A moment passed and I thought that he would not take my hand. He was just looking at me. I was about to take it back when he grumbled and said "Fine. I'll let you meet our father. I make no promise on his mood or your ability to move him." Anthony then took my hand and I helped him up. I smiled and said "Thank you. Should I go there now? I have something that I think he might want to see." He shook his head. "No! You need to bathe and wear your best clothes. You're meeting with a baron!" Anthony yelled in my ear. I flinched and moved from him. "Fine. I'll take another bath and see him later. Where is he staying?" I asked. He told me that the baron was in the best room on the top floor. I did my best to really scrub my body clean. I could not be having any noticeable flaws in my grooming and appearance. Once I was done with that stuff, I needed to get another outfit and my bad. Once I was fully dressed with the loot, I made my way to his room. There was a couple of armed guards standing watch at the entrance to the hallway. The stopped me until Anthony told them to stand down.
Just as I was about to catch my breath, Anthony simply barged into the room. So much for getting prepared mentally. Fabien was already in the room. The man sitting in a chair facing the doorway had to be the baron. I stepped into the room fully and said "Excuse me. I hope you are doing well. I have something that I hope will interest you, my lord." "Do not waste my time. What do you want?" the man in the chair said. His eyes were harsh. I opened my bag and took out a ruby. I tossed it underhanded to him. He caught it and looked at it. "A pretty jewel to be sure, what do you want?" "I have more jewels than would do me any good. I'm willing to give them to you for a fair price." I told him. "And what would that be?" he asked. "That is entirely up to you. As long as it's worth is measured it coins." I replied. "A commoner does not happen into fine pieces like these. Who are you!?" he demanded with a scowl. "As a lord of the area, you must know of the portal. I come from the world on the other end. I'm the phantom thief, Real Rhombus. I seek refuge after a heist gone wrong." The truth was best.
Kicking the chair from beneath him, Anthony shot to his feet. "I knew you were up to no good, you mangy cur! You think you can bribe us with stolen goods? Thieves get hanged in this land." he spat. Paying him no mind at all, I simply looked directly at the baron. He was the one to talk to. He had the power here. "My son is right. Give me one reason why we should not hang you right here and now." he said. I said "Because this loot of mine is hot. The authorities in the other world will be looking for me and waiting for me to go back. I need time to lay low. Using gold bars and jewels in public to pay for things is just asking to get my throat slit by the first burglar that worth his salt. A noble can spend the money from their coffers and give it to me in exchange. That way, I get clean money to live peacefully, and your hour house gets a great boon. These jewels and gold bars will fetch a much better price among other nobles and can get you some favor with those of higher status if you give it as a gift. We can all win here." He stared me in the eyes. "And if we seized it and hung you?" he asked.
