act18side

All misunderstandings have to be resolved bit by bit.

Let's go. I want to see him so we can try out the cello you just got for me.

It'd be a shame if such a wonderful instrument didn't have a knowledgeable audience.

Excuse me, are you busy right now?

Hibiscus? Sorry, but now's not a very good time.

I'd just like you to answer a few questions.

You're also free to not answer if there's anything you're not comfortable disclosing.

You're not gonna take my blood?

I wouldn't do that without your consent.

Okay.

I don't want to believe it, but this cello isn't something you can find in the Afterglow after one morning of shopping around.

You went to the Cliffy Patio, didn't you?

I did.

Bold of you.

Actually... Ebenholz got into an argument with a store clerk just so I could go into the store.

An argument? Did he think your clothes weren't fancy enough for the Cliffy Patio?

The clerk said something about 'not being able to enter the store unless dressed appropriately,' but do you see anything wrong with Kreide's attire? They were purposely fault-finding because Kreide was wearing commoner's clothes!

So you, a noble, have begun to fight for the commoners.

I did it for Kreide!

Regardless of whether he's a noble or a commoner, his skill is more than worthy of the instruments inside that store.

To deny Kreide entry but to sell those magnificent wares to nobles who needlessly fill their shelves with them would be to treat the finest lumber as firewood.

(Nods)

I didn't expect to hear those words out of your mouth.

Kreide, go ahead and get acquainted with your new instrument.

I'll accompany Ebenholz and have him practice solo for a bit. Let's see if we can change some of his old habits.

Change my habits...? I dare say––

Yes, Herr Czerny!

(Whispers) See, all misunderstandings have to be resolved bit by bit.

(Whispers) Herr Czerny's attitude is already changing. The rest is up to you.

Hello—

You that devil?

Git outta here. Do you have memory problems or somethin'?

Sorry to bother you.

––Git yer ass back here.

Did you need something?

You plannin' to go hide back in your office again, aren't you?

I—

You're being a bit unreasonable.

Who the hell d'you think you are––

You still owe me quite a lot of coffee money, so who do you think I am?

Oh, it's you, Herr Biegler... Sorry, didn't notice you there.

Thank you.

Don't mention it.

At the end of the day, the Afterglow is an Infected settlement. It's real lively here, but you'll run into plenty who can't be reasoned with. Best be careful out there.

Thank you for the reminder.

Here's my business card, with the phone number of my coffee shop on the front side. If you're ever thirsty, give me a call. We deliver too, real fast.

Haha...

By the way, hasn't Andante always been the one in charge of the Rhodes Island office? Did you just get dispatched over here?

Actually, I'm here to investigate some strange happenings.

Oh, Mr. Biegler, regarding your condition––

Strange happenings? What kind of strange are you talking about? I haven't heard a thing.

So this is what happened...

How fares the situation?

Lachmann's plans proceeded spectacularly.

Graf Urtica's actions were largely within expectations. Though he did cause some hindrance to Lachmann, it was most likely accidental and did not incur any lasting consequences.

That's nothing. I never expected Lachmann alone to drive Rhodes Island out of the Afterglow.

As for Czerny, he already had to expend most of the goodwill he's earned, not to mention copyrights, just to invite those haughty critics to the concert.

Word also has it that he held his nose and wrote a glowing recommendation for a noble's album that he held nothing but disdain for.

For someone like him, there's no going back now that he's stooped to this level.

What about the Sankta from a few days ago? If I remember right, when she applied for entry into the city, she said she came from Laterano to immerse herself in Leithanian culture?

According to the records, she concluded her tour around Vyseheim and left earlier today for her next destination.

So we don't have to worry about her.

Let's go. We should be on our way to Afterglow Hall.

But our appointment with Czerny isn't until tonight.

There's no shortage of prep work to be done.

Plus, if that one ever decides to head to Afterglow Hall on a whim, our hired muscle won't be enough to stop him. That's when things get troublesome.