1053: After 11 Months of Operation, We've Successfully Regressed from an Open World to Linear Storytelling (Sigh)

"Knock, knock."

The dawn-time knocking interrupted Murphy as he worked at his desk. He looked up from the mountain of books and papers piled there and saw Triss walk into the room with a cup of coffee.

The Bloodheart hung around her neck, its scattered glimmers of light circling her chest. It lent Triss's already generously endowed figure a touch of unusual "holiness." She looked every bit like a gentle, virtuous wife checking on her husband as he worked through the night, and a trace of warmth softened Murphy's eyes. But before he could manage a relieved smile, Triss sat down on the sofa, lifted the richly fragrant coffee, and took a sip.

Murphy's expression fell completely.

Well, then.

He'd thought she'd brought it for him. Apparently, he'd just gotten his hopes up.

"Why are you drinking coffee? Has the Blood Vulture Archduke finally managed to drink her wine cellar dry after spending every day drowning herself in alcohol?"

Murphy's face hardened.

"Don't come to me looking pitiful. With Transia's perpetually strained finances and its repeated near-brushes with bankruptcy, I can barely scrape together a few coins as governor. I can't afford to stock you with good wine."

"Do I need you to find me wine? What do you take me for, the mighty Blood Vulture Archduke?"

Triss curled her lip in disdain.

"I could hand out a few affection quests and get any fine wine I wanted. If I offered a few choice bottles from Salokdar's treasury as rewards, my capable little players might even cross the Gray Desert right now and raid the Dragon Emperor's cellar in the ancient kingdom of Kalem to bring me its finest vintages.

"But there's no need. Their talents should be put to more reasonable and important uses."

"Oh? Now it's 'my little