On the 2nd of The Scales of Judgment in 5152, Vincent meets with Tehodis Kitai for an SSPB assessment and training. The two meet at St. Lyra’s Diner on the pier, their first time meeting one another despite Tehodis being employed with the SSPB for several months.

At the diner, Vincent conducts a short interview. Tehodis answers his challenging questions almost perfectly. Most importantly, he questions her integrity and devotion to justice when it comes to social relationship. Her answer, and her insistence on the answer being correct, impresses him in his own pursuit of justice. Still, her resistance to lethal force does not suit his own ideals of justice.

After the interview, her physical training is to begin. They go to a firing range often used by the SSPB, which Vincent has privately reserved. He trains her in how to deal in self defense, and in physical apprehension of suspects. Tehodis fails again and again, until finally something clicks, and she manages to flip Vincent onto a mat. Vincent begins to theorize that her inherent magic, though she denies it’s existence, is the reason for her success. After several more attempts, he finds his hypothesis confirmed.

They move on to weaponry, and Vincent quickly catches on to Tehodis’ dislike of the very idea of them. He tells her that a criminal will not halt due to just a badge, and while she has been shown to be capable of defending herself, subduing a criminal is a different matter. He shoots at a target as he explains, nailing the target perfectly in the leg. He goes over the pistol with her, and after everything is explained, he assigns her to fire to incapacitate the target.

Tehodis tries, she does, but she admits that she can’t. She insists that she use something else, and that Lord Woodrow does not use a pistol. Vincent offers her other options, noting that she will require ample proficiency to be approved. She selects a rapier, which Vincent is capable of training her with. She fails in her first attempt - but they continue on, training for most of the day. Eventually, he dismisses her, and approves her use of the rapier. Before she leaves, he gives her his postbox number, so that they can continue their training - he sees too much potential in her for them to stop now.

Before they part, Tehodis asks Vincent if he has any family that she might have met, noting that she recognized him somewhat. Vincent is caught off guard by the question, but tells her that he does not. (Careful Tutelage)

Returning from his trip to Acheron, Lord Woodrow summons Vincent to his home. Woodrow recounts his trip to Acheron, describing to Vincent how Christel Lirrae of Enezenn, Dirys refused the SSPB’s aid, and informed Ruiha Maytal of Liesdro to do the same. However, he tells Vincent, Elias Harel of Muerte agreed to the SSPB’s conditions, and by mid-year 5153 Woodrow expects the offices in Muerte to be moving at full force.

Woodrow also explains his meeting with Doctor Thomas Dunn, and how pleased he is to have the man’s work under the SSPB’s control, as opposed to more dangerous powers.

Vincent is pleased about the developments in Muerte, optimistic to see justice done against Harel’s campaign against beastfolk. Vincent is less pleased about the scientist, mildly jealous, but moreso concerned over what he sees as a shady deal. He asks Woodrow what it cost them, and Woodrow responds to nearly nothing - particularly in comparison to another scientist Eliza Edroit’s ask. The SSPB gains exclusive use of Dunn’s technologies for mild funds, and the SSPB’s provision of a pirate subject.

Woodrow changes the topic of the conversation to Tehodis Kitai, segueing from her capture of one such potential pirate subject in Plague. Vincent explains Tehodis’ surpassing of his expectations, with a bit of surprise, and Woodrow expresses how he knows talent, and once saw it in Vincent himself - which he was clearly right about.

Vincent brings the conversation back to Doctor Dunn, insisting that there must be some ulterior motive. Woodrow offers Vincent the opportunity to bring the prisoner herself to Dunn, so that he can make his own assessment. He includes a barb to Vincent’s integrity, which Vincent silently fumes over. He agrees to Woodrow’s offer, however.

