After trudging around in a forest, (why the hell do these guys love making their homes in forests?), they found what looked like buildings in the distance. As they approached the property, it looked like it was a fenced-in property.

"They're really gonna have us walk more?" commented Tina who had gotten tired of this evening stroll.

"I think them not allowing just anyone to walk into this place is a good thing."

As they walked throughout the property looking for the entrance they noticed a hole that was made in the fencing.

"What do you say we just enter from here and greet the guy?" Tina asked.

Tibaut had his hand to his chin and started thinking.

"That sounds like a terrible idea."

"Hmm, I'm surprised you said no," responded Tina.

"I mean walking through here without anyone here just seems like it's asking for trouble. Also, why are you surprised I didn't want us just showing up unexpectedly?"

"(Well you do, you seem like the type of person to do that.) No, I'm just used to picking the sketchy option before Ezekiel does."

"Why?"

"It's better to acknowledge the first thing I find as an option before he finds an even worse one."

"?"

"For instance if he couldn't find the entrance and we already walked past the hole in the fence he might just suggest throwing him over the fence so he could find someone to talk to."

She removed the foot she had already stuck into the fence and walked back over to Tibaut.

"Ah. Yeah, that does sound like him."

As they were about to walk away they noticed a maid nearby. Before they even had the chance to call to her she was already on top of the fence looking over them.

Tina held up her spear ready to react while Tibaut was more curious than anything.

"Um, excus-" Before he could ask her for directions or even just where her boss was she dropped to the floor and tried to wrap his neck with some shiny wire but he was able to react quick enough to melt it before she reached his neck. She didn't seem too bothered by his response to that and kicked him. He blocked it but the kick sent him flying a few feet back.

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"What's this? Since when have scum like you had magic of that level? Come to get revenge perhaps? Or feeling guilty you didn't join the main group? It doesn't matter because you will be joining them soon enough."

Surprisingly it was Tina who made the next move by striking at her. The woman had another string in her hands and wrapped it around the head of Tina's spear. She tried to use the string to guillotine off the spear's blade but she quickly realized that wasn't possible.

("This isn't wood!")

Tina soon put a charge into her spear and the woman instinctively let go of her string. It seemed the current was too much for it as the parts touching the spear melted.

"Two magic users of your level. It seems you cockroaches are taking things seriously now."

"STOP!" Tibaut shouted.

The maid and Tina looked towards him.

"This is no time for this shit, and Tina why the hell did you attack her?"

Tina looked to Tibaut while keeping the maid in her field of vision.

"She attacked us first so why the hell should we lay down and take it?"

The maid seemed ready to pounce so Tibaut took control back of the conversation.

"We can't just do that for the people we're working for."

"What is this farce?" The maid asked as she looked at him. She seemed to be reaching into her pockets for something.

"It's true. Us four were sent to guard here but it seems like only two of us would have arrived."

"Four of you, you say." The maid dropped her guard and checked a notebook she pulled out of her pocket.

"Oh, a red-haired man and a pink-haired woman." She put the notebook back in her pocket and went through the opening in the fence.

"Might I recommend you two to use the front gate."

"Uh, where is it?"

She pointed east.

"Just continue heading that way." She seemed like she was about to walk back to where she came from but seemed to remember something and stopped.

She bowed down and lifted her dress.

"I'm the head maid and personal guard of my lord, Avis Latrodectus."

Satisfied with that introduction she soon left.

"I say we should have kicked her ass a bit to teach her a lesson," Tina remarked, still gripping her spear tightly.

"Do you think it would have looked good if beat the shit out of his personal guard? He'd probably just send us back home and I wouldn't wrong him."

Tina shrugged her shoulders and started walking east and Tibaut soon followed.

"We'd just be cutting the fat from our list. This guy's probably just a pervert, not some cultist lifeline."

"I know but there must have been some reason Mr. Bentley sent us here."

"He probably just wanted some quick cash to help us fight those bastards."

"Huh?"

"I guess you wouldn't know but we aren't exactly flooded with work."

"Oh trust me, I know."

"Oh, so do you also know funding for each regional guild is given out based on how much activity they receive."

"..."

"You can see the problem right? We're fighting these cultists for round 2 and it seems like they've brought out the big guns this time. I can see why he'd need the money but he had no reason to lie to us."

"..."

Tibaut didn't know what to say to that. Were they really sent here to get some money for their fight against the cultists? I mean this guy is a noble so he probably isn't hurting for cash. He decided when they finished this commission he'd ask Elizabeth to look into it.

After a few minutes of walking, they saw a carriage outside of a large gate.

"Finally," Tina stated.

"Wait a minute, why are they still out here?"