I logged off, expecting Anshur to be sitting on my bed with a gimp suit and a dog’s muzzle... But she didn’t, quite reassuring, it was.
I had a good night sleep, tomorrow... I’ll go to Eirlys for the details on the two abnormal bosses. Then I’ll go looking for a hidden cara at an electronic shop or sothing, because ordering online could compromise .
Now... The problem is... Where’s Eirlys office?
After asking around, I found it, and knocked on the door.
Eirlys Sonder opened it, and I took a mont to marvel her excellency.
A casual business woman with neat, tied white hair, fit figure, strong chin, and very sharp eyes.
"Cory, Anshur, what are you two doing this early? It’s not even breakfast."
I was horrified as what she said, and I looked around. Indeed, Anshur von Rodolfo was there.
"I must serve Ms. Smith and make sure I gain her trust." She answered, "So, I am escorting her through the mansion, and I have finished my morning duties, madam."
Eirlys nodded, looking at for my answer as I turned back to her.
"I was going to talk to you about so inga stuff." I said, a bit trembling.
"Co in then." She said, then looking up at Anshur, "Is this sothing that need privacy?"
I didn’t even dare to look back as I gave my answer.
"N- No... She can co."
Eirlys’ office was the kind of room you’d expect from soone with wealth carved into their bones.
Tall windows let in the pale dawn light, the shelves behind her desk stuffed with tidy rows of thick, leather-bound ledgers and crisp docunts.
I stood awkwardly at the door as it closed, Anshur trailing just behind like my unwanted shadow.
As we sat, Anshur began to pour tea for the two of us, her presence at my back as sharp as a knife against the throat.
"Our dress does not particularly suit you, now that I have a good look..." Eirlys comnted, "Would you like to buy sothing else."
"No no no no... I like this."
I lied, I just didn’t want to cause anymore trouble, and I quickly continue to divert the conversation.
"Before we begin..." I said as I receive my tea, trying not to sink into my seat too comfortably. "I just wanna say that I appreciate you letting stay here, you know... The shelter, the food, the baths, and like, the general princess lifestyle, really... I feel like I’m in a Chinese drama"
"You’re hardly an inconvenience," Eirlys said, dismissively elegant as ever, she raised her own cup with practiced grace, the pinky stretched, "Sotis I forget you’re even here... We’ve had guests that cost more in an evening than you do in a week."
I forced a laugh, but inside I was reeling. Weird flex bro... Like, was it to hamr ho the fact that these people were too rich to even notice a parasite like ?
Before I could say sothing hospitalic like "I appreciate it, really." and "I wish I could do more for you". Eirlys’ eyes sharpened as she spoke once more.
"Now. What really happened yesterday? You weren’t just... staying up with a friend, don’t insult by calling gullible."
Anshur’s tone was syrupy, but the weight behind it made my neck prickle.
"Yes, Ms. Smith, you should tell us."
I smiled, sitting even more up right, and lied through my teeth.
"Nope... Uh- That’s exactly what it was, the whole story was boring like that... I promise."
Eirlys studied for a long, unbearable mont before finally sighing and looking down at her tablet, uninterested.
The tension eased only slightly, so I pushed ahead.
"Anyway, what I actually wanted to ask, what’s an unbeatable end-ga enemy doing in a Cleric feat Warlock quest?"
That wiped the calm right off her face, as she snapped onto my eyes.
"What did you say?" Eirlys’ voice cut low and sharp.
"Uh, hello? The Null Shepherd?" I said plainly. "It ambushed and Hailie in Wroeg’s Hollow while we were running her Cleric quest, I was escorting her per the Wish system in the Warlock quest... That thing almost killed us both, be barely made it out."
Eirlys slamd her palm on the desk, rattling the cups, and startling the both of us.
"Why didn’t anyone tell about this?!"
"Wa- Huh... What? I- You..." I blinked like an idiot. "I thought that Hailie... I thought Hailie would’ve told you. She’s your sister, she talks a lot, too."
"The Null Shepherd... God, you two..." Eirlys pinched the bridge of her nose, groaning. "Unbelievable."
Behind , Anshur had gone silent, content to refill our cups with unnerving calm. She was fulfilled knowing I wasn’t here to snitch.
"Cory..." Eirlys finally lowered her hand, exhaling slowly. "I expected you to co in here about the Titan of Ashen Bark, that, at least, I knew about... Complaints have been flooding in from the third raid participants."
"So that one was on purpose?" I tilted my head.
"Yes, it was intentional, though outside my jurisdiction, I don’t touch important codes or the events." Her tone was clipped, defensive. "But the Null Shepherd? Absolutely not, it shouldn’t be seen before level 600, in fact, it isn’t in our VR plans at all, it was practically scrapped until we have plans for it."
That sent a chill down my spine.
"So... Most definitely a bug." I said.
"I’ll look into it, but if it’s not..." Eirlys replied.
The room went quiet, we both sighed, realizing that this was way more serious than it should’ve been as thought buried our minds.
Then Eirlys Sonder would lean forward, clasping both hands.
"Help get to the bottom of this, Cory," she said firmly. "Do that, and you’ll be rewarded handsoly."
Handsoly, she said?
My gaze slipped down to her boobs imdiately.
But not for long, because just for another half a second, I feel my shoulders being pinched.
I jolted as I looked behind , as Anshur’s hands were on my shoulders, massaging with a little too much force. She was being gentle enough to pass as service, yet threatening enough to make my stomach twist.
"Yeah," I said quickly, nodding while averting my eyes. "I’ll help you with that... If I can, but you should check it out on your end, to make sure it wasn’t a bug."
"Will do." She said.
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