Vincent then moves the conversation to a missive they received from Feofil Peti, who is asking Woodrow to hold a meeting with Pelagia Xista. He agrees sourly, asking Vincent to book the meeting for the following afternoon. Vincent is then dismissed, though not without praise for his work in Woodrow’s absence. (Right Hand Man)

Two days later, Vincent travels to Artavia to meet with Doctor Dunn, bring the prisoner Plague to him, and make his own assessment on the man Woodrow has agreed to work with. Vincent arrives on an SSPB air ship with other SSPB officers and the captive pirate. Tom meets them at the docks, and the two share falsely pleasant greetings. Vincent’s initial impressions are negative.

Vincent informs Dunn that the prisoner won’t be handed off yet, as he has been sent to inspect Dunn’s facilities. The two takes Tom’s personal aeroplane to his facilities, as the place is not reachable by road or rail, and Tom insists there’s no way for a proper airship to land there. On the trip, Tom makes a point to pull off a dangerous and exciting maneuver, much to Vincent’s annoyance.

Tom flies the two past the fences guarding the Mutant Fields from the fields upon fields of buffer between it and proper society, before landing before the old Abandoned Hospital in Artavia. Vincent is immediately unimpressed, and concerned with the location. Tom is quick to defend it. He notes that he has never seen a mutant, that radiation tests returned negative, and he has erected powerful fences and doors to protect the facility in case the conspiracies turned out to be true - which they hadn’t. Vincent silently notes all of this, recalling his own experiences with the area, and his certainty that the rumours have validity.

Inside, Vincent finds the hospital to be pristine. At least, what remains out of use. He insists on seeing the areas in use, particularly the patients Tom has told him are present. Tom introduces Vincent to one Mr. Schumacher, one of his patients from Dirys. Tom explains to Vincent that the man had a brain tumor, which the doctors in Dirys were incapable of helping with. Schumacher seems to be in impressive condition. Vincent does a few of his own tests, and finds that to be the truth, though it only continues to raise his suspicions. One case is not enough for Vincent, however, who demands to see more of Tom’s patients.

Tom has eleven patients at the hospital total, each with varying problems with other the spine or brain. The last of which is a woman who had been unable to walk since a mine collapse years ago, who was now wiggling her toes. Vincent finds it all to be too perfect.

Tom shows Vincent the remainder of the space. As they pass Tom’s study, Vincent’s eyes catch a hard back copy of his own parents’ paper on the subject of flying transportation out on one of the coffee tables. He then shows Vincent where Plague’s quarters would be, with state of the art locking mechanisms to ensure her containment. He also offers to give Vincent the code. Vincent lets the offer pass, sure that he will not be giving Tom the pirate at all.

Vincent examines the room, noting the children’s books on the shelf, and questions their presence, challenging Tom that his mind control creates a mental regression. Tom combats this in two ways. At first, he clarifies that he has not tested on sentient beings, but that the idea behind his innovation is to add a higher priority motivation, like Enchantment magic. He chose the books, he tells Vincent, because patients following brain surgery can recover faster with children’s material. They create connections in the brain, and they also condition the brain. Ending the conversation there, Tom invites Vincent to stay for a meal, which Vincent agrees for the sake of working secrets out of Tom.

In the kitchen, Tom introduces Vincent to ACACIA-GREEN, though names her as Miss Lily Green, his assistant. Green is rather hospitable with Vincent, who recognizes that she is something strange immediately. It takes him a moment to figure it out, but he realizes that she must be a Merfolk - one of the old kind. She clarifies for him that merfolk don’t actually have names - also confirming his suspicions of her being a merfolk.

Green doesn’t eat right away, which raises Vincent’s suspicions. He questions this, and she responds that, as per proper table manners, the cook should eat only once all guests had, and since he had been taking notes instead of eating, she was waiting. Her tone indicates this seems to be a rude question. Vincent responds by pushing his plate away, and denoting his loss of appetite. This annoys Green, but Tom talks her down, and asks if Vincent minds if they finish eating, which he permits.


