Don't accept too much just in case. [It's a light joke, but at the same time Percy's heard some strange things himself. That isn't important, this isn't the time.]

A role that can ask who has a role. That's something. I wonder if they have the option not to send notes. [Or. Better yet.] Dr. Lecter. Do you remember that note that was found with Manfred when his body was discovered? Do you think it's possible that was from them?

I don't think they may have been the ones to kill him. They could have put trust in him, sent him a note to meet and he saw Higekiri doing something shady? It's hard to say, I didn't know either of them very well before they died.

Unless the Madame and Bartender are like the Deputy where their role can double as both good and bad. Or they were working with the Bandits that week, saw Manfred as a threat and helped set the stage so Higekiri and the other Bandit could kill him. The problem is that this opens up way too many possibilities now.

The--right. Okay. [Now is really not the time to ask...]

That's safe to assume, but that's also assuming they're sending notes every week. They could be holding off for some reason. Worried they might get caught or something? It's hard to say. We could probably start asking around but how would that even go? "Hey are you receiving anonymous letters and or threats?"

I imagine keeping it a secret except for the few people we trust would be the best idea in case we come across one of those roles who would definitely like to kill us. Aren't you the one who told me to exercise some caution?

[He raises an eyebrow but. You know. He's not going to comment on it considering that sometimes Percy's also a bad child. But at least he has all of his limbs and zero injuries so that's something!]

Dr. Lecter, most of the people in this town are probably starting to get antsy for something to do. It makes sense. [But he has a point.] You think maybe using the same method we talked about with Ezio would smoke some of these people out? Vague hinting and asking around, I mean. It's not a bad idea but...there's eleven of them.

[So. You know. Might be a little harder than we think.]

[He rolls his eyes.] Pretty sure it's also because I told him I knew the names of the roles. He seemed a little more agreeable when he knew that someone else already gave me that information. Anyway, he said that there's multiples of every role except for the Deputy and the Doctor and, like you said, that the Madame and the Bartender are working together. He told me about the stocks, too, but he kind of failed to mention that it was the Deputy's job. He just explained how the system worked which...you already heard from him, too.

I guess it's good to know he doesn't mind repeating information if he thinks people have earned it.

[Yeah, he's just watching Hannibal's face and nodding to himself since he went through this same process. "This doesn't make sen--oh."]

Something like that, from what I can tell. The Sheriff told us during the trial that the Bandits don't count as a role, so I don't think they're part of that eleven. Now you can see why I'm starting to doubt people, right? I don't know what to do here when there's a group of people definitely working against us.

[There's a harsh scowl.] Our Deputy's an asshole, and if I ever meet them...[Let's not make threats in front of the nice doctor.] Though that might help us narrow down who it might be, especially if we pay attention to who's getting thrown in the stocks.

If the pattern's based off of Jason and Annabeth, they're stubborn sometimes rude people. [He loves her so much, but. Yeah. She can be rude as fuck, it's why he loves her tbh.] People that would put up a fight, actually. That's what I came up with.

I don't understand it any better than you do, Dr. Lecter. I figured I didn't have enough merit to ask that part since he told me how many there were. What I wish is that there was an easier way to catch the Bandits. Figure out how they're picked and how they keep slipping past us. There has to be something behind that.

We'll see who ends up in the stocks this week and go from there. [Look considering Annabeth's letter includes calling him sweet petnames like "idiot" and "moron" and "Seaweed Brain" it's safe to say they both know the other person can be a pain in the ass. Love is definitely knowing your partner is a shithead and loving them anyway.

Regardless of that, he thinks back to what he knows.] I don't know about irritating people, but I know she's talked to Shinnosuke a few times. Jason, too. [Which will make this weird when they later learn who's in the stocks.] I think she was trying to get a feel for people first before really trusting them. Annabeth doesn't trust people very easily. Never has, probably never will.

I'd have to wonder about the Sheriff doing things just because he thinks it's funny, but he put a horse in my room on Monday. At this point, I think he's capable of just about anything. So who would make the most amusing Bounties?

[...an annoyed sigh.]

This is getting ridiculous. How are we supposed to find answers if this is based on what he thinks is funny?

[Too bad Percy doesn't know how Dr. Dad operates :c]

[...huh.]

Wouldn't that make someone like a sociopath?

I believe they call them monsters, Dr. Lecter. [Just a thought.]

...but I think it'll be pretty easy not to try and pretend I'm like the Sheriff, or anybody else that could have done any of these things. It's kind of a scary mindset, you know? I think I'll take my chances just asking him stuff based on how I do in trials. [There's a pleased look though.] But thank you for telling me everything you have. That's really helpful.

And this is why I'm not a professional. [But he's pretty okay with this.]

Of course, Dr. Lecter. Anything else I find out that might be helpful, I'll let you know. [And with that, he glances behind Hannibal's shoulder to the closed door.] We should keep moving so nobody else gets suspicious.