"You could always try to follow the money into here, mhmmm-ah-ah?"

"Ah, my own mentat, Grix Dardik, has concluded that the... uhm-ah... financial settlement must be happening off Arrakis. Illegal spice needs daring clients, or...ah-hmmm... professional laundering services." The Count raised his gaze to the high ceiling to not look at anyone in particular.

"If I may, I understand the limitations of our authority and even of our mere presence here; however, everywhere we go with forewarning has been prepared or purged. As you have stated, assuming we find an illicit mining operation, if we can not firmly connect it to the Harkonnens then it will all b...

Bom nodded. "Rabban at spice blow. Must be with collectors. Why he's not home," he replied. His terse words are what he likely expected. But there was a definite darkness in his eyes. Bomilcar likely was thinking about sliding his saex into the Harkonnen's side right now. "False Wall West." "So thi...

"Your personal honesty has not been... ah... in question, Mr. Reins." Fenring reassured him. "That admirable quality may not be enough to... umh-ah... divert the Emperor's displeasure though. House Londine exists solely at the Emperor's pleasure, I needn't... ah... remind you." Then his gaze venture...

"Ah-ah, Mr. Reins, have you been aware that Lord Rajiv has been very... mmmm... politically active on Kaitain, building a coalition in the Landsraad against the.. hmmm... Imperial spice surtax? So out of character for his... ah... usual backroom dealing tactics. Such desperation cannot help but rais...

"So you... ah-ah... met Lord Rabban?" Fenring spoke again. "We haven't seen him... mmmm... in a while."

"Ah-ah. So you see." Fenring added with some manufactured solemnity.

"Mhm... Guild... ah?" Fenring continued skimming. His nail stopped at something in Dorian's report and passed the document to his wife, who took it and read with a bit more attention. "It's in league with no-one but... uh... itself. The spice must... hmmm... flow." He raised his gaze. "Your findings...

"Mwmm-ah-ah." The Count murmured, skimming through Bom's report with astonishing speed, waiting for others to speak.

Then, the Count rang with a spoon on the wine glass and rose. "I... aaah... hope you've enjoyed the... uhm... slig and other treats. I think you have your... mwah-uh-hmmm... tasks carved out for you, and I won't interfere in those. But don't forget to report your.... uh-oh... findings regularly. The...

"There is plenty you can do, but I believe that the Emperor's... oh-hm-ah... expectations have already been specified. Fruitful pursuits, ah-ah?"

Then the Count gestured him away.

/Scene

Fenring allowed himself a chuckle.

"I am sure, Swordmaster Drake, that you are more than adept to blaze the trail to the most ostentatious... mhawah-uh-uh-mmm... brothel in town."

"Ah, you can have that little... mhhh... Fremen girl to do with as you please." The Count sounded dismissive.

"Lingar Bewt... Oh-hmm... left for the Sink last night."

He would have to wait for a time before he'd be summoned to a place that could serve as an office except it had nothing but a desk and some wall decorations with motifs tapping into Corrino symbology, no personal items that could reveal anything about the man behind it. "You have an.... uhm-ah... re...

Daryen gave the count a somewhat impassive look but nodded to the question "Yes we do. Luckily everything is data. Every person here and not here, every conversational partner the placement of each guard. All of it tells a story, each decision made with a purpose." He remarked cold eyes scanning th...

The Count didn't seem surprised. In truth, he didn't seem like anything in particular except perhaps amused. "Mwah-mmm-hmmm-ah." It sounded like some form of acknowledgement. "And this all is under tons of sand now, ah-ah? Still, moh-uhm, you seem you have a path carved out for you then, mmmm-ah... ...

"Has your daring... mh-uh-ah... paid off?"

The Count would make them wait, of course, but eventually they'd be summoned to one of rooms facing off the city, with a splendorous view of the part of the Shield Wall called the Broken Land, with its many crags, summits and ravines, like an open maw of an ancient monster. The Count entered through...

A well dressed man with dark skin and light colored yet also dull eyes was seated at the table. He had been there the whole time of course his eyes moving around the table absorbing everything happening around him with a cool indifference. The man seemed to fade into the background a little so it w...

The more she observed the more Ahmina understood the well of the Shadout's strength She nodded as she took the large bowl '' Ai, Shadout '' She began moving towards the towels trying to do so without attracting too much attention And that made her attract the Count's attention. He said nothing, he ...

"For tonight, we have... uh-ahah... other beverages as well, but this toast is for the.. ah... Padishah Emperor to be pleased with you." The Count took a sip of water and put the glass down. His lady did the same, though her sip was deeper. None of the poison snoopers over the table had flared so far.

Presently, the Fenrings picked up the water glasses. The Count spoke, looking at all the seated, noticing inescapably who was missing. "You all... aah... have been briefed about the reasons to come here, by CHOAM and... umh-ah-ah... your Houses. A day like... oh-ah-hummm... this isn't one for pointl...

"Our... uh-ah... guests... are very... mwah-ah... gracious." Fenring said to his wife, then gestured and they both went down the stairs to lead the delegation personally. "Please follow us. There is a local... oh-hmmm.... custom I'd like you all to partake in, ah-hah?" He took his wife's hand and th...

"We understand that because of some uh...ummmhh...mhmmm... security measures you shall stay in our Residency untill... mwah.... morning."