Seeing Xio's somewhat conflicted expression, Ebner could roughly guess who it was that wanted to meet him.
"If I'm not mistaken, it should be the future 'Magician' Miss Fors. She has a rather laid-back personality, so… she tends to be more casual about certain things?" Recalling the details from the novel, Ebner filled in the blanks Xio hadn't mentioned aloud. He decided not to let her stew over it and said, "Let's meet back here at noon then."
"Alright, we'll be on time." Xio sighed in relief and nodded quickly.
"It's getting late, and I still have things to handle. See you at noon!"
Bidding farewell to Xio, Ebner paid his bill and took a public carriage to Cherwood Borough. He had decided to follow Detective Isengard's advice and buy himself a proper suit. Naturally, his first choice was the clothing store owned by his friend Jane's family. Better to let his money go toward a friend's family business than to spend it elsewhere.
Since the store wasn't too far away, Ebner soon reached the street where it was located. Just one block from his destination, he saw Jane's father, Mr. Charlie, walking out of the shop with a dark-haired, brown-eyed gentleman. Mr. Charlie seemed very respectful to the gentleman, personally opening the door of a carriage parked by the curb, then watching as the carriage pulled away. Only when the carriage was out of sight did Mr. Charlie return to the store.
Having watched this scene play out, Ebner was surprised. Instinctively, he began to speculate about the identity of the middle-aged gentleman who could command such reverence from Jane's father. But he soon laughed at himself for his detective-like curiosity. After all, Backlund was full of important figures, and there could easily be thousands of people capable of inspiring that level of deference from a shop owner—hardly something he could deduce by guessing.
Upon entering the shop, Ebner immediately noticed the young girl Jane sitting behind the counter, doodling out of boredom. With a mischievous grin, he glanced around, and seeing no other customers, he snuck up to her and gave the counter a loud knock.
Jane jumped in shock, but when she saw Ebner's teasing grin, her face scrunched up in a pout. "Ebner, you dare show up here? If it weren't for you, my father wouldn't have grounded me at home for a whole week. And now you're scaring me again! Well, what are you going to do to make up for it?"
But Ebner smoothly sidestepped the accusation. "You were grounded by Mr. Grant? Over Professor Kapunsky?"
"Yeah, my father's worried I'll sneak back to Professor Kapunsky's study group… even though I already promised him I wouldn't!" Jane seemed oblivious to Ebner's deflection as she asked curiously, "So, what brings you here today?"
Ebner already had a ready-made excuse. "I've found a job and got an advance on my salary, so I'm here to buy myself a suit."
Jane's eyes widened in surprise. "A full suit costs at least ten pounds. What kind of job did you land that'd pay you that much up front?"
"I'm now working as an assistant to the famous detective Isengard Stanton. My current weekly salary is three pounds. I got a one-month advance," Ebner said casually.
"I've heard of Detective Stanton. He's quite well-known and supposedly has strong connections with Sivellaus Yard!" At that moment, Jane's father, Mr. Charlie Grant, emerged from the back room, nodding approvingly. "Young man, you'll have a promising future learning the ropes with a detective like him. Investigating and solving cases could really take you far."
"Good morning, Mr. Grant," Ebner greeted politely before modestly replying, "For now, I'm still in the learning phase and haven't had much involvement with any real cases."
"Learning is life's greatest treasure," Mr. Grant said with a nostalgic air. "I myself used to work as an assistant in Mr. Bryan's clothing factory, and it was thanks to the knowledge, connections, and wealth I gained there that I could open my own store. So work hard, lad!"
"Mr. Bryan?" Ebner mused aloud. The name sounded familiar, and then it hit him—that was his own surname!
"Mr. Bryan is a prominent businessman who owns numerous clothing factories throughout Backlund. He actually stopped by just earlier for an inspection and discussed supporting me in opening a chain of stores. Haha, in fact, though this shop is mine, Mr. Bryan holds a thirty percent stake in it. He's been incredibly generous and supportive, never meddling in my business and always backing my ideas," Mr. Grant explained, a look of reverence on his face.
"So, the gentleman who just left was Mr. Bryan himself… Mr. Grant certainly speaks about him with… well, a reverence that borders on devoutness. Maybe Mr. Bryan has helped him out a lot, inspiring that level of gratitude? It makes sense—going from an assistant to a store owner likely required some kind of support from an influential benefactor," Ebner speculated.
