The old man remained silent as the two youths made their plea. Even for Ryuusei meeting the old man’s glare was disconcerting, completely devoid of emotion or any visible signs of empathy for the two people whose lives he held in his hands. The familiarity of those eyes was not lost on the captured man, having no trouble in identifying the man as someone coming from his own line of work. Even as he and the girl struggled and pleaded for mercy the old man’s position did not budge an inch. His eyes were the eyes of a man who had taken life, likely many lives, in his long life, and a man who had little issue doing so again, even in such a brutal and boorish manner.

From within the earth golem’s belly the gears in the inn keeper’s brain began to turn, even as his outward appearance remained absolutely still. He had no interest in whatever excuses either of them might have had for the actions they took, he had heard every plea in the book in his many years in the business. That being said, he found himself questioning whether or not killing them both right here was the correct judgment to make. On one hand, they had broken the rules of his establishment, and letting such blatant disregard for his code of conduct would reflect poorly on him. On the other, violating those same rules himself and eliminating active contracts of his clientele was bad for business.

“You don’t think that you can just say sorry and be excused from punishment do you? Tch! Kids these days, no personal responsibility. Brats like you deserve whatever consequences come your way.”

The old man’s clenched fists twitched and the golem’s did in turn, as a reminder to both of his captives how easy it would be to put an end to them here and now. Too easy, in fact. It wouldn’t have been the first time that he had to personally escort an unruly customer out of his establishment and into the afterlife, but those who would dare break the rules were normally nothing short of hardened criminals or accomplished professionals. These two were neither. They weren’t even worth the mess he would have to clean up after his golem crushed them in its grip. His eyes would fall to the site where their confrontation had taken place, setting his sights on the cracks left in his wall and floor, as well as the mud they had tracked all over the room. In that moment an idea popped into his head.

“So consequences are exactly what you’re going to get. Killing for free is bad business, so I’m going to let you two stay in one piece. However, the two of you are going to work off the damages to my inn that you’ve caused. And you’re going to clean up the mess you made in here. Got it?”

---

504 | 4,874

Alexis did wonder what was going to happen at this moment, was he going to kill both her and the rude man who was named Ryuusei? Well she hoped not. It was a little shocking she could see the man, as the giant golem was still holding them both unable to move at all, but his face shown no emotion, it was no doubt Alexis was not wrong now, about him not being your simple hotel owner. Alexis had no idea that both him and this inn owner where killers, she only thought of Ryuusei as a simple and well pity thief. She didn't like this adventure so far, kidnapped, talked down to, now an old man was about to kill her because of the other stupid man's crying. Well, that is how Alexis viewed this. She would look down when he said that, it was true but what else could be said it was not like a perfect line could fall into place to make him stop. She could try to lie, but that wouldn't work.

She would start to struggle as his hand got tighter, but she couldn't get free, all she felt was a strong hold wrapping around her, making her feel more pain. To be fair Ryuusei was a criminal, he steals and kills....... Even in the ninja world that could be one, as he was not working under the ninja group of his nation just doing things under someone's name. Well, Alexis didn't think of this, as she didn't know, but that would be her thought on the matter if she did know about his history. Give a noble simple working task? Did this man not know who I was? Only joking like if Alexis would think in that way, but it was true, she had never done any house task before servants did that for her.

She would speak still being in the golem's hand. "That sounds fair, but you only wish for us to clean this room right?" She would say asking a question, She would wait to see what the man or Ryuusei had to say on this, but she could already tell knowing him so far he would say I am not doing that, or act like he would.

“You’ve got to be **** kidding me. Do I look like a housekeeper to you? If it’s money you want, let me go and I’ll-“

Once again Ryuusei’s stubbornness would be met only with punishment as the stone golem pumped its fist for a moment, causing the man to be cut off mid-sentence as the force pressed down on his ribs. The old man was not one who was particularly well-known for his patience when dealing with those who could not obey the rules of his establishment and with every squeeze he pushed it just a bit further as a reminder to his captive that he could end his life at any moment. Deciding that Ryuusei would only be compelled through coercion, the old man instead turned his attention towards Alexis, smirking and letting out an amused huff at her presumption that their labor would end just within this space.

