The group prepares themselves to head out. Both Tatsuo and Darren styled in a proper collared shirt, with a trench coat worn over. Darren has a scarf draped over his shoulders. Victor and Sharon have already been dressed up; Victor wearing a black vest worn on top his collared shirt and Sharon wearing a blue and white knee-length puffed sleeve dress with a pinafore worn over.

The city of Argonaut consists of buildings resembling a punk-victorian theme aesthetic. Pipes of various sizes run throughout the buildings and city, with smoke puffing over houses. A giant clock tower towers at the city’s center. Civilians dressed in Vicorian fashion roam along the streets.

The group waits in one of the streets of Argonaut until a small, bobbled-headed person whose size only comes up to their knees wearing a lab coat approaches the group. His large blonde hair poofs up from the red and blue goggles, where there is a constant glare constantly hiding his eyes.

After confirming the identity of the group, the small old man introduces himself.

???: My name is Dr. Crogsbell, head engineer of Argonaut and “I”, shall be your guide for today!

Dr. Crogsbell: Before we begin, is there anyone that has any questions that they want to get out of the way?

Sharon and Tatsuo both raise their hands.

Dr. Crogsbell: Well, on with them!

Tatsuo: Do you know anybody by the name of Veloren Aund Gerfuden?

Sharon: Is it true that a fruit that can cure any ailment exists here?

Dr. Crogsbell: No to the lad, and for you lassie, I believe we do have the fruit that you’ve asked for. In fact, how perfect.

Dr. Crogsbell takes out a spherical device. He throws the device at the ground, shattering it. Out comes a gift basket, filled with sweets, chocolates and fruits and many other confectioneries. The utter action of an object appearing out of thin air baffles the group.

Dr. Crogsbell hands over the basket to the surprised Sharon: Allow me to give you all a gift basket! It contains the finest sweets and delicacies here in Argonaut, along with the “Argonaut fruit” that you inquired about just now! You can’t find these fruits anywhere else!

Sharon: U-unbelievable…! What was that…?! Thank you so much for the gift! To think you’d just hand over the fruit like that!

Dr. Crogsbell smugly rubs his tiny nose in Sharon’s response.

Tatsuo abruptly swipes one of the fruits from the basket, startling Sharon and takes a bite out of it.

Tatsuo: Mmm...Delicious…But I taste nothing special about it.

Sharon: …Huh?

Sharon had an inkling of a grim feeling based on Tatsuo’s unimpressed reaction.

Dr. Crogsbell: Well, of course! It's just a facade afterall. A miracle fruit like that doesn’t exist yet.

Sharon twists her head back to the Doctor slightly mortified.

Sharon: But...Then what are these fruits…?

Dr. Crogsbell: A lab-made fruit! Designed with enriching flavors! In the end, all of those rumors that you’ve probably heard about have been just a marketing scheme to attract tourists, much like you!

Dr. Crogsbell taps his lips with his index finger: Well...It does contain a lot of nutrients...But that alone can’t cure everything as exaggerated.

Sharon (disappointingly): Oh…

Sharon (flustered): I mean of course! There’s no way such a fruit could even exist! It just sounds too good to be true…!

During Sharon’s flustered talk, Tatsuo’s mind was being weighed on. He looks at Sharon wondering if he should tell her what he knows. He looks back down at the bitten fruit in his hand, also feeling disappointed. He decides to keep what he knows to himself for now, for he had known that his very existence is perhaps an unnatural phenomena; henceforth whatever knowledge that he’d possessed may not apply for his current situation.

Tatsuo: …Guess it wasn’t it… – He mumbles to himself.

Dr. Crogsbell: Now then, if that is all you have for me...Let us begin the tour!

Dr. Crogsbell: For our introduction, allow me to brief you all of the story of how Argonaut came to be!

Dr. Crogsbell enthusiastically prances through the street as he explains the history of Argonaut, “It is said that about 77 years ago when Argonaut was but just a village, a witch along with a fierce monster befell it and terrorized its citizens. However, the village folks quickly banded together, and with the help of the army, they managed to put a stop to the two, and the village was saved. It is said that when the monster was slain, it dropped bountiful gold and treasures.”

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Dr. Crogsbell turns to look at Sharon: It’s said the “Argonaut fruit” was one of those treasures that the monster dropped, which is where its rumor spawned from.

Dr. Crogsbell: The riches that came from the monster became a catalyst in shaping Argonaut into what it is today! Of course, there was also Otis Richards who came to this town, and with his creative ingenious…

The group crosses a giant drawbridge where giant cog wheels can be heard creaking at the side of the bridge towers and people can be seen fishing off at the edge. While Dr. Crogsbell continues his rambling, Tatsuo notices Darren who appears to be looking slump.

Tatsuo: You okay?

Darren: Yeah, just….Kinda let down that my job of guiding you guys around has also been replaced.

Sharon slips a quick apology: Sorry Darren~!

Darren: It’s okay. It’s not like you guys knew I was gonna come along anyways. Also, who would’ve thought that Queenie would schedule all of this.

