"Even a nation as large as it has trouble with marshalling against multiple fronts at the same time."

I paused to consider the Quarass' words. I didn't detect any guilt or fear, so she was probably telling the truth. However, despite her apparent age, the small girl was incredibly composed. I wasn't picking up many emotions from her at all.

**Gazi is confused.
**Gazi is concerned.

Unlike her, the Half-Gazer was an open book. She had a great poker face, but she was also very emotional underneath the surface. It was making this meeting? negotiation? conversation? go much smoother for me.

"I believe you, but wouldn't it be in the King of Destruction's best interests to keep me at arm's length? So that we wouldn't be seen as a common foe? Even if we aren't allies, meeting with him poses the threat of association - as Tiqr has found out the hard way."

"Please, Archmage, do me the honor of not playing the fool." The Quarass kept a pleasant tone, even as she scolded me. "I told you nothing that you hadn't figured out already."

She was right. I had been fishing with that statement.

"You're right, of course, but I'd rather resolve Tiqr's issue with Nerrhavia's Fallen before fanning the flames." Plus, I was still injured. "I also have some personal business to take care of."

**Gazi is guilty.
**Gazi is slightly afraid.

Again? Gazi clearly knew some things that she thought were relevant, but she remained standing in silence.

"We only came to extend the offer. Safe passage for you during your visit. You will be an honored guest."

"I will consider it, but I probably won't send word heralding my arrival." I was going to visit, if for no other reason than Amerys. Wistram had subdued and locked up the Archmage of Lightning, but I had frozen her in time to make her incarceration less torturous.

I couldn't just leave her in there forever. Well, technically, I could, but I shouldn't.

What would Dragon do? Well... she'd agree that locking someone up was better than letting them murder people, but placing someone in stasis was just... delaying the issue. The same was true of imprisoning someone without rehabilitating them. It pushed the problem down the road and ultimately made it worse.

So her solution would be to build a facility secure enough to keep the prisoner away from the people they might harm, and work on making them less dangerous.

The situation with Amerys wasn't nearly as clear-cut. She wasn't insane or homicidal. She was loyal to a warmonger - if that was the right word to describe Flos of Relm. So far, he seemed the reasonable [King] of restraint compared to the jackasses that had invaded Tiqr.

I hated publicity. It was a pain to craft a public image and carefully maintain it. I'd rather not bother, but I also understood how important it was. It seemed to me that there was a lot of similarities between nations and superheroes in that regard.

I didn't think Flos was a Jack. In this comparison, that went to Roshal. Actually, Heartbreaker or the CUI was probably a more apt comparison. Someone that was clearly evil, but tolerated somewhat out of fear, apathy, or self-interest.

No. Flos had been more like a vigilante. He was beneath the notice of the established powers until he himself got too powerful.

Victory is written by the winners, and Flos had lost.

The other way of thinking about it was that war was evil because it killed people. I was aware of my own hypocrisy considering how many I'd killed in this last week alone. Even Dragon would resort to violence if there was no other way...

"Since our message has been delivered, I think we should take our leave." The Quarass broke the silence of my musings and made to stand up.

"Wait." Trey spoke up. "I want to speak with Pixel."

**Trey is determined.

"Actually, I would like to talk with you too." Not only did I need to make sure he was safe - or as safe as someone could be in this world, but I'd like to get his opinion on Flos. There would be no better choice to help me understand the person and decide on my future actions.

**Gazi is protective.

While I would prefer to talk to Trey in private, it wasn't necessary. Unlike the Quarass, I was confident I could see through any deception on his part - especially if it was made out of fear. The only real question was: how much should I reveal?

"How did you know about me and my sister?"

**Trey is worried.
**Trey is protective.

"I was investigating the disappearances." Naturally, I was going to tell the truth. Perhaps not the whole truth, but lying was too easily discovered with magic.

"Investigating? So you're with the government?"

"No." I smiled to myself. "Not with any official organization you are aware of, Trey. The group I work with is secretive."

**Trey is confused.

"Huh? That doesn't make sense."

I leaned forward. "It's normally a lot easier to prove this type of thing, but everyone on this world has superpowers, so I guess you'll have to take my word. I was tasked with tracking down the missing people. I still don't know what the root cause is, or if my vanishing was a coincidence or on purpose." I turned to face the Quarass. "But, I'm going to do all I can to return the taken people back to Earth."

