Loyalty and Bonds

...I see. Can't rightly say I understand how it all works...

But such is Fate. I'll pick up everythin' I can get my hands on, and bring it back to Her Majesty.

Damn it! They got us again!

It just keeps happening...

What's wrong?

You won't believe it, friend. See, we're traders, out of Rinde. But lately, there's been this vicious pirate targeting every merchant ship that even gets near the coast.

What?!{lang-nuance}Aldo, reacting to the pirates talking about targeting the merchant vessel{/lang-nuance}

We had some guards hired, but they hit us just right when the guards were away on other business. They took everything we had. Our business is a total wash.

That's awful.

And the worst part is, it's like they know where we're going to be before we even get there.

Like how the guards weren't there, or they attack when we're loading up, or block our travel routes.

Someone's gotta be leaking information to them...

Do you have any clues about who these pirates might be?

Whoever they are, they're damn careful. They cover their faces with cloth, and they come and go in a blink once they have what they came for. The only clue anyone has is, the very first time they hit us, this lad says he saw one of their faces.

I sure did. It was just for a moment, but one of them lost their mask during the first attack. She was the most beautiful woman I've ever seen in my life. I'd know her in a minute if I saw her again.

Hmm...It's not much. I don't know if I can help.

Huh?! Wait, you wanted to help?!

Of course I do. I couldn't just sit back and let this happen.

What d'you know, there are good folks in this world after all...

Thanks. If we get any more news, you'll be the first to know.

And if you see any beautiful ladies acting suspicious around here, let us know, would you?

I will!

That said... Suspicious beautiful women, huh...

Hm?

Wheeeew... Maaan... She got me good...

Hey, are you okay? You look about ready to fall over.

Huh? Aah, hahaha! Yeah! Just been...been a while since I got beat that bad, ahaha!

Whoa! Seriously, are you okay? Whew, you reek.

Well, y'know...just, just hear me out? Y'see, in the tavern, there's this real...and I mean, REAL beauty.

A beauty?!

Hahaha! You really jumped on that one, huh, lad! You gotta taste for the ladies?

Oh, no, it's more that I'm looking for someone.

So, what happened with this beauty in the tavern?

Well, see, I sat down across from her and I was puttin' on the ol' charm, like you do... And when I said I was a sailor, she perked right up and offered to go in for a drinkin' contest.

What?!{lang-nuance}Aldo, reacting to the drinking contest{/lang-nuance}

Women just can't resist a rugged man of the sea, I guess! She said, if I won, she'd gimme a date sometime, haha. So I got a little bit into it... But she matched me drink for drink!

And just look at me now, haha! Wobblier'n a newborn deer on the poop deck and seein' double!

Urgh...

H-hey, take it easy!

Man, she was a real beauty... No matter how much we drank, she just kept her cool like it was water she was puttin' back...

I know when I'm beat! I sure do. But that's okay! Already got to talk with the pretty lady plenty!

Talk...

Just out of curiosity... Did you talk about your work as a sailor, or anything like that?

Huh, how'd you know? She was real interested.

Told her all my best stories, like... Like where we go, what kinda cargo we handle... Anythin' to make her smile!

...... Is she still in the tavern?

Hmm, didn't seem like she was in a rush to go home...

Thanks, that's a big help. Take it easy and rest up, okay?

Hahaha! You got it, skipper!

A beautiful woman buying drinks for sailors and getting them to talk about their cargo and routes... That's definitely suspicious. I should go check out that tavern.

If I recall right, this is the place where that woman is getting sailors to talk about their cargo... I hope she's still here...hm?

Uugh, never want to see another cup or mug again... but talkin' to that lady sure was nice.

Haha, she really wiped the floor with me! Right after I fell over onto it, hahaha!

What is with her... She emptied a whole cabinet, and didn't even seem wobbly...

...It's really a situation in there.

Wahahaha! I lost!

At least she's still here. Okay, here goes...

......

Huh?! Hozuki?! So the suspicious woman was you?!

Oh, Aldo. Care for a sip?

Um, excuse me.

Why, hello there. Care for a sip?

I was just thinkin' about puttin' down my glass for the day, but...

No, I'm not here to drink. There's something I want to ask you.

