Quoted By:
Why, the <span class="mu-s">DOCUMENTS</span>, of course! You don’t have time to play ‘<span class="mu-i">Mystery Mansion</span>’ here and look for secret doors… for all you know the actual Inspectors are here and ready to go hard-boiled on your ass! And the <span class="mu-i">desk</span>, well, you’d rather climb <span class="mu-i">PAPER MOUNTAIN</span> than try to mess with that monster! You just know you’re gonna bump your head or stub your t-
<span class="mu-s">AAAAAIIE!</span>
<span class="mu-r">STUBBED TOE COUNTER: 21!</span>
Tumbling to the floor whining in pain, you manage to cushion the fall with your face and land next to a stack of un-toppled papers!
Until TT scampers over and sends them flying, that is. Snatching a few sheets out of the air like you’re in one of those money catcher arcade games, you tell TT to get cracking too!
It’s only after a few seconds of frantic snatching that you remember you can’t <span class="mu-i">read</span>! The bump language, that is! Y-you can read word pretty good like!
Err, TT, you mutter, trying and failing to make it seem like not a big deal, you know what? Forget it… it’s probably just, like, taxes or something!
You let the papers drop from your fingers, but the speedy Spinner is quick to pick ‘em up! “Well you’re not entirely <span class="mu-i">wrong</span>, Ant,” she begins as she promptly begins to run her claws over the rough, bumpy pieces of parchment, “I’m no Bellmancer, but these seem to all be expense reports.”
You respond with a derisive ‘<span class="mu-i">PSSSH!</span>’ In a Guild Chairman’s office? What a SCOOP!
When TT doesn’t laugh, you repeat your joke with an even BIGGER ‘<span class="mu-i">PSSSH!</span>’ Nope, nothing! Is she okay? That was hilarious!
Shifting your gaze downwards, you find the diligent Durher with saucer-wide eyes as she reads a paper! Penny for her thoughts?
“These… these are all expenses paid to Guild Members…” She mutters as she sifts through the rest of her stack, “But they’re all establishments in <span class="mu-b">UMBERAL</span>... and <span class="mu-b">THE BITE</span>!”
The Northern place, right? And the place where the Skogs live? The realization hits you like a truck! H-he’s been trading with… <span class="mu-r">THE ENEMY!?</span>
TT’s worried look shifts into a sympathetic one. “No, Ant, Crossroads has always traded with the other territories… but…”
Oh! Well in that case, you continue, eyes burning with intrigue, what’s the problem then?
Sidling up next to you, Tzah-Tzie gives the paper a few pokes to get your attention! “This right here! ‘<span class="mu-b">THE JUMPING TOTTA!</span>’”
You blink. Yea, it’s a weird name, but-
“That business was gone <span class="mu-i">long</span> before I left Umberal, Ant,” The Durher explains as she gives the parchment another tap! “And so was this one! And this one!”
You answer with a shrug. Maybe Fellick was trying to flip some properties?
>CONTD.
