Part 15: Mr. I'll-Break-Your-Kneecaps-If-You-Don't-Talk.

Welcome back. Last time... uh... what happened again?



Right. That.



He sparkles too.





I-I think it’s about time for the search party to be returning with their reports.

Sentry: Th-that’s right, General!

I should get back to my duties. And make sure you don’t let those kids in again.

He also makes things so awkward that we get off scot free.

Way to go, sparkly blond guy!

Oh...and cancel any further checks on the travelers along the Eisen Road. Having these kids around any longer will just be an eyesore.

Sentry: Right away, sir!



(I wish WE could escape... He’s still right behind us, isn’t he?)

Don’t move. His vision is based on movement.

Ha ha ha ha! No matter which country you visit, military men lack romanticism. But you lot, on the other hand, appear to appreciate my aesthetic sense.



Y-you know, maybe we should get going ourselves?
Y-yeah, good idea. We had a bit of trouble, but we did manage to get some information...
After we head back to Bose, how about we think about our future plan of attack?



Wh-where are you going?
W-wait for me! I-I mean, please wait for me!





Let me try and introduce myself again. I’m Olivier Lenheim, a wandering bard and musician by trade. As you already know I am an Erebonian touring your fair Liberl.
I’m Estelle and...
Now wait a minute! Why do we have to introduce ourselves to you?!

He’s strangely irresistible.

Easy, Estelle. He did intercede for us back there. I’m Joshua.
And I’m Scherazard. Things were getting pretty heated, and I’m glad you stepped in before something really bad happened. Let me just say thanks.
Ha, you’ve got nothing to thank me for. I only did what any person who loves beauty and peace would have done. However, if you insist, how about going out on a date with me for a day?
I’m going to have to pass on that. First of all, I don’t have that sort of free time.
That’s too bad.
All right then. I guess I’ll accept Joshua as a substitute.
What do I have to do with any of this...? Please don’t involve me in your questionable humor.
Well, that’s odd. I didn’t mean it as a joke.
Saying that makes you even more questionable.



Now just a minute! How come you didn’t invite me on a date?

Nooo, Estelle, you almost escaped.

You? Um, I don’t know how to put this, but you’re a bit lacking in the sexy department.
You might want to think about taking a lesson or two from your friends here.



Well, excuse me for not being sexy! And...just what do you mean by saying I should take a few lessons from Joshua?!
C-calm down, Estelle. I think you’re cute enough just the way you are.

Nice saving dive Joshua.

Though I guess it’s true...you are a bit lackluster in the sexy category.

And he fumbles.

Wh-what did you just say?!
Oh, good grief...
Anyway, like I said before, we’re busy. I’m sorry there’s not a better way to thank you, but we’ve got to get going.
Hmm, then how about... You take me along with you to the city of Bose? This is my first time in Liberl, after all, and I’d like to request a guide.
Well, if that’s all that you want, then I don’t mind...



Schera! Now just a second!
It’s the least we can do, and we’re headed to the same place anyway. Plus, acting as a guide is one of a bracer’s many duties.
Oh, all right. I guess we’re stuck with him until then.
B-but what if he tries to sink his poisonous fangs of lust into Joshua...?
Uh, Estelle?
Don’t you worry, Joshua! I’ll save you from his perverted attentions if he tries anything funny!
What is it exactly that you think he’ll try...?
Please don’t refer to me like I’m some sort of ferocious beast.
I’d rather that you call me a [hunter of love.] Even [love stealer] wouldn’t be that bad of a title, either. Heh heh heh...



Are you right in the head?
So how about it, everyone? Shall we leave for Bose? I’m counting on you all to get me there safely. Now let us be off!
Who died and made you leader...?
Hey, wait a minute, you! I’m not done warning you about the grisly fate that awaits you if you sully Joshua’s innocence!

---



And with that, Olivier joins our merry gang.

