Delievery for the State

Like yesterday, I continued to search for any traces of the incident that took place in almost the very north of Previl. Though, I have yet to find any clues regarding Alyssa’s stabbing. Because of that, I didn’t sleep very well. If they’re that good at covering up their footprints, then I can’t even imagine what’s coming for me.

Since I’ve been searching around the whole day, it’s also no wonder that it’s almost evening again. Even though I don’t want to stop my investigation, I am kind of forced to because of the gathering.

There was this small man shouting around last night. He has a long, almost orange beard, monocle and zylinder. To no one’s surprise, he introduced himself as the owner of a factory complex. Agreeing with his outraged statements surprisingly got me an invite to a sort of party for high ranking people. My intention was only to get on his good side, since the gang that smashed up his factory could be related to Alyssa. But now I have to attend his party, where I’ll stand out completely.

To minimize the embarrassment, I already made my way towards a tailor. With my last coins and some more I earned today, I was luckily able to afford one. Though, ‘fitting’ is not the way I’d describe it. Still, it’s better than nothing.

“It should be somewhere around here.”

The invite specified the location, though, it’s pretty far from the center of Previl. Not exactly outside the border, though fairly close to it. Right now, I’m still on the road between climbed out houses. However, I can already see a pretty open space, with a large, almost modern house with multiple stories.

“That must be it,” I say unsurprised.

I really hope this works out, otherwise I’m left with no clues and no money…

“Invitation?” The guard at the front gate holds out his hand.

I give him the paper nervously, though they open the gate shortly after.

Entering what seems to be a sort of front yard, people are already gathered in masses. Most of them are holding wine glasses, presumably with some expensive liquor and are dressed the part, too.

To be frank, I’m a bit overwhelmed…

“A drink, mister?” A butler holds out a plate with the same drinks everyone else is enjoying.

“Thank you.” I take one hesitantly.

He continues on to the next visitors.

How am I even supposed to find Garrick?

Well, this question answers itself fairly quickly, as the orange bearded man waves from the balcony at the second story.

I navigate through the crowd inside the building, going up the marble stairs and towards my new acquaintance.

“There you are! Took you a bit.” Garrick calls out.

“Yeah, it’s fairly crowded.” I adjust my suit.

“But that’s the thrill, isn’t it? So many faces to meet and…connections to make.” He smiles somewhat sly.

“Speaking of, I was just talking to this lovely woman here.” Garrick gestures to the woman behind him.

“I’m Elizabeth, pleased to finally meet you.” A lady in a bright blue dress steps forward.

Light blue make up, blonde hair, a necklace with a pearl at the front…

“The pleasure is all mine. My name is Friedrich.”

“You know, I always wanted to meet the person behind the seashell necklaces. Tell me, how is your business doing?”

It really is her, my very first customer and the reason I was able to afford a house.

“Well, it’s been plenty successful since you started wearing one of my necklaces. I am very thankful for that.”

“Oh, don’t be so humble! You would have been successful with those either way.” She waves off the thanks playfully.

“You seem to already know each other.” Garrick intervenes.

“We do. I’ve been fond of his shell necklaces ever since I saw them on my wedding day. This pearl one is also made by him.” She looks down towards her accessory.

“My, my. Scientist seems to not be your only profession.” He inspects the shiny pearl closer.

“Scientist?” The noble lady asks.

“Yes, I conduct research on my own. The necklaces were a key part of funding them,” I admit.

“I see…Well, I hope you won’t hang up your fashion career too fast,” she chuckles.

While Elizabeth continues on to the other guests, another man joins our conversation.

“May I have a word?” The man wearing a black suit, with equally dark hair and gloves taps Garrick on the shoulder.

“Ah! Kieran! What a pleasure to see you here!” The factory owner pats the stoic looking man.

“I won’t be here too long. I investigated the case with the factory and-”

“Oh don’t worry about that right now! Have some fun! Ah, and meet my new friend here!” He gestures towards me.

“Uh…Friedrich.” I hold out my hand

“Kieran.” He shakes it.

“Don’t worry Friedrich, Kieran here just takes his job very seriously. He’s a bureaucrat for the state you know,” Harrick whispers the last part in my ear.

For the state? That just screams like trouble…

“And Friedrick here is a scientist! He also had some trouble with those pesty punks, can you believe that!”

“Did you now?” Kieran asks me with cold eyes.

“Ah, yes. Though, it was not as severe as what happened to Garrick's factory.

“I see…”

“At first I thought he was one of them as well! But once we exchanged our pieces of mind, I knew instantly he couldn’t be one of them.”

Garrick continues explaining the rest of our meeting. Especially the part about me agreeing with his ridiculous opinions is told in full detail. However, I didn’t really focus on it too much, or rather I couldn’t, due to the bureaucrat’s lingering gaze on me. It feels like he’s constantly surveilling me..

“The most annoying part is that they kill all the homeless people around my factory! They actively decrease the reserve army of labor! If this continues, they’ll stop working for only one gold coin!”

Garrick’s comment snaps me back to reality. They exploit the scarcity of jobs and the abundance of jobless people competing for scraps…No, wait, that’s unimportant!

Dead people near his factory, which has been messed up…And Alyssa was attacked not too far away. Of all places, it’s the nearest one I haven’t searched yet, because I was already sure the area is private property. So…Could it be…?

“Excuse me, I forgot something important. Thank you very much for the invite ,Garrick. I hope to see you soon.”

“Alright, if you must. See you soon, friend!”

But even as I hurriedly leave, I can feel the bureaucrat’s spying eyes on my back.

I sprint through the alleys and main road as quickly as I can, tough, still carefully as the darkness of the night dims my line of sight. To add onto the blindness, it’s also in the whole direction, that being north-east. So it takes some time to get to the factory.

Garrick’s complex is fully empty, only a few lights still on but with no one inside.

“I don’t think he would mind me searching around a bit.”

With that line of thought I begin my investigation, searching through every street and especially back alley nearby. Though, it doesn’t take long until I find…

“Are you awake?”

Something is covered in a blanket, laying on his back at a wall with no one nearby.

Slowly revealing the blanket, I’m met with a vomit-inducing sight: a horribly smashed head, with almost mushy spots.

“It’s like someone stomped his head in…”

I cover his head up again before continuing on.

Even so, I found another pummeled body just a turn later. There are also many broken vials, some with a bit of liquid left inside.

“I should take one with me as evidence, just in case.”

These findings pile up until I find myself in a more open spot, though still between the backstreets.

Standing ominously in the middle are blue crates, which seem to have already been opened. Looking inside, they appear empty aside from a few vials with the same liquid as the ones I found. Inspecting the crates further, they all have the same little signs on bottom.

“Delievery to state, Manoford, Previl, Drowsiness-Warmth Set.”

That’s the combination for the usual drug potion…And the state was supposed to receive them? Though, it doesn’t seem like they really received them, considering the broken vials and those left in the crate. Together with the beaten up bodies, it can’t be a coincidence. But even with all this evidence…What do I do with it? I still don’t know who could have hurt Alyssa…

Even though they’d be the prime subject, I don’t think it’s the state. They wouldn’t just ‘decrease their reserve-army’. But I don’t have anyone else in mind.

My best bet is to ask the state directly, though, there is a chance they will kill me. If the citizen knew the state buys the drugs that get the poor people hooked, it would surely be a disaster. They couldn’t afford to leave me alive.

Still, if this keeps going, more people could die and I will probably remain as a target for whoever attacked Alyssa. Besides, otherwise I won’t be able to avenge her…

I have to confront the state.