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Once the majority are inside, I want blades against their throats. See if they have the stomach to make trouble then.

Sir.

What about the street art people?

They'll be here in a few minutes. Our plants there have succeeded in instigating them. Now we just wait for them to reach the plaza and carry out their atrocities, and they'll substantiate the terrorist attack claim.

Dawn is coming. We need to hurry.

The gallery is just after the turn there!

Whew, I can't wait to give Reynell a shock.

I like it! We'll smash up his gallery and loot every last piece of stupid crap in there!

Huh?

What's your deal?

What...? What's my deal? Didn't we say we were gonna go big?

When I said go big, I meant we were gonna turn his gallery doorstep into our own arts festival and completely flip Reynell's opening ceremony. What was your idea of going big?

I...

Whatever, I'll go scout ahead!

Tecno!

What's up?

That guy there said he lives above me, but I'm not buying it—

Go on...

What's up?

The hawker's jaw drops wide open. He points a finger at the gallery-front plaza just a turn away.

There's a podium there, and seats, and even jackets left on those seats by the audience...

But not one person is present.

Not a one.

If I recall correctly it's my lunch break now, so any interrogation will have to wait until—

I'm not here for that.

It's you...

What now? Does Rhodes Island want to trample on my corpse too? By all means.

I'm only here on behalf of Ms. Candela to inform you of Dossoles's decision on how to handle you.

The Dossoles Mayoral Office has determined that they will not try you for your crimes.

Let me guess. You're handing me over to the Coalition government?

Mateo's an idiot, but he's still the Coalition's representative in Dossoles.

Hmm... I've toyed with him so much the Coalition is probably itching to tear me apart.

That's an accurate reading of your situation. The Coalition government wants to haul you to La Unidad for a trial, just like Mateo.

A public trial? Great, I'm looking forward to it.

No, Señor Reynell.

You're being sent back to Kazimierz.

...Come again?

The General Chamber of Commerce is pressuring Candela to send you back to Kazimierz.

COME AGAIN?!

Your father's KGCC contacts pulled some strings, and you no longer have to remain in Dossoles. So instead of heading to La Unidad, you can go home.

No... I'm not going back.

I'm not going back to that utterly despicable, depraved, and deplorable...

You don't have a say here, Señor Reynell. It's your own reckless actions bringing you wherever your final destination may be.

You have to swallow your medicine, be it sweet or bitter.

Old man... You're never going to leave me alone, are you?

Right, there's one more thing. You need to decide where your assets are going.

You say it like I have a choice in the matter. Hasn't Candela already used all the methods at her disposal to move them elsewhere?

There are some... fixed assets that nobody dares to take...

Just write any name on this transfer contract.

Fine... I'll just write the name of whoever wanders by next—

Señor Diaz, what are you doing here?

Identifying Mateo's men. The ones who were playing hostage earlier. And you? What did you call me for? Need something?

N-No.

Adios, then.

Say... you... anyway, you haven't given a name yet, right? You can always take back what you—

I never go back on my word.

Besides... this isn't such a bad choice.

Let a genuine art lover have it.

Reynell really put that old firefighter's name on it?

Yes. I confirmed it one last time as I was escorting him out of Dossoles, and he didn't change his mind.

He really inherited none of his father's qualities.

Honestly, he would probably appreciate that evaluation.

Of course, but I didn't mean it as a compliment.

Haha...

Lady Candela. Your coffee, as well as Ernesto's.

The aroma is so strong! What beans did you use for this, Señor Booker?

A triple dark roast blend Lady Candela has been drinking lately. Please enjoy.

Any plans to catch up with old friends now that everything has died down?

I wasn't intending to bother anyone before I got to the city, actually.

Indeed you wouldn't have, if that whole ruckus didn't happen. But you know how it is in Dossoles. Never a quiet day for us.

...Yeah.

Just like now, Reynell's antics have dealt a heavy blow to the Coalition government's influence.

La Unidad has been issuing letters of protest, but they can only dream of getting Reynell and his assets. Dossoles is not at their beck and call.

The other two factions are also itching to get their hands on him—

Oh, look at me. I seem to have slipped into a meaningless ramble.

No, not at all, this is very important information.

Alright, Ernesto. Have a taste and see if this blend is to your liking.

It's so strong... but the texture is fantastic.

Do elaborate.

I can discern each bean's species and aroma, but I can't tell which bean has the biggest ratio in the blend.

All three aromas are fighting to come out on top, but soon they all converge into a strong and unified caramelized flavor.

Precisely.

The main selling point of this blend is that the blend ratio isn't set in stone, but you still get that caramel flavor as long as their proportions are roughly balanced.

I see.

So, does it suit your taste?

I...

Still can't decide?

It's alright, the shop is just over there. You can always try a second cup, as long as you come back.

They'll even modify the blend to your ideal ratio, or you can ask them to brew you a cup with sparkling water.

Haha, you're joking.

A joke? I wouldn't say so.

Because I really am looking forward to seeing what you choose, Ernesto.

Yo, Ernesto. Your chat with Mayor Candela took forever.

I had no choice. We go way back and have too many things to talk about.

She must still like you if you guys talked for that long.

I guess so.

Hmph... always clamping up so fast whenever it's time to talk about you.

Fine, since you're so unwilling to talk, I don't have to ask <i>you</i>, hehe...

Rafaela won't tell you, even if you ask.

How did you know I was gonna ask her? Do you have mind-reading Arts or something?