Maylia's greater understanding of the creatures and how to track them properly, led us right to their small cave. Maylia and I used Stealth and crept closer. Thanks to my Detect Mana Presence technique, we didn't have to get too close that we might be detected by them, and I saw that there were six of the one foot tall bears with another six of them half the size of the 'adults'. The light brown bear we had seen sat against the cave wall and two of the tiny baby bears were suckling on her teats.
The dark brown bear looked to be choking, then it threw up a good portion of the food it had eaten. I was worried that it had gotten sick on the rich food, then the other bears and a few of the baby bears swarmed over to the mess and started eating. I was a bit disgusted at the sight, until Maylia whispered that the food hadn't been chewed. I glanced at her and then looked at the food closely, and nodded understanding.
It gathered the food and brought it back without actually eating it. I thought, and we moved away and went back to the others. “Good news, there are only six adults.”
“What's the bad news?” Evus asked.
I covered Afyne's mouth with a hand. “There are six babies.” I said and barely contained her squeal of delight and had to hold her steady as she tried to jump around. “At least we know why they've been raiding more food places lately.”
“That's not bad news for some.” Diofra smiled at Afyne's reaction.
“It also makes things a little more complicated.” I said. “Moving a few of them out of the area wouldn't be too big of a task; but, six of them and six babies?”
“It would be shocking for the young ones if we just picked them up and moved them forcefully.” Maylia said. “Some may even perish from the fright.”
“NO!” Afyne yelled into my hand.
“Now you know why we need to discuss things.” I said and hugged her. “We have to try and figure out what's best for the townspeople and for the bears.”
Afyne calmed down and nodded understanding.
“Even if we did move them, we would just be putting them into another situation where they are in danger.” Evus said. “Both the bears and any people they may meet.”
“Agreed.” I said. “Also, removing them isn't an option. They're not foreign and are supposed to be here. If they were killing people or making them sick, we might have the justification to get rid of them.”
Afyne looked like she wanted to speak, so I uncovered her mouth. “Please, don't kill them.” She pleaded, and a tear formed at the corner of her eye. I knelt behind her and hugged her.
“All they are doing is feeding their babies. Being a nuisance to a few people isn't a good enough reason to kill them.” I said, and she relaxed in my arms.
“What are we going to do?” Diofra asked. “If we leave and don't resolve this, then the next group of adventurers that come through here... might not be as nice as us.”
“Hunter.” Afyne said and turned her head slightly to look at me with her puppy dog eyes. “Help them.”
“I'll think of something.” I said.
Afyne turned around and put her arms around my neck and hugged me tightly.
“Let's head back while I think about it.” I said, and took out a couple of the dry ration packs and left them in the area where we were, in case one of the bears came by and discovered humans had been so close to their cave, then we mounted the horses and slowly went back to town. I ignored all the glances that everyone gave me as I thought about what to do.
I knew that Diofra was right and that the next group of adventurers would just kill them all and be done with it. Or worse, they could skin the little bears and try to sell their small pelts as novelties or something. My thoughts focused on that idea and a plan started to form in my head. By the time we reached the outskirts of the town, I knew what we could do about the situation and directed everyone to go to the mayor's office. We tied the horses up outside and entered. The secretary there wasn't too keen on the idea that I didn't make an appointment first, so I gave her a bright fake smile and she caught her breath.
“I'd like to make an appointment to see the mayor, concerning the future of his town.” I said with a slightly deeper voice and leaned over her desk.
“Wh-when would you l-like to meet...” The secretary stammered.
“How about in ten minutes?” I asked. “I'll take a short walk and come back.”
“I... well, I don't think...”
“I'm sure he's very busy; but, I would appreciate seeing him as soon as possible.” I said and stood up straight, then used Presence to untie my hair tie. “Oh, my tie came loose.” I shook my head to spread my hair out. The secretary just stared at me with an open mouth. “I'll come back in a few minutes and see if he's still busy, all right?”
“A-a-all r-r-right.” The secretary manage to say and we left the office.
“What was that all about?” Maylia asked with a laugh.
“Distraction.” I said and left my hair untied. “We both know he's just sitting in his office and not doing anything, so he probably has the secretary turn people away for no reason.”
“How does flirting with her make that change?” Evus asked.
Diofra laughed. “She's going to want to see Hunter again, obviously.”
“But...”
“You'll see.” Diofra said as we walked down the street, took a corner, then kept walking.
My estimate of ten minutes was a little short as we walked around the center of the town and arrived back at the mayor's office fifteen minutes later. I held in my laugh as the secretary had her face pressed up against the glass of the window as she looked for us, then she saw us and disappeared from normal view. Maylia and I watched her as she knocked on the mayor's door and leaned in, then she nodded and went back to her desk.
“We'll wait out here.” Diofra said and took Evus' arm.
“No, we're going to crowd his office.” I said and we all went inside. “Hello, again!” I said with a huge smile and the secretary blushed. “Did you have any luck getting me an appointment?”
