Aftermath

“That’s not possible.”

“You expect me to believe you after what she did!”

Leo knew this was going to be a pain. Well… not just from his wound. Somehow the mage had calmed down the archer enough to get to speaking terms. Luckily their healer was still willing to heal him, though that could also be the stare Zentella was giving the priest.

“Look, like I said you can check his pockets,” Leo pointed to the body of the warrior, “Everyone saw I didn’t touch him so the artifact should still be on him.”

Hoping that using the gathered crowd of the caravan to his advantage, Leo just wanted to get this over with. The archer skeptically made her way to the body of them man on the ground and rummaged through his pockets. Her shocked face was all the confirmation he needed.

The crowd murmured at the revelation. Looks like they were willing to understand that the warrior was a traitor to them. He felt bad sure, but he just needed them to get off Zentella’s back. Would they allow this fact of betrayal overshadow the carnage she caused? What could Leo do in his condition if things go south?

“What’s the hold up?”

Leo has seen plenty of anime to see their depiction of some noble looking posh man to know that this guy was a posh prick.

“I’m sorry sir,” It was the mage who went to ease the man. “We’re still in the middle of figureing this out.” He then turned to the rest of the crowd, “We apologize everyone, we’ll be sure to continue the caravan soon.

“What else do you need to know?” The posh man asked, “it looked like just another party falling out with a traitor.” Leo didn’t like when he turned to glare at Zentella, “If anything, you should be punishing that girl for what she had done.”

“I already told you, she only-”

“I’m not talking about the adventure’s death you simpleton.” The man snapped, “I’m talking about the mess she caused.” He then pointed to the bandit bodies lying on the ground. “Surely you knew better than to leave this many dead together. Unless she wanted the dead to rise.”

What Leo didn’t know was that such an act is possible. Natural born monsters included the likes of undead. Should the grudges of a group of dead linger and mix with the stagnant negative mana, all manners of undead of varying strength would rise.

“Sir,” It was the priest who spoke up now, “I understand your concerns, but I’m still a certified priest. I’ll be able to purify the site. So please, don’t worry.”

The nobleman scoffed, “You expect me to believe that? You all are far too expended. Especially after you spent your precious mana healing that beast’s master.”

Leo blood boiled at the comment. He was never really a confrontational person back on Earth. He still couldn’t explain what made him stand up even for Zentella.

“Oh? And do you have anything to say?” Leo did nothing but glared at the man, “Listen here adventurer, I’m William Raithfort. “ The posh man stated, “I’m a merchant with the Raitfort Association.” William then made a big show turning around to the crowd. “I’m the one who funded this caravan. I would have been more than willing to accommodate the prisoners, but if we have to spend the night burning the bodies for the priest here to get back into form.” He gave a chuckle, “Then there should be compensation.”

Leo had to say something. He should say something. He needed to say something. Yet… all his thoughts were to turn and escape with Zentella. What could he do if he just decided to revoke their passage to ride?

“And what would that be Mr. William?”

Everyone turned to to the new voice that cut through the air.

“What do you mean guild girl?” William turned to Sophia wha had spoken up, “All I meant was that I would make a citizen arrest to that rouge adventurer.” He then pointed at Zentella.

“Is that so…” Sophia began to walk forward to them, “Now tell me Mr. William, would that mean you would take her to prison…yourself?”

“Is that even a question? Of course I would” He scoffed.

“Well, aren’t you a busy merchant?” Sophia then circled to Leo’s side. “What would posses you to personally see prisoners off yourself? Unless of course…” She then produced a sheet of paper and a pair of shackles from behind her back, “You planned participate in illicit slavery?”

This earned a collective gasped from the crowd. It seems that William had only prepared for the caravan to help escort paying customers to the town of Bellen with the excess carriages to hold prisoners. The revelation casted doubt even among the drivers.

“We-… Well I say.” A moment of shocked that was quickly returned to an arrogant persona, “You would dare plant falsified evidence on me?”

Before he could continue, Leo saw Sophia put on her acting face, feigning ignorance, “Why I say Mr. William, you would accuse me of falsifying evidence? Why, these fell out of your personal carriage. You probably forgotten, when you rounded up the bandits that had flanked us, you had dropped theses once you ran out to see the commotion.”

Leo saw the disgusted look on this William’s face. He was getting stuck. Should he continue to deny, suspicion will raise. For a merchant, trust was everything, so that left the man with one option to save face, “You would dare enter my cabin to steal my wares!? I’ll have you know, that I was merely providing evidence for an informant in Bellen.”

This did not faze Sophia as she simply looked at the letter, “Yet, this was a personal letter between you and Mr. Lanister over there.” She coldly nodded to the dead warrior, “Of confirmation of your plans to apprehend the bandits together.”

William then lost all composure and launched himself at Sophia and the documents. Finally Leo found the strength to move and intercepted the man. It didn’t take much to incapacitate him. A simple punch and he was rocking on the floor weeping. Zentella also stepped in and knocked him out with more precise *bop* to the cranium.

She turned to Leo with a nod that said, “Neutralized.”

Or what it; “That’s how it’s done.” Leo wasn’t sure.

In the next instant, the drivers and workers that were more loyal to William began to panic. Leo saw that they found that with their backer gone, they had to defend themselves. They chose poorly as they were about to attack the other passengers to use as bargaining chips.

“Oh Frigid Spirts heed my call… Glacial Prison!”

In a flash all turn coated employees of one William Raithfort when then frozen from the waist down.

“Good work Cyrus,” Sophia then reached in her pocket and showed off an official looking badge, “I’m Sophia of the Adventure’s guild. I her by execute my authority of guild representative to place all those who participated alongside William Raithforth’s illegal activities under arrest.”