Aozaki Aoko Case File [506] (Patreon)

"Do you know Naerth Maxildanarr?" Edgin mentioned a rather complicated name, at least the pronunciation sounded a bit odd.

"Doesn’t sound like a local," Aoko remarked. "Is there something special about him?"

"That guy is a bastard who’s good at attracting attention," Holger grumbled. "He came to Targos just before Icewind Dale was sealed off by the Everlasting Rime. Not long after he arrived, the Ten-Towns were plunged into darkness and snow."

"Does he have anything to do with the Everlasting Rime?" Aoko asked curiously. "I mean, is he an Auril priest, or some kind of follower?"

"No, Naerth is from Luskan," Edgin said. "I confirmed this through the Harpers’ intelligence network, and I’m sure there’s a high probability he’s a member of the Zhentarim."

"Oh, no wonder you’re so wary of him," Aoko nodded in understanding. "So, what bad things has this Naerth done recently?"

"It’s precisely because he hasn’t done anything bad yet that I’m keeping an eye on him," Edgin finished his drink and continued, "He’s been getting on very well with Targos’ fishing community, and the fishermen here call him their ‘spokesperson’."

"Since the Everlasting Rime completely froze the lake, the fishermen here haven’t had much to do," Holga explained. "No work means no income, and then no food. Naerth showed up at a very ‘coincidental’ time and attached himself to them very conveniently."

"So I suspect he might be a Zhentarim spy," Edgin said seriously. "The Zhentarim have been infiltrating the Ten-Towns for years, and they’re very interested in the trade system here."

"I see. You said Naerth is from Luskan—I thought he might be one of the Arcane Brotherhood," Aoko said with relief. "So, do you want me to curse him to death?"

"No, not for now. He’s not in conflict with us yet, and I don’t know how many people he has behind him. Acting rashly could endanger my family," Edgin shook his head, rejecting Aoko’s suggestion. Zia gently touched Edgin’s hand with concern. "By the way, what about the Arcane Brotherhood? Are they here in the Ten-Towns too?"

"I heard in Luskan that a member of the Arcane Brotherhood went missing in the Eastern Exile Lands," Aoko said. "The Brotherhood sent some wizards to look for the missing person, so I guess they might show up in the Ten-Towns."

"...That’s just ‘great news’," Simon said sarcastically. "Seems the long night from the Everlasting Rime has drawn all these scheming types here, hoping to make a profit in Icewind Dale."

"Can’t blame them," Aoko shrugged and smiled. "Look, didn’t we come too? As the saying goes, opportunity always comes with risk. Maybe we’ll get a huge reward while solving the Everlasting Rime."

"In short, aside from the Everlasting Rime, Naerth is probably Targos’ biggest destabilizing factor," Edgin said sincerely. "And before I can solve bigger problems, I have to ensure my family’s safety. I need your help, Aoko."

"Hmm... What’s your plan?" Aoko asked. "We could take Zia and Kira out of the Ten-Towns, let them stay at my house in Neverwinter for a while. Or do you want to make Targos safer?"

"Kira’s health can’t handle that kind of travel right now," Edgin shook his head. "If we all leave Targos together to find a way to solve the Everlasting Rime, they’ll have to stay here."

"How about building a hidden basement?" Aoko suggested. "I can set a series of alarm spells around your house. If the magic is triggered, Kira and Zia can hide in the basement and live there."

"Sounds good," Edgin crossed his arms and thought, then turned to his wife Zia, "What do you think, dear?"

"I’ll follow your lead," Zia patted Edgin’s shoulder. "As long as Kira is safe, I’m fine with anything."

"Let’s do that, then," Edgin said. "There’s a hidden storage cellar in my backyard, but it’s not big. We can expand it from there."

"It’ll take about three days," Aoko roughly estimated her plan. "If you all help, we can finish faster."

"Thanks, everyone," Edgin said to the group. "Let’s hope we can solve this damned Everlasting Rime. I don’t want my family to live in this frozen wasteland forever!"

…

Over the next three days, Aoko repeatedly used Stone to Mud and Mud to Stone to dig a deeper underground shelter beneath the cellar in Edgin’s backyard.

She took care of the design, excavation, and construction, with Simon assisting her, while the others discreetly transported the excavated dirt and stones away.

To avoid suspicion, Aoko used illusions to disguise Edgin’s house. From the outside, there was nothing unusual, but inside, a full-scale construction project was underway.

The shelter was about 50 square meters, with its entrance hidden in the original cellar.

The ventilation shaft was concealed next to the chimney flue of Edgin’s house, but it didn’t overlap with the chimney. From the outside, it just looked like the chimney had grown a bit wider.

They moved some supplies from the cellar and the house into the shelter. Aoko also brought out many supplies she’d brought from the Nasuverse Earth, enough for those in the shelter to survive for months.

Lighting in the shelter relied on Aoko’s magical Everlasting Flame torches, which provided light without heat or oxygen consumption and would last until dispelled—perfect for illumination.

As for waste, since no one intended to live here long-term, Aoko simply dug a deeper pit and made a basic toilet. It was enough for the mother and daughter to use for a long time if they needed to hide.

The entire construction went very smoothly. But just as the work finished and the illusion was about to expire, a Targos resident showed up asking for help.

Aoko quickly dismissed the illusion and sent Edgin to deal with his neighbor, curious what had happened.

"Her name’s Keegan Velryn," Edgin soon returned and told everyone. "She’s our old neighbor, a good person."

"What happened to her family?" Holga frowned. She knew Keegan too—while living in Targos, the Velryn family had always been kind to Holga.

"Her husband, Garrett Velryn, is missing," Edgin explained. "He was acting as a guide for a group of adventurers, planning to climb Kelvin’s Cairn. They left from Caer-Konig and took six sled dogs."

"But he disappeared, and only one of his loyal sled dogs made it back alone," Edgin continued. "So she’s asked me to help look for her husband... Holga and I are probably the only adventurers she knows now."