The next morning, Ikku decide to seek out Eadic, Anne and Arlo's former mercenary captain and friend.

He find him in a tavern commonly visited by older mercenaries. Eadic smiles at Anne and Arlo as they approach. "Well, good to know you two are still alive."

Anne nods. "Same to you, old man."

"Did you receive my letter?" Eadic asks.

Arlo nods. "Yes, we did. Got some work for us?"

Eadic grins. "I might…I need a group of mercenaries I can trust, and it can't be people in my own unit."

Anne raises an eyebrow. "Interesting…well, you can trust us for sure…especially if you have the coin."

Arlo scoffs. "Come on, Anne. Eadic has done more than enough for us—"

Anne interrupts him. "Of course…but even Eadic understands we work for Gold."

Eadic nods. "Don't worry, Anne…I'll pay you."

Anne smiles. "Great, what's the job?"

Arlo interjects. "Hold on, let's introduce Eadic to the Captain." He points at you, then at Eadic. "Captain, Eadic…Eadic, Captain."

Eadic smiles. "Captain, huh? Do you have a real name?"

"Ikku."

Eadic nods. "Interesting name." He thinks for a few seconds. "Wait a second…I think I've heard of you. Didn't you used to be a bard?"

Ikku responded, "Yes."

"From what I hear, you were somewhat of a famous bard. Why give all that up?"

Ikku tells Eadic, "I figured I would create some my own adventures, rather than reciting them."

Eadic nods. "Makes sense to me…sometimes you need some adventure, right?" Ikku shrugs and sit down at a table with Arlo, Anne, and Eadic.

Ikku is the first to speak. "So, what's the job?"

Eadic looks around to make sure no one's listening. "I need you to follow my employer."

"My employer is a nobleman named Grenwald," says Eadic. "I have reason to believe he might be playing both sides."

"What do you mean?" asks Anne.

"Our mercenary company has been hired to escort his shipments to Brunich," Eadic continues. "I'm sure you're all aware of the trading restrictions with Brunich?"

Anne nods. "Only food and luxury items…certain goods, like weapons, are strictly forbidden."

Eadic nods. "That's right. Brunich is currently in a civil war, and we're trying not to pick sides…but I have a feeling there's more than just food in those shipments."

Anne laughs. "If you think that's the case, why don't you just check the wagons yourself?"

Eadic shakes his head. "It's not that I haven't thought about that…just doesn't seem like a wise thing to do. Plus, though I control most of the wagons, occasionally he'll attach another wagon to the convoy protected by his own private guards. Not allowed to inspect those under any circumstances."

Arlo rubs his chin. "You're worried he's breaking the law, and that by working for him, you're possibly putting your mercenary company at risk…is that it?"

Eadic nods.

Anne thinks for a few moments. "So what do you want us to do…look in his wagons?"

Eadic nods again.

Arlo moves in a little closer. "And I assume your men won't stop us?"

"That is correct."

Anne thinks for a few moments. "So…you just want us to verify the contents? That's it?"

Eadic nods. "Yes…verify it is what it says on the bill of sale, and five hundred Gold Pieces is yours."

Anne continues to think for a few moments. "I assume…if it isn't what's on the bill of sale…technically, if it went missing, it wouldn't be stealing?"

Eadic frowns. "I suppose not. I'm only supposed to escort what's on—"

Anne interrupts him. "Excellent…this could be a double payday for us."

Eadic frowns. "Be careful…if he's putting something illegal in that cargo, I'm not sure whether you want to be stealing it."

Anne nods. "Don't worry, Eadic…we'll be careful."

Arlo looks over at Ikku. "You okay with this job, Captain?"

Ikku nods.

Eadic smiles. "Excellent. There's a shipment going out tomorrow. His wagon will join us near the end of the journey. You might be able to intercept it before that. I can give you some uniforms, so you don't stand out."

Ikku shake hands with Eadic, and he leaves.

The next day, Ikku wait for the wagon on the trail you expect it to take. Eadic told him that his convoy stops here to rest. There's a small tavern nearby, and the extra wagon is usually added there.

Ikku waited and eventually see Eadic's group coming in. He also see the wagon. Two of the guards stay outside to guard it, while another goes into the tavern to talk to Eadic. Ikku decide to sneak up to the wagon. Anne joins him, while Arlo remains behind as the lookout. Luckily, they aren't heard or seen. They are able to get inside without any issue.

Ikku and Annestart searching the wagon. At first, everything seems normal…various food and drink. But under a bunch of hay, you find a medium-sized lockbox.

"That shouldn't be here," says Anne.

You try to lift up the box, but it's extremely heavy, and to top it off, it's bolted down.

"We could try breaking the lock?" Anne suggests.

"Break it.", said Ikku.

Anne tries to break the lock…

Anne fails to break the lock. She tries again…

The lock eventually breaks, but the sound attracts the attention of the guards. A guard walks in and starts yelling. Anne kicks him in the face. He pulls out a dagger. Ikku then orders to kill the guard out.

Anne stabs the guard in the throat, killing him almost instantly.

Ikku open the lockbox. Inside, there's a bunch of sand.

"That's odd," says Anne. She reaches in and pulls out several weapons, along with some notes that appear to contain coded messages. "Ah…that makes much more sense."

Anne quickly closes the chest, and they both sneak back out to tell Eadic. Ikku manage to meet up with Eadic and inform him about what was in the chest. He nods and tells Ikku to follow the wagon but make sure he's not seen. He goes back inside the tavern.

After some time, the convoy of wagons heads out, with the new wagon on its tail. Eventually, Eadic arrives at a military checkpoint right before the border with Brunich.

The guard there gives Eadic a friendly greetin. "More food shipments?"

Eadic nods. "Yep."

"How many wagons full?" asks the guard.

Eadic looks back. "All these wagons are with me…except for the one in the back…I have no idea who that belongs to. They seem a bit sketchy, if you ask me."

The guard writes something down and nods. He lets Eadic's convoy through, but stops the last wagon.

The guards inside the wagon are a bit upset when the border guard insists upon searching it. They find the weapons and arrest the guards in the wagon.

Eadic meets up with you all later.

"Thanks for your help," he says.

Ikku nod. Eadic hands you a bag full of Gold.

"I hope it wasn't too difficult," he comments.

"Had a close call, but it worked out in the end.", Ikku said.

Eadic nods and departs. Ikku then head back to the castle.

Arlo and Anne both approach Ikku. Arlo tries to speak, but Anne cuts him off.

"Hey…I know we have some funds in the treasury. I was hoping I could get a new sword…maybe even a few more throwing daggers."

Arlo shakes his head. "Forget that…I need new armor. This one is starting to rust. There's nothing wrong with your sword."

Anne narrows her eyes at him. "I have a chip on my sword right here!"

Arlo examines it. "I don't see any chip…"

"Why don't you look a bit closer?" Anne says mischievously.

Arlo doesn't fall for it and backs away.

Ikku decide to buy Anne a new sword. It turns out she wasn't lying about the chip in her old one. The next day, Ikku look at the mercenary contracts and try to decide what to do next…