“Just this room? Ha! That would hardly be worth calling a punishment. I’m going to have you two work your fingers to the bone. That way you’ll never forget the importance of consequences.”

Thrashing about angrily in the clutches of the earth golem, Ryuusei grunted and shouted expletives into the air, irked at both the situation and that he was being ignored. He didn’t have time for this nonsense. He had places to be. He could get the old man the money to pay back the damages if he just stopped being such an obstinate old prick.

“Like hell you will! I already told you I’m not some fu-“

Finally growing tired of Ryuusei’s incessant protesting, the old man swung his arm down hard, causing the golem to do the same and smash Ryuusei face first into the wooden floor, cracking the boards under the weight of the earthen construct’s fist. In a moment the yelling and thrashing would come to an abrupt halt, as the captive’s unconscious body went limp. With that distraction taken care of, the inn keeper would turn his attention back towards Alexis.

“Now then, girl. Do we have an understanding?”

---

358 | 5,232

He did look like some type of servant to Alexis, but she wouldn't say that it was already too much trouble here to start anymore. But in that second because of his stubbornness. She was going to say something like a noble can't do a simple household task but seeing how that could get her smash onto the ground or her ribs broke it might be for the best if she said nothing. She would blink after hearing it would be more and just one room, that was really unfair in her mind, but well was it any other choice? This man has shown he was a seasoned ninja, and she was not going to be stupid like Ryuusei. "But I never did anything like cleaning before." She would say, hoping it was a way around it.

You would think the one scared to work off the damages would be the noble that had servants left to right, but no it was the thief who was too prideful. She closed her eye's for that second as he hit the ground from the slam the Golem just did. She could see he was knocked out, which was shocking she was going to say, I have the money to pay you off, but seeing how that just caused him to be knocked out, it was maybe the best choice to listen.

She forced a smile, showing she was a little worried. "I understand, I do, I will clean up your Inn." She thought if she didn't have to do what her servants do it was fair enough. Her servants had to dress like the Hyuuga family lower branch servants did. "Well, what should I do first? And I don't think he can clean up when he is knocked out. We don't have to wear servant clothes do we, I have to wear something more of higher class."

“A higher class? Little girl, you still don’t seem to understand the position, you’re in. You are not in a place of leverage to be making requests. This is not a matter of making amends. This is punishment. You are not a servant, you’re worse than a servant. You’re a criminal. I’m sure your family will be proud when the news of your criminal actions is made public and brings shame upon your entire clan. Because that is exactly what will happen if your attitude doesn’t shape up quickly.”

There was a point to be made here, and the innkeeper’s only regret was that Ryuusei was unconscious and not witnessing it as well. He would throw a glance towards the fair-haired youth, his face betraying no signs of regret or sympathy for the state the young man was in now. He was brash, insolent, and disrespectful and, as far as the old man was concerned, deserved whatever fate befell him. The girl seemed to be making excuses about not being able to get to work because of the young man being unconscious, but there was also opportunity to be had in the situation. These two did not seem to be on particularly good terms given the damage they did to the room fighting one another. Perhaps that piece of information could be of use to him.

“Yes, his condition does present a problem. Given the fact that he’s probably sustained some injuries from that last impact, it seems unlikely that he will immediately be able to be put to work. It wouldn’t be much of a punishment for him to wait out the duration of his punishment lying in bed recovering. The two of you broke the rules and caused this damage together. Therefore you should face the consequences together.”

The innkeeper rubbed his chin in introspection, pondering how he should proceed given the outcome that unfolded. If there were a medic on hand he might have been able to simply restore the young man and be done with it, but this was not the case. Besides, maybe the pain from his injuries would teach him a lesson. No need to rush him to recovery.

“Since the two of you arrived together, you will also take responsibility for him. You’re to tend to him until he’s recovered from his injuries. And then you two will fix everything.”

