This way's safe. My neighbor's whole family left this way last week.
Londinium Citizen B
As long as we've applied for an exit permit, the soldiers won't give us any trouble.
Londinium Citizen A
That... That's not what I meant.
Londinium Citizen B
I know. We're thinking the same thing.
Londinium Citizen B
Four years ago was when I first heard about the Sarkaz army on the news. Didn't think much of it back then.
Londinium Citizen A
Yeah, same here. With Her Majesty gone, everything's turned to shit. Who could've expected that some duke would invite the devils into the army on a whim?
Londinium Citizen B
Two years ago, I saw Sarkaz troops walking down the streets of Trenfield. Everyone was talking about it as we walked home from work.
Londinium Citizen A
I also remember... It was as if things quietly changed overnight. Those of us who lived by the duke's estate in Camden wouldn't see these changes until a bit later.
Londinium Citizen B
Something like half a year ago, the Sarkaz army stood in front of our bank. They took away our manager because her husband held an important position in the city's defense forces.
Londinium Citizen A
Whew. Did you ever see them again? The police force in our estate was replaced with all new faces, plenty with horrible horns on top.
Londinium Citizen B
And then there's... yesterday. I saw the Sarkaz going to the corner opposite my home. They were... knocking on doors.
Londinium Citizen A
So that's why you decided to flee?
Londinium Citizen B
Actually, my parents left a long time ago. I just... couldn't put down my banker's salary.
Londinium Citizen A
None of us wanted this. Londinium... If we leave, we'll never be able to go back to our old lives, right?
Londinium Citizen B
Let's not worry about that for now. We should get going. I'd rather stay alive than make money.
Theresis's army... They're not stopping the civilians from leaving the city?
Siege
By the looks of things, he doesn't seem to care about letting outsiders know who holds the reins of power in Londinium now.
And the other nobles don't care?
Siege
I'd assume they always have an eye on Londinium, which is why they have troops stationed outside the city.
Siege
But they're more concerned about watching each others' moves.
Siege
For the dukes who've been trying to get into Londinium, whoever gets ahead in taking down the Sarkaz inside the city will gain the upper hand in this power struggle that has lasted over twenty years.
Siege
Who would want to see the throne claimed by someone else, when in their minds, it rightfully belongs to them?
Siege
The way things are now, anything a duke might pull can be stopped by a few messages, an invitation to a party, or even a little bad news from their own demesne.
Siege
And even if one of them decided to march on the city, they'd be walking right into a defeat. The Sarkaz regent wouldn't lose a single man.
What's going on in Parliament?
Siege
I'm not sure.
Siege
When we left Londinium, the city seemed like it did on any ordinary day.
Siege
And I always figured that if Parliament could convene for a day, nothing too crazy could happen to Londinium.
Siege
As for the specifics of what's going on inside the city, we won't know until we see for ourselves.
Londinium Citizen
Excuse me, I've brought you all the way here... You'll be able to go the rest of the way on your own, right?
Amiya
Yes, sure. Thank you, Mr. Thomas. You've done us a great favor.
Amiya
All squads, listen up. Follow the plan and mingle with the flow of traffic ahead in batches––
Amiya
Closure's squad will go first to make sure the road ahead of us is clear. Then Siege's squad will follow up, with me and Doctor's squad behind that.
Amiya
Recon squad, keep a close eye on our surroundings, and report any abnormalities right away.
Amiya
Balin, you'll be in charge of taking Mr. Thomas back the same way we came.
Rhodes Island Operator
Amiya!
Amiya
What is it?
Rhodes Island Operator
There's a disturbance up ahead! Looks like Sarkaz fighters incoming!
Amiya
What?!
Amiya
Everyone, the infiltration operation is on hold. Take cover, hide yourselves!
Hurry... Hurry... We're almost out... of the city...
Londinium Citizen A
Gaaahh––!
Sarkaz Warrior
......
Sarkaz Warrior
Wrong one.
Londinium Citizen B
S-Sir, please... D-Don't hurt me, I'll go... Did we do something wrong?
Sarkaz Warrior
Go, scurry off. Don't stand here blocking our way.
Sarkaz Warrior
Listen up, nobody move!
Sarkaz Warrior
Stop what you're doing and stand still. You, you, and you. Turn around and let me see your face!
Sarkaz Warrior
What's in your bag? Is it a weapon? Pour everything out and let me see!
Sarkaz Warrior
Why's there a burn mark on your face? Looks pretty fresh too... Yeah, you. Get out of the line!
Sarkaz Warrior
You burned your face baking bread? Do you take us for fools?!
Sarkaz Warrior
Hmph... Guess it really wasn't our weapons. Just to be sure, you're not a rebel, right?
Sarkaz Warrior
Got too scared and passed out, huh? Whatever, we'll bring this one with us.
Horn
......
Londinium Citizen?
Lieutenant, we're stuck here.
Horn
It's my fault. Before I brought you here, I should've made sure we weren't being followed.
Londinium Citizen?
Please don't talk like that.
Londinium Citizen?
We've all been through worse. Whether it's my bunch that got captured by Dublinn, or Old Tom's group who were tortured by the Sarkaz, we were pretty much dead men walking until you rescued us.
Londinium Citizen?
That really was a taste of despair... I'd rather die in battle than live inside the enemy's cage, powerless and addled.
Horn
You are not to blame for Londinium's fall, not in the slightest.
Londinium Citizen?
And you are even less to blame.
Londinium Citizen?
You were the one who pulled us out of a desperate situation. At least I was able to get here on my own two legs, and got to live an extra hour.
Londinium Citizen?
I said I didn't have the will to fight anymore, but you didn't blame me. You even risked yourself to bring us here.
Londinium Citizen?
Leave us, Lieutenant. If you're alone, you can hide. Avoid their line of sight, and find a safe place.
Londinium Citizen?
We're sickly and chewed up. We'll only slow you down.
Horn
I'd never leave any of you behind.
Londinium Citizen?
Hah... If our officers back there were like you, then maybe... we wouldn't have lost so quickly and disastrously.
Londinium Citizen?
It took meeting you to make me realize that I wanted to make a difference, to be like you...
Horn
You mean... No, you mustn't!
Londinium Citizen?
Hey, if the few of us charged at once, how many Sarkaz do you reckon we could take with us?
Horn
Listen to me, right now.
Horn
None of you move. That's an order.
Londinium Citizen?
An order...?
Londinium Citizen?
Fine. You're my commanding officer right now. I'll obey your orders.
Horn
We still have a few minutes until we face the Sarkaz.
Horn
Keep your heads down. Remember what I told you – you're all vagrants from the neighboring estate. You got hurt fighting each other over a piece of bread.
Londinium Citizen?
You... expect the Sarkaz to buy that?
Horn
Sudean is a complete mess these days. They've probably seen it all.
Horn
Doesn't matter if they buy it or not. Even if they try to interrogate you, just... bear with it for a while.
Horn
And if you can't take it anymore...
Londinium Citizen?
We understand. If the Sarkaz find out, no one betrays the others.
Horn
If you can't take it anymore, that's when I'll make my move.
