On the loroyer docked at Lignum, a dozen people sit around an oval table made to seat twenty. On one of those seats, slightly rger and more resplehahers, sits the ship’s very frustrated captain.

  “Four days. We’ve been hunting the [Rogue] for four days, and none of you have even an inkling of who they are?” The [Bounty Hunter] gres at his crew and they shy away from his gaze.

  A tall, thin man with a short beard go his left.

  “[Captain], yer is warranted, but not on your crew. A skilled [Rogue] that could best you, even in surprise, is not someohat ot hide their tracks,” The [First Mate] says.

  The [Captain] shifts his anger. “Kurtis, shove a so it, and st to sooth my anger. I lost my damn cutss. That's an [Unon] quality on given to me by the guild as a sign of authority. Getting it repced is going to e my savings and will take far too much.”

  Kurtis shows little to ion, a professional stoic if you’ve ever met one. “You only your cutss with you when we are dealing with uilds. Arbor doesn't have any guild prese all.”

  The [Captain] gres at his [First Mate] for several seds, before releasing a breath and leaning back.

  “You're right. I hate that you’re right. It was stupid vanity that had me carrying the sword. I should have just used a different one.” He grimaces, “Damn me. I should have chosen [Hunt Object] instead of [Huy] when I hit thirty. Then I would have found my sword and probably the perpetrator.”

  “So long as the sword is still in their possession,” Kurtis adds. “If they sold it, then you won't find the [Rogue]. Also, if memory serves, [Huy] is a far more profitable skill.”

  The [Captain] grumbles for a moment, and then sighs. “But it’s useless without more information. I o know their background, css, and a better idea of what they look like before I use my skill. I also o pce a bounty on their head, probably a hefty one if I’m to get a ge.”

  He taps the table softly. “All I do is search the town for clues.” he g his seated crew. “Have we found this Boriss fellow and his talking cat?”

  “You think he is the [Rogue], [Captain]?” one of the crew members asks.

  “Holy, I’m not sure, but it is the only lead we have. The cat looks simir to the one I saw before I was knocked unscious. And if the drunks are to be believed, Boriss is capable of bat.”

  “Smming a chair into a smaller and younger man is not a good indicator of bat,” Kurtis says.

  The [Captain] grins, “Oh, it actually is. If you’ve ever been properly trained as I have, they always teach you to win swiftly. Using a stool to end a bar fight instantly is the hallmark of a good fighter.”

  The crew members with bat csses nod in grudging uanding. End your enemy as fast as possible. They could always get lucky and then you’ve got a sword in yut.

  “I see.” Kurtis nods. “Then I will take your advice to hea-”

  Before Kurtis finish, the door to the room is bsted open and another member of his crew rushes in.

  “[Captain],” the member calls.

  The [Captain] quickly rises up off his seat.

  “What is it?”

  “The cat, [Captain]. I found it walking down a street. We chased after it, but it climbed a tree and disappeared on the rooftops.”

  “Show me!”

  ______________________________________________________________

  Maybe I should have waited a couple hours until it was dark? Eh, it's fine. I got away, and it's not like I was heading to Myers pce.

  I traverse the rooftops of the town, making sure to avoid ahat looks to be in a uniform. Eventually, I arrive at my destination.

  I climb down to the sed floor aer a slightly open window by squeezing myself through the gap.

  I nd on the bed, drop to the carpeted floor, and then walk to the door. I hop up and turn the hahe door opens and I exit the room.

  The carpet fl feels nider my paws. I wonder if my new ship will have some installed.

  I walk dowairs, traverse the living room, aer the kit to the surprise and anger of the couple. I hop up on the dining table where they are currently eating dinner.

  “Honey, what is a cat doing here? Why is it trailing mud everywhere?” The woman yells in e.

  “I’m trailing mud because your husba me to a damn s. Which by the way,” I preen a bit, “ is nowo a drained s thanks to yours truly. You may now prepare that ship you promised me.”

  “Is this the talking cat? I thought you were making it up.”

  teran Adams ignores his wifes surprise.

  “The corruption is goruly? How? What did you do?”

  “Yes, it's gone. h water everywhere. Just dead trees, bones, and mud. A fug lot of mud. As for how? Well, the expnation requires knowledge you humans could never possibly prehend.”

  He swallows slowly as adrenaline courses through the [Governors] body.

  “I-I will have to verify your cims.”

  “Do it, and do it quickly.” I stretd turn my back to them. “I’ll be at Myers’ p the meantime. Notify me there when you’ve got the ship ready.”

  I hop off the table and nd on the carpet.

  “The mud!” I hear the woman scream, but I ignore her. I rush up the carpeted stairs, making sure to remove as much dirt from my paossible. It wouldn't do to mess up Myers’ floor.

  _________________________________________________________

  By the time I reach Myers’ home, night has finally fallen. I climb to the backyard where ay skin bag ys on grass. I rush to the door and knock several times with my paw.

  I hear the pitter patter of feet, the clig of a lock, and then the door opens.

