Chapter 27

After a good long nap, Lord Mitten set about putting his plan into action.

He had to explore the political and social situation in Minthral, even if it meant work for him. Work that he would have liked to pass on. But no matter how he turned it around and tried to pass the work on to others, his current entourage lacked the necessary skills.

So he had to take action himself, he realized once again. And promptly.

It was difficult to postpone the whole undertaking; after all, he wanted to know what kind of environment he was setting up his business in. And not just when the hordes with torches and pitchforks were at his door. Lord Mitten was not a fan of unpleasant surprises.

So, for better or worse, I will have to take care of the information gathering myself. And I'll have to take care of the two adventurers as well, preferably before Myrim's mother appears and takes matters into her own hands.

Lord Mitten sighed.

He needed more subordinates.

Lord Mitten stood up and stretched extensively. He scratched the branch he was sitting on with his sharp claws with relish, leaving deep indentations. Meanwhile, he thought about how he could get the information he needed with as little energy expenditure as possible.

"Hm."

The easiest way would be to threaten and question someone, he realized dryly after a while.

Why are the most convenient solutions always so violent?

Lord Mitten shook his head and continued to ponder. What would Maribold do? Probably have her entourage spy for her, from the fairies to the trees. Unfortunately, he had no fairies or trees at his disposal, and his entourage consisted of only one person.

"Hm."

Thoughtfully, Lord Mitten watched a few ants running busily up and down the tree trunk. It looked like he would have to create a temporary following.

At his feet, his magical energy transformed into small ants that wildly felt their surroundings with their antennae. Lord Mitten equipped each one with a tiny part of his consciousness and a command. They hurriedly made their way down the tree and towards the city center.

Visit the important places of this city. The town hall, the guilds of mages and adventurers, the estates of rich businessmen and nobles. Off you go!

Satisfied, Lord Mitten looked after his little spies. It would be a while before they arrived at their destinations and were able to overhear conversations. Until then, he would stroll through the town to get his own impression of the mood in Minthral.

With one leap, he jumped down from the tree and looked around. The market had long since ended. Where there had recently been colorful market stalls, only crushed tomatoes on the ground and a few dirty scraps of cloth reminded one of the past hustle and bustle.

After a moment's thought, he ran into the same alley where the little thief had disappeared with his help. To his left and right were a row of tall, narrow houses, most of them with large windows looking out onto the alley. Craftsmen seemed to live and work here, as the many brass-colored signs above the doors suggested.

Lord Mitten looked into a tailor's store and watched as a woman unrolled meters of fabric and spread it out on her huge sales table. The fabrics were brightly colored, but not of any particular quality. The finer fabrics seemed to be sold elsewhere and the stores here were probably intended for ordinary citizens.

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“Hej, what a magnificent fellow!”

Lord Mitten turned his head to the side.

In front of the store next to the tailor's store, an old man with a wrinkled face was sitting on a stool, working a piece of wood with his knife.

“Really what a handsome fellow! You came just in time!” he laughed gleefully and threw the piece of wood behind him. From a basket under his stool, he reached unerringly for an unprocessed piece of wood and held it up to Lord Mitten.

What on earth is happening here?

Lord Mitten stared at the old man.

“Sit still, will you?”

What –?

Lord Mitten stared as he watched the piece of wood slowly transform under the man's nimble hand.

Had he just been used as a model for a work of art?

At the thought, Lord Mitten suddenly became very aware of his posture. Was his paw well positioned? And could you even see his tail? He hastily checked his posture.

Awe-inspiring and sublime - perfect.

Lord Mitten decided to be a good model and keep still. After all, the old man had shown excellent taste in his choice of subject.

As soon as he had made up his mind, his left ear began to itch. Lord Mitten involuntarily remembered the little episode with the fleas. Hopefully none had escaped and had now made themselves at home with him. His ear began to itch even more at the thought. His skull was also calling out to be scratched extensively.

Lord Mitten frowned.

“Don't move!” The old man didn't seem to have too much faith in him sitting still and increased his pace.

And rightly so.

Lord Mitten was on the verge of throwing his modeling career overboard and giving in to his impulses.

The knife seemed to fly over the wood and fine wood shavings flew through the air.

Finally, just as he was about to scratch himself, the man finished his work.

“Ha ha! A masterpiece!” He jumped off his stool and waved the wooden cat in front of Lord Mitten's nose.

“Look! A lifelike copy! As sublime and dignified as the original!”

After Lord Mitten had scratched himself thoroughly and made sure he was flea-free, he took a closer look at the work.

It was indeed a masterpiece.

He nodded appreciatively at the artist, who had crouched down in the meantime to talk to him at eye level.

“People here say I'm crazy. But I'm not crazy—,” the man leaned down conspiratorially and whispered to him, ”I have the eye. The eye for what lies behind.”

He looked deep into Lord Mitten's eyes.

“And you, my friend, are something very special. Something very special, yes yes.”

Interesting.

The man seemed to possess the ability of a seer, albeit rudimentary and untrained. A rare ability that was paid for well in influential circles, as it was incredibly helpful when it came to uncovering deceptions.

But instead of sitting in the throne rooms of the world, the old man sat on a stool and carved wooden figures.

“Father, leave the people alone! Who are you trying to talk into being special this time, huh?” A woman in a colorful apron stepped out of the front door.

“Huh? A tomcat?” She looked questioningly at the old man.

“Yes, Ayda! And what a cat, a very special one!” Enthusiastically, he ran up to his daughter and held the piece of wood in front of her nose. “Do you see? I've never met such a sublime creature!”

Lord Mitten nodded thoughtfully. Who would have thought that he would meet such a wise man in such an unassuming alleyway? Not him, anyway.

“Father—,” Ayda sighed.

“Do we have fish? He's kept so exemplary still, he needs a reward for that!” The old man hurriedly disappeared into the doorway and reappeared a little later with a plate full of fish, which he placed in front of Lord Mitten.

“Father, the fish was meant to be our supper!” His daughter put her hands on her hips indignantly.

“Yes, yes, but that was before we had such an honorable guest, Ayda! Look how gracefully he eats the fish.” The old man pointed enthusiastically in the direction of the plate.

In the meantime, Lord Mitten had decided not to disturb father and daughter in their discussion and to eat instead.

Mmmm, trout.

Satisfied, he ate the fish bite by bite until the plate was spotless. Then he looked up.

The old man was standing in front of him, watching him eat with a smile on his face. His daughter seemed to have given up and had disappeared back into the house. Presumably to look for an alternative supper.

“It was good, yes? Good, good.” Smiling, the man picked up the empty plate.

“Well, take care and look after yourself, will you?”

Lord Mitten looked at his host and made a decision.

“Thank you,” he said with a weighty expression and let a gold coin materialize on the floor. “For the food and the work of art.”

The man stared at him open-mouthed as the wooden figure flew from his hand towards Lord Mitten and disappeared into the pocket dimension.

A broad grin spread across the old man's face. He pointed alternately at Lord Mitten and the gold coin and began to laugh.

“I'm right, ha ha! Everyone says I'm crazy, but I'm right!” he shouted loudly.

Lord Mitten had to smile inwardly. He stood up, gave the man a friendly nod and walked on.

The man picked up the coin and waved after him. “Thank you honorable cat, thank you!”

It can go on like this, thought Lord Mitten satisfied as he continued walking towards the city wall.

And then the first information trickled in from his spy ants.