Here's another chapter. This may not match the game's dialogue exactly, but I am giving Conrad a little more backstory. I should also mention that there are spoilers for Sellma's quest. Details are slightly different, though.

Disclaimer: Like I said, Dragon Quest is the property of square.

Chapter XXIX: Has Sellma Sold Out?

"How many more grotto guardians do you guys think we have to fight, anyway?" breathed Alicia as they returned to Stornway via the Starflight Express.

"Hopefully not very many" replied Arianna.

"Well either way, that's all the more adventure for everyone" grinned Patty.

Trent studied the treasure map a bit more before putting it away. The male blond addressed Arianna afterwards"Hey Arianna, just a thought, but why are the grottos hidden? I get that neither Celestrians nor Mortals have set foot in them before, but still..."

The Celestrian stopped to reply"The world is full of mysteries. It could've been because we were occupied with saving the world from Corvus. Honestly, I'm surprised that I could not sense the grottos' locations before."

The trek back to the inn was quiet. Arianna walked up to Erinn and said"Good day Erinn, mind if we stay another night?"

"I don't mind at all" smiled the Innkeeper. The group paid for their rooms and went upstairs, where they were greeted by Conrad and Sasha. Patty had returned to work at her Party Place.

"Good evening, how are things?" asked the Paladin.

Trent squared his shoulders"We smashed our way past another Grotto Guardian and got another treasure map."

"Reckon there are many more of those?" grinned Conrad.

Arianna shrugged"Let's just get some sleep. We'll hunt for the grotto, tomorrow."

Trent nodded, then went to join Arianna in a room for two.

"Those two lovebirds have sure gotten closer" remarked Conrad.

"It is to be expected by this point, while Alicia and Raymond are engaged to marry in a couple months" mussed the dark-haired Paladin.

"Want to share a room, Sash?" asked the Ranger, changing the subject.

"Very well" nodded Sasha.

Erinn and Patty watched the two couples with a smile before readying to close the inn for the night. Alicia and Raymond already went upstairs to rest up for another day.

Trent woke in the same bed as Arianna, a double bed placed for couples. Arianna got up and went to do her hair while Trent went to take a shower. As soon as Arianna was done, she went outside the room to wait for Trent. The blond came out after a minute.

"Ready to meet the others, downstairs?" asked Arianna.

Trent smiled"You bet."

The two went down to the lobby when Conrad met with them"Hey you two, Sellma is asking for a favor."

"Sellma? What's up with her?" puzzled Trent.

"Dunno, just said she needed to ask you for help. Don't know why she wouldn't tell me, Erinn, Patty or Sasha" shrugged the ranger.

Arianna nodded and went to the front desk with Trent. Sellma beamed as she saw them"Morning, Trent. Good morning, Arianna."

"Same to you, Sellma. What's up?" asked the blond Gladiator.

The merchant replied"Nothing too big, I just need to borrow the Quester's Rest's Guestbook."

"Why ask us? Why not just asked Erinn, yourself?" inquired Arianna.

"Top Secret, I just need it for a short while. Besides, the Innkeeper trusts you, more" replied Sellma.

Trent walked over to the innkeeper"Erinn, may I ask if you heard?"

"Yes, you want to borrow the guestbook, right?" asked the Innkeeper.

Arianna, who had walked over with the younger blond, addressed Erinn"Sellma says she needs it."

Erinn nodded hesitantly"Well, okay, you are the inn's most valued guests after all. Ginny is keeping the guestbook in her safe, so you need to talk to her about it, okay?"

Trent and Arianna walked over to the counter where Ginny was running the inn's bank. The purple-haired Celestrian spoke"Ginny, right? We haven't spoken with each other for a long time. We'd like to ask you a favor."

The older woman raised her eyebrow"Is that so? What do you want?"

"We would like to borrow the inn's guestbook. Erinn gave us her permission, already" piped Trent.

Ginny looked reluctant as she thought this through"... Okay, fine. I will give it to you since you have the Innkeeper's permission. Just don't go losing it, all right?"

"Thank you. We'll to return it as soon as possible" curtsied Arianna as the older woman opened a nearby safe to get what looked like a notebook and handed it to the two.