Like the bards of our time, Olivier is packing heat. He’s also, like other bards of our time, ain’t nuthing* to fuck with.

He’s stronger than anybody but Joshua (admittedly, he has a level advantage), which is pretty impressive, considering he’s primarily a caster. His magic is higher than anybody else’s, and all his other stats are quite respectable (if on the frail side). He also has surprisingly lackluster Magic Defense.

Furthermore, since he has a gun, he’s got a sizeable attack range, letting him attack enemies from a safe distance.

*Google docs auto corrected nothing to nuthing. It’s amazing.



Olivier also has the best orbment line up in the game. His center slot is Mirage, but unlike the other elements, Mirage doesn’t really have magic of it’s own. Instead, Mirage elemental values are necessary to use a lot of the really powerful spells, and Mirage Quartz tends to have multiple types of elemental values associated with it (See the EP 1 quartz he joins with, which has x 1 Time, x 1 Space, x 2 Mirage). My point is basically that even if he didn’t need a Mirage Quartz equipped, he probably would have one anyway.

On top of that, Olivier is one of only two party members whose orbment only has 1 line, meaning he could use a greater diversity of high level spells.



I don’t have many extra quartz lying around to slot the man with, so he ends up with an Information quartz, letting me show off what it looks like.



Olivier’s default attack.



Before we head back to town though, we can head a little ways back East, and encounter this lil’ fella’.





There’s one King Scorpion, and three Queen Scorpions.

I like his style.



The Scorpions can paralyze you with their default attacks, which is a pain.



Still, Hell Gate kinda owns...



And you can do this fight before Olivier joins. With him on your side, you’ve just got way too much firepower.





Hmm... So this is Bose, is it? It’s more urban than I’d imagined. That building over there... is Bose Market, no?
Well, you seem to be quite knowledgeable. Are you sure this is really your first time in Liberl?
Ha, I was smart enough to buy a tourist guidebook before I left. One published by your very own Liberl News, no less!
A guidebook? Do they really sell such things?
I don’t know how to say it...but we live in a really convenient age.

Not really. You don’t even have cars. Or the internet.

So do you intend to go shopping at the Bose Market now?

And without the internet, what will people play games for?

Yep. And after doing a bit of window shopping I planned to dress up and dine out. According to the guide, there’s supposed to be a three-star restaurant in town.
Right, the place we ate at with the mayor. Er... What I mean to say is...I guess this is the place.



Indeed, no doubt this is the place. Hmm-hmm-hmm... I’m quite looking forward to it!
But it’s supposed to cost a pretty mira if you decide to go with a full-course meal. I’d have to recommend a normal bar any day over this.
Worry not, my fair lady. I’ve brought sufficient travel expenses. And if that’s not enough, I’ll earn more with my superb skills.
Superb skills...? You’re not talking about your songs and musical, uh, renditions, are you?
Can you actually earn mira with that crap?
Ha! I’ve starred as the main opera singer at the Great Theater in the Royal City before. If I remember right, I once earned 1,000,000 mira in a single night...

Unlikely.

(Big fat liar...)
All right, everyone, good work. I guess this is farewell until fate brings us together once more.
Adios, amigos!



Olivier’s run is immensely funny to me. I’m not sure why.



An entertaining one.

Is everyone from Erebonia a weirdo like that?
I-I don’t think I like the idea of THAT being the Empire stereotype...
Huh?
What I’m trying to say is that I think the majority of the people there are quite serious. I read in a book that their ethos respects the strong, silent type.
Hmm... So what you’re saying is that he’s simply a weirdo because he’s an artist?
Now just hold up there, Estelle. If the artists of this world heard that, they’d be less than pleased.
Let’s see...we need to report the information we got out of the general to Lugran.
And it would be best if we let Mayor Maybelle know after that too.
So first we visit the guild and then the mayor’s residence. Okay, let’s get going.



Hey Nial! Work your charm a little, I’m sure she’ll let you in.

