We are in my base. Russell and Dawson are in complete and understandable surprise and shock that I brought them here without notice.
"Where did you take us?!" Dawson asks.
"Is the safest spot in the whole word." I explain. "Any of those soldiers could be a traitor, seeing what happened with the ones that were positioned outside the townhall."
"But still... Taking us by force like that is almost like kidnapping!"
"I-I need to agree... I cannot recognize this place... I don't see any trees!" Russell ads.
"You can just use that stone in the middle to return at any time. But no one can get you two here." I answer.
This is the safest spot, anyway. Even if Oswald knows how to arrive, he will have a hard time doing it and it would be a desperate attempt that would end in failure.
"Amber!" Leiva comes out of the house.
"Aren't you one of the teachers at the school?" Dawnson asks her.
"Ah... Yes! M-mayor Russell, Ms. Dawnson... Why are you two here?!" She flinches back when she recognizes them.
"Amber brought us." Russell answers. "I don't feel comfortable with being thrown into this... Random spot on the trifecta knows where by a stranger!"
"Look, as I said, you can just leave at any point through that stone. Isn't that how the Link System works?" I ask Russell.
"W-well, yes! But I agree with Dawson, you should have asked first!" He answers.
I rolled my eyes, a gesture that neither liked.
"I cannot afford to leave one of my party members to take care of you two and if someone is trying to kill you two using the guard, then I cannot do much for your safety other than this."
I move towards the stone and place my hand on it.
"You are free to return. I am just offering my security." I comment.
"What is happening in town?" Leiva asks.
"Probably a coup." I answer and teleport myself back into town.
**************************************
Back in town, I make my way to the inn, moving as quickly as I can to ensure neither Aurelia or Lisa wait for me for too long.
"They don't trust you." Karina comments. "Was it a safe bet to take them to our base?"
"I mean, they would be dead otherwise. I have zero trust in the guards now."
The news of what happened in the townhall seems to have spread through the town. I can see more guards moving around town than when we arrived. They will probably bring in soldiers from outside of the town.
Which one to trust? The ones that came before I took the Mayor and his rival out seemed to be cooperative. But the rest were planning something. Maybe there are people that are in favor of Oswald while others don't have a clue on what is happening, or something else is happening here.
The slums are a big contrast with the rest of the town. The streets are just dirt, the houses seem to be made with random materials found around the place, and there is a disgusting smell in the air.
"I cannot smell but I do whatever is in the air." Karina comments while we are passing by.
"Not surprised. We were in the richest parts of town." I explain. "You need to be a citizen to be able to get a house inside of the rest of town. If not, just find your spot here or outside the walls."
I, basically, did it outside of the walls.
The federation recognizes citizens and not citizens. Between them are adventurers. Anyone can enter town and use the services, but you cannot live unless you are a citizen.
How do you become a citizen? You pay, or fall into debt with town and pay monthly with your salary.
But that brings other responsibilities, ones that some people don't like. This is like mandatory service in the militia and military, fines, taxes.
The slums are free of taxes. In exchange, it is poorly maintained.
"What the hell is a Mashtuk, anyway?" Karina asks when I find the sign of the inn.
"I have no idea. Seems like a word someone threw together just to have a name." I answer.
I wonder if Aurelia and Lisa already were here.
CRASH!
Someone gets thrown off through one of the windows of the inn, taking the shards of glass with him on their way down to the dirt.
Is a guard! At least, he is dressed like one.
"I guess yes, she is in there." Karina says.
"Ah!" I hear Lisa scream from inside as commotion begins to stir up.
"Fuck!" I curse in anger and I quickly make my way inside.
When I go in, I see Aurelia and a group of soldiers facing each other. What the hell happened here? Are these enemies?
In a corner, there is a bald man, bleeding from the top of his head, with Lisa casting a healing prayer on him to heal his wound.
"Aurelia!" I call her, waiting for an answer.
"Boss! You got in here just as the fun is starting!" She smiles when she sees me. "I caught these guys trying to extort information from the inn keeper!"
"We were told they would deal with the dragon woman!" One of the guards says.
"And now the vulpin is here!" What do we do?!" Another says.
The third one is looking at the door behind me. I can see him shaking.
"Fuck this! Oswald did not pay me enough! I am out!" He screams and attempts to run past me.
As he gets close to me, I cast [Vines]. With relentless force, the spell catches him and pins him to the ground.
"Then I guess you would be willing to talk." I saw, looking down at him.
He whimpers when I look down, and takes a step forward.
"Aurelia, can you take care of them? I might need to get some information." I order her.
"On it, boss!" She answers, and throws herself at the guards.
I kneel before the tied soldier, who is trying to escape from the spell.
"Now, how about you share some information with us?" I ask him while smirking. "If the pay was not enough, then we can get a deal here."