After hearing Mr. Ah Le, the young man nodded and began to write. "The suspect has confessed to tax evasion..."
Mr. Ah Le quickly tried to stop him. "Officer, please, don't be so quick to put it on the record. As long as it isn't on paper, we still have room to negotiate."
The young man set down his pen, a teasing look on his face. "Mr. Ah Le, since you've put it that way, why don't you show me some sincerity?"
"Sir, I can contribute to the Empire's defense on behalf of our commerce association. Though my personal power is limited, the strength of the association should be enough to satisfy you..." Hearing the young man's words, Mr. Ah Le was instantly relieved, and a practiced, business-like smile returned to his face.
"Excellent. We need a contribution of 2,300 Gold Coins. Is the association sincere enough for that?"
"That's impossible! Sir, even if I sold all three carts of hides, I wouldn't make that much money!"
Agitated, Ah Le slammed his hand on the table. "You open your cavernous maw, but I can't even fill the gaps between your teeth! Just throw this pitiful merchant in jail!"
"Whoa, calm down. I know your goods can sell for that much. Others' can't, but yours can with the Lowe Commerce Association's brand on them." The young man gestured, stopping the Guards who were about to give Ah Le a physical warning.
"However, we aren't devils. We wouldn't make you sink your principal and profit into this. We have another way for you to show your sincerity."
"Then please, sir, stop joking around! Get straight to the point!"
"We need you to procure something for us in Valois." The young man handed Mr. Ah Le a simple diagram depicting a specific part, with its dimensions and materials marked on a three-view drawing.
"We need five sets of this component. As long as you provide acceptable parts, we can do business at your quoted price. What do you say, Mr. Ah Le? In fact, one might say *we're* the ones showing sincerity to *you*."
"These are banned for sale to the Empire by the Kingdom, aren't they?"
"Why else would we ask you for this little favor? Accept the deal, and you can go on being a subject of your Kingdom tomorrow. Then, whenever you wish, you can resume being a citizen of the Empire.
If you can't, the Empire's gates will no longer be open to you. Furthermore, on behalf of the Empire Army, we will reserve the right to hold your esteemed association accountable."
If Rorschach had been there, he would have shaken his head in pity for Mr. Ah Le. The diagram was for a constant-pressure valve—something that, in Rorschach's previous life, would get you 'invited for tea' by the authorities if you privately manufactured or purchased it.
Three of the Steam Engines imported from the Holy Kingdom had burned out during the tests on Carnival Night. Since the Holy Kingdom restricts the export of Steam Engines and their related parts, the young man had opted to have various merchant associations smuggle them in piece by piece, like ants moving their home.
"Sir, I feel your sincerity. Of course, I accept." Ah Le took the diagram and tucked it into an inner pocket of his coat.
Rorschach, still unaware of the disaster that had befallen his employer, ran into the Town Mage, Unuk, who was waiting for him at the fortress gate on the way back to the cells.
"The captain told me you had gone out. I figured you weren't the type to abandon your employer and teammates and just run off, so I waited. And here you are."
"You waited for me specifically, Mr. Unuk?"
"Not for long. I wasn't sure if you'd all be going back to the inn, so this was the only place I was sure I could catch you."
Unuk and Rorschach walked side-by-side into the fortress. The Guards they passed all saluted the Town Mage, and Unuk would nod back in acknowledgment.
"As it happens, I need to submit my report on last night's incident to the Lord Garrison Mage. And I really must thank you. With one slap, you helped us catch a big fish."
Unuk explained, "The man who flew into the sky was wearing a mask. When we took it off, we found he was the son of the city's Governor."
Rorschach was torn between wanting to hear this explosive bit of gossip and not wanting to get involved. Unuk, however, chattered on enthusiastically. "No wonder his dear old dad invited me and the head of the local Magic Guild chapter to a banquet and kept trying to ply us with wine.
I don't drink, and I can't stand putting on a false front for those fools who can't tell their guts from their brains. So I slipped out. Lucky for me, I did."
