The person who tumbled out of the forest was none other than Commander Blue who we didn't had much contact ever since we left.

She was covered with dirt and sweat as she looked at us. "Commander Blue!" Instinctively called out to her. Her eyes seem unfocused and her body looked lethargic in its movements. I rushed towards her, leaving the other adventurers behind.

Her breathing was ragged and she had bruises all over her body. She looked at me and was visibly relieved as she leaned her weight on me. "This case is getting bad." She said before passing out. I also stumbled down but I was able to stand my ground.

"Hey!" I called out to Teri behind me, "Come help me get her back to camp."

We carried her together and rushed back to the campsite. "Clear me a space and wake everyone up!" I shouted at Rona who was waiting for us to return. After rousing the rest of the female passengers in the wagon, we were able to create a space to lay Blue down.

"Who is she Captain Tessanya?" Teri asked. Alexa went over to the male wagon and Rona was casting Sense Ailment to figure out her condition. "She's from a different Bureau branch assisting us. We haven't seen each other since we left Auburn City." I examined her body visually but with my limited knowledge all I can figure out is she has various scratches and injuries as if she was abandoned in the middle of the forest with nothing on her but the clothes she has which is still the uniform for agents on the field.

Before Rona could finish her analysis, the rest of the group arrived outside the wagon. "Who did you find Captain?" Cameron asked on behalf of the group, "Alexa said it was some woman you seemed to know."

I nodded, and hopped out of the wagon to address them. "It's Commander Blue. She had a lot of minor injuries visible on her and I'm having Rona cast Sense Ailment on her right now. Depending on the situation this might get dire all too quickly." The rest of the Enforcer Team nodded gravely, knowing the circumstances but the adventurers seems more puzzled. "I'm sorry I got you dragged into this." I turned to their party leader, "Once we get back to Graham's village, we have to go on our separate ways, for your own sake."

Their expressions stiffened at my ominous words but I waved it all off afterwards, "It's all Imperial business, you shouldn't be get involved any further than this."

I heard someone moving around the female wagon and when I turned around, Rona was already peaking around at everyone gathered.

"From what limited medicinal and health lessons taught to me during my training I cannot for sure pinpoint cause of her condition but generally speaking, she's exhausted both physically and mentally." She maintained her gaze towards us, "Thus, I recommend something to aid in her quick recovery while we figure out a way to deliver her to a medically professional."

Her assessment seems already high enough that whatever happened to Commander Blue, it was nasty but it was also unclear on whether or not it was connected to the assassin back at Auburn. I spoke up to gain everyone's attention, "In that case please prepare remedies for her use while we discuss the next steps."

I scanned around to meet Victor and Joran's eyes, "Think you can help her with it Victor and Joran." I turned and walked to them as I addressed them, "You two should be able to gather what Rona would need or substitutes for it."

Joran nodded a bit drowsily while Victor scratched his neck, "First gig as Captain and you're already a slave driver huh." He muttered before he stretched out and spoke up louder, "Loud and clear Captain!".

After that I turned to address the remaining members of the group, "Next up, how long will it take to reach your village at dawn Graham?"

He scrunched up his brows as he pondered for a bit, letting out groans occasionally. "I believe it woulda take us past midday to arrive at the village." Before he could continue I asked him for the closest city with a public hospital sanctioned by the Imperial Government.

Graham lapsed into silence again as his gathered his thoughts. "The closest city woulda been Auburn City. Still woulda take ye two or three days I reckon."

I let my tongue click, "So we're backtracking. Not an ideal way. What about other cities?"

Graham tilted his head, "If yer looking for close cities that aren't Auburn then maybe going further south might be yer best bet." He turned towards the direction he mentioned, "It'll take ye three days at the earliest to arrive there but that's the next closest after Auburn. If ya aint going to Greenfield Town then Moonville City's the only other choice further west, but it'll take ya a week to get there at the quickest."

Nodding at this suggestions I continued asking, "Are they all under Count Leonhart's domain?"

He shook his head, "Nay. Greenfield and Moonville are under a different Lord."

I groaned and turned to look at Cameron, "Whose domain lies southwest?"

Cameron closed his eyes as he replied, "Count Lupane if memory serves." I nodded at him, and asked,

"Do you think we'll make it Greenfield? or do we risk Auburn?"

He nodded, "I trust in Rona's analysis." He uncrossed his arms, "She has never been wrong despite her supposed lack of information compared to dedicated medical professionals."

I looked him in the eye and felt his undying trust in his teammate. "Very well." I turned to address everyone, "Then after arriving in Graham's village that's when we part our ways." I gave a sweeping look at everyone gathered around the campfire, "The enforcers will ask and buy for supplies for our journey to Greenfield while I ask you Graham and the adventurers here to keep quiet about what happened here for your sakes."

Tension filled the air when I dropped that ominous warning at them and continued on nonchalantly, "Well since Blue would be recovering at the wagon, I'll need some help to make some simple beddings to soften the driver's seat.

