The next day you learn that someone has questions for you...

The next morning passes for you in the usual routine.

Three steamships have left the mouth of a large river and are moving among the waves of the sea, with each passing minute moving further and further away from the shore.

After the midday meal, a couple of sailors approach you. One of them informs you that the commander of this flotilla has called you for a conversation.

Rear Admiral Lajos Buchanan wants to tell you something...

The sailors accompany you to the cabin of the Rear Admiral.

Entering the room, you see that Lajos Buchanan is leaning over a map, which is lying on a long oak table.

"You can both go..." - the Rear Admiral orders the sailors to leave the office.

Obviously, he wants your conversation with him to have no witnesses...

The sailors leave.

Lajos gestures with his hand to invite you to sit in one of the chairs, which is located near the table.

He lights his pipe.

The smell of tobacco fills the room.

The face of the Rear Admiral expresses thoughtfulness and concern. It seems that the wrinkles on his forehead have become more noticeable.

"Mr. Blake... We are all lucky in part... The Free City of Alma is a large city of important commercial importance... To worsen relations with the local government would be the worst option for us... However, you should be more careful in the future..." - he says.

"I thought that all misunderstandings were settled..." - you say.

"That is true... But do you remember what I mentioned? Material compensation alone was not enough... Their president demanded, among other things, a certain favor from me. And I had to agree for the sake of strengthening friendly relations between our countries..." - Lajos Buchanan says, looking at you fixedly, as if trying to understand the qualities of your character.

"A favor? What is the essence of this favor?" - you ask.

"My fleet will have to deviate slightly from the course... I would prefer that my steamships would sail along the usual route along the coast. Such a route would allow us to reach the harbors of Richloam in a week... This is a port city in the north of the island, on which the territory of the Republic of Florida is located..." - says Lajos.

Richloam...

You remember that in pre-war times this was the name of some wildlife reserve territory in the state of Florida...

"So, my steamships will have to sail south for about a day to reach the old rusty ruins of some ancient building, located in the middle of the sea... President Ecarto said that it is in the interests of her state to make sure that there are no threats in this sea area. And if there are threats, she said that the armed might of our three steamships will be able to cope with them..." - continues the speech of the Rear Admiral.

"Pre-war offshore oil platform?" - a guess appears in your mind.

It seems that President Matilda Ecarto was more cunning than you initially assumed. She used your "difficult situation" in the restaurant to gain maximum benefit for herself and her country.

"Mr. Blake! Are you listening to me?" - Rear Admiral looks at you with a demanding gaze.

"Yes, of course..." - you say, slightly embarrassed and distracted from your thoughts.

"My subordinates reported to me that you were invited to an audience with the President of the Free City of Alma. Tell me what this conversation was about. What did Matilda Ecarto demand from you? What promises did you make to her? Tell me everything in as much detail as possible!" - the voice of Lajos Buchanan sounds irritated.

It seems that he expects additional problems due to your communication with the president...

You recall what happened and blush slightly with shame...

"Mr. Blake! As far as I understand, you do not have extensive experience in politics and diplomacy... The Free City of Alma is a rich state in the region. By order of the Director of the Republic of Florida, I must establish friendly diplomatic relations with other states. But this does not mean that I will ignore the risks! As far as I know, the Free City of Alma has been ruled for many years by people from only two rich families, who have concentrated in their hands dominion over the politics, economy and military of this city. Within these two families, there are intrigues and disagreements - but the general political logic of this state remains unchanged! Almians try to profit from everything! They even allow some pirates (for a solid fee) to sail through the mouth of the river to the north! They call this shit "Healthy competition in line with the Idea of ​​​​Freedom!" What is your version - how did such pirate bastards as Noseless Pete manage to travel hundreds of miles north along the river? They just paid for the right of passage…” - your silence is becoming increasingly irritating to Lajos Buchanan.

“But I have some duties… I am the ambassador of the Kingdom of Utrecht…” - you mutter.

Rear Admiral sighs heavily…

"Montgomery Ratcliffe... The recently elected head of our state has surprised many with the activity with which he has begun to implement his campaign promises regarding external expansion and deepening diplomatic ties with neighboring communities... I will be honest - not all citizens of the Republic of Florida are happy with what is happening. All this entails risks... And casualties... Regarding our expedition, I can already say that out of three hundred people on the steamships' crews, almost one hundred were injured. And 43 sailors died. And I do not want information to be concealed from me, because of which the number of these victims may increase! Therefore, I demand that you tell me in as much detail as possible about your communication with President Ecarto!" - the "rudiments" of anger can be felt in the voice of Lajos Buchanan.

So, will you give in to his demands?

Will you really tell everything about that "intimate" conversation with Matilda Ecarto?

Or will you refuse to divulge the information, using your diplomatic status as Ambassador of the Kingdom of Utrecht as an argument?

Or will you try to combine lies and silence in your answer?

For some reason, you have a presentiment that your answer may influence future events in some unexpected way...