Chapter 301 - El Diablo (1) : The Missing Groom

[Bloodskal], [Greed], [Razor] and the arsenal in the [Haven Cube]. I am safe to say that I am the most equipped guy on the land. The most interesting thing about my getup is when I infuse [Greed] in it. [Bloodskal] turns into a 3 meters long blade with a scary appearance while [Razor] turns into a very thin needle-sword which a pierce from is a sure kill.

Even Jull almost cried when she saw [Razor] on me and acted like a child for an hour to make me lend it to her.

"Who did you kill to get such a nice piece?" Even Wulfur asked.

"Thankfully, no one."

This conversation took place on our way to Whiterun from Morthal. We took the very road we once took when we traveled from Riften to Solitude more than two years ago. It felt a bit nostalgic especially when we met another frost troll that we toyed to death.

We kept traveling lightly for three days until we reached Whiterun once again. The city was very lively and the streets were well-lit as we arrived, the reason was simple, Jon Battle-Born is marrying Olfina Grey-Mane, a joyous occasion that will envelop Whiterun in happiness as the two biggest clans in the city will create a strong bond that will keep them from breaking apart like how things happened in the game. This will ensure Whiterun's stability and the good flow of income in the years yet to come.

The most common goods that pass through Whiterun are food and grain. According to the Thieves Guild, if an armed conflict was to break out in Skyrim, the prices of food will rise up three times at the most optimistic estimation. Even a neutral hold like Winterhold will be put under a lot of pressure from the Empire that will enforce its laws to demand necessary goods from us. With Whiterun stable, the prices won't shoot up that much as all the trade routes will be secured by the Jarl who won't be on alert of his biggest two clans going for each other's throats when he is not looking.

Also, I need the Empire and the Stormcloak to focus at Whiterun rather than Winterhold. Whiterun is far more important as the central hold while Winterhold is only a rising hold that won't go on their way.

Anyway, as we arrived at Whiterun we were received with a grand welcome. The goods of the Dare Dragon Outpost seemed to have left the people with a good impression and many partnerships and investing offers were thrown left and right but that was not the time for business.

We are having a friend getting married tomorrow and the best way to celebrate that is the grandest tradition of them all…

"A BACHELOR PARTY!"

How we did it?

Well, some things are better kept in secret but here how it was planned.

We go to Whiterun's bathhouse. We rent it all. Wulf, Battle-Born and I as well as the other gentlemen from the Companions and Winterhold. And then we party like savages.

Well, that was the plan until we all got drunk and passed out. The next day (day of the wedding), the was groom missing.

***

Questions like 'How on Nirn did this happen?', 'Where is Jon Battle-Born' and 'What should we do now?' were only the beginning of the mess the boys were in. The hangover effect and the dizziness they were in made the matter far worse.

Jon could handle the situation with a few 'Anti-Hangover Potion' but time is of the essence. The missing groom should be found in one hour or the whole thing will go to waste.

The notable figures in the scene right now are Jon Dare, Wulfur, Ongeim Scar-Mouth, Farkas and other youth that were friends to either Jon Dare or Jon Battle-Born.

"What should we do now?"

"We should look for him."

"How?... And where?"

"We are splitting up. One of us go to Whiterun, the others try to pick a trail on him any way possible. I will leave a [Magic Mark] on everyone here and check on you with [Telepathy]. You will hear my voice in your head so don't freak out." Jon made up a solution and everyone went on their way.

Wulfur headed back to Whiterun and looked for Jon Battle-Born in his home, Workplace and the asked about him in the inns, Ongeim asked outside the City, Farkas as a werewolf tried to pick a scent on Jon Battle-Born but they were all drunk and it was hard to pick a distinctive scent.

Jon, however, had another idea in mind.

'What if… he didn't disappear. He was taken!'

That was the first thing that popped up in Jon's mind and he already teleported himself away once he was separated from the rest, he put on his [Krilon] mask and reshaped [Greed] into a black long trench coat. He then started roaming in the alleyways of Whiterun.

The first thing he came in contact with was the Thieves Guild operatives. He couldn't use his identity as Jon Dare especially after he attracted the attention of [Storm Fangs] and the [Penitus Oculatus]. He had to knock a few teeth down to get some information on these two organization that have some reasons to kidnap Jon Battle-Born.

'The suburbs and the pubs in the Plains District.'

This was what he could find out about the two spy organizations and their hideouts.

There was not much time left and Jon raided the two places right away but to his disappointment, he found no one there. As he was trying to look for Jon Battle-Born somewhere else, he bumped into the agents from [Team 0].

"Report!"

"Who the fuck are you?" But they didn't recognize him because of the mask.

