Conversation · Sunday Friend

The lieutenant makes a strange sound that he quickly smothers.

Was that... did the lieutenant just snort?

"It's Evrart Claire, the head of the Dockworkers' Union."

"Evrart Claire? Surely you're mistaken."

"What do you mean? Have you met Evrart?"

"I have. The only thing Evrart is a fugitive from is the exercise machine..."

"Besides, in certain less-advanced nations the Moralintern may defer to local custom..."

'Customs' like blatant, systematic corruption?

'Customs' like complete disregard for the Rule of Law?

"He's already planning to go to war with Wild Pines. It's definitely the kind of thing he'd do."

"No, no, no. Evrart would have no need to dirty his hands in such a way..."

"There are a bunch of speedfreaks lurking around the church. They confessed while high on drugs."

"A drug-addled spy-ring! That sounds rather strange, don't you think?"

"Drugs make people do crazy things sometimes, like steal corporate secrets."

"Not nearly as strange as the anodic dance music they're into."

What about that gremlin child from behind the Whirling-in-Ragssss?

"There's this ugly-ass kid who hangs out behind the Whirling-in-Rags. He's your guy."

"A what... a child?" He seems confused at first, then disappointed.

"What proof do you have that this child is involved in corporate espionage?"

"His dad's a major drug kingpin in Martinaise."

"Selling drugs is certainly unfortunate, but what does that have to do with corporate espionage?"

"I'm saying it establishes a pattern of criminality. Do I need to get a cork board and some yarn here?"

"There's no way I can submit this report to the ICP -- they'd have my head examined!"

"I suggest you work on your investigative skills a bit more before you go around accusing children of crimes."

"You're right, sir. I'll be sure to give the detective an overview of proper police procedure." The lieutenant darts a quick glance in your direction.

That was a wink. Your good cop/idiot cop routine seems to have done the trick.

"Now that that's settled, was there anything else you'd like to discuss?"

Well, that wasn't pretty, but you do seem to have taken the heat off Klaasje, for now.

"It's a slippery slope, man..." (Make a sliding gesture with your hand.) "Real slippery."

"Hmm, that does seem kinda tenuous now that you mention it."

"Extremely tenuous..."

"He's a ginger. What else do you need to know?"

"What do you mean by that, officer?"

"He's been stealing locusts from some cryptozoologists."

"Stealing from misguided pseudo-scientists is unfortunate, but what does that have to do with corporate espionage?"

"He's been throwing rocks at a corpse."

"Corpse desecration is morally repugnant, but what does that have to do with corporate espionage?"

"He used reactionary slurs on my crime scene."

"Tsk-tsk. Racial slurs certainly have no place in a pluralistic society, but what does that have to do with corporate espionage?"

"Oh, shit, Klaasje could really get in real trouble if I tell him about her, huh?"

"Very real trouble..."

Stop! Before you do anything, consider the consequences.

Consequences? I don't care about consequences!

Do you not care for anyone other than yourself? Have you thought about what this might mean for Klaasje?

Turn her in now and you'll never get the chance to feel her sweet young flesh against yours.

Don't concern yourself with the feelings of a LAWBREAKER.

Oh, right. She could get in big trouble if I turn her over to the ICP.

It's your call.

The man looks at you expectantly.

What happens to her is no business of mine.

What do you mean?

Have you thought about what this might mean for Klaasje?

"I think they may have broken into some places."

"Hmmm, that could be quite bad, depending on what sort of place you're talking about."

"What if I told you it was the international headquarters of a major corporation?"

"Probably like a Frittte or something."

"Ah, well. Burglary is a serious violation of the right to property, but it is a local matter. Thus, the Moralintern need not get involved."

"Now, was there something else you wanted to discuss?"

"I'm pretty sure I saw them littering."

"Oh! Hahaha. A good joke. Very funny. Littering is of course a local offence that need not concern the Moralintern."