The Price of Every Price

Hey, everyone! We're not late, are we?

No, you're just in time. Well rested, I trust?

Staying busy keeps you sharp.

A great way to stay energetic, certainly.

Have you all started preparing?

We received word from Mr. Argenteau yesterday, confirming the time and location of the transaction.

It'll take place this afternoon. And it turns out it'll be somewhere we all know pretty well, too — the Film Fantasyland restaurant.

Oh really? Huh, he sure does like that place...

But...

Seems like you share our concerns, Traveler.

Indeed. Capturing someone in a crowded event venue will be much more challenging than in an open area.

The criminal might try to blend in with the crowd, or even escape by taking hostages.

In light of this, we've had to make additional preparations. As soon as we received the news yesterday, we began coordinating with the Marechaussee Phantom and the Special Security and Surveillance Patrol.

Mm-hmm. We'll be deploying lots of undercover agents on-site. If things go south, the safety of the civilians will be our top priority.

Of course, fingers crossed, everything will go without a hitch.

I noticed a bunch of familiar faces from the previous case, like Captain Chevreuse of the Special Patrol. So I'm feeling optimistic.

We'll trust your instincts, then.

Oh yeah, and by the way, we've also been in communication with Miss Lepine-Pauline and Miss Navia.

The Spina di Rosula will provide support within a controlled scope, so there's no need to worry.

The only potential issue... is with Miss Escoffier.

Haha, it would be easy if it were that simple.

Ahem...

Alright, no more jokes. Miss Escoffier has made it clear that she doesn't want her restaurant to suffer any losses as a result of this operation.

But, uh... Haha, well, I have a feeling things might not go quite as smoothly as she hopes.

Is there anything I can do?

To be honest, we shouldn't have dragged you into this in the first place, and it's caused you quite enough trouble already. The Fontainian authorities should be able to handle the rest from here.

But still, I'm guessing you'd like to see how it all turns out.

Definitely.

Well then, feel free to head down to the scene, but just stay alert and play it by ear. You won't necessarily have to do anything — unless things go pear-shaped, of course.

I'll do my best to ensure that things don't escalate to that point.

You're getting involved too, Kinich?

Of course.

There are still a lot of unanswered questions, but our intel so far indicates that the culprit's from Natlan.

Plus, I'm already a witness in this case. Might as well see this thing through to the end.

Hehe, that's the Kinich we know and love!

This beach seems to be getting livelier by the day!

(Thanks in part, surely, to the undercover agents.)

Traveler, um...

Ahem! Paimon's getting kinda hungry... Let's go check out the restaurant menu, shall we?

(The guy with the case... that's got to be him.)

(Alright, it's business time.)

Unbelievable! You can't just drag someone around like that! Such blatant disregard for human life... I'm gonna sue the living daylights outta you!

Will you now?

I think I did you a favor by pulling you away from your "audience." Saved you some face, at the very least.

As for whether you were facing up or down along the way... Well, that was your decision, wasn't it?

Why you...!

...

Alright, alright, I admit it, I was in the wrong.

*sigh* Of course I know the difference between right and wrong. But I had no choice... I desperately needed the money.

I was an expert on ancient relics... Not only did I have a successful career, but a happy family too.

But my son... I never imagined he'd turn out this way. Fell in with the wrong crowd and ended up shoulder-deep in gambling... We had some savings, but he drained them away like a waterfall!

Once he fell into debt, he had creditors regularly coming over to threaten and intimidate him... I'm his father. How could I just stand by and watch him suffer like that?

*sigh* My son is about the same age as you are! If only he could have turned out more like you... That's the only reason I needed the money, please believe me!

...

You...

Please, kid, I'm begging you, help me!

I see you're from Natlan too... That makes us brothers! Please, have mercy!

I still have a chance to help my son straighten himself out — but only if I get back. If I go to prison now, he'll be doomed, I tell you, doomed!

And isn't standing together and fighting for a better future what families do?

Our fate is in your hands, young man. Please, have a heart!

...

Haha, something wrong, Kinich? Gone soft, have we?

Hmph.

I don't believe a word you say.

Wriothesley had you just about figured out — you're a gambler, pure and simple.

A gambler? Me? Nonsense! I told you, it's... it's my son—

First of all, are you really from Natlan?

You've been keeping tabs on the gun's whereabouts this whole time — you should have recognized at least one familiar face by now.

