"Break down the front door! Get moving!"
Renato directed a squad of City Guards as they hacked at the door with axes.
The wooden door looked ordinary, but proved unusually difficult to break down. It had clearly been enchanted.
"I was about to say we didn't have enough people and needed to split up." Lailas held her shortbow, keeping watch on the second-floor windows. "Looks like I really am getting old and set in my ways."
This was the sixth hideout they had searched that morning, and the last one in Lailas's intelligence.
Renato had obtained a warrant from Albert and called in a squad of guards to assist with the searches.
"The Speaker already had a dim view of Lord Orton's recent situation. Of course he'd support our operation." Renato toyed with his newly acquired enchanted dagger. "After all, refusing to take a stance is often a stance in itself."
"Besides, none of these houses officially belong to Orton. Even if the two sides have to cooperate again in the future, this won't sour relations too badly."
Crash!
After holding out for nearly half an hour, the door finally gave way under the relentless chopping and collapsed with a crash. The guards charged inside, shouting. A few minutes later, a guard captain emerged and reported to Renato:
"Sir, we found no one inside."
"Good work. Dismiss your men for now." Renato slipped him five Silver Crowns. "You've been at it all morning. I can't get away just yet, so take the lads out for a good meal on me."
Only after watching the guards leave with cheerful smiles did the three of them enter the house.
"Would you like me to detect any magical traps that might be here?"
"No need, Perly." Renato followed behind Lailas. "Even if there