At that point, young Jane interjected, "Hey, Ebner, you're a Bryan too, right? Is that gentleman a relative of yours?"
Ebner shook his head with a chuckle. "I'm hardly related to someone that wealthy. Bryan's actually a fairly common surname; it'd be a bit much to assume every Bryan is related."
With that topic settled, Ebner began to seriously select his clothing. Under Jane's guidance, he eventually chose a full suit that cost eleven pounds.
When he had changed into the outfit in the fitting room and placed his glasses on his nose, both Jane and Mr. Grant were taken aback by the transformation. Jane came over, examining him from all angles, before exclaiming, "Ebner, you look fantastic in this suit! Especially with those glasses, you have… well, the 'bookish charm' Roselle the Emperor was always talking about!"
"Indeed, you make a fine gentleman with that attire!" Mr. Grant chimed in approvingly, though Ebner suspected he was really just praising his store's clothing.
In any case, aside from a few small interruptions, Ebner's suit shopping went smoothly. After saying goodbye to the Grants, he took another public carriage back to East Borough.
The moment he stepped foot into East Borough, however, Ebner sensed a series of hostile stares. That's when he realized that walking through East Borough in a full suit was practically an invitation for robbers.
Fortunately, the restaurant where he and Xio often met was in a relatively safe part of East Borough, and he subtly let the butt of his revolver show through his clothes. The sight of the gun was enough to deter any would-be troublemakers.
Once he stepped into the restaurant and saw Xio standing at the counter, barely tall enough to see over it, he exhaled in relief. After all, in East Borough, Miss Xio's reputation as an Arbiter was more intimidating than his revolver could ever be.
Xio, who had been ordering food, turned when she heard the door, raising her brows in surprise. "Ebner, why'd you wear that to East Borough?"
"...Well, we're meeting your friend, so I thought I'd dress more formally. It's only polite," Ebner offered as an excuse for his oversight.
Xio nodded but sighed in mild frustration. "If I'd known, I would have suggested a different location. I'll make sure to escort you back to Detective Isengard's after our meeting."
Ebner shook his head, slightly exasperated. Did she really think he was so defenseless?
After ordering, Xio led Ebner to a table in the back where a woman was already seated. She was watching them with a playful smile, clearly having overheard their conversation.
"This is my best friend, Fors Wall." Xio ignored Fors's amused expression and introduced her to Ebner solemnly.
"It's an honor to meet you, Miss Wall," Ebner greeted her warmly. He remembered Fors vividly from the novel and didn't feel the least bit awkward.
"What a handsome, good-natured gentleman you are. Xio certainly knows how to pick friends!" Fors teased before formally introducing herself, "No need to be so formal. You're Xio's friend, so that makes you my friend, too. Just call me Fors."
Ebner went along with it easily, nodding as he asked, "So, Fors, Xio mentioned you wanted to meet with me? Is there something specific you wanted to discuss?"
Fors blinked, then sighed in defeat. "You really are Xio's friend. You two even talk in the same… well, as Roselle would say, 'like two peas in a pod'!"
Ebner was already getting a little tired of hearing Roselle's idioms—they seemed to pop up everywhere lately.
Xio, apparently unbothered, interjected, "What's wrong with how we talk?"
Fors covered her forehead and sighed, "In normal circumstances, wouldn't a gentleman chat with a lady first, maybe ease into asking what she wants to discuss?"
"That's just a plot device in your novels. Ebner and I don't have time for small talk," Xio responded, unflinching.
"Oh, no, it's official! You're completely on Ebner's side now, not even sparing a thought for my feelings!" Fors exclaimed, clutching her head in exaggerated despair.
Ebner chuckled, watching the scene unfold. Yet, he sensed that Fors's playful behavior was calculated. She seemed almost eager to create an atmosphere that would draw him closer into their circle. The effort felt just a little forced… which made him wonder: Why?
After a moment's thought, Ebner began to understand. Was the worsening of her "full-moon ravings" causing Fors to feel increasingly insecure about her future? Without knowing that the Fool would eventually come to her aid, she might be looking to place her trust in someone else—someone reliable enough to protect and support Xio if she were to lose control one day. Xio might look tough on the outside, but her recklessness could easily put her in danger.