I heard you've been getting sailors to talk about their cargo and routes. What are you after?

Oh, hon, don't look at me like that. Nothin' wrong with livenin' up the bar with some stories, now is there?

Not if what I've heard from the sailors around town is true.

Did you know there's a pirate crew targeting merchant ships around here?

Pirates, hm...

They strike when cargo's being loaded, or block off trade routes. The sailors think someone must be leaking information to them.

Goodness...now that is a sorry tale.

And so? You think it could be me? You think I'm a friend of these pirates, askin' around for all the info I can get my hands on?

What will you have to say for yourself if I'm nothin' to do with it, hm?

...I don't want to consider it, either.

But when we first met, you said that you're investigating something, right? Won't you tell me what that is? Otherwise, I feel like things just aren't adding up properly.

...And so? You think it could be me?

Well, I mean...

Well, that just breaks my heart. Here I am just enjoyin' some drinks with the charmin' gentlemen here. I've been accused of a lot, but bein' a pirate's a new one on me...

What will you have to say for yourself if I'm nothin' to do with it, hm?

...If I'm wrong, please just tell me straight up. Otherwise, things just don't seem like they're adding up...

Hey! Heeey! Bad news!

Another ship was attacked! It's those pirate bastards again!

Well now, speak of the devil. Hard to imagine me bein' a pirate if I'm not even on their ship...

How'd you put it? Things don't quite add up?

I'm sorry. Maybe I jumped to conclusions, after all.

Hmm...well, how's about I prove myself? Let's wander over and have a peek at that ship, shall we? I have my own reasons to be curious, here.

......?

Damn it, of course it's on my day off! Where's the ship now?

Moored over at the Serena Coast. Hurry on over. Might be as they could use the extra hands.

So the ship's on the Serena Coast. We'd better hurry over there too.

Didn't expect they'd hit us, too...

Did they leave any clues?

Not a one. They just showed up, hit us, and scarpered. Damn it, they took all the herbs we had packed for Shin, too!

Oh, you're that lady from the bar... Sure, I'd be happy to answer.

That's it? Are you sure?

You mean, you're going to find the pirates for us?!

No, no, just the offer's fine! You really are something, miss...

Alright, enough wallowing! Gotta work out how to get back on our feet after this loss.

These pirates can't keep getting away with this. Too many people have gotten hurt by now. But did you really find a clue? What did you ask him?

By the way, Aldo...

By the way... I never did catch your name, hon.

Call me Hozuki. And what do I call your charmin' self?

Hozuki...?

That's it. Somethin' strange?

No, it's just, I know someone else with that name, too. And she looks just like you...

Uh, sorry. My name's Aldo.

By the way... I never did catch your name, hon.

Call me Hozuki. And what do I call your charmin' self?

Me? I'm Aldo.

Well, now... So, Aldo.

Wah?!

Does that clear my name, y'think?

Y-yeah... Seeing how focused you seem to be on solving this.

Aren't you sweet.

But that doesn't change that you put an accusation on my good name.

Yeah...you're right. I really am sorry about that.

All water under the bridge, hon. But if you really feel torn up about it, you could do me a little favor...

A favor? Okay. If I can help, I'd be happy to.

How kind of you. In that case...

How about you swear obedience to me?

Obedience?!

It's nothin' too complicated. You just promise to obey my every word for a lil' while, is all. I won't ask anythin' too much of you... I promise.

...Alright, fine. I can't promise anything that's beyond my power to give, though.

Good of you to agree, hon. Now, trot on back to Rinde and tell someone exactly this, hm? They found a big ol' hidden store- room in the next town over, and officials are comin' to look it over.

Is that true?

Aldo, hon... You went and swore your obedience. That means all you're goin' to say to me is "yes ma'am." Hm?

But...

Off you go now, hon. I'll be waitin' here.

This is all very strange... But I did promise I'd help.

Welcome back, hon. Looks like it all went smooth as silk, hm?

Huh? How did you know?

Just saw some interestin' folks makin' their way past here, is all...

Now, my next request. Be a dear and show me to the next town?

To Unigan? Sure, that's easy enough.

Let's both hope it stays easy...

Huh?

Don't you worry yourself. Which way are we goin'?

