We came into port as I made sure I was mentally prepared for whatever nightmare monster or cult was stealing fertilizer. It seemed like a small-time theft ring, but clearly Mousethief thought differently. I left the cargo ship discretely and made my way to the car outside the port Mousethief pulled up in.

“So, how will this work, I mean the investigation portion?” I asked as I buckled in.

“Well, we still have to have a logical progression to our reports. Trying to skip too far ahead will bring up questions. The last mission was fine since it was an eldritch monster. Not many steps any creature could take there. But for these thefts, we are going to a contact I have in the city,” he replied and took off.

“You have a lot of contacts?” I asked.

“Yes. The Nine Tail Syndicate actually,” he replied, and my eyes went wide at that.

“What? Them?” I asked surprised.

“They are tapped into the criminal underworld. I have helped move some goods for them or cleared up the occasional misunderstanding. In turn their information brokers work with me. It isn’t the most common thing for us Technicians, but the ones who want to become Chief Technicians do this. Leveraging every angle to complete the mission, just like you do,” he replied. I nodded at this.

“Got it. So, I just stay in the car?” I asked.

“Hmm, normally Tom Cat let me do my own thing. Since he doesn’t like the Nine Tail Syndicate. But since we are teaming up like this. You should stick with me. Let them know you are willing to work with them.”

“And the Covenant Church, won’t you get in trouble?” I asked.

“Trust me they don’t care if some nip is moved around, or a low-level criminal is given a pass. The Covenant Church has bigger concerns. Also, the Nine Tail Syndicate are opposed to the snakes and lizards, which is key. Actually, a lot of missions that come through come from them. Their higher ups know where their bread is buttered if they don’t want Paladins and Assassins chasing them down.” I nodded at this.

“How do you know where to find this informants?” I asked. It was interesting to learn how all these details were put together behind the scenes.

“That my dear Mittens is quite simple but also a secret. We just head to a business with the word tail in it.” We pulled up with a screech in front of a bar called the Nine Hats. “Not subtle, but there is no proof. Just let me handle the talking and, you just look scary.”

“How do I look scary?” I asked. Mousethief paused getting out of the car and looked at me.

“Just stand behind me and just glare at whomever I am talking to,” he said. I nodded at that and got out of the car with him. We made our way inside the bar. Everyone went silent as I entered.

Mousethief walked up to the bar where a fox was bar tending. “Nine shots for me and my partner of aged whiskey,” he said.

The bartender paused. “Nine shots of aged whiskey. That’s a lot. You have the credits?”

“Of course,” Mousethief said and laid a special coin with a fox face on one side on top of the counter.

“Alright, let me show you the private room for esteemed guests,” the bartender led us both into the back and up a flight of stairs to the second floor.

“Boss, special customers, they had a mark,” the bartender said and left. Mousethief and I entered a room and there was an older fox behind his desk.

“Oh, Mousethief, back in this part of the world? And not with Tom Cat anymore?”

“Nope, I am with Mittens here, you old fox. Mittens, this is Keeneye. Keeneye, this is Mittens, my new partner. We are here on business,” Mousethief said.

“Always business with you. How are things in Church land?” Keeneye asked.

“Alright. Busy as always. There were some thefts on the docks. Fertilizer. Hoping you could point us in the right direction,” Mousethief replied.

“Ah, those thefts. Not my people, I can tell you that. Not any cults either. No deaths, or anything really suspicious. But I have had my creatures poking around, to see if there was another rival moving into the city,” Keeneye said.

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“You have something. You want a package moved?” Mousethief asked.

“I actually have another problem that needs handling. My nephew, an idiot. But he is family. Arrested for dealing nip,” Keeneye said.

“If it was just that, you could figure it out,” Mousethief said tersely.

“You got me.” Keeneye held up his paws. “Was ten pounds. And he had a gun,” Keeneye replied. “I do have some key information to resolve your little fertilizer problem.”

“The nip isn’t bad, but a gun, I won’t ask where he got it, but he will be conscripted for sure. As a fox, it won’t even be a question,” Mousethief said.

“Then you showed up,” Keeneye countered and there was a staring contest. I decided to act and raised up a paw and flexed out my claws fully. Keeneye’s head snapped towards me. “No creatures were harmed, just get things reduced.”

“That I can handle. You won’t be disappointed. I will arrange it today. Now the information?” Mousethief asked.

“You are looking for a pack of dogs. They moved in a while ago. Stirring up trouble. No idea what they want the fertilizer for. But, they are armed. Possibly mercenaries,” Keeneye explained.

