Jamie stood at the front of the long wooden tables, his gaze sweeping over the ten faces watching him intently.
"Now comes the exciting part," he continued. "Let's discuss the plan."
He allowed his words to settle, the crackling of the hearth filling the brief silence. "First, I'll explain the new routine you'll all be following," Jamie began. “Except for Eliza, you will participate in morning training sessions. We used to conduct them near the village, but since its destruction, we'll need to find another suitable meeting point."
He paused, scanning the room for any signs of questions or concerns. The group exchanged glances, absorbing the new information. Amid the thoughtful silence, a hand rose hesitantly. It was Eliza.
"Boss," she called softly.
Jamie turned his attention to her, raising an eyebrow in mild surprise. Eliza rarely addressed him so formally. As the first to join the Golden Fiddle, she was more than just a subordinate; she was a trusted friend and confidante. However, both understood the importance of maintaining appearances as their company grew. With her calm demeanor and experience, Eliza was an example for the newcomers.
"Yes, Eliza?" Jamie prompted.
“May I join the training sessions as well?" she asked.
A ripple of surprise passed through the group. Jamie considered her request thoughtfully. "You can, of course," he replied. "But you don't need to. Your role doesn't require front-line combat."
Eliza offered a faint smile. "I understand," she said. "But even if I won't be on the front lines, it feels like a waste to be at Level Three and not train to defend the tavern, at the very least. I want to be prepared to protect this place."
Jamie nodded appreciatively. "Very well," he agreed. "Feel free to join us."
She inclined her head in gratitude and retook her seat.
Jamie concluded his initial briefing on the mundane matters: Detailing schedules for rest days, outlining bonus structures, and coordinating upcoming missions to combat the local monster threats.
"Now," Jamie began, his voice adopting a more serious timbre, "I want to address the newest issue we’ll have to face."
"For those who weren't present earlier," Jamie continued, "there's news circulating through the city. Earlier today, a contingent of Inquisitors arrived in Hafenstadt, the same group that had been operating in the southern cities not too long ago."
A ripple of unease passed among them. Thyra leaned forward, her golden braids slipping over her shoulders. "The ones who appeared in the news?" she asked, her eyes reflecting both concern and curiosity.
"Apparently so," Jamie confirmed. "However, none of the reports mentioned who is leading this group."
"While I don't have much information yet. It's only been a few hours since we encountered them; what I've gathered is unsettling. It appears that the one commanding the operation is known as the 'Scourge of the Gods.' He's reputed to be one of the most fervent and powerful Inquisitors in their ranks." Jamie explained.
A palpable tension gripped the room. Alonzo's usually nonchalant demeanor faltered; he exchanged a grim look with Thyra. "Fucking hell," he muttered, running a hand through his dark hair. "That man is completely crazy. He caused so much damage in the south, you just had to testify to anything, and they would act."
"Exactly," Jamie agreed, his expression stern. "His reputation precedes him. A zealot unleashed on missions of utter destruction. Which brings me to our current predicament." He met the eyes of each person at the table. "Hafenstadt doesn't seem like an obvious target for such an extreme campaign. Unless we're missing a crucial piece of the puzzle, there's more at play here than we understand."
The companions exchanged uneasy glances. Emyr fiddled with a small brass gear she’d retrieved from one of her many pockets, her fingers moving nimbly as her mind raced. Holz rested his elbows on the table, hands clasped tightly enough that his knuckles whitened. Dieter stroked his grizzled beard thoughtfully; his eyes narrowed in contemplation.
"We need to prepare for the possibility that Hafenstadt is at the center of something significant. Something that has drawn the Inquisition's attention in a dangerous way." Jamie explained
Eliza, ever composed, straightened in her seat. Her eyes flickered with determination. "What would you have us do?" she asked calmly.
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"First," Jamie replied, turning his attention to her and Thomas, who sat beside her with a stoic expression, arms crossed over his broad chest. "Eliza and Thomas, I want you both to continue focusing on accelerating the city's reconstruction efforts. If we're attacked again, whether by giants or any other threat. We need Hafenstadt to be as fortified as possible."
Thomas gave a curt nod.
Eliza added, "I'll ensure the supply chains remain uninterrupted. I'll prepare any extra gold we make to be available for loaning."
"Excellent," Jamie said.
He then turned to Bertram. "Bertram, with Thomas occupied elsewhere, I need you to oversee the protection of the tavern. This place is more than our base of operations; it is also where we produce most of our income. Your protection is crucial."
Bertram inclined his head, his expression resolute.
Jamie’s gaze shifted to Camille. "Camille, Holz, Dieter. I want you three to organize patrols throughout the city. Keep your ears to the ground. We need information. Anything that might hint at the Inquisitors' intentions or movements."
