"City Guard Commander came in a wee hour. Why?" Sofie couldn't help looking at Curtis with a hint of surprise which brought this unusual news of the City Guard Commander visiting the guild.
It was quite strange because a person like City Guard Commander won't just come and go without any reason, and he was a very busy person because he was in charge of the city's security and preventing criminal activities.
Furthermore, no one dared to cause trouble in an Alive City since it is akin to provoking all the living things, and these cities were teeming with powerful surveillance systems. So, if someone is discovered doing anything suspicious, they can forget about ever entering an alive city with normal means.
Curtis looked somewhat pale as he quickly replied, "Something very strange has been going on for the past three days. According to the city commander, the powerful people of the bank and the alliance has been vanishing every night without even any trace behind them.
"The attacker is like a ghost who comes a goes without any noticing it. Up until now, 13 people have vanished, and there is no trace of them being found yet. But what caused the City Commander to move is the City Lord, Zodiac Sorceress Dark Mistress, also seemed to have fallen victim to these disappearances!" Curtis was filled with fear when he mentioned it.
Even Sofie was startled, and her expression turned grim since this matter was really too serious. She knew better than anyone that a city lord was no ordinary person, especially a City Lord appointed in the Alive Alliance Cities. These guys were simply monsters, and taking them down takes a small army.
But now, the City Lord had vanished without even leaving any trace. This would send chills down anyone's spine. Furthermore, only people like Curtis were told about this truth while this news was completely blocked to the public not to cause mass panic.
This kind of thing had never happened in the history of any alive city.
However, this entire situation was simply too spooky, and everyone was now on guard, and the city guards were now on the streets with all sorts of devices at their disposal while the city surveillance system was fully activated.
"I think you should leave, Elder; this place is no longer safe. Mr. Nobody will also understand the gravity of the situation." Curtis gravely stated.
He wasn't doing this for the kindness of his heart. Instead, if anything happened to an Elder Grandmaster like Sofie within his branch, it would spell certain doom for him as well.
Even the city lord was not safe, so it was better to send Sofie back before something happened to her. His life and career were more important, after all.
Sofie also understood the gravity of the situation and nodded, "Thank you for the heads-up. Do you purchase all the materials?"
Curtis nodded before taking out a space ring and handing it to Sofie and couldn't help but ask, "If you don't mind me asking, why do you need some much Epic Titan Iron?"
'I also wanted to know this.' Sofie depressingly thought before stiffly replied, "This is a secret, so please don't ask this. Just continue to collect more until I tell you to stop. As for going back, I'll discuss it with Mr. Nobody."
Done saying her piece, she left toward the top floor where Jacob was occupied.
Curtis sighed in confusion as he muttered, "Why do I feel like she's not acting like herself but like an errand girl? Just who in the world is this guy? I can't find anything on him. If I could get his start ID…"
---
Sofie entered the workshop with a grim expression as she still thought about what Curtis just said, but her thought process was instantly disturbed when an appetizing whiff suddenly drifted in her nose the moment she opened the door.
'Who's cooking? Am I hallucinating?' She thought with disbelief.
But as she walked toward Jacob's location, that aroma became stronger and stronger, and when she finally reached her destination, she was completely baffled by the sight.
There was a large worktable which, once filled with all sorts of blueprints, was now filled with many different dishes, and all of them were pipping hot as steam was emitting from them.
Furthermore, all of those dishes were made with meat as their core ingredients, and she had to admit they were indeed look and smelled delicious.
At this moment, she finally spotted the cook when she heard a sizzling sound not far away from this table filled with delicacies.
She almost didn't believe her eyes when she spotted Jacob roasting meat on a grill placed above the precious Mana Flames that used to heat up cauldrons to perform epic-rank alchemy.
Jacob noticed eyes on him, and he long knew that Sofie had entered the workshop and continued with what he was doing.
"Since you come in time of a meal, take a seat. I'm about to be done with this last chilly barbecue." Jacob coolly stated without looking at Sofie's dumbfounded expression.
Sofie finally snapped out of her stupor and couldn't help but retort, "W-what are you doing?"
Jacob dismissively replied, "Are you blind?"
"No. That's not what I mean." Sofie pursed her lips, "Why are you cooking in a
workspace? It's unethical, and Mana Flames are simply too precious to use for mere cooking!"
"Heh, you sound like something I used to know a very long time ago." Jacob chuckled, "But do you actually believe I give two shit about ethics in the place I literally own? For you, these meals might be petty, but for someone like me, they are probably the only sources of gratification I could enjoy once in a blood moon. So, I don't care about the cost at all. So, stop nagging and set down, or just scram!"
Sofie was speechless before anger surfaced in her eyes as no man had ever treated her like this, yet this guy not only made her a slave, but he was extremely churlish. She wanted to storm out but that aroma…
'I still need to discuss with him… I'll stay!' Telling herself that, she harrumphed coldly and took a seat!