Differing Tastes

"We finally have word on Phillip and Hilda's whereabouts."

"That should be great news. Why do you look so concerned?"

"Here. Take a look yourself. I saw we had received a notice on the main lithograph stone so I wrote a paper copy of the message so we don't lose it."

Paul took a folded piece of paper out from his shirt pocket and handed it to me.

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Dear Paul Greyrat,

An adventurer who had accepted your unranked missing persons quest claims to have pertinent information sufficient to complete the quest.

Please return to the Guild office at your earliest convenience to determine if the aforementioned adventurer has completed your request and is due your promised one Asura Gold coin reward.

Thank you for your patronage.

Signed, Milbotts Branch Adventurer's Guild

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After reading the letter, I was still confused.

"I still don't get why you're worried. This letter basically just says that someone knows where they are."

"Phillip would have to be truly desperate to beg the Notos for help in the Milbotts Region. I figured that once he saw that there was nothing left of Fittoa he would either take charge and help in rebuilding or flee back to us in Sharia."

"I suppose I just don't understand the inner workings of Asura politics."

"You're better off for it. Most Asura Nobles are a bunch of arrogant scumbags who would stab their own brother in the back if it meant obtaining just a little more money or power."

I nodded to him in agreement. Getting involved in the fighting among those damn nobles is what got Sylphy killed in my previous life. "You're right. Nobles are scum."

"And Asura nobles are the worst of them."

I nodded in agreement. Coming from Paul, that was definitely believable considering how Claire Latreia treated him.

"Well, I suppose we should head over there and see what they know."

That night we packed our things and I told Mother about the message we received and that I was heading out with Father to hopefully track down Phillip and Hilda. The following morning, we went down to the basement and I drew out a magic circle to take us near the Milbotts Region.

We arrived inside a dark cave in the mountain range just east of Lubert, the biggest city within the Milbotts Region. From the cave, we had a four hour walk to reach the city. We passed by a couple low ranked monsters on the way, but Paul made short work of each of them.

We reached the city at about noon, so we decided to stop and get some food before continuing on to the Adventurer's Guild.

"What are you in the mood for?", I asked Father.

"I don't care, as long as I get a lot of it. I'm starving!"

I kept my eyes open, looking for something appealing as we strolled through the market, when suddenly we were assaulted with a strong and tempting aroma.

"Damn! Something sure smells good!", Paul commented.

"You're not kidding. I think it's coming from over there."

I pointed to a small restaurant that was adjoined to an Inn. It seemed like the type of place where you got a free meal for staying at an expensive but luxurious Inn.

We opened the doors to find the place bustling. Evidently the food here must be good. After waiting a couple minutes for a table to be cleaned, a waiter guided us to be seated.

On the table in front of us was an assortment of silverware and tablecloths as well as two menus.

"Can I get you anything to drink while you decide on your order?", the waiter asked us.

"Just water will be fine", I answered.

"I'll take your finest ale and keep it coming"

I glared over at Paul as the waiter left to get our drinks.

"You're really going to get plastered this early in the day? Aren't we on an important mission?"

"Relax. You can just cast detoxification magic on me afterward."

"Ugh...", I sighed. "Fine, but I'm not paying for your drinks."

"Cheapskate!", Paul complained with a grin.

As I looked over the menu something interesting caught my eye. The menu had a diverse selection of popular dishes and stews that the Milbotts Region is famous for, but at the very bottom of the menu, something else was added.

"Dragon Meat: Nanahoshi Style"

The last menu entry was drawn in with different handwriting from the rest of the menu. It almost seemed like it was a last minute addition.

'Dragon meat... I remember having it once long ago and not liking it very much. Much more interesting though is 'Nanahoshi Style'. Did Nanahoshi visit this restaurant? Or Perhaps does she even work here?'

I signaled the waiter that we were ready and placed my order.

"I'll take an order of Dragon Meat please", I asked.

"Dragon meat, eh? I've never had it before, sounds interesting! I'll take the same."

"Very well. Please allow me to take your menus. I will return once your food is ready."

Something about this feels oddly familiar. I'm getting a weird sense of Deja Vu.

Paul made sure the waiter was earning his paycheck while we waited. Every couple of minutes he was flagging him down for another drink. Before our food was even ready Paul was already drunk. Several of the other patrons were staring at us but I paid them no heed. The prices here were way too high for commoners to frequent this place. You could tell at a glance looking around that everyone else here was either a low ranking noble or wealthy merchant of some kind.

"Waiter! One mer' round for me and my boy!"

"Ugh... I told you I'm not drinking."

"Haha! All the more for me then!"

This time though, when the waiter returned, he had a tray with our meals as well as Paul's two drinks. He set down a small bowl of soup as well as a plate of golden brown meat laying on a bed of multigrain rice. The food looked absolutely delicious!

