Now that it's after the fact, I can reveal that the situation at the Mayor's mansion was a social trap that was narrowly avoided in this case. Had the scribe interrupted the man on Tolbar's behalf, it almost certainly would have cost him his apprenticeship for repeat offenses such as that and this case interrupting Lucient's anniversary dinner with his wife. From there, things would have only gone more poorly for the duo sent to meet with him resulting in a wide selection of outcomes most of which negative. Some possibilities included raising the militia and farmers with torches and weapons to slay or run off Kiju, the duo thrown in stockades for the night, poor business relations if not outright boycott of trade with Garados should he have discovered their affiliation (a crippling blow to an upstart town), or even denial of service to the town's dockyard that would have resulted in a long and arduous journey through untamed terrain had he learned of your intentions to set sail. Now that he is able to spend a special evening and night with his wife, you'll find he will be much more generous and civilized come a morning meeting.