Tales of the Wastelander Ch. 37 - Teaser (Patreon)

As one, the entire group left the lower level where the laundry was located and headed up. Once they were on the main floor, they began to head off to their respective apartments. Just as they moved up the stairs was when the front door to the building burst open, and a bunch of armored men flooded in.

“Um… hello?” Ben said hesitantly as the men converged inside the building.

“You, Pinkskin! Are you a resident of this building?” the first man asked as he stepped up to speak to Ben.

“Y-yes… a temporary resident, as I’m only passing through with my friends,” Ben said as he gestured to the others who were there in the lobby area with him.

“Guardsman Lieutenant, what is going on here?” Magdalena questioned as she stepped up to the man with an authoritative air.

“We’ve received reports of a disturbance in this building, and we are here to investigate those claims. There was apparently a lot of shouting and screaming from this place, along with a bunch of men who came in here, looking like they were up to some ill intent,” the guardsman lieutenant replied.

“Well… we don’t know anything about that. We all just got back about thirty minutes ago and were getting a move on making our dinner,” Magdalena declared, saying it just loud enough to make it clear what story everyone should be going with.

“Ugh… what’s with all the commotion out here?” Sal groaned as he opened his door.

“The city guard conducting a search on grounds of someone hearing a commotion going on here,” Magdalena told the building manager.

“Ugh! Guardsman… lieutenant…?” Sal queried, wondering the man’s name.

“Roman,” the guardsman replied.

“Roman. Tell me, this complaint that was lodged to your men… did it come from an older woman who lived a street or two over? Always has her hair done in some kind of fancy updo? Looks down on people like she’s better than you are? No matter what rank or station you hold?” Sal asked.

“Yes… how did you—” the lieutenant asked before Sal cut him off.

“That old bat, Grayce, always lodges complaints against this place! If it’s not one thing, it’s another! I was here the whole time, napping! If anything happened, I would know about it, as I’m a light sleeper and I’d have fetched you boys myself if there was a disturbance!” Sal growled.

“Then… why call us here?” another guardsman asked.

“To make it seem like I run a dangerous place and to drive away my customers! That old bitch is just jealous that I run this place better than she runs hers!” Sal told them, stepping out of his apartment, the personification of a cranky old man.

“Well… regardless, we really need to—”

“Did you check the ledgers on how many complaints that cunt has lodged against me or the places I run?” Sal queried.

“How did you—” Roman started before he was cut off again.

“I was a guardsman too once, so I know how things work. Did you check the ledgers?” Sal asked again, staring daggers at the much younger man.

“I… did not,” the lieutenant replied with a huff.