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She s like flowers I like living in the city, where I can demand modern conveniences Do you realize I can send for Terris food at any hour of the night, and have it delivered?"

"Incredible" It actually was He hadn’t realized that was possible

"As h Ithere I don’t iene" She leaned in "And, to be perfectly honest, I have no proble men like you be the ones to belt on revolvers and shoot people Does that make me a terrible traitor to ood at shooting things, though"

"Well, shooting things is okay But people?" She shivered "I know the Ascendant Warrior is a model for self-actualized women We have classes on it at the university, for Preservation’s sake, and her legacy is written into the law But I don’t really want to put on trousers and be her I feel like a coward for adht," he said "You have to be yourself But none of that explains why you are studying law"

"Oh, I do want to change the city," she said, growing eager "Though I feel that tracking down every cri at high speeds is a terribly inefficient way to do it"

"Sure can be fun, though"

"Leta little more, and came out with soenerally act in response to their surroundings Rehs, and how there are often more lawkeepers per person there than here? And yet, crime is more prevalent That’s the result of environes "This is a report," she said "I’ether myself It’s about the nature of crime as related to environment See here, this discusses the major factors that have decreased criingThey are of medium efficacy"

"What’s this at the bottom?" Waxillium asked

"Renovation," she said with a deep smile "This case is where a wealthy man, Lord Joshin himself, purchased several parcels of land in one of the less reputable areas He began renovating and cleaning up Crie, just their environment Now that area is a safe and respectable section of the city

"We call it the ‘broken s’ theory If a , he’s ures nobody cares If all the s are s washed, then crioes down Just as a hot day can make a person irritable, it appears that a run-down area can make an ordinary man into a criminal"

"Curious," Waxillium said

"Of course," she said, "this isn’t the only answer There will always be people who don’t respond to their surroundings They fascinate ood with nuures I see patterns like this and wonder Cleaning up a few streets can be cheaper than e reater degree"

Waxillium looked over the reports, then back at Marasi She had a flush of excite about her How long had they been here? He hesitated, then pulled out his pocket watch

"Oh," she said, glancing at the watch "We shouldn’t be chatting like this Not with poor Steris in their hands"

"We can’t do more until Wayne returns," Waxillium said "In fact, he should have been back by now"

"He is," Wayne’s voice said fro out a faint yelp

Waxilliu have you been out there?"

Wayne’s head poked around the corner, wearing a constable’s hat "Oh, a little while See some kind of ‘smart people’ moment Didn’t want to interfere"

"Wise of you Your stupidity can be infectious"

"Don’t use your fancy words ’round h he wore the constable’s hat, he was otherwise nor canes at his hips

"Did you succeed?" Waxilliu down to help Marasi to her feet

"Sure did--I got sorinned "And the dirty conners even paid for them"

"Wayne?"

"Yes?"

"We’re dirty conners"

"Not no more," he said proudly "We’re independent citizens with athe scones of dirty conners"

Marasi gri when described that way"

"Oh, they were good" Wayne reached into the pocket of his duster "Here, I brought you soh"

"No, really," she said, paling

Wayne, however, chuckled and brought out a paper that he waved at Waxilliu with the naerly, rushing over to take the paper "How did you do this?"

"Whiskey and ic," Wayne said

"In other words," Waxilliu the paper over Marasi’s shoulder, "Wayne did a lot of fast talking Nice work"

"We need to get going!" Marasi said, urgent "Go there, get Steris, and--"

"They won’t be there any several of their et this without the constables hearing?"

He looked offended "What do you think?"