Ginny just curtly nodded"Thank you very much."

Trent and Arianna headed back to where Sellma stood behind the check-in counter. The blond Gladiator handed her the guestbook"This is it."

"Thank you" nodded Sellma.

Arianna smiled"You're welcome."

"So what next, Aria? Should we find the next grotto?" asked Trent.

"Yes. Alicia, Raymond, Sasha, Conrad, come with us" smiled the Celestrian.

"Conrad isn't here right now. He told me he's going on an errand" interjected the dark-haired Paladin.

Arianna raised an eyebrow for a moment, but shrugged it off"We'll have to make do without him, we may be able to handle the next grotto anyway. Patty, would you like to come?"

"I would love to, but I'm afraid I'm a tad busy today" replied the Party Place Manager.

Arianna nodded, then led her group out of the inn. Once they were outside, they saw Sellma walking around and realized she must have snuck out. Conrad was standing in the shadows of a nearby building to watch events unfurl.

Before Trent and Arianna's eyes, a group of three ruffians accosted Sellma. One of them spoke"Hey, what have you got there?"

"Nothing you'd be interested in" replied the merchant, clutching the guestbook she just borrowed.

Another of the ruffians leered"Oh really? Grab her, boys."

Trent was about to draw his sword to go protect Sellma when Arianna grabbed his hand"Wait, we should get more information first before we do anything."

"You have a feeling, don't you?" asked Trent.

Arianna nodded silently, then watched as the ruffians snatched the guestbook from Sellma and knocked her down. As soon as the ruffians fled out of Stornway, Conrad came out of his hiding place to help the 'merchant' up"With the theatrics out of the way, what next?"

"Just keep playing along, okay?" whispered the blond merchant as Trent and Arianna's group approached.

"The guestbook got stolen, didn't it?" asked Trent.

Sellma nodded"Yeah, by the Inntouchables."

"The Inntouchables?" asked Arianna, perplexed.

Conrad elaborated"A no-good gang of thieves led by the infamous Al Cappine. They are quite elusive, based somewhere under Gleeba I reckon."

Alicia frowned an eyebrow"Under Queen Voluptua's nose? How is it possible? And why do you know of the Inntouchables?"

"My dad and I met one of Al Cappine's goons in a secluded place, I've never seen the man himself. The agent seriously pestered us into joining the Inntouchables, my father refused. The agent tried to kill him, but was killed ruthlessly before he could scratch us. My father was a thief himself, you know. He didn't report the Inntouchables because it would've caused more trouble for him and his family" said Conrad.

"Whoever your father was has nothing to do with who you are, Conrad. Remember that, okay?" smiled Sellma.

Sasha rolled her eyes"Yeah, yeah, so what next?"

"We get the Guestbook back and pay a unpleasant visit to the Inntouchables. The 'secluded place' where my dad met the agent was actually at the bottom of the Depths beneath Gleeba" informed Conrad.

"By 'unpleasant visit,' you mean we're going to fight this 'Al Cappine?"' asked Sasha.

"If necessary, the guy doesn't give up easily from what I've heard. Whatever the Inntouchables are after, they won't get away with this. Cappine's agent had the nerve to threaten my father back in the day, the Inntouchables will pay now that I'm old enough to see them put behind bars. Call it personal on my account" shrugged Conrad.

Arianna nodded"Then to Gleeba it is." Pulling out Sterling's whistle, she summoned the Starflight Express to park near Stornway so she and her group can climb aboard.

Sellma addressed Conrad with a whisper"I'll meet up with you, later."

Conrad nodded, then followed his group to the Starflight Express. Arianna steered the train towards Gleeba, then teleported down with her friends so they can march into Mirage Mahal as soon as possible.

"You know the exact place, Conrad? Oh, and how long have you personally known Sellma?" asked Sasha.

"Not exactly, but I have a hunch. As for how I knew Sellma, I guess you'd be surprised that someone like me knows a merchant. Sellma is not a mere shopkeeper, as for the rest, that is for Sellma to reveal if she wants to and for you to find out" explained the brunette ranger.

