In hindsight, it was an amusing chain of events that had led Kairaiko to Hargeon, instead of Joya where she would have preferred to see the culmination of Mishiko's personal efforts in liberating Joya from the corruption of the Shogun. Alas, even the divine master of Utopian Demise needed the power of money at her side if she wanted to create miracles. Wars weren't won just on goodwill alone. No, as she overlooked the various dockworkers loading the crates onto one of the ships docked at Hargeon the Puppet Master's neutral expression concealed her excitement.

Inside the crate were various weapons and defensive armors that she had designed with secret technology certain parties had excavated from the ruins of Ground Zero in Talaz Lagaar. In other crates were several new models of her autonomous puppets that would be shipped to reinforce the mercenaries and sellswords in Mishiko's army. They were created to respond to the commands of Mishiko, and the only one capable and possessing of the knowledge to override these commands was herself. All in all it was the end result of several years of clever business and innovative research, and now it was on the verge of helping Mishiko accomplish her ambitions that could change the future of an entire country.

Then why, why could she not feel more? Why could she only think about the fame her inventions would garner her? How much profits she could make out of this in the future? Joya was her homeland, she should had been proud to help Mishiko, should had been happy that people would finally be freed from the tyranny of the shogun, and yet she felt... oddly calm. Eerily calm even.

One of the humanoid puppets at her side turned their head into her direction. On the surface one would have been forgiven for mistaking the puppet for a human. For it did really look like a young woman wearing a maid uniform. Kairaiko had chosen to let herself be accompanied by these particular puppets after Mishiko suggested that they were less likely to cause a commotion compared to her usual bodyguard. Not to mention their fashion seemed to fit in quite well with the stylish trends of Hargeon.

"Is something the matter Master?" The puppet inquired as she watched her creator's hand resting idly on her injured leg. The puppet at her other side turned her head in response, a look of concern on her face. "Do you require some rest Master?" To which Kairaiko shook her head lightly. "Nah I'm fine, just thinking."

Ugg, why did she make these servant puppets be so realistic in their programming, showing concern over the slightest thing... Heaving a sigh she couldn't help but wish she could call upon her usual companion, but for the time being he remained stationary in the nearby warehouse, lest he'd alarm the dockworkers with his imposing presence.

"Maybe once this shipment sets sail I will go and look for myself how Mi-chan's efforts are going in Joya." She mused idly as she turned her gaze sideways. She could see a stranger was looking at the docks as well, and just like her was... standing out quite strongly among the usual crowd of dockworkers, sailors and guards. In her case it was even more noticeable, after all not many would expect such a young lady to be bound to a wheelchair, or in fact to be a merchant!

He was a fresh Blue Pegasus member. It was so surreal and weird. He hasnt yet felt the gravity of the situation or maybe couldnt even handle it. Yes he had heard about the conflict in Joya, but that started while he was still guildless and only interested in his own survival. He wouldnt touch that war with a stick if he had one. And even now when protected by a guild. He still wouldnt. He was content here. 'Home'. Oddly enough. A word he never used in years and he still didnt. He had no emotional attachment to Hargeon. Staying here permanently was a surprise. Its a bit too hot for his liking. Perhaps because it was summer.

But that was a story for another day. He was a Blue Pegasus member here at Hargeon who refused to go to war, so now that he stayed behind he just decided to walk around and make sure the townsfolk were safe and all was well. Which was another strange thing if you ask him. Protecting random strangers. Yeah, thats something he wouldnt do. It was weird. Not sure he liked it. But he had to. He had to fit in. He was sure one day he would have his way. He just had to bide his time and be smart. All he wanted to do was survive after all.

