"Milo, this is Grant. You will be working with him from today." Tanya introduced, as we rode to the city square.
Grant was a 6"4 muscular stud, that by average standard, would be referred to as handsome. With black hair and brown eyes that gave him a much more daring gaze, and a polite and innocent look, forever plastered on his face.
He stretched out his hands towards me, clasping mine as I responded to his greetings.
According to the conversation I had with Rosemary earlier, Grant was adopted by Tanya when he was caught at just fifteen years old, stealing on the streets of Ethos.
After he was caught and brought up to Tanya, she asked him if he felt bad about his actions, his reply was so odd that it made even the guards that caught him more irritated.
"I did what I had to for the sake of my survival, the world is not built around people's pocket, so if they're careless enough, I will take" he replied.
Tanya, oddly moved by the audacity and mindset of the young boy decided to grant him immunity, on the condition that he dedicated his life to serving her.
" I heard that the Brithuel county are the largest producers of fabric in the entire empire, and that your mother runs it quite literally." He stated off, trying to sway me with praises of my inherited wealth and status.
"it's what the statistics says, who can argue" I responded with a wry smile, disgusted by his approach.
He possessed the sweet tooth of merchants, swaying people easily with praises and self gratification.
"Oh right, Milo you should probably hold on to this" Tanya muttered, handing me a gold badge with a fox engraved at the center, similar to the trade union symbol.
"What's this for?" I asked knowing exactly what it was.
"It shows that you work directly under me" she responded, folding both hands as she habitually tapped her fingers against her elbow.
I looked towards grant, the badge carefully lodged at the corner of his collar.
For his attire, it made him look like nobility. Clothed in a bloody red sleeve that stretched due to his muscles and a black coat, draped around his shoulders.
I wore a simple sleeved tunic however, feeling too lazy to indulge Natasha in her usual mini fashion parades.
The carriage stopped as we arrived at the city hall, after over thirty minutes of nonstop riding.
I had finally accepted why it went obsolete very easily back on Earth.
The mayor stepped out of the carriage first, her overgown swaying from side to side in the wind.
Two massive pillars stood apart from each other, holding the large city hall as we passed and went right to the entrance immediately.
There were guards stationed at the front door, bowing as they saw the mayor, as one of them pushed open the door.
I made to walk after her, but was stopped immediately after.
"We have something to settle first." Grant pointed out, signaling a few of the guards patrolling around to stop and follow us.
"You read the city's law guidebook, didn't you" he inquired, eyes faced forward as he trotted behind the guards.
"Hardly...."
"Well, we're about to apprehend a foreign loafer who's permit has expired".
The city had strict laws reprimanding loafers and it was an even greater offense if it was done by foreigners.
The punishment ranged from temporary imprisonment to as far as indefinite enforced labor.
We walked into a tavern, scarcely filled with men drinking their sorrows away. Grant looked around the moment we entered, scanning the surrounding for the perpetrator, before stopping as he smiled and turned towards me, pointing at a middle-aged man shouting at one of the female servers.
"There's our loafer" he reported, smiling as we walked towards him. The idiot, drunk in too much wine paid him no attention as he stood in front of him.
Everyone in the room immediately stared at us, whispering the name of the adopted prince of the city.
"Isn't that Grant?"
"What do you think he's gonna do to Marcus"
"Isn't it obvious, he's been loitering around for too long"
"Ah, I can't bear to watch"
Even though it was supposed to be whispers, their efforts to hide their opinions didn't seem to work at all, as we could hear them loud and clear.
"Marcus, your permit of residence has expired for over a week, you're free to issue a payment for reinstating it but in the meantime you're not allo-"
"Get out of my face, bastard" The drunkard spat, obviously under the influence of the ale he held.
He stood up from where he sat, facing Grant as he splashed the drink on him recklessly.
His pot belly was the size of an actual pot, swaying from side to side as he belched unretained.
The guards unsheathed their blades, as they proceeded to stop the brute but Grant immediately signaled a halt.
He drew out a handkerchief from his pockets wiping the liquid gently as he spoke.
"I assume that you don't intend to pay huh?" He questioned finally, returning the handkerchief to it's original position.
He finally made to signal the guards for his arrest but stopped before the words left his mouth.
"Yh yh, take me to prison you orphan bastard, it's not like you can do anything else" The drunkard mocked as he moved towards us.
The whispers from the people around had now changed due to the statement made by the potbellied idiot.
"He really is an orphan"
"Who does he think he is, flaunting his authority around"
Grant just stood there, clenching his fists as he cast his head down.
Personally I didn't want to step up since it didn't involve me, but the drunkard's next statement, seemed to hit my soft spot, eventually forcing a reaction from me.
"If it isn't the dog of the Brithuel family, I guess they finally decided to toss your mediocre ass out, huh" He sneered, hitting me with his shoulder as he passed.
At this point, I had to give him the credit for carefully assessing his advantage even though he was drunk, knowing I couldn't retaliate because I held no power in the city.
'But then again you made a mistake you fat fool!' I thought, kicking him towards the door as he crashed on the floor of the entrance.
I reached into my breast pocket, pulling out the badge Tanya handed to me earlier as I crouched down to face the drunkard.
"What do you think this is" I whispered, dangling the object in front of his eyes.
He was fidgeting already, feeling the effects of the drowsiness that once enveloped him, disappear steadily.
"What is wrong with you huh???... You'll pay for this, you think you have the right to ev-"
BAM!
A loud jamming sound followed after my punch, sending most of his teeth flying from his mouth.
"Wrong answer!" I corrected, proceeding to land a barrage of blows, before stopping the minute his cries stopped.
There existed a very thin line between my anger and temperament. And beyond that line, was an unbridled amount of fury for people who mocked or tried to belittle my progress and efforts.
The guards passed me, walking straight towards his unconscious body, dragging it into a carriage as they arrested him finally.
I walked back towards grant who was already outside, reaching into his pockets as I pulled out his handkerchief.
"I believe we have more pressing issues to address?" I questioned, wiping my hand clean from the blood that stained it.
"Hah... Of course, let's go then" He responded sparsely, as he collected the handkerchief I handed back to him, chuckling silently.
******
"Ahhhh..." I groaned as I laid to rest, the hectic life of a salary man was hunting me once more and I quietly cursed the patriarch for even contemplating the agreement he made.
I pulled out the badge, as my mind slowly drifted towards the incident with the drunkard earlier.
The exclusive function of the badge offered three counts of immunity for whoever was gifted it, meaning I could only use it twice from then on.
It was a function that most people who had the honor of receiving the badge didn't account for since they hadn't read the guide, bringing them to the same level as a commoner without their awareness.
I rubbed my sore knuckles softly, regretting my choice of action against the aged fool but sadly enough, I didn't have an option.
If I wanted my current reputation to change, I had to reform my entire identity.
"People will have to see me in a different light then. I guess you can't have it both ways huh?" I asked, staring at the ceiling in front of me.
Nighttime had reached and the thought of sneaking out to stargaze hunted me, but unfortunately, I had to rest for another hectic day again tomorrow.
I walked towards my window lazily, wanting to close it but was stopped by the warm grasp of a lady.
"Hey stranger, I thought I wouldn't find you, thank the gods you're still awake" the voice spoke jovially, creeping into my room through the window.
I stepped back immediately, confused by what I was experiencing.
'oi,oi, oi, oi.... This has definitely got to be a crime right!' i screamed in my head.
"Are you stalking me, princess" I asked mockingly, as I tried to hide the confusion that riddled my face.
My interloper was non other than Sylvia, and as for what she was doing this far out in the middle of nowhere?...
I didn't fucking know!!.....