Liberi Reader

A secret arrest warrant? For Ch'en Sir?!

It's gotta be a mistake? There's no way...

Hey! Get back here! I asked you if this was a mistake or not!

Damn it, Ch'en Sir, what the hell... who's behind this?!

I have to find her. I have to hear her side of the story!

...Yes. I understand.

Anything else, Master?

No. Go and do what I told you for now. When you're finished, find somewhere to lay low for a while.

Got it.

Now go. Hurry.

Ah.

——*Sigh*. It turns out there really is someone who can outplay Wei Yenwu.

Talulah, Talulah... is this really just fate?

Oh, Young Master, if you could see us now from up there, you also would not wish to see this, would you?

But alas, Lungmen's finally come to this.

But Hui-chieh... Hui-chieh! Be careful, Hui-chieh... You mustn't get yourself killed!

Guh... agh! Nng... grrgh...

Damnit, there's still so many of them out there... I thought the L.G.D. was supposed to have this area under control?

Yesterday it was Reunion, today it's these weird Infected. Even we can't hold them off. And we can't use heavy-duty weapons inside the city...

Hello, Operators. Is that who we're fighting today?

Rosmontis! Thank goodness, we're saved.

They're Infected who have been twisted by Arts...? And we can't stop them?

That's right. We mostly brought defense equipment, but I never expected that they'd shred through our steel cables and polyfiber nets like paper. We might have to bring in some military-grade weapons.

We're at our limits here, so we had no choice but to ask for backup from the landship. Thankfully, now that you're here, we might be able to turn the tides.

The Originium structure inside makes their bodies incredibly tough. We use suppressing fire to keep them under control. Also... our scans aren't picking up any signs of brain activity at all.

The main point there is, they're pretty much... already physically dead. They're just empty husks, propped up by Arts. It's unbelievably cruel...

Whoever did this... has to pay.

But more importantly, at least you all are safe.

Let's make a plan. I'll... get them to settle down.

Yes.

Doctor... have you never met Rosmontis before?

Please stand aside, Doctor.

Then, you might want to take a step back. I guarantee you've never seen anything like this.

It's mine.

Operator, please describe your impressions of the target.

Hold on, I'll check the manual... Okay, the target's, uh, a large group of active, restless individuals?

They're moving as a group with no clear objective. Their general trend is clear, but with no set route. That should be good enough, right?

Received. I'll handle this.

Dr. Kal'tsit was very clear, once we finish with this, Rhodes Island is to leave Lungmen immediately...!

Evening, old friend.

Hoshiguma...? What are you doing here? How about your injuries?

I'm an Oni. Those scratches are long gone.

Good. Now, I—

Hold on. Were you waiting for me here?

That dune buggy you're pushing is a new model from Rim Billiton, right?

'Great for off-road performance. Dustproof, climbs hills with ease, incredible range and fuel efficiency. Minimal environmental impact with maximum comfort.' That one?

...

Yeah, sorry. I saw that ad on the terminal a million times. Guess it got stuck in the old noggin.

It's a damn good buggy though. I'm not even into off-roading and I'd like to get one.

What are you trying to say?

Oh. Ohhh... Hah. I get it.

Ch'en, you're not going today.

...Why...? Is my sister, my family... not important enough?!

That's why...

That's why I can't let you go.

Even if I have to die here. I'm not letting you go.

...

That's not for you to decide, Hoshiguma.

Hannya can decide.

—No matter what stands in my way, whether it's a Catastrophe, a shield, or an Oni, I'm not giving in!

The blacksmith who cast this shield had his whole family killed by a gang of wandering Onis. His fury is much more toxic than any Catastrophe.

The blood that stains this shield, and the tragedy it represents... is much more wicked than any Catastrophe.

Ch'en, Mr. Wei isn't a good man. We can kick his ass together.

Whatever you want to do, I'll do it with you. You want my Columbian Big Single 70 vv? It's yours.

Ch'en, now's not the time. Don't go. Don't force me to do this. It's all I ask.

Force you? Why are you talking like Wei Yenwu...? I don't like it.

When Wei did what he did... no.

When he betrayed his brother, failed my mother, and put this city to sleep under his cloud of wickedness, that's when I decided to do this.

You might think that stuff has anything to do with you, but I don't think so.

What do you mean...?

What he did, what he did for you, and what you should be doing, none of it is connected.

That's what Mr. Wei was hoping for. He didn't want to play the bad guy. He's not power-hungry...

He gave you the sword.

...You don't get it.

Understand what?

It wasn't just one time. It happened again, and again, and again... I destroyed my home, I destroyed my family.

Covered horn to toe in blood every time, I fought to the bitter end, until I was the only one left standing.

Because that's what I thought was right. And they were wrong.

I found myself asking a lot if I really deserved to live.

I don't. But I lived anyway. I just can't live for myself anymore.

Putting yourself out because of some concept of right and wrong... that's the dumbest thing a person can do.

And I've dealt with the regret my whole life.

You think you're the only one who's got a lot of baggage, Miss Ch'en?

Stop talking like that!

...So why can't you understand me, even a little bit?

We've been through so much together, all these years. There's still something you can't tell me?

I've got my baggage and you've got yours. We both know that. Even so...

What is there you still don't understand? I never pulled any of you into this! How can you say I don't understand you?!

Because I've seen too many people die for nothing.

I don't care who you are. I just care where you're going.

I'm not letting you go. This is all on the leader of Reunion. You can't change the situation. You'll just die for nothing too.

No one wants to see that. Not the L.G.D., not Lungmen.

—Thank you, Hoshiguma.

But I'm still going.

Really?

If we have to fight, you should know I'm not scared of you.

You really have to go, huh? You feeling like your heart is hard as iron right now?

I told you before, you're lost in your own thoughts, you lost sight of everything around you, of everything everyone's done for you.

Your stubbornness is only gonna get you hurt.

Hmph.

Fine. I guess you'll have to take a beating before you can learn, like a young Hoshiguma, that being a stubborn ass is just a stupid impulse.

If you want to fight, Ch'en... Then let's do it. Show me everything you've learned in the last two years.

Stop. Talking. Like. That.

EX-42 Long-Range Originium Arts Control Device, Operator Rosmontis, requesting approval.

Approved for use in defensive operations. Removal approved.

User: Annihilation Specialist, Elite Operator Rosmontis. Activation approved.

Okay. I'm going.

Please tell Closure for me, about the Rhodes Island landship startup.

Hurry, Doctor, get in the cabin. Don't watch.

If you get hit by Rosmontis's shrapnel, you're pretty much a goner.