act28side

Convincing Leone to sell his shares? Not happening. Count me out.

Why? Aren't you two friends?

Sure, but we wouldn't be if I forced him to do stuff like that. We've all tried talking to him about the shares, but the stubborn bastard won't listen.

Is there really no way to get through to him?

Nope.

Ugh... And here I was thinking that if only you'd talk to him for me, then...

Then what?

Th-Then, I'd give you this box of chocolates as a thank-you...

Chocolates, huh.

The patisserie back home gave me these when I set out. Said I'd have something to chew on whenever my mouth was empty. And now, this is the last box...

I, um... I'm really, really reluctant to give this away. So, since you don't want to, forget it...

Mm.

(*whispers*) Did he just respond with a grunt? That's different—

If you don't want to help, then, um, no chocolate for you. Err, that came out wrong...

Um...

Okay, I confess, it was Helena who suggested I bring you chocolates. She said that you have a soft spot for them.

So she told you to come, and here you are?

Leone's situation is looking really bad... I have to try everything I can, no matter what it takes.

Woodrow stares straight at Jessica, but she doesn't notice.

She's completely lost in her embarrassment and frustration. Her head droops as she furiously racks her brain to figure out how to navigate this conversation faster.

Sorry to keep pestering you. I'll head back for now, and think of some other way myself...

Just leave the chocolates on the cabinet.

Huh?

Gimme a moment to pack up and wash my face. Then we're leaving.

...He's agreeing to it? Even though I totally blew my secret?

Does he care about his image with Helena that much...? Or is it the chocolates? Well, whatever, all that matters is that he agreed.

The cabinet, the cabinet... Oh, is it this one?

...The drawer's open?

The objects in the old Sankta's drawer resemble him—simple and unadorned.

A belt, a holster, and a pair of fingerless gloves.

Jessica sets the box of chocolates down, and notices a few pieces of paper pressed beneath the gloves.

Eroded by time, the pages have taken on a brittle, yellow complexion.

Jessica knows that she shouldn't look, but can't control her urges to sneak a peek.

Is this... a photo of Woodrow and the boss? There's another Sankta, too... and a piece of paper under the photo...

It is an identification document. The black ink is hard to make out on the brown parchment, and only a few words readily stand out.

Camp... Collus...

You done putting away the chocolates?

Oh, uh, y-yes! By the way, I...

Then let's get going.

Leone, your financial situation is in dire straits. If you drag your feet any longer, then...

When the bank declares you unable to repay your debts, you'll be forced to declare bankruptcy. And by that point, you won't be able to save your shares <i>or</i> your house.

If you insist on holding onto your shares, you'll be forced to sell off your house, and won't even have a roof over your head.

Plenty of people have tried to talk me into selling my shares, but you're the first to make a good case for selling my house.

No, I'm not telling you to sell your house. I'm just reminding you of the consequences.

If you don't mind, I can also, umm... What I mean is, I have some money I can give you to help pay off your loans. Even though it's no small amount...

What?! Thanks, but no thanks. I don't need your charity.

N-N-No! I mean, I'll lend it to you!

B-But, I won't charge any interest. You can just pay it back at your leisure, whenever your financial situation has improved...

Look, Jessica. I'm a grown ass man with both my hands and feet. I don't need a little girl half my age lecturing me on how to improve my life.

I hope you never bring this up to me again.

Wait... Leone, p-please, don't push me!

*sigh*...

What, you're out here sipping tea, Woodrow? It's already gone cold. Just take the girl with you when you go.

Aren't you going to say something, Woodrow? You agreed to this...

Did I?

Huh...?

All I said was that I'd come with you. So I did.

Thanks for the chocolate, Jessica. Now, if you'll excuse me.

You can't do this!

At this rate, Leone's going to be left with nothing to his name!

So what? Try as you like, when you burn a wet piece of coal all you get is a faceful of ashes.

How could you?! You...!

Captain, are we seriously going to go through the entire list?

How many doors have we knocked on so far?

Fourteen. Other than the second household, where the middle-aged man's son did in fact run off to join the bandits, the rest were all honest people guilty of nothing more than being unable to pay off their debts.

The bank couldn't dig up any dirt on them, so they've resorted to using us to run them out of town... Despicable.

...And this is number fifteen. We'll check just one more, and then—

Wait, what's going on? Why are you sitting outside?

My head... it's spinning...

Hmph. Go sit outside in the cold, you crusty old fossil. The headache will go away on its own.

Could he have been poisoned?

Lucky we found out in time, and we're both just fine.

Ma'am, I thought the plate... it should have retained its basic heating functions. So why...?

After the bank declared us bankrupt, they shut off all the heating to our house. Without sunlight, it gets even colder inside.

...Why else would anyone light their fireplace?

*cough* *cough*... *cough* *cough*!

I'm back, Benny. What're you squatting in front of the stove for? Get up already.

The charcoal today is especially waterlogged. I've been trying to light it for a while now, but I can't get it burning at all.

Just look at all the soot on your face. You'd think you just crawled out of the mines... Hurry and wipe it off. It ain't a big deal if you can't get it burning. Just wait until I get back.

Dad, don't tell me you were in such a hurry this morning that you poured water directly into the stove...?

Hey, I may be stupid, but I'm not <i>that</i> stupid. Hand me the tongs. I'll do it.

*cough*, *cough* *cough*!

You think I can't tell when you're lost in the sauce? Why are you blowing on it directly? Carl told me you can't light the stove, which is why he entrusted it to me before he left. Since when have you done it?

What else did Carl tell you?

Everything. About how you were so impatient you poured an entire pail of water into the stove to douse the flames. Not only did the coal get ruined, but the bread Helena baked became inedible. She was so mad she chewed your ear off.

When did he tell you all that?!

Who do you think left me all alone back then?

Hmph. Left you on all alone? What're you talking about? How would you even remember anything from when you were so little? All you did was sit in Woodrow's arms and tug on his beard.

...I don't believe you.

*cough*, *cough*! Who is it?

Sorry, it's me— *cough*, urgh, all this smoke...

The stove's completely soaked on the inside. I've been trying to ignite the charcoal for a while now, but haven't had much luck. Give me a moment.

No problem. I can help out too.

These pieces of charcoal are completely waterlogged. Can you swap them out?

This is all the charcoal we got from the caravan.

Then, um... how about some firewood?

We can put the broken pieces underneath to isolate the moisture, then lean any thin branches against the stove to light them on fire. Then you just need to add more firewood as necessary.

Where'd you learn all that... On the battlefield?

...Why do you ask?

Aren't you a mercenary?