Ehhhh more like lack of focus on them due to lack of patronage, they aren't dropped per se, but more important shit is instead focused on that is relevant y'see.
Anyways, on the matter of the tonal shift, there is no new writer, that's just the story progression as the more superficially nice bits begin to fall away and more of the real MC comes out. His kindness and politeness become more nuanced, and as its shown that he can have whatever he wants more and more, he continues to grow bolder. Sure he's still nice and shit, still a professional, but now he's letting himself relax into a rhythm of getitng what he wants, when he wants it.