Chapter 2: Local Heroes

Ignoring the nobleman, "Impressive hit dwarf, but mine was cleaner. Still, we'll call the gamble even."

He nods at the halfling as well, "Nice job corralling the boar toward us."

With Aldern's help he gets their prize on the horse, looking forward to the meal ahead.

Khel went inside and took a seat in the parlor. He eyed Li for a moment thinking about the sudden outburst of emotion he expressed before. Maybe the people of Mikai restrict their emotion under a composed veneer or is it that they are prone to sudden burst of intense emotion. He shifted his gaze and checked the surrounding, observing all the interior of the parlour. Maybe, Master Li has a specific interest on Kaijutsu. Kaijutse? What a strange title? Definitely foreign. There is something more than what meets the eye, here.

Saldrina smiles at the praise, having not expected to be acknowledged.

At first, when the stubborn servant finally relented and vanished in the deeps of the mansion Li was visibly happy that his pushing actually had some effects. He smiled with a hint of a triumph to Khel when they entered the room for guests. But then... when they sat there and have some time to look around Li - for the first time since Khel met him - started showing signs of nervousness, that he tried to hide pretending that he is interested in the board game.

"Is this today? Will I get finally some proper lead about Misaki? After all those years?!?" - he thought. His head half full of hope and half doubt in the same time.

"A win is a win. At the very least you should have first choice of cut. Dont underestimate the cheek meat!

You've bested me at drinking, hunting and goblin smashing. I'm almost scared to see what you can't do. Wess says giving Grimwulf a respectful pat on the back.

Grim isn't quite sure how to take the praise, he never got much of it growing up or in the military. He nods at Wess and gives a slight chuckle, "I'm sure there's something you're good at, maybe an eating contest? I've never tried cheek meat before, seems like something for fancier folk."

Seeing the half-elf cross their paths later that day, he remarks to the group, "Must be our lucky day, isn't that the ranger the sheriff mentioned?"

"Well then, let's hope our luck holds and pray she has some useful information for us."
Wess then says out loud to the ranger; "Hail stranger. How's the hunting for you today?"

"WHAT!?!" - Li stood up so abruptly that he throws off the table some parts of the board game.

"What is the meaning of this?!? Is this some kind of weak joke?! You told us a moment ago that he is not willing to stand from his bed and now we get to know that he wasn't even there? To begin with?" - Li was visibly furious... SO UNCOMMON sight for him. But then, he began to control himself as suddenly as he had exploded with anger a moment ago, and said much more calmly:
"I am... I mean... I was royal investigator on the court of Daymo Kawasaki! Quick, lead me to his quarters! We must begin the search immediately!" - Li didn't ask, he was purely giving orders to confused servant, as he would be from the royal family himself.

"Aye, we appear doubly lucky today, as sheriff mentioned we might like to chat with you." Wess says with a friendly some. He starts to dismount as he ask, "Would you like to ride the rest of the way with us?"

There it was! The sudden outburst of emotions! Followed by the intense control. Khel was taken aback by the reaction of Li, but he too was quite disappointed on the prospects of finding answers in Kaijitsu's manor. He particularly felt disgusted by the servant's conduct.

He slowly stood up and slowly placed his hand on Li's shoulder, "Master Li. If the situation has truly turned to this, we must look into the matter with an open mind. I think either the man is lying or he is as surprised to this as we are. I know that you are a knowledgeable person with an inquisitive mind but you are rather anxious in matters of Lord Kaijitsu here. Is it something maybe....personal regarding Kaijitsu" (He whispered the last sentence coming closer to Li's ear)

Khel then turned to the servant, eyebrows raised in a questionable look, "My good man, I am finding it very difficult to trust you now. From the time we arrived you have been keeping us in circles and frankly lying to us. We would like to look into your master's room, please. Who knows, maybe we will be able to discover something that might shed some light on your master's whereabouts. Please lead us there."

"Aye, funny you should mention goblins. We just took care of a few in Sandpoint recently, causing havoc during the Swallowtail festival." Grimwulf remarks to the elf.

Li turned immediately his whole body towards Khel, leaning his head backwards with a surprised expression that he didn't mange to hide.

"Is it that obvious?? I must control myself even more! Yes, very personal... Master Khel..." - Li thinks, without saying anything out loud and trying to ignore Khel question as he wouldn't have time to talk about it at the moment.

But seeing that Khel's watchful eyes do not leave his face, he answers to him, also in whisper:
"Later... Master Khel."

Then again to the servant, after listening to what Khel said, pretending to be completely calm and keeping such tone:
"You heard Master Khel: Please lead us there."

Li looks around for any clues in the bed room as he would like to swallow the environment with his eyes, constantly shifting and scanning the whole bedroom.

Li decided that he have to make a great pressure on the servant in hope to stress him out, what could make him leave them in the bedroom or the next room - the office - that he hoped to get to too. He strongly counted on Khel's help with it. Somehow, unconsciously starting to think that they could become a good investigation team... in the foreseeable future.

"I reckon you are completely aware that your Master could be in grave danger right now? So far we don't know, if he knows that one of the persons behind the attack is - most probably - son of his sadly, deceased wife. He wasn't exactly in the best terms with him - from what we heard?" - Li more asked then claimed, looking for some confirmation from the servant.
"What kind of boots? Are they good for long travels? Did he took any horse or other mount with him? We don't have any second to waste here if you want to meet your master ever again and keep your job! We have seen what they are capable of and what forbidden magic they use. Did he took any weapon with him, for the minimum safety at least? " - Li tried to overflow servant with logical and inquisitive questions, so he could press him even more, afraid maybe even and in case of any lie that he was still hiding - catch him read handed.

Finally when he extracted answers for previous questions from servant, not slowing down, hoping that answering all the previous questions would tire servant a little and make him less cautious, he asked: "And on what your master has been working recently? Did he work on this in his office? FOCUS! Your master life could depend on your answers!"

Khel walked around the room checking on the bed and underneath it. He moved around the table dresser and looked at the floor to see if he found anything of notice. He half wanted to see what was in the dresser but without the permission it would be an illegal act. He turned to the servant and said, "It is a big mansion, how many members does Lord Kaijitsu have working for him? Is it only you or is there more? Also, when was the last time you saw your master. Like I know it is yesterday but when exactly? At what time? Do you know what he keeps in this dresser? You do understand that his son is probably trying to target him, so it is very important that you cooperate with us now."

As they head back to town, Wess continues talking, "We recently fought a horde of goblins in town. I honestly couldn't tell you if they were from different tribes though. Grimwulf here caught and questioned one of them."