Conversation · Easy Leo

"Uh... sure, mister, what can Leo do for you?" The expression on his wrinkled face says I really want to help you.

"Tell me about Evrart."

"Uh... I'd best not... I mean I could, but I don't think Mr. Evrart would like it very much, you better ask him yourself, mister." If anything the ever present smile on Leo's face gets even warmer.

"Tell me about this Edgar guy you keep mentioning?"

"Mr. Edgar is Mr. Evrart's brother. He's looks a bit younger, he does, but a very smart fellow, very smart fellow indeed. He's away on some Union business... Not even in Revachol, they say..."

Don't interrupt Leo.

"All kinds of places he visits. Him and his brother both do when they're on a vacation. Right now it's Mr. Evrart's turn to look after the Union, but last year he spent a whole winter in South Safre." He chuckles.

"Left with the first autumn rains and didn't come back before the trees where green again." The little guy chuckles again.

South Safre? A lot of bulk chemical manufacturing going on there. A lot of cargo shipments being made too.

The trade must've been lucrative for the trip to be so long.

"Let me stop you there, Leo, I had another question."

"Uh... sure, mister," he seems a bit surprised by your abruptness. "What is it?"

"Are you the Leo, who wrote the note to make more banners?"

"Oh yes, yes," he replies excitedly. "I leave all kinds of notes for myself. That old head of mine ain't so good at keeping things in no more. I almost forgot about the borscht."

"What was that about the borscht?"

"Oh yes, I've been taking special Whirling borscht to the men every day since the strike started." The little guy chuckles merrily.

"It's very-very good. Makes a man feel so warm and happy." He shakes his head with a wide smile. "I feel like I could take on Mr. Renaudin's boar-dogs every time the lunch is done."

Power-borscht, huh? Never heard of a borscht that turns little guys into dogfighters. Alcohol, however...

"What do you mean by 'taking this soup to the men'? Is it for striking?"

"Yes, yes, I'm taking it to them. The borscht keeps them happy and in fighting spirits. Makes you all warm inside. They brew it in the Whirling-in-Rags."

"Looks like the borscht is spiked, I'm gonna look into it." (Accept task)

"Oh sure, mister... sure." The little guy nods. "You do that, yes sir."

He didn't actually understand what you meant and now he's just nodding along.

"Hold up, who makes it at the Whirling?"

"Oh, the Whirling's cook. He makes it. Them is always talking with Mr. Mañana in that weird language and laughing together. He doesn't speak what we speak, he's from Graad."

"Something is off about this borscht... I'm going to look into it." (Accept task.)

"That's it. I just wanted to know who wrote the note." (Refuse task.)

"Oh, I did, mister!" He chuckles again. "Yes I did, yes I did."

"Thanks, Leo. Another question though?"

"Oh, absolutely, mister." He nods along. "What do you want to know?"

"Cool. Another question then."

"Of course, mister. I'm more than happy to be helpful."

"What are you doing with the containers?"

"Oh I'm just making some covers for them containers here, yes I am, yes I am... So it's easier for the crane operators to spot them." He waves at the containers towering behind him.

"Sure. Let me ask you about something else?"

"Sure, mister, about what?"

"What's going on here?" (Look at the mountains of containers rising behind him.)

The containers in the yard are green in Wild Pines livery and the mountain rising behind Leo is all red in Union colours.

It's like some red infection was spreading outwards from the container yard's core.

There appear to be cisterns underneath the Union container covers.

"This looks like a massive redecorating operation, Kim."

"Yes. They're hiding it from the inside. All the red containers have the Débardeurs' Union logo on them."

This looks like a massive redecorating operation.

Yes, moving from inwards to outwards. By the looks of it soon everything will be in Union colours.

"What is underneath these red covers?"

"Oh I don't know, mister. They say it's some chee-mikals. Most of them have labels on them I think."

"Thanks, Leo. You've been very helpful!" (Conclude.)

"Oh no trouble at all, mister, noooo trouble at all," the little guy affirms merrily.

"Leo, has anyone told you why you need to change the covers?"

"No, not really." He shrugs and continues merrily: "Mr. Evrart doesn't tell me all the big things. Says I go and tell them to everyone."

Everything is so pretty and red -- you and Leo look like brothers as you glance around with similar childlike wonder.

Keep it together, no need to show your wonder.

Keep the amazement to yourself.

The old man whistles and hums a jaunty tune to himself.

"Wow, red is so much prettier than drab old green."

"Sure is mister, sure is!" Leo looks around merrily. "Really livens up the place. Yes it does, yes it does."

"I hate to break this bonding moment, but the red containers mean they're replacing the company livery with the Union livery. Which means this strike isn't gonna stop any time soon."

"Do you work here?"

"Yes-yes, everybody needs a job and this is mine. I'm Leonard, by the way, Leonard Bellec, but everyone calls me Leo." The little man raises his hand in a welcoming gesture.

"I'm like Mr. Evrart's right-hand man, when Mr. Edgar is out of town -- and Mr. Edgar's right hand man when Mr. Evrart is away!" He chuckles.