---

409 | 5,641

Alexis was getting a little mad, hearing a simple man talk to her in that tone was not forgivable at all. "I am not a criminal, I am a noble more and you, I haven't done anything that wrong that would make me one, how I got here in the first place is because of that man lying down on the ground, and I will not allow anyone to belittle my work and my goals, I have been nothing but kind to you." Alexis would say looking a little mad at him, not accepting the way someone dares speak towards her. Even Alexis had her limits that met, she would meet out more of the punishment giving helping him was work. "Wait, no I don't approve, you said we both cause this, so why do I have more work and him?" Alexis would say trying to get free but no use, what a shocker.

"Let me go now, I said sorry, I even said I would work for the damages I made, I even said to the point I would repair the damages with my own money, but saying I am a criminal and bring my clan down has made me mad, and not only that you what me to help him after all he has done. No no no no no." Alexis was acting much like a spoiled brat to the point she forgot he had all the power, and well she didn't have anything right now at this moment in time. "I am not a servant, I am not worse and one, I am higher rank and most people you could know. Let me go right now!" She would try to get free from the grip, and started to act out. This old man dare to speak to Alexis in that manner and even to the point helping him recover, nope not happening is what she thought.

The old man frowned at Alexis’ continued resistance. She had seemed to be the more reasonable of the pair up to this point, even if only out of self-preservation. If she was going to refuse his conditions then as far as he was concerned, she was of no better make than Ryuusei, whom he had just dispatched. How selfish she was in his mind.

“Hm? Well, I suppose if the threat of being outed publicly as a criminal is not enough to get you to behave, that leaves me with a bit of a problem. If you can’t even follow simple instructions, I don’t know how much use you’d even be around here…”

The old innkeeper’s gaze would fall upon the unmoving body of Ryuusei, laid out in a broken crater formed by the force of the golem’s fist below. The movement of his eyes was slow and purposeful, as if trying to draw Alexis’ own eyes to her companion’s condition. A potential preview of her own fate should he find her response untenable.

“Well, given the state he’s in, if he doesn’t get help he’ll probably die. I’d prefer not to kill someone as young as you, but if you really won’t do it, I guess it can’t be helped. I’ll just have to do the same to you as was done to him. Equal punishment for equal crimes and all. Alright, have it your way. Goodbye.”

With a wave of his hands the oldm an seemed to give a command to his earth golem, which would immediately be followed as the earthen construct’s grip began to tighten around Alexis, putting her under the same constricting pressure that Ryuusei had undergone before. Having lost interest in the situation since things had gone in the direction they did, the diminutive innkeeper would jump down from the chest cavity of his jutsu and turn away from the scene, walking towards the room’s exit. As he approached the door to leave the golem to its task of eliminating the rulebreakers, the stone form would raise its arm higher into the air, bringing Alexis up with it, in the same manner it had before smashing Ryuusei into the ground.

---

382 | 6,023

Alexis was reasonable at first, but the way he was talking towards someone of her noble rank was getting to her, and she had enough and lost it, speaking to him without thinking of what role she had right now, and also this was the second time she has kind of been kidnapped. "I can follow instructions, but you're asking me to care for that man, something I will not do, and the way you said I was a criminal was wrong, I am nothing like one at all." She would say turning her head away from him after that was said to the rude old man.

She didn't look at Ryuusei. "Well, you could look after him, I don't really know anything about how to heal someone, so your guess is as good. As my own." She would say looking down to him. She would struggle to get free. "What do you mean goodbye, let me go, already!" She would say yelling out. Alexis could feel the Golem grip has become tighter, she was unable to breathe, trying each second to get out from this, but like every other time, it was of no use.

She was starting to be raised more into the air, and the innkeeper was making his way, she had to take it for now and yell out. "Fine, I will do it, and look after him!" She would say, hoping he heard, but the grip was so tight she wouldn't be able to yell out like that again, so let's hope it gets to him, it was unlikely she would have to wear something of a servant after it was done. It would be over with. Well, first the old man needed to come back, so Alexis could be saved, she would say with her eye's unable to move away from him, giving how high she was up in the air.