A restaurant in Midtenstadt
"Good morning", the waiter said. "Yes, Mr. Alvestrand is waiting. Let me announce you".
"Ah, Major, welcome to our small business", Alvestrand said, as soon as the guest was invited to what it looked as a comfy and small VIP room. "Please sit down", he added.
"Thanks", Njerve replied. "However, I'm sorry to interrupt your lunch", he said as Alvestrand was still finishing his dish.
"Don't worry, I have already eaten enough", he replied. "This place may not be the cheapest place in the city, but the clients are certainly fed well enough", he added with a smile.
"You can take it and leave us alone", he told the waiter in a more serious tone.
"Yes, sir", the waiter immediately replied, doing so as well as closing the door as he left the room.
"It certainly looks like that", Njerve replied. "Although, for what I have heard, I wouldn't call your business small".
"We do what we can", Alvestrand replied with a smile, even if Njerve didn't exactly sound like joking. "I'm glad you had time to come, even if I imagine you have a busy agenda. Congratulations for your last success. I couldn't have imagined that I was going to talk with one of the most powerful men of the country when we met last time".
"I don't feel that's an accurate description", Njerve replied. "We have a big responsability, but that's much all".
"Was that mission a success, after all?", Alvestrand asked.
"You may say so", Njerve replied. "Although I guess that's not why we are here. Although I only served as a messenger back then".
"It could be so", Alvestrand said. "Yes, you're right, I don't really care about this affair. Business is business and it is not always possible to build our future through the right path. I can understand that".
"It's not a principle I would necessarily agree with, I can only add", Njerve replied.
"You're right", Alvestrand said. "As someone who just become a public representative, it's not a principle that I would encourage. However, we both know the dark realities of war and peace, particularly about war".
"That's, however", Alvestrand continued, "something that we left behind, fortunately. That's another principle which may not be too pleasant, but that our nation wisely decided to adopt, to bury all the bad deeds that had happened in our nation in the last years. However, that's precisely the reason why I asked you about this meeting".
"Not sure if I'm following you, Mr. Alvestrand", Njerve said, "but I'm listening to you".
"As you may hear", Alvestrand replied, "in my new public role I decided to distance from some of my management roles, as I haven't that much time and in some cases, they may not be compatible with my new role in Austland. However, there seem certain types in the Department of Justice who seem willing to waste their time and the resources to investigate not only my business, but my families and even some people they -wrongly- believe that may have been related to me, from some strange reasons. Giving your position, and our last business I gave you a hand, I hope we can find some understanding. As it is not my aim that such situation complicates the stability of our government, which may face more important tasks to deal with in the coming months that such silly problem".
"You are well aware that I have no relation with the Department of Justice", Njerve replied. "Even in the case I had any interest in doing so", he continued, "I will not be able to help you on that request".
"That's the answer I expected, Director Njerve", Alvestrand replied while finishing what was left in his glass of wine. "However, it would be a pity if our collaboration ended in that brief episode".
"That list of names that you were asking was quite interesting", he continued. "I had, of course, to do a small research, in order to avoid to tie my hands up where I should have not. Of course, not for the names, which were not exactly big fishes that would leave many questions, but the only thing they had in common".
"As I told you", Njerve replied, "my role ended that same day, so not sure what you are talking about".
"Don't believe that I'm that naive", Alvestrand replied, "or that I consider you that stupid. Those poor idiots hadn't much in common, besides thousands of others that fought in that war, our war. But it's a strange coincidence that all where related to late Ewald Hubert, that unlucky jäkard, around Hernstadt at certain time, isn't".
"What I'm asking you", he continued, "is certainly something complicated, that you could be able to figure out and solve with just a calm. I realize that. Not sure if you are a religious man. You may not, but I guess you realize that it's not the right moment for one of the most important institutions in our country history to surprisingly tremble in this moment. I don't need an answer right now, but I hope you'll think on this issue. I hope we can find an acceptable solution".
"You're right", Njerve replied, "I can't give you an answer right now".
"Would you like a drink, Director?", Alvestrand asked. "We'll invite you. No? Ah I realize, you have probably many importants things to deal today, after all".
"That's right", Njerve replied. "I apologize for interrupting your lunch".
"No problem, Major", Alvestrand replied. "I hope we see us again in happier circumstances. Too much business many consume us, after all".