When we were on our way to the Marullinus Estate for the previous quest we quickly noticed that there were three large factories within the city. There were a couple of other smaller ones, but they didn't look to be as well guarded and are probably for processing consumer goods. Our main focus should be the three large ones, but looking into the others just incase might not be a bad idea. The only problem is that we don't have a good excuse for us to be looking around the factories. There aren't any quest that seems like they would take us near them and it is a lot harder to grab someone who works there since the factories are in high populated areas.
If we pick the wrong place and find nothing of value the other factories will be harder to break into. It would be a problem if I just returned to my true form in the middle of the city and just raided all the factories, wouldn't it?
{Yes, that would indeed be a problem.}
{I see you went looking into my thoughts again without saying anything.}
{You did seem to be thinking hard about something, so I wanted to know what. I didn't expect it to be something useless like that though. That may have worked, had we still been in Lofinium, but doing something like that is practically suicide here. Ugernum is within Maia's sphere of influence, even if it is on the outskirts of it. Sneaking in to steal some stuff has its own risks, but there is still a good chance of getting away with it if we're careful. But this is still a large city within the reach of the Capital, don't underestimate the city's garrison and I recall passing a military outpost when we were on our way here.}
{Alright, I get it. It was just a passing thought I had, it wasn't like I was actually going to do it. Let's look for a place to stay for now though. We can come back here later to see if there are any quest that will give us an excuse to look around the factories.}
Leaving the Guild, we look around for a nice looking inn, but most of them are packed with people. But as we finally find a decent looking inn that isn't crowded at the front we quickly find that we can't stay.
"Sorry ladies, but all my rooms have been taken. You'll have to try somewhere else if you're looking for a place to stay." The old man at the front desk says.
"Every place we've been so far has been crowded and we couldn't even get past the door. Is there some event happening soon?" Lia asks.
"Your foreigners right? Ya' may not have heard, but the previous Imperator died not too long ago and his granddaughter has recently ascended to the position of Imperatrix. As tradition dictates, every time a new member of the imperial family takes the throne, they will go around the Empire to do an inspection of all the major cities. Now normally it isn't too big of a deal that only attracts the attention of the people in the areas they visit, but this round of inspections is a little different."
"Different how?" I ask.
"Ya' see, the Imperatrix is rather young this time around, being only twenty-three. Normally she would have been the next in line as the oldest child of the previous Imperator's eldest, but her father died a couple of years ago. This is a rare occurrence, but not unheard of, however, this makes her the youngest ruler of the Empire since it's founding. But the most important part is that our young leader is quite popular with the people. Many people from across the Empire has been running around to the cities she visits. I don't really understand what they're thinking, but I suppose it's better than being disliked."
"So that's how it is, guess we'll have to try our luck elsewhere," Lia says as we turn to leave.
We decide to stop looking for a decent looking inn since they are probably all full and begin to look around the poorer areas. As we are walking through the rougher streets of the city, I can't help but get the feeling that I'm being watched. But when I look around I can't find anyone eyeing me in particular.
{Do you get the feeling we're being watched?} I ask.
{Not 'we', it's you that's being watched. I can feel someone watching with ill intent but it's directed at you. Just what did you do?}
{I don't know. Look there is an inn up ahead, we can worry about it later, let's just go and see if there is an open room. Although it looks a little run down.}
As we pushing the doors open it's a relief to know that the inside looks a little nice than the outside, even if only just a little better. But the thing that stands out the most is the several thug looking fellows, loitering around. But there is something off about them, they don't give off the same feeling that most ruffians do, rather, they feel more professional, like military personnel. And they all either surrounding a person wearing a long hooded robe or keeping an eye on them. Well, as long as they don't bother us, whatever happens, it's not our problem.
Lia finishes her talk with the old lady at the front desk and we finally manage to get a place to stay in for a while. After checking out the room we got and find that it's a lot nice than expected, Lia brings up that the husband of the lady at the desk is making food for all the guests, so we head down to the dining area, but as I turn the corner I bump into the hooded person from before, knocking them down.
"Oh sorry," I say.
But before I can do anything else those ruffian looking fellows, rush over.
Yelling at me, one of them says, "how dare you!"
Helping me the person I knocked down, another one asks, "Your Majesty, are you alright? This is why we shouldn't have chosen to stay here."
"I believe I told you not to call me that here, and I don't like the City Lord here, so I do not want to stay in their residence." Taking the hand of one of the people around here.
As they stand up, the hood falls off revealing long golden hair and shimmering golden eyes. She has incredibly fair skin as if she's never worked outside for a moment in her life.
{Oi! Quit your staring!} Lia says through the Soul Connection.
"Now then, you two, as you can probably guess from what you've just heard, I am Aurelia Lausiel the Imperatrix of the Lausiel Empire and I will have to ask you both to keep my presence here a secret."