The secretary took a few moments before she answered, I assumed to get her voice under control. “Yes, I cleared his schedule for the next few minutes.”
“I appreciate that.” I said as I took her hand, slipped a silver coin into it, then let it go.
“You're welcome.” The secretary said and didn't look at her hand. “Please, go right in.”
“Thank you.” I said and walked by her and opened the door, then led everyone into the mayor's office. Just as Evus closed the door behind us, the secretary looked at her hand and saw the silver sheen of the coin. The closed door didn't quite muffle her yell like I thought it would. The mayor looked at the door and then at me, and only saw my smile that was completely genuine this time.
“What can I do for you?” The mayor asked.
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“Actually, I came here to do something for you.” I said. “I heard of your scavenger problem.”
“Oh, that.” The mayor said and gave me a dismissive wave. “It's not worth the cost to pay high class adventurers to hunt the little beasts down.”
“We already did that.” I said and he raised his eyebrows at me. “No, we didn't kill them.”
“Why not?” The mayor asked.
“They are only little bears.” I said.
“They are otherworldly monsters and need to be eradicated.” The mayor said.
So, he knows. I thought. “Actually, they are local and come from right here, not some other world.”
“They are a menace and need to be dealt with.” The mayor said. “As the queen's personal vassal...”
“...I can choose the things I want to do.” I interrupted. “Before you think about trying to order me to exterminate them to protect the people, as the queen's personal vassal, I am ordering you to have the townspeople protect the bears.”
“You don't have the authority to give me orders.” The mayor said, his face angry.
“Does Queen Celestina's badge of protection mean so little to you?” I asked.
When he didn't respond, I walked over to the door of the office and opened it. I saw his smug smile, and I assumed because he thought I was leaving, so I dissuaded him of that notion.
“Miss?” I smiled at the secretary. “Would you be so kind and call the town guards for me and ask them to come to the mayor's office? The Queen's personal vassal needs to talk to them.”
“O-of course, sir! Right away!” The secretary said and ran from the office.
“What are you doing?” The mayor asked and he was no longer smiling.
I didn't say anything in response and waited. After about ten minutes, several dozen town guards gathered in ranks in the street outside the office.
“They're... here, sir.” The secretary said in a huff as she came in through the door.
“Thank you very much.” I said. “Now I need something else.”
“A-anything.” The secretary whispered.
“I need an entrepreneur. Someone who is willing to run a business and make a lot of money.”
“You want Liehman.” She said right away. “He's always trying to find new ways to make money.”
“Sounds perfect.” I said. “Is he nearby?”
“I'll go get him!” She said and opened the door.
“Send a guard so you can sit and rest.” I said. “Oh, and have the guard approach with his hands raised away from his sword. We don't want to scare the man, only to ask him to come here.”
The secretary laughed and told one of the guards where to get him.
“Thank you.” I said and waved for my party to follow me out of the mayor's office and looked at the gathered guards. “Gentlemen.” I said and then noticed the slightly different shape of one of the armor suits. “...and lady.”
Several of the guards chuckled, because most of the time, people didn't notice her.
“I've heard word of little creatures ransacking various food stores and I've investigated them.” I said, and they all perked up at those words. “I found them, and the descriptions are true. They are cute and fuzzy little bears.”
“Are they just babies?” One of the guards yelled out.
“Shh! Be quiet!” The guy next to him whispered.
“What? I bet five copper that they are.” He whispered back.
“You've lost that bet.” I said and the two of them whipped their heads around and looked at me. “The bears are only one foot tall and one foot long.”
The guy groaned and several guards laughed.
“They do have babies half their size, however.” I said and a squeal of delight came from somewhere, and a few of the guards turned to look at the woman in their midst.
“It wasn't me.” She said. “Honest.”
“The babies are why they are scavenging for more food. They bring it back to share.”
“Awww.” Several people said. They were mixed in with the others that had gathered in the street to see what was going on.
“What's the big deal?” A man's voice asked, and I turned to see a guard escorting a man over to me.
“I've got a business proposal for you.” I said.
“Oho!” Liehman slapped his hands together. “Let's hear it!”
I chuckled. “Just a second.” I said and looked at the guards. “As the queen's personal vassal, I'm declaring some of the land near the town as a wildlife preserve.”
“A what?” Everyone asked.
“It's a dedicated area of land that's used exclusively for animals to live in.” I said. “I'm also declaring these Minibears an endangered species and they are to be protected and not killed.”
“You can't do that!” The mayor said from behind me. “What about the people that own that land?”
“I guess that means you own it.” I said.
“He owns all of it.” Someone said with disgust.
I thought about how much land that bears so small needed to live on and looked at the mayor. “How much for five square miles?”
“More than you can afford.” The mayor said with a grin.
“The hard way it is, then.” I said and looked back at the gathered guards. “I'll give you a map in a little while where the preserve is going to be, after I talk to Mr. Liehman about setting things up. For now, no adventurer is to be allowed to go there, or allowed to accept bounties on the bears. Send word to the nearby towns to warn them as well, in case the mayor hires someone in secret and they try to collect payment.”