"I won't be on patrol anymore?" Aldwin asked, his brow furrowed in confusion.
"That's right," Jamie confirmed, unfurling a weathered map across the broad oak table that dominated the center of the room.
"I need you elsewhere," Jamie continued, his finger tracing a convoluted path beneath the inked streets of Hafenstadt. "This is a map of the city's underground, the sewers and hidden passages. We acquired it during our battle with the Cutpurses, though we've yet to fully explore it."
Aldwin leaned in, his eyes scanning the intricate details. Alonzo and Thyra stepped closer as well, drawn by the gravity in Jamie's voice. The air was thick with the scent of old paper, wax, and a hint of the damp earth depicted on the map.
Jamie looked up, meeting Aldwin's gaze. "Until now, we didn't have enough manpower to prioritize this. But circumstances have changed. We need to familiarize ourselves with these subterranean routes and quickly. Aldwin, you will explore them alongside Alonzo and Thyra."
Thyra's porcelain features twisted into a grimace of distaste, her icy blue eyes reflecting a spark of indignation. "The sewers?" she echoed, her voice laced with obvious repulsion.
Alonzo smirked slightly, while Aldwin straightened, accepting the assignment with a nod.
"Just one question," Alonzo interjected, his tone thoughtful rather than challenging. "What exactly are we aiming to achieve with this?"
Jamie’s gaze swept over the three of them, his expression composed. "I want you to know these passages like the back of your hand," he replied. "Tomorrow, I'm attending a tea party hosted by Maria von Hafenstadt. During our last conversation, she expressed interest in utilizing these underground routes."
"Maria? The Vice-Governor?" Thyra queried, arching a slender brow. Confusion clouded her features. "She wants to move something through the sewers?"
Jamie nodded patiently. "Maria is one of the key figures in Hafenstadt's underworld. She's deeply involved in smuggling operations. Since we dismantled the Cutpurses, her activities have been hindered. She's seeking new pathways to move her goods undetected."
Aldwin crossed his arms thoughtfully. "And we're going to support her smuggling efforts?" he asked, treading carefully.
"If she aligns herself as an ally, yes," Jamie affirmed. "Right now, neither we nor she possesses the strength to confront the Inquisitors alone. If we oppose each other, we'll both be swept off the board. But together, we might stand a chance."
Alonzo appeared uneasy with the proposition, but he chose not to voice any objections.
With most of the team assigned their tasks, only one member remained unaddressed. Gradually, all eyes turned toward Emyr. The gnome sat perched on a high-backed chair, her legs swinging freely above the wooden floorboards, boots scuffing the air in an absent-minded rhythm. She seemed blissfully unaware of the collective attention, her gaze fixed on a small mechanism she fiddled with, a complex assembly of gears and wires that clicked softly as she turned it over in her deft fingers.
"Is someone talking to me?" Emyr asked suddenly, her head snapping up as she noticed the silence. Her eyes widened beneath the oversized goggles perched atop her wild tangle of coppery hair.
"You’re the last to receive an assignment," Jamie said, a hint of amusement playing at the corners of his mouth. "Yours might be the most complex, but I think you'll enjoy it."
At this, Emyr's face lit up with unabashed excitement. She hopped onto the seat of the chair to better meet Jamie's gaze, the added height bringing her nearly eye-level with some of her taller companions. "Ooh! What is it?" she exclaimed, her voice brimming with eagerness.
Jamie took a moment to meet her expectant gaze, ensuring he had her full attention. "I need you to invent a weapon," he began, his tone measured but infused with a subtle urgency. "A device that even those with a [Common] class can use effectively. Something powerful enough to take down dozens, perhaps even hundreds, of monsters."
A hush fell over the room. Emyr's eyes widened, and she tilted her head thoughtfully, tapping a finger against her chin. "What? But if something like that were possible, it would already exist!" she protested, her brow furrowing as she considered the implications. "Creating such a weapon would be... well, exciting!"
Jamie offered a knowing smile. "That's why I believe you're the perfect person for this task."
She began muttering under her breath, rattling off materials and mechanisms, her mind already racing with possibilities. "Well, I suppose if I modified the combustion chamber... or maybe if I could stabilize the reaction using..."
Jamie chuckled softly. "Meet with me later, along with Knall," he said, referring to the dwarven alchemist. "I have some ideas that might help guide your designs."
Her face brightened even more, if such a thing were possible. "I'll be there!" she affirmed, practically bouncing on the chair. "This is going to be fun!"
Jamie turned his attention back to the group. "These are your assignments," he announced, his voice carrying a note of finality. "Let's get to work."