Suspicious activity

The following day was one besotted by annoyances and rumors. He saw it coming but it was frustrating nonetheless. He tried as he could to hide in the comforts of his office, where the questioning glares at the bandages around his wrist couldn't reach him.

Unfortunately, Anita had no sense of personal space nor decorum, lounging around on the leather couch as though she didn't have an office of her own. "You know sir, I understand it hasn't been long since you've taken office but don't you think you should personalize this space a little more? I swear this painting was here back when the last High Paladin was here."

And so was the vase, and the curtains, and even the stupid jade horse paperweight. "If you're just going to be here to be a nuisance, you can leave." Gabriel chided while trying to focus on the stack of reports and paperwork on his desk.

As always, Anita was unperturbed by orders and instead was content with being the constant irritation that she was, "I've been wondering, sir, just what you could have done to mess up your sword hand? I knew I shouldn't have left you alone back at the port!"

The pen hit the cherry wood of his desk with a clang, he looked up from his paperwork with a pointed glare, mouth set into a seething frown.

All this did, was earn him a playful smile obviously staring at his injured wrist, "I heard that the Mad Dog of Crimson Crown caused some trouble in a bar somewhere, midday too!" She chirped, "I wonder what could have happened?"

Gabriel saw himself as patient, but for once he felt the real threat of desire to snap at her. He tried as he could, to hold back, "Just how thorough was your investigation if you had the time to entertain silly rumors?" He practically sneered.

She threw her hands up, unwittingly reminding him of Frode that other day, "It's not silly! And don't you worry boss! I only heard of it when I came back to headquarters. Clovis was running his mouth about it to me."

A slow breath was drawn in, then out. Gabriel closed his eyes and rubbed his temples, in vain attempt to soothe the onslaught of a migraine.

Anita continued, fearless and mirthful, "They say he punched a hole through brick, which sounds a little exaggerated to me, without a Resonance Core and all, but it really puts a flavor to the title Mad Dog, doesn't it?"

Right. And a few inches off, that hole would have been straight through Gabriel's skull. An itch of concern bubbled in Gabriel's gut at the reminder. The inhumane strength was a testament to Frode's Earth Curse, which was would only get worse over time. Gabriel's eyes swept towards a shelf of books by the wall, a few titles on the bottom row pertained to curses. Maybe he should reread again when there was free time on his hands again.

For now, his hands were full and eardrums straining thanks to the pitch of Anita's voice. She was still rambling while playing with an overgrown plant that grew out of a giant pot next to the bookshelf, "I can't help but think sir, that there are a lot of things you haven't told me about! Very important information about your past."

He cut her off, "Anita."

"Yes, sir?"

"Since you're just playing around and not doing anything important, I have a task for you to do."

"Huh? I was giving you my report!" She whined. In fact, she did give him her report but that was at least ten minutes ago before she thought it appropriate to settle down on his couch.

"Contact the Empyrean and find me someone who is well versed on Earth Curses. You can give them my information, have them get in touch with me directly."

"What! Why can't you do that yourself?"

"Because I'm paying you, that's why. Now get on with it, Anita."

"Alright boss, but you totally owe me for this!" She giggled, bold enough to blow the High Paladin a kiss before sliding out of the door. Someone, please remind him why he thought her suitable as his assistant?

A second later pleasant silence filled the space, the drawl of a busy office locked away beyond his door. Gabriel let out a sigh of relief.

Finally, he could turn his focus on important matters, primarily being the report that Anita so casually tossed his way. Had he only known her through her personality, he wouldn't be so eager to comb through its contents.

At first, he was pleased, scanning the first few pages it seemed that some suspicious activity was uncovered after all; the telltale signs of a half-done cover-up pinpointing to illegal sales. No shipment records on the guild's side yet the transactions could be traced on the recipient's side.

A frown pulled at his features when his eyes glanced over the name of the company that received the goods. Infinite Shield was unrecognizable at a glance but it only took a quick search in the knight's database to find that it was apparently an insurance company. Suspicious that an insurance company might be investing in trades with a guild. Gabriel decided to spend the next few hours uncovering what he could from the network. It didn't take long for Gabriel to discover a single reoccurring brand that kept investing in Infinite Shield.

Shell companies created by big corporations to run illegal activities were hardly new in Adros. But GoodFare Corporation wasn't just any company, but a prestigious one that specialized in producing magicite enhanced medical equipment. And it was owned and run by none other than House Javanis. Did Anita know about this? Of course, she had to have, being the one who wrote the report after all…

…It didn't matter. He will conduct in the same matter as he always had and focus on his goals. A thorough investigation was in due order, and Gabriel had to be sure he made room in his schedule to go check things out himself.