Jeko's jaw hung over, his brow sweaty. Regret filled every pore of his face. Before he could stammer out a response, a tug pulled his head backwards. As he leaned backwards uncomfortably, Lina hissed, "Poisoned crackers!?"

Jeko muttered, "H-hey, it's not like you can prove it. He ate them all! And Isaac didn't eat one! Of course he was able to drink more!" He grunted as Lina pulled harder, before her fingers worked. Jeko's eyes widened as she uncorked a small bottle that came from his pocket and moved it towards his face. "Ahhhh!"

"PAY UP!"

"You think we have that much on me!? We don't carry [i]money[/i]. Isaac doesn't lose!"

Propping him up, Lina kicked him in the rear, making Jeko stagger towards Isaac. Throwing the poison to the ground, she propped her fists on her hips, demanding, "Tomorrow morning. Chuck's house."

Jeko grumbled, and Lina turned, hoisting Chester up. "C'mon you." Thankful he was just conscious enough to hold on to her back, Lina headed to the door. As she arrived, Jeko nearly bumped into her, the two stuck with their drunk passengers.

Jeko blinked, "Who the hell is Chuck?"

Lina jabbed her finger, "Some old guy who lives that way! Just make sure [i]we[/i] get it!"

Jeko grumbled, before dragging Isaac out of the Cauldron. As Lina headed out, turning, she muttered, "Now, let's get you some water. Lots and lots of water..."

---

"Idiots."

In a lavish office, a window overlooked the sea, Jeko and a slumping Isaac stood in front of a wide desk, circled to look not unlike the crescent moon reflecting on the dark night water. Fingers interlocked, head bald, spotted, and wrinkled, small glass spectacles over his eyes, a man in a yellow suit with a scarf split down the middle in black and white hanging on his shoulders.

"Huh, I thought you'd be more mad," Jeko noted.

"Of course I'm mad you idiot!" Picking up a pistol, he fired suddenly at Jeko, the bullet hitting him in the chest. Jeko cried out, writhing in pain. Isaac looked around, clearly dazed, but most of his efforts seemed to be in standing straight. He wasn't particularly successful.

"Half a million is nothing, but it's a stupid amount for you two idiots to lose in one evening! And those drinks come out of your winnings! Do you know how much you two drank today!?" Jeko shrugged. "Neither do I."

As if on cue, a suited Quartz Company goon entered, handing a receipt over, before moving to the corner of the room and waiting. Looking it over, an eye twitched. He raising a gun and fired at Jeko again. Putting it down, he looked down at a lit cigar lying in an ashtray, before angrily snuffing it out. "Can't even enjoy myself now..." Glancing out at the ocean, he gritted his teeth, before slamming his fist on the desk. "Between this and the damages done the other day in both property and trust by those pirates, I'm tearing my hair out!"

"Y-you ain't got none," Jeko said, before yelping again as he was shot once more.

Waving his hand, Chief Goldenrod ordered, "Get out of here. I'll figure out what to do about this tomorrow." Jeko smiled, brushing off his shirt, three crumpled bullets falling off. As they bounced to the ground, he grabbed Isaac, pulling him along.

Goldenrod leaned back into his chair, thinking for a few minutes, before he acknowledged the man in the corner. "You're still here?"

He nodded, before beginning, "Chief, about that scholar: he's begun avoiding us."

Raising an eyebrow, Goldenrod scratched his chin, nodding, "Is that so, eh?"