This way.

Goodness...all this howlin' about the heat. Dearest me.

You just hang in there, hon... Just a little longer now.

Here we are. Unigan. What did you want to check out here, anyway?

Hmm... The scent's real strong here...

Scent?

Ah! Look there, hon.

You mean, they didn't find it after all?!

Y-yeah. We didn't hear anythin' about gettin' rumbled at all. The storehouse is all safe.

You'd better be telling the truth. If there's a box out of place, your heads are gonna roll!

That's...the merchant who told me about his ship being attacked! What's he doing here?

Mhm. That's what I thought.

Huh?

You lot are useless. I'll go inspect it myself!

I'll fill you in later, hon. For now, let's get after him.

O-okay!

Hand me the key! I'll open the underground storehouse!

An underground storehouse, hm?

You...

There must be somethin' real special down there for you to be in such a hurry to check on it.

I-it's none of your business!

No need to be so cold, hon. 'Sides, I already know what's in there. Potables headin' East. Cloth goods to catch the eye of any foreign belle. Pots that'll fetch a pretty penny in Mi.

And...medicinal herbs, the kind they need in Shin.

......!!

Medicinal herbs? That was what the sailor said had been stolen from the ship that just got attacked. Are you saying this man has some connection to the pirates?!

......

Well, well. I was only aimin' to poke around a lil'...

But if you clam up on me like that, hon, I'm goin' to start thinkin' I was right on the money.

So some of the merchants were in cahoots with the pirates? Did you know from the start?

Yes. Somethin' just didn't sit right with me from the very start, and then it finally hit me. If it's a smash-and-grab, why target the goods - ONLY the goods? Why not the money?

That's a good point.

So then that got me thinkin'. What it means to ONLY go after the goods bein' shipped around...

What did you figure?

Well, this is me speakin' as a member of a merchant family...

But there's this thing called supply n' demand, you see. If somethin' suddenly gets much harder to get your hands on, folks will pay much more to anyone still sellin'.

Tch...

All the stuff the pirates stole were already of the hard-to-get variety, you see. So now you got yourself a situation where all this rare stuff is even more rare, drivin' up the price. Get where I'm goin', hon?

I think so. That's why you thought one of the merchants was stealing from the others, then?

Bingo. And there would need to be a place to stash the goods, to huck 'em once they cooled off.

But how did you know the storeroom was in Unigan?

That's what I asked that gentleman back at the coast about. If I was lookin' to store some cargo away from a port, someplace quiet, but not TOO far away...

And he said there might be some empty storerooms left open in this here castle town.

And then you had me tell people in Rinde that the storerooms were going to be inspected.

I figure a real inspection would come around sometime, but...

Really, seein' y'all jump so fast to show me right where to go was just so sweet.

...Huh? But wait a minute. What about the beautiful woman he said was on the pirate crew?

I'd guess he was tryin' to buy time.

It was smart havin' his own ship attacked to throw off suspicion, but he was still afraid... So he made up a lie about someone it'd be hard to find, hopin' it'd stall anyone lookin'. Like you, hon.

Hmph. So you figured it all out.

But what can you do about it? You're just a woman and a brat. We'll make sure you never get a chance to squeal to anyone.

Oh, hon... Wish I could say I'm shocked.

Run, Hozuki! I'll handle this!

No need.

Huh?! Your tail...

I had some fine drinks earlier, so my darlin' little Yoko is feelin' a little bit restless. She needs some playmates to tire her self back out again, y'see?

I don't really get it... But I'll take the help!

Well all right then.

Haha... You've been patient, Yoko.

You go on and do your thing.

Is that all?

D-damn it...

Hey! What's going on here?!

Seems like that's that. The rest is up to the officials to have a look at. Welcome home, Yoko.

What was that, anyway? It looked like you had...tails. Tails made out of fire.

And you said Yoko... Are you possessed by a specter just like this world's Hozuki?

Oh, you know Yoko?

We've run into each other before. It looks like you're pretty used to handling her power.

Aah, yes. Thanks to my dear old ancestor, I'm a lil' bit possessed by a fox specter, see.

Possessed?! Is that safe?!

Now, now. She can be just a bit rambunctious, but she gives me the power I need.