**The Quarass is pleased.
**Gazi is confused.
**Trey is confused.

"Wait... I'm confused." Trey said. "So your... group is what exactly?"

"Secretive." I smirked as I leaned back and spread my arms. "But, as you can see, I was chosen for a reason."

**The Quarass is amused.

"Oh, Flos is going to love you!" We all looked at the Quarass. "Don't you see, Trey?" She gestured at me. "There's a hidden group of people on your world protecting it. People with levels!"

**Gazi is surprised.
**Trey is surprised.

"What?"

I nodded. "The Quarass is essentially correct. I had super-human abilities before I arrived on this world."

"That explains it." Gazi mumbled.

**Gazi is contemplative.

"Explains what?" Trey asked.

The Quarass spoke up. "If we assume that the other people from Earth arrived at similar times, which I feel it is safe to do," I knew they had been part of Wistram's phone call, and thus knew about some of the other Earthers. "It's... unlikely that any one of them could grow powerful enough to fight an army, much less a Djinni, in such a short amount of time."

"Oh."

I shrugged my shoulders. "Unlikely, but possible, so I can't provide proof to you, Trey, aside from what you've already seen. But that's why I knew about you and your sister, because I learned the details on Earth."

I could tell him about the 'Nostalgia Block' and 'Blocked Senses' debuffs, but I wasn't ready to reveal the extent of my abilities just yet. Nor did I want to let him know his mind was being tampered with. People reacted poorly to such information almost universally. I hadn't even told the Earthers back at Wistram yet.

**Trey is surprised.
**Trey is excited.

"I have, like, a million questions!"

I leaned back. "I'm sure you do, but before that, I have a question of my own. If you could return to Earth this very second, would you?" I held up a hand. "This is purely hypothetical. I'm looking for a way to send people back home, but some have adapted better than others. I'm just curious about what your stance is."

**Trey is contemplative.
**Gazi is nervous.

He frowned slightly and then glanced at Gazi.

**Trey is affectionate.

"I... I'm not sure." He admitted. "I couldn't go alone, not without my sister, and she's... happy to be here. I've also had some... bad experiences."

**Trey is angry.

He glared at the Quarass.

"But, I'm not sure I'd..." He sighed as he trailed off. "I'm sorry. I just don't know."

"That's a perfectly fine response, Trey." I smiled under my mask. "Several people have expressed similar sentiments." I should probably set up a Gamer's Mind room back in Wistram so they can think about it without the Nostalgia Block. It was pretty clear that it was suppressing some memories of Earth - likely as an attempt to offset homesickness. I couldn't even cry 'foul' - as that was essentially what Gamer's Mind did in a different way.

Perhaps I shouldn't replace one band-aid with another one?

"Sorry." Trey said again.

"Trust me. You're doing well for yourself." I glanced at Gazi and the Quarass. "You have a group of people that are your allies and companions. It does concern me that you're at the side of the King of Destruction, but I haven't made up my mind about Flos Reimarch yet."

**Trey is guilty.
**Trey is afraid.
**Trey is nervous.

Well... that was concerning. There was clearly a lie of omission going on here.

"Trey, what's your opinion of Flos?"

**Trey is guilty.
**Trey is afraid.
**Trey is nervous.

"I'm... not sure what to say."

**Gazi is amused.

"Trey, speak the truth. Our King wouldn't want you to do anything less."

**Trey is annoyed.
**Trey is angry.
**Trey is hesitant.

"I don't like him." He finally said.

The Quarass shook her head. "You are not usually one to hide your disdain, Trey. That is one of the reasons Flos likes you, even if there's been some friction."

**Trey is hateful.

He shot her another dirty look. "Fine. You want me to say it?" He turned and looked straight at me. "The King of Destruction sells slaves!"

*Anger negated by Gamer's Mind.

I frowned. "Slaves?" Both Gazi and the Quarass seemed un-phased by Trey's statement. In fact, it looked like they expected it.

"So you share Trey's opinion on the matter." The Quarass said calmly.

I unclenched my fists. "Slavery is an abomination."

**Gazi is conflicted.
**The Quarass is calm.

"Be that as it may, it was the only choice." The small girl took another sip of tea. "The King of Destruction does not keep slaves himself, nor does he illegally obtain them from the countries he invades." She turned to stare at Trey. "Selling the people that attacked him was the only real choice. What else would you have him do?"