Now at the Hargeon docks, he would see something odd. A wheelchaired lady and cargo or something. He would approach her
"Hey there... ehm... what'chu doing?" yeah he was straight to the point. Sublety was not his forte

The two maid droids instinctively turned toward the stranger who approached them, eying him as if trying to read his intentions while Kairaiko shifted her seating lightly so she could look up at the newcomer. "Greetings to you as well stranger-" She paused, a smile emerging on her lips, a polite and welcoming expression that was a trademark of a skilled saleswoman. "If you are inquiring about my presence here: I am merely overseeing the last efforts of the dockworkers to load my shipments onto the boat you see ahead of us."

She raised a hand, and from just a brief glimpse one could easily see she was not your typical presence at a place like this. Thin and delicate fingers, blemish-free skin and the lack of developed muscles easily showcased the telltales of a young noblewoman rather than an adventurer. "You see~ I am somewhat of a merchant, inventor, and scientist first and foremost, but I do take pride in my creations so it is only natural that I oversee their treatment. Fortunately the weather in Hargeon has been fairly agreeable as well this time of the year~"

She turned her gaze away from the ship and back toward Michael as she inquired with a hint of curiosity in her voice. "What about you sir? You don't look like your typical inspector, they tend to be more subtle when talking to me, and he just came by less than an hour ago so unless you're trying to race a colleague... I presume you're either a wandering mercenary looking for work, a tourist who picked quite an odd place to get lost at, or... A guild mage, presumedly from Blue Pegasus? I think Magnolia is a bit far for it to be one of the faeries, and since I'm in the South and not the North Paradise Dawn seems unlikely as well... And god knows what the scholarly folk of the Collective Mind are up to on their floating rock so I'm quite confident in my guess~"

She inquired with a brief smile albeit for a moment her eyes were cast toward the maid droids at her side. "Please forgive their silence, they aren't used to interacting with others." The two maids bowed lightly in unison toward Michael. "Kairaiko, of the Kanzaki clan."

And with her greeting done the two droids rose back to their full length, her gaze averted back to the ship and her smile faded for a moment, a thoughtful frown on her visage as she seemingly was lost thinking about something.

The rather formal sounding lady answered his question and said that she's just overseeing some dock workers that are loading shipment. She proceeded to say that she was a merchant and an inventor and a scientist. He tilted his head to the side as he saw nothing of that in her. Just a suspicious girl that was out of place, looking too fragile to take the world. Then again if Vex taught him anything was that girls like to feign being weak and harmless but are actually beasts. He tried to discreetly get a bit of a sniff here and there to see if there was danger or if anything was wrong with her scent and lastly to remember hers should he need to in future. He briefly glanced at the sky when she mentioned the weather. It was still too hot for him.

Though his full attention returned to her when she asked him, what was his deal. He wasnt an inspector and yeah despite looking fancier under Blue Pegasus, he def wasnt an inspector despite the more formal looking attire. And yeah subltety was a thing which he remembered he should've tried. Also her inspector came an hour ago. She then wondered if he was a mercenary or a tourist or a guild mage. He chuckled at that one. That was the most amusing guess. He never guess that he'd get assumed for a mage

Next she did was like a game of elimination of guilds. Blue Pegasus seemed most likely cuz Hargeon. Magnolia and Fairy Tail was far away, while Paradise Dawn only stays in north. And he certainly wasnt smart enough to pass off as an intellectual of Collective Mind, though the fact that she even put that in the equation made him grin. The fancy and formal attire he has really makes him look more refined and smart. It was hilarious. Clothes do make a man it seems.

He shrugs and says "Well ya right. Ya got me. Congratz" now he crossed his hands and said "Im making sure everything is fine and safe, y'know. And the thing is. You kinda stand out like a sore thumb. And forgive me bluntness as I am as subtle as a bull in china shop but. Imma be frank with you and say. Im making sure you're not gonna cause trouble. Looks can be deceiving and all that. You'll understand"

