Nate was silent again, before laughing.

"Okay, okay." he said.

"That's fair enough." he told her.

"Man, you really know how to wheel and deal." he commented.

"...I'm glad you decided to help me." he then said.

"Odds are if you hadn't... I'd be run even more ragged, and... honestly, I dunno how long I'd last." he admitted.

"I hated being in that situation." he sighed.

He caught the envelope, and looked into it... pausing for a moment.

"...really??" he asked.

"There's... there has to be at least 3 hundred in here." he told her.

"Are... are you sure?" he asked her, before pausing.

"Of course you're sure." he said.

"I should know by now." he reasoned with a small laugh.

"But thank you... so much." he told her sincerely.

After a few seconds of silence, she heard him.

"In the den!" he called back.

"Could you come here, please?" he asked.

"I wish to discuss something with you!" he added.

In the den, he was sifting through some papers... and grimacing a bit.

But also finding what he saw confusing and concerning.

"No, no." her father replied.

"That won't be necessary." he told her.

"...I mean, if you want to get the visor, go ahead." he then went on. "Your own personal preference at this point." he reasoned.

"And it was in the kitchen." he continued.

"But I moved it out of the way, to a place where there wouldn't be as much water." he informed her.

"More specifically, the... dining room table." he then mumbled. "Yes, I set them there with the intent of taking them up to your room, but got distracted. So they should be there if you wish to grab it."

"Well, these papers... okay, most of them aren't relevant here." her father admitted.

"This is just the mail." he told her.

"Mostly stuff you needn't be concerned about." he assured her.

"However... there IS one that has intrigued me." he then said further.

"The most recent bank statement for our joint bank account." he went on. "Even though it is technically YOURS, and I'm on it just for an added security measure... though at this point, as an adult, you don't really need it... I still have access to its records, and have the legal right to open mail relating to it. Which I usually do, as it's just easier for me to read it and file it away." he explained.

"Nothing ever changes in it, anyway." he shrugged. "UNTIL recently." he suddenly declared.

"Seems your lunch expenses have... practically quadrupled on average over the past month." he commented. "And I've noticed several additional withdrawals for... sizable amounts, to put it one way." he went on.

"Care to explain where all this extra money is going?" he asked.

"You're long past your teenage phase of being a bottomless pit. So what is going on, young lady?"

"..........." Hal was silent as he heard the explanation.

"I... ah..." he stammered.

"Well then. That answers my question." he said. "Now... for a new question that has now just come to mind." he went on, but Lunet just sighed.

"Why." she said.

"Yes, why!" Hal exclaimed, before composing himself and clearing his throat.

"Sorry." he apologised.

"But I'm serious with that." he told her. "What do you mean he can't do it himself? And that would explain the rise in lunch costs, but the spare money as well? Does he not have food for himself?" he asked her.

"How is he not capable of looking after himself, Lunet?" he asked further. She heard the irritation in his tone, but it was overshadowed by confusion, and... what she could only assume was concern. Most likely he was either concerned for this person overall, or... maybe he was worried she was being taken advantage of.

It had happened in the past with that double-crossing dev team for AoD.

"....." Hal was silent, before sighing heavily.

"No." he said.

"It would not behoove me... as one that has routinely stated that my organization helps those who cannot help themselves, and are desperately trying to... to stop YOU from... well... putting what I preach and practice... into your OWN practice." he admitted.

"And... it's not like the account is in ANY kind of risk for being emptied or anything like that." he then reasoned. "Some smart investing, as well as payments from the odd jobs you do for me have seen to that." he went on.

"I was just worried that this was some kind of weird... I dunno, I just got worried that some not-so-nice things were happening with you." he admitted.

"I'm sorry." he apologised.

"I think it's because I've been generally a little stressed these past couple of weeks." he told her.

"No, no." Hal responded.

"Things with your mother are just fine." he assured her.

"It's work. The medical wing, specifically." he told her.

"Angela desperately needs some new staff there, and while it's in the budget, the applications I'm getting just won't do." he continued.

"Either they're qualified, but are unaware of the mage world, which just won't work... or they're severely underqualified, and will end up making things WORSE for her." he lamented.

"It's stressing ME out now." he admitted.

"And I can't find a decent workaround."

"...." Hal was silent for a moment, before sighing.

"Perhaps." he said.

"Does he know of the mage and mana world?" he asked.

"...I don't know, admittedly." Lunet responded.

"Well, if he doesn't, then a job with Angela at the Unit will be... difficult, to say the least, as I'm sure you're aware." her father replied. "Plenty of non-humans visit that area on a daily basis." he elaborated further.

"So until we know if that's a factor or not, he's just a solid '...eh, maybe'..." he sighed.

"...right. You did." Hal growled, pinching the bridge of his nose.

"Damn it all." he said.

"I'm more tired than I thought." he continued.

"Anyway, sorry for the sudden grilling, but... I just needed answers." he then told her.

"And sorry to make you repeat yourself." he apologised, standing up.

"I'm going to go lie down in bed." he then said further.

"If I end up falling asleep, don't wake me up." he went on. "Just get something delivered for yourself, okay?" he asked.

"Love you, sweetie."