“And they haven’t been spotted. Dogs aren’t small creatures,” Mousethief replied.

“They operate mostly at night. The thefts are carried out by boat. That is their trick. Roll the barrels right off the dock or ship onto their little craft. Don’t know where they are hiding. But you can’t track a smell over water,” Mousethief nodded at that old saying. I retracted my claws partially and lowered my paw.

“That’s perfect. I will handle things with your nephew. A pleasure, Keeneye,” Mousethief said and got up. That was surprisingly quick, but Mousethief clearly knew what he was doing.

“Well, come back any time when you are in town. Mittens,” he said to me. I gave him a head nod back as we left his office and then out through the front of the bar.

We got back into the car and took off after I buckled up. “Now what?” I asked Mousethief.

“Well, it is clearly more than just a pack of dogs, since we are here. I will swing by the guard post, and have a word with whomever is in charge.” Guards for this city, not police. I had to mentally adjust to that. “After that, we go to the docks. The port is fairly busy, but they should strike tonight,” Mousethief replied.

“Wait, how do you know that? A skill?” I asked.

“I pulled the shipping manifests for the fertilizer shipments that were getting robbed before we showed up. The next shipment comes this afternoon, so they will strike tonight. But knowing they come by water is important, since we will need a boat to chase them. Unless you want to take them out right away?” Mousethief asked me.

“No. You are right. There is clearly something bigger at work. Taking them out now, would only alert any other creature involved,” I replied and Mousethief nodded.

“It is only due to not getting caught and the repeated large scale thefts of fertilizer that this was escalated to the open list,” Mousethief explained. He came to a screeching halt in front of the guard post. He gave me a grin and hopped out of the car.

I waited and he was back in a few minutes. No one had bother me during that time. “That was quick,” I replied.

“Mousethief knows. But I just flashed my ID and bullied my way through to get to the top of the food chain, the local Captain. After that it was easy pressuring him into reducing the charges against Keeneye’s nephew. Better to just get these things done quickly,” Mousethief replied.

“You really are good at this,” I said as we spun through an intersection, other car blaring their horns.

“Of course. We should clear this up by tomorrow. Now we go arrange a boat and then stake out the shipment arriving this afternoon.” Mousethief sped through the city and we quickly reached the docks. This life really was fast paced.

I knew this city was Greenridge, but it just sort of blended together with the other cities I had been in. It was also kind of scary how efficient Mousethief was in moving things along. While it might seem simple, the ease with which he got to the heart of these missions and the actual fighting was daunting. Once he left my side going to the snake continent or even the Great Lizard Kingdom to the East sounded like good ideas.

Figuring stuff out was not my strong suit and investing EXP in that direction felt like a waste. It wasn’t just Mes saying that I should kill, but the fact that against three Apostates, I almost lost my life. Investigation was pointless, if I couldn’t kill the creatures at the end of the investigation.

It just felt wrong for that to be the only thing I was good at, killing. I looked down at my white paws, with the claws boking out from the end of my digits. I had enjoyed gymnastics as a kid, but now that was part of my fighting as an adult. My down time had to be spent training to constantly improve.

I just didn’t know if I could keep up this pace forever. Forever seemed like a really long time. “Credit for your thoughts?” Mousethief asked me as he weaved in and out of traffic.

“Just thinking if I am good at anything other than killing. I mean I am horrible at this investigation stuff,” I replied. Mousethief chuckled and I glared at him.

“Not laughing at you, but your father said the same thing,” he replied.

“Wait, what?” I asked.

“Yes. He has a hobby, but I am sworn to secrecy,” Mousethief replied.

“What?! But I never saw him do anything,” I countered.

“It is something he would never share, the embarrassment would kill him,” Mousethief said cheekily.

“Now I have to know,” I said intently. Willing Mousethief with my eyes to tell me.

“He really would kill me. But if something were misplaced and you came across it. Ask no questions of Mousethief, and Mousethief will tell you no lies,” he replied. What could my father’s hobby be? What was that embarrassing he wouldn’t share it with his daughter.

I could tell Mousethief’s whiskers were twitching with suppressed laughter. That cheeky mouse, he truly was evil, teasing me about something like this. My mind conjured up wild possibilities. Maybe my father collected body parts? Or maybe he practiced with a knife? Then it hit me. He could be reading the Tome of the Warrior and praying to the Warrior. He was the Warrior’s Shadow after all.

But why would he want to keep such a thing a secret? It made no sense. I had to find out, the curiosity was killing me.