As the pair of explorers were deliberating on their next course of action, a group of conspicuously cloaked people ghosted through the crowd. The cloaked figures occasionally stopped and whispered to certain people in the crowds, and some who were whispered to followed the cloaked strangers as they went across the street. They stopped at many people but noticeably went after laborers and tended to shy away from bounty hunters, although they didn't seem to be trying to avoid them. It was likely that the cloaked figures were a group who wanted to bolster their ranks at dust, an occurrence not uncommon in these parts. Skilled laborers could be used in the frontier to help build more settlements, so their recruitment wasn't particularly rare. But the recruitment drive reminded the old explorer of a task he'd needed to do first.
[b]"Dear me, I've forgotten about a very important task we must complete!"[/b] He said to his companion. [b]"We must secure travelling companions first! To the bounty hall, Gabriel!"[/b]

The pair soon emerged into the busy hall. A few stopped to look at the new arrivals but many ignored the two. There was only one person that payed attention to them for longer, the sherriff of the bounty hall. A 50-something year old grizzled retired bounty hunter with white mutton chops and a thick mustache. This particular old man knew the explorer and the bored expression the mustached man had worn quickly wormed its way to a smug grin.
"Well, well, well. If it isn't the professor." He said mockingly.

The old explorer stiffened, but returned the bounty hunter's grin with a smile, a smile that was a little too tight to be friendly.
[b]"Tiberius, old chap!"[/b] The old explorer said, with a friendliness that didn't quite reach all the way to legitimate goodwill. [b]"How's the wife? I suppose she must be happier now that you've settled down to be a pencil pusher."[/b]
The bounty hunter's grin melted smoothly into a wry smile, apparently more composed than his opponent.
"Of course, they're much happier with the luxury of a stable income. As opposed to, oh, I don't know. A travelling explorer chasing after old wive's tales." He retorted casually. "Hitting dead ends and coming back empty handed again, I suppose?"
The explorer's white eyebrow twitched a little and the two white haired nemesis stared at each other. Suddenly, the old explorer laughed.
[b]"You haven't changed a bit, old chap! But this time, I have come back with something! For example, I have Gabriel here, a likeminded-scholar, although he's a bit young."[/b] The explorer said, putting a hand on the boy's shoulder. [b]"And there's one other thing I've managed to find."[/b]
By this point there were several bystanders listening in on the rather public exchange occurring. Among the crowd was one of the conspicuously cloaked people from outside. They all watched quietly as the explorer rummaged through his bag. Soon enough, he took out an unassuming leather-bound book, presenting it with pride.
[b]"Behold, the diary of the fabled adventurer Alexander Jolstein!"[/b] He declared.
The people watching on began whispering to each other, but rather than amazement, they expressed concern.

To put it lightly, Alexander Jolstein was a rather eccentric individual. An ancient Magnan adventurer, he came to be known as "Alexander the Liar". Many of his 'discoveries' were thought to be so outlandish that they weren't even investigated properly. He suffered ridicule after ridicule before disappearing off the face of the earth. Some of his discoveries have recently been proven, although at a lesser scale than what he had reported, and he was generally regarded with skepticism. Even the old bounty hunter was at a loss on how to react. The crowd broke off a bit as some lost interest in the explorer, writing him off as a crazed old man. But one figure came forward.

The cloaked figure approached from behind the explorer, stopping just out of arm's length. Suddenly, the figure's hand shot out and snatched the leather-bound book right out of the explorer's hands. The explorer squeaked in surprise and quickly wheeled around, but the figure had already bolted off out the door.
[b]"Someone stop him!"[/b] The explorer cried.
"You're never going to get anyone's help with a plea like that, professor." The bounty hunter said, scrambling to pick up his gun.
A crime had just been commited and it was his job to catch criminals.
[b]"Please, Tiberius. I've been here long enough to know how to get what I want."[/b] The explorer said, addressing his old friend before turning to the rest of the bounty hall.
[b]"Whoever catches that scoundrel gets 100 gold, plus another 150 if you retrieve the book for me!"[/b] He announced, shouting at the gathered crowd.

([@LordVoldemort] Just so you don't get behind)