Paul immediately started gorging himself while I took some time to savor the meal. The soup was good. It was a clear vegetable soup with a subtle saltiness to it. The rice was cooked perfectly. The meat on the other hand? Disgusting! The meat was wet and oily on the outside but dry and chewy on the inside. Absolutely Terrible! It completely ruined the otherwise perfect meal.

Now I remember! I've had this before! Long ago with Eris and Ruijerd! It was in a run down shabby place served by a man who looked pale and skeletal.

"Waiter!", Paul called out.

The man rolled his eyes and slowly approached our table yet again.

"If you want to complain sir, I can relay your complaint to management. We are quite busy right now and the chefs are working."

I nodded my head in agreement. My thoughts exactly.

"Complain? No! This is the best thing I've ever tasted! Bring me another order. No, make it two!"

Silence...

The waiter and I both stared at Paul with a look of utter disbelief. Surely, he's joking? Right? No, he looks serious. Maybe he's so drunk it's affected his sense of taste.

"Um... Yes. Sure. I will get that on order for you right away."

Paul took another gulp from his glass as I stared him down.

"What? Do I have something on my face?"

"You really liked the Dragon Meat?"

"Yeah, didn't you?"

"Uh, no? I thought it was horrible."

"Haha! You may be an old man at heart, but you sure have the taste of a kid!"

"Pretty sure you're the abnormal one here."

"You and your generation just don't seem to appreciate the exotic taste of wild game. You won't eat anything that wasn't raised in a barn."

"If you say so...", I decided to just agree with him. If he liked the food, then good for him I suppose.

When the waiter came back carrying a tray with Paul's second and third courses (as well as a few more drinks), I happened to see a familiar old face.

It was that skeletal thin man I remembered from my past. He said something to the waiter who proceeded to point towards our table. The last thing I saw was a creepy looking grin appear on the man's face as the door closed and hid him from my view.

We spent another half hour at the restaurant while I sat there and waited while Paul ate his three full meals along with countless glasses of ale.

The waiter handed him the bill and he gave the waiter an assortment of coins before telling him to keep the change.

"How much was it?", I asked as we left the restaurant.

"Don't worry about it. It's my treat", Paul said as he stumbled along.

"Whatever. I'm not going to complain about a free meal."

"Haha. That's the spirit."

I cast detoxification magic on him as we made our way to the Adventurer's Guild.

Once we got there, we let the receptionist know that we had received their message and was ready to meet with the Adventurer who claims to have completed the quest. Thankfully, the very same adventurer happened to be in the guild so we didn't have to wait.

"Ah, so you're the client then?", A well dressed man approached Paul and greeted him.

"Yes. You know where we can find Phillip and Hilda?"

"Woah, woah. Slow down there buddy. What about the payment?"

"The request clearly states payment of one Asura Gold coin for information that leads to their safe return. Until we've found them safe and sound the quest is not completed."

"Hmm", the man sneered. "Yeah, I s'pose you're right. The name's Sawyer. Nice to meet you."

"Paul Greyrat. Now if you would kindly tell me what you know, I promise you will be duly paid if it leads to us finding them. The Guild will make sure to hold me to that."

"Why don't we go somewhere a little more private to discuss this? The information's a bit... sensitive."

"That's fine. Guide the way", Paul said impatiently.

Sawyer led us out of the guild office and into a back alley and made sure nobody else was around before leaning over to whisper in Paul's ear.

"My brother works as a butler for Pilemon Notos Greyrat. You wouldn't believe half the things he hears workin' at that place. Rumor has it that the Boreas Greyrats was trying to get in good with the Second Princess, but now everyone's sayin' that the princess has been run out of the country. Strange accidents have been happenin' to most of her supporters. Now the Notos have publicly declared their support for the first prince and the Boreas have mysteriously disappeared. Nobody's heard from 'em in some time. Most assume they're dead."

"Pilemon that good for nothing bastard", Paul yelled out in anger. "When I'm through with him-"

Sawyer covered Paul's mouth in panic and shushed him.

"You crazy!? You can't be saying that kind of stuff 'round here. The wrong person hears you publicly badmouthing the Notos and you'll be thrown in jail to rot."

"I'm not afraid of that little worm", Paul scoffed.

"Well I am. If that's how you're gonna act I want no part of it. At the very least I could cost my brother his job."

"Wait, what else have you heard?", I interrupted. "You want your gold coin don't you?"

"Here's where it gets good. A man matching Phillip's description came to the guild and hired a group of adventurer's to escort him and his wife to the Northern Territories."

"Do you know the name of the party that is escorting them?"

"Yeah. It's a small group who've been savin' up to leave the region. They call themselves Counter Arrow."