Liberi Reader

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There are some things that will never change, Ailshie!

I'll grow up to be a Steam Knight, just like Sir Lynch! No, even greater than Sir Lynch!

I'll protect you all, and I'll drive every scoundrel away.

I'll uphold the glory of Cumberland, just like my great-great-great-great grandmother!

I promise this, Ailshie! You'll see!

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Slimy Noble

I, I don't understand, Your Highness...

Slimy Noble

I thought you were pleased with our hospitality...

Slimy Noble

You even graced us with your presence at our banquets, did you not? You liked this place!

Sanguinarch of Vampires

I will not deny that you have brought me joy, from time to time.

Sanguinarch of Vampires

I find your petty flattery and exaggerated cordiality adorable.

Slimy Noble

You must be mistaken! I have no links to the dukes or the resistance! I swear...

Slimy Noble

Any trouble must be the work of the Cumberland woman! I'll expose her!

Slimy Noble

Sanguinarch... Your Highness... please, I'll give you anything! My collection, my money... take all of it! Just...

Sanguinarch of Vampires

What good are those to me, my dear?

Slimy Noble

You wouldn't kill me, would you? We should hold a wine tasting! You haven't sampled my private reserve yet...

Slimy Noble

I'll be alright, won't I, Lt. Colonel Lettou? This is Londinium!

Slimy Noble

They—the Sarkaz are just here to protect Londinium at the invitation of the Duke of Cavendish? They wouldn't kill an innocent, of course?

Lt. Colonel Lettou

......

Lt. Colonel Lettou

Take him to the front.

Sanguinarch of Vampires

I tire of the noise. Begin.

Slimy Noble

B-Begin what?

Sarkaz Warrior

Run in when you hear the order.

Sarkaz Warrior

Confirm everyone is dead and you can come back alive.

Slimy Noble

In... into the fire? A fire that big? N-No! I'll burn to death!

Sarkaz Warrior

You're going to do exactly that.

Sanguinarch of Vampires

—

The ancient Sarkaz steps on the Heart of Victoria and raises a finger.

Slimy Noble

Argh—!

He did not see what was chasing him.

As the Sarkaz warrior said, he follows the order instinctively, running forward like a man possessed.

In the fire, the slightest chance of survival. On his tail, the scent of certain death.

But he only takes a few steps before stumbling in confusion.

Blood spurts from his body.

It no longer belongs to him. It serves another master now.

At its new master's command, it charges forth towards the collapsing manor, towards the raging flames, chewing through the ruins, swallowing the rubble, covering the cinders.

Nothing can stop the march of blood, not even fire.

Sanguinarch of Vampires

He was right, Lettou.

Sanguinarch of Vampires

I haven't sampled his private reserve.

Sanguinarch of Vampires

We should, shouldn't we?

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Sarkaz Mercenary Captain

This is it. Wait here.

Catherine

Lund, Charlie...

Catherine

This is where you kill us.

Sarkaz Mercenary Captain

...How do you know?

Catherine

Simple.

Catherine

You never told the workers what you were building for the past two years.

Catherine

But a factory boss gets a few clues.

Catherine

I guessed you were close to the final stages, the way you people have been pressing us lately. And that means it's time for those who know too much to die.

Sarkaz Mercenary Captain

You lied to me.

Catherine

Just getting my affairs in order.

Catherine

What could lowly workers like us do, after groveling for the past three years?

Sarkaz Mercenary Captain

Don't you dare try anything.

Sarkaz Mercenary Captain

You, you and you. Come with me; we'll take a look around.

Sarkaz Mercenary Captain

Keep a close eye on her, Paprika.

Paprika

Alright.

Catherine

Can I have a smoke?

Paprika

Hm... okay.

Catherine

Thanks.

Paprika

Did you ever consider running?

Catherine

Where?

Catherine

And anyway, it'd only make trouble for the workers left behind.

Paprika

......

Catherine

I've been thinking about what you'd do to us. Looks like whoever's giving the orders still has something of a heart.

Paprika

But... what do you mean?

Catherine

They said to get rid of us quietly so the workers don't panic, didn't they?

Catherine

If my life buys a chance for the others to live, then so be it.

Catherine

You think the rest of the old timers you brought here don't get that?

Paprika

I don't get it...

Catherine

Huff...

Catherine

How old are you, girl?

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Feist

Doctor, do you know the story of the Steam Knights?

Yes.

I've heard of them.

Feist

Granny used to build them.

Feist

It was a point of pride for us.

Feist

With our own hands, we built the armor worn by the defenders of Londinium, the ones who defended our home.

Feist

I wanted to see the birth of those great things, just like Granny... to take part in it.

Feist

Granny's been through a lot. She saw how Londinium became what it is today. And I can see how disappointed she is.

Feist

But I don't want to give up so soon.

Feist

Must be this drawer.

Feist

Hidden compartment... hidden compartment... ah, here it is.

Feist

Granny's incredible. I'd never know this desk had been altered, if she hadn't told me.

Feist

This is... my badge?

Feist

And a notebook?