"So the Governor and those merchants from the Nobility are the masterminds behind this? Are they all secret worshipers of Ceres?"
"Believers, schmelievers," Unuk said, not one to get hung up on faith in a True God. "They're just taking advantage of their position between two nations, using a god as a pretext to carve out their own slice from the Empire's pie. Besides, it's something the Holy Kingdom and Istani are happy to see. With so many merchants coming and going, they can collect the money and spend it themselves. Feels pretty good not having to give His Majesty the Emperor his cut, doesn't it?"
"To do this with the garrison right here in the city... they're truly blinded by greed."
"That's why the god's name is so important to them. They're even fantasizing that Valois will intervene. Too bad for them, the age of the gods ended long ago!"
"What about the rain back then, and the Magic Power vanishing from the air?"
Unuk's expression grew rare in its seriousness. "Rorschach Mage, that matter is confidential. I'm sorry, but I can't speak on it. I'm not entirely clear on the details myself."
His tone softened. "In any case, I must thank you, Rorschach Mage. Here, a small gift for you. It's something I made while practicing.
You can sell it if you have no use for it, though I'd be a little heartbroken if you did." Unuk added with a little joke.
"The place where your companions are being held is just up ahead. I'll see you around!" With that, he tossed Rorschach a roll of parchment and disappeared around a corner in the fortress.
"Thank you. What's this?" Rorschach unrolled the parchment. To his surprise, it was another Learning Scroll: [Frozen Ray].
He was a little surprised. The Town Mage had been quite friendly to him, and now he'd even given him a Learning Scroll. Without hastily activating it on the spot, Rorschach first placed it in his Storage Ring.
Continuing deeper into the fortress, he happened upon a haggard-looking Mr. Ah Le just outside a large room, being half-carried back by two soldiers.
"We can set out again tonight and leave this godforsaken city. But before that, please allow me to take a nap." Mr. Ah Le, in a rare moment, asked for a quick sleep and collapsed onto a pile of straw.
...
After the interlude in Andorrella, the caravan finally continued on its way.
After being "released from jail," Tassia bade farewell to the caravan. She would continue on to a port city in the Holy Kingdom, where she would board a ship to cross the strait and study in the island nation of the Istar Kingdom.
"Next, we'll be entering the Holy Kingdom. Valois has a strong religious atmosphere, so we'd best watch what we say and do. The trouble we ran into in the Empire was more than enough..." Mr. Ah Le couldn't help but sigh. "Fortunately, our people and our goods are safe. At least we'll be able to reach our destination."
Then, Mr. Ah Le hesitated. "Miss Hill, it would be best if you wore your hood to cover your... Elven features. As for Mr. Singrev, it would be best if you didn't speak at all. I don't mean any offense. It's just how things are in the Holy Kingdom. I hope you both can understand."
Hill nodded, but Singrev just slapped the flask at his waist. "Boss, you underestimate me! I ain't just been to the Holy Kingdom, I even made friends with a fat Cultivator there!" He untied his flask and raised it high. "The richer the wine, the stronger the friendship! By the witness of the Dwarf King and the humans' Heroic King!"
A furry, chestnut-colored head poked out from the nearest carriage. "Senior, who's the humans' Heroic King?"
"Didn't you study mythology and history at the Tower of Forest? Hah. It's a story about the God of Wisdom taking the fall for someone else. It was the second year before the Old Empire Calendar..."
The caravan traveled for several days. In theory, they should have passed the Empire's last checkpoint upon leaving Andorrella, but the next few villages and towns were still under Imperial jurisdiction.
One day, though the scenery hadn't changed much, a small Monastery appeared in the distance. The travelers watched as a pair of Full-Armor Knights in white robes approached them.
Mr. Ah Le signaled for the entire caravan to halt. "Holy Knights of the God of Order. Ladies and gentlemen, there's no doubt about it. We are in the Holy Kingdom now."