He then looked at the other two as the girl mentioned them and glared at them a bit. His nose worked well and they didnt really give off a human scent or anything. He watched them as they bowed formally to him. Though his eyes went back to the main girl who introduced herself. Kairaiko, of the Kanzaki clan. Never heard of her. Def someone he'll look up. Well, he would maybe make Esperia do it as she seemed like a desk paper girl. Buuut, he didnt trust her really. The whole mind reader thing didnt sit with him. He'll def need to learn how to block out his thoughts to have his privacy. So, he might have to either do it himself or find some poor Blue Pegasus sap to help him in this endevour. Or he can always outsource this investigation to a PI.
Maybe Kairaiko was a big deal and he was just uneducated. But better be safe than sorry
"Huh, sounds joyan. Are you like a traveling merchant or are you a local with joyan roots?" he asked her. He kept in mind that there was a conflict there right now. And with that in mind he also needed to stay safe. Who knows what strays come from war.
Anywho, he'll introduce himself later, when she answers that gem of a question. He really wanted to know what he dealt with. He noticed her gaze to the ship and a frown. He slowly moved his hand over to her face. And snapped his fingers to regain her attention.
Yeah, he wasnt like other Blue Pegasus people. He wasnt a softie like them

Kairaiko merely smiled at his remark. "Indeed, you're about as subtle as a dragon waltzing in Crocus. Although I could barely come to imagine what type of trouble I could cause." She raised a hand slightly and pointed downwards to her legs. "In case it wasn't obvious, I am disabled, so causing troubles in a wheelchair isn't all that practical, and these droids here are meant to serve and protect, I didn't program them for any mischief-doing."

She shook her head lightly. "Looks can be deceiving, yet the art of reading the contents of a book from its cover will help you a lot in life Sir Magus." Noting she had yet to be given his name the moment he snapped his fingers she replied. "Yes, the name is Joyan, born and raised there. I came to Fiore a few years ago to start my own business. Although it are answers you could easily obtain from the manifest of the ship that was handed in. After all, with pirates terrorizing the sea it is only natural a merchant would desire to get their shipment some protection, so I had to file a request for an escort from the navy."

She turned her gaze back upwards to the guild mage and addressed him once more. "But if the trip to the dockmaster takes too long: That ship contains shipments of weaponry, armor, droids, and several containers of supplies to aid the people in the war again the Shogun in Joya. Surely you can understand why I would prefer having my shipment done here in Hargeon, under the supervision of a legal guild that has given permission for its members to participate in the war efforts. It is way more reassuring than to use some seedy port in the middle of nowhere.

She tilted her head lightly to the side. "Now that your side of the questions is over, for the time being, it is my turn: You have yet to give me your name, and yet seem quite interested in finding out all sorts of things about me. If this is some sort of local flirting tradition you better start improving with your pick-up lines because I'm not exactly impressed at their current quality.

She spoke how he is as subtle as a dragon in Crocus, ie not subtle at all. Also saying that she is disabled in such a sassy way as if he cant see. So he decided to fire back with the same energy "Oh I know you are sitting dearie. But you see. You cant blame me. Blame the bad guys who are willing to fake a disability by just sitting and saying they are disabled"
Now if he wasnt part of Blue Pegasus, he'd be more throughrough in checking for a disability. Like stabbing a leg and see if she really cant feel or move it. That would be his usual method. But because he's now part of the good horsey guild. He cant afford to do that in case the woman really is innocent and disabled. In which case he just would cause a girl to bleed and that'd be a bad look on the guild. Especially for a werewolf trying to prove himself as a good guy.

"Im gonna be honest. I have no idea what you just said. But while its flattering to call me a Sir Magus. Because I actually cant do magic. Then again makes sense you'd think I am one considering with whom I am allied."
As they conversed she did agree the name is Joyan and he nodded to himself with his arms crossed. She further explained that she is a Joyan but came to Fiore because business. He looked at her curiously as she spoke that he could've checked because of papers. Its kinda weird and cute how the clothes he wears really changed how people see him. To think someone thinks that he's intelligent enough to properly read the papers and find that something is valid from a document. And to think someone sees him as a mage. If he wasnt busy being a newfound protector of Hargeon. He'd probably be laughing his ass at being considered a Sir Magus.