If I could just get a comment from the mayor, I’d be on my merry little way.
Yep, that’s right. And of course I’d need a photograph, too.
I’m sure the mayor would be flattered, but she’s extremely busy. I’m going to have to ask all those without an appointment to leave. I hope you can understand the situation.
Come on! Please! For an incident this huge, we hardly know anything about the circumstances surrounding it... And I have an obligation to inform the readers!
But...
Yeah, what about the readers? We can probably reach double the number if we have the mayor grace the cover! She’s said to be very beautiful, after all.
...
D-Dorothy! Why did you have to go and say something like that?
Huh? But it was you who was saying the same thing, remember? You said if we didn’t have any news to go on, we could lure customers to buy the magazine by featuring the sexy mayor on the cover.

Charming. I knew we couldn’t count on you Nial.

Y-you idiot!
...
Ah...ha...ha... U-um, miss?
Well aren’t you two a couple of interesting visitors... I’ll make sure to tell Mayor Maybelle about the details of our conversation. At the moment, however, I am going to have to ask you to leave.
W-wait! This is a misunderstanding.





Fine...
So are we going to be okay not getting a photograph of the mayor then?
Please...for the love of Aidios and my sanity...just keep your mouth shut...



Whew...
Huh...?



Oh, it’s you bracers again. Did you just return from the Haken Gate?
Uh yeah, something like that. So, uh, those two you just turned away...
A bunch of unscrupulous individuals.
Really...?
Those miscreants said they planned to use the mayor to make some quick mira. But as long as I’m here to protect my mistress I won’t allow that to happen.



Ah...ha ha...I see.
Y-you’re really serious about your job, aren’t you?
Deadly serious. That’s because it’s my duty. Anyway, why don’t you all come inside. The mayor is waiting for you.



Damn NPCs. Can’t they realize their lives are insignificant?

Late deliveries of goods to the Bose Market because of the airspace being a no-fly zone... Servicing the sewer facilities... Selecting a congratulatory gift for Her Majesty, the Queen... Harm incurred by monsters on the New Ansel Path...
When will all this paperwork finally end?!
Um...
Uh...hello?
Oh, are you back already?
You look pretty busy...so would it be better if we came back at a later time?
*ahem* Ah, no, you’re fine.
So you found out something from General Morgan, right? I’d like to hear about it.

We found out he’s a dick!

or did you already know that



So there was a hijacking by the Sky Bandits and now a ransom demand...?
The situation is much more serious than I had originally anticipated.
If the general hadn’t found out we were bracers, I think we could have learned more, but...
No, it’s all right. I’m just glad to know that it wasn’t a crash. With this information, I should be able to take effective countermeasures with the city. Now I need to think of a way to inform the citizens of Bose and deal with the families of the passengers.
I imagine that’ll be quite a difficult task considering that you’re already as busy as you are.
Ha ha, well, that’s just the duty of a mayor.
And since the identity of the criminals is now known... May I ask that you continue your investigation of the incident?
Of course. That was our plan to begin with. We’ve already had a run-in with these Sky Bandits before. And I’ll wager the honor of the guild that this is one group we cannot simply leave up to the Royal Army.
Yeah, that’s for sure! There’s Dad to find, and then we need to deal with these Sky Bandits once and for all!
...
Huh? What’s with the look, Joshua?
I was just thinking, and... No matter which way I look at things, I just can’t believe it.

I know. Morgan is just such a dick!

Or are we talking about something else now?

because i’m still on that

What can’t you believe?
That Dad could get beaten by a bunch of Sky Bandits. Basing my judgment on the ability of the group that appeared in Rolent...
I’m in agreement with you there. Cassius could have easily dealt with a group of that caliber.
Come on, Joshua! You too, Schera! You’re giving him way more credit than he deserves. He’s pretty good, I’ll give you that, but I think it would be a bit of a stretch to take on an entire group.
... Um, do you mind if I ask you something?
Are you trying to tell me that your father was aboard that airliner?
Oh, didn’t I mention that...? I’m embarrassed to say it, but yeah, he was. Not to mention he’s a bracer, too. His name’s Cassius Bright.



