Ambrose says "For services rendered to the city, intentional or not, I hereby grant you the title of Count of Illium."

Roddick says "Congratulations, Count Ash!"

"Alright, cut the crap! What are you two up to?"

Roddick says "I told you he wouldn't just accept it."

Ambrose says "Fine! We need you to become a noble to help us block a faction of the nobles that wants to kick out the summoned."

"Let me guess, the same nobles that spread the rumors?"

Ambrose says "The very same, they are causing more trouble."

"How does me becoming a noble help stop them?"

Roddick says "Because you own the street they live on you would be a landed noble. As such no other noble has the right to interfere with people living on your lands. So to get rid of the summoned they would first have to deal with you."

Ambrose says "We have been able to prevent things from getting violent so far but it is getting harder. If they have to go through you then any violence would be aimed at you first and we are confident you can handle it."

"Being a shield for the summoned is fine by me, but what else is being a noble going to entail?"

Ambrose says "Well, first you would have to attend a party in your honor tomorrow night. You will meet the other nobles and guildmasters there."

Roddick says "Also, depending on what noble faction you join will determine other responsibilities."

"Do I have to join a faction?"

Ambrose says "No, but doing so will make it easier to affect policies in the city."

"You know, I really wanted to avoid getting tangled up in politics."

Ambrose says "That is a funny thing for a future king to say."

Roddick says "Think of this as a learning experience. You should learn about politics before you are a king to avoid beginner mistakes."

"As much as I don't want it to, that does make sense."

Ambrose says "Don't worry, most of your noble duties can be pawned off on an able subordinate."

Roddick says "If you don't have anyone suitable I can help you find someone."

"I'm not sure, I will let you know. Do I have time to think about this or is it an immediate thing?"

Ambrose says "We need to know now so we can start the arrangements."

"And is this the only way?"

Ambrose says "Not the only way, but it is the best way."

"And you agree, Roddick?"

Roddick says "Actually I think letting you run rampant and kill a bunch of the annoying nobles is the best way, but I was out voted."

"I like that way better, can we do that?"

Ambrose says "No! Do you know how much paperwork I would have to do if you did that?"

"Alright, fine. You can make me a noble, but I won't promise not to kill any nobles."

Ambrose says "Please don't make my job any harder than it already is."

"Anyway, if the city is run by the guilds why do you even have nobles?"

Ambrose says "The guilds are more powerful than the nobles, that much is true. But most of the guilds have nobles as members so it isn't completely separated."

Roddick says "If the nobles ever gain enough power then we will have a king instead of a guildmaster. Luckily, the nobles can't work together well enough for that to be a likely outcome. That being said, the guilds don't always get along very well either."

"I guess I thought that Illium would have less problems like this since it is such a small country."

Ambrose says "I wish! If anything we have more because we have ambassadors from the three nations causing trouble on top of the normal problems."

"Oh, that reminds me, what do I need to do to claim and build the beastman embassy?"

Roddick says "Actually, nothing. The city is responsible for the embassies, once there is a beast king Ambrose here will have to take care of it."

Ambrose says "Ugh, don't remind me. At least I don't have to deal with that yet."

"Well, that's a load off my shoulders anyway."

Ambrose says "Any other questions or requests before I go back to my boring paperwork?"

"Actually yeah, any issues with me or my people joining the adventurers guild?"

Ambrose says "Not at all, they just have to pass the test like anyone else."

"Also, I asked Sarah to check but maybe you know already, who owns the streets adjacent to mine?"

Ambrose says "They used to be owned by a couple of nobles but when they became worthless they defaulted on their taxes. The city owns those streets now, do you want to buy them?"

"Actually, yes. How much?"

Ambrose says "Well, as a new noble I can give you a discount, say fifty thousand for each street."

"One hundred thousand for both? Done!"

Ambrose says "Good! Should I collect payment from the church?"

"No, I will have someone deliver the gold to you."

Roddick says "You have that kind of gold on hand? Maybe we should have made you more than a Count."

"Just keep in mind that no matter what title you give me the beastmen will come first."

Ambrose says "We have taken that into consideration when planning all this. Now any other business?"

"Ah, just one last thing, I need to hire a team of adventurers as escorts."

Ambrose says "An escort quest is fairly standard, anything special about this mission?"

"They will be going into the kingdom and bringing back a large amount of gold and possibly a village's worth of people."

Ambrose says "Okay, so only highly trusted adventurers. Still easily doable, how soon do you want them?"

"As soon as possible. They will be escorting Isabella."

Ambrose says "Alright, I'll make the arrangements today and they will be ready tomorrow morning. You will, however, be paying extra for a rush quest."

"That's fine, how much?"

Ambrose says "The team I am planning to use has five members, a rush quest like this will be twenty thousand gold per member, so another one hundred thousand."

"Okay, I'll pay for that now and buy the streets when they return."

Ambrose says "That's fine, no one else is going to want to buy them."