  “Fluffy!” Cy squeals. “You’re back.” Cy says with a grin. The kid spreads his arms to pick me up, but I step back.

  “I’m covered in mud. If you want to pet me, then I require a bath.”

  Cy quickly nods and rushes to fill a basin.

  I ehe home and make my way to the living room where the spoils of the st two days are strewn across the floor. Hundreds of s, ons, armor, and jewelry. Anything that looked expensive was thrown in a makeshift pad then carried back. The only thing missing is the oddly glowing orb the size of my head that I had Boriss stash away from all prying eyes.

  Looking at the group, I 't help but feel impressed by the diversity of reas. Boriss is happily test swinging a hammer, Irmgard is systematically and stoically anizing the treasure, and Cillian is ting the s with a grin on his face. And then there is Myers. The old man is sitting on his rog chair, staring ily at the treasure with an expression that looks like he’s in the midst of taking a very firm shit.

  “It's not much treasure, but I think it's a start, wouldn't you agree, Myers?”

  Everyone finally notices my presence. Well, everyone except for Boriss. He already gnced my way wheered the room but was too busy swinging the hammer to speak.

  “Is this all from the s?”

  “I’m not sure what you are asking. If you are asking if everything I brought was from the s? Then yes. If you are asking if this is everything in the s, then no. There are probably plenty more valuable items hidden under mud that I have no time to search for. Also, there is no s anymore. Quest is a success. Noait for our ship and then we have to get supplies.”

  “That will be simple.” Irmgard looks my way. “Me and Cillian have already spoken to suppliers and agreed on a possible price. We must merely accept the offer when the ship is ready.”

  I perk up. “That's good. Very good.” I look to Cillian. “Have you figured out your skill while I was gone?”

  Cillian g Myers for a moment.

  “Just give me a yes or no question,” I say.

  Before Cillian answer, Cyde peaks into the living room. “Boriss,” Cyde calls.

  “Yes little rade?” Boriss stops swinging the hammer.

  “I filled the wash basin with water. you help me move it to the living room?”

  “Da.” Boriss ys down the hammer and follows Cyde. He returns not a moment ter and pces the filled basin on the floor.

  “Cyde,” Myers frowns, “we don't o the treasure in the living room.

  “It’s not for the treasure.” I excim. I crawl into the basin.

  “The water is for me.” I g Clyde, “You eveed the water up. Thank you. Did y soap?“

  The child raises a small bit of soap in one hand and a brush iher.

  “Perfect.” I lean to the side of the Basin. “You may begin the ing. Gentle on the belly though, I'm sensitive.

  “Okay!”

  ________________________________________________________________

  teran paces bad forth with one hand on a booklet and the other holding his pipe. Every moment that passes, his pipe moves to his mouth, and thes removed when he remembers he o light it again. He g his desk, grimag at the empty box of matches. He’d gohrough a week's supply of matches in only a day. He will and should go out and buy more.

  But…

  “What is taking so long?” He excims angrily. “It has been a day already. He should be baow.”

  teran tries to assuage his ay by gng at the book in his hand. He goes through it, reading the first page for the huh time again. But, one again, his mind swerves back to the object of his ay.

  Eventually, the knog of the door to his office sets his mind at ease. He rushes to his chair and takes a seat.

  “e in.”

  What he expects is the [Head Guard], but what he instead gets is the [Bounty Hunter].

  “[Governor] teran, I hope I am not interrupting you.”

  teran quickly waves the man in. “No, no. Your timing is perfect, Raaf. I’ve been meaning for a distra.”

  The man, wearing his armored coat with the Crows guild emblem on one shoulder and his own personal emblem on his other walks in with a strained smile.

  “Thank you for seeing me. I was actually looking for the [Head Guard], but I heard he stepped out.”

  “Yes,” teran nods, “I sent him to look into something for me. He should be bay moment now. In the meantime, maybe I help you with something.”

  Raaf smiles politely. “Possibly. One of my crew said they noticed a cat running around, the same ohat is reted to the i. I was hoping to ask the [Head Guard] to have the [Guards] keep a lookout and inform me and my crew if they notice the cat again.”

  Unfortunately, Raaf, that will entirely depend on what my [Head Guard] tells me on his return.

  “I absolutely inform my [Head Guard] of your request, which I believe to be quite reasonable.”

  Raaf nods. “Thank you, [Governor]. One more question. “Do you know where a man by the name of Myers lives?”

  “Old man Myers? Do you need him for something?”

  “I just wish to ask him some questions.”

  teran hides a grimace. “I doly know where, but if you give me a day, I most assuredly figure that out and give you his address.”

  “Thank you, Governor.”

  “Is there anything more I help you with?”

  “No, that is all. I will now take my leave.”

  teran sighs when the [Bounty Hunter] leaves. And within five mihe ay ramps up all ain and he is pag bad forth.

  Thankfully, he only o pace for another hour until his [Head Guard] quickly barges in covered i..

  “Garrus, what's wrong?”

  “It's gone. All of it is gone.”

  “What's gone?”

  “The s.”