You have to give a pred an "I owe you", but you calculate it's a smaller risk than finding and taking the thieves head-on all on your own. "Thanks for the suggestion and help guys. I'll have to do business with you when this is sorted out." Norm puts a grin on his face, "We just enjoy the company anyway. Think nothing of it." The Bulbasaur next to him and Ponyta behind them nod in agreement.
Your trip to town was nothing eventful, but the company helped keep it entertaining. They seemed more interested in your work than the other way around so you did most of the talking, describing the various items and trinkets you had a hold of on your journeys. A merchant like you does have a lot of interesting things to talk about. You learned that Buck and Charlotte hired Norm permanently and gave him a herb to help his sick brother. He didn't want to change employers so he stuck with them permanently.
When the three of you arrive in town, Buck pointed you to the bar then went on his way to what seemed to be a food vendor. As you approach the bar, you hear the racket from within grow louder and louder. Norm accompanied you since he knows most of the hires in the area. When you open the door the loud piano music, banging of tables, and other noises fills your ears. Many pokemon are drinking and dining, some are playing cards, and a few appear to be battling, but holding back.
Norm scans the area then turns to you, "I see three predators for hire. They're all decent ones. See that Houndoom romping with that Mightyena? His name is Hector and he can still smell the thieves on you and track them. They'll end up in his belly within a day if they haven't gone too far. He'll want a good bounty though and if he doesn't get it, well, it won't be pretty. He still wants to be paid something even if he doesn't find them. There's also that Luxray, Freya" He subtly points to a Luxray sipping some wine, "She can use her X-ray vision to find those nuggets. She won't expect as much Hector. A small payment and a meal is good enough for her. If you don't pay her, she will make you do some chores to pay her off. If you don't do that, well... you get the picture."
"Last, but not least, there's Terra, who's playing the piano." Your jaw drops as you see your own kind, an Espeon, as a predator for hire. "You'll have to get the criminal to think about the nuggets they stole to find them. That'll take a while, but she only wants a legal live meal out of this and doesn't care if you succeed."
After you give it some thought you approach...
