“Alright, then you definitely want to talk to me. With your cooperation, and me putting in a good word, then you shouldn’t expect more than a slap on the wrist. It lets me settle everything nice and quiet, and the Mercers don’t have to dump all the blame on you when everything goes public.”

Dean started when Jason said the name Mercer and Jason felt the hook set in.

“Dean, this is an opportunity for you. A chance to get out of doing shady jobs for other people and stand on your own as an adventurer. My guess, and what will be my recommendation, is that you get put on a road contract. A bit of travel, helping some people who need it. Most importantly, it gets you out from under everything while the situation gets settled. Then you can come back having proven that you can do your job.”

Dean looked uncertain.

“You don't do a lot of monster fighting, do you, Dean?”

Dean shook his head.

“That's alright,” Jason said. “On a road contract, you'll have people to back you up. Wouldn't you rather have someone better than Dink watching your back? You have all the tools you need to make it in life, Dean. You don't have to be the greatest adventurer in the world. You can live a good life just being an okay one.”

Jason kept his own expression under control as Dean looked thoughtful.

“That’s scenario one,” Jason said. “They gradually get worse from here. In scenario two, you keep your mouth shut, but don’t make a fuss. I don’t know all the details, so things get messy as what I do know starts loudly clashing with what I don’t. The Mercer name gets loudly bandied about, and not in a good way. They’ll be fine, of course, but I don’t think you’re the one they’ll be looking to protect in this situation, do you? Especially given that they’ll need someone to push all the blame onto. Best guess, they’ll come down on claiming the whole plot was you and Clementson.”

Jason knew that Dean didn’t even realise he was nodding as he thought it over.