s the type of person you want to hunt like a falling shadow I think.”

“What do you mean?” Lenna asked.

A case of theft: this story is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.

“Well,” Isaac began. “If we knew where he lived we could just wait for him there. When he gets home, I black out the room, then we tear him apart.”

“The bounty, requires him alive.” Lenna said coldly.

“It’s five gold. I’d rather send a message.” Isaac replied.

Thomas got a good look at the bounty while waiting for his own tea to cool enough to drink it. “I remember hearing about that one.” He said, casually starting conversation. “Terrible mess.”

“I know a guy downtown that I hope knows where he lives. Unfortunately my friend might not be home for me to ask.” Isaac replied.

“I have a few friends nearby too. They are really shy though. I did hear something about the incident happening on seventeenth down by the abandoned clinic. I hope that helps.” Thomas went on.

Isaac nodded. “It’s a place to start at least. Why is there an abandoned clinic?” Isaac asked. He was confused as to how a place like that could close in a city like this. The guard rarely if ever went downtown as was expressed by the stack of bounties in the pair’s hands.

“Break-ins mostly.” Thomas replied. “They couldn’t keep the doors open without any money. Everything from medical drugs to coins would get cleaned out regularly. Eventually the city stopped funding it.”

Isaac shook his head. “This city is a mess. Thanks for the tip. I’d say to tell your friends I said hi but if they really are that shy I’ll save everyone the awkwardness.”

Thomas nodded and took a sip of his tea. “Have a good rest of your day adventurers.”

—

Isaac and Lenna left their empty cups at the stand and headed to seventeenth street. Isaac asked directions to the abandoned clinic and the pair were there after only a short walk. They both started to keep an eye out for more tails than just their friend Thomas. Sure enough they counted three more.

“Magistrate’s men?” Isaac asked quietly.

“Probably.” Lenna replied.

When they got to the clinic Isaac asked around if anyone knew the man on the poster. A few no’s soon led to a yes. An old woman who sat on her steps and people watched most of the day said that he lived a few streets down. She also said that said street was run entirely by a gang. She didn’t know where his house was but that was the main place she had seen him come and go from. After thanking the old woman and Isaac handing her two silver pieces the pair headed to a different street.

This street was familiar to both of them. It was the street James, Isaac’s informant, lived on. They ducked into an alley and Isaac made both of them disappear. They hurried into James’ house. James wasn’t there but his brother was. “Hey Lenny.” Isaac said as they appeared.

The boy jumped out of his skin and spilled half of his drink. “Hells,” He panted. “Was that necessary boss?”

Isaac tilted his head in confusion. “Only your brother works for me. I’m not paying you too.” He told the young man.

Lenny nodded. “I know.” He tried to clean up some of his drink but mostly he just moved the liquid and it fell through the floorboards. “It’s not time for the list yet is it?”

Isaac shook his head. “No. I’m here for something else. Actual informant work.” He explained.

“Oh?” Lenny asked. “About who?”

“This guy.” Isaac told him and set the poster on the dry part of the table.

Lenny looked at the poster and thought for a bit. “I think this guy is in the Crimson Coins. A real bastard by the looks of it.”

Isaac nodded. “What can you tell me about this gang, the Crimson Coins right?” He asked.

“Not much that you can’t find from anyone else around here. Drugs, prostitution, gambling, a few rumors of people who cross them disappearing, and heavy extortion in the area around where they operate.” Lenny rattled off.

Isaac put a silver coin on the table to spur the boy on. “Go on.”

Lenny shook his head. “I think the housing on their street is set up with the most important members in the center to prevent the guard or rival gangs from killing anyone important. From what I’ve seen he always walks around alone so I doubt he’s high ranking.” He continued. “This is mostly guesswork though.”

Isaac put another silver coin on the table. “Guesswork from an experienced local is why I hired your brother.”

“He’s always got a few knives on him. He’s not light on his feet at all. Maybe a warrior class?” Lenny guessed. “The few times I’ve seen him he has come from this side of their territory. He probably lives on this end of the street.”

Isaac set a third coin on the table. “Anything else?”

Lenny shook his head. “No, sorry boss. James is trying to get in with one of their rivals right now. They might know more but who knows when he’ll be back.”

Isaac nodded. “Alright. How’d Mr. Nobody go?”

Lenny’s face brightened. “Great actually. He came by yesterday and said our debt was paid. Just like that.”

“What’s he look like?” Isaac asked.

Lenny’s smile faded. “I swear I saw him working a food stand an hour before. There’s no way he isn’t a shapeshifter.”

“Or a mage.” Lenna cut in. “There’s a spell for that.”

Isaac’s brow furrowed. “I don’t know which is worse, honestly. If there’s another higher level mage running around he has to be prepared for trouble. A shapeshifter is slippery but if we can track them down it should be as simple as a sword in the back.”

Lenna nodded. “Ward’s would make things difficult.”

“Anyway, thanks Lenny.” Isaac said and turned to leave.

“Anytime boss.” Lenny replied and scooped up the coins and stuffed them in his pocket. “One thing though boss before you leave.”

“Yeah?” Isaac asked and looked over his shoulder.

“Most people pay better.” Lenny said with a grin and a wink.

Isaac threw him another silver and, along with Lenna, vanished into thin air. The combination of attention grabbing effects caused Lenny to focus on both of them poorly. He fumbled the coin and it fell to the ground and got wedged in between two of the floorboards. “Ah hells.” He grumbled.