0. Ignatz Victor reporting, Your Excellency!
1. Yes, yes. Come in.
2. Greetings, Your Excellency!
3. I think you're supposed to say "forgive my intrusion."
4. Right, yes. Forgive me, Your Excellency!
5. Listen, Ignatz. I may have a title now, but you and I [cdb]are still friends as we have always been.
6. All this formality is starting to make my skin crawl. Please just treat me the same as ever you have.
7. Oh...right. Of course. Anyway, what do you need?
8. You've no doubt heard about the bandits who [cdb]appeared in Gloucester, yes? The ones who are [cdb]supposedly former mercenaries?
9. They've been around for a while, right?
10. Yes. My men have been searching for their base [cdb]for some time now, and I believe they have finally [cdb]located it.
11. I took the opportunity to look into the provenance of [cdb]these bandits anew, and it seems they were indeed [cdb]a mercenary band—one in the employ of my father.
12. I...see.
13. For some reason, they have abandoned the sellsword [cdb]life and fallen into banditry.
14. But why would they do that?
15. I do not know.
16. I attempted to discuss it with my father, but his only [cdb]concern at present is finding me a proper spouse.
17. When I ask, he evades me and changes the subject.
18. Hmm, yes. That's quite the conundrum.
19. Regardless, I cannot ignore these bandits, especially if [cdb]my father had something to do with them.
20. Thusly, I have decided to deal with them myself, [cdb]and I was hoping you might join me.
21. Of course! I'm a knight of House Gloucester, after all.
22. Good. Oh, and as it would be a rather tall order for [cdb]the two of us to take on a gang of brigands alone, I have called in some additional support.
23. Heya, Lorenz! I came as soon as I could.
24. Just once, I wish one of my acquaintances could split [cdb]the difference between absurd formality and dire [cdb]nonchalance. I am a count now, you know?
25. Wait, so are we not friends 'cause you're a count?
26. No. What I meant to say is—
27. Look, enough with the titles. I'm a busy man, [cdb]so let's get moving already.
28. Look, enough with the titles. I'm a busy woman, [cdb]so let's get moving already.
29. I will have you know, a noble is nothing without [cdb]their... Never mind. I asked you here because I [cdb]need your help dealing with bandits in my territory.
30. That's it? Well, sure! I'm happy to help!
31. Hm, that was easy. I suppose it does indeed pay to [cdb]have some true friends in one's corner.
32. Sure does! Besides, if just you and Ignatz try to do it, [cdb]you're gonna get kicked into next moon.
33. Have you ever considered not saying the first thing [cdb]that pops into your head? The two of us could easily [cdb]handle this matter—I am simply being prudent.
34. Also, these are not some run-of-the-mill ruffians, [cdb]but rather highly trained former mercenaries.
35. Right, the old mercenary-to-bandit career path.
36. Right, the old mercenary-to-bandit career path.
37. They have some connection to my father as well, so I would like to uncover what we can in the process.
38. Claim you'll handle it.
39. Warn him not to expect too much.
40. You got it, boss. If we fight and win, I'm sure some [cdb]info will turn up on your old man.
41. You got it, boss. If we fight and win, I'm sure some [cdb]info will turn up on your old man.
42. I am not certain I follow your logic, though I suppose [cdb]it would be the preferred outcome.
43. Hey, I'm just the muscle. If you need information, [cdb]you'll have to get it yourself.
44. Hey, I'm just the muscle. If you need information, [cdb]you'll have to get it yourself.
45. So long as you fight well, that should suffice.
46. Now then, we should be off. With my subjects in [cdb]peril, there is not a moment to waste.
47. We will depart as soon as you are ready.
48. I'll take my payment in meat, please!
49. Ugh, I shall tell the kitchen to prepare a ham.