Returning to the Fortress of Meropide, the Traveler and Paimon remark about the prison facilities before they hear a voice from the box. The voice, from a man named Faissolle, tells them that he had taken a short nap before noticing his hat was gone near the elevator lift. The Traveler and Paimon offer to help and go look for it to no avail, so they end up buying one from the Rag and Bone Shop. Instead of finding Alvard, they find a person named Chamboduc, who’s helping running the store in his stead.
Chamboduc is surprised and honored to meet the pair, as word of their status and feats have spread across the prison coupled with them being Wriothesley’s friends have made them the talk of the prison. Chamboduc allows them to take the hat and waives the cost, as Alvard simply lets him take items instead of being paid with Mora or Credit Coupons. Paimon buys two snacks at his urging before they leave.
The pair return to Faissolle and give him the hat, which he realizes isn’t the one he needs. Just then, Wriothesley arrives and gives him his hat, telling him not to misplace it next time as a member of the Beret Society. Faissolle leaves, prompting Wriothesley to talk a bit about the Beret Society and how they’re model prisoners, offering to bring them to the society if they’re interested. First, they stop at the Coupon Cafeteria, where Wolsey offers them drinks in place of a Super Deluxe meal due to their unexpected arrival. As they sit down and drink, Wriothesley explains about the prison and how he became its Administrator.
Just then, a guard named Guelet arrives and informs Wriothesley that they found contraband in the latest shipment, which the smugglers had been using for a while as they try to find the source. Wriothesley requests the box be left to him, where Paimon finds nothing special. He states that it would be confiscated, but allows Paimon to pick one item of her choosing.
Paimon picks the gem, but as she does so, she decides otherwise. She explains that as soon as she picked up the gem, a ton of bad memories suddenly emerged. Wriothesley tries it and confirms Paimon’s statement, prompting the Traveler to do so, causing them to be flooded with memories of the Abyss and their sibling. Paimon decides to not take anything from the box, fearing that it might be tainted. Wriothesley then offers to bring them to the Beret Society.
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