Part 78: Agate Crosner. It has been some time, sir.

-Commercial City of Bose-



The last stop on our Ouroboros interdiction sweep is a city of historic firsts.



The fateful first encounter with Olivier has already been mentioned, but Estelle's prior time in Bose was also her first time away from home, her first big success as a bracer...



...her first stretch in prison...



...the list goes on and on.



Hah...The Silver Streak, the Heavy Blade, the Immovable, and our rising star rookie all together. Brings a tear to my eye, it does.
Um, 'rising star rookie'?
Hahaha! You, of course! You're our little walking miracle who's managed to stop the society in four different regions! That's been the gossip, anyway.
Y-You've GOT to be kidding.
Saying I 'stopped' anything is stretching it more than a LITTLE. They just ran off once their experiments were done...
You did handle yourself well in the Rolent case, Estelle.
Don't sell yourself too short. I think you can be a little bit proud.
Yeah, but that was just, um, a bunch of coincidences coming together, and--
Haha! No need to get embarrassed. You just need to live up to your reputation, is all.
Yeah, thanks, Zane. You make that sound like a cakewalk.
Anyway, all that aside...What's the situation like here in Bose?
There's been no sign of the society whatsoever. No surprise, I suppose. Since the Sky Bandits were caught, the army's been patrolling the region pretty heavily.
One thing sticks out, though. There've been a few too many dangerous monsters prowling around here these days.
Really?
Y'know, I noticed that the last time I was here. Bose seems to usually have more wanted monsters than other regions. Why is that?
Most of it comes down to Bose being huge and filled with rough terrain. Makes it common to see monsters come down from the less-inhabited areas.
Thing is, though, we've had ten cases just since the beginning of the month.
Ten? That IS a lot...
I'm guessing that's kept Sting and the rest of the crew busy.
Yes, and Kurt's team stopped by the other day to slay several of them. Be in your debt if you could take care of a few of 'em for us, as well.
That strikes me as a good course of action.
It's possible the society is involved with this.
Yeah. And they could hurt someone if we just leave them alone, so we should get out there and take them down.
...
Huuuh? Agate, what's wrong?
Yeah, what's up? You're really quiet.
Nah...It's nothin'.
Anyway, let's get out there and bring back some monster heads.

*knock knock*

Woman's Voice: Pardon me!





Estelle, it's so good to see you again!



Woooow, it's seriously been forever. I think we last met at the queen's birthday celebrations, right?
Yes, it feels as though it's been ages. I've been hearing all about your exploits in the news, though, Estelle.
That goes for everyone else, as well. I'm glad to see you all safe. Especially you, Kloe. Are you on...'school break' already?
Ah, I, um, ended up taking a little time off early.
It's good to see you again, Maybelle.
Huh, you two seem, uh, pretty familiar.
Well, Maybelle used to be a student at the academy. We met before she graduated.
Heehee...And I'm certainly glad we met, too.
Ah-haha, I see!
And...Agate Crosner. It has been some time, sir.
...S'pose so.
Hang on. Agate, Maybelle, YOU know each other?
Oh, my, yes. I've relied on Mr. Crosner a number of times for various jobs only he could do. And ten years ago--
Hey...Mayor.
...I forgot myself. Pardon me.
Regardless. I simply wished to stop by today to welcome you back. From the sound of things, you're pursuing an international criminal syndicate which threatens the safety of the entire country?
An 'international criminal syndicate'...
Sometimes they feel more like a society of supervillains, but that's one way to refer to them, yes.
So far as the City of Bose is concerned, the threat these criminals pose is not someone else's problem. It's everyone's. If I can do anything to assist you in your investigation, anything at all, you only need ask.
Thanks, Maybelle. If we need help, we'll definitely ask.
Heh...We'll be expecting a lot from you, Mayor.
Excellent. Now, I'm afraid I must excuse myself.
Should anything come up, please come visit me at my residence.
Pardon us.



Couldn't you have been a little more civil?
It's who I am. We ain't runnin' a butler service here. Gimme a break.
Hmmmm...Agate can be kind of arrogant to people sometimes...He's usually polite towards clients, though. You WERE kinda short with Maybelle, Agate.
...
You're imagining things.
More to the point. I remember talkin' about us bringin' back some monster heads. Lugran, give us the breakdown.
Right...We have three cases outstanding.









All right...Monster slaying's the perfect task for my greatsword. I'll be takin' charge this time around.
Huh?
Well, you are a Bose native, my good Heavy Blade. You're probably the best-suited out of all of us.
I have no objections.
Heh. Decided, then.
Go ahead and pick us a team, Estelle.
Mrrrrgh. You're being suspiciously gung-ho about this, you know.

Project A.C.E.S. (Agate Crosner Embarrassment Squad) is go.





Since we're out, why don't we stop at Ravennue Village?
Yeah! ♪
Uh. Why are you looking at me like you're expecting something.
Heehee...I do want to go see your hometown, Agate.
D-Do you not want to?
...Not right now, no.
We need to settle our current jobs first, including hunting these monsters.
Awww...
You unfeeling clod. Come on, Tita's here. Would it literally make your head catch fire to be nice for once?
The hell do you even...
Estelle, it's okay, really! It's only normal that we should put work first...
Agate, I'm sorry for prodding you.
...Nah.
And...y'know. I'll definitely take you once things have settled down a bit. Just be a good girl for now, shortstuff.
Okay!



We've got three glass cannons this time, so I'll retool Estelle for defense and heals. I might even wind up using her Taunt!



_{yeah probably not}



Olivier gets like a dozen different elements to fling...



...and Tita gets the Deathblow since she has the best chance to activate it.









Warner: Our selling point's a more at-home atmosphere, in contrast to the Anterose.




Spence: You're the bracers who helped me get a hold of some Bear Claw some time ago, yes?
Oh, yeah. Now that you mention it, that did happen.
It's been a while. Have you been well, sir?
Spence: Yes, yes, as always. Still, you really were a great help at the time. Since you've come by, allow me to offer you a treasured piece of medicine.


Spence: No need to hesitate, take it. It's my way of saying thanks.
Wooow, thanks. Well, then, since you're offering, we'll gladly accept it.
Spence: I've got lots of other useful medicines to help you at your job. Should you need anything, please, come by the Spence Pharmacy.
R-Right, got it. (W-Well, that's a merchant for you...Never miss a beat on the job.)



Minuet: We've got old books, textiles, and daily goods. You'll find everything you need at Minuet's Stand! Take a look. We've got some new magazine issues.



All the news that's printed to fit.



Katrina: Would you like one?!




Butler Mayner: Allow me to thank you for your previous efforts. I know the mistress appreciates them. Mayor Maybelle is in the study on the second floor. She is quite busy, as always. Please do not distract her for very long.



Miss Maybelle is in her study next door. If you have business with her, you may find her there. Please do not disturb her if you do not.



Already on business, I take it?
Uh-huh. We just wanted to let you know what we were doing.
We're going to start by helping with the wanted monsters.
That's just what we're doing for now, mind.
No, trust me, the city of Bose, and I, thank you for your service. There have been so many of them as of late. They've really been wreaking havoc.
So they're causing you trouble, too?
Yes, ensuring the roads are safe and passable is vital to keeping the city alive.
I know it seems like a simple mission, but its completion means more to this city than you may think. We're ALL counting on you to defeat those monsters.
Leave it to us!