The following day, Marda returns to town to hear from various members of PETA-MOO rumblings of people hunting hoar foxes. Marda is very deeply upset that people would dare kill such beautiful creatures; she comes into the office, venting out loud. Everyone ignores her, although the sound of lock clicking comes distinctly from Nen’s door. Yish excuses himself from yesterday, citing a solitary jam poetry session.
When Yish asks for more jobs, Nen replies that there are no more jobs, for other teams had taken care of the ones mentioned earlier. He also notes that the hyena job seems to have been a joke. Nen points out that the team that had taken that job is in the common area. Yish comes out of the office, tells his team that they should go home for the day, but then says “just kidding.”
Yish asks Marda if Sif has had puppies. She has not. Yish then asks Clarion if any progress has been made regarding research on the gems. Clarion reminds the party that they had been teleported by the blue gem and suggests that they spend the day threatening each other (the party thinks that the gem activates when the owner is in danger). But Clarion attempts to blindly activate the gem by smacking it against the wall. This results in a mishap, and Clarion gets hurt. Marda heals Clarion.
Meanwhile, Hnng stays in his office. Lilith is shaking a file in the air (maybe she’s filing her ghosts’ fingernails?).
Clarion suggests further investigation with the gem by putting someone in danger. Leaf is willing to put someone in danger. While Clarion is not keen on the idea of being put in danger of Leaf, Lilith doesn’t seem to mind.
Yish has a hunch that As You Wish might have information on the tentacle portal into which Vallan Dallinheart was pulled in. Hnng is somewhat embarrassed about the party going there, so he reveals that he recognized the tentacles as having come from a Roper. He knows that they are not used for pleasure (they tend to kill). So Yish orders Hnng to go to As You Wish by himself to find out more about the Roper.
Hnng goes home to change into proper attire, puts on a cloak to cover his attire, and then goes to As You Wish. He is greeted by name by a human girl wearing tight leather and much makeup. Hnng asks about the tentacles specialist; the girl responds that the tentacle specialist is out getting more wares, expected to return in an hour. Hnng decides to take advantage of this time.
Meanwhile, the rest of the party are sitting at the office, wondering what has happened to Hnng and his mission. After an hour, Yish gets rather worried and decides it is time to check up on Hnng. At this point, Clarion comes back upstairs and announces that Vallan is in good condition. Yish is very confused about how Clarion would know such information. Thus, Clarion reveals that she has had contact with demons. She further reveals that she has a non-disclosure agreement with them.
Clarion then explains that the devil network uses a blood circle communication system. Clarion then offers to get Yish set up with a contract. She explains that the price of the blood is not the payment; it’s just for initiating the connection. The charge is actually portions of your soul. In any case, Yish manages to figure out that Clarion’s NDA deals with the red gem. Clarion also admits that she doesn’t know anything about the red-garbed people. Yish then tries to use diplomacy to wheedle information out of Clarion, but Clarion’s understanding of the consequences for breaking her NDA prevents her from saying anything that would satisfy Yish.
All this time, Marda, has been ranting about the hoar fox. Yish brings a tranquilizing potion up to Marda and attempts to force her to drink it with magic. Marda’s will is too strong for Yish’s magic; Marda then throws the potion back at Yish and is very upset.
Finally, Hnng meets with the tentacle expert. The expert reveals that Raginmar would know more about Ropers. The expert suggests hiring a wizard to summon Raginmar. Hnng thinks of going to the succubus den to get contact with Raginmar (although Hnng has had a negative history with the succubus den). Hnng goes home, puts on a disguise, realizes along the way how bad his disguise is, and then returns home to put on his uniform and get back to the office.
When Hnng arrives at the office, Yish demands answers out of him. Hnng reveals Raginmar, and Clarion gives him a call. The call connects, and Yish asks questions trying to understand the situation. It becomes apparent that Raginmar is a seller of Ropers and other exotic monsters. Marda begins wondering whether Ropers have rights. Hnng wants to do business. Raginmar divulges that he sold a Roper to a red-robed demon 30 years ago.
Clarion spends the rest of the day building a metal stock for her crossbow. Yish goes to the Grog ‘n Coffee and asks about the Princess. The locals tell him that she runs away frequently, so news of her disappearance is not shocking; they expect her to reappear within a week. Moreover, Yish learns that the Princess is not the daughter of the current king; in fact, the current king is a usurper. As Yish enquires further concerning the past king, he meets closed lips.