The Tavern

"Someone else had gone missing?" Matthew asked. He wanted to talk to Link.

Matthew picked up his Feather Pen and wrote underneath, "Come to Rest Room 26. Matthew."

After a while, there was a knock at the door.

Link and Anna arrived together.

"You two are practically inseparable. Every time I see you, you're together," Matthew said with a smile.

Anna blushed slightly. In matters of the heart, she seemed shy, unlike her somewhat impatient nature.

Link still had his hair tied in a ponytail today. Looking a little lazy, he said casually, "It helps us work together better."

Matthew asked, "Has there been another Missing Persons Case in Whitestone Town?"

Link spoke slowly, his voice languid.

"Yes. We're investigating it now. The owner of the West Street Tavern has gone missing.

"No one has seen him since he closed up the tavern a few days ago. Neither the Night Watchmen nor the gate guards saw him leave Whitestone Town. I suspect this case is connected to the earlier disappearance of the Night Watchman."

Link seemed to suddenly remember something. With an interested look, he said:

"Would you be interested in joining the Court Wizards? With your abilities, you'd have no problem getting in.

"The Court Wizards have two main career tracks: Investigators and Staff Members. Investigators mainly handle assignments issued by the Court Wizards and affairs involving outside wizards, while Staff Members mainly deal with the kingdom's administration and the Court Wizards' internal affairs.

"I'm the leader of an Investigator Squad and a Level 7 Investigator. I'm authorized to hire Temporary Investigators."

The Court Wizards' internal positions were divided into ranks from Level 1 to Level 9.

Levels 7–9 were Investigators, Levels 4–6 were Detectives, and Levels 1–3 were Senior Detectives.

The Staff Member track followed the same system.

Matthew raised an eyebrow. He'd learned that the kingdoms of the Northern Region were all ruled by members of the Northern Wizard Alliance. The Blizzard Kingdom, where Whitestone Town was located, was controlled by its Court Wizards. The Court Wizard Speaker was also the King of the Blizzard Kingdom.

He was somewhat interested in the Court Wizards. "Are there any restrictions on joining as a Temporary Investigator? What would it take to become a full-fledged Court Wizard?"

Link explained:

"Temporary Investigators don't have many restrictions. They just have to obey the Wizard Regulations issued by the Blizzard Kingdom, and they can leave at any time.

"Once you've accumulated enough Contribution Points, you can apply to take the qualifying exam. If you pass, you'll become a full-fledged Court Wizard.

"Investigators have plenty of ways to earn Contribution Points. You get them for completing assignments, and we can use them internally to exchange for Wizard Tools, magic, Meditation Methods, Potion Recipes, Alchemy Materials, and other Wizard Supplies. Of course, you can buy those things with money, too."

Temporary Investigators were a bit like mercenaries who worked for pay. They had few restrictions and plenty of freedom.

"I understand. I've decided to join as a Temporary Investigator," Matthew said. He wanted to collect more Runic Magic and Meditation Methods, and joining the Court Wizards might be a good option.

Link shook Matthew's hand. "Welcome aboard. Lady Alsha has issued an internal assignment for the Whitestone Town disappearances. You can investigate the case with us. You'll earn Contribution Points for solving it, too."

Lady Alsha was a Level 5 Officer in the Court Wizards. Whitestone Town was under her jurisdiction, so she had the authority to issue internal assignments.

The next day, around noon, at the West Street Tavern.

Link had arranged to meet Matthew at the tavern. Although the owner had gone missing, the tavern was still open as usual, with the owner's son currently managing it.

Matthew arrived a little early. Link and Anna hadn't reached the tavern yet.

Business was good today, and quite a few people were already inside. As soon as Matthew entered, the patrons studied him warily. The chatter in the room fell silent for a moment, but soon the tavern gradually returned to its lively bustle.

They said the tavern had been open for decades. Young people usually preferred the newer taverns on East Street, while the West Street establishments mostly served regulars who liked to come by for a few drinks at dinner. Today, though, the tavern felt different. There were many more young drinkers than usual.

Matthew listened closely. He could hear quite a few people around him discussing the tavern owner's disappearance.

"Damn it! Why'd that old bastard have to disappear? He still hasn't paid me back!" said a young man at the table near the entrance.

A drunken, bearded man said, "If you ask me, a gang of kidnappers came to Whitestone Town recently, and the Night Watchman disappeared not long ago, too! I suspect they were all sold off to the Royal Capital. I hear they found a Great Mine over there, and they're short on miners."

Looks like most of them are just here for the gossip... Matthew thought. He found a table in the corner and sat down.

As soon as he sat, Matthew waved toward the entrance. He saw Link and Anna arriving.

Link came over with a grin. "You have to try this tavern's Whitestone Fruit Wine. It's a specialty of Whitestone Town."

Whitestone Town got its name from a plant called the White Stone Fruit, which grew abundantly in the area. It was a remarkable plant that only flowered and bore fruit after the winter snow stopped falling.

Before long, a server came over and asked, "What would you like? Today we have meat dishes like... and fruits and vegetables like..."

The tavern didn't have a fixed menu. The drinks were consistent, and listed at the bar.

"White Stone Fruit is in season right now. One order of Cheesy Baked White Stone Fruit, and one order of..." Link said.

After listing the dishes, he looked at Matthew. Matthew said:

"I'll have the same."

Once the server had left, Link snapped his fingers. An invisible barrier enclosed them. It was a type of Sound Isolation Magic. "Now we can talk freely. No sound will get out."

Matthew asked, "Have you found any leads on the tavern owner's disappearance?"

Anna nodded. "Someone responded to the bounty posted at Lady Alsha's Exchange Meeting yesterday. According to the information they provided, the tavern owner had built up a large debt before he disappeared. Sir Rayne was the one who lent him the money. I think we should look into Sir Rayne first."

Matthew's expression shifted. When he'd entered, he'd heard people talking about how the tavern owner owed money. He told the two of them what he'd heard.

Link rubbed his chin. "Looks like the tavern owner owed more than just Sir Rayne. We'll look into why he ended up so deeply in debt."

Just then, the server began bringing out the food. They dropped the subject and started tasting the dishes.

Matthew tried a White Stone Fruit. It was slightly sour at first, then turned faintly sweet. Its texture was crisp and refreshing, and the rich flavor of the cheese blended perfectly with it. The Whitestone Fruit Wine had a distinctive taste, too, though it wasn't very strong. People who liked hard liquor probably wouldn't enjoy it.