Netori: Stealing The Hero's Party!

Chapter 800: Up All Night

Late into the night, Raven brought Garcia to his rented room above the guild building. Rumors about him and some other girl from last night were already floating, so nobody truly questioned why he was bringing another girl with him. A playboy, they assumed, and if the other woman’s words were anything to go by, nothing unusual really happened, but even this woman won’t remember much of the night.

But those were speculations, and that’s all they were. Covering their faces with hoods, the two had slipped into Raven’s room. Once inside, the hero put his belongings away and sat in a chair while urging Garcia to take a seat by the bed.

"Thank you," she said, still keeping up with her eloquence.

Making her way to the edge of the bed, she dusted it with a handkerchief before slowly and hesitantly sitting down and looking at Raven.

"I do apologize for the trouble I caused you, but you help me and I’ll make sure to get you to the other side of the tower." Clenching her coin between her thumbs, she heaved a sigh and added. "Uhmm...What’s your name? I’m sorry I didn’t ask before."

Staring back at the woman, Raven was reminded that he’d let Amedith’s name slip in front of her before. But from the looks of it, she hasn’t figured out who they were.

"I’m a mage by class; you can just call me mage."

Squinting her eyes at such a peculiar response, Garcia pondered whether she’d made the right decision by employing his help after all.

"If you say so. On the other hand, I’m Garcia Cointoss... If it wasn’t already obvious, I guess." Her last name was just as strange as Raven’s response to her question about his name. However, after a few days in Inktaus, he’d already learned that last names in this city were taken by one’s actions, position, or pure inclination towards a word.

"We should talk about how we’re going to prove your innocence instead." Trying not to reveal too much about him, Raven brought their attention back to the matter at hand. "Is there any way to prove that you didn’t do it? Do you still have any allies in the tower that can attest to your innocence or, at the very least, do something to help us from the inside?"𝙛𝒓𝓮𝙚𝔀𝒆𝒃𝓷𝒐𝓿𝙚𝓵.𝙘𝒐𝒎

"Hmm..." Taking a moment to contemplate, the elf’s eyes peered sharply through her memories. "The judge’s death hasn’t been made public, so that means one of two things. Either all devotees of Fortuna in the tower are killed, or they are trying to talk some sense into the other elects. But it could also be that they’re dead and now they want to get rid of me as well, but without letting the public know, since that would definitely cause some riots and torching by my goddess’ side."

"So we might already have allies back in the tower, or they’re dead and you’re going to be hunted until they kill you."

"Yes, and if the elects weren’t decided on votes, I’m sure they would have no problem revealing the murder or the fact that they’ve already killed Justice Dealer and Ditsy. Well...that is assuming that they’re on a warpath."

The people on both sides were needed to hold the elections, knowing that Raven figured that it was best not to touch this city or try to take over its rulership. After all, since the goddesses had such a tense relationship with one another, it’s either shake hands with one or take both of them on together to convert the faith of the people of Inktaus to Athenia. Neither option was ideal; thus, leaving the city as is, especially since they didn’t interact with the outside world much, was the best option that he had.

’I don’t wanna rule cities and kingdoms any more than I have to anyway.’ Brushing past that thought, Raven decided to inquire more about Justice Dealer and Ditsy. One was a goat beastman of many wise years, and the other a vampire undead who’d surprisingly managed to get into such a grand position of power.

Much like how Justice Host was the head of Mesmerazia’s temple, Judge Dealer was the head of Fortuna’s temple as well. Their seats were the only ones that rarely ever changed; apart from them, everyone else was at the mercy of the elections. People’s opinions often swayed here and there, and so did the chairs of elects.

As for the vampire, she owned most of the service-based establishments. A gambling house, especially, had countless people in high positions indebted to her. Nobles, landlords, and the head of their military, one way or the other, their paths aligned with hers. Not to mention her experiments. Curing diseases, studying the undead, along with the currently secret experiments on these evolved horrors, trying to gain independence and be their own keepers–gave her an essential standing as an elected official despite her background as an undead herself.

"Then there’s Ironheart–the Minotaur. He’s the muscle of our operation, and then there’s Eren–he’s a diplomat. He doesn’t look like much, but you need to be careful around him. If the devil made a deal with him, he’d have its soul instead of the other way around." The constant reminder of her coworkers was enough to give Garcia a headache. And yet she continued. "Then there’s Helm Goldtooth. In charge of taxes and the market. Uglier than a skunk and a body like a gutted cow’s stomach."

"Not much to go by then," Raven responded, but the elf had a plan.

"I can probably help you get in, and if you can just make sure that Dealer and Ditsy are fine, then we can probably move forward from there."

’Hmm... not a bad idea, but not that great either.’

"Fine, but get some rest for now. I need to be somewhere." Getting out of his chair, Raven made his way towards the exit.

"Wha-where are you going?" The sudden departure rang a siren of warning inside Garcia’s head. After the betrayal at the tower, she didn’t wanna take chances, even if her coin told her that everything would be fine.

"To meet a few friends. We’re going to need their help for this." And with that, Raven left the elf to herself, simmering in her worry and watching the door as if at any given moment the man would be back with a couple of guards behind him.

Needless to say, she didn’t get any rest that night.