While Zack and Max were babysitting, Rea went to ask the townsfolk where the noble who had just arrived had gone. As Zack had suspected, it didn't take Rea long to find the place.

Seeing where it was, Rea couldn't help but look disgusted. She was currently in an entertainment area where the only establishments were cheap inns for overnight stays apart from bars. Originally, this place belonged to the commercial area, but with the influx of strangers interested in the dungeon, it turned into what it is now.

Rea could see mercenaries on the street, beer mugs in hand, drunk on the power of alcohol in the middle of the day, laughing and chatting with smiles on their faces, and one or several beauties around them, entertaining them. Occasionally, some men could be seen leaving the bar and heading to one of the inns with at least one woman in their arms. It was obvious what they were going to do there.

With each passing moment, she became more convinced that Max's theory about the kidnapping might be true. All she wanted to do was find Sally and leave. It wasn't very hard to find the specific bar. The place baron's men surrounded the place and looked enviously at the people inside having fun. If they weren't working, more than one would have had a beer, or two.

Just as she was about to enter the establishment, a couple of guards blocked her way.

"What are you doing?" protested Rea, seeing they wouldn't let her in.

"The place is full," said the guard grumpily. The young noble had ordered no one to enter. After having fun for a while, his employer decided the place was too crowded and wanted to have it to himself, so most of the customers quickly left without paying under the desperate eyes of the owner.

"Let me in!"

"This place is occupied. If you want to drink, go somewhere else."

"Since when can a bar be occupied by one person? I don't even want to drink. I just want to see how my friend is!"

"Rea?" asked a voice.

Turning to see who it was, she saw the mayor, who looked at her with some confusion.

"Mayor!" exclaimed Rea, somewhat calmer at seeing a familiar face.

Seeing they knew each other, the guards let her pass so they could talk.

"What are you doing here?" asked the mayor after moving to a slightly more secluded spot.

"Do you think I want to be here?!" Rea burst out. "If it weren't for you taking Sally away, I wouldn't have had to come!"

"Ah. I understand." Hearing what had happened, the mayor could only give a bitter smile. "I'm sorry you got involved."

This matter wasn't entirely his fault, but he couldn't escape responsibility. From an outsider's perspective, he did force Sally to accompany them.

Although she was a bit surprised to hear the apology, Rea had no intention of leaving and forgetting everything. "Anyway. I've come to get Sally. Let her out, and we'll leave."

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

"I'm afraid that's going to be difficult," the mayor said, feeling a growing headache with each word.

"What do you mean? I want to see my friend! You have no right to hold her!" she shouted angrily.

"Right now, Sally is entertaining the noble. If we take her out, we might provoke dissatisfaction."

"I don't care who that guy is! I'm going to get her out of there!" With that, she ignored the mayor and headed for the establishment.

"Wait!" said the mayor, alarmed, grabbing her arm to stop her.

"Let go of me!"

"Do you really want to know what an unhappy noble can do with a personal army of more than twenty men?" The mayor ignored her complaints and continued talking.

"That young man drinking in the bar is not like you and me. To the nobles, the lives of villagers aren't important." His words weren't unfounded. When he was young, his family dealt with nobles, and he had seen them act several times. He knew perfectly well how cruel they could be.

"Believe me. In the time I've been with him, I haven't seen anything remotely resembling sympathy in his eyes. The moment he doesn't get what he wants, he'll be willing to trample over anyone to calm his anger. Right now, he's holding back, but I don't know how long he can endure."

"I'm not going to let you put the townspeople's lives in danger just because you want to be with Sally," said the mayor firmly.

With each word that came out of his mouth, Rea's resistance weakened. By the time he finished speaking, she had stopped resisting. All that was left was a girl who didn't know what to do to help her friend.

"But then what will happen to her?" Rea said quietly, lowering her head. Although she didn't want it to show, small tears appeared in her eyes.

Seeing this, the mayor knew there was hope to convince her to leave. He already had enough problems; there was no need to add more drama to her short life. He still wanted to live many more years, and this stress wasn't good for his health.

"Don't worry. I'll make sure nothing bad happens to Sally. Most likely, after a couple more hours, that noble will be so drunk they'll have to carry him to bed. Your friend will come back on her own in a few hours." Without letting her notice his thoughts, he began to comfort Rea in a soothing voice.

Seeing his eyes, she knew he had convinced her. "Go with your friends. I'm sure they are worried about you."

"It's not fair." Contrary to his expectations, Rea didn't prepare to leave. She looked up and confronted him directly.

"If you hadn't convinced her to go with that womanizer, none of this would have happened. Why does she have to suffer alone?"

The mayor took a cold breath and quickly looked around to see if any of the guards had heard them. If a single person found out about this, not only would Rea be in danger, but so would he.

Fortunately, the place where they were talking was somewhat away from the guards' ears. None of them were interested in what an old man and a shouting girl could be talking about.

Seeing he was safe, the mayor sighed in relief. (What's happening today?! Does everyone want to go against me?!) thought the mayor, exasperated.

Even so, he didn't let his annoyance show on his face. Instead, only an expression of sadness and desolation could be seen.

"You're right."

Those words were enough to silence Rea immediately.

"It's my fault. If I were a better mayor, this wouldn't have happened," he said in a low tone. "All I want is to make this place, this town, a better place, but it's obvious I'm not strong enough to protect its inhabitants."

"I'm sorry."

A few seconds earlier, Rea was shouting, unloading her frustrations on the mayor. Now, Rea's expression was full of guilt.

"N-No. Don't apologize. The only person who should apologize is that noble."

Hearing those words, the mayor's body trembled a little, and his true intentions were almost revealed. (Do you want to shut up already?! If someone hears you, our heads will roll! Didn't your parents teach you to fear nobles?!) thought the mayor angrily. The fact that Rea was an orphan and that it had been decades since a noble had set foot in this place didn't cross his mind for even a fraction of a second.

"No, no, no," he said, gently shaking his head from side to side. "It's my fault. She doesn't deserve what's happening, and neither do you, child." He lifted his head and looked Rea in the eyes. "But don't worry. I'll make sure nothing bad happens to her. Please, let me take care of it."

Seeing the mayor like this, she couldn't say anything.