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Given how the conversation at the hotel went, something told you that Steele would do a better job asking townsfolk for opportunities to help. The fact that he didn't have Mary with him was already a huge help, nevermind his miraculous ability to get along with most people he met.
You floated the idea to him while you remained against tree bark. Steele seemed happy as ever to indulge. "Ah, good thinking! There's surely no shortage of people in need of help..."
He brought a stocky finger up to his enormous mustache. "I trust you will be elsewhere with Mary, doing something of importance?"
You nodded. "It's up t' her whether she wants t' come, but I was thinkin' of askin' around the militia. Maybe one of 'em has more experience with that mount'n where all the trouble seems t' be comin' from..."
Steele slapped you on the back hard enough to make you cough. "Well, boy, that seems like as good a plan as any!"
He rose to his feet and straightened his white bowtie while he spoke. "Best we get to it as soon as we can, then! Go easy on the leg," he motioned to the Validanis bite, "and don't get another bite if you can help it."
The busy businessman chuckled at his own half-joke, waving you goodbye and heading off into town after the two of you agreed to meet up at the hotel when you were done.
Meanwhile... you had a guard to go look for.
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Only the Lord knew where to start. There were so many state soldiers scattered about that you could've sworn the town was about to be attacked at any moment. You felt it, too; that air of the townsfolk fully believing it, of wanting nothing more than to run you out and never see another demon ever again...
Lucky, then, that your answer eventually came straight to you.
"<span class="mu-s">HALT!!</span> You there, with the weird..." ...the rifle pointed at your face was now waved in a general direction at the electric sheep remaining faithful to your right side... "...dangerous ram! Have you any reason to be so close to such a creature?"