- There you are, Lorenz.
- What is it you need now, Balthus?
- I wanna talk about the debt I owe your father.
- We never settled that, and I'm thinking I should
[cdb]probably pay it back.
- Ah, that. Well, as head of House Gloucester, I have
[cdb]determined you no longer need to repay it.
- Judging by the specifics of the requests, I highly
[cdb]doubt my father ever expected recompense.
- Well, would you look at that? The current Count
Gloucester sure is a generous sort.
- You have saved me countless times on the battlefield
[cdb]since joining our army.
- Asking a comrade-in-arms for mere coin when I owe
[cdb]them a life debt would only sully the good name of
House Gloucester.
- Well, I still appreciate it.
- So does that mean I can just drop the whole
"investigate Claude" thing?
- I mean, I've already dug up an entire mound of dirt
[cdb]on the guy, but I'm happy to let it all go.
- That is dangerous information to have on our king.
- That is dangerous information to have—the Alliance's
[cdb]internal affairs must not be exposed to other lands.
- Destroy all record and speak of it to no one.
- That could be information of great consequence.
It may prove useful in diplomatic settings...
- No, it would be dangerous to expose Leicester's
[cdb]internal affairs. Destroy all record and speak of it to
[cdb]no one.
- You sure? There's some real juicy stuff in there.
- Your head would probably pop clean off if I told you.
- ...
- I admit that my curiosity is piqued. Ah, what to do?
- In that case, Balthus, hold this information of yours
[cdb]tight and make sure it lands in no other hands.
- When the time comes that we need it, I will take it
[cdb]into my possession.
- When you need it? What's that mean?
- It is quite possible that I will become the next king
[cdb]after Claude.
- It is quite possible that I will someday become the
[cdb]next leader of the Alliance.
- It is quite possible that I will someday take control of
[cdb]all of Leicester.
- You take good care of it in the meanwhile.
- All for the sake of Lorenz Hellman Gloucester!
Ahahaha!
- How the heck did I end up having to help you?
- My apologies. Will you not be assisting me?
- Though you may be only a former noble, I have the
[cdb]utmost trust you will not betray me after my having
[cdb]cleared your debts.
- Not too happy about this, but I am glad to have one
[cdb]less debt on my plate.
- Still, looks like I've landed with a real scoundrel.
If only he were a lady instead...