I don't know who I'm writing this for, what I'm writing this for.

......

Harvey died before Feist was born.

Lindy tried to understand, but her sorrow turned into anger towards me. She blamed me for not stopping Harvey that day.

I couldn't argue with her. I couldn't blame her for leaving Feist behind.

I heard she remarried someone decent. Good for her.

I never told Feist. I didn't want him to know that his father died for nothing, and that his mother left with hate in her heart.

Feist

......

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Catherine

So you grew up in Columbia.

Paprika

Yes, my grandma raised me.

Paprika

Mom and Dad were both mercenaries, but they're dead.

Catherine

Why did you become a mercenary, then?

Paprika

To feed myself, and grandma.

Paprika

Sarkaz aren't welcome most places, so I had to be a merc.

Catherine

What a good girl.

Catherine

So you agree with the Regent?

Paprika

You mean with occupying the city?

Paprika

Hmm... I don't know.

Paprika

We do what we're paid to do. I didn't know we were going to occupy such a big city.

Paprika

In Columbia, we were helping merchants smuggle goods that they didn't want people to know about, or hunting wild beasts.

Paprika

But I can tell you, that was the first time I saw Grimm so excited. He said the Sarkaz would get to live a decent life, if we were successful.

Catherine

Grimm? The smoker?

Paprika

Yes.

Catherine

Where's he now? I haven't seen him around in a while.

Paprika

He's dead.

Catherine

Aren't you sad about that?

Paprika

He always said that death and parting are a normal part of the mercenary life.

Catherine

Death and parting. All these years of chaos, and the Victorians haven't learned the slightest thing about the Sarkaz.

Catherine

Catch, girl.

Paprika

Huh?

Catherine takes a little thing from her cigarette box and tosses it at Paprika.

It is small, soft, made of wool, and bright in color.

Paprika

This is... a finger sleeve...

Paprika

Grimm...

Catherine

You made it for the old merc, didn't you?

Catherine

His finger hurt because of an old wound, but he couldn't cut the smoking habit. I saw him hide it in his cigarette box.

Catherine

Guess he didn't want to get it dirty, even though you made it for him to use.

Paprika

......

Catherine

He gave me the box when he left. Payment for smokes, those few months.

Catherine

He never talked about you, but the moment I saw you, I knew you were the girl he was always thinking about.

Paprika

I... I don't...

Catherine

I don't know what he thought about the war.

Catherine

But I know, without hearing it from him... you don't know what war is.

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......

I had a feeling Feist would leave.

He's too much like Harvey.

He thinks he can solve every problem with his wits.

Seeing him reminds me of Harvey.

I can't tell if I'm disappointed because the protest failed, or because Harvey didn't understand what the nobles were made of.

Maybe a little bit of both.

I let Feist go.

I knew I couldn't stop him.

......

Feist

Doctor, I thought about what I was going to say to Granny, before I brought you back.

Feist

I thought I was prepared. We've seen so much in our time.

Feist

But I think I owe her an apology.

You're family.

She doesn't need your apology, does she?

Feist

......

Feist

Catherine always looks strict and solemn. People forget that she's just an ordinary woman, who lost her livelihood.

......

The Sarkaz don't let workers into certain areas of the factories. They're definitely preparing some sort of weapon.

They shouldn't have the resources to hold out this long, not with the dukes breathing down their necks.

But from the material being sent to the factories, with what I know of their situation, all the signs point to them having their own supply line.

None of this was supposed to concern me.

All I can do is protect the workers.

But—

I noted things I shouldn't have.

Maybe, deep down, I thought I could do more than I did when I watched Harvey go out into the streets, if Feist came back to me for help someday.

Workers aren't allowed near it, but I know the place too well.

There are only a few places suitable for a supply depot.

Feist

Here, Doctor! Granny circled some places on the map.

They'll be heavily guarded.

Feist

Yes, it'll be hard to get close to the depots.

I hope we get results on the other side.

Feist

This information will help, though, even if we can't get close.

Feist

I wish I could say goodbye to Granny.

Feist

Guess it'll have to wait until next time.

Feist

Let's go, Doctor.

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Paprika

A lot of us don't actually know what we're fighting for.

Paprika

It's just, we don't have a place to go. We're not welcome anywhere.

Paprika

The King of Sarkaz promised us a home, a country, a future.

Catherine

I've spent time with you people. I can tell that some of you haven't actually fought before.

Catherine

What about you?

Paprika

I can fight!

Catherine

Have you killed anyone, girl? And I'm not talking about a villain you can kill without remorse... I mean real people.

Paprika

......

Paprika

You're just a worker. You haven't killed anyone. Don't talk to me like you know what it means.

Catherine

You've been in Londinium for a while. You've heard of steam armor, haven't you?

Paprika

I heard it's a powerful weapon that hasn't been seen for a long time.

Catherine

Yes. It's a killing machine.

Catherine

I built killing machine after killing machine with these hands right here.

Catherine

I don't feel ashamed, because those machines were used to defend the land I lived on.

Catherine

What about you, girl? Do you know what your weapon is for?

Paprika

I...

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