"Not sell people!" Trey stood up.

"Oh? So he should let the foes that attacked him leave?"

"No, I..."

"He should imprison them instead? Have more mouths to feed? An opposing force he has to guard?"

"Stop it! You're making it sound different than it actually is." Trey crossed his arms. "He could have let them go home. It was the ones in charge that decided things. All the people that surrendered were just following orders."

"And they paid the price for that. Or do they not share the weight of their actions?" Her eyes narrowed. "You recall that my own people were among those who attacked Relm and were sold after being defeated? Two-thirds of my court were slain as well. I was beheaded!" The Quarass stood. "Yet, I accept this, as my people do. They went to war because they loved me, and now suffer for that!"

**The Quarass is angry.
**The Quarass is sad.

"But I do not blame Flos for MY mistakes! I am glad that my people are alive at least. THAT is war, Trey! THAT is how the world works. To deny it is to invite tragedy!"

"This seems like a complex situation." I was sure Trey wasn't acting, just as much as I was sure that the Quarass was grandstanding. That didn't make her words a lie though. I wasn't naive enough to suggest that wars didn't have repercussions.

"That's why you should meet him in person." The Quarass interjected. "He has been called many things, but his people have always loved him - both those who live free AND those with a [Slave] class! It is a punishment, like any other, but it is neither cruel under his reign nor does it last forever. I have heard Trey speak of the prisons on your world, and I would choose to be a [Slave] in Relm over a prisoner on Earth in a heartbeat!"

**The Quarass is passionate.
**The Quarass is angry.
**Trey is angry.

Trey and the Quarass both sat down, and the room was quiet for a while. The Quarass poured herself another cup of tea, while Trey leaned back, crossed his arms, and stared.

Well... this is awkward. I was half-tempted to Craft some Gamer's Mind pylons just to get the conversation back on track.

**Trey is angry.
**Trey is annoyed.
**Trey is slightly angry.
**Trey is slightly annoyed.
**Trey is calm.

Or I guessed I could wait for them to cool off on their own.

"I have a question." Trey looked at me. I guessed he was trying to change the subject. "If there are people with powers on Earth why didn't you-"

"Trey." I held up a hand. "Before you start asking things like that, there's one more piece of information you need." I might as well tell him. It was hardly any more ground-shaking that there was a 2nd Earth in the grand scheme of things. It was certainly better than trying to explain lack of action on a history that I was only barely familiar with. "While I'm from an Earth, it's not the same Earth that you lived in."

**Trey is surprised.
**Gazi is surprised.
**The Quarass is surprised.

"ANOTHER Earth?"

"A parallel dimension?"

I nodded at Trey. "Yes. Exactly that. As you can imagine, it has been a roller-coaster for me."

"Yeah... I bet."

That brought a smile to my lips as I resisted the urge to make a joke about betting on Earth Bet that only I would get. "This, of course, is even more of an unbelievable story. I understand if-"

"No." Trey nodded. "It makes sense. It's not like another Earth is more strange than this world. Plus, like they said, it explains a lot. Do you work with a group? Do you think they're trying to find you? How-"

"Trey." I interrupted him. "I appreciate your enthusiasm, but given the situation, I'm sure you'll appreciate my desire for some secrecy. After all, I did just learn that your allies are [Slavers]."

**Gazi is upset.

"No. Not [Slavers]." The taciturn Half-Gazer spoke up again. "[Slavers] are those that actively enslave, train, and sell [Slaves]."

"Indeed." The Quarass added. "This is an important distinction that is often ignored by other continents." She looked between me and Trey. "No matter what world you are from. You should visit Relm before you judge it."

"I will. Eventually."

"In that case-"

"Hang on." I stood up. "Before you leave, I wish to give Trey something. If you would excuse me for a moment."

Gazi watched Pixel vanish and reappear in a room halfway across his underground base. A swirling vortex of cubes appeared in-between his hands - one that looked almost identical to what the food-creating artifact inside the wall had made.

"Should... we be afraid?" Trey asked.

"No more than any other time throughout the meal, Trey." The Quarass gently chided him. "I have met with [Archmages] in the past, and while I now have my doubts to whether Pixel holds that particular class, the truth remains: inside their domain they are fearsome foes. Isn't that right, Lady Pathseeker?"

