The First Legendary Beast Master

Chapter 730  Plenty Of Beds

Once they had everyone to the surface, Karl realized that making it all the way across the city was going to be easier said than done. Everything was destroyed, and while they were in the middle of a park, Karl could already smell the death mixed with the fresh rain. Most of the city was levelled, and the civilian casualty rates must have been horrific.

Othello noticed his unease and patted his shoulder. ”There was an emergency alarm at the start of the fight. Casualties wonʼt be too bad, I donʼt see any smoke signals from breached civilian emergency shelters.”

Karl didnʼt even know that was a thing. But in a city that expected disasters or attacks, it did make sense to get everyone who couldnʼt take a hit out of the way.

The buildings could, eventually, be replaced. Well, most of them. Rebuilding the University and its labs was not going to be an easy feat, even after they had dug through all of the hazardous materials and damaged experiments to remove the rubble.

Fortunately for them, there were no major injuries, and everyone was in good shape for a long walk. Well, Remi was carrying Fizzspark, as the Gnomeʼs legs were very short. But the others were capable of a brisk walk.

The bodyguards surrounded the convoy of researchers, with Othello and her team in the lead, followed by Remi, and Karl in the rear with the Guardian.

The dust had mostly settled after the rainfall, and an eerie silence had fallen over the city after the enemy had retreated.

Karl could sense, and sometimes see, Elites in the distance. But with Othello leading their group, the others recognized them as friendly right away.

Even with a decent walking pace, and minimal damage to the road they were walking down, it still took them three quarters of an hour to walk from the lab to the Palaceʼs servants entrance. The Palace itself was on a hill, and the servants entered from the bottom levels after passing through the gates in the outer walls. The entrance was heavily guarded, and Karl waved as he recognized Guard Captain Scruggs among the soldiers on duty.

”Guard Captain, this is Overlord Othello and her team, as well as the researchers from my lab at the University. It appears that our facility was one of the targets today, and the University has been destroyed. Would it be possible to get suites for everyone?” Karl asked, raising his voice from the rear of the group.

The Captain sighed.

”Weʼre already being flooded with requests, thanks to the damage in the city. But if youʼre willing to share space with the Overlord and her friends, we can find room for the others in the lower visitor quarters.”

Othello nodded. ”That works well enough for me. We will sort out sleeping quarters when we arrive. Karl, bring the whole team with us until we can get rooms sorted out for everyone. They will need to be kept abreast of developments.

Guard Captain Scruggs, if possible, do not put the others too far away. If you do, the acolytes will drive you crazy trying to get to the leaders.”

The Guards brought out a haggard looking maid, and gave her some quiet instructions. She nodded, then gestured for Karl and the others to follow her.

”I will deliver Monarch Karl and the Overlordʼs team to their suite first, then we will find quarters for everyone else nearby. Unfortunately, all of the Noble Suites are booked, but we have some other quarters available that are nicer than bunking you all in a room in the servantʼs quarters.” She explained in a dry tone.

One of the Blue Dragon acolytes laughed at the thought. The Servantsʼ quarters in the palace were likely more luxurious than their rooms in the Cathedral Libraryʼs residences.

Not only were the rooms simple in nature, there were usually so many books and random items packed into them that you could hardly move from the door to the bed.

There were only twelve researchers in total, not an excessive number, excluding the five acolytes and the green dragon cleric. If they could find decent rooms, then this would practically be a vacation for them, as there was neither a forge nor a woodworking shop here in the Palace.

Halfway to the suite, they were joined by Melanie, Karlʼs assigned maid here in the Palace. She silently stepped up beside him, then produced a wine skin and a stack of plastic cups.

”Beverage? I heard that there is heavy damage to the city after the attack, so your mouth might be dry.” She whispered.

Karl nodded, and the maid began to pour drinks for the group, starting with him.

The scent from the large soft bag was not wine, but fruit juice. Better for refreshment, but stored in a soft bag slung over her shoulder, with a push button on the cap for easy pouring.

The closer that they got to the suite, the more guards they were seeing, and Karl could hear a lot of chatter from the area ahead.

”Did something happen in the suite?” Karl quietly asked the maid.

”One minor issue involving a traitor. No injuries that Iʼm aware of, but the entire guest wing guard contingent is gathered nearby, except those on patrol and on courtyard duty.” She explained.

They arrived at the suite a few minutes later, and Othello whistled in appreciation. ”All this room for the five of you? Thatʼs not even half full without shared bedrooms, and I know that most of you probably are bedfellows.” She joked.

Karl shrugged. ”While that is true, and itʼs much more space than we need, I believe your team is much less cuddly than mine.”

Othelloʼs teammates snorted in amusement.

”Can we trade? We will share rooms with your team.” One of the warriors joked.

Ophelia gave him a dangerous smile. ”I donʼt think that you thought this one through. I sleep in Werebear form.”

That left the clerics and the mage, but one of them was likely involved with Karl. Unless he was sharing his bed with the Void Badger.

”I think that there should be enough room for everyone here. I believe the servant quarters are taken by the maids, but if the researchers arenʼt too particular, I believe that we can make just one suite work.”

Melanie cleared her throat. ”Actually, there is an entire personal guard dorm at the end of the hall. Weʼve just been using it because the beds are more comfortable than the standby room.”

She swung a painting on one wall and revealed a small room with two triple rack cots and no window, but a small magical light on the ceiling.

Karl frowned. ”I think we can still make this work. What are the other rooms like? The ones on the ladiesʼ side.”

”Two large beds, two dressers and vanity stations with an ensuite privy with a shower. Very much like a standard hotel room.

If we put your sleeping group in one of the large rooms and Lady Othello in another, that leaves five of the seven double rooms open, and one of the larger. Or did you want to change rooms and keep the segregated wings?”

Karl shook his head. ”Free for all is fine.”

That was a signal for the others, and the maids quickly moved to block the two rooms that the ladies had been using. ”Iʼm at the end of that hall.” Karl informed Othello, who looked in the first room and nodded with satisfaction.

”That works for me. Why donʼt we put the Forgemaster and Chief Engineer in the room between us? Or do they have someone they prefer to share with?”

Fizzspark shrugged. ”Iʼm fine with that. Granite doesnʼt snore.”

The researchers had gone all the way down the hall, and Karl could hear them laughing in the far room, where the maids had been sleeping.

”There are bunks for like two dozen people here. Weʼre not even close to short on beds. Plus, it has a divider.” Someone shouted from the dorm. Karl shrugged. ”Well, if they are happy, itʼs good. The maids can share one of the other bedrooms if theyʼre not returning to their own beds. I wonʼt blame them if they donʼt want to be alone for a few days after all this chaos.”

The maids silently cheered at the upgrade, as the standby rooms were awful. Even if the four sleeping shared double beds, they had more space in a real room.

It took a few minutes of shuffling, but eventually all the rooms were filled, with the male researchers taking the dorm and the ladies of the research team sharing a pair of rooms.