Stepping out of Arthur's yard and into the streets, Bulat felt his chest burn with fury. His hands felt restless as the need to strike something or someone threatened to overwhelm him, but he quelled it and took a deep breath.
But his anger did not subside. Instead, it burned beneath the surface, like a volcano ready to erupt.
He was not just mad at Arthur. He was mad at the situation as a whole. In the span of just a day, all of a sudden, all of his work and business were being threatened just because some random Explorer decided to buy a house in his territory.
He was mad at the fact that Arthur had forced him to feel small and insignificant as he had in his childhood.
And he was mad at the fact that a man who was incompetent enough to need a woman's opinion on matters was the one threatening him.
It was absurd. All of it was absurd.
"Charlie, later today, I want you to call in a favor from Dan and have him give you any information he might have on some powerful Mercenaries, specifically two Mercenaries, one who is good at stealth and one who's powerful"
He instructed, his voice devoid of any comforting warmth, just the silent simmer of burning rage.
Dan was mostly an inn keeper at the slums, he ran the inn that most thieves and the unsavory sort frequented, however the old man also had a lot of connections and often held information about a plethora of things.
"You got it, boss"
Charlie readily answered. Although he had reservations about going against an Explorer, he kept them to himself.
"Also have Gus and the other thieves keep an eye on the Explorer for the next couple of days"
Charlie gave a nod, acknowledging Bulat's words. He figured that the tasks given should be fairly simple to complete.
"Secondly, I'll try and dig up some information on this new couple. They must be from central"
He did not doubt that this new couple was from central. However, it did not make much sense to him why they'd move so close to the slums.
An Explorer is definitely not so short in funds that he can not afford a home near the royal palace, so why near the slums?
Bulat had a hunch that something was off, and he was going to get to the bottom of it all and get rid of this obstacle on his way one way or another.
Luckily for Bulat, he knew a person who worked as a guard at Central, so it should be fairly simple to get the necessary information.
"I'm also a little hungry right now, so let's visit the Silverspoon bakery."
Coincidentally, that's where the person he was looking for was located.
…..
"Thanks for your purchase Jace, tell your mom I'll be seeing her later today, okay?"
Cathy said to the young teenage boy, who clutched a bag of pastries close to his chest.
"Okay, Missus Silverspoon"
The lad responded without so much as looking at her. He hurriedly bolted out of the bakery, almost as if he had some sort of deadline. Cathy could only shake her head. The boy seemed to always be so energetic.
With Jake out the door, she stood behind the counter, ready for the next customer. While waiting, she quickly checked her makeup, on the reflective countertop.
Looking to see if the bruising on her left eye was still perfectly hidden and blended with the rest of her skin tone, and it was, causing her to let out a sigh and smile.
Everything was quite all right. She hoped the week would continue in that trajectory.
While waiting, she contemplated checking the pantry for inventory and making sure everything was still in stock. She didn't get a lot of customers. However, she did have loyal customers, so the bakery was doing well.
She was about to turn and head for the pantry when, through the display window, she caught sight of Bulat.
The smile on her face was quick to vanish, and a sense of dread crept into her heart. However, despite her mood being suddenly ruined, she pushed through and let the smile return to her face.
The doorbell rang as Bulat and his men walked through the door. They entered with the attitude of normal customers, here to purchase some baked goods when they were far from that.
Bulat took a sniff, the smell of pastries and cakes, filling his nose and immediately improving his mood. Almost making him forget the anger he was feeling towards Arthur.
"This place never fails to improve my mood, Good morning, Cathy. I hope this day finds you well"
He reached the counter, and his two goons loomed behind him, both projecting a threatening air around them.
"Yes, quite, it's going to be another sunny day, nothing beats a nice warm day."
Her words contained a tone of faux joy, and her smile never really reached her eyes; however, Bulat was the type to enjoy that kind of reaction from people.
It was as things should be. His presence should inspire such anxiety.
"Indeed, by the way, have you met the new couple? They're quite the pair, aren't they?"
He asked with an innocent smile on his face, or rather it was a smile that told Cathy he knew she was the type to greet the neighbors first, so she should divulge any information she may have.
"Hmm, I never thought I'd meet an explorer in my life, and I think the wife is related to some nobility of some kind"
"Oh, what makes you say that? I noticed she had a great posture when I visited them, but good posture is not enough evidence"
He responded, noticing Esme's posture when she went to the kitchen. It was what led him to believe that they moved from Central, he also noted the diamond earrings she wore. Diamonds are expensive, only folk from Central would have such quality jewelry.
"Yes, but all ladies from Central are connected to nobility in some way"
She felt the need to scratch her left cheek. Cathy's assumption that Esme was related to noble was due to the clothing and jewelry she wore. Even people from central don't wear such expensive-looking jewelry daily.
"I suppose, in any case. Inform your husband that I wish to speak to him when he returns from work."
"I'll convey the message"
She gave him a bow of the head, her heart feeling a sense of relief as it meant that their chat was coming to a close. The quicker he leaves the better.
"Thank you, Also I'll take some muffins to go, on the house of course"
Of course, her stomach churned in a bit of frustration. Bulat was the only person who did not care to pay for anything he ordered. It was something neither Cathy nor her husband could do to stop.
After having his muffins Bulat and his men took their leave, leaving Cathy to heave a deep sigh.
Without so much as giving her a moment to breathe the next customer walked through.
"G'morning Cathy, I'll have the usual, please"
Bari Stonewell was a blacksmith who lived several houses down from her and he was one of her regulars. Much like her he had moved his business away from central, preferring the lower customer foot traffic and demand.
"You got it, Barry"
She spoke with a renewed enthusiasm, the bright smile returning to her face as she quickly prepared his order.
"Was he here to collect?"
His question wasn't specific to anyone however both knew who it was about.
"No he had business with my husband, I think it has to do with the new neighbours"
She answered not even paying attention to him while she prepared his order. The bakery did not get many customers as such she typically has a specific amount of orders done for the customers she has no doubt will come buy something, she also prepares a few extra just in case.
"Hm? Are they being difficult?"
"No doubt. The husband is an Explorer, so I imagine he won't bow his head so easily"
"What? What would an Explorer be doing here?"
Bari's neutral expression switched to surprise and Catherine couldn't help but smile a bit amused.
"You'd have to find that out yourself but from what I know they're newlyweds, why they'd buy a property here is beyond me"
From what both of them knew an Explorer should have all the money they needed to afford a house in the nicer parts of the city.
"An Explorer should–"
Bari was quickly interrupted as someone else suddenly walked in.
"What's this about an Explorer? I've met one of them when I was a child, they're quite something, geared head to toe with items."
A man who looked to be in his late fifties walked in and immediately joined the conversation.
" Huh? James? Your son was just here. No way you finished a whole bagful that quickly"
Catherine spoke with a bit of surprise however James completely disregarded her words only paying attention to what he was interested in.
"Never mind that, what's this about an Explorer? Is it related to him?"
James used his head to gesture to the door, hinting that he was talking about Bulat, who he assumed had recently exited the bakery.
The trio then began to talk about the issue, Cathy telling the men all she knew along with some speculation of her own.
None of them knew how things would pan out; however, they all hoped that the new resident Explorer would do something about Bulat and his men, although they kept their hopes reasonable, without too many expectations