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Gypsy Sparkling Song
40c185
“I knew this time would come, and now it does. Ambassador Onschulding, apologies. I take leave of you, if you will allow me. Do stay close, though, as I will like to speak with you more.”
“Yes, I will stay here right now. I like talk with you. It makes me feel greater.”
“Now then! If you are kind enough to point me to the Inquisitor, policeman, do so!
“… Inquisitor’s hangin’ about right down the hall there. Right behind me. Where you already be facin’.”
“Gratitude! I see now. Your head is too large and in my view. Farewell!”
“…”
***
“Greetings! Introductions! The day treats us well, does it not?”
“A man is dead today.”
“Maybe I mean the weather more than I mean all things about the day.”
“Would you fight to defend that sentiment? When you spoke to me just outside, the sky was swelled and looked to threaten rain, by my judgement.”
“You spoke to me? Apologies; have we met?"
"Uh… yes! Not half of an hourglass's turn ago, you inquired as to where you could find Clerk Patientia, and I pointed you here, to this office."
"Ah? Er, hm. Hmmmmm…"
"You do not recall?"
“Er, ah, hm. It is possible your name will evoke the memory?”
"Benevolentiam."
"Yes, Inquisitor!”
“You did not tell me that you had met this man before now. Why did you not disclose your prior relationship the moment you became aware that he was involved in the case?”
“P-p-prior relationship? Oh, no, no, no, Iustitia, it’s nothing as intimate as that! I was waiting for you outside the archives building when this guy just showed up from nowhere and asked me where Clerk Patientia was. I told him where his office was, he left, and that was it! That was the first and only time I had ever met him! You know what, the exchange was so brief, let’s just pretend it never even happened…”
“I agree! I am already not able to remember the occurrence of this alleged meeting!”
"…"
“Then we will do the meeting over. My name is Inquisitor Iustitia.”
“… And I am Benevolentiam, Inquisitor Adjunct to Inquisitor Iustitia. You may address me as Inquisitor, Inquisitor Adjunct, or Adjutant Benevolentiam.”
“It is wonderful making your friendships, Inquisitors. I speak with you now to offer my expertise! Solving intellectual challenges is a thing that I enjoy. Criminal investigation is an intellectual challenge. You conduct a criminal investigation… Are you seeing my meaning?”
“A woman may be the greatest liar, but if she asserts that two and two together make four, we will believe her. She who speaks Truth speaks Truth. So in all places where the Authority of Law rests with the Veritasian Order, any individual who puts forth an assertion of fact regarding a crime, together with sufficient evidence to support that assertion, will be heard by the presiding Adjudicator.”
“But I am not a woman? Does this mean I cannot participate?”
“No, he doesn’t mean… Adjudicator Aequus is a sage, and they just like to answer questions about specific instances with these grand general statements on morality and stuff. He may have used the word, ‘woman,’ but he meant all people, including you.”
“So he does not mistake me for a woman?”
“Ahem. Sages and Adjudicators are the two wisest and unprejudiced type of people to exist, and the Adjudicator is both; I would venture to claim that he does not care whether you are a man or a woman, even if he were to admit to something so insulting as mistaking which you are.”
“I understand. So this, ‘Adjudicator,’ allows me into the search for the rascal who did this? This is wonderful! Where is he? I have so many arguments to make!”
“Yes, the Adjudicator has a duty to hear all relevant arguments, but I fear that I must question your motivations. Allow me to explain…“
“A man asks directions to the site of a murder and then denies having done so, and when he arrives orders the only other witness to leave him there alone… Actually, sir, you have yet to tell us your name, though we have told you ours.”
“And furthermore… have you an alibi for yesterday night?”
“…”
> [How to Respond?]
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