Liberi Reader

So you mean to say that Hoederer has failed?

Yes, General. I saw it with my own eyes. He was gravely wounded in the battle just now.

And he was in contact with another Sarkaz woman, aside from his longtime mercenary acquaintance?

Right. But she's... highly skilled at concealment, and moves too quickly.

I was anxious about getting too close. Couldn't shake the feeling she'd notice me with one wrong step.

Wise choice. You wouldn't have made it back alive otherwise.

That said, I'm surprised the Confessarius let Babel's assassin go free. Was that an oversight, or their intent?

...No matter.

Tell me about Hoederer. Where is he?

He's still marshaling the remaining mercenaries, and about to resume pursuing the escaped convicts.

Have him return. Those convicts will not stay free forever.

General?

As you said, his wounds are no laughing matter.

Forgive me, but why do you still trust Hoederer so much?

I've had you with him this whole time.

Correct me if I'm wrong, but you've never once reported any misdeeds from him.

But he used to work for Babel!

It was the mercenaries under his watch that screwed up, and it was his old friend that incited them! Don't you think it's too risky to keep him in such a key position, General?

You've seen for yourself today. How does one Victorian regard another?

Urgh...

And how much more difficult do you think it is for one Sarkaz to trust another?

We've had everything stolen from us, been forced to grow accustomed to fighting each other for the right to survive.

And now, we've obtained a new opportunity.

You tell me, do you want to go back to monitoring a possible Sarkaz spy, or will you accompany me in eliminating the remaining Victorian threats?

......

General, we choose to go with you.

*pant*... *pant*... Did we shake them?

We can't let our guards down yet, Mr. Feist.

I know... *huff*... I know.

...Captain.

What is it?

Your face is splattered in blood.

Blood?! Hey, Bill... Bill?

Nrgh...

...Oh, it's just my own blood. No need to panic, then.

Come on, Bill, you could breathe a little louder! I don't want to have spent all this effort porting a dead man back.

Then think about... swinging your spanner gentler.

You're always... hitting me... in the head...

I hear you. You're the boss today.

Hold on a little longer... we'll be right back home soon. Right? I'm not going blind, am I?

Eugh, this blood from my forehead's getting in my eyes a little... Rockrock, eyes out. How much left to our target rendezvous?

A little over 300 meters and we're there.

It's Team 6 on guard here, right? I could really use a hand from them. Bill, old bud, you're getting harder to carry by the second.

...How long have we gone without a signal from the surface team?

Didn't the Doctor say they'd only contact us after they reach that last RDV?

No, I mean the Self-Salvation Corps, at the one before that.

We had an agreement that they'd keep us up to date with the surface situation every half hour.

Shit, I wasn't tracking the time! How long's it been?

...We need to go up and see.

No!

If the Sarkaz have already discovered our last rendezvous, then the Doctor's squad is in danger. You're clearly worried sick about Morgan and Dagda too.

A... And you too!

Worst comes to worst, Vina, I go peek, and you stay here. Suppose somehow something's happened, you scarper further in...

Indra, I can't always keep cowering behind you all. First our mentor, then you and the Glasgow Gang, now the Doctor—

—I've cowered for far too long, and I know it. Dagda wasn't talking nonsense. If you're always tucked away in the shadows, you gradually lose the courage to directly face the sun.

She's trying to nark you! You know what she's dying for? You, taking her to storm the Palace, and finding that what's-his-gent to do him in!

And you're itching to go back to the Glasgow Gang. Don't you understand her point of view?

I... Like hell I don't, but that's the bloody thing. I understand, and that's why...

You're scared she'll end up killing herself, the way she rushes it.

You can bloody imagine, can't you? She's got a death wish in my eyes, the way she acts!

...You need to trust her.

She'll be willing to live for our sake... and the sake of so many, even if it comes with enormous pain.

She's an outstanding knight, and a warrior of Victoria. She has everything in common with the countless others who struggle to live, and fight on for Victoria.

And I... I have to fight with them. Not because I'm in some special position, but because we're all 'native' to this land.

