The group approached a large white two-story house outside of the city but still in view of the wall with a long lawn and hedges around it. The large iron gate blocked their way. “Well, this guy has done well in the past few years good grief.” Victor turned to them. “So do we knock or what?”

  A man in a full suit with long white whiskers and white cat ears approached the gate. His tiny black nose fit with his dress in full suit and tie making it clear he was of the staff as a pin on his vest had his name ‘Winton Whiskers’. “If you do not have an appointment, you won’t find an audience here. Please vacate the premises before I contact the constables.”

  “I am an angelic knight seeking an audience with Caleb Scott. My name is Victor Vogal.” He stood with both hands behind his back doing his best respectful stance he could muster.

  His whiskers twitched up on the right. “Pft, I shall inquire but I doubt the master of the house will take an audience with you.”

  As the door to the massive near mansion home opened Cawthorn turned to Victor. “I DO NOT LIKE THE CAT!”

  “It’s a cat folk Cawthorn.” Victor corrected him.

  “I DO NOT LIKE CATFOLK!” Cawthorn proclaimed loudly.

  “I guess cats and birds are natural enemies.” Victor shrugged causing Cawthorn to shift on his shoulders.

  “HE IS MY NATURAL ENEMY!” Cawthorn blasted his voice.

  Serena crossed her arms and offhandedly commented. “I think he’s a slave.”

  His eyes shifted to Serena. “Why do you think that? It just seemed like a butler to me.”

  “Most butlers aren’t employees. They are slaves. He also spoke of the master of the house, which slaves tend to do. An employee butler would use his name directly something like Master Scott.” Serena noted.

  Victor’s eye twitched. “Swordie add him to the list.”

  “Sir he is on The Reckoning List as currently I have ‘Freedman’s Guild – All of it’ as the only entry,” Swordie noted.

  “Duly noted.” Victor waited for the white catfolk butler to return.

  Winton returned with an irritated resting face and unlocked the gate. “The master will see the angelic knight and his simpletons now. Follow me.” The catfolk escorted them into a large foyer. “Do not touch his many portraits, paintings, vases, decorations, or windows.” Every wall was dotted with art and every room had a sculpture or vase outside it. Winton brought them to a large wooden door intricately carved with dozens of horses. Winton opened the door letting them into a room with two couches in front of a desk. “I will resume cleaning master.”

  A middle-aged man with black hair and a black mustache dressed in grand finery and a suit. “Thank you Winton that will be all.” He looked up from behind is glasses standing up and extending his hand to Victor. “Hello, sir. It seems you’re claiming to be an angelic knight.”

  Victor shook his hand and all of them sat down. “I am an angelic knight.”

  “What angel bestowed that title on you?” He scribbled something on parchment.

  Swordie’s voice resonated. “I DID” The room shook. Everyone paused. “What you don’t like the theatrics? Unfortunate I thought I’d try them out.”

  The man pulled on his mustache. “That is an angel?”

  Victor insisted. “He is, and Lightbringer Luke will confirm this, Lilly Anderson will confirm that, and I’m confident Patricia Conway will confirm it as well. Additionally, ‘Status Sheet’” Victor handed over Swordie to Caleb Scott displaying his stats and title.

  “Well, this could just be a book. How can I know it’s real?” Caleb asked.

  “Say status sheet and you’ll have your status sheet come up,” Victor instructed.

  Caleb did as instructed and his eyes widened. “I see you’re not lying.” He stroked his mustache before sitting back in his chair. “What does an angelic knight and his harem want from me?”

  “His harem?” Emilie growled.

  “Or slaves, whatever.” He waved his hand.

  “Slaves? They are members of my party.” Victor sharply corrected him.

  “Oh, an adventuring party and none of these women are pining after you?” He leaned forward genuinely confused.

  “I’ve claimed him.” Serena hissed enraged.

  “Oh, so you are with at least one of them.” He leaned back rocking in his chair.

  “Only her.” Victor glared at him.

  “Fine, how many of them you fuck is of little concern to me. What do you want? You aren’t a member of the guild, so it probably isn’t business.” He continued stroking his mustache.

  Victor tried to calm himself taking a deep breath before speaking. “I am investigating some discrepancies in income, taxes, and guild dues paid from the year 10020.”

  He stopped stroking his mustache and leaned back very slowly squeaking his chair and folding his hand in front of him. “Are you now, and why would you be doing that?”

  “That business is my own. The question is simple.” Victor tried to pause for dramatic effect.

  Serena wasn’t having any of it slamming her fist down hard into his desk. “Why is there a 1211 gold difference between declared gold to the guild and gold you paid taxes on that year and why shouldn’t we just immediately take this to the mayor and your guild?”

  “Well, now blackmail wasn’t what I expected when I let an angelic knight in my home. You come in here to threaten me? Or does your woman not speak for you?” He looked at Victor pointing to Serena.

