act20side

Though Stitch was definitely exaggerating the scope of the crisis, I... was actually curious to see if there's any business to be done with our underground neighbors.

Good idea!

If Acahualla ever wants to escape its savage, brutish state, it'll need every opportunity it can get. I heard the Durins are exceptional at smelting and smithing. If we could do them a favor, we might be able to get a thing or two in return...

You folks won't have to get all excited over a few bits of scrap metal anymore.

Inam... I didn't expect you to be such an upstanding Great Chief! I thought you'd just blow all your money in the city every day.

You brat. Is that how you think of me?

If Acahualla wants to develop, the most important thing it needs is money. Doesn't matter if it's Sargonian coins, Columbian bills, or Victorian pounds. We need them all.

But with Acahualla's current manufacturing output – some shoddy handmade products, a bit of unrefined ore, we barely have enough money for people to live decently, let alone think about getting rich.

Luckily, you don't have to worry about how the city defines 'living decently.'

That said, there's a difference between money and wealth. Sitting on a stack of money doesn't accomplish anything, but once you get it into circulation, then it becomes 'wealth.'

Acahualla is already on the up and up. But to become even better, it needs opportunity.

For example, a technological partnership with the Durins.

Hmm, this is a bit beyond me... All I know is, whenever I run into a problem, I throw some Arts at it! If that doesn't work, I can always whack it with my staff!

That's the 'Gavial's Will' way of life!

Hahaha! Even after working with Rhodes Island for so long, you still can't leave your roots behind, huh?

But, uhh, the best that I can do is some tinkering around the edges. For Acahualla to truly develop, we still need a 'leader.'

But Inam, aren't you already the Great Chief?

A leader is someone who can truly unite the Tiacauh. Am I gonna do that? A little too troublesome for me.

I'd rather go shopping in the city.

I like the way you think! I'm quite fond of shopping myself, but nothing beats the great outdoors, *hic*!

By the way, I haven't seen our little motor-mouthed friend for quite some time. Did he sneak off somewhere?

Seems like it...

I'd assume he went to set something up?

Oh, right, but since we're right in front of the big water slide... It wouldn't hurt to enjoy our vacation first, right?

I, I think the Yanese Operators at Rhodes Island have a saying for this! It goes something like... uhh, 'the host plans, and the guests follow'?

I think that means... Since the host isn't here, we can do whatever we want.

*hic*! Well said! I'll drink again to that pearl of wisdom!

Race you to the foot of the slide, my friends!

Elysium really is getting used to the Durin lifestyle a bit too quickly...

*pant* *pant*... Finally shook off that rabble of drunkards.

That's why I can't stand these soulless Durins! What are these idiots wasting their precious lives on?!

I've only been away for a month, and Zeruertza's already turned into a terrible eyesore. Dammit! I never should've come back!

And as for those stupid surface-dwellers... Gah, as long as they can build me a railway bridge that won't collapse, I suppose I can compromise my standards a bit more.

Stitch? You really came back to us! Word was going around about a teetotaler Durin wandering Zeruertza. I knew it had to be you!

Edge Eartheart... You're never going to leave me alone, are you?

Where have you been all this time? I was running all over looking for you. I wore out my old bones searching around that cave-in!

Your old bones are harder than rock. I, on the other hand, nearly died.

Don't tell me, you... went to the surface?!

What, you got a problem?

I can't believe you did that, Stitch.

You, you're too gutsy for your own good. I never imagined you'd...

Actually manage to do something useful! Hurry, let me see what fancy goodies you brought back!

The network of caves above the lift is way too hard to navigate, and I have no clue where my map went. Nobody's been up there in years!

You remembered to bring me a souvenir, right? Or maybe some exotic ore specimens? Some fermentable surface plants? The latest issue of 'Stranger Things'?! The ones they have at the library are all out-of-date.

No, uhh, how should I put this...?

I brought a few people back.

Huh?

'Thus, she decided...'

'She decided on Old Karl Mead!'

Ugh, that's not good enough. Maybe the product placement should come a bit earlier? Let me revise that a bit...

'Cheaper than cheap. Crazier than crazy!'

'If you need a place to cut loose, have a great time, and, of course, enjoy a sip of some soul-soothing mead—'

'Look no further than Zeruertza and our famed Old Karl Mead!'

Good. Concise, straightforward, and lavish in praise. The client should be satisfied with this. Hopefully.