Vina...

Think of that commander, Lady Clovisia. Would she abandon her soldiers, run off just to keep herself safe?

I'm not familiar with her... but I don't imagine she would. Those soldiers really trust in her.

Then in your eyes, how much do I pale in comparison?

Like bloody hell you pale at all!

Then follow me. Together, we'll make sure that our comrades-in-arms have a safe trip home.

We finally get to leave this stinking place soon.

Are you alright, 'Spy'?

...Whoof... *huff*... I'm fine, Mandragora.

The last few times I've heard the word 'spy' it's been from a Sarkaz thinking up some fresh new punishment. I almost forgot it was my codename.

Then pick a more tasteful one next time, if you have the chance. 'The Elocutionist' and all that lot had good ones, and they kicked the bucket without leaving so much as a smear.

Haha...

Save your strength for now. The Leader still needs the Sarkaz intel you found.

You mean... The Shard...

No, don't say it.

Not like I don't want to hear, but... we need the Leader's approval. Our soldiers are all clean sorts. Don't go giving them too big a burden to carry.

I understand... Mandragora... you've always been such a good girl.

Don't sweet-talk me like 'The Bandit' did. Sick of it. They're all gone and now I'm stuck here alone in this shithole having to worry about the Leader.

At least you got back quick. While you were gone, that Harmonie bastard was glued to the Leader's side day and night, and I was terrified that... that...

Terrified... that what?

That the Leader would get too close to those noble sorts, and that someday, she'd have no more use for us.

The Leader, eh... *sigh*...

Ma'am, I've ascertained the others' positions. They're still in the same place, watching the door for the Sarkaz. Are we linking up with them right now?

Mm. Get the paramedics going. 'The Spy' needs immediate treatment.

Right, one more thing. Find a Messenger and notify Count Mourning outside the city immediately. We have to ensure 'The Spy' meets the Leader as soon as possible.

Count Mourning? You... involved him for the Leader?

Tch. Times like these, we have no choice but to hope the nobles do something to help. Funny kind of joke, isn't it?

*cough* *cough*... You... You've grown well...

That's not like you, 'Spy'. You're speaking too much rubbish. Save the rest for when you're not ragged enough to drop dead at a stiff breeze.

...Hold it.

What is it, Horn? We have a visual on the exit already.

Mind the perimeter.

......

Three o'clock!

Horn, it's Sarkaz!

—

Robben, are you still fine for ammo?

Ha... haha... sorry, Horn. Truth is, I've been hiding an explosive shell on me.

All this time, I've had it in my head that if I fall into the enemy's hands at some point again... I'll be taking this shell with me to my last stand.

...Shame, we improvised that shell ourselves.

How's that got anything to do with—

And I'm very sorry, but I'm not inclined to give you that opportunity.

Eh? My shell—

Looks like the power of a homemade one falls a bit short after all.

But... but he's unscathed, how?

That Sarkaz...

That Sarkaz is their beloved General.

We finally meet. An improvised shell is hardly a suitable greeting though.

I know you've met your share of Victorian soldiers, Sarkaz. After all, a great deal of them died by your hands. I imagine their spirits are practically lining up to crowd your dreams.

No need to be so self-effacing, White Wolf of Victoria.

......

Even to the Sarkaz, you qualify as a heroic warrior.

As I recall, the captain who rendered Kazdel a sea of flames once more, two hundred years ago, was your ancestor.

Are you some monster who's lived for centuries too?

I had no chance to witness that war.

But listen to the way you talk about it. It's no different from your kin who feed on others' lives to prolong their own.

'Those stained in Sarkaz blood must pay that blood back, thousands of times over.'

Where do you think we came from, Victorian? Just who runs in fear at the restless souls circling Londinium's skies day and night, murmuring their blood feuds?

Did you know? I became a professional soldier precisely because I was fed up with justifying this war we're in.

Come, Sarkaz.

The words of the deceased lingering about my ears are more than you'll ever hear.

And I promised them... I promised them this.

I will not fall until I see my people out of this place alive.