Steampunk Era: Mad Abield

After organizing the manuscript, Malin handed it to a team of Knights from the Sage’s Guild tasked with the collection, and he was surprised to find that it included two Paladins. It was only after an explanation that he learned the Sage Constantine had specifically requested assistance from the Church of Justice for security reasons, fearing any damage to the manuscript that Malin was handing over.

Once the exchange was complete, Malin said his goodbyes, and one of the tall Paladins nodded at him as he walked by: "Please take care of Matilda, Mr. Malin."

Malin immediately nodded, then watched them leave before turning to Matilda: "That person is...""My father’s colleague, Sir Modim, a very formidable Paladin." Matilda blushed slightly: "I thought he was still in the North."

"He must have come back for a break," Jessica suggested.

"Paladins never take a break, there’s too much evil in this world to slow down," Matilda said with pride.

Malin’s gesture of crossing his arms froze momentarily, then he frantically began searching through the small pouch at her waist.

"Your bag is torn," Maya pointed out the tear in Matilda’s small pouch.

"Although the tear is jagged, one can still see the neat cut marks, it’s a cut made by a thief, and a skilled one at that," Jessica confirmed, being experienced with blades herself.

Malin thought for a moment—they had just made contact with the Sage’s Guild, and the girls should not have been far away. The Sage’s Guild typically shared a hall with the Adventurers’ Guild, so it would have been crowded for sure. The thief who managed to cut Matilda’s pouch in broad daylight was indeed bold and skilled.