Year: 1738
Date: 29
Month: Solaris
Time: 7:00 AM
[Ren Hilton's POV]
"So, what's happening?" I asked the beastman guard in front of me as he scrutinized me with uncertainty in his gaze.
"Nothing... Can you hand me your identification documents?" He asked, surprisingly polite for a beastman.
"Here." I pulled out my guild ID and handed it to the guard. He took it from me and went to consult with another higher-ranking guard, stealing occasional glances in my direction.
I stepped aside from the line and sat on a wooden bench. I didn't want to disrupt the queue just for myself.
"We didn't do anything illegal during our stay in Reva Kingdom, right, Smokeball?" I inquired, as Smokeball peered out of my small tote bag hanging on my shoulder. A young neko girl nearby squealed in excitement, pointing at the black cat in my bag and tugging on her mother's sleeve.
"Well, we did steal an expensive boat as soon as we reached Prowlers' Cove, and we also trespassed into a prestigious hotel where you attempted to harm a fellow guild master... But other than that, nothing illegal," Blaze replied sarcastically.
True, I hadn't exactly left a trail of evidence behind after those incidents.
Currently, we were at the border of Reva Kingdom, on the way to the Kingdom of Grav. Ever since my encounter with Alver, I had been feeling a bit homesick and eager to leave this kingdom.
We had taken various routes to travel from Prowlers' Cove to this point, attempting to be as swift as possible. However, as I was about to depart the kingdom, I encountered an unexpectedly large number of guards at the border crossing. It seemed excessive for a peace treaty. So, I joined the queue, but when it was my turn, something unexpected happened.
The guard looked at me and then... paused. And now, here I am, waiting for whatever is going to happen next.
As I sat on the wooden bench, the moments stretched on, and I grew increasingly impatient. The guards seemed to be engaged in a serious discussion about something, occasionally casting furtive glances in my direction. I couldn't help but feel a sense of unease, wondering what could be causing this delay.
*Tap tap*
I heard footsteps.
Finally, the guard returned, my guild ID in hand. He approached me with a more serious expression, his brows furrowed. I stood up, preparing myself for whatever news awaited me.
"Sir, we have received information that raises concerns regarding your recent activities in Reva Kingdom," the guard began, his tone grave. "We will need you to accompany us for further questioning."
I raised an eyebrow in surprise. "Concerns? What activities are you referring to?"
The guard hesitated, exchanging a brief glance with his companion before responding. "I'd have you to follow us to our higher ups."
I sighed inwardly, realizing the gravity of the situation. It seemed that my recent actions had not gone unnoticed after all. But how had they gathered this information so quickly? The network of eyes and ears in this kingdom must be more efficient than I had anticipated.
"I assure you, I don't know what you are on but I think there's a misunderstanding," I said calmly, trying to maintain composure.
The guard's gaze softened slightly, but he remained cautious. "We will need you to come with us to the local authorities. They will conduct a thorough investigation and determine the appropriate course of action."
I nodded, understanding that resisting would only escalate the situation further. "Lead the way then."
As I followed the guards, the neko girl who had been watching us earlier continued to stare, her eyes wide, she hid behind her mother.
'Should I fucking kill the guard and... hop to the other side of the border? I can even escape prison if it comes to that,' I began contemplating my options.
'that's not possible princesse.' Blaze sighed.
*Tap tap*
I heard footsteps approaching.
"..."Finally, the guard returned, holding my guild ID. He approached me with a more serious expression, his brows furrowed. I stood up, bracing myself for whatever news awaited me.
"Sir, we have received information that raises concerns regarding your recent activities in Reva Kingdom," the guard began, his tone grave. "We will need you to accompany us for further questioning."
I raised an eyebrow in surprise. "Concerns? What activities are you referring to?"
The guard hesitated, exchanging a brief glance with his companion before responding. "I will have to ask you to follow us to our superiors."
I sighed inwardly, realizing the gravity of the situation. It seemed that my recent actions had not gone unnoticed after all. But how had they gathered this information so quickly? The network of informants in this kingdom must be more efficient than I had anticipated.
"I assure you, there seems to be a misunderstanding," I said calmly, trying to maintain my composure.
The guard's gaze softened slightly, but he remained cautious. "We will need you to come with us to the local authorities. They will conduct a thorough investigation and determine the appropriate course of action."
I nodded, understanding that resisting would only escalate the situation further. "Lead the way, then."
As I followed the guards, the neko girl who had been observing us earlier continued to stare, her eyes wide with curiosity. She hid behind her mother, as if unsure of what was happening.
They then led me to a nearby office, its atmosphere filled with the scent of ink and paper. The office appeared ordinary, with several individuals diligently engrossed in their paperwork. The sound of scratching pens and shuffling papers created a symphony of bureaucratic efficiency.
As we entered, a young woman in a neat uniform hastily passed by, her steps hurried as she struggled to balance a tall stack of papers. It was a precarious task, and a few sheets slipped from the top, fluttering through the air before landing on the floor. My eyes caught sight of the exposed criminal posters that lay scattered on the ground.
Among the posters, I managed to glimpse three, although two were flipped upside down, obscuring their contents from my view. The visible poster depicted a fearsome-looking beastman, a half-tiger hybrid named Tiga. It was evident from the generous reward offered—120 gold coins—that Tiga was a high-value target, wanted by the authorities for his alleged crimes.
Curiosity tugged at me, urging me to sneak a peek at the hidden image beneath the flipped posters, but I resisted the temptation. This was neither the time nor the place for such actions. I needed to focus on the matter at hand.
"Follow me," the guard directed, pointing towards a specific room adorned with a brass nameplate. He approached the door and rapped on it with a sense of purpose, the sound echoing through the office. My attention was immediately drawn to the subtle movements and hushed voices emanating from within the room, adding an air of intrigue to the situation.
The door swung open, revealing two figures inside the room. My eyes widened in disbelief as recognition dawned upon me.
What the fuck is she doing here? I thought, my mind was instantly filled with questions and confusion.
"Is this Ren Hilton, the human in question?" the female knight standing before me inquired, her gaze fixed upon me. Beside her, a beastman with rabbit-like features nodded in affirmation.
The knight, Amelia, possessed striking features that were hard to forget. Her piercing emerald eyes held a glint of determination, complemented by flowing golden locks that cascaded down her shoulders. The long, pointed ears signified her elven heritage, a race known for their grace and wisdom.
Amelia served as the personal guard knight of Princess Elsa, which made her presence in this situation all the more perplexing. According to the game's storyline, Amelia was supposed to join Elsa at the academy a month from now, as she had been late to her duties. So why was she here, confronting me at this moment? The pieces of the puzzle did not fit together.
"Hmm... Now that I think about it, the rabbit guy also looks quite familiar, as if I've seen him before," I murmured to myself, trying to find a place where I had encountered him.
"Y-y-yes! He is the one!" the rabbit-like beastman suddenly exclaimed, pointing an accusing finger at me.
"Ohhh! I know him! He's the person who gave the horse to Devon!" Blaze chimed in, adding to the confusion. So, am I being caught because Devon stole someone else's horse?
Click.
The door behind me swung open once again, revealing several more individuals entering the room. Their presence did not bode well, and I could feel the tension in the air.
"Why are you here?" William blurted out from the behind of his superior.
It's surprising to see him here However, something that caught my attention amidst the chaos was... I couldn't help but notice the name badge on William's uniform, which read "William Stales."
The source of this c𝐨ntent is freewe(b)nov𝒆l