The inside of the Hunter's Guild in this town is larger than I would have expected.
Another sign that I've been out for longer than I expected.
Gradually one emotion returns to me.
Irritation. Yes, this is irritation. If I could speak, I could get answers to all my questions faster.
Following Sierra inside the main guild lodgings, we leave Rita and Jie behind. Her little sister stays behind to keep Jie from doing something stupid while he's grieving. The older sister brings me to her superior first.
"Mr. Q, behind this door is my boss, so I'd appreciate it if you'd be polite..."
"H-Hei." My croaking voice doesn't sound like how I remembered it. Although to be honest it's been so long since anyone called my name that I could be remembering it wrong.
"What? What are you trying to say?" She asks curiously, seeming very surprised that I'm talking. Pointing at myself, I try to communicate in as few words as possible.
"Hei...my name..." Stinging pain shoots up my throat and I begin to cough. It hurts to talk at a level other people can hear clearly. Fortunately, Sierra seems to get it. The girl's ferocious expression softens slightly as she understands.
"Oh, that's your name. Well, alright, Hei. Nice to meet you!" She sticks out her hand but quickly panics as my coughing grows worse.
*Cough Cough*
"Let me get you some water!" Sierra runs away, leaving me in front of her boss's door. An unfamiliar voice comes from inside right as she departs.
"Is someone out there?"
*Cough Cough*
My eyes begin to fill with tears as I try to hold it in. But before the damn girl can return, the door opens and I'm faced with a stern auburn-haired man looking down on me. He looks me over, the flaming hawk insignia on his chest belying his authority as he tries to figure out why I'm outside his office.
"Can I uh...help you?"
*Cough Cough*
Rolling my eyes, I point at my throat and try to show that I can't speak right now. The man only becomes more confused.
"Is something wrong? Who the heck are you? Why are you outside my office?"
"...Ack..." I croak out indignantly, as Sierra returns. Her angry boss immediately notices her coming but she doesn't see him. Unfortunately, due to how hard I'm coughing, when she holds out a cup of water, I accidentally knock it over.
*Crack*
A rain of glass and some green liquid goes everywhere, including her boss's expensive white suit.
Oh...it wasn't water. It was tea.
"Oh my god! I'm so sorry!" Sierra goes into salvage mode. Her boss is already apoplectic with dignified rage. He raises an eyebrow and chastises her while she tries to pick up the pieces of the broken teacup.
"Sierra...what's happening here? Why is my best suit covered in green tea?" He barely manages to contain his rage, fist shaking, as he glares daggers at both his subordinate and I. For her part, Sierra recovers as gracefully as she can under the circumstances. Picking shards out of the carpet, she gives him a shaky smile.
"Um, this is Mr...Q...I mean, Mr. Hei!" She explains as fast as she can, as if afraid he might explode before she finishes. "Our team found him outside Tiendas City, and you said to report anyone high level who came out of there. Mr. Hei needs registration card. Additionally, Jin's father is dead, Sir. We encountered some sort of creature which killed two parties."