One of Gazi's eyes flickered towards the old mind in the small child. "Don't worry, Trey. I'll protect you." Not that she thought Trey was in any danger here. Gazi was pretty sure she had a somewhat accurate picture painted of Pixel. He had an even more outlandish story than Trey and Teressa had, but she didn't think he was lying. She doubted he would take up arms against others from Earth.

Against Flos? That was another matter.

Pixel might wage war on them over slaves he had never met. Of all of the Seven and her [King]'s advisors, Gazi was the only one who'd ever been a [Slave]. The only one to know what it was like. The only one to know how dangerous it truly would be to oppose Roshal.

It was this pure-hearted stance against it made her admire Trey. It reminded her of Flos when he was younger and not burdened by the reality of life.

Flos and Pixel would either be steadfast allies, or sworn enemies - perhaps both, just like how the rest of the Seven had started out before Flos won them over to his side.

Yes. Her [King] would absolutely adore everything about Pixel, just as much as he would relish fighting him.

"And even if Pixel does decide to make war on Flos, it would be exactly that. War on him, not his people." The Quarass said with confidence.

"Really?" Trey tilted his head. "What makes you say that."

"It is the culture of your world and his. It's clear that both of you value lives and detest war." The Quarass took another sip of her tea. "You've made your position clear enough, and Pixel's actions speak volumes."

"They do?"

"Yes. Have you not-" The Quarass stopped herself before restarting. "You have not seen any reports, but you saw the battlefield. It was clearly a staggering level of destruction that even Amerys would be hard-pressed to match. The sort of power a true [Archmage] possesses. For all that, there were much fewer casualties than there easily could have been. Taking out [Commanders] with pin-point attacks is a common tactic, but it's usually a prelude to wiping out the troops that no longer benefit from their Skills."

"And the armies retreated..."

"Yes. It was your comment about 'just following orders' that made it clear. Pixel specifically targeted those in command. Those that were issuing the orders to advance. The rest? He let flee."

"Wasn't he wounded?"

"He is." Gazi stated. "But he's not relying on magic."

"Oh?" The Quarass looked up at her.

"Pixel does not use mana. His abilities are Skills." That was the easiest way to put it.

If she considered that Earth had no magic, or rather, no mana, it made sense - assuming Pixel's and Trey's Earths were similar in that regard. While Trey's had no magic and no levels, Pixel's had people with levels. That would give rise to... It was hard to imagine.

They would be weaker as a whole, but high-level individuals would still appear. It would result in people like Mars instead of Amerys. And they wouldn't have things like Rhir or Crelers.

Did that make them less dangerous because they didn't have threats? Or more dangerous as their populace grew without bounds?

The thing she was certain of, was that it left them vulnerable to magic. Pixel might have defeated a Djinni, but he hadn't done so unscathed. It was clear he was attempting to heal himself - his head and arm were much better off than the rest of his body. Even the places that weren't fully recovered were better off closer to the spots that were.

So why was he still injured at all?

The question weighed on her mind as Pixel finished doing whatever mana-less magic he'd been up to, and reappeared in his chair. He tossed one glowing cube at Trey, then a second. They were softly thrown, and would land in front of him.

If they would've struck Trey, then Gazi would've acted, as it was she watched Pixel wearily.

"What's this?" Trey picked up the green cube.

"A way for you to communicate with me, or other people from Earth I've met in this world."

"What? Really?" His eyes went wide.

"Yes. It will respond to your voice." Pixel glanced at her and the Quarass. "And only YOUR voice. If Flos is going to hijack the conversation again, it will have to be through you."

Trey's cheeks darkened so slightly that Gazi suspected she was the only one to notice. "Ah, right, so... how do I use it?"

"It's very good at interpreting communication. You don't have to say an exact phrase."

"...email?" His eyes focused on something in the air. "Ah! Cool!"

"It's small, but it's still essentially an internet. So don't say anything you shouldn't, and don't believe all the people on it." Pixel shrugged.

"Close." Whatever Trey had been looking at must've vanished as he refocused on the room. Gazi felt happiness at his clear joy, but also a little sad as Trey would now have people to talk with that weren't her. "This is great! I mean, I know that scrying orbs exist, but..."

"But it's not like you know anyone else from Earth who has one."

"Exactly."

