Empty streets are only a thing in Tovol at night, but at least this town follows common sense. Here and there are patrolling guards and sometimes I even see civils. Most of the time, however, I walk the streets alone.
'So I guess there won't be much of troubles at night....'
"He, you!" a man calls behind me.
I turn around and see three men with holstered weapons and a petrol lamp. All wear leather armor and a badge representing their belonging to the city guards.
"Show us your ID please!" the man with the lamp commands. "You don't need to worry, it's a routine check."
'Routine check.... so stuff like this even exists here, huh?'
I'm not a wanted man so I don't see any problems in having a small talk with the guards and take out my ID.
"Please have a look," I say while showing the ID.
"So the name's Ryuu, huh? Never seen you before." he states. "Are you an adventurer?"
"Yes, yes I am," I reply, smiling. "I'm traveling through the town with a friend of mine."
"Ah, lately we have a lot more adventurer here in Tovol."
"I heard so, yes."
"Anyways, be careful. It's a quiet city, bit even here it's not a good idea to roam around alone in the night."
I can't say why, but his last sentence bugs me. For a short moment it sounded more like a threat than an honest warning.
"Yes, thank you very much." I reply and take back my ID.
'I wonder whether Myrna also has such a strange meeting.'
Leaving that behind me I continue my walk to the city gates. The gates are still guarded and as last night there's light in the registration building. Since I don't know who's shift it is right now, I just wait in an alley near the house.
Minute after minute pass and turn into an hour. After two hours waiting outside, finally there seems to be a switch in the shift. Out of the building comes Liana, who now should be on her way back home.
'Ritsu has proven her innocence, but we still can't be sure about Liana.'
After all, it still could be possible that she only sends a handful of people to Ritsu's inn. I don't believe it's like that but I still have to confirm.
With quiet steps I follow her tracks through the dark night. From what I can tell she doesn't seem to be nervous or something similar.
"Iek!"
There are two shadowy figures which appeared out of nowhere. One grabs Liana from behind, keeping her mouth shut, while the other one looks around to make sure they don't get seen.
I take a few steps toward them to find out what they are up to.
"You stupid bitch. The boss is very dissatisfied with your work!" one man screams.
"Little puppy should know what will happen in the boss is unhappy, no?"
Liana seems so scream, but the man shuts her mouth very good. It's unlikely that any guard will here it.
'They have planned this sneak attack very good...'
Right before my eyes they gag her and take her with them. With a good distance I follow their steps to see where Liana is brought to. With every step we move away from the city gate, but don't walk closer to the inner city. Instead we take a walk around the wall and they stop moving in front of a big warehouse. There are two men guarding the warehouse.
"Boss is waiting for this bitch," one of those who kidnapped Liana say.
Both get in together with the kidnapped Liana, while the two guards stay outside.
After a few more minutes I also walk to the warehouse's gate.
"Stop! Who are you!" both shout, ready to draw their swords.
"I'm sorry but... that information wouldn't do you anything good." I reply with a smile.
With that, one rune appears on each body, letting both fall to the ground.
"Good night."
Snoring they lay on the ground with my active tunes hidden under they bodies. Having the guards put to sleep, I also enter the warehouse with 300 MP left.
In the middle of this big place I can see Liana tied up to a chair with three men in front of her. The two bigger men seem to be the kidnappers whom I followed to the warehouse. However, the third guy is completely unknown to me. He's smaller than the other two and probably also smaller as me.
"Who are you?" the small guy screams.
"Sorry boss, seems like he followed us."
"I told you it's too occupied there."
"I don't care whoever's fault this is," the boss replies annoyed. "Just get rid of him!"
Liana shakes her whole body, trying to let out loud screams besides the gag.
"Don't worry, little child."
the boss grabs her chin with this small hands and bends over to look into her face.
"When we're done with your friend, I will take care of you," he grins.
Both guards slowly approach me, while I watch the scene. Unfortunately I'm not sure about the relationship in detail, but it seems that she has some real problems.
"I don't want to hurt you," I say to both men. "So could you just leave this place and never come back?"
At my first sentence, both stopped for a second, but with my second sentence they burst out in laughter.
"You small fry hurting us?" one guys laughs while wiping away the tears. "Don't regret this later, kid!"
Before one of them can move, I cast another rune. To save some MP, I only cast one rune of numbness on a guard.
'Maybe the other one will stop...'
The guard left to me collapse like a sack of potatoes, while the other looks at him in shock.
"Hey, what's wrong? Get up!"
"He can't," I interjects. "His entire body is completely numb. He can't even move his lips."
"You bastard, what have you done!" the second guard screams.
With his sword drawn he approaches me fast. However, only a few steps away from me he also collapses.
"I just put numbness on your body," I reply, stepping over them.
"St....stay away!" the boss screams.
In one hand he holds a knife, pointed at Liana. In the other is a scroll.
"You can turn yourself in, anytime," I reply. "And please don't think I can't take care of that knife. Haven't you seen I took out your men without moving at all?"
I hope that he has at least a bit of sanity left in his mind.
"Bastard! I will get you!" he screams.
The scroll in his hand glows very bright and it forces me to close my eyes. In the next moment, the guy is gone without a trace, leaving the tied up Liana behind.