The Merchant and Tavern Master

Deciding on The Course of Action

As usual, when I find myself lost and uncertain, I turn to the blank parchment on my desk to write down everything swirling in my mind and the current situation at hand.

Isabelle, taken by the son of the once-wealthy Stormborne merchant family, has been missing for about 8 months now. Strangely, there are no traces of any trade activities by this family, and they declared bankruptcy several years ago.

Mr. Rusty's words suggest that Isabelle might have fallen victim to a ring of brothel procurers, similar to incidents he encountered in the past.

To uncover Isabelle's whereabouts, it seems inevitable that I must delve into the treacherous underworld. The stakes are incredibly high – the safety of Sofia, Madam, my mother, and brother are on the line. Therefore, I must take careful measures to ensure their protection while I navigate these dangerous waters.

Should I discover Isabelle in the clutches of a brothel, devising a plan to rescue her becomes paramount. I must think ahead and prepare for every possible scenario to increase our chances of success.

While this method didn't procure any real solution, it helped me to see the problems from different angles. But from what I have written, what I can and must do are as follows:

Go to Harbor City (later)

Find a way to check all the brothels to find tidings about Isabelle (hard)

Reduce the risk that can affect Sofia's family, and my family (important)

Prepare a necessary plan to retrieve Isabelle when she is found (later)

A spark of hope ignited within me as I pondered a potential solution. Could I involve the Knight Guard in this dire situation? At first, I felt like I had no connections, but then I remembered the elf examiner and scribe officer who were involved in Cordelia's case.  According to Rocksteed's revelation, his report about the brothel's activities was met with a quick response from the knight guards, as long as they had solid evidence. That mean his report were treated with utmost importance, and most likely handled by knight guards that not the usual we saw everyday. Knowing the king's abhorrence for the exploitation of young children, it is reasonable to assume that there might be some kind of special unit within the Knight Guard dedicated to addressing such issues.

Determined and resolute, I made my decision. Tomorrow, I will seek an audience with the Examiner Knight. In preparation for what lies ahead, I began writing letters addressed to My Mother, Sofia, Madam, and my brothers. In these letters, I carefully explained the perilous situation I now find myself in, and my unwavering intention to delve into the darkness of the underworld that plagues our kingdom.

I implored them to seek safety in every possible way, to be vigilant and cautious, for my actions might draw potential danger upon them. The underworld may perceive me as a threat, and I couldn't bear the thought of putting them in harm's way. To Sofia and Guin, I offered my heartfelt apologies for not discussing my plans with them beforehand. I knew that every moment I delayed my action, the greater the risk of losing any trace of Isabelle.

As the night wore on, I found myself wrestling with conflicting emotions. Fear and doubt gnawed at my resolve, making it difficult to find rest. Should I abandon everything about Isabelle? After all, I only knew her briefly, and she wasn't as close to me as Sofia. Was it truly worth risking everything to delve into the treacherous underworld, where finding her was far from assured? As a merchant, I was accustomed to weighing profit and loss, but this was different. The thought of sacrificing Isabelle's well-being for Sofia's safety filled me with horror, yet I couldn't find a clear answer within myself. The uncertainty clouded my mind, leaving me feeling lost and torn between two difficult choices.