"Because I am a spy, alright!?" Jacques threw his arms up, frustrated. "Troubadours, ponies like me? The Black Isles regularly uses ponies from traveling communities as their eyes and ears on the continent. Most ponies do. We're everywhere; we fit in easier than non-ponies; we're not as distinctive as Enclavers or Black Islanders, and we know where all the… shadier dens are. It’s good money. They got their hooves on me after I… Well, let's just say there's a reason I live in a city now. I was trying to protect you, protect you both while you were here. I wasn't expecting Equestria to drop a detachment here in Blackport out of the blue!"