She's well-trained, and we have a proper contract, so she listens when I ask for her help.

Training, huh... So I guess she's loyal to you.

So it goes.

But what do you mean, contract?

She lends me power, and in return, I give her somethin' like a salary. She got a taste of the good stuff once and she's been thirsty ever since, so... To borrow her power, I need to buy the pretty lady a drink, see?

That said, I really tanked up beforehand tonight, so the books're a tad bit unbalanced...

Wait a minute...does that mean that you had Yoko do all the drinking for you back in the tavern?!

Don't be sore, hon. I didn't rustle anyone who wasn't lookin' for a good time anyhow. Besides, I got plenty of good info.

Info...and not on the pirates, right? What are you really looking into?

Well, you've been such a sweetheart to help me out with all this, so I'll tell you. Just not here, hm? Let's head on back to the port.

Yeah. We should tell the merchants everything is settled now, too.

So what is it you're looking into, Hozuki?

Oh, this'n that. Major trade routes to the East, the state of sea defenses...and how the armies're lookin' these days.

So you weren't only talking to merchants, then?

Of course not. I tipped cups with guards, officials, an' even a postman or two if they were feelin' chatty.

But why ask about all that?

Well...

When you're behind enemy lines, it only makes sense to bring back as much intel as you can, hm?

Enemy lines?!

Relax, hon, I'm just kiddin'. For now, at least.

Y'see, I work for a very, very important lady back where I call home. Don't rightly know how I got here, but I'm not about to go home without information she can use.

I guess so, but...are you really enemies of these people? You're not going to invade, right?

Likely not, long as there's no benefit in it for us. It's hard enough keepin' relations among the Three...

The Three?

That said, even if we're not fixin' for a fight, it's always good to know whether our neighbors might be.

What I'm after is a world where she can rule without havin' anyone draw a blade against her. I'll do whatever I can, wherever I find myself, to make that a reality.

She must be really precious to you.

Yes. I've sworn absolute obedience to her since I was just a lil' girl.

Obedience again?!

...It's the only thing tyin' the two of us together. And someday, even that...

Hey, you two! I heard you caught the one behind the pirate attacks!

Wow, word travels fast.

Hmph, going after the supply chain like that. He always was a real rat bastard.

Still, never thought you'd even get us our goods back. You really saved all our hides, missy.

I'm just so pleased to hear it.

Really, you saved our bacon...

I was this close to chewin' on my boot leather to keep the hunger pangs down. That, or turned my hand to this real dirty-feelin' work that came my way a while back.

Dirty work?

Yeah. Didn't seem too dirty itself, just makin' a replica of some goods to ship back East... But it was this real detailed, pretty box, real fancy, that was goin' to be for the Empress of some Shin place.

......!

And this thing was supposed to be big, big enough for a person to sit in. I turned it down, but I really coulda used the git after those attacks. Still, glad I didn't take it on. Somethin' felt real weird about that one, no lie.

...Strange. All the event boxes were supposed to be made local...

Something wrong, Hozuki?

Somethin' I need to bend your ear about for a bit, hon.

What's going on?

That dirty work the sailor talked about...may be it has somethin' to do with the one I serve.

Huh? But he was talking about the Empress of Shin... Does that mean Garneli?

Huh? But he was talking about the Empress of Shin...

That's right. The one I serve is the Empress of Shin, her own self.

Huh?!

I'm guessin' that box he mentioned is one of the boxes used for her birthday celebrations... But those boxes're only ever made local in Shin. ...If someone's lookin' to have one made all the way out here, then somethin's up with that.

He said the order was for it to be big enough to hold a person. Do you think maybe someone wants to use the box to get close to the Empress?

Whatever it is, it's nothin' good. I need to know more, and fast...

Whaa!

I was gonna turn you loose after helpin' me out with that pirate, but I'm gonna need you a while yet. If you could help me out when I need it, I'd be ever so grateful, hon.

O-okay! I'll help, so please relax.

I'd help you even without all this obedience business, you know. I don't like leaving people in trouble.

Aren't you just the sweetest thing? In that case, I might have just a few lil' favors to ask of you. To make sure nothin' threatens a hair on Her Majesty's head...