  Victor glared at him. “Generally, I would ask her to calm down and back off but given the way you’ve spoken to her preventing her from leaping across your desk and parading your corpse through the street might be the best I can do. To accelerate our exit from this conversation I strongly recommend answering her question before she becomes… Slightly more violent.”

  “An unexpected spine, respectable. Luke would have chastised his party member there to try and keep the peace. You said the amount was approximately 1200 gold?” He stroked his mustache.

  Victor scoffed. “Correct.”

  “That sounds like one of my paintings. I believe four years ago I acquired the Fall of Conquest depicting the archdevil Conquest falling from heaven after his defeat in year 0. It was purchased using gold I acquired far from here but where the guild still operates. That explains the discrepancy. Now will you tell me why you felt the need to barge in and threaten me?” He smirked leaning forward toward Serena. “Or should I consider alternative solutions to your presence?”

  Serena squeezed her fists ready to break his face but turned away exiting the room. Emilie followed her as did Jenora. Victor looked him dead in the eyes. “We are investigating a murder with limited resources as the murder occurred 4 years ago. We heavily suspect someone in the Freedman’s guild of being involved or the culprit.”

  He leaned back stroking his mustache. “Would you be willing to tell me who? I can be quite helpful to you if your entourage is not threatening me.”

  Victor choked back vomit at the thought of working with this man before swallowing. He had a job to do. “Jim Farson, part owner of 5 Star Road was killed by a statue falling on his head. We’ve strong reason to believe it was murder and not an accident.”

  Suddenly with the other 3 out of the room, he took Victor much more seriously leaning forward and folding his hands. “Could you tell me why you are sure it’s not an accident?”

  This book was originally published on Royal Road. Check it out there for the real experience.

  Victor sighed hating that this man seemingly now cared and wanted to help him. “At 5 Star Road, there is a ghost. Ghosts appear most commonly when it has unfinished business in this case it is revenge. The ghost told me so itself.”

  He seemed to believe him almost instantly. “Really? If anyone else had told me this I’d dismiss it out of hand but if one such as you is claiming this I believe you. I will look into this matter on your behalf if you find that agreeable.”

  “Discretion is required.” Victor insisted.

  “But of course. If there is anything else I can do for you please let me know. Your party consists of…” He seemed to consider his words carefully. “Less skilled members than yourself clearing in negotiating at least. They are rather emotional if a few barbs can cause them to fly out of control like that.”

  ‘Why does this guy have to be so horrible? He’s sexist and a slaver I bet he hates his catfolk slave too.’ Victor took a breath. “How do you feel about your butler Winston?”

  “Butler? Oh no he’s my slave. Catfolk were practically born to be slaves. They are rebellious and disrespectful of authority and need discipline. Winston has been disciplined enough over the years that he understands his role in life and obeys without question and often without being directed.” He smiled a digesting rich smile filled with malice. “If you need a slave broken I can show you how to do it.”

  Victor wretched in his mouth choking it back as he said those words. ‘I need to leave I’m going to murder this guy.’ He cleared out his mouth. “I don’t think that will be needed. Thank you. If you find information we will be staying in town.” Victor stood up and walked to the door. “Thank you for your time.”

  “Farewell! Hopefully your party is more cheerful and smiles next time we speak.” He waved as Victor left the room.

  The other three waited outside the gate as Victor approached. “We should walk away as we speak because I feel like all three of you are about to explode. One moment.” Victor turned to the grass as they walked and threw up. “Ah now I feel better. I sense Serena wants to go next.”

  “I’m going to murder that guy.” She glared at Victor enraged.

  “Not if I get to him first.” Jenora turned to Victor.

  “HE THOUGHT I FUCK YOU!” Emilie exclaimed looking up at his face in absolute disbelief before looking across to Serena. “No offense, I’m sure he’s fine in bed.”

  “He’s a lot better after a month of endurance training.” She nodded to her.

  “It’s helped us too. Seriously exercise makes sex way better.” Jenora nodded.

  “So I want to make sure are we done griping about that guy?” Victor just politely asked.

  “Is he still alive?” Serena tilted her head up to his shoulder.

  “I think so?” He answered.

  “Then no. You said you had a list? He’s at the top of it.” Serena furiously declared.

  Victor placed his hand on Swordie. “Swordie did-”

  “Yes sir, I actually added him to the top of the list during that meeting.” Swordie insisted.

  Emilie scoffed happy but irritated. “I’d expect nothing less of an angel. We’ll deal with him later.”

  “Wait I just realized I missed my question. Why were you offended by the thought that you have sex with me?” Victor asked.

  “He thought you were good looking enough to have a harem!” Emilie declared. “Then after it was corrected he assumed you were a slaver. He thought no woman could resist you. Did he think the same of himself? I’m going to beat him to death with a strength boost whenever I get the chance.”

  Victor turned to Serena. “Wait am I not good looking?”

  “You’re good looking enough for me.” Serena wrapped an arm around him.

