>>5528596「So you're telling me there's nothing you did that could come back to bite us on this? Just started as an argument?」 "Yes Mr. Takigi. He mentioned wanting to change the date that repayment falls on, and when I said it was already specified when we signed the contract he got upset. It was scarcely a few minutes after that he pulled a machete on me and I deemed it best to flee..."
You sense annoyance. Takigi was hoping there was still a way out of this. 「Well, it's... uh, good, to know there's no problems. Is there a copy of the contract I can take for reference?」 "It's in my workroom. I'll get it for you."
A moment later, Takigi is on his way back to the village proper. A hunk of dense, brown bread and cheese lays in one of his hands. He accepted the offer of food after all - harder to be upset when eating, by his words. 「I'll double check the situation with Baku.」<span class="mu-i">And then?</span> 「And then, uh... ah, shit. I guess I'll just have to catch him during work and finish things if I don't find a way out of this. Hit him a few times, humiliate him, wander off. That should be enough, right?」<span class="mu-i">I don't know. I'll leave it to your judgement.</span> The pitter patter of rain continues as Takigi stares fixedly at one of his hands, testing what it's like to eat using four fingers.
Lunchtime. 「Baku. I know you're there.」 The sounds of rain. 「...You always go home for lunch.」After a few more seconds, the door opens, and a large man with a scar across half his face peeks out. "Whaddyu want traitor?"「Traitor? Tha- nevermind. I came about the debt.」 The door begins closing. Takigi blocks it with his foot and leans in with a smile. 「Come on, just talk to me. I'm here to figure out what's going. Why things, uh, escalated to the point they did.」
"Why I made that ballless ass patter piss himself?" <span class="mu-i">Ass patter?</span>「It means a suckup - wait, not now.」 Takigi turns his attention back to Baku.「Yes, that's what I'm asking about.」
Baku stares at Takigi suspiciously before stepping out of the house. "I'm supposed to be payin' 1 gold an' 8 silver a month, but I keep havin' t'pay 2 gold 1 silver." An eyebrow raises. 「He raised the payment without telling you?」 "Aye, aye. That 'e did. I'm just tryin' to get by. Can't just up the payments like that. It's fraud, out n' out! Chased him off because he wouldn't give on that."
You feel some hope from Takigi. 「And that's all?」 Baku nods. "Can't think ov anythin' else that'd matter." 「Nothing about the date of payment?」 The man freezes up for a few seconds. "Dunno anythin' about that. I pay first of the month every month. Gotta get back to eating. Tell yer pals that they can pound sand. 1 gold 8 silver a month." The door closes.
