"Very well," Maria said, her voice filled with genuine curiosity. "And how might I assist you?"

Jamie leaned forward in his velvet-upholstered chair, his gaze steady upon her. "I need access to your network of contacts outside the city," he explained.

Maria arched a slender eyebrow, a hint of intrigue lighting her eyes. "Alright," she replied smoothly. "But to whom are you referring specifically?"

"A bishop or archbishop who isn't affiliated with the Inquisition," Jamie said. "Someone trustworthy, and preferably someone who won't mind that we're... Otherworlders."

She studied him thoughtfully. "May I ask why you require such a person?" she probed gently.

Jamie took a deep breath. "I have scant information regarding the Lost God," he began, his tone earnest. "But it seems that this deity is connected to everything that's happening. The surge in Monster Rushes, even our abrupt return to our world. Only high-ranking clerics can commune directly with the gods, and I believe they might provide the answers we need."

Maria leaned back gracefully, fingertips lightly tapping the armrest of her chair carved with intricate floral designs. "I see," she murmured. A pensive silence hung between them as she contemplated his words. Outside, the distant murmur of the bustling city served as a gentle backdrop to their conversation.

"Do they need to be from a specific god?" Maria asked.

"Hmmm. The God of War or the Goddess of Magic seems the most trustworthy. I'd avoid the God of Mischief," Jamie explained.

[The God of Mischief shook his head.]

[The God of Mischief explains that he would tell the truth. Or not.]

After a moment, she nodded. "If you can assist me with establishing a secure passage through the sewers, I believe I can reach out to such a Bishop," she offered.

Jamie allowed a faint smile. "That was already part of my plan," he admitted. "Since you've asked me a question, may I pose one in return?"

She inclined her head, a subtle smile playing on her lips. "By all means."

"Why engage in smuggling?" Jamie inquired. His eyes searched hers, not with judgment, but with genuine curiosity.

Maria's expression shifted, a shadow of weariness crossing her face. "The city is in default," she confessed softly. "The governor squanders resources and imposes crippling taxes, yet does little to support the people. The only profitable enterprise is the Arcane Tower and its magical artifacts. However, many of these items need materials that are heavily taxed or outright banned by the Empire."

She glanced toward the window. "Smuggling has become a necessity," she continued. "A means to bypass restrictions and keep commerce alive."

Jamie nodded in understanding. "Have you considered persuading the guards to turn a blind eye? Perhaps through... incentives?"

She returned her gaze to him, a wry smile tugging at the corner of her mouth. "A few, perhaps," she acknowledged. "But some commanders are steadfast in their duties. Their pride and sense of honor make them impervious to bribes, and they hold significant sway over their peers. It's a barrier not easily overcome."

"I see," Jamie mused thoughtfully. "Well, as I mentioned, I already have a team exploring the subterranean passages. They're investigating some maps. We should be able to restart your operations by next week."

"Excellent," Maria responded, a glimmer of relief evident in her eyes. She reached into a drawer of the ornate writing desk beside her, retrieving a slender card embossed with the emblem of her house. She extended it toward him across the table. "This card will grant you access to the mansion at any time. You may use it yourself or entrust it to one of your associates to liaise directly with my team."

They clasped hands firmly before Jamie rose from his seat.

Just as he was about to step through the door, a thought struck him. He turned back to Maria. "By the way, how is Vivi?" he asked.

Maria's expression shifted to one of mild surprise once more. "She is doing well," she replied.

"It was you who found her, wasn't it?" Jamie inquired, his gaze steady and probing.

A faint, proud smile touched Maria's lips. "My network of connections is vast," she said confidently.

"Perhaps we can arrange another exchange," Jamie suggested. "I'm uncertain, but I believe that after our return, more people were brought from Earth."

Stolen content warning: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences.

"How do you know this?" Maria asked, curiosity gleaming in her eyes.

"I'm not certain," Jamie admitted. "It's just a hypothesis. When I was being transported, I thought I saw my sister being brought over, or at least, I think I did."

"Your sister?" Maria echoed, her interest clearly piqued.

"Yes," Jamie confirmed. "Could you find her?"

"Perhaps," Maria mused. "Tell me more."

The two of them spent the next hour engaged in conversation, sharing information and exploring possibilities. They delved into details about their experiences and connections, each offering insights that could aid the other.

As the evening waned, Jamie finally took his leave, departing the gathering alongside Thomas.

--

With the alliance officially formed, members of Maria's team began to frequent the Golden Fiddle. They came often, sometimes to share bits of information, other times to check on the progress of the sewer exploration. Despite their efforts, the project was still in its initial stages.

