One-Eyed Monster

Elder Rostellum had been feeling rather uneasy lately. He often felt that something significant was about to happen in his Gaga County.

In the past, only two situations could make Elder Rostellum anxious. One was when a challenging task assigned by higher-ups proved impossible for him to even begin, and the other was when golden coins were slipping through his fingers.

However, at first glance, his current vexation seemed to have little to do with these two. Yet, upon closer examination, this vexation appeared intricately linked to both.

Elder Rostellum tugged at his goatee. He was growing rather weary. Yet, confound it, Guru Mountain had not yet welcomed its first winter snow. If the snow fell, all plans would have to be put on hold. Then he would have the opportunity to return to his mansion and carefully repair the things damaged earlier. After all, those things were his life. Now, his life had been so cruelly ravaged by others that he lacked the peace of mind to consider anything else.

However, as an excellent Politician, Elder Rostellum still maintained his due vigilance and apprehension. The trouble was, Elder Rostellum worried about far too many things—so many, in fact, that the sheer complexity of it all made him dizzy. Consequently, he couldn’t devise a viable plan to address everything currently happening on Guru Mountain. During these moments of dizziness, he naturally thought of his Housekeeper, Uli, a dark-skinned foreigner. Uli acted as straightforwardly as he had in his previous career as a Fighter. Fighters, after all, didn’t overthink things beyond fighting. Thus, Housekeeper Uli’s dictionary of action contained only one phrase: get it done.

Without Housekeeper Uli, who only knew how to get things done, Elder Rostellum became busier. Even so, he still had no idea what he should be doing and could only wander about.

This wandering, however, was not entirely aimless. As the administrator of Gaga County, Elder Rostellum possessed a fair understanding of the territory under his jurisdiction. So, even as he walked with a vacant mind past the entrances of the various taverns at the foot of Guru Mountain, he would involuntarily recall the diverse problems hidden within these places.

For instance, upon reaching the entrance of the Non Intoxication Tavern, he would recall that this establishment had paid too little tax last year. Most of the gold coins collected had gone to Liuli City, leaving him with scant benefit. One of these days, I must ask Wild Bull Bill Busha of the Non Intoxication Tavern just what possessed him to publicly question the tax levy set by the supreme leader of Gaga County!

As he walked past the entrances of various taverns in Guru Village, Elder Rostellum frowned. Each tavern had its problems, major or minor, and these issues shared a significant commonality: all these establishments owed him varying amounts of gold coins…

Unconsciously, Elder Rostellum found he had wandered into Aliusan’s territory.

”I wonder if this Aliusan is reliable at all,” Elder Rostellum muttered to himself. ”It’s been so many days. Apart from a minor success at the very beginning, there’s been no progress on the tasks I assigned him.”

He had given Aliusan two tasks. The first was to investigate the petty dealers who made money from stones and find out who their real master was. The second, more significant task was to use all available resources to find Governor Rostov’s son.

This Governor Rostov! He doesn’t even look after his precious son properly, just lets him roam free. Fine, let him roam, but to drag others into it, causing so many people to run around busy for him… honestly!

”I swear on my grandmother’s name!”

Before he knew it, Elder Rostellum had walked into Aliusan’s tavern. He hadn’t even sat down when he heard hysterical yelling coming from the cellar.

”I swear on my grandmother’s name, and on my honor as a Scholar, everything I said was the truth!”

Elder Rostellum hurried down the steps, taking them two or three at a time, to reach the cellar entrance. At the entrance, an Earth Wolf guard looked at him nervously, unsure of what to do.

Should I stop him, or just let this lord in directly? The young Earth Wolf hesitated, quite indecisive.

”Let me in, or I’ll have Aliusan skin you alive,” Rostellum said, his face grim, his tone menacing.

But the arm cannot win against the thigh. The young Earth Wolf pouted like a child caught doing wrong. He opened the cellar door to let Elder Rostellum pass, only resuming his customary vigilance and decisiveness as a sentry after the Elder had departed.

Upon reaching the cellar, Elder Rostellum found Aliusan there as well. He was huddled in a corner, relentlessly kicking an underling—who had clearly bungled a task—with his lame leg.

”Everything we say is true, we’re not lying to you.”

The two men being interrogated were trembling, appearing timid and utterly lacking in courage…

The interrogating Earth Wolf had been kept busy. Two buckets of water had already been used, constantly being poured over the pair.

The two individuals being interrogated were truly peculiar. Aliusan’s men hadn’t even begun to use violent methods when the pair fainted—and fainted so completely that no amount of shouting could rouse them. Only the icy water of winter could bring them back to consciousness.

”What on earth is going on here?” Rostellum asked, having unconsciously approached Aliusan. His sudden appearance gave the momentarily relaxed Aliusan quite a fright.

”Oh, my Lord! What brings you here?” Aliusan exclaimed, reacting instantly upon seeing Elder Rostellum. If I don’t flatter Elder Rostellum properly right now, his anger will surely scorch me soon enough, he thought.

”I’m just taking a casual look around. You…”

”My Lord, you can’t possibly stand here,” Aliusan quickly interjected, not waiting for Elder Rostellum to finish. ”This cellar is dry and stuffy. You should go upstairs and see to other matters. There’s nothing worth seeing here apart from these prisoners.”

”And who are these people you’re interrogating?” Rostellum asked.

”Just a couple of petty, thief-like Treasure Hunters,” Aliusan said disdainfully. ”Timid and afraid of getting into trouble. If they hadn’t been seen with that young Adventurer, hmph, I, Black Mountain, wouldn’t have bothered with them at all.”

”Oh?”

”Not only are they cowardly, but they also have no value whatsoever. What’s more, these two seem a bit touched in the head.” This was the conclusion Aliusan had reached after interrogating them for the better part of the day, employing numerous methods.

”So, you’re implying these two are connected to Young Master Hustace’s whereabouts?” Rostellum’s eyes lit up. These past two days, he had been hounded to death by Guard Goding and Mayor Babasha…

”Yes. Our men personally saw them go up the mountain with that Adventurer. Then, as they were walking, they just vanished. It was very strange. But no matter how much I question them, I still can’t find out what exactly happened,” Aliusan said. He couldn’t really be blamed, as to an outsider, Liko and Pita did indeed seem a bit daft.

”Sigh—” Lord Rostellum heaved another sigh. He had been in such a muddle these days, not knowing what to do. Now, he had been reduced to simply drifting around.

”Interrogate them thoroughly. Perhaps you’ll find a breakthrough,” Elder Rostellum said, patting Aliusan’s shoulder. It was unclear whether this was meant as comfort or a spur to action.

Living in constant fear, one finds no peace.

Elder Rostellum looked at the two trembling figures. That’s me right now, he couldn’t help but feel. On the surface, all appears calm and peaceful, but in reality, I’m restless and on edge…