Gun Girl from Another World

Station

Our approach to the mayoral estate probably doesn't look nearly as impressive as it feels. There's six of us total, though we walk down the street as if daring an army to stop us. Even the two guardsmen the Captain roped into coming with us seem to feel it. After all, not only are they walking with their Captain, but with two Heroes, as well.

The sixth is, of course, Ayre. There's no way we're leaving him behind, and as a Silver-rank adventurer, he's no slouch, significantly more combat-capable than the rank-and-file village guardsmen. But to those same guardsmen, next to Leuke, Captain Anara and myself, he's an extra, no more expected to change the course of a conflict than the individual guards.

Well, if combat does break out, I imagine they'd change their impressions of him pretty fast. Ayre is as quick a shot as I am and every bit as precise. His follow-up shots are slower, of course, but not as slow as one might expect from the bow. Having not really seen other archers in action, I can't say for certain if this is normal for archers in this world or if it's an elven specialty.

And speaking of the bow, he's swapped out his traditional recurve bow for the more powerful compound bow I made for him. It only doesn't look strange on his back because of the materials used in its construction. Hand-forged steel wheels and purified abomination bone give it a much more natural look than aluminum and plastic would have appeared.

Nonetheless, we're armed for action. Like Ayre, I'm not looking to hold back with my hand crossbow. My pistol is loaded with paralysis rounds and my belt is stocked with reloads. A part of me hopes I'll be given an excuse to use them, but I very deliberately tamp that part down. These are people, no matter how twisted they may be, and I'm not here to deliver vigilante justice.

We come up on the main gate of the mayoral estate, and unlike the dismissive reception they gave to us when it was just Ayre and me, the two gate guards immediately cross their spears before the gate at the sight of us.

"Halt! State your business!"

Captain Anara has the whole procession stop, then she takes one step forward apart from the group. "Captain of the Guard and company," she announces, "here for the Mayor."

The two gate guards look to each other, but we're not attacking them and we're following protocol, so they shrug to one another and the one at the bell gives it a ring.

We continue to wait patiently until the servant arrives, and the gate guard announces, "Captain of the Village Guard and company, to see the Mayor."

The servant looks over us, girded in weapons and armor, and takes a moment to find his words. "... Do you have an appointment?"

It's asked hesitantly, as if we might come through the gate and impale him if we took offense, but I can absolutely see them using a lack of an appointment as an excuse to keep us locked out.

Anara doesn't hesitate, though. "We're here on business. Present us to the mayor immediately."

Her tone brooks no dissent, and the servant man cowers under the weight of her glare.

"Yes, Captain, at once. Please wait while I … I inform the reception …"

This, at least, she permits, giving a cursory nod to the man before he scurries off.

It's another wait, this one longer than the first, but none of us so much as fidget while we wait. Neither do the gate guards, to their credit. They may be stuck-up jerks working for a bigger jerk, but I have to admit that they're consummate professionals.

Eventually, the servant returns, looking breathless. "The Lord Mayor will see you now …" he gasps, then rings the bell. "Please, follow me …"

The guards seem hesitant to open the gate for us, but do so once they lower their spears. It obviously grates on them to allow a clearly armed force past, even one only six people strong.

For a second time, at least for Ayre and myself, we follow the servant up the path to the front doors of the main building. The second set of guards here are more ready to allow us through with the servant escorting us, and we're soon inside the estate once more.

Just like that first day, the Lord Mayor and Lady Regent are waiting for us. Just like that day, he's attentive without looking too eager, and she's lounging off to the side as if this has nothing to do with her. Of course, that doesn't mean she isn't paying very close attention, especially when the Captain's "and company" is composed of two Heroes, a Silver-rank adventurer and two extra guards, all armed and armored.

"Hero Lee, how good to see you again," he greets me directly before recognizing anyone else. "We were quite worried when you disappeared from your quarters without warning. Why, imagine the stain if it had come to pass that a Hero had been abducted while under our care! The dishonor would have been immeasurable! It does my heart good to see you safely in the care of our venerable City Guard!"

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Only then does he turn his attention to Captain Anara. "I presume that is the reason behind your visit today, Captain?"

"I'm afraid not, my Lord," Captain Anara replies diplomatically. "I regret to inform you that you are officially under investigation."

I don't think he's a good enough actor for the look of shock on his face to be anything but genuine. His cough is making a comeback, too. "In-investigation?! Whatever for?!"

"Multiple counts of embezzlement, fraud and conspiracy to commit fraud, two counts of abduction, as well as racketeering charges and libel," Captain Anara rattles off. "We will require your testimony and cooperation during this time."

Mayor Oshu is clearly having trouble processing all of this, but building behind it is an angry, purple vein pulsing in his forehead. Likely long before he has managed to put meaning to all of the words the Captain just threw at him, that vein takes precedence as he clenches his fists.

"You dare make such accusations against me?!" he demands.