One crisp morning, the group was making their way toward the old clearing they used for training

Aldwin walked beside Jamie, reporting on their recent findings. "The sewer is... strange," Aldwin began, a note of perplexity in his voice. "It's vast and ancient. Perhaps as old as the city itself, or even older. There are hundreds upon hundreds of passages. It reminds me a lot of what we'd imagine a dungeon to be, yet we haven't encountered any monsters, at least not in the areas we've explored so far."

Jamie furrowed his brow, considering this. "Then what's making it so slow or dangerous?" he asked, not fully grasping the challenge they faced.

Aldwin glanced at him. "It's constructed almost like a labyrinth," he explained. "It's incredibly easy to get lost. The passages twist and turn without any apparent logic. And many routes depend on the water levels. Sometimes, the path you planned to take is completely flooded, rendering it impassable."

"I see," Jamie acknowledged thoughtfully. "That does complicate matters."

Jamie and Aldwin continued their walk through the forest, the canopy overhead filtering sunlight into scattered, dappled patterns on the leaf-strewn ground.

Upon reaching the clearing, a spacious meadow surrounded by towering oaks, they found only Thomas waiting for them.

"Will the newbies find this clearing?" Aldwin asked, glancing back toward the forested trail.

"If they follow the path I outlined, they should," Thomas replied confidently. "I gave them step-by-step directions."

Minutes passed as they waited, during which Bertram, Camille, and Eliza arrived, each greeting the others with smiles and nods. Soon after, two of the novices, Thyra and Alonzo, emerged from the trees, their voices carrying ahead of them.

"I told you we should have taken the path through the village," Thyra declared, a hint of exasperation in her tone.

"And I told you that the village no longer exists," Alonzo retorted, rolling his eyes. The two had been bickering since early morning, their friendly rivalry evident to all.

The last pair to arrive were Dieter and Emyr. Dieter stumbled into the clearing, his cheeks flushed and sweat beading on his forehead. "I thought we'd be stuck in that forest forever," he exclaimed, his voice tinged with dramatic despair.

Emyr glanced at him with a mix of annoyance and surprise. "Were you following me?" she asked, her expression perplexed.

"Of course! I said we should go together," Dieter replied indignantly.

"Oh! So that's what I heard earlier," Emyr said, smacking her forehead playfully. "Sorry, I didn't realize. I must not have been paying attention."

Dieter widened his eyes, momentarily at a loss for words. "You... you didn't hear me?" he stammered.

Emyr shrugged sheepishly. "Guess not."

Jamie watched the interactions with a faint smile but soon turned his attention back to the group. 'Just one more to go,' he thought, scanning the edge of the clearing. But as minutes ticked by, there was still no sign of Holz.

'Did he give up?' Jamie wondered, a frown creasing his brow.

"Thomas, can you start the training with them?" Jamie asked, decision firming in his mind. "I'm going to head back and look for Holz."

"Yes, sir," Thomas responded promptly, clapping his hands to gather everyone's attention. "Alright, let's begin with a warm-up run!"

Just as the group was about to set off, a figure emerged from the shadows of the forest. Holz stumbled into the clearing, his clothes disheveled and stained with dirt and leaves. Dark circles underscored his eyes, which were wide with a mix of fear and exhaustion.

"Holz?" Jamie called out, concern evident in his voice as he approached the young man. "Are you alright?"

Holz shook his head slowly, his gaze unfocused. "I don't know," he whispered hoarsely. "I don't know who else to turn to."

Sensing the gravity of the situation, Jamie raised a hand to halt the training. The chatter and movement ceased as all eyes turned toward them. Eliza and Thomas exchanged a glance before making their way over, their expressions mirroring Jamie's concern.

"Tell me what's happened," Jamie urged gently, placing a reassuring hand on Holz's shoulder.

Taking a shaky breath, Holz began to speak, his words tumbling out in a rush. "Since yesterday, my wife hasn't come home," he said, his voice thick with emotion. "She works at a mansion. One with all sorts of rumors about it. It's always been dangerous, but she... she always returned before."

He paused, swallowing hard as tears welled in his eyes. "They say that if someone doesn't return by the next day, you might as well look for their body at the pier."

A heavy silence settled over the group, the weight of his words sinking in.

Jamie didn't know what to say, but he needed to calm Holz down. From the moment he joined the team, his image and actions had been tied to everyone else's. If he made a hasty decision, it could affect all of them.

Jamie took a steadying breath, choosing his words carefully. "Holz, I know you're scared, but we need to handle this carefully," he said firmly. "Acting rashly could make things worse. Can you tell me who she works for?"

Holz's jaw clenched, a flash of fear crossing his face. "Lucius," he spat. "Lucius Combs."

If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know < report chapter > so we can fix it as soon as possible.