The group entered the now Public Bathing Chamber and jumped back down the well, into the Plumbed Depths. Trent addressed Conrad along the way"No offense, but that's dodging the question a bit, don't you think?"

"Sorry, my lips are still sealed on the subject" said Conrad as he led them down a different path than when they had to rescue Queen Voluptua from the fygg-transformed Drak.

Arianna shrugged"The world is just so full of mysteries we hadn't uncovered, yet."

They eventually went down the unfamiliar path through the depths to the entrance to a secret chamber at its end. Trent readied himself"I think I hear voices. Is it the Inntouchables you mentioned?"

Conrad nodded, then headed into the secret chamber. The ruffians from earlier were there, along with a slightly plump man with dark hair and clothes. Conrad readied his bow"Say your prayers. Inntouchables."

"What the?" One of the thieves spotted them.

The man spoke"Intruders, I see."

"You're Al Cappine? I am Conrad, son of Jerik the Master Thief" said Conrad, not lowering his bow.

"You're Jerik's brat? How did you find us?" demanded one of the ruffians.

"I suggest you give yourselves up before I make pincushions out of the lot of you" smirked Conrad.

The leader of the Inntouchables's eyes narrowed with rage"Why you... I am indeed Al Cappine, and you will not live to see the light of day."

"I believe that is my group's line" spoke Arianna.

One of the thugs addressed Al Cappine"I think we should get out of here."

The leader of the Inntouchables nodded"Excellent idea, retreat."

Before the Inntouchables could try to escape, a door opened to the side and Sellma came through. Conrad walked ahead to join her"Couldn't have come at a better time."

"Sellma?" asked Arianna, astonished.

Sellma nodded"Pardon me for my deception, but I had to capture the Inntouchables sooner or later."

"Hold on, you're some kind of secret agent?" asked Arianna, remembering how Aquila had pretended to serve King Godwyn before his death.

Sellma smirked"That's right. I am an Undercover Agent from the Sindicate of Pubs, Inns and Taverns. And YOU, Al Cappine, are under arrest. Give yourselves up, Inntouchables."

"Bah, you'd have to catch us, first" growled Al Cappine.

Sellma winked at Arianna's group"Guys, I will need your help."

Trent nodded"Right, we'll take care of these goons."

One thug drew a knife and lunged at Conrad, only for Sasha to intercept with a swift punch in the chest. Conrad fired an arrow at another thug, wounding him before he could act.

Infuriated, Al Cappine called down the nearby tunnel behind him"Rover! Smash Them!"

Before the group's eyes, a ferocious Drastic Drakal emerged and lumbered towards the party. Trent drew his sword"That is one mean-looking Dractyl."

"Trained by Al Cappine himself, I reckon. Call it a hunch" said Conrad, darting around the Drackal to rush at Al Cappine and pound the living daylights out of the Inntouchables' leader.

Rover snarled and spun around to trip Conrad before leaping at Trent with a biting attack. Trent dodged and jabbed at the monster's eye, only for it to dodge and retaliate with a fierce shockwave. Trent was knocked off his feet while Sasha jabbed at Rover with her spear, only for it to move back and snap at her.

Conrad meanwhile got back up in time to see Sellma duke it out with the two uninjured ruffians using a battle staff and went to knock one senseless with a roundhouse kick before turning towards Cappine and firing an arrow at the man's shoulder. The Inntouchables' leader stepped aside and drew a dagger"Prepare to die, brat."

"Oh, we'll see" grinned Conrad, firing another arrow at Cappine made ready to stab at him. Conrad dodged and kicked Cappine back"Not much of a fighter, are you?"

Sasha barely evaded the bite as Rover roared out another shockwave, knocking Alicia and Raymond down. Arianna charged and slashed at the monster's thigh, causing it to flinch and bite at her. Trent shoved Arianna out of the way, taking the blow to his ankle. Alicia got up and healed her brother with a Heal spell before casting Boom at Rover. The Drakal retaliated with a Chilly Breath.

Sellma managed to knock her opponent off his feet and rushed to help Conrad with Al Cappine. The thief jabbed at her, staggering Sellma. Conrad took advantage of the distraction to punch Al Cappine sharply in the chest, knocking him down.

