Yep. Got some hush-hush stuff I wanna talk to you
[cdb]about, so let's go somewhere private.
Goodness, whatever could it be?
It must be serious if we need to discuss it in a
[cdb]private setting.
So, what do you know about the Claude
[cdb]investigation?
I fear I have no idea what you are talking about.
Did this request come from my father, perchance?
Yeah, I figured you might be in the dark.
Indeed, this is the first I have heard of it—though I
[cdb]believe he may have spoken to me once regarding
[cdb]something similar.
Still, I am surprised he would ask such a thing of you.
Also, how do you even know my father?
You know I've borrowed a lot of money from all kinds
[cdb]of folks, right?
Well, your pops is on that list.
I'm as broke as can be, so he put me to work to pay it
[cdb]back. That's how I ended up looking into Claude.
I think that was around the time I decided to hide
[cdb]under Garreg Mach.
I am relieved to hear you know him for surprisingly
[cdb]normal reasons.
Hey! What's that supposed to mean?
Still, I wonder why my father would lend money to a
[cdb]base mercenary such as yourself.
Just gonna ignore that last part, huh? Now I know
[cdb]where the phrase "like father, like son" comes from.
Anyway, I'll answer your question. I may not look it,
[cdb]but I actually used to be a noble.
You? A noble? Pray keep your jests in check, sir.
No joke. The full name's Balthus von Albrecht.
I'm surprised you didn't know. Claude and Hilda
[cdb]both did.
Does this mean you have connections with
Lord Holst?
Yeah, we're old buddies. I was the heir to my house,
[cdb]too, so we got to see each other a lot.
An heir? Goodness me! I apologize for my ignorance.
To think a boorish man so lacking in honor and grace
[cdb]would be a noble...
Hey, easy! I'll have you know I was actually the lord
[cdb]of the house. It wasn't till after I inherited the title
[cdb]that I left.
Such a thought staggers the imagination, but I will
[cdb]accept it for the time being. And I feel I now
[cdb]understand your relationship to my father.
You just sort of say whatever pops into your head,
[cdb]don't you?
Still, you better think twice about that brutal honesty
[cdb]of yours, especially since you're gonna be the count
[cdb]someday.
Still, you better think twice about that brutal honesty
[cdb]of yours, especially since you're the count now.