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I know what you're here for, Kýrios Behnui.

Rest assured that the relationship between our two nations is the highest priority. A little incident will not be allowed to affect it.

A little incident?

Xanthos came to Athenius five years ago, working as ferryman and manager of the crossing. He took in an apprentice, Lykeion, a former priest school student.

They are accused of attempting to steal from the room of Ambassador Medjehtiqedti. They are being held in custody, pending trial in accordance with the law.

Since the ambassador has elected not to press charges—

A justification to comfort the ignorant people by a naive girl moonlighting as supervisor of the rebuilding of the First Temple, not the decision of the honored ambassador of Sargon.

I see your views differ from Kyría Mashayer's.

I will, of course, take full responsibility for this matter as Astynomos. However, I would ask that the two of you come to an agreement as to how we deal with it.

You know what I mean, Astynomos. My view is that of the Sargonian delegation.

This tragedy, the theft and destruction of the harp, would never have happened if the exchange ceremony was not repeatedly delayed.

I have reason to suspect that you have intentions other than promoting the relationship between our two nations, that you have intentionally delayed the ceremony, and everything that took place did so on your orders.

I hear the position of Astynomos was newly created following the administrative reform of Athenius, and you were rewarded with the role because of your contributions to said reforms.

If something goes wrong with the first cultural exchange between our two nations since the establishment of diplomatic relations...

Then I congratulate you on being the only Astynomos who the people of Athenius will never forget.

The exchange ceremony is certainly my most important task. I admit I was negligent for not arriving at the scene promptly due to a busy schedule.

In that case, how would you define this incident... this 'theft and destruction of the harp'?

The brutal, barbaric, ignorant, baseless hatred of the perpetrators... the robbery and destruction of this symbol of friendship between Sargon and Minos was a most despicable act.

In my thirty years overseeing culture in Menat-Ha'mait, Sargon has received many letters from Minos requesting the return of the cultural artifacts that were removed during the occupation.

Shouldn't these plunderers of Minos's national treasure be severely punished, if you Minoans truly value it so much?

They will be tried according to Minoan law. As far as the punishment is concerned, though...

I have no intention of leaving the impression that Sargon is trying to bully the people of Athenius. We are emissaries of peace, after all.

This is a most sensitive time, however. Just because Sargon and Minos signed a truce five years ago doesn't mean that all is peaceful and well.

The padishahs are used to solving problems with force of arms. I would not give them a reason to get angry, if I were you.

Xanthos and Lykeion conspired to steal and deface a national treasure and sabotage the exchange ceremony...

Their actions are tantamount to treason.

They will be put on death row immediately.

Thank you, Astynomos. I look forward to the exchange ceremony in a few days.

Get in.

What's going on? It's not normal to transfer prisoners so suddenly, before we're officially sentenced.

I'm just following orders. Move quietly and behave yourselves... maybe there'll be a chance for clemency.

You really believed the Sargonian ambassador would protect the Minoans who tried to steal the harp.

We heard what she said to the officer. It would have been easiest to make the accusations while everyone was watching. But she didn't do it.

You can never tell what someone is thinking. Submit an official assessment of the damage, put pressure on the Astynomos and peace officers... there are many things that the Sargonian delegate can do.

Death row, eh? We're getting the royal treatment.

You should regret it, Lykeion. Destroying a hotel kitchen is nothing compared to the charges we now face.

All the more reason we had to take what's ours back from the bandits. The harp of Kereseira sings only for the stories of heroes. It will not, and must not, sing for a false peace.

I know your past, Master Xanthos. I may not have experienced war for myself, but I respect your decision. I couldn't let you risk everything by yourself, having known about your plan.

You saved my life two years ago.

It was your classmate from priest school, Hekádemos, who carried you down from the archery range after you were injured by an Originium shard.

I just took in a former student who wasn't willing to continue in the priesthood, that's all.

An Infected can never become a priest. It's divine work, communing with the heroes and guiding the way for the people. I couldn't do it.

