Once in the city, they found a hotel to feast their empty stomach. The food was quite good but the glances from the others and their whispers were irritating.
Some came to Hans' ears though less likely to hetzer's since she was busy gulping down the food. "Look at those two and the weird clothes they are wearing." Another one replied, "Yeah, those adventurers are as crazy as they get."
"Look at that shameless girl, no bottom." Another one chimed in. "How indecent!"
"Commander, the food is so good!" Hetzer exclaimed. She didn't seem to care for the comments of others. Though Hans looked a bit uneasy.
"Let's eat quickly and go return the golds to the guild." Hans whispered leaning close to the girl in front.
Hetzer nodded and started to gulp down the food in her plate. "Hey eat slow or you'll choke." Hans warned, but the girl showed no sign of slowing down.
Surprisingly she was able to quickly finish the food without choking on it. "See commander, I have no trouble eating fast." She declared proudly.
After eating Hans paid the bills with a tiny portion of the food they looted from the thieves earlier and made their way to the guild.
Inside the guild was again those stinking adventurers, who Hetzer was afraid of while Hans looked at with disdain.
When they reached the reception desk Hans and Hetzer saw some people who seemed like city officials probably, talking to the earlier receptionist woman.
Going closer Hans heard that they indeed were city officials and were terminating some request. Going closer he confirmed that they were terminating the earlier request for looted gold.
The woman was arguing with the officials that some adventurers have already taken the quest. Terminating it now will be a loss for both party.
Some nearby adventurers whispered, "Huh, again the city council is at it." Another joined in, "Yeah they always do things like that. Ripping off adventurers, despicable."
Listening to them Hans understood the condition and why previously no one had taken those quests. Some other thought also came into Hans' mind.
Maybe the mayor of the city was involved with the loot and was using the adventurers guild as a ruse to cover his traces. However, that was not something Hans or Hetzer needed to bother.
"Umm, ma'am, what's wrong? Has the mayor changed the request?" Hans asked acting oblivious and completely ignoring the city officials.
"Who are you?" One of the two officials, a middle aged man, asked. Clearly he felt disrespected how Hans butted in.
"These two are the adventurers that took your request." The woman introduced, "They are new adventurers."
The officials looked at them with a bit of curiosity and contempt. "So, have you completed the request and brought back the gold?" He asked.
Hans and Hetzer looked at each other and from Hetzer's expression, eyes lit up, face puffing with pride, it seemed she had already decided to brag about their success. So before she could say Hans interjected.
"No, we haven't. When we saw the number of thieves and their cave hideout, we decided we alone cannot do it."
"Huh, that's what we thought," the official replied looking not so surprised. "Go buy some equipments and train a bit more before going on adventures."
Then he turned around and looked the receptionist woman, "So, since they haven't completed the task, there is no problem if we pull the request back right?" The official asked.
"Yes, there is no problem." The women replied letting out a sigh.
"Then that settles it." The official said and then left with the other person he came along with.
After they left, the woman looked at Hans and Hetzer with piety, "Sorry, this is how they are. They either make excuses to not pay the adventurers or outright cancels the request mid way."
"Shouldn't you have told us that earlier?" Hans frowned at the woman. He was angry for this act. But inside he was still happy that he had hidden the fact that they did indeed complete the mission.
The woman bowed, "Pardon me, the city has placed strict restrictions on telling new adventurers about this."
"Then why are you telling us now?" Hans' eyebrows furrowed deepened with curiosity. Hetzer also looked at the woman questioning with her eyes silently.
"Because now whether I say it or not you already got the idea about how it is. So I can deny ever telling you." She straightened again, "Most adventurers here do this. They don't talk about it and deny ever hearing anything from us."
"Huh, what a waste of time." Hans sighed and gave up. Since he has already made profits, he decided to let the matter go and walk away with Hetzer following him.
He had decided no more adventures for today. Once they came outside, Hetzer stood in front of him pouting and both her hands on her waist.
"Commander, why didn't you tell them we have accomplished the mission?" She was not happy at this development, "Clearly they'd have to pay us the fee if we told them."
Hans sighed, annoyed that Hetzer couldn't understand this simple fact. So he explained somewhat.
"They were not planning to pay us in the first. Didn't you see they were there to pull out the request?"
Hetzer thought for a second and nodded as if she understood now. "Wow, commander is so smart."
Hans sighed and shook his head giving up, he followed by Hetzer walked towards their inn.
But after taking a few step, some people blocked their way and stood in front of them. Looking at them Hans felt suspicious.
They were wearing some steel armour and wielded some ancient weapons like swords and bows and some long staff. The people in front of them were two women and a man.
The man spoke completely ignoring Hans and looking straight at Hetzer, "Hey, you know we are a top ranking adventurer's party. So why don't you join us?"
Looking at their gazes fixed on her, Hetzer hid behind Hans. Hans on the other hand, stood firmly between these unwanted people and Hetzer.
"Can I help you ladies and gentleman with something?" He said coldly with a smear.
"Huh! who are you?" the man said giving a disdainful glance at Hans. "Don't you know the rules? Juniors must not speak to seniors unless spoken to."
Hans' stomach churned at the word 'senior'. He decided to push back. Unlike the IS-2 tanks at the eastern front, these people looked almost feeble.
"You spoke to my people without consulting me." Hans said definitively, "So I must intervene."
"Haha, it seems you don't know who I am. Let me tell you," his voice showed clear arrogance. Hans understood that whoever this guy was, he was clearly some big shot.
"I am Garrick, the wyvern hunter. An A rank adventurer." He boasted. "No one has even declined me. See these two girls with me? They had also joined me after leaving their old companions."
The man Garrick took a step forward and stood close to Hans but addressed Hetzer, "Now why don't you be a good missy just like them and join me?"
Hans didn't budge an inch as Garrick invaded his personal space. The boast of being an A-rank 'wyvern hunter' meant little to a man who had faced down T-34s.
If anything, the claim only solidified Hans's disdain. This was just another bully, albeit one with better credentials.
Before Hans could deliver a cold retort, Hetzer's voice piped up from behind him, laced with a confusion that was both genuine and dangerously naive.
"But… why would Hetzer leave the commander?" she asked, peeking around Hans's arm to look directly at Garrick. "The commander is the best! He cleans Hetzer's tracks and loads her shells and never, ever leaves her behind. Can you do that?"
Garrick looked at the girl for once. "He does what?!" He couldn't understand anything. "Tracks? Shells? What are those things?!"
He looked confused and tried to reach out his hands towards Hetzer but Hans stood firmly and slapped his arms away.
Feeling insulted, garrick brought out his sword, while the two girls behind him also readied their arms, one her bow and arrows while the other her staff.
"Hey, don't scratch the girl. I want her without any scars." He said without looking back at them.
Hans slightly twisted his head, "Now Hetzer, we are in a city. So let's not use the main gun or the MG without restraints okay?" He said sarcastically and seriously.
His hands also reached out to his Walther P-38. Once he pulled it out, the other party laughed. An intense fight was about to begin.