  Jenora nodded. “You look like a warrior. It’s not the look of a man who marries multiple women but it isn’t a bad look.”

  Emilie shrugged. “You look fine for a guy.”

  “It is unclear to me if I have been insulted or complimented.” Victor just stared straight ahead.

  “That is a running theme when women speak to Victor.” Swordie pointedly noted.

  The three of them laughed at Swordie as they reached the wall. “If we were insulting you this much do you think we’d stick around?” Victor shrugged unsure of the answer to that as they checked in once again declaring Swordie and the mage at the door asked. “Do you have a permit for this artifact?” Victor showed him the paper from the mayor. There was a lot of back and forth before they let them through but they all just shrugged and went on in.

  It wasn’t even 5 minutes before the first person came up to him. An old man with a scraggly beard in a guard uniform ran up to him with a smile. “Sir are you Victor Vogal?”

  Victor blinked. “Uh… I am. Why?”

  The old guard’s face lit up with a broken smile. “You’re an angelic knight! Just like Lightbringer Luke right?”

  ‘I have made a huge mistake.’ Victor realized what he had done. “I am nowhere near as strong, but I do possess the title. Swordie, my guardian angel bestowed it on me.”

  The man looked confused. “Is Swordie the angel of swords?”

  Swordie proclaimed loudly. “I AM!”

  The man recoiled shocked. “It’s the book!?”

  “I take many forms mortal! My student and knight is worthy of the title.” Swordie proclaimed with great authority.

  “My apologies I’m an old man. I don’t know anything about the affairs of angels. I merely wanted to shake the hand of such a magnificent individual.” The old man extended his hand.

  Victor shook feeling the need to compliment the man’s enthusiasm. “Thank you for your vigorous defense of the city. I’m sure one day I’ll make you proud.” The old man lit up shaking vigorously before finally letting go and scampering off to his friends. His friends began gossiping back and forth as the group turned and walked on.

  By the time they reached the center of town Serena noticed something Victor hadn’t. “You have an entourage.” Behind them a small crowd whispering to each other followed them.

  Emilie laughed. “Well he’s an angelic knight. If we were in the capitol he’d need security to keep the worshipers of the Golden Goddess off of him.”

  “Wait is that why Caleb thought you were my harem?” Victor asked.

  Emilie growled. “It probably is. To think he considers the followers of the Golden Goddess whores. I will deal with him one day.”

  Jenora turned to Victor and whispered. “If you don’t speak with them now this is going to be a difficult day.”

  Victor turned around and waved. “Hello everyone!”

  Some applause erupted as he waved and a young boy ran up to him. “Did you fight some big bad monster a while ago and cause that big boom!”

  Victor tilted his head and told the truth. “That’s true. He was an evil cultist.”

  “Did you win?” The boy hopped as he asked.

  Victor wanted to tell the truth but he didn’t want to break their hearts. “I’m still alive. Any fight you can walk away from is a win.”

  The kid seemed to run back to his mom and repeat everything he was just told. Question after question about the explosion Victor knew he had to put his hands up and motioned to calm down. “Ladies and gentlemen I cannot further discuss the matter. Lightbringer Luke has discussed it with me and it is ongoing. The cultist survived the encounter and is still looking for Luke. If you see a tall man with a red overcoat and massive black greatsword crackling with red lightning contact authorities immediately, I am no longer able to fight him.”

  The crowed still cheered and several more people came up to shake his hand. Cawthorn occasionally shouted out praising him. Victor patiently spoke with them over the next half hour while the three girls sat on the fountain edge discussing him. Serena turned to Emilie. “How long do you think it will take the whole city to know?”

  “Give it a day. By tomorrow everyone will know. It’ll be the talk of the town.” Emilie nodded. “Not that it’s a bad thing. He has the title for a reason.”

  Jenora added. “He’s exceptional but so are both of you.”

  Emilie put her hand on her chest and closed her eyes. “Of course I’m exceptional! We’re the exceptional group of Verdan, as Cawthorn would say. I meant to say he’s practically one of a kind. Well two of a kind. As frustrating as he is sometimes he deserves the adulation.”

  Serena smirked. “Isn’t it incredible that just having the title makes him so popular? They know almost nothing about him besides that he earned the respect of an angel and he’s the most popular man in town.”

  Jenora leaned forward watching them. “I hope one day I can be as beloved by the people as him.”

  Emilie punched her in the arm. “You will be! We all will be.”

  Jenora looked to the ground. “I doubt it. I’m not the kind of person the crowds love.”

  “Aw come on you’re a huge warrior for the Golden Goddess. They’ll love you once they get to know you. Just like I do.” She pressed her fist against Jenora’s arm.

  She slumped over head in her hands. “It’s a nice dream I guess.”

  After he was done Victor came over with a smile on his face. “Sorry about that but it should help us get to speak with the others right?”

  Serena shook her head with a smile on her face as stood up and slapped him on the back. “Let’s go.”