ela

I may not be the first reporter in Kazimierz to know about it, maybe not even the first who's tried to bring it to light...

But I stand on the same side of the curtain as the shocking truth. Maybe hundreds of people have stood here before, and no one even found their bodies...

Chrzanić to! I'm tearing this curtain in half!

Bogdan Kowalski foolishly threatened your life and safety. You acted reasonably in self-defense.

Plus, Rhodes Island is an important guest of Kazimierz... the Chamber has nothing to say about Bogdan. What he wants will never belong to him.

I see.

Now, I ask that you honor our gentleman's agreement.

Could I go back on it even if I wanted to?

You people had everyone concerned in custody two hours before the feature on the Kowalski family hit the press, and made the paper come up with a replacement article within the hour.

I learned a lot from Kazimierz today.

As we did from you. Less than a month into your visit to Kazimierz, you stirred up a storm that almost destroyed an entire industry.

(Shrugs) One last request. Can I see Rafał? Where is he?

He is doing well. We can approve your request for a visit if you insist, but we will require further... conditions in our agreement.

Ela. You doing ok?

I've been given preferential treatment thanks to some unexpected ties... is this the new job that the General Chamber of Commerce got you? What do you do now?

Rafał's lip twitches as he glances at his collar, where there seems to be a metallic glint of sorts. He lights a cigarette for himself.

I'm, *cough*, reviewing newspapers prior to publication.

Sorry, I always prefer to have it behind my ear, but I needed something to calm my nerves.

Is it such a bad thing to get a first-hand look at the process and standards?

Terrible. Look at what I have to review every day.

'The Red Wine'?

A good paper, isn't it?

Looks like whoever made this decision had a twisted sense of humor.

Let's talk about something else. How's your daughter? Is your new income enough to support her gambling?

(Wry smile) Enough to get the best seats. She's one of their best customers now.

...It really does sound terrible.

It is, but everything is getting better.

And what does that mean?

It means Kazimierz never changes. I'm the only one who does.

They're willing to pay me a lot of money. All I need to do is... behave.

Rafał inhales deeply and gazes at the ceiling. This time, Ela can see the microphone underneath his collar clearly.

You see that? High-tech stuff, here to help me behave, just like the salary that I wouldn't even have dreamed of just a few days ago.

Not a gadget I dare to get rid of. As for the other... soon, I wouldn't want to be rid of it.

Dreams and willpower can be worn down. When it's all said and done, everything will get better, and I'll be a model Kazimierz citizen, just like my daughter.

Rafał puts the cigarette out and goes back to his place in a long row of office seats.

Ela scans the room. All of them seem to be doing the same work as Rafał. Some look frustrated, some look numb, and some look around uneasily...

How many of them have said, 'chrzanić to'? Maybe it was just Rafał, who is now winking at her, or maybe it was all of them.

Ela gives Rafał an encouraging gaze, and glances down at the issue of The Red Wine in her hand.

Zofia

Zofia?!

'Whislash' Zofia. Now that's an exciting coincidence.

Excuse me, am I speaking to Miss Ela?

Who are you?

I'm the manager of the Gale Knightclub. We would like to inquire into your interest in participating in knight tournaments...

What's next? You want me to pay a registration fee?

Perhaps you misunderstood—oh, you want to talk to our patron yourself? Alright, here you go...

Miss Ela, I'm the main sponsor of the Gale Knightclub, and a business rival of Bogdan Kowalski.

We would like to congratulate you on your good fortune, and we could not help but notice your outstanding skills and judgment in the face of danger—

Maybe we would have gotten along better if you just said you were shadowing me.

It's the tournaments this time, isn't it?

The knight tournaments of the country of knights... round one was a draw, Kazimierz. Let's see about round two.