1-22

Dennisen shook his head as if that could dispel his drunkenness. He looked up at Polunius standing across the table, his eyes betraying an odd weariness.

"Aretta was killed by Salvaney's people," Panthonia said.

"I know. I know. But why didn't you tell me? Why not say she was once your woman? You weren't qualified to handle this case from the start... I'm not just talking about Aretta. Any case involving Salvaney, you're not fit to handle. Because you kept such crucial information from us. I know, I know what I'm saying is true. Don't say I'm drunk."

"How did you come up with these ideas?"

"Didn't I just say? I have ears. I have a mouth. I can inquire. I did. Bet you didn't expect that... intelligence! That's your favorite word. I can use it too."

"Finish what you were saying just now. If I don't admit it, what will you do 'otherwise'?"

"I don't know yet. But I... I won't rest easy. If you leave the Bureau, I'll miss you, partner, but I won't trust you to do that job. You deceive everyone. I don't know what happened between you and Aretta, but you definitely deceived her. If you gain power, you'll deceive... even more people. Seriously, how could you do such a thing? What do you take women for? I don't understand. I mean, the woman by my side, I love her. I'd die for her. And you... you..."

He stood up, grabbing Panthonia by the collar.

"You can't let tragedy repeat. I'm your partner... you should listen to me. Be good to Hilsbeth, got it...? I don't know her, I don't know Aretta. I don't know anyone... I just know you can't do this. Damn it, Panthonia, what makes you so special? What qualifies you to do this...?"

"Have you talked to Hilsbeth?"

"Yes, I have... oh, wasn't supposed to tell you. But I've talked to her. She didn't say anything, seemed a bit scared. Must... not be scared of me. Why didn't you tell me about this? The singer Hilsbeth is with you now. Are you planning something? Or is it that one day, she'll become another Aretta... you anticipated this. No, you even orchestrated such things. You can't do this to her. Someone needs to protect her."

"Mind your own business." Panthonia pulled Dennisen's hand away.

"My business can wait, right now it's about you!"

Panthonia felt somewhat grateful for that bottle of liquor. He never thought Dennisen would truly be clueless, but only now did he confirm how much his intoxicated partner actually knew. Perhaps the best course of action was to exploit his true attitudes in different situations while Dennisen's judgment wasn't entirely accurate.

"Dennisen, what happened to Aretta, I feel sorry about it. Initially, she was just my informant. I didn't foresee it would come to this."

"You feel sorry? Really?"

"What do you want from me, loud repentance? Our methods and attitudes toward people are too different. I've done my best to respect her. Not revealing our relationship is also part of that respect. Because if I had disclosed it from the beginning, with your righteous mind, you would have surely thought worse of our relationship. You can blame me for not protecting her well, but that's not the truth. After all, she was once part of the Salvaney family, and you understand how crazy Salvaney has become now. I've done what I could."

"Is that so?"

"If we could catch Salvaney, that would be justice for Aretta. Of course, it's not to say I'm rushing to do this just for her; it's simply about avenging Aretta and doing our duty, the means are entirely consistent. You can drunkenly proclaim who you love, who you'd die for, but that's not my way."

"But... what about Hilsbeth?"

"It's nothing abnormal. I met Hilsbeth when Aretta was still alive. She knows Aretta's death wasn't my fault. As for why I kept this from you this time... you also know, Phipin took a liking to her. Even though Koen now forbids Phipin from getting close to Hilsbeth, we mustn't attract too much attention."

"Alright... will you marry her?"

"You're really drunk, Dennisen. Think about it, even if I wanted to marry her, it couldn't be now. You know the reasons. We both face the same obstacles. The only thing we should be focused on now is catching Salvaney. We can't let anything else distract us. Think about it, what you said earlier about me not being qualified to handle these cases—how absurd. Once things are set in motion, they must be carried through to the end. For us to succeed, you need to trust me now, not hassle me about women."

"That makes sense, what you're saying." Dennisen sat back in his chair, swaying slightly. "We need to catch him. After we catch him, you'll probably go elsewhere to work, right? Yeah, the two of us catching Salvaney together... nothing else matters... I mean if we succeed. If the plan to bribe the assassin fails... I won't be able to trust you again, partner. You need to prove with your actions that this is all for good, not for evil. If in the end, you're still up to no good..."

