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You bring a finger to your temple and gently tap it instead of shaking the hand offered by the priest. ''I remember your offer, sir, I'll be back tomorrow. You said yourself that I do not have my father's authority.''
A shadow of frustration flashes across his face as he retracts his hand. ''Very well, tomorrow will be a new day. I'll be making a concrete inventory and will await your return-''
A gentle knock on the door interrupts him. ''What is it?'' says the priest as he starts closing all of his open notebooks.
''Mercenaries, sire,'' says a gentle female voice after opening the door. It was that same lady acolyte who guided you here half an hour ago. ''Jules Manzke and a handful of his men demand your presence.''
A collective anger suddenly warps everyone's attitude. Belmont grips his Focii with two hands, Shigeko's big hands tighten into dangerous fists as she closes her eyes, and Seyraphal's well-wrapped body is subjected to a nervous twitch of wings or arms.
''Mother's Mercy who the hell is this guy?''
''A right bastard who's leading the garrison in the village and probably one of the overall leaders of the mercs,'' says your tall warrior friend. ''Keep pushing everyone's buttons, calls himself the king of swine when he's in the village. Put a living embodiment of everything wrong with a man in a violent package with the skill to enforce his desires and you've got everything you need to know about this guy.''
''While crude...'' Belmont comments while shooing off the curious acolyte. ''...your blue friend's assessment is accurate. The man was given a modicum of authority by our heir and started believing himself Castellan; he's been trying to <span class="mu-r">strongarm me into finding the sacrifice and returning her to the village.</span>''
He quickly holds up his hands even before seeing your group's collective displeasure. ''I have no intention of doing so, nor do I want to host a brawl within this hallowed hall, I need to insist on having you three leave by the western exit.'' He ends by grabbing his set of keys.
A tingle of pride makes you want to refuse. Confronting the men abusing the entire community of Mamonos is something that <span class="mu-s">will</span> need to be done. <span class="mu-i">Bad idea, terrible idea to start now.</span>
''Will they seriously try to fight in the middle of a church?'' You ask as Belmont needs to wiggle himself between you and Shigeko, your friendly moth has her gaze firmly rooted on the ground. <span class="mu-i">Gods, she looks so sad...</span> Since it's not a good moment to hug her, you opt to pat her head instead; there's an evident, silent distress in her black-red eyes.
''It wouldn't surprise me,'' your blue friend answers as the priest opens the door. ''I haven't fully recovered from that starving ordeal; I'd be best to avoid testing an impetuous lunatic unprepared. Especially since he's well armed, I've never seen him without his poleaxe.''
