"STOP IT THERE, GIRL!"
Jean made his dramatic entrance followed by the other members of Coeur de Lion at the exact moment Inako was about to explain her problems to Lucille.
"HUH? AHHH!" - Inako jumped back a little when she saw the group once again.
"Jean? What's going on?"
"Ms. Lucille, sorry to come in like that, we couldn't hold Jean! We were told those two had come in here." - Henri commented.
"And we arrived just in time!" - Axel said.
"Oh, you two! Can you not get so excited? Ms. Lucille, is Mr. Ferdinand here?" - Claire said.
"He went to Cognac to deal with an important matter. You'll be up to date as soon as he returns."
"He left? Just when we were going to unmask this bag of feathers? What a load of crap!" - Jean protested after punching the wall.
"Anyway, we have business to discuss with this girl and this rooster. And we're sorry, Ms. Lucille, but we're not leaving here until we settle the score with them!" - Axel said.
"B-but what did we do?"
"Miss, I apologize in advance, but we need your cooperation. Believe me, we don't want to harm you, you have my guarantee." - Henri said calmly.
"That's right, you can rest assured that these two won't touch your pet. I, Claire Laurent, give my word! Did you hear me, wall of flesh and shadow of a worm?"
"Hey! You called me a wall of flesh again!" - Jean said.
"I'm not a shadow of a worm! I'm slim and defined!" - Axel protested.
"Whatever, just shut up!"
Lucille calmly adjusted her glasses on her face, but it was impossible not to notice a vein bulging on her forehead. She took three deep breaths before taking control of the situation.
"Very well, I'll listen to what you have to say. Be calm and explain to me in detail. You can begin."
Jean and Axel tried to come forward and report to her, but they fell silent when they felt Claire pinching their butts. Henri spoke up:
"Allow me to explain. Yesterday, at a certain time in the morning, we were returning to Bordeaux when Jean and Axel asked to get off the wagon and, well, "go to the bathroom". A short time later, we heard a sound that sounded like an explosion in the forest. When we ran to see what had happened, they were both injured and were told that what seemed to be a chicken had attacked them."
"A chicken? What absurd story is this?"
"As absurd as it may seem, that's what happened. At first we thought they were both having some kind of hallucination caused by monsters, so we ignored it and looked for signs of the attack. The fact is that I found what Claire identified as mana residue on a tree trunk. Back in the city, we came to report what had happened to Mr. Ferdinand."
"_I wasn't informed about this fact. What did he say?"
"As you can imagine, he also considered the occurrence absurd, but when Claire mentioned that the mana residue was powerful wind magic, he promised to send soldiers to investigate the existence of monsters and told us to take the rest of the day off."
"So I should assume that Inako's pet rooster is responsible for the attack?"
"I don't like to jump to conclusions as you must already know. But last night, when we were having dinner at Taverne à Volonté, we came across this girl and her pet. Jean and Axel recognized the bird immediately and before they caused a bigger fuss, I sent them out."
"Coeur de Lion, the best group of adventurers we have, causing trouble in a tavern. That's shameful." - Lucille said, putting her hand to her forehead.
"Really. We're sorry about that. But, shame aside, not all was lost." - Henri said, reaching for a small bag at his waist and taking out an object.
Oh, is that…? - Rikko wasn't expecting that.
"A feather?" - Lucille said.
"Yes. Before leaving, I took the chance to get a sample of the animal under the pretext of petting it and then I picked up this loose feather. Claire spent the whole night analyzing it and came to the conclusion that…"
"… it had the same mana signature we found on the trunk." - Claire completed.
M- Mr. Rikko! - Inako whispered.
"What the hell! It was at that time! I never liked being touched by a man, and now more than ever I know why!"
"As soon as we had confirmation, we came to report the discovery to Mr. Ferdinand as soon as possible." - Said Henri.
And then the eyes of Coeur de Lion and Lucille were turned to Inako and Rikko, who were cornered against the counter. Jean and Axel could not hide their satisfied expressions that clearly meant "we got you!". Lucille, now convinced of the facts, asked:
"Inako, I'm sorry for this, but I need to ask-"
"IT'S ALL THEIR FAULT!"
"…?" - Everyone was left speechless by Inako's scream, who pointed at the two who had been forced into silence and wiped the smile from their lips.
"THEY WANTED TO EAT MY RIKKO! THEY JUMPED ON HIM LIKE STARVING PEOPLE!"
"Ah, that's right…" - Claire said, putting her hand to her forehead in shame.
"So that's what happened? Jean? Axel?" - Lucille said, clearly bothered.
"Oh, it's just that…" - Axel said.
"H- he was in the forest, lying around! We thought he had no owner!" - Jean tried to explain herself.
"I WAS THERE! I hadn't eaten much for days, but I still didn't try to eat him! But you tried! And they deserved the beating they got!" - Inako said.
Actually, you did try to eat me. But that's not the point now. - Rikko thought.
"And you two assumed that just because he was alone in the forest, the rooster had no owner. How stupid can you still be?" - Lucille asked.
"Oh, but it's just that… okay, my bad." - Jean tried to argue, but it was no use, so he just apologized.