On top of that, the way you threatened to sue me? Spoken like a true Fontainian, if you ask me.

Huh? What kind of logic is that...

I—I can explain! I... I actually grew up in, in—

Tsk. I don't wanna hear another word.

Ajaw, here's your chance. Shut someone else up for once.

Hahahahaha, the moment I've been waiting for!

Eat this, scumbag!

Being a compulsive liar is one of the hallmarks of a diehard gambler.

I bet you're just a Fontainian pretending to be from Natlan. Even if you have any friends or family to speak of, I'm guessing they've long since cut all ties with you — and you have your depraved ways to thank for that.

Of course, I might be wrong.

But does that matter?

I'm just here to arrest you. If you're looking for an advocate or a shoulder to cry on, you're out of luck.

Besides, prying the truth out of you is exactly what your beloved courts are for. Isn't that right?

That's right.

It's been a while, Mr. Kinich. The Special Patrol will take this criminal off your hands now.

Many thanks.

Please. I should be the one thanking you for all the help you've given us.

And me? Hmm, hmm? What about me? Hmph, so rude! You should be bowing down in gratitude to the Almighty Dragonlord!

As you wish. My thanks to you, and also to Mr. Cacucu, for your show-stopping performances.

Hey, what do you mean!? Hold it right there!

Are you okay, Kinich?

Don't worry, I'm fine. I wasn't the one who just got dragged all the way here.

You seemed a little upset just now.

Pfft... Little Kinich, thinking back to when you were just an itty bitty boy Kinich, aren't ya?

Aw, don't start crying like a little baby! I am the Almighty Dragonlord! No servant of mine will be seen acting so weak and pathetic in public!

What are you on about...

Bad Ajaw, bad.

Still, I suppose there's no point hiding it from you. To put it plainly, I can't stand gamblers.

They're the most irresponsible people in the entire world... No respect for the principle that you have to give in order to get.

They'll tell a thousand lies for a single coin, deluding themselves into thinking they can use it to gamble their way to a vast fortune.

But we all know that even when it looks like you're getting something for free, there's always an unseen cost.

In the past, I also ended up paying a price for my father's gambling losses. I don't want anyone else to end up in a similar situation if I can help it.

Kinich...

Don't feel sorry for me. I certainly don't feel sorry for myself.

They say that people are shaped by their past. And since I've made it this far... I must have done a lot of things right.

We should never punish ourselves for the mistakes of others.

Instead, I choose to remember the moments that helped me grow.

Like when I first learned to use a grappling hook...

Or the very first time I yearned for knowledge.

I get it.

Yeah, I believe you.

Let's get going. If we don't head back soon, we'll cause more unnecessary worry.

Yay, Traveler, Kinich, you're back!

We just saw Chevreuse taking the criminal away. She looked pretty pleased with herself!

Hehe, so after so much running in circles, turns out he had no fight in him, huh? Guess running away was the only trick up his sleeve!

Oh, also, Wriothesley said to let you know that he's already left. He went to report back to the Palais Mermonia.

Apparently, the Marechaussee Phantom's preparing to carry out an in-depth investigation into illegal gambling activities. Sounds like they'll have their hands full...

Anyway, that's for the Palais to worry about. Not really our concern.

Judging by how fast the Duke took off, I'd say he was avoiding my Kamera!

*sigh* But I guess I'm used to that by now...

Hey, it's not like you to give up so easily, Charlotte!

Hehe, it's fine — I got plenty of other great shots back there. More than enough for a front-page spread!

And on that note, this busy reporter needs to scoot. Those photos won't develop themselves!

Make sure you pick the best shots of Paimon!

Oh, already gone... Hope she heard that...

You can trust her judgment, Paimon. She's a professional photographer.

Yeah, you're right!

But what took you all so long to get here? Did something happen?

Ajaw bonked his head and started crying.

What!?

Rumors and slander!

When have I, the Almighty Dragonlord, K'uhul Ajaw, ever sunk to such sniveling?

Often, actually.

Anyway... What's next?

Hmm... To be honest, I haven't decided yet.

At the moment, I've got nothing urgent to get back for. And in any case, the court might need me to testify again.

Plus, that gun's still a key piece of evidence. I'll probably have to wait until the case is closed before I can return it to Natlan.

So I guess I'll be sticking around to enjoy the beach a little longer.