0. Hey, you gotta hear this!
1. What's up, Raphael? You're looking extra [cdb]cheerful today.
2. Have you seen the looks on all the soldiers' faces [cdb]lately? Don't they seem way more motivated?
3. Oh yeah, I was wondering what was going on [cdb]with that.
4. Well I was curious too, so I asked! And you know what they said?
5. Their pay has gone up.
6. The war has turned in our favor.
7. Is it because they got a pay bump? Finances are always a great motivator, I've found.
8. C'mon, not everyone's fighting just for the money.
9. Sorry, guess I can't help but look at things [cdb]from a mercenary's perspective.
10. Is it because we're winning the war? Lots of victories always boost morale.
11. Makes sense. Anyway, that's not the reason this time.
12. They all said it was 'cause of the food!
13. You don't mean—
14. Yep, they've all been eating the dishes we came up [cdb]with! You know, with the smoked meat and the [cdb]rotten food!
15. Hey, didn't I tell you not to call it "rotten"?
16. In any case, our hard work definitely paid off. And the food's great too, if I do say so myself.
17. Right? I could eat that stuff over and over again [cdb]and never get sick of it!
18. And it's a big hit with the soldiers, too. They said [cdb]they actually get excited for mealtime now!
19. Plus it's made them fight way harder in battle!
20. I'm really glad everyone's so happy with it. Makes all our effort feel completely worthwhile.
21. You bet! See, food's important no matter who, when, [cdb]or where you are!
22. Yeah. Back in my mercenary days, I'd scarf down any [cdb]old scraps so long as I was full at the end of it.
23. But I've changed my outlook. Honestly, I feel like I can work even harder now that I can look forward [cdb]to all my meals.
24. And I never would've gotten here without you, Raphael. Thanks.
25. Huh, I was just thinking the same thing about you. Guess we helped each other equally!
26. You know, I scrounged up every last piece of gold I [cdb]could find just so I could go to the Officers Academy [cdb]and become a knight.
27. But once it shut down, opening the inn was basically [cdb]my only option.
28. But then running the inn helped me realize all sorts [cdb]of important stuff, too.
29. And now I'm sure—once this war's all wrapped up, I'm gonna do whatever it takes to become the best [cdb]innkeeper in all of Fódlan!
30. Sounds like a solid plan. But you'll probably need [cdb]to up your cooking game even more if that's the [cdb]end goal.
31. Yeah, I bet I'll have to train under a real great chef to [cdb]get me where I wanna be.
32. Oh, and while I'm at it, I'm gonna come up with [cdb]a brand new style of cooking! Something that'll [cdb]really work my muscles!
33. What would that even look like?
34. Well I dunno, I haven't invented it yet! Whatever the case, I know what I wanna do now.
35. Hey, what do you say to tagging along with me? I think you've got a real knack for this cooking stuff!
36. That does sound pretty tempting.
37. Probably shouldn't make any promises I can't keep.
38. Hmm... I'll think about it. Just be ready to have me [cdb]showing up at your doorstep if the mercenary work [cdb]ever dries up.
39. I appreciate the offer, but I think I'm gonna have to [cdb]pass. Mercenary work's where I belong.
40. So you're gonna stick to being a hired hand, huh? Well, as long as that's what you wanna do!
41. Oh, but keep an eye out for an invitation from me! You'll definitely have to come over and try all the [cdb]rotten food I cook up!
42. Seriously, stop calling it that. But thanks. I'm looking forward to it, Raphael.