Getting Olaf and Silence seems unlikely now, you're sure you could probably travel the seedy underbelly of Klyton and hire some other Crimson Talon thugs, but you'd really rather not. Besides, you actually "know" David and Tom to a degree so you feel slightly more comfortable with them.



"Splendid! Now David and Tom, you go back with your old friend here and I'm sure he can fill you in on more details. I expect to see the pair of you soon with the money." Mr. Reynolds before he goes back writing in a ledger.



You, David and Tom all walk back your inn. This whole thing feels a little surreal, like you're all back in primary school again.



"So. What brings you back to the old neighborhood? Thought you were gonna be a rich doctor or some shit." David asks.

"Ehh, long story. I've actually been back for awhile running my dad's inn. Still taking classes, just not living on campus anymore."

"Yeah heard about your dad dying. Wish mine was dead; mean old fucker's still alive. Never talk or see him anymore though after he kicked me out of the house."

"…huh….uh so Tom what's been going on with you?" you ask changing the subject.

"Me? Um, nothing. Me and David just work for Mr. Reynolds beating people up who don't pay. So you owed him money before we worked for him?"

"Well, not me, but my family borrowed some. It's all in the past though."

"That's good. It would've been weird seeing each other again under those circumstances. I don't think I could intimidate your mom. She was always so nice, not like my mom."

"That's because your mom's still a big ass scary dyke that's why!" David taunts.

"Shut up David! My mom's not a dyke! She just has a roommate!"



Some things never change…



Speaking of moms, it occurs to you that actually taking them to the inn to talk probably isn't a good idea as your mom will probably start asking you all sorts of question on why you're hanging out with your old hoodlum friends. Instead you go into an alley.



"Okay, here's a list of the girls you need to confront, their names, descriptions, and even addresses for most of them."

"Shit, what the hell did you stalk 'em or something? Sounds like you could've done this yourself." David remarks.

"I didn't stalk them, I just have an overly enthusiastic employee motivated greatly by jealousy. Now I'm depending on you guys to do this right."

"Relax, we're professionals now. None of this getting caught in the candy store for us anymore."

"Okay, so how long do you think this will take you?"

"Ehhh, we can probably get this done in a few days if we hurry. Quite a few targets, but it really shouldn't take long. Probably get most of them after they leave work or going to work. I assume we'll meet at your inn when the job's done?"

"Uh no, we'll meet over in the park around five, where we used to play Smash Sphere in a couple days. If you haven't finished the job by then, we'll meet again there in two more days and that should hopefully give you enough time."

"I told you we'll be done before then, but fine we'll do it this way since you think your inn is obviously too good for us…"

"That's not…"

"Bullshit! The very fact that we're talking in this alley is an indication that you don't want us in your place."

"Is that true? I thought we were friends?" Tom asks being slow on the uptake as usual.

"David, I have certain patrons and I can't have known criminals walking around the place, not to mention my mom…"

"Fuck you, mama's boy. All that fancy learnin' and you still live with your mom. We may be lowly thugs but at least we're not still livin' at home. Rather be a goon for hire than a hypocrite like you. Too good to have us at your fancy ass inn, but not too good to hire us to wipe out the competition eh?"



You're silent for a moment after David's accurate statement, but you're not going to let him get away with talking like that to you even if it does mean a possible beating.



"…Alright, fine David. You got me, I'm a fucking hypocrite, is that what you want to hear? At least I tried to do something with my fucking life rather than just rot in juvie for most of my youth and live a hand to mouth existence as some dumb ass goon. So are you gonna do the fucking job or what?"



David starts laughing.



"Sheesh, I was just fucking with you. You always did take shit so seriously. Anyway yeah we'll get right on this. See ya in a couple days mama's boy. Heh."



You part company with David and Tom hoping that you've made the right decision.



A few days pass and you wait at the park at the time you mentioned. Time passes and neither has shown up yet and you start feel anxious.



"I have to say, I'm surprised at the lengths you went through to compete with me. I never expected you to pull something like this. You might've succeeded in this clumsy attempt, but a couple of my employees were a little more skilled than your thugs."



It's Frank, the owner of The Flying Griffon. You're so shocked that you can't even come up with an excuse. It doesn't matter though since Frank isn't done talking.



"Don't bother with excuses, I know everything. Your little friends proved quite talkative when questioned. On the brighter side for you, you won't have to pay them now."

