Elemental Cats

Toz stored the spatial storage items within themselves to decrease the amount of space they took up before putting them in his pockets. He then turned to the guy in glasses, who had proved quite adept at reading the situation.

"You."

"M-me?"

The guy in glasses trembled in fright as Toz pointed at him.

"Yes, you. Where's the treasury or storage room or whatever?"

"R-right. U-um. If you leave through the door behind you, it's two lefts, one right, then another left, then down a flight of stairs, then right, then left again-"

"Just lead us there, instead. I don't have time for all of this."

"A-alright."

The guy in glasses looked like his legs were about to tremble enough to make him lose his kneecaps, but he still tremblingly began walking toward the door. He was careful not to get too close to Toz and the cats and moved toward the opening in the dome Lucy made.

The other people heaved a sigh of relief at Toz and the cats leaving with the man in glasses. However, they soon regained their bearings and realized things weren't as great as they thought. The guy in glasses was leading Toz and the cats right to where they stored their real treasures. And the dome of darkness was still keeping them within the ballroom.

The people who realized their situation more quickly began pounding on the dome and screaming for the guards. However, it was useless. Lucy's dome wasn't something administrative mages and people without special inclinations could do something about unless they were at a lot higher level than Lucy. And considering Lucy's frightening proficiency with the darkness element, even a high level mage might not be able to do it unless they're strong for their level and adept at breaking down barriers.

While the ruckus caused by the people trapped in the dome continued, Toz and the cats followed the glasses guy's lead around the castle's insides.

"Even if you lead us directly to the guard captain, we'll still have enough time to kill you before you can escape."

"Hih! Y-yes, sir!"

Toz didn't know if the glasses guy was planning to lead them somewhere other than the treasury, but threatening somebody never hurt anyone.

Either Toz's threat was effective, or the guy in glasses was smart enough to avoid the guards on his own. Toz noticed how he would stop before certain intersections and look at the ground for a few seconds before continuing to lead Toz and the cats forward. If Toz and the cats weren't already walking soundlessly, he would have also motioned them to be quiet during those times since there were guards not too far away.

Toz decided to make use of a window when there weren't any guards nearby to ask their guide about something he had been curious about for a while now.

"Is the Blue Lounge really a league of pirates?"

The glasses guy trembled as soon as Toz began talking, but when he realized that Toz was just striking up conversation to get rid of the awkward atmosphere, he calmed down enough to answer.

"W-well… As far as I know, the Blue Lounge isn't exactly led by pirates."

"What do you mean?"

"I'm not sure, but there are rumors that the chairman used to be some kind of officer from the Starsling Kingdom. And that he and his original crew are soldiers. Not pirates."

Toz looked at their guide in surprise at that tidbit of information. He hadn't gotten time to investigate, but Stitches had told them what he knew, and there wasn't a single mention of them being anything but pirates.

"How come he's the leader of a pirate crew, then?"

"Apparently, they acted like pirates in the beginning but stopped doing that when chairman Stris took up his position."

"I guess that explains this place and all the guards."

The glasses guy didn't know what to answer to that, so he just kept leading them in silence.

Toz didn't bother to continue questioning. If he wanted to know more, he could always ask Retsy or investigate things on his own. Though, it was possible he wouldn't need to dig deep into the affairs of the Blue Lounge League of Pirates after they left the cave.

Under the direction of the guy in glasses, Toz and the cats soon arrived in a large underground hallway. It wasn't as extravagant as the hallway leading to the ballroom, but it was at least as robust.

Toz could sense that they were approaching the treasure. However, their guide stopped them shortly before they arrived. Toz looked questioningly at the glasses guy.

But before Toz could say anything, the man with glasses held up a finger to his mouth before motioning Toz and the cats to move backward.

When they were far enough away to ease the glasses guy's concerns, their guide began explaining.

"At least three guards. Possibly at the high levels. There is another way to the treasury, but it will take a lot of time. What do you want to do?"

"First of all. How do you know that?"

Toz hadn't sensed anything. He hadn't used any magic, but his ordinary senses were incredibly acute, and considering the guards and their clunky armor, he should've heard them.

The glasses guy looked hesitant, but he still explained how he knew.

"I can analyze everything I see, including the ground. And there are three sets of footprints on the floor that match the strength of high level fighters."

The glasses guy lowered his glasses slightly, revealing his swirling irises and bottomless pupils. Toz found it pretty interesting but, at the same time, slightly unsettling.

"Cool!"

Lucy only found it cool, however, which startled the glasses guy since it was obvious he was self-conscious about his eyes, and not prepared for compliments regarding them.

"T-thank you."

After awkwardly avoiding Lucy's gaze, the glasses guy turned to Toz again, waiting for his answer.

"It doesn't matter if you're right or not. We'll just press forward and deal with the guards in the way. We don't have a lot of time to spare, after all."