'Not only are the mid-rank parties unavailable, but I can't even decide on which low level
the team I will pick.' Taliesin instinctively furrowed his brows when he heard Susan's report.
Adventurer parties weren't like solo adventurers that could pick up a mission anytime. For them to take certain commissions, especially escort commissions they had to make preparations depending on the difficulty of the commission and the terrain. That was why they were booked a week before the day and if it was very urgent 2 days at most.
'There is no need to complain about something I can't change, by the way, the escort doesn't matter much.' Taliesin sighed.
"Alright, when can I meet the available party? Tell them I am willing to pay the extra fee for rushing things." Having no other choice he had to accept.
"That's great. You can meet them now…" Susan replied.
"Indeed it is. The early I meet them the better. Please lead the way." Taliesin cut her short in an inpatient tone.
"There is no need to go anywhere, the only free D rank adventurer party available is standing beside you." Being a professional, Susan was able to control her anger as she spoke to Taliesin.
"…" It was when Susan spoke about them, did Taliesin realize that people were standing beside him.
'A bunch of kids?' That was the first line that came into his head.
"Mr. Taliesin, meet the order of chaos. Although they are a newly registered adventurer party none of its members are below the champion realm." As Susan introduced both parties none of them bothered themselves about handshakes.
From the way Mr. Taliesin had treated them, it would be truly stupid of them if they didn't reciprocate the feeling and as for Taliesin, he had no thoughts of giving or accepting any handshakes because of his prejudice against commoners.
'Even if the security doesn't matter, I can't accept a bunch of commoners.' Mr. Taliesin was about to reject them, but Susan's words made him rethink.
"This is the party's leader, Zero. Second in charge, Hades and finally this is Grock." Susan introduced them.
'This is Zero the young adventurer everyone has been talking about?' Taliesin scanned Blake from head to toe.
'He is as young as they say, as for strength that hasn't been confirmed yet.
He is the perfect candidate. Inviting a top or mid-rank adventurer party is a sure giveaway to how precious the master's package is.
But if I am to invite a controversial character like Zero, it wouldn't arouse a lot of attention and it would be just enough to chase away small fries.' It took some time for him to weigh the pros and cons before he finally made a decision.
"Alright, I agree to the conditions and the extra fee, but is your team ready and willing to accept the mission?" Taliesin's question received a nod from Blake.
"Then let's go set up the plan and routes for the escort mission." Susan gestured for them to follow her as she led them to the room.
…
Under the same roof of the adventurer's association building, in a similar room that blocked prying eyes and ears.
"He hired the newly formed adventurer party, Order of Chaos lead by the recently trending beginner adventurer, Zero.
Should we still proceed with the plan to attack the escort?" The spy patiently waited for his hirer to ponder over the matter.
"For the fact that he risked the safety of the package by hiring a low-rank adventurer party means there is a higher chance that the package is a decoy.
But he seems to underestimate me. Even if there is a 10% chance that it isn't a decoy I will take it!" The calm tone of the spy's hirer changed without warning to that of a deranged asylum patient.
"…" With the experience the spy had gotten from dealing with a different type of clients over the years, he managed to keep his cool and wait for orders.
"Keep watching them and if there isn't any much change of plans from their side, continue with the plan, but if there is call me immediately." The hirer cut the call immediately he was done talking.
"Another mentally deranged client in the space of a month. That's just great..." The spy sighed before leaving the room to continue with his preparations.
…
Back in the planning room.
"With that, I think everything is clear and if there no other questions I will be taking my leave." With that been said, Taliesin stood up and left Susan and the trio.
"I have a bad feeling about this mission. I mean, someone like him shouldn't be a commoner or live close to the slums so why are we to follow the route if it poses more danger to the package?" Blake's sudden question put everyone into deep thoughts.
According to the plan drafted out by Taliesin, the escort party consisted of only him, the carriage driver, and the trio, but this wasn't Blake's problem because their number was standard for an E rank adventurer party mission.
The main problem Blake had with the mission was that they were to take the package from the adventurer's association building which was at the center region of the city pass the mid-region to the slums.
From the tone of Taliesin, it was as if there would be great danger if they took the route of the mid-region of the city, but that went contrary to everyone's beliefs, because in which world did the normal areas of the city become more dangerous than the slums?
If things were to be dangerous as Taliesin had said, the ash corps (The empire's police) would react in time to save the situation, but if they were to follow the slums their reaction will be surely slower.
"Surely there is more to this mission than meets the eye, but I seriously hope you are wrong about this," Castiel said after thinking more about it.