I gave one last glance at Blue's now composed face before joining the rest of the group with the task ahead.

The following morning, everyone was up and about in the trek back to Graham's village. Though I said trek but in reality we'd just be following the road and eventually follow a turn that led to the village. We were travelling in a pretty tightly in two carriages, so packed that we had to squeeze in three people at the drivers seat of the second wagon, granted all those people were female so they were smaller compared to the men.

Just like with what he said last night, by the time the sun was almost at its peak, we could see in the distance a arch that sort of looked like an entrance to the village.

"That there is the gate for carriages in 'n out of the village." Graham said as we continued moving towards it. The archway was made out of wood and it looked like it was wide enough for just one common wagon to pass through. There were was like a small hut and a few chairs scattered around, perhaps the village was employing a rudimentary sort of gate guards despite being a rural village. As we got closer, a face darted out from the hut and waved over at us, then a second person emerged from the other side of the hut who approached us as we slowed down near the archway.

"Looks like you got more people than you left here old man." He greeted Graham who was in the front carriage driver's seat next to Victor the actual driver. "Welcome to Mali Village!" I couldn't hear their entire conversation from inside the second wagon but eventually we started to move again and passed by the humble gate hut.

This village captured the rural feel more aptly than Auburn city with its cozier homes and fewer buildings in general, not to mention the smaller fields we could see.

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We continued our little parade until we parked at the side of a house bigger and had more decor to it than the other houses. "This is the chief's home." Graham said as he and the other dismounted. "Gotta greet 'em and tell 'em what yer lookin' for eh?"

I gave him my thanks and dismounted along with the rest of the wagon's passengers. Meeting up with Cameron to finalize what we would divulge to the chief was the last thing I need to clarify with him before meeting the chief himself.

"We'll wait here for for the chief's go ahead to receive us in short notice." He waved at us and went to the inform the chief. Meanwhile the other adventurers mingled about after disembarking and Gran walked up to approach me.

"The party's going to stay and recuperate here for three days at least. We'll help you get settled in for the night when we do our prep as well. You okay with that?"

I agreed with his proposal, "Much appreciated, since we'll also be taking care of Blue."

The adventurers split off from us and headed towards one of the houses, maybe it was inn or a house reserved for them for the commissions they took. I headed towards Ian who was helping Joran with carrying Commander Blue. "How's her condition Rona?"

She exhaled, "She's still stable but complications can arise if we don't get her treated properly by a professional."

I nodded, "Of course. We still need to figure out what happened to Commander Blue and how she ended up there."

Soon after, Graham came back to get us, "The chief's ready to see ya now." We gave our appreciation for his mediation and we all entered the chief's house. We were greeted by a middle-aged couple along with a woman around my age and a boy that looked he would be in his early teens.

I gave an imperial military bow, "Thank you for being able to accommodate us on short notice." The middle-aged man, who I presumed to be the chief, shook his head before I could continue.

"No no. It is our pleasure to be of any assistance to the Imperial Bureau. I am the chief of this village, Grandel." He motioned to the rest of his family. "This is wife Accela; my daughter Hilda; and my son Edan." They all dipped their heads in a bow after introduction. "If you'll follow me, we have prepared the best lunch we could in this village." He began to turn around along with his family members but I manage to call them to stop.

"I'm apologies for halting you from partaking your lunch but I believe Graham mentioned something that we needed extra accommodations for one of our members who's in need of rest." Grandel nodded,

"Of course, yes I believe he mentioned your plan to buy some supplies in our village for your journey to Greenfield." He turned to face his daughter. "Show them the rooms in the spare house next to ours." She agreed readily.

"You may have your lunch without us. We'll join you shortly once we have our member settled."

He relaxed and feeling relieved. "I see. Very well, I hope you can enjoy your stay for the short while you're here. My wife and I will be ready to assist you in whatever you may need within our power." I thanked him for his generosity and hospitality before turning to his daughter to lead the way.

She led us away outside their house and towards to a smaller house close in proximity. Once we reached the front door she gave us a tour of the available rooms inside it. Maybe because it was a spare house there wasn't any prominent decorations that it was lived in. There were simple furniture strewn about though so it's not like it's totally bare.

"We can prepare more bedding should you require more than what we already brought in the bedroom." She dipped her head again.

I waved at her, "Please relax. It's not like we're in a formal setting." Seeing her looked a bit less rigid I continued the conversation, "Is this house kept as a spare to serve for important guests in the village?" We were the only ones left in the living room threshold. Rona, Joran, and Ian were preparing the room where we'll be having Commander Blue rest. Victor and Cameron where taking a look around the previous rooms.

She tilted her head as she thought about it, "I'm not sure exactly but from what father told me it was a house that belonged to his grand-uncle, and his cousin who was supposed to be the new owner of it left the village instead." Hmm so that would mean her the current owner would be her uncle who left the village. I guess that would explain why there was still an abundant amount of furniture present.

