Krez gathered valuable information about Knotts, discovering that it's situated in the outer reaches between the northern zone owned by the Voight family, and the western zone governed by the Supreme Sect.
Krez discovered that a subordinate sect of the Supreme Sect was just a two-week journey to the west. He contemplated the idea of joining, but his desire for freedom held him back. If he were to join a sect, it would be the main sect, not a subordinate one. Even then he wouldn't join unless it was absolutely necessary.
"Hey, Krez, over here," a familiar voice rang out. He turned to look and saw Red waving his hand. "Come, let's get something to eat. I would ask Linda to cook something up for us; she can do pretty much anything. But considering our new friendship, I say we should get something to drink tonight. And the best place to do this is over at the inn. ole Linda likes to throw out my good stuff. I keep my stash here in the basement. The innkeeper keeps an eye on it for me."
Red and Krez made their way inside the inn. The first floor was a bar and restaurant, quite lively as the night was just starting. Krez thought, "A bar is a bar in whatever world you're in." There were the rowdy young crowd, middle-aged guys dropping in for a drink and a chat with their buddies before heading home. Right at the corner of the bar, there was what Krez assumed to be the town drunk slouched down in his seat. The drunk was nodding in and out of consciousness. It was easy to tell he had been sitting there drinking for a while.
The two men had made their way to a table by the window. Krez noticed the sun about to drop below the building across the street. Suddenly, Red shouted, "Marcel, bring me my hidden stock and two of the daily specials." The innkeeper, who was managing the bar, shouted through a window behind him, "Two specials and keep an eye on the bar; I gotta go get the chief's stash." The innkeeper then looked back at Red and said, "You got it, boss." While this communication seemed normal, it did appear to have aggravated the drunk at the end of the bar.
Krez and Red talked, drank and ate throughout the night. He learned that Knott's was actually on a trade route that linked the northern part of the continent with the western part. It was a beat up road that merchants took. Knott's happened to be in the direct midway point, making it the perfect place for merchants to stop and rest.
This explained the village's good size and lively atmosphere. Some villages in the outer reaches were just small hamlets without walls. In Red's opinion, Knott's would probably be considered a capital of the Outer Reaches, or at least in this area.
CRASH!! the drunk stood above the table he flipped where Krez was eating, a bottle in his hand. "YOU BASTARD! You're here enjoying yourself while she is still missing. You promised to find her! You promised to stop the disappearances!" he shouted.
"I don't care if you're a 'mighty' cultivator, Red. I don't care to live if you don't save my wife. If you don't bring her back, even if I die, Red, I'll take you down with me. You're supposed to protect Knotts, and here you are on your ass!" the drunk man declared angrily.
Krez observed the pain on the drunk man's face, and Red acknowledged, "You're right. I've failed this village. I Not only can't find the kidnapper, even if I did, I couldn't defeat them." Red's expression darkened. "I'm pretty sure it's a cultivator kidnapping village members." The bar fell silent, panic evident on everyone's face. Red's revelation seemed to deepen the air of depression,he was anticipating a mass migration of panic from the town.
Krez wasn't a righteous person, neither was he ignorant to others' plight. Red had shown Krez kindness by giving him a place to stay, clothes, and food. Krez spoke up, "I can't promise anything. I don't even know the enemy cultivator's strength. But do you want my help in this matter, Red?"
Red's face brightened; he was originally planning to ask Krez for help after offering half of the village treasury. Their only other option would be to drain the whole treasury and ask a nearby sect, but if he did that, they wouldn't have enough money for the village to survive. Red was in a lose-lose situation.
The drunk, who had been drinking all day and was unaware of the commotion Krez caused earlier, nor had he been listening to the rumors, spoke out, "Brat, who are you to offer help, when a cultivator just said even they were unsure of victory. Stay out of buis-SLAP! Red's hand streaked across the drunk's face. "Shut it, Derek! I know you're in pain, but you are talking to the man that may very well save this village!"
Red turned to Krez, "I'm sorry for Derek's outburst. He lost his wife of 22 years. Krez, I feel like we've had enough fun tonight. If you're serious about helping, come, let's head back to the manor and discuss what's going on."
Walking back, Krez said, "Let's not wait. Tell me what's going on." Red nodded, "The disappearances started a few months ago. First, it was the town drunk. No one even thought anything of it. Brevard would disappear for days at a time, usually sleeping or drinking in an alley. But every Sunday, he always picks up 7 bottles from the inn without fail. Well, we knew something was up when he missed a Sunday."
Red continued, "It started small—once a week, people who kept to themselves began keeping even more to themselves. We only noticed they were missing when more well-known people started disappearing."
"The problem is, the kidnapper leaves no trace. We don't even know where they snatch them. Some of the people who were kidnapped were strong, working men who could put up a fight. The only way they wouldn't be able to is if the culprit was a cultivator," Red explained.
As they strolled back to Red's manor, he delved more into the intricacies of the case. Upon reaching the manor gates, Red opened them, and Krez remarked, "I've grasped the essential details. Now, let's come up with a plan."