Liberi Reader

Well?

Inventory check. This lot of factories has handed in its designated amount of material.

Excellent.

Ms. Catherine, as you know, taking on Londinium's hundreds of factories and ensuring their smooth operation is by no means a simple feat.

Thus, my only option is to personally see every handover completed.

Some unpleasantness always comes part and parcel, but this handover, out of this final set of factories, has been the smoothest.

I must thank you for your willing cooperation, and for sparing me so much time.

I just don't want to do anything that'd be of no avail.

I admire your attitude, Ms. Catherine.

But I'm afraid your heart of hearts doesn't agree with you.

You mean...?

I hear a few days ago, some workers fled your factory. Being the case, I'd like to take stock of personnel while I'm here, and have a look at your factory's names.

......

...It was my grandson who ran.

Catherine...

Oh?

Young 'uns tend to do without thinking.

Very plain-dealing of you, Ms. Catherine, but frankness alone will not quell this matter.

Sir, I can't guarantee you everyone under me is of one mind. I don't have that capacity.

I can only guarantee this factory hands in its designated material quota.

......

Could I ascertain—are you asking me to let him go?

He's a single tyke, every hair on his head out of place. He's hardly going to affect this factory's operation.

But you could.

I've heard about your past deeds, Ms. Catherine.

No wonder you were chosen as a workers' representative. A woman of honor. I esteem you for it.

But we always must nip these things at the bud. Or are you able to guarantee me that your grandson won't become a traitor to us, such as... if he joined that Self-Salvation Corps that's all the vogue.

I've no need to guarantee it, Sir.

Young 'uns always think they can do something.

But it always turns out they don't know what it is they're facing.

They'll... nip themselves.

...I understand your sentiment.

......

Indeed. Pursuing a single escaped worker pales in comparison to the gravity of ensuring a dozen factories continue to stably operate.

I can overlook this affair, Ms. Catherine.

But I do hope you're able to keep your promise.

As long as I'm in charge of this factory, there'll never be a problem.

Excellent. In that case, it's time we get on with the handover ceremony.

*sigh* Just our goddamned luck. I wanted to go to the factory too and watch the flag raising.

Quit griping. You can see it from here anyway. Just tough it out.

There's none of the gravitas here that you get watching on-site.

Man, who the hell knew we'd actually take Victoria's capital? Dream of that in the past and you'd kick yourself.

True enough.

Still, next comes the hardest period. The dukes are all eyes on us.

Hmph. If they were good for anything, we wouldn't have seized Londinium so handily.

......

That was close...

Phew. Lucky these mercs have no idea the plate has a gap you can get into here.

Think it's dull, don't you?

Hold onto your hammer and spanner tight.

If you really want to do something, you've got to persevere.

You strike once, and you get nothing more than a hunk of beaten metal.

You strike again and again, and you can make steam armor.

You strike again and again, and then your child, and your children's children carry on striking—

And we've got Londinium.

But that, as of today, has changed.

Sign here, Ms. Catherine.

And now, the final changing of the flag.

Go.

Yes, sir.

Stay, Ms. Catherine.

Be what it may, you are currently witnessing history.

......

Sir, can I light a smoke?

By all means.

Sir, just as you've heard of me, I've heard about you too.

Oh?

Gaul.

Yes... My father was a Gaulish loyalist, that's no secret.

If you're querying me how I feel at this moment, Ms. Catherine...

An instant of joy that there was no blood shed throughout this procedure, but outside of that, my heart is filled with nothing but sorrow.