Tatsuo: Yeah, it’s a shame she still locked herself up in the bathroom though.

*Flashback to the hotel room a couple hours prior.

Sharon and Victor inform Tatsuo and Darren of the upcoming scheduled appointment with the mayor of Argonaut that Queenie had reserved. Sharon asks Tatsuo to go visit Queenie to see how she is doing.

Tatsuo walks up to the bathroom door, telling Queenie that the meet up was about to begin in a couple hours. A weak, muffled voice trembles from the other side, “ J-just go on ahead without me….”

*Return to the present.

Tatsuo: Well, after all that, you ended up tagging along with us...You could’ve left us instead.

Darren: Well, I figured I might as well hang around for a little while. At least until I see if Queenie is willing to help me.

Tatsuo: If anything, you can still help guide us after this tour is over, it’s only for today anyways.

Darren: That’s true.

A thought crosses Tatsuo that gives him pause.

Tatsuo: How about you stick with us for a bit longer after this instead?

Darren glances at Tatsuo puzzled.

Tatsuo smiles serenely: Come join our guild. I know you’ve told me your worries about joining one, but wouldn’t it help you more to look for your mentor as you travel with us? We’re both looking for people anyways. Why search alone when we can search together?

A stunning proposition that Darrren wasn’t expecting. He had always rejected the notion as he never entertained the thought of being in one in the first place. His goal was always aligned to simply finding his brother and mentor. However, what Tatsuo told him was intriguing. In this case, perhaps he would make progress if he were to join them; especially if Queenie were to help back him with funds.

Darren:…That’s somewhat reasonable…I’ll think about it.

Tatsuo and Darren’s attention diverges back to Dr. Crogsbell and his ongoing narrative.

Dr. Crogsbell: Here in Argonaut, we are widely regarded as one of the most highly advanced cities in not just Irene, but in all of Beria! As such, we pride ourselves with the recognition as pioneers in modern technology!

Dr. Crogsbell gestures his arm towards the side of the street, directing their attention to a smithing corner, “Whether it comes to magical or non-magical, we do them all!”

The group gazes at the metalsmiths working with Victor seeming exceptionally excited.

Dr. Crogsbell: Because of this, we often receive all sorts of commissions from kingdoms and cities all around the world!

Dr. Crogsbell: Likewise, we are credited towards a multitude of technological advancements and breakthroughs! One example being the development of the train vehicle, entrusted to us by no other than the world renown engineer Otis Richards whom I spoke of earlier!

Dr. Crogsbell lures the group’s attention towards the steam powered vehicles on the streets, as well as the puffs of smoke rising from the nearby houses.

Dr. Crogsbell: With the development of the steam engine, we’ve incorporated this function into our very society, creating a self-sustaining city powered by steam! Once we’ve reached one of my labs, I can show you all the steam generators that run this city, along with the other magnificent inventions this city has to show!

Someone approaches the party: Ah, are these the ones who came to pick up their device?

Dr. Crogsbell: Ah, there you are. Yes, these are the folks sir.

The mysterious person walks over to the group, towering over them, “Hello, it is my pleasure to meet you all.”

The man wears black long pants and a large, black trench coat over an armored black vested shirt.

???: My name is Heymlir, and I am the mayor of this city.

Heymlir: Might I be frank to ask, which one was it that called for this appointment with me?

Sharon: Ah, that person isn’t currently here right now, so we’ve been sent instead. We’re actually a guild.

Heymlir: I am well aware of that. I too, used to be a part of a guild… – He mutters the last part quietly to himself.

Heymlir’s comment left Sharon slightly confused. Was he aware of their guild, Geld? A guild that was made recently?

Heymlir distances himself away from the group, turning his back towards them, “No matter, we will carry out the duties with you folks then. I understand that things don’t always go as planned, and so improvisation is always needed.”

Heymlir: Has the project been finished for our clients yet?

Dr. Crogsbell: But of course! The project is completed and is ready for rollout any time!

Heymlir’s cheeks puff with a sincere smile: I am grateful to have a talent such as you, Crogsbell, in our city. Sorry to have tasked you with the tour, an urgent meeting came up and….

Dr. Crogsbell: No worries, I know how busy things can get for you.

Heymlir: In that case I’ll leave the rest to you then.

Heymlir ashamedly brings his hand to the back side of his head, slightly bowing to the group, “Apologies for the short stay, but it was a pleasure to meet you all.” – Just as he’s about to leave, Tatsuo asks the mayor a question.

Tatsuo: Wait. Since you’re the mayor, I want to ask you something. Do you know anybody with the name of Veloren Aund Gerfuden? I was told that he lived in this city.

Heymlir (gasps): That name… – His mouth leaves itself slightly open in surprise.

Heymlir: No, I do not.

Tatsuo’s face remains the same with his unchanged blank face; an answer he was already expecting. Of the countless times he has asked the same question over and over again for years, the answer was always the same. It had grown to the point where he had grown accustomed to it.

Heymlir: However, I do know someone who does.

In an unforeseen event to Tatsuo, his expression immediately lights up.

Heymlir: Would you like to meet him?