"I see, and do your family keep responsible in maintaining two houses?" She shook her head and explained that periodically some of the villagers would also pitch in to help in cleaning the spare house. There are also other empty houses to used to have inhabitants but either they all moved out or no one was left to inherit it, they left it as is and rents it out to travelers and adventurers that would be passing through.

"That seems to be pretty good use of those houses. Periodic renting and cleaning to avoid rot is quite a novel idea. Did your father came up with the idea?" She shook her head again and told me that it was her brother who brought up the idea around three years ago.

"What?! that young boy that welcomed us? Wouldn't that make him around eight or nine when he proposed the idea?" I'm pretty sure I had a stupefied expression on to which Hilda chuckled a bit.

"Yes I suppose that would be surprising for anyone, after all he was just seven at the time. After the first year my father praised him for being a prodigy and is aiming to enroll him in one of the public schools.

I widened my eyes at the skill her brother was able to display at such a young age. "It seems he would be a promising individual. If he keeps continuing with that level of development he might catch the eye of some Imperial noble or bureaucrat and sponsor him an education to the Imperial Academy."

This time it was Hilda's turn to look surprised. "My! really? I suppose Edan does possess a gift as a merchant or a business owner."

I agreed with her sentiment and while we were having a conversation, the men who brought Blue to the room are now spilling out into the living room. "Is she all set while we join the chief for lunch?"

Joran stepped forward and answered for the group, "Yes, although Rona would like to stay behind and to watch over her and I agreed to stay behind too."

After thinking about it for a second, it was caution that made him decide on staying behind and watching over Blue since we aren't sure if her condition might worsen if we all left for lunch. "Very well." I looked over to Ian, "Call Cameron and Victor and tell them it's time to join for lunch." He nodded and turned to find them, and I turned to face Hilda again, "I suppose let's continue the discussion over lunch."

We shuffled back towards the village chief's house, with Hilda leading us. Once we announced our arrival within the house, we knocked towards the kitchen door before entering. Grandel the chief, and his wife were already cleaning up their plates, presumably, but their son, Edan, is nowhere to be seen.

"Ah just in time, please have a seat, we'll be out with the plates in a minute." Accela said as she busied herself with the dining preparations. Grandel approached us as soon all of us had sat down. "It seems your party was reduced, was there a problem?"

I shook my head, "Thank you for the concern but after a short discussion we felt it was prudent to have some people stay behind to look over our injured team member and monitor their condition rather than we leaving them alone in that house." He was visibly relieved as he nodded and he stepped aside as soon as his wife was calling out that she'll be serving the food now.

Seeing the various assortment of dishes they prepared despite being a small village really showed that they went all out so I thanked them on behalf of the team for going the extra mile for us. Hilda also joined us at the table since she missed lunch by being our guide.

When we all finished lunch we thanked them again for their hospitality and we'd be calling over the other two to have lunch while we split the current group into the next people to take watch over Blue and to be ones to replenish our supplies for the trip.

Thankfully the rest of the day proceeded smoothly and we were able to replenish our stock of spices and herbs for outdoor cooking, refilled our waterskins and we sold off some of the spoils we had from both spoils. Soon after it was already night and we were all split between the two available bedrooms.

For the female bedroom it was just the three of us with Blue taking the actual bed and Rona and I having the foldable thin bedding on the floor. It was the men who would take rotations on night watch since Rona would be the primary caretaker for Blue and I would be assisting her if anything arose during the night but seeing that my sleep was undisturbed there weren't any complications.

Come morning, Grandel invited us for breakfast but we declined, "Thank you for offering but we have to reach a state hospital as soon as possible. We don't want to take chances and have her condition worsened." Thankfully the village chief was understanding and we were well on our way back on the road.

It was during the time we were double checking our wagon inventory that Graham the village hunter and Gran the adventuring party leader approached me. "Stop by again if ya in the area. Don't get much to offer ye but know yer always welcome 'ere." Graham left after that remark but Gran stayed.

"With how the party's shaping up we might disband and have to look for ordinary jobs to account for their recovery period of their injuries." He looked sheepish as he was talking, he might be trying to ask for a favor. "If it's not too much do you know of any place or anyone that might need some adventuring experience?"

I don't want to give him too much hope since he should be well aware these sorts of things are best asked at the Adventurer's Guild but seeing that they aren't fairly high-ranked enough I doubt the Guild will be able to accommodate them. It seems there's not other choice.

"If you can make it to an Imperial Army Garrison or the Hellsworn territory, look for their daughter, Iris Hellsworn and to tell her this message. 'The Mischievous Wind is cashing in one of her favors'. That should be enough for her to know what to do." He looked elated and looked like a weight was off his shoulders.

"Thank you! I'll be sure to repay this debt!" I told him to calm down and that they shouldn't be too careless yet since first the need to find out where to find her since I'm not privy to the details of the various posting of the Imperial Army nor do they need to know right now that the person they're looking for is the general of the Tenth Imperial Army.