“Hey!” The mayor exclaimed.
“If the bears disappear or are harmed, you are the only one that would benefit from that.” I said to him and looked back at the guards. “Do not follow the orders of the mayor if they contradict anything I've said. Either by reducing your patrols in that area or trying to bribe you into looking the other way.”
“We'd never do that, sir!” The lone woman said and a grunt came from everyone else.
“That's great to hear.” I said and smiled.
She blinked her eyes at me and didn't respond, and I saw her eyes trace the outline of the blast shield on my face. When she had, her face flushed red at very obviously ogling me.
“The mayor will be compensated for the land I'm confiscating; but, other than that, he is to receive no other money from what's going to happen.”
“What's going to happen?” Someone in the crowd shouted.
“This town is going to experience a very large boom of visitors.” I said.
“Why?” The same person asked.
I put a hand on Mr. Liehman's shoulder. “Because of the exclusive Minibear Tourist Attraction this man is opening.”
“Wait, what?”
“People from all over the kingdom... perhaps the world... are going to come here to see the only Minibears that exist.” I said, and I could almost see the bags of coins floating around the man's head. I leaned in to whisper. “Make admission cheap, like a copper for two people, and you'll be surprised how many people will come just to look. Don't gouge the customers.”
“I... wouldn't... ah...” Mr. Liehman hedged.
“I'll discuss the particulars with you in a few minutes.” I said. “Believe me, there's a lot of money to be made.”
“What's your cut?” He asked.
“Sixty percent.” I said.
“No way. That's ridiculous.” He said. “Why, the money needed to...”
“What if I provide the startup cost?” I asked, and his protest died on his lips.
“It's too good to be true.” He said. “Thirty percent.”
I chuckled. “Like I said, we can discuss details in a bit. I have a lot of ideas you can use, too.”
He nodded and I turned back to the guards.
“Anyone on patrol needs to keep an eye out for the bears. I suggest carrying an extra ration pack on you so that if you do come across one, toss the food at it and don't interfere with them.”
“What if they come into town again?” A woman asked, and Imiryl leaned close and whispered that it was the woman that owned the restaurant.
“They shouldn't, as long as Mr. Liehman does as I instruct and leaves enough food out for them.” I said, and she nodded. “I'm glad you've got three inns, because this place is going to need them soon.”
“I hope so.” One of the innkeepers said. “There haven't been as many travellers lately.”
“Once word gets around, you're going have to turn people away.” I said, and he nodded. I walked forward and gave a handful of copper coins to each of the guards. “Go to the general store and buy a few extra ration packs to carry on you, just in case.”
“You're paying for them?” One of the guards asked, surprised.
“I can't expect you to spend your own hard earned money.” I said and all of the guards looked at each other. “It was hard earned on my part as well; but, I have a lot more of it than I ever thought possible.”
“The queen definitely chose her personal vassal well.” The lone woman guard whispered.
I smiled and walked back to the front of the guards. “I'll have the map ready in a few minutes. Would one of you mind staying here and...”
Every one of them put a hand up to volunteer.
“Oh, come on!” I exclaimed and waved my own hands in exasperation. “At least some of you need to get back to work!”
That made most of them laugh.
“I'll cover my eyes and pick randomly.” I said and put a hand up to my blast shield, which made a few people laugh, since my eyes were already covered. I turned my head to the side and pointed at random. “Eenie, meanie, miney, moe!”
My hand stopped with my finger pointed at a guard near the back.
“Come on over.” I said and he came over. “Thanks for volunteering to slack off.”
That made everyone laugh, even some of the townspeople.
“Thank you all for coming at my call. I appreciate it.” I said and leaned in close to the guard I had chosen. “How do you salute?”
“Like this, sir.” He said and held a flat hand up to the side of his head with his index finger touching and the palm towards me.
“Thanks.” I said and turned the the guards and gave them the salute. “Dismissed.”
“Sir!” They all chorused and then marched away.
“Now.” I turned to Mr. Liehman. “You and I have a lot to discuss.”
“How much are you investing to start?” He asked.
I chuckled as I took out the small sack of gold I had received for the bounty on the mangled face man and everyone not in my party had wide eyes as I took out several gold coins. “Five gold to start.” I said and counted five and put them in his hand.
“Okay. Forty percent, minus operating costs.” Mr. Liehman said and stared at the gold.
“Take the operating costs off the top and we split the rest fifty-fifty.” I said.
He counted the gold coins and his hand shook as each coin clinked. “It's a deal.”
“Great.” I said. “Do you have somewhere we can talk privately?”
“Step into my office.” Mr. Liehman smiled and waved at the tavern.
I laughed, and we all walked across the street to work out the details of protecting the little bears from being harmed, and also to work out how to make it the best experience a person or a family could have. Afyne practically glowed with happiness as she listened intently.