Chapter 188: Rat Problem (2/2)

”I said…” Aiden had a calm and friendly expression as he looked at the woman giving it even more power behind his cold tone. ”That you can go ahead and complain to the guild. However, don't forget to mention that despite your report, we have diligently killed off all the large rats that infested your bellowed lord's home.”

Taking a step forward, he leaned closer to the stunned woman. ”Make sure you don't forget to mention all that.”

Then, without waiting for her reaction as she seemed to be stunned still due to a mixture of shock and fright, he walked away, leaving the mansion. A few steps later, however, he stopped and turned sideways. He spoke with a much warmer tone, addressing his friend.

”Come on, let's leave this place, they do not appreciate our kindness. They even forgot what they requested. Let's just report our work and get ready for your advancement test. Don't bother with such meaningless things.”

”Y-yeah, right. W-wait up, Aiden!” Woken up by the sight of his friend's words, he quickly jolted after him, leaving the stunned and shocked crowd to themselves.

Seeing how Cole was finally woken up from his trance, Aiden smirked to himself, before looking ahead and resuming his slow pace. Before leaving the premises, however, he stopped once more after a few steps, and without turning back, he coldly uttered a few more words to the still shocked head-chef lady.

”Although the request was to KILL the rats and there was no mention of CLEANING your place as that would be YOUR job, I have done that extra step and done your work as well.”

With his thoughts spoken out, he then left the mansion slowly vanishing amidst the crowd of the busy street with Cole in tow.

Only after their figures have completely vanished from the stunned crowd of the service staff did the chef lady react, revealing an embarrassed, regretful look, looking at the gate. She heaved a heavy sigh, but could not utter any word in response. After a long while, she shook her head and turned towards the door to the mansion, and stepped in. Her voice trailed off as she gave the command to the staff standing outside.

”Get inside and start cleaning. The Miss and the Lord will come back in the afternoon, we have to make the whole house shine! Get to it, pronto!”

Her words seemed to have the magical effect of waking the staff from their reverie. They shook with fright hearing the head staff's berating words and quickly rushed inside to resume their work after their break due to the rat infestation.

---

Walking the streets with his friend, Cole keeping up the pace next to him, Aiden thought back to the events of last week. Since his meeting with the masked madame, a whole week has passed. After receiving the information about the location of the strange and mystical, otherworldly place, he agreed to join the Madame. He was not a soldier or a contracted mercenary in service of the Lady, but a willing participant, an equal partner in-exchange.

He agreed that if there's a request, he will hear them out, and if it's something he can help with, he will offer his assistance, but they can never force him to do their bidding. Aiden, however, agreed to join up in the upcoming 'Election Event' the fake war for the City Leader position.

Even though he wanted nothing more than to grab that arrogant golden armored man's throat and squeeze it until he stops breathing, he still agreed, due to the urging of the Lady. He had a feeling that if he were to refuse the offer, he would get her mad, and Aiden wasn't sure if he would be able to take her on. At least not without suffering as well in the process, and with his energy reserves already taken a hit due to the test earlier, he had no other choice.

The Lady had a very strong presence, much stronger than her daughter, the hooded leader of the examiners. Aiden felt that her power was probably around his master's, Number 3's level.

Still, since Sir Michael, the golden knight was only used as a pawn, an expendable piece on the chessboard. She didn't reveal the reason, but the Lady said that she cannot step outside the shadow any longer, and has to remain hidden, from the world and from their existing and future enemies.

After that, the Lady opened another rift, a tear in space, for Aiden to travel back. After looking at her accusingly, she revealed with a burst of cheeky laughter that this time, there would be no tricks or traps, the travel would be near-instantaneous and would bring him back to the same spot he left from.

After returning, a few days passed without much happening. They accepted some easy requests every day and returned to their rooms at the Inn at the end of every day. Mary continued to diligently serve them, not letting them go to another attendant. As the days passed, she became more and more eager and confident to approach and engage Aiden.

The days passed in peace, and today they accepted their first urgent request to come and clean up a mansion that was suddenly infested with large rats overnight.