Did you just say...Cassius Bright?!

Everybody knows Cassius. You should get used to it.

Uh...yeah. Why? Do you know my dad or something?
I’ve never met him in person, but I’ve heard a great deal about him. I’m sorry...I just don’t know what to say... But we might be able to use this to get some information from the army...
Excuse me, mayor?
I’m very sorry, and I can empathize with what you must be going through.
If there’s anything I can do to help you clear up this incident, then I am at your disposal. If there’s anything you need, please don’t hesitate to ask.



As soon as we mentioned Dad’s name she got all surprised.
You’re right...but I guess I can imagine where she’s coming from. The mayor and the general have known one another for a long time, after all...
???
Well, let’s not worry about that right now. We’ve given the mayor a brief rundown of everything, so let’s head to the guild. I’m sure Lugran is waiting for a report from us.
Right.



Tee hee... You bet! Valuable information, at that!

Estelle relayed the information they had obtained from General Morgan.

The Sky Bandits and the Capua Family... You’re right, that IS valuable information! It looks like we’ll be able to decide on a policy for the Bracer Guild related to this.
However, I’m surprised to hear that General Morgan is an even bigger bracer-hater than I had originally thought.
Yeah, I was pretty surprised myself. In Rolent, the job of a bracer is pretty much respected by everyone, so to encounter someone that hates bracers that much...
Don’t worry about it. General Morgan is an exception. Under normal circumstances, the Royal Army and guild maintain a pretty good cooperative relationship.
However, it looks like this time you’re going to have to deal with a lot more than you bargained for.
Well, then I guess we’ll have to try and make steady efforts while maintaining a low profile. But it looks like these recent burglaries are also the work of the Sky Bandits, right?
Yes. Taking into account the incident in Rolent it’s pretty clear who’s behind these. To call them burglaries is one thing though, because most of the stuff that’s been stolen hasn’t been all that valuable. I would have never thought they would go as far as to commit a heinous crime like hijacking the Linde.
Now that you mention it, that is rather odd. The burglary that happened in Rolent was also rather mild in comparison.
Yeah, and to hijack an airliner and then to turn around and demand a ransom from the royal family... The risks there are greater than any potential reward.
Hmm, in light of that we should probably do a little more on the investigative side ourselves.



We need to think about what to do next.
Hmm... Just searching around blindly for the airliner or Sky Bandits probably won’t amount to anything, right? I mean, if that’s all it’d take, then the army would have found them a long time ago.
...
...
Huh? What’s the matter with you two?
Estelle, you’ve matured... If it had been the same you as before, you probably would have said something like, [Let’s just comb the entire region!]
I never thought I’d see the day when those words would come out of your mouth either... My heart’s too full of emotions for words...
So what are you two trying to say? You can be so rude sometimes, I hope you know.
Ha ha. We were complimenting you, Estelle. Seriously.

And doing a terrible job!

Unfortunately, unlike Rolent, the Bose Region is...enormous. I’m really hoping for a clue right about now.
A clue, huh...?
Oh, right. Wasn’t that Nial and Dorothy we saw in front of the mayor’s place earlier? He seemed pretty starved for a story...but he’s gotta know SOMETHING by now, right?

Unlikely.

It’s true he arrived in Bose a little before we did... So I think it may be worth talking to him.

Still, we don’t have any other leads.

I wonder where they went.

From what I know of Nial, I’ve got a fairly good guess.





The bar! Now, did you find him?



Nial can be a pain in the ass to find in the bar, he looks a lot like an NPC. Damn reasonable clothing.

...This ain’t a joke, you know! Uggh... *hic*
Well, we found him...but he’s drunk off his ass. Was having his article rejected really THAT MUCH of a shock to his system?

