>>6102679>>6102790“Before anything is decided, I’d like to ask a few questions,” You say to the room, “Specifically about this, Joseph. We learned from another Stranger that he claimed to be a veteran of an Earth war. I can only assume he claimed it was desert-?” You trail off, “Was there some sort of famous Earth desert war?”
The skeleton puffs on his pipe before continuing, “You’re going to half to be a lot more specific than that, Your Highness. There’s been quite a few wars in a variety of deserts.”
Thankfully, Marie chimes in, “We learned he was a ‘Desert Storm’ veteran. You know when the Americans invaded Iran? That’s the country, right?”
The skull turns towards her as if in astonishment, “The Americans never invaded Iran. Not while I was alive, at least.”
“Well, Desert Storm must have been after you died- wait, when was that?”
“Around 2018-” He’s cut off.
“Huh? I died in 2023, and I don’t think there were many big wars after 2018 other than the Ukraine one.”
“Wait, Ukraine? What happened in Ukraine?” The skeleton seems a bit more concerned, but it’s all for naught as the slime shivers, “Guy, I think we’re getting off topic.”
“Oh, right. My apologies,” Mikhail says to you before looking at Marie briefly, “Later, please.”
She nods before looking to you, “Sorry Lorina, you’d probably have more luck asking Asher about that if he was still here, that is.”
“And why is that?”
“He’s American, I thought that was pretty obvious?”
“Most of the words you two said lack any meaning or context to me,” you sigh. “Can you just let me know if there are any unique circumstances around what his being a veteran might mean?”
“Oh, okay. Well, given that Joseph is an American veteran, he probably knows how to make and use a lot of guns that can kill someone very fast,” She says with a self-assured smile.
Like you couldn’t just make that assumption yourself, you mentally eyeroll but say, “Thank you, Marie. Now, Mikhail I also wanted to know if you have any contacts with the Adventurers Guild such as helpful contacts, think of this as idle curiosity.”
“I know a few people, yes. Oliver’s place is quite good for making business friends, as you might say. Though I can’t consider as of them close, you’d probably have more luck putting in a private bounty with the guild receptionist. I believe her name is Clarice? At least she is when she’s not adventuring herself. Though I doubt you have enough time before the meeting starts, vetting adventurers for jobs is a rather lengthy process.”
“I see, thank you.”
>Voting is still open 