Quoted By:
"Sure, sure. Hey, Ben?" Her voice gets quieter for a moment. "Thirty minute break. That okay, sweetheart?" You didn't hear his response beyond a generally positive one. "Alright, hand me over."
You turn to Maruyama while keeping your hand over the phone. "Okay, this might be a member of the Krakatoa. Try to learn what you can about that old man from her."
Maruyama seems oddly receptive with this task given the slight smile on his face. He grabs the phone without saying anything as you peer into his mind. <<span class="mu-b">"I knew those five years at a call center would be worth it."</span>>
"Hello, miss. I would like to discuss something on behalf of my client." Wow, he sounds energetic for once? "It's about a certain client we're working for. One that I believe you have relations to? A Mr. Gregory, I believe?"
You can't really make out what Max is saying as Maruyama keeps talking. "Due to certain concerns about my client's relationship to this client, I believe you can be a useful mediator between the two. Would you perhaps tell us about this client's...quirks?" He nods his head along as Max rambles over the line.
He takes out a piece of paper from his notepad to start scribbling down what he's hearing. "Yes, yes, that's good. Thank you. Please, continue." More chattering over the line. <<span class="mu-b">"Oddly forthcoming with this. Not exactly an issue."</span>> "Yes, yes. Thank you. Please, enjoy the rest of your day." <<span class="mu-b">"Still got it in you, Daido!"</span>>
He hangs up before tossing the phone and piece of paper he was writing on. back at you. You catch it with some help of your telekinesis. "Let's split up before that robot is finished and wanders off." He heads up the stairs now that he's done, leaving you alone.
You look through the paper he handed you.
"NOTED DETAILS OF GREGORY: DIRECTOR, VERY SENTIMENTAL ABOUT THIS PLACE. ASSUMED THIS IS WHY WE WERE SENT HERE. TRIED TO ASK HER ABOUT GUARDS, SHE JUST LAUGHED AT ME. SMUGLY. WORRISOME."
"PRONE TO HOLDING GRUDGES OVER MINOR THINGS FOR <span class="mu-i">LONG</span> PERIODS OF TIME. BEST TO KEEP HIM DISTRACTED IF POSSIBLE. 'DO APPEASEMENT WORK ON HIM' WAS HER DIRECT QUOTE. WEIRD WAY TO PHRASE IT?"
"LIKES ANYTHING THAT'S SCANDALOUS, SPOOKY, FILTHY, AND OVERALL 'LOW CLASS'. THE MORE SCANDALOUS AND SPOOKY, THE BETTER."
"<span class="mu-b">CODE PHRASE IS 'SMILE SMILE'</span> FOR WHAT? UNSURE. APPARENTLY IT'S SOMETHING HE SAYS?"
You fold the paper up and place it into your pocket. Well, you're not sure how useful any of that is but that code phrase MIGHT help down the line. You start your trip up the stairs to Room 11. The stairs creak and groan under the strain of your weight.
[SEEKER OF THE CITY] Shift your weight. You're going to break it.
You adjust your footstance to hopefully put less strain on it. The creaking dies down. "Good." You softly mutter as you eventually make it up to the second floor. <span class="mu-r">A foul smell hangs in the air.</span> A mixture of mildew, rot, and something spicy. You don't recognize what it is.
