Conversation · Evrart Claire

"I'm not feeling a whole lot of Revachol here. Not enough flags or kings."

"Harry, the future I have in store for Martinaise will have all the macho aesthetics you love so much. The crowns, the guns... I will even slip in a skull and bones for you, my friend."

Oh yeah, skull and bones! Skull and bones on the Revacholian flag. The Revacholian Death Squad. Oh yeah! The visual image has completely bedazzled you. You're 100% with Evrart now.

"Well, I mean, if it has the word incorporate in it, then I like it. I'm a money-guy."

"Yes, if you start thinking about it like that, the socialist municipal body sort of is like a corporation, isn't it? It uses corporate law -- we're incorporated. I like to think we're using the best parts of all the ideologies here, Harry."

"That's very ambitious. I love what you're doing for the working man."

"Thank you, Harry, thank you." He bows courteously in his chair. "You have no idea how much it means to me, because in many ways you are that working man. You have already done so much work."

"So is there a trade or isn't there?"

"Go on."

"It would still be illegal."

"Is Ruby helping you secure this fantastic share?"

"Harry, if I was supplying raw materials to drug manufacturers, I would need an army of Rubies."

The lieutenant nods slowly. "Understood."

"I have to admit: that's a well put-together plan. And far-removed from you."

He smiles slyly. "It's also far-removed from my men and the people of Martinaise, who've put their trust in me."

"Drugs are a no go for me. I'll report this."

"Yes, yes, of course, and while you're doing that, please go ahead and also tell the Wild Pines." He snickers. "I wanna hear them squeal from the indignity."

Nothing in his features betrays any concern.

"Interesting stuff. I just want to solve this murder, okay?"

"You know why you're such a good detective, Harry? You don't get sidetracked. You care about the people you're supposed to protect, not some systems that may or may not be unethical."

Okay, so that's basically his system here.

"And the kids on the street don't have to give up on speed and pyrholidon?"

"I'm an old-fashioned guy, Harry. I sometimes grab a beer with the boys, but I have no idea about the things you just mentioned."

"Diggin' it, Evrart. I have to say -- I'm diggin' this part!"

"So am I. The company thinks transporting these chemicals in bulk 'looks bad,'" he makes air quotes, "'has bad optics,' 'may be illegal in some countries.' The Débardeurs' Union, however... we're all about the large volume column."

"That's just the top of the iceberg, though, isn't it?"

"The signatures I got -- I know you plan to force them out with the construction noise."

"Harry..." He shakes his head. "By now you should know I would never do anything tricky like that. However, if the construction noise and limited street access makes some people consider moving..."

"Well, let's just say there'll be freshly renovated buildings near the roundabout where those poor people can finally enjoy a significant uptick in quality of life. I'm talking real affordable workers palaces."

"How are you going to fund your new independent harbour?"

"Oh, you mean what sort of goods are gonna be flowing through? How am I gonna replace all the contacts we'll lose once the poo-poo hits the fan? The clients who'll ditch us? Harry, we've thought of everything."

Clients would take a well-known multinational conglomerate over a local mobster any day.

"Everything?"

"We've been running back channel negotiations with all the major clients. I think the company will be unpleasantly surprised to see how many of them stay loyal to Martinaise. And to the new, competitive contracts we can offer."

"With renewed zeal sparked by communal ownership, the men will be shipping those containers double time. You'll be surprised to see how fast things go without parasites latching on. We'll have our hands free to pursue bold, exotic new revenue streams."

That's drugs!

"Drug trafficking."

"Drug trafficking? Don't be stupid, Mr. Kitsuragi. There are perfectly legal, 100% ethical chemical factories on the Samaran isola. You don't need to be colonialist about it."

"By bold new revenues you mean the drug trade?"

"What kinds of bold, new exotic revenue streams are we talking about?"

"Haven't you seen the crates outside, Harry? There's all sorts of fun stuff inside them!" He pushes up his glasses as he laughs. "I mean, heck -- this one has you, me, and my novelty swordfish clock!"

Did he just deflate slightly? Was there something he wanted you to ask about? Maybe you should come back if you learn something relevant and ask again.

You should definitely come back here and ask again if you learn more about the Union's dealings. There's something he's not telling you.

"You can't possibly hope to continue like you have. Clients will leave en masse."

"Sure, some will go, but mark my words: the company will be unpleasantly surprised to see how many of them stay loyal to Martinaise. And to the new, competitive contracts we can offer."

"Can I get my gun now?"

"Harry, I've got to be honest with you." He turns solemn. "Your gun was found two days ago. Withholding this information weighed heavily on me. But it had to be done."

"Fine, where is it?"

"An old woman has it and, let me tell you, Harry, word on the street is she's a character. So watch out."

This must be the woman who bought the gun from Roy, the one he described as "terrifying."

"So the gun's still with the woman who bought it from Roy..."

"Yes, the same one -- I see you've done your research. The pawnshop made the gun easy to track..." He smiles and shakes his head in wonderment. "Crazy stuff, Harry. Selling your gun like that! Wild. Anyway..."

Union boys are gonna help you fix it, he winks at you. Don't worry Harry.

"...the neighbours of this old woman contacted my men, because they trust me and the Débardeurs Union. Apparently she was waving it around at the entrance to her building."

Waving the gun around doesn't sound good. None of this does.

"Who is this old woman?"

"Unfortunately, I don't know any more. You're gonna have to go in blind, Harry. But she's an old lady -- how dangerous can she possibly be? Oh, and she calls herself the Pigs."

There it is again -- the pigs, like Roy said. Not good at all.

"I, for one, find it refreshing. Finally someone calls themselves a pig." A smile flickers in the corner of his mouth.

It actually sounds extremely bad, but let's not give him the satisfaction.