I think he’d be like this no matter how the article went, to be honest!

He’s just acting like the man he is. Men ARE pigs, after all... Though he seems to have forgotten that alcohol is a drink to be consumed, not a drink to be consumed BY.
You’re one to talk! Don’t they sometimes call you [Bottomless Schera]?
Oh, please. [Bottomless] is much more suitable for a woman like Aina. I, on the other hand, can HOLD my liquor. No matter how much I may drink, my face and my disposition remain unreddened. So don’t you dare group a fun-loving drinker like myself in the same category as this clumsy lush!
Oh, come now! When you get drunk, you lose it completely and everyone around you gets a heck of a show! Admit it!
It’s certainly true that Aina is like a bucket to Schera’s sieve. But no matter how you look at it, they’re both pretty bottomless.
I’m sensing disrespect, children...

The blatant disrespect might have something to do with it.

...Ooooh...



Good. You’re awake...sort of. Drinking so much is NOT good for your health, you know.
Oooogh, my head...
...Wh-what the...? You’re that bracer trainee, aren’t you? Oh, my Goddess...what the hell am I doing in Rolent?! Thought I’d made my way to Bose...
What are you mumbling about, you sponge? You ARE in Bose! And so are we!
Oh... Well, damn, don’t scare me like that!

Sorry for existing while you’re shitfaced, I guess?

...Oooooh, and I see you’ve got a lovely lass with you!
Name’s Scherazard Harvey. The pleasure’s all yours, I’m sure. I’m the mentor of these two.
Scherazard... Are you the infamous [Silver Streak,] by any chance?
Oh? You humble me, sir. I take it you’ve heard of me, then?
Only rumors, I’m afraid. But yes, I know your name. You’re one of the top young bracers, if I’m not mistaken. ...Which means you three are here to investigate the incident as well, I suppose?
Oh, so you DO have some brains left in there after all that booze. I’m impressed.
You find anything out? We saw you by the mayor’s house. You seemed pretty troubled...
(Damn! They saw that?)
Uh, yeah! I was looking for clues and couldn’t find any!
That’s what I figured.
Damned army’s regulations on the spread of information really restrict what I’m able to learn, anyway. And if I try to consult General Morgan at the Haken Gate directly, I’ll be held up for inspection for who knows how long! So I figured I’d at least try to score an interview with the legendarily voluptuous mayor, but a maid turned me away outright! And to top it all off, that useless girl kept screwing everything up. Everything!
Oh, great Aidios! Tell me, what did I do to deserve this shabby life?!
Well, you did try to do an exclusive on the mayor’s chest... But if you want information that badly, we might share some of ours with you.



Huh...?
We’re actually investigating the incident on Mayor Maybelle’s behalf right now. So naturally, we’ve met with the mayor and General Morgan, too, for that matter.
...Holy crap. You serious?!
Yep. Totally.
...Scoooore! And the Goddess gets a point! Blessed be the bounty of Aidios!
Please, I beg of you...tell me everything! Every last detail!
We’ll be glad to. However...
...Aren’t you forgetting something, Nial?
Huh?
Heh...information ain’t free, you know. We’ll scratch your back, but you need to scratch ours first. And get that look off your face... I totally do NOT mean that literally.
Y-you want mira or something? My research funds are long-exhausted at this point, I’m sorry to say.
We’re not interested in your money. We just find it fascinating that you made your way to Bose RIGHT AFTER this incident occurred. Seems like you might have heard some interesting things yourself. That being the case...
Ugh. And here I thought you were a nice kid. Turns out you’re just a slimy little leech like me! I’ll tell you what I know, but rest assured, it’s not big news by any stretch of the imagination.
As long as it’s related to the incident, no matter how trivial it may seem, I’ll take it.
Just...don’t be stingy. Give it to us straight, okay?
Fine, fine! I’ll tell you everything, on my honor as a newsman! I’ve got two clues to share, so if you’re taking notes, I suggest you get out your pen and paper.
We’re ready whenever you are.
(Man, way to go, Joshua! You’re on a roll!)
(Heh. Well if he ever gets tired of being a bracer, we know he’ll have a bright future in racketeering with those skills!)