"You should probably listen more than you talk. Most of the other Earthers are at Wistram, and the academy as a whole is not a fan of the King of Destruction."

There was one person that would be, and Gazi wanted to ask about Amerys... but they were here to deliver Flos' invitation. She'd likely screw up any conversation that delicate anyways.

Besides... what if she was distancing herself? The whole world knew that Flos had awoken by now.

"What's this one for?" Trey picked up the yellow cube.

"Your sister."

"...Oh. Right. That makes sense. Is there something she'll need to do to activate it or to enter whatever it is that identifies her?"

"No, no." Pixel shook his head. "As I said, I was aware of the two of you before I came to this world. The cube will identify her on its own unless something truly bizarre has happened. If that's the case, please let me know."

"Okay." Trey nodded. He stared at Pixel for a moment. "Thank you. Really. Having someone from home to talk to, even if it's a stranger..."

"Like I said, I'm on the side of Earth." The Archmage looked around the room. "Tiqr wasn't... I didn't intend to get involved in politics, but I couldn't just stand by and do nothing."

"It will both help and hurt your cause." The Quarass drained the last of her tea and stood up. "We've delivered Flos' message, so unless there's anything else?"

"There's one thing." Gazi took a deep breath. This might not be a good idea, but with everything she'd just learned, and with Pixel's gift to Trey... she had to speak up. "The method you're using to heal yourself is working on your hand and ears. The rest of your body isn't doing as well."

Pixel's head jerked towards her. "What do you mean?"

"Your mana channels are damaged throughout your body. Like when someone gets mana-poisoning." If he hadn't been walking around without an outward indication or casting mana-less spells, then Gazi would've thought he'd be dead right now. Or at least bedridden. "Your right hand and ears are in perfect health. Your right arm and head are also doing better. So whatever Skill or artifact you're using on those areas, I would suggest using it elsewhere as well."

Now that she thought about it... what sort of healing technique would Pixel use on only his hand and ears? Certainly not a potion - not that more magic would be the answer to his ailment any more than it was to her injured eyes. Magicore? Would he risk touching that with his bare hand? That would probably help. Gazi was no [Scholar], but she'd seen other adventurers overdose on mana potions before.

That still didn't explain the ears...

Pixel thought for a moment before nodding at her. "Thank you, Lady Pathseeker." Oh great, now the Quarass had gotten him using her last name too. "That is very helpful. Thank you." Oh? So he WAS doing something in those two places specifically? It must be an Earth thing.

She'd ask Trey about it later.

Then she got the sense that Pixel was LOOKING at her. She wasn't sure if it was one of her Skills, or because of her Gazer heritage, but there was a distinct impression that she was being... observed.

At the same time, the mana inside of Pixel churned, as if he was casting a Spell. There was no outside effect, and the amount used was minuscule, but he'd definitely done SOMETHING.

"May I offer my services for you in turn?" Pixel stood up and walked confidently towards her.

"What do you mean?" He wasn't doing anything threatening, and his mana has stilled, but Gazi still took a half-step back. The Quarass' words echoed in her mind: 'inside their domain they are fearsome foes'.

"I can heal your eye."

The words hung in the air like a promise. He'd spoken with utter conviction, as if he failed to understand how delicate the matter was... but possessed ultimate confidence in his ability to deliver.

Finally, it was Trey who spoke. "Pixel, I... I don't think healing her eye is something easy to do."

Gazi nodded. "Any mana touching it will react in unexpected ways due to my injury. The pathways inside of it are damaged and so I can't be sure what sort of form magic passing through it will take, or where it will target." And considering her eye was firmly planted in the inside of her head, virtually every possible magical expression was... bad.

Very bad.

She didn't even like talking about it, even though it was plain to see to anyone who glanced at her that her main eye was damaged. Stating a weakness was inviting trouble in her experience.

Pixel stroked his chin. "Then you're in luck. I can heal you without using any magic at all."

"What?"

Pixel glanced at Trey. "Just think of all of this as ultra-advanced technology. However," His eyes moved back to look at her. "I'm not going to do anything without your permission. So? Would you like me to attempt to heal you?"

Gazi was conflicted.

She wanted her eye back. Her smaller eyes couldn't see as far or as well, and they couldn't use her strongest Gazer abilities. But what if Pixel was over-estimating himself? They'd heard nothing about him healing people.

"How long will it take?" She asked hesitantly.