"We should get going."

The next morning, they set off from Goldshire. When they met outside the inn, Dennisen couldn't hide his embarrassment.

"Hey," he pulled Panthonia to a corner of the wall, "Last night... I said some strange things, didn't I?"

"You could say that."

"Did I mention... something about when I was fifteen, a girl..."

"Yes. You did."

"Damn it. But I know you won't tell anyone. You don't joke about these things."

Dennisen scratched the stubble under his ear with his finger. Before going home, I need to shave my face. A moment's contemplation about the stubble didn't ease his nervousness. He felt his finger's movements slowing down involuntarily, and the air around him became heavier. A carriage passed by not far away, casting shadows on the sandy soil, making him squint. Finally, he took a deep breath.

"Panthonia," he said, "I just want to tell you, I know what matters most. I apologize for intruding on Hilsbeth privately. Sincerely."

"No need."

"Uh... also. Some of the things I said... only I know. I didn't tell anyone else. I mean, everything I said last night... I hope there's nothing I haven't remembered now. Anyway, can we pretend like I didn't say anything last night? I'll make sure of it myself."

Panthonia looked at Dennisen, slowly nodded, but didn't directly respond to that aspect.

"After we return to Storm City, I'll meet with the assassin for the third time soon. The success of the plan is right in front of us. Be prepared."

"Alright. I'll... be fully prepared. I mean, I can't wait to beat Salvaney up. I'll knock out his front teeth and keep them as souvenirs."

The guards brought their horses over. Panthonia walked toward his mount.

Not long after waking up early that morning, Dennisen recalled everything he had said last night. He was certain it was "everything" because there shouldn't be much he should've said directly to Panthonia's face that he didn't. He suspected his partner bore some responsibility for Aretta's death, feared Hilsbeth might be the next woman in trouble, and harbored considerable resistance and resentment towards Panthonia's potential acquisition of power. He didn't know how much backing Panthonia had, but he had already planned to secretly prepare information to report, in order to prevent him from getting that position. However, if they could successfully catch Salvaney, he could act as if he knew nothing. That was his plan.

Whether that plan still held any validity, he now had no clue.

Why did he drink that bottle of liquor? Dennisen knew he had a shallow tolerance for alcohol and often said inappropriate things when drunk. He knew the risk, but still invited his partner to the rooftop of the inn. It could even be said he had some expectation of revealing secrets himself. Perhaps he had secretly hoped for the opportunity and courage to confront his partner face to face. He accomplished that with a bottle of strong liquor—when he wasn't deeply intoxicated, he could have stopped after talking about things related to himself. But he kept talking, talking, talking...

Panthonia's current attitude is unclear to Dennisen. As usual, he has never been able to gauge his partner's thoughts. The temporary expansion of his ego brought on by intoxication has disappeared without a trace. He feels he should have stopped after saying "I hope to be your friend," because that was the truth.

He knows he has ruined the opportunity to fulfill that statement. Or perhaps the opportunity never existed in the first place.

When they returned home, it was close to ten o'clock at night.

Hilsbeth walked into the living room from the bedroom.

"You're back," she said to Panthonia, "Do you want me to make you something to eat?"

"No, thanks."

He went into the bedroom, opened the drawer of the desk, and put some things inside. Hilsbeth walked up behind him, hugged him, her face against his back.

"What's wrong?" he said.

"Nothing. Just... the first time we've been apart for so many days."

"Is everything okay?"

"It's nothing."

Panthonia's hands pressed on the table. Dennisen had seen her in secret. She didn't tell me anything.

He turned around, looking at her.

"Hilsbeth."

"What?"

There was anticipation in her eyes... she was waiting for him to speak. Panthonia remembered that when they first got together, she often felt a slight panic because of his actions or a gaze. Now, that was no longer the case.

She was no longer afraid of him.

He should ask about Dennisen. Yes, he must ask. But that would surely bring panic back into her eyes.

"It's nothing," he said.

"Can't you be more specific?" She chuckled.

Panthonia let go of the idea of questioning her. At least for now. He had seen too many terrified faces; now, after chasing down a fugitive who liked to crawl into pigsties and trekking back home for days, he wanted to see something else. That decision was made in his heart while he was still on horseback, traversing the Elwynn Forest.