• 1696
• Alvero
  We've finally arrived in Valencia.

• 1697
• Juan
  Look at all the military ships!

• 1698
• Alvero
  Is this the fleet he was talking about, do you think?

• 1699
• Juan
  We'll never find that ship again among all these!

• 1700
• Alvero
  ...We don't have to.
  I've got a good idea where the pepper is headed.

• 1701
• Juan
  You do? Where?

• 1702
• Alvero
  The house of the Duke of Alba, Spanish Chancellor here in town.
  I've been thinking about this a lot, and there aren't many people my father would go out of his way to get pepper to like this.
  There are probably only a few high ranking Spaniards it could be.

• 1703
• Alvero
  So this is the mansion of the Duke of Alba...
  the final destination of the pepper?!

• 1704
• Soldier
  You there! State your business!

• 1705
• Alvero
  ...Ah, no...
  well, we...

• 1706
• Soldier
  No answer huh?! How suspicious! What are your names and affiliation?

• 1707
• Alvero
  I am Alvero from Lisbon.
  Alvero Sarmiento.
  (Ah! I went and used my real name!)

• 1708
• Soldier
  What...?! My most humble apologies! A relation of Lord Sarmiento.
  Please, just wait a moment.

• 1709
• Alvero
  ...Eh? Ah, no need...
  to do anything...

• 1710
• Soldier
  The Duke will see you.
  Please follow me into his study.

• 1711
• Juan
  (What should we do...?)

• 1712
• Alvero
  (Let's just see what happens.)

• 1713
• Alvero
  (This is the one getting the pepper from my father...)

• 1714
• Juan
  (What are we going to do?! We'll get caught!)

• 1715
• Steward
  Go inside.
  The Duke of Alba awaits in the study.

• 1716
• Duke of Alba
  You are Mr.
  Sarmiento's son, Alvero? I take it your father is well.

• 1717
• Alvero
  Y-Yes, thank you.

• 1718
• Duke of Alba
  And how can I help you today?

• 1719
• Alvero
  Ah, so...
  well...
  are you aware that someone has been asking around concerning the pepper in Las Palmas?

• 1720
• Duke of Alba
  I am...
  but there is no need to worry about it.
  I have more than enough pepper now, so I think it is time for us to both withdraw from this endeavour.

• 1721
• Alvero
  (Just as I thought...)

• 1722
• Duke of Alba
  I'm sorry, but I must cut this meeting short.
  I've got more urgent things to take care of.
  Oh, I almost forgot.
  Please tell your father that the fleet's preparations are under way and they can be dispatched on time, according to schedule.
  He's got nothing to worry about.

• 1723
• Alvero
  (...Fleet??)

• 1724
• Messenger
  Duke of Alba! Our armada has been attacked in the Antwerp offing and taken massive damage! We need to send reinforcements!

• 1725
• Duke of Alba
  What!? How is that possible? That's a lie! They don't possess such firepower!

• 1726
• Duke of Alba
  ...About the news on the fleet...
  tell him that the fleet in the Netherlands needed some immediate aid and that I won't be able to dispatch the fleet to him as planned...
  I must get going now.

• 1727
• Alvero
  ......!?

• 1728
• Alvero
  ...So my father is involved...?!

• 1729
• Juan
  He's gone...

• 1730
• Juan
  Alvero, Player, tell me...
  what's an "armada"?

• 1731
• Alvero
  ...I don't know.
  But I think this confirms that my father is secretly working with the Spaniards...
  for something.
  Everything is coming together...
  unfortunately.

• 1732
• Juan
  What? What do you mean?

• 1733
• Alvero
  ...Let me explain.
  My father used his position to borrow the power of the king and take the rights for the pepper from Admiral Gama.
  He's then been using this pepper to get into favour with the Duke of Alba, secretly, and they are planning something together.
  Baltazar was left to die because he would get in the way of what they were planning...

• 1734
• Juan
  ...Still, Alvero...
  I'm sure...

• 1735
• Alvero
  I want to think it's a mistake too! But we've investigated everything there is to investigate.
  And look at all the proof we've turned up.
  I think the only choice, then, is to accept it all as the truth...
  I want to keep on believing, but...
  curses! I can't!

• 1736
• Juan
  Still...
  It isn't certain yet...!

• 1737
• Alvero
  ...I'm sorry.
  I just lost it for a moment there.
  I'll be okay...
  Let's go back to Lisbon.

• 22148
• In Valencia, a large number of warships were stationed there.
  They were unable to find the ship that they had seen in Las Palmas.
  However, Alvero said he had an idea as to where the pepper was headed; the Duke of Alba.
  He was the Spanish authority in this town.
  Player and the others went to his mansion.
  Alvero went up to question the palace guard at the gate, but accidentally gave his name as Sarmiento.
  Suddenly, the palace guard let him through and said they could meet with the Duke of Alba.
  Player and the others decided to play along and went in for their meeting with the Duke of Alba.

• 22149
• The Duke of Alba mistook Alvero for a messenger of Diego's and asked him why he was here.
  Alvero asked about the pepper, to which the Duke replied that he had received plenty of it.
  It was definite proof that Diego had secretly been working with Spain behind the scenes.
  Alvero was bewildered.
  As the Duke of Alba was showing them out, he requested that Diego convey a message that the dispatch of the fleet was proceeding without problems.
  Alvero and the others had no idea what this was in relation to.
  Just then, a messenger came into the room with an urgent message.
  "Our fleet was attacked off the shores of Antwerp and has suffered great damage! We must send reinforcements immediately!" Surprised by this news, the Duke of Alba told Alvero as he left the room, "...tell him that the fleet in the Netherlands needed some immediate aid and that I won't be able to dispatch the fleet to him as planned." Player and the others were left behind in amazement at what had just transpired.

• 22150
• Learning that Diego's collusion with Spain seemed all but certain, Alvero was filled with despair.
  Even Juan's reassuring words were unable to console the weeping Alvero.

• 22151
• After a while, Alvero regained his composure and made a decision to prevent Diego's secret dealings.
  And if his father refused to listen to him, then he would have no choice but to fight him.