"'Answers', huh? And what makes you think that a petty thief like the Zeaphyr fox would have any of those 'answers' you are looking for? Ever heard of 'chance'? I mean, by your description, the thing he stole was very valuable, so it's not an uncommon target for a thief trying to get rich," the woman explains, finally looking more interested in the story of this strange man who had interrupted her evening plans so rudely.

The man nods and replies, "You are correct...um, I'm sorry, it only occurred to me just now that I failed to introduce myself. Such poor manners. Please call me 'Sebarius'. And as far as I am informed, your names are...Crystal and Aiko, are they not?"

"You are surprisingly well informed," the woman he referred to as 'Crystal' nods in approval.

"Gathering information is the bread and butter of every scholar worth their money. You don't get very far in this business, if you don't pay attention to details."

"Something your profession has in common with ours, it would seem. More often than not, we also need to rely on rumors and hearsay to find what we are looking for...though I'd really love to hear how you even found us here...it's not like we are in the habit of telling people where we are going."

Sebarius chuckles lightly and replies, "I will get to that, no worries...suffice it to say, that nobody is as invisible as some would like to be in this world of ours. Anyway, I must keep these things in order, otherwise I'll end up messing up the ever so important details...and we wouldn't want that, after all you'll need all the info you can get if you are to take my comission, right?"

"...I still fail to see how your story has anything to do with what you'd have us do...but I must admit that I am intrigued. So please, by all means, go ahead."

"Thank you, Miss Crystal."

You are correct in suggesting that it could have been mere chance, that the Zeaphyr Fox attempted to steal a relic connected to these ruins and therefor to the great reset...however as they say, 'once is chance, twice is suspicious, thrice is a pattern.'

The ruins pointed to a number of other sites, scattered all across the country...and interestingly enough, there have been reported sightings of the Zeaphyr fox at a surprisingly high number of these sites...but I am getting ahead of myself...let me start with the mansion, the place where it started.

According to the books I found in the local library, the mansion itself, belonged to a rather wealthy family by the name of 'Vulpus, which also gave the village itself its name. 'Vulponia'.

Sebarius carefully monitors the two hooded women while speaking, but if there had been a reaction to be caught, it was well hidden within the shadows their cloaks were casting.

After not getting any sort of reaction, he continues to not cast any needless suspicion on himself.

"Did you know, that 'Vulpus' means 'Fox' in an ancient language?" he asks to make up for the pause he had caused, which fetches him a, "Yes. Your point? Are you implying, that the Zeaphyr fox is of that 'Vulpus' family or something, because they call themselves 'fox'?"

Sebarius pinches the bridge of his nose and shakes his head, "No, I don't think so...after all, the Zeaphyr fox had been active years before the ruins even had been discovered. This one I truly believe to be a coincidence."

"Carry on then. What makes you think the Zeaphyr fox even went there?"

Sebarius taps on the picture he had pulled out at the beginning of the conversation and explains, "This is the crest of the family of Vulpus, as illustrated by the various depictions scattered all across the mansion...and, ever since a little while ago, it has become the trademark symbol of the Zeaphyr fox. Whenever the authorities question the witnesses of the daring deeds of the Zeaphyr fox, everyone seems to have seen something different. But all reports coincide in 'a necklace in the shape of a fox head with glowing eyes'. So I have more than enough reason to believe that the Zeaphyr fox has been to that mansion and picked up the necklace from there."

Sebarius notices a likely involuntary fidget from the mostly silent Aiko from the corner of his eye as he talks, but decides to let it go for the time being and instead continues, "It was only after the landslide was reported to the authorities, reports about the Zeaphyr fox really started to flare up all over the place. And, as a bonus, wherever the Zeaphyr fox was sighted, ruins from the time before the great reset had been found. Which leads me to the conclusion, that the Zeaphyr fox is by no means a regular thief just looking for treasure. No, he is looking for something else...something that is somehow connected to the great reset."