"Cool!" Tamako says, losing interest in the compass and grabbing at the medicine."Can you make gold? What's the equivalent exchange rate on that?"

"I wish I was that good at alchemy." Kamiko says chuckling slightly and scooping up the potions before your daughter can get at them. "I'd be wearing much nicer things if that were the case."

You ask if she made the potion that she put in your dinner.

"W-well... Yes. Sorry. I swear I'll never do it again." The large woman says meekly.

While she packs, you ask if the table supplies are for everyone or if they are each getting something to carry.

"It's for everyone! The load is light load because it's an easy mission, so I'll just carry it." She says as she buckles the rucksack to herself. "It's no problem."

"Dang, I wanted to try carrying a backpack..." Tamako says as the three of you begin your journey to breakfast. "Wanted to carry instead of being carried like a baby."

During your elevator ride you tell Kamiko what you know about the mission, and about 'The Princess Who Never Laughed'.

"O-oh... I'm not good with comedy. Hopefully the story provides something for us to make her laugh, or maybe a hint as to what she finds funny." she replies. After giving it a few moments thought continues, "Do you know many jokes?"

You shrug and say you've made some zingers, but nothing that caused uproarious laughter.

"I know some funny anime." Tamako says, also shrugging.

Your group find Zul and Hilde in the Commissary quickly, or to be more precise the alien spots your tall coworker and gives a wave. After grabbing food, you all sit down and the Martian begins to brief you more on the mission ahead.

"The site is the ruins of an old castle in Saxony. The portal to the story has extended so much that it's beginning to phase with reality."

"My goodness, how did it go unnoticed for so long?" Kamiko says, moving on from a medium rare slice of meat and sipping on a bottle of Mijiu.

You put down your fork of bacon and eggs and ask if 'phasing with reality' makes it more dangerous.

"Not really. It means that it becomes far easier for civilians to wander into it." Zul answers, "In fact, it makes things easier for us. It means we can use the gate here in base to travel there.."

"Nice!" Hilde says perking up slightly. "Hey, think we can stop by the Marketplace on the way back?"

"We aren't taking new recruits their on day one." Zul says flatly.

Hilde slumps in her chair with an exaggerated sigh.

Tamako leans over to Kamiko and says, "What's the Marketplace?"

Zul looks sternly at Kamiko, and taking a downplaying tone the agent answers, "U-um... Think of it like a giant department store. A very, very large and dangerous department store."

"It's not THAT bad!" The robot groans out, slumping so much she's nearly under the table.

"I wanna see!" Tamako says excitedly.

"We are getting off topic here." the alien says, "Where was I... Well, any questions before I continue?"