"With all due respect, Lord Mayor," she retains her air of diplomacy, "it is my job to investigate any and all such charges, regardless of the esteem of those they are brought against."

"You forget your station, Captain," Lord Oshu declares, sneering through verbalizing her rank. "Perhaps I should have words with your commander. Maybe you've been elevated too quickly."

At the threat in his words, Leuke and I immediately step forward, reflexively reaching for our weapons as we place ourselves halfway between the Lord Mayor and Captain Anara.

The implication of violence causes him to take a step back from us both. "Wh-what do you think you're doing?!"

"Don't make the mistake of forgetting your station, either, Mayor," I say, not attempting the diplomatic tone Anara had held. "Threatening the Captain of the Guard for doing her job in front of two Imperial Heroes can't be a terribly honorable use of your position."

His eyes dart to Leuke at that. Is it possible he only just now realized who the swordmaster is? … Yes, I decide, reflecting on how scattered he was when I first met him, and how he clearly had no idea who Leuke was, it's entirely likely that he's only now putting it together.

The woman who looks enough like him to be his sister takes this opportunity to step over into the exchange. "Take a deep breath and control yourself, my dear cousin," Lady Noya advises him. "There is no reason to not cooperate. It is only an investigation, after all. As Hero Lee has aptly stated, the Captain is only doing her job. No doubt this is a simple matter that will see you absolved once your dutiful, adorable little Captain completes her work."

"I am gladdened to have your support, Lady Regent," Captain Anara remains diplomatic and bows as she speaks. "I shall need testimony from you, as well, given your presence during many of the events."

Rather than getting defensive, Lady Noya retains an air of grace and nobility about her as she nods. "Of course, dear, of course. I would be happy to do anything within my power to help you clear this matter up as quickly as possible. Why, I'm certain my cousin would be equally delighted to provide a room within his estate so that you can get whatever you need from us."

Said cousin doesn't look nearly so inclined, but Lord Oshu adjusts his coat and swallows his pride all the same. "Of course, Cousin, she can make use of my meeting room. It should have all of the facilities she requires."

He snaps his fingers and repeats the conjuring trick from the first day, a maidservant immediately at hand to see to his desires. "Prepare refreshments for the Captain's company, I expect this will be a lengthy endeavor."

And lengthy, it is. I lose track of how many pastries I eat, or how many pitchers of honey-water I drink, or how many times I excuse myself to the restroom. I thought the interrogations of Ayre and myself were long. I may still be sick of noble fare, but the smell still makes me hungry, and it's a better way to pass the time than sitting on my thumbs.

The guards are more hesitant than Leuke or myself to dig in, while Ayre seemingly takes just enough to be polite. The hours grow long, however, and eventually even they dip in, too. It's a credit to the staff that the tray never goes empty and the honey-water never stops flowing.

We're deep into the third hour when the gate servant arrives. "Master Guire for the Lord Mayor and Hero Lee," he announces.

The man, himself, walks in behind the servant and looks over the affairs before him. "Oh, my Lord Mayor, whatever trouble has become of you in my absence?"

Captain Anara and the mayor both stand, but it is the former who speaks. "Please excuse us, Master Guire. We are currently conducting an investigation."

"Whatever for," the merchant asks with a, if I dare say it, slightly nervous scoff. "Was someone fool enough to steal from the mayoral estate?"

I come up next to him. "Actually, Mister Guire, you might want to not go so far, yourself. I'm sure the Captain would like to speak with you, too."

Captain Anara glances to me at that, and we exchange nods, then she turns to face Guire again. "Yes, Master Guire, I believe I might. If it wouldn't be too much trouble, please wait and I can hopefully get to you shortly."

"That … shouldn't be a problem, Captain," he agrees tentatively. "I have a delivery for Lady Hero Lee. I'll just see to that while we wait."

"That would be acceptable," she permits, and turns back to the mayor while the two town guards and I escort him back to the foyer.

I'm overjoyed to receive the shipment; it's the goods from Dabun! A bright spot in an otherwise incredibly dull week! I resolve to go over it all later, but for now, we step out the door to the wagons and, before his very eyes, I empty the both of them in record time. Or, at least, I'm fairly certain no haulers have ever rivaled near-instantaneously.

Guire is gobsmacked by the display. He flexes his mouth several times before finding words. "I confess I expected, with such an order, that you had some Heroic means of storage, Lady Lee, but I did not expect it to be so … sudden. Did you not need to confirm the contents?"

"Yes and no," I admit. "I can take a closer look later, but I also have an instinctive knowledge of everything inside the storage." My face lights up. "Oh, there was even a letter! I'll have to read it later!"

The man shakes his head in disbelief. "Unfathomable," he breathes, but then rallies himself. "Lady Lee, the matter within the estate," he starts to ask.

Before he can finish phrasing his question, a messenger bearing the imperial crest comes running up the drive, presumably bypassing by rank the ceremony at the front gate.

"Urgent Imperial missive for Hero Remmi Lee!"