He did look tho curiously at her as she said ship contains weaponry, armour, droids and such. With each word of cargo his look grew more increasedly worried. Although he relaxed when he learned this was for Joya. Ah yes the war he forgot about. Though he was not aware of Blue Pegasus's involvement since he wasnt a guild member when the guild probably was issued the green light "Ight"

Now she was one to spit back questions
"My name is Michael. I havent answered because Im a nobody in this picture. I'm just making sure Hargeon is safe from suspicious people or dark guilds.... I dont trust those one bit you see. And final answer is no. Trust me, you'd know if I was flirting. Im actually very upfront about it. As stated before. Subtle as a dragon in Crocus" he answered her own flurry of questions

Kairaiko couldn't help but smile at his words. "A pleasure to meet you, Michael. And yet by merely being here you became someone in the picture." She paused for a moment as he mentioned suspicious people and dark guilds. "Hmm, I doubt they are the type to fill a ship with supplies in broad daylight, especially in the port of Hargeon where both Blue Pegasus and the Rune Knights are active. They likely would prefer to sulk in the shadows or operate in territory they own. I believe Oak is one of these places you're more likely to find them operating in broad daylight."

She brought a hand to her chin and pondered for a moment. "Although, I have to admit a bad guy who would fake a disability would be either creative or messed up in the head, likely both. Never seen one myself, and I encountered many bad guys in the past."

She turned her head upwards to look at Michael and smiled briefly. "Then again, I do get the importance of earning the trust of the guardians of this city. So if it helps convince you, I can show you that there is no acting currently unfolding."

As she paused she lightly pressed her hands on the end of her armrests and tried to push her body upwards. Even now Michael would likely be able to notice that even as she was moving, her legs truly didn't seem to react, an absence of strength in their muscles and if he didn't intervene she would soon be tumbling onto the ground with a light thud.

The two droids already were worriedly moving, likely picking her up if Michael didn't act while Kairaiko spoke. "As you can see my legs are well and truly dysfunctional. Several years ago I was in an... accident, which took away my ability to use my legs, still have a scar remaining from the event, but I certainly hope you won't ask to inspect a lady's thighs in a public space like this?"

She smiled gently at Michael as she continued. "But like I mentioned: I am a merchant, not a guild mage."

"There are Rune Knights here??" Michael said surprised enough. Like the man has been in Hargeon since late May, entire June and now its nearing end of July. So like nearly 2 full months and he saw no Rune Knight in sight? Holy shit, do they hide as civillians? Well.. no one attacked him while he was having his late night episodes, so he assumes he did a pretty good job so far evading them

She said that someone faking a disability would have to be incredibly messed up or creative. Michael nodded "Oh both for sure." granted he didnt see it as creative. So was he the messed up one?

She then looked up and smiled, she spoke of importance of earning trust. Though he didnt like the way this was going "Uhhhh" and she was getting up and sure enough it seemed she had no leg strength "UUHHHHHH" and once he saw where this was going, he reacted quickly and caught her. He held her in his arms.
"Right so... this happened" he was not sure how this would go or should go. Well, the lady did say that he should flirt better. So he didnt mind throwing a tease
"Well.. I hope you're at least enjoying the view" and feeling the muscles. Since she was now real close to him, he used the chance to really get a whiff of her scent to remember it, and compliment her "Well well. I have to admit. You do smell nice"

But he was not gonna be an asshole. He'd try to sit her down. Though his method was like lifting her off her feet bridal style and sitting her down on her chair that way. She explained she got into an accident and gained a scar and an inability to walk
"I see... well.. I mean if I wanted to see a ladys thigh, I'd save it for the bedroom. Granted, if we were there, I dont think you'd be ready for the calamity I'd dish up" thats where he becomes a monster, pun intended.

She then later said that she is indeed a merchant, not a guild mage. Michael nodded
"Right. I guess I should leave you be then" still she was weird. He never saw a disabled merchant. It was just weird.