"I'm sorry, we were idiots." - Axel said.
"HEY! Speak for yourself!"
"Don't talk back! You two were both idiots, yes!" - Claire said.
"You two are apologizing to the wrong person. It's Inako you should apologize to." - Lucille said.
"Argh! Sorry, young lady!" - Jean said, completely disconcerted as he got down on his knees.
"I'm sorry! I promise not to do it again!" - Axel said, imitating his friend.
"I should apologize to you too. As the leader of the group, I should know how to command these two better. I'm sorry." - Henri said.
"P-please forgive them!" - Amélie asked.
"They are stupid, but they are not all bad." - Claire admitted.
Inako, seeing everyone's reaction, had no reason to hold a grudge, after all the real offender in that situation was Rikko. She just lied a little for her friend's sake, and then decided that she would leave it in his hands - or rather, wings - whether he would forgive them or not. She looked at him, waiting for his opinion.
"Never mind. I've already given you the beating they deserved." - Rikko said.
"Uh, okay. We forgive you."
Multiple sighs of relief were heard. The matter was about to be resolved and come to an end, but that was when a new question came up from Lucille:
"I'm glad you've forgiven them. As interim guild leader, I declare this matter closed, but with one caveat. Inako?"
"Uh, yeah?"
"What exactly is your Rikko?"
Meanwhile, in Cognac, Ferdinand and Cedrán went down to the guild's basement and saw Rémy's body, who had died during the investigations into the Black Fair. His body was receiving a new layer of freezing magic at that moment so that it could withstand the trip back to Bordeaux and finally be deposited in its final resting place.
"I'm here, Rémy. I came to get you. I apologize for my incompetence, you would still be alive if it weren't for that." - Ferdinand lamented.
"Don't beat yourself up, Gautier. If there is someone to blame for the death of your dear friend, that someone is still out there, unpunished. And we will catch him in due time."
"That's what consoles me, Lavigne. I know that revenge is a poison for two, but I would very much like to get my hands on the damned ones who did this. My sword cries out for impure blood."
"Those are strong words. I definitely don't hate that."
"Tell me, were you able to determine how he died?"
"The cowards probably didn't want to face him face to face. They threw explosive magic at his face, burning his eyes. The knife wound in his back certainly came after that."
"Any sign of poison on the knife?"
"There were no traces of poison in the wound or the knife, but they made a point of twisting the knife to increase the damage. The blade broke inside him, leaving a fragment of the tip, which is in that envelope."
On the table next to the body, the yellowish envelope was waiting for Ferdinand. When he opened it, the tip of the knife shone in the candlelight. It was a type of serrated spear, a typical weapon of atrocious murderers.
"They were smart to throw the body in the river. We didn't find the murder site or a single drop of blood. No witnesses." - Cedrán said.
"Did no one hear the sound of the explosion?"
"No. Whoever used it certainly knew how to muffle the sound."
"Okay. I trust your skill and that of your men."
"Not so much me. After all, all this happened here in this city and who knows what else is to come."
"Indeed. We're in the same boat, my friend."
"Excuse me, Chief Lavigne! Permission to speak." - Said one of the guild officials who had just entered the basement.
"Granted."
"The covered wagon is ready and Lord Gautier's men are waiting for him."
"Very well. Bring three more with you and carry the stretcher to the wagon. Be careful not to drop the body."
"Yes, Sir!"
The official went and returned shortly after with three men. They picked up the stretcher containing the frozen body and slowly carried it upstairs, followed by Ferdinand and Cedrán. Outside, their guards, Claude and Félix, and the two surviving agents were waiting for them.
"Master Rémy…" - Claude said, trying to hide his tears with the sleeve of his coat.
"This isn't going to stay like this, is it, Mr. Gautier?" - Said Félix.
"No. It won't. Did you get any more clues?"
"I'm sorry, sir. Except for what we've already been told, we haven't found anything else."
'Then there's nothing more to do here, at least for now. Get your horses, we're leaving."
"Yes, sir!"
"Gautier."
"Yes, Lavigne?"
"I know that wishing you a good journey in this situation is not in good taste. So I just wish you a safe arrival." - Lavigne said, extending her hand in a friendly way.
"Thank you. Tomorrow, the Coeur de Lion will be at your disposal as soon as possible."
"I will be waiting."
The frozen body had just been tightly tied to the bottom of the wagon and covered with thick white sheets. Mounted again on his horse, Ferdinand addressed his men.
"Are you ready?"
"Yes, Sir!"
"Then let's go!"
To the sound of hooves and wheels, the small funeral procession left Cognac. There was no pomp or circumstance, nor a wreath. Only wounded hearts and a desire for justice.
This is our last journey together, Rémy. But don't worry, your death will not be in vain. I will free those girls, whatever the cost. I, Ferdinand Gautier, your boss and friend, promise you.
A short time after the departure, when the group was already far away, something moved in the bushes surrounding the guild. A short, ragged man jumped out and walked slowly towards the dark alleys of the city. He was smiling as if the happiest thing in the world had just happened to him. And from his dry lips and between yellowed teeth, an infamous whisper could be heard:
"Master Montblanc will be delighted to hear this, hehehehehe..."