"A few minutes to craft some necessary devices. The actual healing will be faster than that."

Gazi took a deep breath in, then exhaled. "Then, yes. Please heal my eye." She had to be bold. You studied the situation and then grasped opportunities when they presented themselves. That was how she'd made a name for herself as an adventurer, by taking decisive action.

True, it had resulted in the loss of her eye when she'd made the bold decision to kidnap Erin Solstice and Ryoka Griffin and bring them back to her [King] - but that hadn't been an error in judgment so much as a failure to execute her plan. She was sure that Flos would've woken up when she brought him the [Innkeeper] and [Runner].

Doubly sure since he'd woken up from the arrival of Trey and Teressa.

Pixel nodded to her and vanished. He appeared in the same place he had before and another swirling vortex of cubes hovered in front of him.

"Are you sure about this, Gazi?"

She smiled at Trey and lied. "Of course I am." It was hard to put into words the fear she felt at having her eye healed wrong. But the fear of not getting it healed was worse. She was the weakest of the Seven, and if she couldn't even see, how could she protect her [King]? "There's just one thing bothering me."

"What's that?" The Quarass asked.

"If this works, I'll need to repay him somehow."

"Oh?" The small girl crossed her arms. "Isn't this his way of repaying you for helping heal him? It seems fair."

"No." Gazi shook her head. "That Half-Elf [Mage] would have already identified what was going on." It might've taken time and experiments with magicore, but Wistram trained [Mages] were skilled. Even if they couldn't see mana like she could, they'd be able to figure out the underlying cause. With tests, it would become clear how to adapt whatever method Pixel was using to the rest of his body. "I saved him time. That's it."

Unlike what he was giving her. There were no guarantees that she'd be able to get healed in Baleros. Having an Archmage repair her eye was far more likely to work.

I finished Crafting some simple pylons that could impart an immunity to pain, and teleported back into the meeting room.

**Gazi is nervous.

"Are you ready?"

She nodded silently, her face as impassive as always. I'd arrived next to her, and hadn't moved, so Expansion was already increasing the range of all my Perks. The first couple of yards happened within seconds - placing the space behind her and to the sides within my Inventory range.

The four pylons appeared in a box around her. They were small, and technically I could've enclosed space with only three, but I liked right angles. Plus, redundancy. The Half-Gazer's eyes darted to them, and to the forcefield that they'd made.

**The Quarass is surprised.
**Trey is surprised.

I then reached out with Rapid Regeneration and applied it to Gazi. Her other eyes widened and all of them swiveled around to stare at me. Like I'd said, the injury she had wasn't much. It didn't even require regenerating new flesh - just fixing what was already there.

Which, I suspected, would be vitally important for restoring her eye to its full power. The details she'd given me about my own magical damage made me consider how Rapid Regeneration actually worked.

"There." I said after a few seconds. "All done." I deactivated the pylons with a thought and Inventoried them.

**Gazi is surprised.
**The Quarass is surprised.
**Trey is surprised.

"Already?" He exclaimed from the side.

"Yes. I did say that the preparation would take longer than the actual healing process, did I not?"

Gazi blinked. First with her smaller eyes, then with the large one. It opened and shut several times before the huge yellow eye locked onto me.

"Thank you." She took a deep breath in. "If you want to avoid war with Nerrhavia's Fallen, then you'll need to speak with their [Queen] directly. They won't stop with just one army or two or three."

"Lady Pathseeker, is this wise-"

"Yes." One of her eyes swiveled to face the Quarass. "Flos would counsel the same if he were here. My [King] does not back down from a fight, but that does not mean he involves others who do not wish to be. To do otherwise would have Tiqr suffer more than it already has." Her attention shifted back towards me, not that her large eye had ever stopped staring at me. "Seeking audience with her officially is next to impossible. Appearing uninvited would be even worse."

"So how then?"

"It might not be the best way, but I know of someone who was able to meet with the [Queen] at the time because of her martial prowess."

**Trey is curious.

"You mean?"

"Yes." An eye looked at him. "Mars." She paused for a moment. "Pixel, I don't know if this is something you could manage, but Nerrhavia's Fallen has a great number of [Gladiator] arenas. If you could buy the contract of a [Gladiator] that's about to rise to the top, then you could accompany them if they get invited to the Silk Court. There, you could speak to the nobles of the country, including Queen Yisame."