I talked to a villager who’d just come to Bose for a visit, and she told me something very interesting. Apparently, she knows a kid who saw a huge shadow flying overhead on the night of the incident.
A huge shadow flying overhead...?
Yep. Airship, I told ‘em. Maybe even that missing one!
But the army checked it out and found absolutely nothing.
Aww, you meanie. You raised our hopes, only to dash ‘em straight away!
So you’re saying somebody saw something, but it was probably unrelated to anything?
That’s what I’m saying! I warned you it wasn’t big news! And I went to a lot of trouble to get this sad morsel, too, what with that information embargo in place and all!
Well done. Now, let’s hear that second clue of yours.
Ugh...fine. The other thing I learned is that the military’s Intelligence Division is on the move.
Intelligence Division?
I’ve heard rumors about them. It’s a new royally-sanctioned branch of the army in charge of intelligence gathering and dissemination.
That’s the one, yeah. Supposedly, they’re so elite they can even stand toe-to-toe with the royal bodyguards. The man they put in charge, Colonel Richard, is apparently quite the whiz kid. With him on the case, they say this incident is as good as solved already.
Hmmm... Doesn’t seem like your information will be of much use to us in our investigation.
Oh, well that’s a shame. Sorry I couldn’t help much on your end. But a promise is a promise! I scratched. Now it’s your turn!
Of course. A deal IS a deal, after all.

Joshua told Nial all about the incident in Rolent, as well as the information received from General Morgan.

The Capuas? Sky Bandits? A ransom demand to the royal house and the airship corporations?!
Good Goddess, that’s exactly what I needed! That’s the missing link I’ve been killing myself to find!
Caught your fancy, did it?
Absolutely! I can definitely write my article now! I can’t be wasting my time getting drunk here...I have to find Dorothy, post haste!
See you later, you wonderful people, you!

I must say, I like how our relationship with Nial develops. Throughout the rest of the game, he basically becomes our contact in the news, hunting down news and other information for us. It’s pretty neat, if only because I like that our protagonists are involved in that kind of wheeling and dealing.



Well, he was chasing a big story pretty unsuccessfully until we came along. It’s only natural. I’m glad we could help him out.
Well look at you. From Mr. I’ll-Break-Your-Kneecaps-If-You-Don’t-Talk to Mr. Nice Guy in under a minute! Talk about a split personality!
Stop thinking weird things about me. I was just negotiating. A little give-and-take, nothing more!
Hee hee. A bad boy exterior with a good boy inside, or is it the other way ‘round? Either way I’m sure the girls love it.

As this update will testify, even the guys love it!

I’ve said it before, but hitting on Joshua is the national past time.

But anyway, I guess we’ve only really dealt with scrupulous people thus far. We’re pretty lucky, in that regard. Start dealing with weirdos, and that’s when you’ll need to bust out some REALLY questionable negotiation techniques.



Anyway, that aside... ...Was anyone else a little bothered when Nial talked about that huge, flying shadow thing?
That eyewitness report from Ravennue? I’d say there’s a strong chance there was nothing to it, if the army already checked it out...
Yeah, but I mean, it’s not like the army is totally infallible. They could’ve missed something! It wasn’t General Morgan himself, after all, but one of his men. And some of those guys are pretty thick-headed!

And so is the General, really.

That is true... Probably worth looking into. Certainly can’t hurt, at any rate.
Heh. You two are starting to get the hang of this, I see. I think this is a splendid idea. Let’s head to Ravennue, then, shall we?

Schera will ordinarily give you the directions to Ravennue, but I’ve actually been there: For a sidequest that got pushed back into next update. In that case, she won’t bore you with the details.

Got it!

Next time: Sidequests!