"They're dead?"

"Oh I wouldn't know about such things, but I do know they won't be troubling anyone else any longer. Now the question is what to do about you?"

"…you don't need to do anything about me…in fact I suggest you don't. I'm friends with several Klyton militia and an investigation would certainly follow if I were to suddenly disappear."



Frank smirks and your attempt to intimidate him.



"Truly? Might I also tell these same militia friends of your of how you hired two thugs to cut up my employees? But let's get to the point, you've done a lot of damage to my business and I think some reparations are in order. I want your inn. Or rather your mother's inn."

"What?"

"You heard me. That's the only thing that's going to get you out of this mess you've dug yourself into. I'll of course give you a few days to make preparations. Don't bother asking if you can still live or work there, I'm afraid I just couldn't trust someone who has shady dealings."

"And if I say no?"

"I'd advise against it. That's all I'm going to say. Now if you'll excuse me, I have to get back, we're a little understaffed lately."



You quickly make your way back to the inn lamenting the mess you've gotten yourself into. You glare at Rita on your way in while everyone else asks you where you've been. You're distracted all night and your mother notices it the most. At the end of the workday she asks if there's anything wrong.

You keep it to yourself

You can't tell your mother what you did; she'd never forgive you. Frank is probably just bluffing. Even if he did say something to the Klyton Militia there's no evidence and they probably wouldn't believe him anyway. Besides he pretty much suggested that Tom and David are dead.



Of course that makes you worry that he might try to do the same thing to you, your mother or one of your employees. Maybe he wasn't bluffing.



For the next few weeks you become increasingly paranoid asking your employees if they noticed anyone strange following them. You can't concentrate in class and your grades start to suffer. The stress gets so much that you end up pulling your dad's Troll Gun on a patron you don't recognize. Fortunately nothing bad happens, unless you count several people questioning your sanity and no longer entering your inn. Several of your staff grumble about leaving, but it doesn't quite get to that point.



You've been so stressed out that you haven't been able to sleep properly for weeks, you constantly wake up and double check all the locks on the doors and sleep with the Troll Gun next to you. Eventually a wave of exhaustion causes you to collapse and fall into a deep sleep for once.



You begin to dream that you're sitting near a tree studying. A pretty girl in a red dress sits next to you saying that you should come with her instead of putting your nose in a book.



"I have to study! I have to become a doctor! That's my goal!" you answer.

"Is it? Or is it some high aspiration that your parents put into your head when you were young? Do you really know what you want? How hard have you pushed yourself only to be thwarted at every turn? Don't you think you should take time to rest? Come with me."

"I would like to rest, but I can't. I have to continue."

"No, you don't. You can allow yourself time to take break. You've done as much as you can…perhaps more than you should have. But none of that matters now; it's time to rest. Come with me."



The words of this word are so soothing and she speaks in a way that you find alluring and truthful. Still, you can't but think you know her from somewhere.



"…who are you? Do I know you? It seems like I've seen you before…" you ask.

"Does it matter? You must come with me now. You may not get another chance." The woman says in a firm, but gentle tone.



You get the impression that she sincerely is looking out for your best interest, so you put down your book and hold her hand as you go walking into the fields with her…



"I can't believe he just died in his sleep! He was too young! (sob)" your mother cries.

"I'm sorry for your loss, but he did seem like he was under a lot of stress lately. Dunno what would've caused that. Maybe his classes were getting harder and he just couldn't take it any longer?" Wendy says not really knowing what to say.

"Well, at least he looked peaceful." Eliza says, tearing up a little.

Rita stays quiet the whole time, looking a little nervous about whether or not her "idea" had anything to do with this.



After burying you next to your father, you mother has no more reason to stay in Klyton and sells the inn to Frank before moving back to Teckleville to live with her sister Enora.

 
Meanwhile...



"So sister, did Frank yell at you for disposing of his competition in such a gentle manner?"

"Hah, that little mage knows not to overstep his bounds. Oh I long for the day when we can figure out how to break his little contract over us. Honestly using us as mere barmaids, it's degrading."

"I agree sister, but I will never under stand why you choose to take the delicious life force in the manner you do."

"Oh sister, you are truly a product of our race. Seduction and then a horrifying end to the victim. It needn't always be so vulgar. Besides, I sensed so much stress, worry and guilt in him, I figured he could use a peaceful end."