The Admiral and his companions arrived at Hdur, though his official order was for his father's men to stay clear from the city, there was something that needed to be ironed out. 

The infamous bakery was located in the middle of the town. Other than the inviting smell of freshly baked loaf, there was nothing extraordinary about it; a two-story wooden building that seemed to give off the impression of a humble establishment, it always has its windows and door open, and strangely seemed to have more room for a mere bread shop. 

Silas knew a thing or two about the owner, a very friendly elven man his father once described as an utter eyesore, like the town of Hdur itself. 

The admiral dismounted from his horse and ordered a junior officer to take their horses to rest in the nearby military barrack and bring fresh replacements.  

[b][color=FEF9A7]"Stay here. This won't be long."[/color][/b] Leaving Kirsten on the terrace, Silas and the rest of his men hurriedly entered the General store, meeting with the owner himself who seemed to have been waiting for him. The eldest of the Delving brothers gave the owner the antique money, but he refused. 

[b]"Keep your money! Our business... end."[/b] He glowered, making a cutting gesture with his hand. [b]"I know what your father did, a terrible mistake. No, I refuse to have anything to do with it. Get lost!" [/b]

The admiral sighed, slightly taken aback by the unwelcoming gesture. He picked up the coin and asked earnestly. 

[color=FEF9A7]"Please be civil, Master Stockton. Every disagreement can be sorted out, and--"[/color]

[b]"No! Not this one kid! Not even your daddy could. You tell him that![/b] Barked the owner again, this time he pointed at the door [b]"Now! Do you have wood for ears? Get lost will ya! I have nothing to say anyway."
[/b]

Silas nodded, and for that moment it looked like he was going to leave in peace. But his departure to the door was to ensure that it has been locked should. 

If only the situation was not that dire, he would have laughed, or maybe smiled at the fat man's foolishness. 

As Silas walked back to the counter, his men began to flank the innkeeper and apprehend him. A burly man he was but lacked any real physical strength. Certainly no match against two well-trained marines.      

[b]"What sandwich fuck are you---" [/b]

After some futile struggles, a rope was tied to his ankles. Those marines threw the rest of it on the ceiling beam while one of them elbowed him square in the face. And soon, the store owner found himself hoisted up, hanging upside down.

[color=FEF9A7]"Master Stockton, deepest apologies but I am not here on behalf of my father,"[/color] said Silas, ordering his men to stop lifting him at eye level. His sword was drawn and pointed at the store owner's neck. [color=FEF9A7]"I am here for Fredricus' goons, and you are the only person with the connection." [/color]

The store owner was well past the part where he should scream. His head was as red as a tomato, and when of the marines stepped closer to beat him some more, he grunted and gushed out his breakfast toward the Marine's trousers and boots. 

[b]"Shit!"[/b] 

[b][color=FEF9A7]"Right... clean yourself up."[/color][/b] The admiral tossed a perfumed handkerchief at his soiled man, then returned to Stockton [b][color=FEF9A7]"And you better start talking unless you fancy dangling above your own puddle of puke for the rest of your days. Why did you give my father the wrong report? Who killed the Usuals? Was it the freelancers?"[/color] [/b]

After some more coughing and snorting the remaining stomach acid out of his nostril, the store owner blurted. [b]"It was not them!"[/b]

[color=FEF9A7][b]"Who then?"[/b][/color]

[b]"First. Go fuck yourself and your daddy, you nitwit fuck![/b]

Another marine stepped up and bashed his stomach with musket stock. [b]"Answer the question, sir." [/b]

The store owner's large body swung like a literal punching bag, his stubby arms reached down, clawing the floor and his own puke, desperately trying to stop himself from the dizzying oscilation. 

[b]"Oh god! My leg! Fuck me, I don't know! I... as clueless as your men! They said when they tried to storm the Bakery this early morning their weapons suddenly yanked off them and glued to the floor. They only saw the Baker and his daughter, and this one young girl with a blindfold!" [/b]

[color=FEF9A7][b]"So none of them saw any of the Fredricus'agents?" [/b][/color]

[b]"thweep Ptah! Fucking no! And I too barely know about what they looked like except there should be a she-orc, elf, bear, two men, and two women among the group. None of the surviving Usuals saw any I described above yah! Because those who saw them are probably dead." [/b]

Exercising the utmost patience, Silas leaned forward and lowered his voice. [color=FEF9A7]"How did you know that?" [/color]

[b]"What? Your daddy had more than two dozen men stationed here last night and now nearly all of'em are dead motherfuckers! Do you think this Baker and his gals did it, by themselves? Khack ptoyy!" [/b]

[b]"The only person I saw riding out of town was a blonde man with some armored soldiers and they were heading to the capital city. That's why the report said the agents were still here because, fuck! That's all I know and your father wasn't a patient man!"[/b] 

There was a pause. Silas walked closer to the man, looking at him in the eye.

[color=FEF9A7][b]"Master Stockton, did you see those agents or not?"[/b][/color] 

[b]"Boy! I told you I or my men didn't see them!" [/b]

Smiling, the admiral turned around and sighed, time was running, and here he already spent more than what was allowed. [b][color=FEF9A7]"This is a general store? Correct? Where the local blacksmith gets their equipment? From you of course." [/color][/b]

The marines began to thrash the place until they found a plier. 

[b]"The fuck are you guys doing! Hey! You've got what you wanted. Put me down, boy! Hey!"[/b]

[b][color=FEF9A7]"Gents! Master Stockton here is lying through his teeth, so now I want those teeth removed. Get on with it."[/color][/b]

[b]"No! No! I really don't know! Get off me you Delving bitch! No! [i]Wrrrgrgg!!!"[/i][/b]

Leaving the general store, Silas was saluted by his subordinate.  

[b]"Apparently yesterday Madame Matilda requisitioned several horses and a carriage for some unspecified reason, leaving only three steeds for us to borrow. Ser, you can have two for yourself and Miss Kirsten, but I am afraid the rest would need frequent rests."[/b] 

Slightly annoyed by the muffled screaming coming from the store, Silas rubbed his temple before answering. [b][color=FEF9A7]"That can be arranged. Where is Kirsten, by the way?"[/color][/b]

[b]"Oh, I saw her going to the bakery."[/b]