>>5725196Countless book shelves surround the walls of the interior, with such amount that it would be more accurate to call it a secondary wall. Each floor is connected through a spiral staircase, with steps so big it could be used as a chair. Some even prefer this to the ones specifically provided.
Amidst the vast array of books and large furniture lies a reception desk on the very first floor. Wide and crescent moon shaped, this is where Lady Rin is said to be frequently found when she isn’t reorganizing the books. For such occasions, she can be summoned by using a statue of a raven holding a bell with its beak, which is prominently displayed on her desk.
Right now seems to be one such occasion. I ring the brass bell, but what is produced isn’t a high pitched ding, nor a deep one. It felt like an amalgamation of words all spoken in a single moment.
“Hello.”
Her voice came from behind us. The middle aged (?) lady accompanied by her bird and staff seemingly appears from thin air a moment after the bell is rung.
“… what can I do for you?”
Zorn and I explain the situation to her. We talk to her about how Grantham got injured, and the plot to beat some sense into the perpetrators. We need her skills to find those artwork and tracking those people.
“… this is dangerous. Even with superior numbers, and better weapons, things could get ugly. Raw strength, at a certain point, is just a massive advantage - if a giant manage to get into grappling distance, it’s going to be one sided. Even if you’re quick and manage to stab them, you might not be walking away without broken teeth or a concussion. What if you got severely injured? Will you be able to stay afloat until they fully heal?”
“But let’s say you did everything right. Beat the shit out of them without a bruise on you. You still don’t know how these people will react: will they be scared off and leave him alone? Or maybe they decide to bring more guys and more weapons next time around? Grantham might end up dead if that’s the case. You could get recognized by those people without knowing it as well - especially you, Zorn. They might decide to take revenge and ambush you, a month or two from now.”
“And that’s not even getting into legal matters. If ANY of you or your targets get caught, Grantham could be in trouble. You might not snitch on him, but those people? I’ve seen people like them too many times in my life - willing to save themselves at any cost. They’re not the type to admit failings, and they’re going to drag everyone down with them if they fall.“
As expected of a former private investigator, she breaks down many key points on why doing this isn’t a very good idea.
