You'll get also four back even if you had less. I think the usual, are you sure you want to ascend without spending all your coins, could be nice. I've done it multiple times already.
I get a bit confused about how this works too, but I was able to get the \" version to work in a case section if I used entity_decode() in the switch part.
Someone who knows better will have to clarify or verify, but I think fights which come from non-combats don't work right with those skills, because they aren't in a location and mafia's get_location() function should reflect that.
The other day mafia was turning them in one at a time (using the GUI). Multiples can be turned in at once from the relay browser. Not help with your automation, but a heads up.