SWDnovel Chapter 22 The Grain Store is Attacked Again
Chapter 22 The Grain Store is Attacked Again
When Zhag finished buying food and returned to the sentry post, a familiar-looking woman was leisurely looking at the notice board opposite the sentry post, checking the commissions and announcements.
Zag recognized her; she was from the grain store, named Grace. She was the one who came to apply for the job when the grain store's convoy was attacked a few days ago.
She wore a red velvet dress today, and since it wasn't too cold in the afternoon, she didn't wear a coat or fur, but she still carefully accessorized the neckline with a brooch featuring golden vines and pearl grapes.
Good afternoon, Grace!
Zag's attitude towards his financial backers was quite good.
"Good afternoon, Sentinel," Grace said, glancing at Zag who was carrying a glass milk jug and a waxed paper bag full of food. She looked him up and down without exchanging pleasantries, and went straight to the point: "The grain store has been attacked again, this time at the granary outside the town."
"Another attack? My God!"
Zag couldn't help but frown.
He didn't believe the grain store had actually been attacked; he suspected it was just another tactic by the grain store to drive up grain prices—these people were just too greedy!
Grace completely ignored Zag's expression; her face showed no worry, and her tone was calm, but what she said was different: "Yes, ever since the giant flying squirrels ravaged the entire granary, we built a new granary in a safe place outside town, hired a consultant, and spent a lot of money designing a defense system strong enough to withstand attacks from level 4 magical creatures... But unfortunately, this time the granary was attacked by two werewolves..."
"A werewolf!?"
These magical creatures are said to be cursed monsters; the appearance of a single one is classified as a Level 4 event, let alone two together!
Are these local grain stores in such remote areas really that powerful? They can even control werewolves!?
"Yes, so the grain store's manpower is really insufficient to resolve this matter. Our advisors can only barely trap these two werewolves in the grain warehouse. To kill them, we will need to ask the sentries to issue a commission."
Zag said sincerely, "Two werewolves would make it at least a Level 5 incident, and I'm not sure if the investigators in this town are capable of handling a Level 5 incident... unless the investigators from the Association's headquarters step in."
"I brought 50 gold pounds, of which 45 gold pounds are for the commission and 5 gold pounds are for your service fee... I know this matter is a bit tricky, but please do it as soon as possible."
Grace spoke, shaking the money pouch she had been holding, the coins clinking inside. Then, she deftly tossed it into the waxed paper bag Zag was carrying, and reiterated, "Please make sure you find a suitable investigator as soon as possible, whether they are from the association or not. The grain store just wants the incident resolved quickly."
She gave so much!
5级事件的基础委託赏金是800先令，也就是40金镑，而粮行一出手就是50金镑——足足1000先令！
There was even a 5-pound gold coin specifically for him, a perfectly legitimate "tip"!
Zag immediately agreed, saying, "I will do everything in my power."
Grace nodded in satisfaction: "Thank you so much. Please post the notice as soon as possible. There are urgent matters to attend to at the grain store. If you need any signatures, you can come to the grain store to find me after you have finished recording the documents. I'm always available."
The 5-gold tip prompted Zag to perform almost the most sublime courtesy he could muster ever—he even stepped back half a step and bent his knees like a knight while holding the glass jar and wax paper bag, saying in the most sincere tone, "Of course, no problem, beautiful lady."
Grace didn't comment on this, she just nodded slightly as a greeting, and then left in a hurry.
After Zag finally managed to put the things he was carrying down by the door, took out his key, and opened the door a crack, a familiar voice came from the far end of the street: "Sentinel! Sentinel! Please wait a moment!"
"Rosa?"
Zag was surprised to see the little girl running over anxiously, and swallowed back the pleasantries he was about to say.
"Sir Sentry! My father has gone missing! Please help me! I beg you!"
Rosa's voice was very hoarse, her shoes were covered in mud, and her clothes were dusty and dirty, making her look quite disheveled.
"Your father..." Zag wasn't sure if the girl understood that he wasn't a member of the guards, but a sentinel responsible for handling unusual events, so he asked tactfully, "Did something special happen when your father went missing? If he just disappeared, perhaps you should go to the guards."
"Yes! Ever since the day I came home, he's become very irritable, and he sheds a lot of strange hair when he showers... like this kind of hair, which I found on his bed!"
As Rosa spoke, she carefully took out a small cloth bag from her bosom, opened it, and inside lay a handful of stiff, black short hair.
Zag carefully examined the small tuft of hair, rubbed it between his fingers, and smelled it. It didn't seem to have any special smell.
"I don't know... It looks a bit like pig bristles, or longer horsehair, but it's definitely not head hair. Are you sure it fell from your father's body?"
"Absolutely! Last night I saw him secretly shaving the hair off his arm with a knife and throwing it into the fire. He must be hiding something from me! But he went out early this morning and hasn't come back all day, nor has he left any message! I'm scared, I'm scared something bad has happened to him... Sentry, please, you must have a way to save him, right?"
By the end, poor Rosa's voice was trembling with tears.
At the same time, a dark little cat's head peeked out from the crack in the door behind Zag, and Snowball's confident voice rang in his ear: "It's wolf fur or dog fur, to be precise, it's the fur of a Black Realm Hound, but it could also be a werewolf, but the magical fluctuations on it are very weak, so its owner should not be as powerful as a werewolf."
Zag paused for a moment, then said to Rosa, "This should be considered a Level 2 event, but... do you have the money? A Level 2 event requires at least 200 shillings."
To everyone's surprise, Rosa actually produced a bag of coins, saying, "Yes! This morning, an alchemist visited my father. After learning of his disappearance, he gave me 10 gold pounds, saying he was a friend of my father's... He's the one who sent me to ask you for help!"
Zag didn't take the bag of money. Instead, he suggested, "Here's what we'll do: you take the money first. I'll ask my friend to see if he can find your father. If not, I'll ask the investigators to help tonight... If my friend can solve this, you might not have to spend too much... That way, you and your father can have an easier time."
Rosa certainly remembered that she was saved by this Sentinel's "friend," so she trusted the "friend" Zag spoke of very much.
She clutched her purse tightly, sniffed, and her eyes were red-rimmed: "Thank you so much, Mr. Sentinel!"
Zag sighed and said, "I'll put the things down and go now. If you're really worried, you can wait here at the sentry post."
Rosa nodded earnestly, "Okay! Thank you so much!"
Zag then picked up the things on the ground again, used his shoulder to push open the door, and allowed Rosa to enter the house smoothly.
As Rosa stepped into the house, she was startled by the conspicuous charred tables and chairs. Pointing to the messy wreckage, she asked, "Sentinel, what happened here?"
"It's nothing, just a little accident. By the way, if anyone else comes, tell them to come back tomorrow to apply for a service."
Zag didn't want to say much more. He placed the purchased items on the sideboard by the door, gave one last instruction, and then turned and left with Snowball in his hand.
"I will keep a good watch!"
Rosa made a promise.
————————————Divider Line————————————
[Snowball's Science Mini-Drama]: Fairies are magical creatures that prefer to live alone, but this does not prevent them from communicating with each other or seeking refuge through "Fairy Houses".
However, the "Fairy House" is not a real space in the traditional sense, but a "net" composed of a secondary state that exists based on magic and is protected by Agorah. This "net" spreads throughout the main world, connecting all fairies and providing them with the ability to hide.
Since the "Fairy House" is not a physical space, it is undetectable, intrusive, and indestructible under normal circumstances, making it an absolutely safe place.
Of course, apart from fairies, other races are also not allowed to enter the "Fairy House".