Four Days Ago...

"You WHAT?!"

Dylan staggered away from the man in front of him, grabbing a chair and bringing it crashing down with him. The two guards who had escorted him up made no move to help him.

Charles sighed in his chair, the cat on his left looking annoyed that his nap had been interrupted. "Dylan, we need someone to go to the Hiding Forest and investigate what Noah Cosmic is doing there. To get you there safely, we're sending two representatives from Barabar with you." Dylan shook his head as fast as could. "Didn't you hear him? He specifically told us that no one was allowed to go there! I don't want to die!" Charles held up a finger. "Actually, his exact words were 'no one associated with the guild will step a foot in the Hiding Forest'. What he did not say was that no one could go in if they weren't associated with the guild."

The younger man stammered for a moment, thinking the process through. "B-but if he finds out, he'll kill me! And you! And probably everyone in the country!" Charles shook his head, leaning forward as he did. "Dylan, I'm going to be honest with you." He steepled his fingers on the table. "The fact that we're having this conversation and aren't dead yet means that we found a loophole in his wording, and that Noah's fine with it. He's demonstrated his ability to hear any conversation, and there's even an article in the Apocalypse Accords that states quite clearly that if we can find a loophole, we can use it. There's a good chance it'll even improve his opinion of us."

Dylan got to his feet, brushing himself off absentmindedly. "But- but-" He suddenly remembered something and stood a little taller. "I'm from the Mana Society! You have to file a request to have me sent out if-" One of the guards provided several sheets of paper, which Dylan quickly read, his face paling as he did so. Looking up at the guildmaster, he suddenly flushed with anger.

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"Why? Why would you want me to go there? I'm probably not even going to make it back alive! I don't want to die!"

Charles was suddenly in front of him, a finger poking him the chest with more force than should have been possible. "Because you're one of two people who knows what he looks like and I can't go. I don't blame you for not wanting to die, Dylan. The Forest is known for the monsters that go there to rest, and who knows how many of them Noah's gotten involved in whatever he's planning. But if it turns out to be something really bad, then all of Xylphys could be destroyed, and a whole lot more people could die than just you and me."

The younger man's eyes widened as he realized the full impact of the job he was being sent on. "...oh."

"Indeed." The guildmaster walked over to the window, taking a good look at the sprawling steam-tech of Xylphys outside. The constant rise of smoke gave off an almost mystical atmosphere, and the glint of copper and steel made the city shine. He loved this city, loved the people who lived here, and especially loved its hot dogs. They were seriously worth dying for.

Walking next to him, Dylan took a good look at the city and sighed. Much as the younger man hated to admit it, he knew Charles was right. The last recorded report of Noah Cosmic had been centuries ago, and most if not all of the people who were alive at that time were likely senile, if they'd ever seen him to begin with.

"Who are the people you're sending me with?" Charles smiled. They were actually lucky that Dylan had been the one to give him the message a week ago. The young man, just out of his teens, was indeed cowardly and had almost no fighting skills past the basic training, which for him was likely either level one or two. That was an advantage for him here - there was a good chance Noah would literally be too busy laughing at him to attack him.

"Their names are Baby Bronson, though you can just call him Bruiser, and Alice Cooper, the Butcher." Dylan nodded. "I understand. How long do we have to get to the Hiding Forest?" Charles chuckled. "We don't really have time to let you wait, so we're teleporting you straight to the border." The young man nodded, determination in his eyes.

"I won't let you down."