Emperor's Reckoning

They came out from the boutique feeling golden. The soft fabric that touched their skin was a whole new level of sensation. The comfort and mobility were impeccably completing each other. From head to toe, the boys left the Nirvana School identity away. Some passersby even began to steal a glance at them. Reinhard was grinning as he brimmed with confidence whilst Rayus smiled under the former's radiant.

Noah was not like the other two. This sensation that both of his friends were feeling was nothing new to him. He was calm and collected. "This time we have to ask about the owner of the Frog Bar."

"Should we split apart?" asked Reinhard.

"That would yield the best result," said Rayus. "Just make sure not to do anything stupid."

"Stupid like what?" asked Reinhard.

"Don't make a scene," said Noah. "The more you make a scene, the more suspicious you will become."

"Huh?"

"The more suspicious you are, the harder it is to gain information, stay lowkey," said Rayus before he tapped his back and became the first one to leave.

"Remember Reinhard, anything about the Burgeon Swan is valuable, but if we found Lenu, that's even better," said Noah before he nodded and left.

Reinhard sighed seeing himself being alone once again. "Alright, I can do this!"

After hyping himself up he raised one of his legs before putting it down back where he started. ( Where do I start though? ) thought Reinhard before he glanced around. There he found the place where people with loose lips usually gathered. "Of course! The market!"

Reinhard strode with a smile as he entered the bustling market. His ears twitched as he heard mothers of all shapes and sizes casually haggling at the vendors for a lower price. Occasionally he heard something that piqued his interest.

"Did you know about the Frog Bar?" asked one of the ladies at the merchant as the latter handed her a bag of provisions.

"You mean that unkempt bar?" asked the merchant.

"Yes, that one!"

"What of it?" the merchant asked as he darted away his focus from her and picked up the lady's other order.

"About two days ago, there was a ruckus going on there," said the lady in a whisper.

"That alley is dark at night, so it's quite dangerous," said the merchant as he weighed the provisions.

"I'm not talking about the street, but about the bar, some of the witnesses saw the owner being dragged out," said one of the ladies before she sighed in pain of loss, "His business has not been going well and this happened, what a poor guy."

Reinhard raised his brows before he quickly approached the lady, "Excuse me, lady, but can you tell me more about this, incident?"

The lady was a bit startled by his sudden coming. Her eyes scanned Reinhard up and down before she muttered out of her consciousness, "Oh my..."

Reinhard tilted his head in confusion ( Is there something wrong with me? ).

"Ah, young master," said the merchant.

"Who?" Reinhard darted his glance toward the merchant.

"Oh my, handsome young master, how can I help you?" asked the lady.

"Handsome young master?" Reinhard raised one of his brows.

"Modest too," the lady made a light giggle.

( Are they talking about me? ) thought Reinhard before he remembered the fancy clothes he wore. ( No way, right? This is the power of fashion. ).

"Ah young master, please feel free to peruse my wares, I have the most excellent quality and most certainly have what you're looking for," the merchant smiled as he rubbed both of his hands.

"Are you deaf?" said the lady with a rude tone, "This young master is talking to me just now, not you."

Reinhard smiled wryly seeing the two. "Please don't fight, I'm here for information."

"Ah, young master, you like to indulge yourself in rumors as well?" said the lady with her eyes brightened.

"That's not..." ( Wait, what Teacher Lyon would say at a time like this? ).

Seeing Reinhard stumped out of nowhere, the lady made a wry guess, "Do you want to know about the rumors surrounding that old bar?"

Reinhard raised his head before nodding repeatedly.

"Hahaha, you're so cute, young master," said the lady as she pinched his cheek and pulled it.

"Ahh!" Reinhard made a faint cry instinctively before he rubbed his cheek as she let go.

"Young master, about two nights ago, there was a ruckus in the alley where the bar is located," said the merchant.

"Hey! That's what I just told you!" said the lady with a glare.

The merchant raised both hands and took a step back.

"What happened then?" asked Reinhard.

"One of the daring ones saw the owner of the bar being dragged out in chain and put inside a wagon," said the lady, "They tossed him inside before going outside of the city.

( He was captured! ) thought Reinhard. "This owner, are you sure that that's the owner?"

"You must be new here, young master, there is only one man serving in that bar," said the merchant. "Truth to be told, I pity him, trying to live a good honest life yet." He sighed.

"So they ransacked the bar?"

"Oh no, that's just how the bar has been for the longest time," said the lady with a flat tone.

( So just a lazy barkeeper then ) thought Reinhard as his lips and brows twitched.

"Do you know where they are heading?" asked Reinhard.

"I only heard it from the witness," the lady sighed.

"Where is this witness?" asked Reinhard.

"Well...."

The lady proceeded to tell him the location of the witness.

The sun soon closed its chapter and Reinhard found himself in an alley on a path opposite where the bar was located. His attention immediately landed on an old man that was setting up a street vendor. ( There he is ) thought Reinhard.

Reinhard approached the old man who seemed to not have noticed him. However, once Reinhard opened his lips, he was asked by the old man instead, "May I help you, young man?"

The old man didn't even turn his head and continued setting up the vendor for the night to come.

Reinhard was startled but regained his senses once he shook his head, "I have been informed that you witnessed something interesting about two nights ago?"

The old man stopped what he was doing before he made a light chuckle, "Haha, I never thought that spread words would result in someone approaching me."

"So you are the witness," said Reinhard, "I need your help, sir."

"Hmm?" The old man turned and looked at Reinhard. "Oh, such fancy clothes, are you perhaps related to the owner of the bar?"

"The barkeep? No," Reinhard shook his head.

"Then where are you from?" asked the old man.

"I'm from—" Reinhard abruptly stopped before he remembered what Lyon had said prior. "I'm from Gemk City, just visiting by."

"And you're interested in this rumor? For your sake, you better not be privy," said the old man before he resumed setting up his vendor.

Reinhard parted his lips ( Did I say something wrong? ). "Sir, can you at least tell me where the wagon is headed?"

"What's it to you?" asked the old man before he revealed his furrowed brows. "Why are you so adamant about knowing his whereabouts?"

"T-Truth to be told, he is my girlfriend's father, a soon-to-be father-in-law," said Reinhard as his face slightly turn dejected.

"Oh..." the old man's face turned slightly dim as he heard what Reinhard said. He sighed, "It's better if you drop the matter, young man, better to tell your woman that her father died."

"What...?" Reinhard raised his brows.

"I saw it," said the old man. "The swan, you know what that means."

Reinhard's eyes turned sharp as he heard the word. "The Burgeon Swan."

"The notorious Burgeon Swan," the old man sighed before he reached out for Reinhard's shoulder, "Be strong, young man, life is not over yet."

"But it might be for my woman," said Reinhard before he took his wrist. "Tell me where he is."

"She can't afford to lose you," said the old man. "Why don't you think about her feelings?"

"I cannot live knowing that I might have the slightest chance to save him, just tell me where he is, and I will judge the situation myself," said Reinhard with his eyes burning with heroism.

The old man was stunned with his lips slightly parted. He smirked, "Heh, I thought that heroes are dead, but apparently there are some for the younger generations. Promise me that you won't do anything reckless, no, not for me, but to her, promise her."

Reinhard nodded, "I know sir."

After the old man let out a heavy long breath through his nose he answered, "They were going toward the north gate in the dead of the night, that's all I know."

"That's good enough for me, thank you, sir," said Reinhard as he nodded.

"Good luck, young man, may you have happily ever after, but before that, care for some dumplings?"

"No thanks, bye!" said Reinhard as he turned and run away.

"....What?" the old man was left confused.