After a time of eating in silence, Vincent restarts his questioning, asking Tom what he does in his leisure time. Tom admits he has little, but he reads and works on his aeroplane when he’s able to. Vincent further questions Tom’s reading material, and Tom explains his appreciation for scientific papers, including local scientists like the Laerettis, who had tragically died. Tom brings the meeting to an end, then, seeing no further point in continuing if the talk was to be personal chit-chat, and Green clears after their meal.

At this conclusion, Vincent gives Tom his decision. He tells Dunn he is not fully convinced, and that he will return to Woodrow to discuss. Tom appears empathetic as he tells Vincent that he has been misinformed. The tour had been for his benefit, a favor. The contract already signed the pirate girl into his possession. Vincent demands to see the contract, and pours over it, already annoyed at Woodrow as the document is thick. Upon realizing that Dunn is telling the truth, Vincent sarcastically congratulates Dunn on both wasting his time, and obtaining legal amnesty from the SSPB. Tom tells him that all of it is a mere protection, and that - as Vincent had seen - everything under Tom’s purview was run well to code.

Tom offers to bring Vincent back to his vessel, and places a guiding hand to his back. Vincent reacts abruptly, striking Tom forcefully in the arm. The two stare at one another for a moment, and Vincent leaves Tom with a thinly veiled threat before leaving and summoning his airship to bring Plague in. He shoves Plague to Tom, and then turns to leave, going up a dropped rope ladder to his floating airship.

Back on the ship, Officer Edmund asks how well it went, to which Vincent responds that it went well for Dunn, but insists that any arrangement of Woodrow’s that is successful is good for them. Edmund obviously recognizes that Woodrow is not faultless. Vincent ensures that they will be back. (Battle of Wits)

On the 10th of The Winter Storm, Vincent finds himself in Artavia. He tracks and follows Adria Tiira who is spending a day of leave in the city of Restia. It soon becomes clear that the two know each other, and that Adria believed Vincent to be dead.

In Altuena the two continue their reunion, Adria knowing that in Restia there were too many who would clearly recognize her. It is revealed that when Adria was in her twenties, and was a low-ranking officer in the Artavia military, she was one of 14-year-old Vincent’s training officers. She had not thought much of Vincent initially, believing him to be spoiled and all too morally stubborn, but the more he worked and proved himself, the more impressed she had become. Adria even came to know Vincent’s family, including Endless - a fellow Moonborn. In fact, they were so close that Adria told Vincent of her dreams to one day infiltrate Storisina’s library, something he could certainly never approve of.

When the Laeretti family was killed, Adria had hoped she would hear news of survivors, but that news never came. It was all of these reasons and more that made Adria want to punch Vincent as he revealed himself. Ten years she had thought he was dead, and now he had shown back up. Adria realizes that he needs something from her, and he has the dignity not to deny it.

Vincent explains to her what has happened with the SSPB, and that it connects to the sordid history of cover-ups performed by the Artavian government. Vincent goes on to explain the situation with the mind control scientist, including Woodrow’s contract with the man. After hearing the full explanation, Adria Tiira recognizes full well the man Vincent is speaking of. Vincent confirms it by telling her Thomas Dunn’s name, and tells her that all of his attempts to find leads, or anything that could terminate the contract.

Adria Tiira knows that if she says anything, it can damn her country. It is a cover up, and the Artavia government is responsible for war crimes because of their involvement in The Acacia Project. Not only would this severely damage her country, but it could also start an all-out war between Artavia and Malscure, due to Tehodis Kitai’s kidnapping, and Imperator Tristan Cowell’s involvement with her. And so, Adria tells Vincent that there is nothing for him here, which he realizes means that there is nothing she can tell him.

Instead, Adria tells Vincent that Artavia is the only country in the world with laws against mind control technology, and that all on Artavia soil - or even Artavian citizens outside of Artavia - must abide by the regulations. She describes this as Artavia Legal Code C027, which defines that the subject must be a volunteer, someone who has volunteered by someone who has legal authority over them, or a criminal who has not paid the due sentence for their crime. It was helpful, and it is all she can give him.

The two turn to catching up before Vincent must return to Submiere, old friends together once more. (Hello, Old Friend)