Chapter 21: Troublesome Thief

The journey had taken an unexpected turn when the group encountered Fizzle, a small, bubble-like creature with silky fur that shimmered in soft pastel hues, shifting colors to match her emotions. With her large, expressive eyes and mischievous personality, she had quickly become an adorable yet sassy addition to the team.

What made her even more intriguing was her ability to talk. The moment she casually spoke after being named, the entire group had been left in shock. Fizzle, however, seemed unfazed by their astonishment, acting as if it was the most natural thing in the world. Since then, she had made herself comfortably within the group, she sat on Drakar's wing for rest of the journey.

Despite her small size, Fizzle had a big personality. She was playful, full of attitude, and had no problem speaking her mind, often with a smug tone. She had already declared herself an invaluable member of the team, though, in truth, no one really knew what she was capable of yet. Still, Lila and the others had quickly grown fond of her, and their journey to another town had become much livelier with Fizzle's presence.

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By the time the group reached the town, it was late morning. The town was much larger than the one they had come from, with bustling streets filled with merchants, adventurers, and townsfolk going about their day. The air smelled of fresh bread from bakeries and sizzling meats from food stalls. Despite the lively atmosphere, the team stayed focused.

At the town gates, the guards checked their adventurer IDs before allowing them entry. After asking for directions, they made their way through the cobblestone streets to the guild where they had to deliver the goods. Upon arriving at the guild, a large, well-built structure with a grand entrance, they walked up to the receptionist's desk.

"Welcome to the adventurers' guild," the receptionist greeted them with a polite smile. "How can I help you?" Lila stepped forward. "We're here to deliver a package on behalf of the merchants' guild from our town." The receptionist nodded and signaled a staff member to check the goods. The team unloaded the packages, and the staff began verifying them one by one. However, as they neared the end of the list, the staff member frowned and counted again. "Uh… there's a problem," he said hesitantly. "One of the packages is missing." Lila's eyes widened. "Missing?" She quickly turned to Fizzle, narrowing her eyes. "You didn't… eat it, did you?"

Fizzle, who was resting lazily on Drakar's wing, let out an offended huff. "That is just impossible. I don't eat things that aren't tasty. You really underestimate me." Lila sighed, rubbing her temples. "Alright, alright."The group huddled together, trying to figure out what could have happened. "Maybe we left it behind when we set up camp?" Adrian suggested. Doran scratched his chin. "But we double-checked everything before leaving. I don't think we would have missed it."

Sera remained quiet, analyzing the situation in her mind. Meanwhile, Fizzle continued lounging on Drakar's wing, acting as if the entire matter had nothing to do with her. Their discussion was interrupted when the receptionist approached. "Is something wrong?" Lila hesitated before answering. "Uh… we might have accidentally left one of the packages somewhere."

The receptionist nodded. "That is possible, but there's also another possibility." Everyone looked at her curiously. "What do you mean?" Doran asked. "For the past few months, we've had incidents where goods and packages from adventurers coming from other towns have gone missing. We suspect that there's a thief targeting deliveries. "The entire group was shocked. "A thief?" Adrian repeated. "Yes. We've posted a quest to catch the thief, and there's even a reward for anyone who can provide information, but unfortunately, no one has been able to identify them yet," the receptionist explained.

She then looked at Lila sympathetically. "You don't have to worry about the lost package. I can still give you the payment for the rest of the delivery." But Lila immediately shook her head. "No. If we haven't delivered everything we were supposed to, then we don't deserve the money." The receptionist tried to reassure her. "It's okay, really. It was just one package-" "I don't want it," Lila said firmly. Doran and Adrian backed her up. "Yeah, we don't want the money either," Doran said, while Adrian nodded in agreement. Sera remained silent, but her eyes showed that she was on the same page.

Drakar, who had been silent the entire time, finally spoke in a deep, serious tone. "So we just have to catch this thief, get our package back, and then we take the reward. That's fine by all of you, right?" For a moment, there was complete silence. Then Lila's eyes sparkled with excitement. "Drakar, that's a brilliant idea! Hey, guys, what do you think? Should we catch the thief?" The receptionist hesitated. "It won't be easy..."

But the team had already started discussing their strategy, ignoring her warning. The receptionist sighed, but deep down, she was happy. It was rare to see young adventurers who had true spirit rather than being solely focused on money. Seeing their determination, she decided to support them. "Well, since you're taking on this challenge, the least I can do is offer you a place to stay," she said. "You can stay at the guild's inn for free." Lila and the team tried to refuse, but the receptionist insisted. Eventually, they accepted her offer.

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Since it was still evening, the group decided to explore the town. As they wandered through the streets, they kept their senses sharp, observing everything carefully. They analyzed the layout of the town, noting possible escape routes and areas where a thief might hide. "We need to think like the thief," Adrian said as they walked through the marketplace. "If I were stealing goods, I'd probably target places where adventurers are most distracted." "The inn areas," Doran added. "That's when most adventurers drop their guard." Sera nodded. "Also, if the thief is after deliveries, then they might be watching the guild closely." Lila grinned. "This is getting exciting!"

Fizzle floated beside her, smirking. "Exciting? Hah. Just don't mess it up." Drakar remained silent, as usual, observing his surroundings. Despite his quiet nature, he was always the most aware of dangers lurking nearby. As the sun set, the town's lamps began to glow, casting a warm light on the streets. The team knew that the real challenge had just begun. Tomorrow, they would start their hunt for the mystery troublesome thief.