I met Ron back at the inn and had a quick meal with him before I began to pack a bag with things. I packed my spare pair of clothing, plenty of rations, and some rope I'd bought magically enchanted to be stronger. By the end of my packing, the bag was looking far too big for my liking so I headed out to the place that rented spatial bags and other magical items.
It was a risk since I would have to pay for it if I lost or damaged it and spatial bags weren't cheap, but I'd be careful. Besides, to the eye, it looked like any other bag. If we came across loot I wanted to be able to carry more than just a few bits.
After that, It was back to the Inn for some more food and sleep. I wondered about what we'd find tomorrow. From what the bounty had said it seemed like something or maybe a group had attacked. Maybe it was bandits or monsters or maybe something else. I still wasn't completely familiar with this world. I just knew the basics and had enough background knowledge that I didn't look suspicious.
Ron went to his perch on the roof while I settled down for a peaceful night's sleep.
*****
"Is that it?" I asked Lex as I walked over to the table. Karra's was fairly empty at this hour, just before sunrise, although there were a few early risers.
"Spatial ring," he said, holding up a hand. "Renting it from the guild armory. After that job we did, I got a few bonuses."
I nodded. Renting a spatial ring cost more, significantly more, and was riskier. A ring would be far more of a target than an average-looking bag that could be stuffed beneath some armor or shirt. Although maybe he had an illusion enchantment on it that could be activated.
"And you?" He asked.
"Spatial bag," I said, taking a seat. I waved at the only server up. She walked over and I ordered from bean brew, the coffee of this world. As I waited I chatted with Lex. "Tenna not here?"
"She'll be here soon," Lex said. "I'm surprised you managed to get her to go along with this. She's never been one for adventuring, not like this."
I shrugged. "The dungeon's closed for a few days, the reward for the bounty is good, and maybe she wants to get out."
"It is a lot," he said, his eyes glittering with obvious greed. "We could each get more than 6 gold. Plenty for…" He trailed off. "Never mind."
The server returned with my brew and unlike on Earth, I didn't need to wait for it to cool down. This world had magic and the cup of coffee was at the perfect temperature. We chatted a bit more until Tenna finally arrived. Similarly to me, she had a spatial bag, and her clothes were faultily similar to her dungeon gear, save for her boots.
"Both of you ready?" Tenna asked.
"You know I am," Lex said. "Which reminds me. Am I leading this?"
"Who else knows the surrounding area as well as you do," Tenna said. "I've brought a detailed map as well. We're gonna need to decide our course of action. Which area do we start at first, and how do we go about this."
She laid it down on the table, and we began to go over it.
"Six attacks," I said and Tenna pulled out a marker and put a cross on each location. "The largest is the lumber business, with the rest just livestock killings. Does the bounty say whether or not the animals were eaten or just left to die?"
"Some were eaten, others not," Tenna said. "The lumber mill is the exception. Everyone who worked there just up and vanished. No blood, just a lot of destruction." She placed a circle around the lumber area, and a question mark.
"I think we can take a few stops on some of the farms on our way to the mill," I said, my mind going into planning mode. If there was one thing I was naturally good at, it was planning, and figuring things out. My dad had always told me I had a knack for it and should use it for something worthwhile. I was finally doing so.
"Seems like a good idea," Lex said. "Maybe we can stake out a few potential targets. When was the last attack."
"Three days ago," Tenna said. "They kill a lot of the livestock. So, maybe we mark all potential targets, but there are lots of farmsteads around."
"Maybe there's a pattern to it," I said, moving my gaze over the map. I traced a finger from site to site until something clocked. "Hold on, look, it started here south of the city, but it's been moving progressively north. Here hand me the pen." Tenna handed it over and marked a line between all six.
"Oh," Lex said, leaning forward. "But why? If it was a large group, then it might make sense, but killing all that livestock and only eating a bit?" He frowned. "It might be for sport, but livestock?"
"Maybe they just like killing," I said. "Or want to damage the farms. It's not far-fetched since the attacks have been on places that supply the town with food and lumber. The best thing to do is to move up north while investigating what we can." I moved a finger from the city to the lumber business. "Is this map drawn from distance or time taken to get there?"
"Distance," Tenna said. "I've never heard of the other."
"There not used unless for certain situations and areas," Lex said. "They use to be common thousands of years ago but obviously it doesn't make sense to still use them widely. It's a three-day trip to get there, two days if we go at a fast pace."
"Then let's go." I rolled up the map and handed it to Tenna.
We left Karra's and made out way out of the city. I was a bit nervous going back out so soon after what had happened, but with Tenna and Lex, and greater sense, I was confident we could handle ourselves. It was a shame we didn't have Eloria for healing or Rashid for defense, but we had potions and our own skills. Together, we'd figure out this problem and get that gold.