The Princess' Assignment - Part 2

The trio entered the first annex of the temple and followed its leader to the inside of the main building. All the while, suit-wearing tsukumogami bodyguards kept their gazes on them.

For a second, Anna even thought that it would be fun if she started a fight with them to see how many she could handle. Dealing with the aftermath, meaning Col and Karim trying to beat her up, would be a pain though, so she scratched that plan. It also wouldn't be very 'partner-like' and she was kind of bound by this.

With that out of her mind, she got back to paying attention to the path heading inside the stone building. In general, there wasn't much to see there. It was a very utilitarian layout for a temple, with few decorations and an easy-to-understand pathway, so that was that. The only abnormality she could notice was how tense the priests and workers seemed to be. Still, they passed by the communal areas, the priest’s lodgings, the prayer areas and, finally, reached the main hall.

There, at the end of their path, rows of thin wooden staircases waited in the path above. The kind of which was almost making Anna give up on this whole thing.

“Can we, like, talk ‘ere and be done with it, gals? Goin’ up just fer a talk is...” Annabeth’s excuses gathered the attention of her group right away, but none of their expressions seemed very positive. “Just sayin’, 'kay? No need to glare me like that…”

The ranged inquisitor sighed and started to climb up the main building’s stairs after the kitsune who hadn’t even bothered to stop when her guests did.

Some five floors of climbing up later, their groups arrived at another big hall. This one likely was where Minako would meet her guests since it had a more proper air to it and some other small details. It was mostly an open space surrounded by windows with a small elevated space at the back.

Other than what they could see though, the walls right behind this elevated area seemed suspicious. From what Annabeth could see, this one wall was made of some paper-like thing and could be opened if needed. It was more than sure that something important was hidden there.

She couldn’t be sure without being very invasive though and, to be fair, she didn’t want to know.

For some reason, Annabeth was feeling weirdly drawn to it still but her mind was also very apprehensive to march forward. The best was avoiding it then, or that's what she decided.

Either way, the five-tailed fox went to the elevation and sat over her legs right there on the ground. And after seeing her do so, Karim was quick to imitate the act while the other two stood there, just staring at the sitting kitsune.

“So…” Col went on as usual while her old friend was cocking her head in confusion. “No pillow?”

“Won’t sittin’ like that numb yer legs?” Anna added too while staring at the maiden’s legs. “It’ll mess up these nice ones ya have… Probably.”

“You’re bordering sexual harassment here, Anna.”

“But it can’t be healthy! Blood flow is very important, ya know? Can’t go blockin’ it like that…”

“The second part is the problem, dumbass.”

“Ow, that… I thought it was on mah’ mind only… Sorry ‘bout that.” The redhead continued with an unbothered expression. “It’s true though.”

“Can you stop fucking around, please?”

“Nay. Not happenin’.”

“I actually expected that answer…”

“SHUT UP AND SIT DOWN, YOU TWO!!!” The smallest person in the room finally blew up at the two inquisitors bantering in the middle of an audience while also pulling them both down. If they let it happen or if the surprise was enough, Karim easily managed to plop the two inquisitors on the ground.

Their form was terrible, but they were not sat down at least.

As all this was happening though, their host kept quietly working on her cabinet and preparing some kind of tea using the utensils there and her fox fire.

“No need to pull, dammit!” Col shook off her messed-up stance and crossed her legs on the floor without even reacting to the pull. “It’s all Anna’s fault either way…”

“You both are at fault! We’re inside a holy place having an audience with the highest authority around, dammit! Have some respect for once…”

“Calm down, partner. We talkin' with a fellow Bureau member here, ay?”

“That is, in some ways, true for sure.” The fox girl finally opened her mouth. “Are any of you served, by the way?”

Minako presented her kettle to the guests after serving herself, which in turn froze the petite cop trying to put order in the situation.

“I’m fine. My beverages need a much higher level of sugar and a much lower temperature.” Anna answered in her usual tone. “Do you still like those hot thingys, Col?”

“Is that, you know, the real thing?” Colette asked with unexpected interest.

“What do you mean by ‘the real thing’?" The fox answered with clear confusion in her proper expression. "This is matcha, the normal one.”

“No, no, no, you’re not getting it… Do you have any idea how rare is authentic southern tea? Your people don’t sell it for some reason and no one plants the thing in the continent! And I'm not even talking about the powdering and everything else...”

“I… I don’t know what to tell you…” Minako answered with a very unsure expression on her face. "I never had any different."

“Would you like some or not?! We have other matters to talk about, remember?” Karim interjected before the conversation could steer too far away again and then changed her expression to a more receptive one. “I would like a cup, by the way. It's not every day that you find someone who can make it properly...”

“Fine… Give me one too and we can talk about it later.”

“As you wish.”

The dark-haired kitsune poured her green tea for the guests and the cups started to levitate toward their targets as if they were being carried by someone invisible. Both Karim and Colette took them as they arrived without bothering with their delivery though, and it finally came the time to talk.

Anna was still endeared with the next room as all this was happening though.

“Something bothering you, Annabeth?” Minako asked after closing down her kettle. “You seem a little out of it right now.”

“Oh! Sorry… I was just wanderin’ why make a wall with paper...” She bluffed masterfully while putting on her laid-back smile. “Not somethin’ I see every day, y'know?”

To Annabeth’s response, Karim’s reaction was getting suspicious again and Colette was too focused on her tea to bother, but the host didn’t seem to react. She just kept her calm expression and kept the conversation going.

“It’s common around Lubari, I mean, around the Southern Islands would make more sense to you... That’s beside the point though, so I would like if we went to the main subject, please.”

“Will do, holy gal. What ya need from us? We can do anythin’ ya want since…”

“With due respect, I’ll ask that you keep in mind that we won’t accept any request even if our role is support.” Karim cut in before her partner could say something unnecessary. “We’re dealing with inquisitors, so not everyone will be welcoming if we interfere too much.”

“Well, shorty is kinda right. I can hear ya call but we’ll see if it’s workable or not later.”

“That’s enough for me.” Their host nodded in acknowledgment. “I am sure you’ll help though.”

“Looks like she’s confident… Can we talk now, oh mighty mistress?” The red-haired inquisitor asked the petite blondie with as much venom as she could.

Karim was already used to it by now though, so she just glared back and looked away in acceptance, which in turn brought a grin to Anna’s mouth.

“Well then, what can I help ya, fox lady?”

“It’s a simple job…” Minako went on while sipping her tea and keeping her calm like usual.

“I want you to destroy the army hiding somewhere in the city.”