Tatsu: "So, remind me again why you insisted on accompanying me?"
Tamina: "His highness wishes it that all of Irumina's comrades make it to the castle safely, the rest of your group is with my royal knights, so I haven't any doubts that they will be unharmed. You, on the other hand, insisted on shopping before your arrival, so I am here to make sure nothing happens."
Tatsu: "I am perfectly capable of handling myself, thank you very much."
Tamina: "Yes, I'm sure, but think about it from the perspective of the vendors. Remember what you look like to anyone who sees your scar. Your getup isn't doing you any favors either."
Tatsu sighed: "Yeah, you've got a point."
Looking around at the stalls, it's no wonder this city is called the "business capital of the Ankoku empire" every shop here was chock full of everything from common ores like cuprite bars to ultra rare items like skill scrolls. The streets are crowded with common folk, traders, and adventurers, some of them are even there as supply lines for other stalls. It truly was a marvel to walk through these bustling streets. It kinda reminds me of a mall.
???: "Hey! Stop there, thief!"
A vendor pointed at Tatsu and proclaimed such.
Tatsu: "you mean me?"
Vendor A: "Who else would I mean? I know you took a bar of my ferrumite from the table! Admit it! I demand that you return it! And while you're at it, you ought to beg for mercy so that I don't claim your life!"
The vendor looked to be in his thirties or forties, he was quite muscular, he was likely in a profession that required physical labor before he became a merchant. But shortly after he spoke, some of the other vendors cried out as well.
Vendor B: "Hey, I think he took some of my goods too!"
Vendor C: "I think I'm missing a bag I had for sale!"
Vendor D: "That kid took my prized magic item! There it is on his hip!"
Wait, what? Are they talking about my sword? Don't tell me they're making crap up to get at my stuff. It's fine though, I know what'll shut them up.
Tatsu: "Look here, I'm no thief! I've got a card registered with the adventurer's guild!"
Vendor A: "I don't buy it. I'll bet the damn thing is fake! Maybe you stole it from another adventurer!"
All around him, there were whispers of disdain, disgusted expressions glared at him like daggers. Some of the other adventurers had their hands on their weapons. Slowly, their whispers turned to loud jeering and insults.
???: "Get out of our kingdom!"
???: "Our great country has no place for scum like you!"
???: "honestly, why hasn't someone taken his head already?"
???: "Disgusting. Who'd want rat blood on their blade?"
Tatsu: "W-Wait, I'm not…"
Is this for real? I mean I knew those of the thief class are hated, but is this really how they're treated? I haven't been barraged like this since… I forgot how awful it feels. I can't even bring myself to raise my head. I know I've done nothing wrong, but…
Tamina: "That's quite enough of this farce!"
From behind Tatsu, Tamina came to his aid.
Tamina: "I can verify that Tatsu's guild card is nothing short of authentic. And look there, sir vendor, the bar of which you claim to have had stolen. It has merely fallen off of your table!"
Pointing at a bar of ore by one of the legs of the table, Tamina picked it up and presented it to the vendor. She then gestured towards the other three merchants.
Tamina: "Furthermore, you three vendors there! From the entire time we passed you, the amount of product upon your table never changed, except for, of course, the goods you stashed under your table after we walked by. Maybe it's because of your outlandish prices, or maybe it's the pitiful condition of the merchandise you sell, but not one of you has sold anything for the entire time that I've been observing."
Vendor A: "I see… ahem."
There was an awkward pause, but then the merchant spoke once more.
Vendor A: "So h-how 'bout it, kid, anything you'd like to buy? I dislike bartering, so full p-priced is the only way to buy here."
Tamina spoke, clearly livid: "After all of the crap that just happened, you would dare to do something as audacious as that? Apologize for your accusations first dammit! What the hell is wrong with you! As heir to the throne of the Ankoku empire, I demand that you--"
Tatsu: "That's enough, Tamina."
Tamina: "but he's--"
Tatsu smiled at the vendor: "Tell me, friend, for how much did you say you'd be willing to part with that bar of ferrumite?"