Richard and Heron finished their baths and made their way back to the hostel to meet with others for dinner.

  The group reconvened at one of the long tables, plates of roasted meat, bread, and stewed vegetables spread before them. The tavern had settled into a comfortable hum, the earlier singing replaced by scattered conversation and the clink of cutlery.

  "This is excellent," Lucia said, tearing into a piece of bread.

  "May, that was the last slice," Almir protested as her fork darted across the table.

  "Was it?" May asked innocently, already chewing.

  "You know it was. I was saving it."

  "Then you should have eaten faster," she said with a shrug.

  Lucia’s lips curved slightly. "She does have a point."

  Heron found himself relaxing with the easy banter and the shared meal. It felt like something he'd been missing without knowing it.

  "Well, if my eyes don't deceive me, is that you, Richard?"

  A figure appeared behind Richard's chair. The man cut an imposing silhouette—broad-shouldered beneath a dark coat with gleaming brass buttons, a bicorne hat perched at a sharp angle above his stone-shaped face. Gold epaulettes caught the lamplight, and his hand rested casually on the pommel of a sword at his hip.

  "I don't need to turn around to recognize your annoying voice, Brenner," Richard said coldly, continuing to cut his steak.

  "Is that any way to speak with an old comrade?" Brenner said, keeping his tone friendly.

  "Oh, is that what we are? Comrades? Last time I remember, you left my comrades and me behind once you nabbed the crystals. You used us as a shield to make it to safety."

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  "But it was your job to slay the monsters. We just happened to cross paths as I had a quest to gather crystals." Brenner smiled.

  Richard set down his knife and fork, then stood to face Brenner. "You don't know when to take a hint. Walk away, Brenner. We're trying to have a good time here."

  "Fine, fine," Brenner gestured with both hands, palms out. "But we need to talk when you're in a business mood."

  "Do business with you? Are you mocking me?" Richard scoffed.

  "Listen, we're going to collaborate once again, even if neither of us likes it. Didn't you hear the news?" Brenner hissed.

  "What news?" Richard asked coldly.

  “Let’s move away from the table,” Brenner said, gesturing to the corner of the room.

  When he and Richard moved, Richard was glaring at him coldly. “Well, spill it then.”

  "I won’t go into too much detail. But it seems some of the Divinium forces have gotten lazy and are getting their asses kicked by a new bandit gang. So, rumors are that there will be a call to adventurers to join as support. And it's a king's decree, so it will be mandatory."

  "Where did you hear this from? The guild would have given us notice already."

  "I have my sources. Unlike you, who ran away from your noble roots, I still keep my eyes and ears in those circles. And they're worried about how this is impacting their profits."

  "Well, you're forgetting that said military hasn't seen conflict in more than fifty star cycles, and the monster hunts and quests are being outsourced to adventurers more often than not. They're just a paid workforce to patrol the roads and help with construction. Meanwhile, whoever these people are, they seem well-trained enough to combat the soldiers. But also, I heard they've been getting advanced weaponry."

  "That's nonsense. Nobility helping bandits would be found out. Those nobles would be executed, and what remained of their families exiled."

  "Well, it seems some think it's worth the risk. But I'm not going to go pointing fingers—I know better." Brenner paused. "Well, now I've told you what the business is about, so let's talk off-record when you find time, yeah?"

  Richard groaned. "I'll contact you. How long are you staying for?"

  "My party departs in two days, so let's meet up tomorrow."

  "Fine, I'll leave you a note at reception after I plan out the activities with my party."

  "It's a date then. It's going to be nice to catch up," Brenner said with an ironic smile, then turned and walked away.

  "What did that scumbag want?" Almir asked when Richard sat back down.

  "It seems the kingdom is getting into some turmoil. I'll brief you once I get the details. But at least you're all getting your wish to visit the railway station."