act14side

Well, well, you actually came to us Browntails' territory for a visit all by your lonesome. You got balls, Gnosis Edelweiss.

I've always been upright and honorable.

Hmph, that's rich coming from you after you were kicked out of Karlan Trade for your shady business.

I thought I'd see Ratatos here.

Anyone could bluff like that. Ratatos wasn't going to just take your word so easily.

As I said before, it takes two to cooperate. It seems my words have reached her, and that's more than enough to me.

Hmph, talk all you want.

So, since you came here all by yourself... You said last time 'things have come to this.' What's that all about?

What things have come to what?

*Sigh*.

Why do you think Enciodes proposed this transfer of powers?

Hmph, isn't that because he can't take on both the Paleroches and us, and so he figured to compromise?

Compromise?

Hoh, compromise.

Think again, Madame Sciurus. I dare say that your sister thinks otherwise.

Ever since Enciodes came back to Kjerag, was there any single thing he did that wasn't in pursuit of his ultimate victory? Is his proposal to put the Saintess back in power really a compromise?

Here's a hint—The Ceremony.

Hm...? What about the Ceremony? Don't tell me he's going to throw a fit there and refuse to turn over his powers.

The Ceremony is nigh, and there will be more trains coming in and out of the Silverashes' territory transporting both resources and people.

Take a guess, why did Enciodes himself propose to hand the Saintess his powers, even arranging for it to happen on the day of the Ceremony?

Arctosz's a short-sighted man. He thinks Enciodes will pull some kind of dirty trick once she's in control.

And so he reassigned his men to guard the valleys and the mines, even to keep an eye on the Doctor that Enciodes invited.

But the funny thing is that he doesn't know it's all pointless!

Sciurus looks to a corner of the room for a brief moment. There is nothing there, but Gnosis notices it.

Gnosis looks straight at the wall there.

Ratatos, you can't be that stupid.

I will tell you what Enciodes is planning.

But you'd better see me yourself next time.

Even if I have to see his schemes come to fruition and you two imprisoned—

I won't allow myself be made a fool of again.

Now excuse me.

Ratatos...

Hey, Ratatos! I know you're there!

Pipe down, Sciurus.

There is a rumbling noise, and the wallboard slowly moves to the side. Ratatos, sitting inside, slowly rises and steps out.

You believe in what he said?

Maybe I should say I'm shocked that you never considered the possibility, sister.

But even the Saintess is on our side now!

Can Enciodes really be so unscrupulous that he...

That he...?

Don't be silly, Sciurus.

From the moment he first trampled our faith, when he laid his train tracks straight to Kjerag and broke away from the Saintess...

No, ever since he so calmly agreed to let his sister become the Saintess in exchange for his seat in the Tri-Clan Council, he hasn't cared.

We all know how well those siblings got along in their earlier years. I also once thought that letting the devout Enya become the Vine-Bead Court's hostage was a brilliant move.

But now? Hmph, I wouldn't be surprised if he one day brought his men up the mountain to burn down the whole Vine-Bead Court.

Don't tell me Enciodes is really going to use force...

Slow down, sister.

There's another possibility. He could be pulling our leg.

Why...?

To make us think he's up to something shady so we end up making the first move.

What good does that do him?

If he's not trying to have somebody else do his dirty work and off his enemies, he's trying to find an excuse to start a war and earn himself some clout in the end.

Hmph, whatever it is, we're probably all in trouble.

Well...

How do we figure this out?

No idea.

None at all?

I'm not exactly omniscient here.

But if he's lying, there's got to be holes.

You.

Your orders, Matriarch?

Dig up anything you can find on Gnosis. We looked into him before, but he's had lots of dealings since his job got handed off. There should be a lot more clues now. Start there.

Understood.

You'd better not disappoint me, Gnosis Edelweiss.

Ratatos... If he was telling the truth, would you really take him in?

Why not?

He's an Edelweiss! The family who got Enciodes's father killed fifteen years ago!

So what?

They betrayed the Silverashes, but when Enciodes came back from studying in Victoria, this guy tagged along, wanting a slice of the pie.

If you ask me, he's the type who doesn't give two licks about loyalty, only profit and success. Now that he's made an enemy of his master, he's got to find a new sugar daddy to get his revenge.

Right, that's the most obvious reason.

So you...

Sciurus... 'The Silverashes control the gates, the Paleroches have their rich farmlands and their army, but the Browntails have nothing. Why do you think we stand as one of Kjerag's three families?'

'...Because what we do earns the highest return.'

I learned Grandpa's lessons just as well as you did.

Right, since I'm letting you in, there are lots of things that you really must spend some time pondering.

As a child of the Browntails, in times like these, you need to know the best course of action. It's more than just knowing the risks of dealing with a criminal. You need to learn to assess all this yourself.

Profit always comes with risks. We need to learn how to mitigate these risks beyond just shutting them out along with the profits, dear sister.

Our biggest worry is that everything he just said was true, but also part of a lie.

Another thing.

You've gotten really close with that servant of yours, haven't you?

You mean Monch?

Monch, conch, gonch, whatever.

Don't trust anyone too much, sister.

Grr, I don't need you to tell me what to do!

I'll show you how much stronger I can make Browntails without you!

*Sigh*... I should never have given Enciodes this chance.

I have that braindead moron Arctosz to thank. Take Enya away from her scumbag brother? Don't make me laugh.

Whatever. Yucatan.

Yes, Matriarch?

Let the Paleroches know that I'll visit in a few days.

Of course.

Doctor, we've entered the valley.

It's about time.;My butt hurts.

Sorry... Sir Arctosz never permitted any rail tracks to be built in the Paleroches' territory, and it's not in our habit to use cars.

I suppose it may not be easy for a foreigner like you to ride a burdenbeast.

Dr. {@nickname}, welcome. I am Sir Enciodes's secretary, Chester.

Please allow me to accompany you as you survey the area.

To give Sir Arctosz the absolute peace of mind, we'll ask you to inspect each and every factory and mine site before they're declared closed.

Once you have checked everything here, both Sir Arctosz and the Great Elder will give their approval. Only then will the transfer be considered complete.