*Slap*

"Oh! Hello, Boss."

"Report!"

"Yes, Boss. Commander Jullanar and Chief Wulfur were looking for Branch Head Jon Battle-Born too and sent us here. We didn't know we will meet you, Boss."

"The place is clear. What about you?" Jon said.

"We intercepted some imperial spies last night when we were guarding the Grey-Mane manor where the ladies were spending the night together."

"What were they doing?"

"... They may have thought of contacting the Clan heads when you were not noticing but pushed them back, Boss."

[Team 0] was taking care of isolating the Imperial and Stormcloak spies and envoys from making contact with the clan heads all that time. Even the official envoys that were sent under protection of the Empire and Windhelm got harassed by [Team 0] in ways that can't disturb the relations of the Dare Dragon Company and the Empire and Jarl Ulfric.

"Does that mean they made a move on Jon Battle-Born while I was not noticing too?" Jon asked.

"It is possible, Boss. But yesterday, the Imperial moved on a large scale to not be pushed back."

"How on Nirn did you block them then?"

"It was not us, Boss. It was the First Lady."

"Alina?"

"Yes, Boss. The First Lady only looked at them and they started trembling and ran away."

"Oh! Good, keep looking and report to me."

Jon parted with the agents of [Team 0] and started contacting the other people who were looking for Job Battle-Born by [Telepathy]. It was a negative result on all parts.

'Just how did this happen… did the land split up and swallow him?'

The time was running low and only half an hour was remaining. Jon Battle-Born was still missing. The group started to feel anxious and started to move faster and faster attracting attention. Hell, some even started to call out for Jon Battle-Born in a name.

In the chaotic situation, a hero had to rise and that was…

"Were you looking for something, Hooman?"

"Nefertiti… Yes, I was looking for Jon Battle-Born. Can you find him?"

Nefertiti, who appeared on some barrel in the city beside Jon, sat calmly and licked her paw before answering.

"Hooman, you are becoming rude. Nothing is lost if meow can't find it."

"Oh, is that so?"

"Believe it or not, lesser beings like humans other than you, of course, are not that hard to predict."

"Oh please be quick."

"This way, Hooman."

***

"This is… Riverwood."

Jon and Nefertiti arrived at Riverwood for some reason.

"Onyx and Midnight said he might be here?" Nefertiti said.

"Onyx and Marigold?"

"My friends."

"Oh… you can introduce us someday."

"... You want to meet other cats? Hooman, you want to cheat on me?"

"No no, it is not like that."

"Just go look for that human and don't waste more time."

"Oh… thanks."

Nefertiti disappeared in shadow and Jon started walking towards Riverwood. He felt a bit of nostalgia when he walked in the village as this was his first time arriving here but it resembled the game's version of the village to a frightening degree. Once he found a guard, he asked about Jon Battle-Born.

"Oh! You mean the 'Chicken Killer'? We caught him red-handed… or rather red-footed. He kicked a chicken when he arrived in the village at dawn and killed it, the people have beaten Oblivion out of him."

Jon froze in his place.

"But… but this is… this is his wedding day. Wait! Why is kicking a chicken a crime? Can't he just pay a fine and be set free?"

"Oh! What are you talking about? He kicked a chicken, how can we let him be? He was lucky that he was drunk and got arrested to be interrogated when he wakes up."

"... I don't get it at all. I am his friend, can't I just pay the fee and set him free?" Jon was at loss for words.

"... You are friends with the 'Chicken Killer'? DON'T MOVE! SURRENDER, YOU SCUM! EVERYONE, STOP HIM!"

The guard turned crazy and pointed his blade at Jon.

"Whoa! Whoa! What's going on here?" Jon was taken aback.

"ARREST THE CHICKEN KILLERS!" More guards started flooding from every direction towards Jon who froze in his place.

'What is going on here?' Jon didn't understand what is going on and tried to calm down the angry mob but his efforts were to waste.

Some of the guards raised their swords and wanted to strike down Jon. Jon's eyes turned cold and was about to strike back but out of nowhere, a spear appeared in front of Jon and blocked the swords.

In front of Jon, a strong-looking Redguard Girl wielding a large spear blocked all the sword strikes with a powerful spear whirl and grabbed Jon's hand dragging him away.

"Wait! What is going on here? Who are you?" Jon was seriously about to lash at everyone and flip all the tables.

"Name is [Isha]. If you want to save this town and your friend, follow me." The girl said in a Redguard accent and ran towards the woods.

"Save the town! What is happening?" Jon ran after the girl and asked,

The girl hid behind a tree after they got far enough from the chasing guards.

"Sheogorath… Sheogorath happened."