Alicia cast a Mid-Heal on her group while Trent slashed at Rover, which countered by stomping the ground and knocking the group off its feet. Trent got up and thrust his sword forward as Rover attempted a bite attack. The monster whimpered as the blade pierced its tooth and jumped back to counter with another chilly breath, but not before Alicia managed to cast Insulate on her group.

Al Cappine struggled to get back up, as soon as he did however, Sellma stood in front of him"You lose" and knocked him out with her staff.

As Rover stomped again, Trent and Arianna jumped to avoid the mini-quake and charged forward. Trent unleashed two quick slashes"Falcon Slash!"

"Gigaslash!" Arianna spun and unleashed a beam of light at the Drakal. Rover was thrown back by the technique's impact and slammed against a wall. Trent walked forward to where Rover landed and stabbed it in the back.

"Isn't it over?" asked Sasha.

"Needed to be sure, some monsters are tough to kill by what I heard from rumors" said Trent, retrieving his sword and putting it away.

Nearby, Sellma and Conrad had tied up Al Cappine and his henchmen. Arianna put away her sword and addressed Sellma"So what about the guestbook? Not that I'm ungrateful for your actions."

"I got it back already, it was just a decoy used to fool the Inntouchables into thinking they got info on the important guests of the Quester's Rest. See you later, I gotta turn these guys in" grinned Sellma.

Trent addressed Arianna as Sellma led the defeated Inntouchables away"Glad that's over with."

"Yeah, but what a day" breathed Arianna.

Conrad shrugged"Sellma wasn't lying about being part of the Sindicate of Pubs, Inns and Taverns in case you're wondering. The organization gathers information and does police work on the side. I am one of its honorary members, sorry to keep that hidden for so long."

"Really? I never figured it out" breathed Sasha.

The ranger smiled"Ah, don't sweat the details. I'm just glad I helped put those 'Inntouchables' in their place. I knew what Sellma was planning to do as per the Sindicate Leader's orders. I had an uncle who served the Sindicate of Pubs, Inns and Taverns. But he was killed when the Inntouchables mugged him."

"Oh, I'm sorry to hear that" frowned Arianna.

Conrad grinned"That's fine, what's past is past. Cappine got what he deserved. I know it sounds like I was using you to avenge my uncle's death, but I wasn't. Sellma wouldn't have let me help her if it wasn't for my connections. The Sindicate really knows what it is doing. Part of my day yesterday was spent planning with Sellma to snatch the Inntouchables."

"You did your job, Conrad. I must say you proved yourself even worthier of me. I can somehow imagine your dad laughing in Cappine's stupid face" smiled Sasha.

The group warped out of the Plumbed Depths to return to the Express. Arianna set course back to Stornway so they could check on Sellma if she returned there yet.

"How do you think Erinn and Ginny will react?" asked Alicia, frowning for a moment.

"I think they'll understand, Sellma was only doing what she believed was necessary" shrugged the Paladin.

The group entered the inn to find Sellma already there. Arianna smiled at the blond merchant"Hey, how did you get back before us?"

"Trade secret" smiled Sellma.

"You were awesome back there" said Raymond.

Sellma grinned"Thank you, I handed Al Cappine and his bunch to three other members of the Sindicate. I suppose if you wish to know how I got back here before you that badly, I used a Chimera Wing."

"Has the guestbook been returned?" asked Trent.

"You bet. And the Sindicate has ordered me to make myself available to you whenever you would like me to join you on any of your adventures. Conrad, have you considered becoming an official member of the Sindicate of Pubs, Inns and Taverns?" asked the blond agent.

"Sorry, my place is with my friends. And I don't think Arianna will mind if you could come, sometime" replied Conrad.

"Either way, I am at your service if you need anything. I'll even still sell you my wares" said Sellma.

"Thank you" curtsied Arianna.

Cliffhanger, here. The next couple chapters may be shorter, but we'll see. I hope you enjoyed this chapter. Oh, and despite this chapter, Rover is actually a tougher boss in the game than I made him seem in this chapter.

Please feel free to review.