As for Hekádemos, all he wants is someone to debate him...

Do not fool yourself, Lykeion. It will only make the pain worse, when you finally have to face it.

Master Xanthos?

My friend brought technology from the nomadic cities when he came to my homeland after receiving divine revelation. He built a village in the barren swamps with us.

The people in the village respected him a lot, but he always had a dark look on his face, late at night.

I lied to myself and tried to convince him that the river in his dreams wasn't red with blood; it was red because of iron that the river brought from upstream, and that the revelation was supposed to bring him to us.

But he didn't believe it...

He was prepared to go to war from the beginning. I was fooling myself.

River... hah... young people these days are foolish enough to fight the Sargonians to the death because of a dream like that?

And the two of you are here because you stole things from the Sargonians?

The harp of Kereseira belongs to the Minoans.

Even less worth it...

What truly belongs to the Minoans these days, after the Sargonians invaded a hundred years ago?

Hey, you're the one who invited me. Say something. I skipped the banquet celebrating the completion of the First Temple for you, you know.

You were a big part of getting the work across the finish line the day before the exchange ceremony. Tradition calls for a full day of celebration. The craftsmen began drinking and reciting poetry in broad daylight.

Not all of them hold their drink well. Guess the peace officers will have their hands full tonight.

Kantia from the moving crew, right? She's really taken to you after you helped her a few times.

Yeah... it's been like a dream, coming to Athenius.

Right you are.

First day in Athenius, you solved the dispute between the fruit farmers and craftsmen. Then you became the supervisor of the final phase of the temple rebuilding project.

And you chased Xanthos over multiple blocks after the harp was stolen.

Way more interesting than just escorting a relic, isn't it?

Yeah.

But my job was to ensure that the exchange ceremony goes smoothly, and promote the friendship between our two nations.

What's the matter, Titi? This isn't like you.

Pallas...

The harp of Kereseira we brought... it's a replica.

What?

I would never have known, if the harp wasn't damaged during my scuffle with Xanthos.

Now, my deputy, Behnui, wants to fulfill the padishah's mission by handing over the fake harp in the exchange ceremony... but I know that's not right.

The ceremony is tomorrow. Do you have a solution?

There's no good way to do this. We'd need a miracle.

I read through every relevant book I could borrow from the Bibliotheka of Athenius. I learned that the harp of Kereseira was lost to war a long time ago, and it hasn't been seen since.

It's likely that the Sargonian craftsmen who made this replica had only seen the blueprints, not the harp itself.

Could the true harp still be in Minos? Or...

Or it was destroyed by the fires of war long ago... I'm sorry.

There's no need for you to apologize.

What do you plan to do, if the true harp is nowhere to be found?

I can't publicly announce in my capacity as Sargonian ambassador that we brought a fake harp. It's more likely to lead to conflict than to reveal the truth.

A very reasonable concern.

And so, I'll have to stop the ceremony in my personal capacity.

What do you mean?

I'm getting rid of the fake harp before the ceremony can start.

You can't go in.

Look, I know a special visitor's permit is required to visit and deliver supplies. I just forgot.

Can you accommodate me this once? My old classmate went in a couple of days ago, all of a sudden. His family asked me to bring him some stuff.

Alright, to tell you the truth, he's pretty sick.

The Athenian jail has a doctor and basic medicine, but it's not as effective as the Rhodes Island stuff. He could have an attack while in custody, if he doesn't get proper treatment.

Save your breath, it's no use.

Alright. I didn't want to do this...

Here's my pass. Hekádemos, Grammateús to the Astynomos.

I am authorized to enter detention facilities, even bring in suspects for questioning. Open the door. This is an order. I will file the necessary paperwork later.

You want to see the two thieves who came in a few days ago?

Lykeion is not a...

Never mind. Yes.

You can't.

What? Why not?!

You are authorized to see prisoners held at the jail, but the two you're looking for aren't here anymore.