Liberi Reader

Hoederer, I've brought along everyone who agreed to use the bones to retreat.

Most of them wouldn't be able to withstand the long journey—the old, the young, and more injured Sarkaz than you can count.

W said, and I quote, 'Let them die if they want,' but the other members of her squad carried them here.

Somehow, she still has quite a few living subordinates—enough to maintain order within the Lifebone and watch over Ulšulah in captivity.

So at least you won't have to worry about having no one to take the wheel if you accidentally die on the road.

...Got it.

What are you waiting for?

The squad has reached its destination.

The weather is clear, and visibility is good.

Keep looking to the southeast.

We've received the latest intelligence from the Ministry of Defense, which includes Kazdel's approximate coordinates.

Please closely monitor the Sarkaz army, to ensure their retreat home isn't a cover for another military maneuver.

Understood.

There's nothing unusual to report at the moment, sir. By the way—and I'm just making small talk—Maylander rarely sends someone of your status to liaise with the military.

Heh, the Victorians think they've done a fine job covering up the disaster in Londinium.

Maylander needs to investigate the situation before we have a talk with them.

Understood.

...Lieutenant! Lieutenant!

You are to report any new developments immediately!

Of course, sir. There's nothing to report right now.

Nothing at all?!

Wait. What's that...?

Yes. He knows you are familiar with the people of Siracusa, so he hopes you'll have a chance to display your talents this time.

Not to worry. The Sarkaz hordes are a chaotic, calamitous force, but they are ultimately mercenaries.

We are now well aware that our neighbor, Victoria, has failed to keep them on a tight leash.

But I shall not allow such filth to disrupt Leithanien's glorious Güldenesgesatz. Of this I am quite certain.

Please send this message along to your master—

...What's going on?

Come inside with me now, sir! It's a Catastrophe!

Contact the base for further orders... Damn! We've got no signal! What the hell is going on? Push the fleet forward. Full throttle!

Wait—

.....

Can you hear me, lieutenant?

Yes, sir! The Catastrophe cloud appeared out of nowhere. There were no signs at all before it happened...

Of course, of course. This was meant as a display, a show of force to intimidate us.

You think the Sarkaz troops did this...?!

Maylander no longer requires your help with our investigation. Please withdraw at once. Of course, do not disclose any information about our cooperation.

...Yes sir.

May Terra bless us.

Enough. Deactivate the tip line. We have more than enough eyewitness accounts of the Catastrophe cloud!

Everyone saw what happened. Those of us living in the high rises got an even closer look!

For now, I need all of you to come up with explanations and file your stories. Everyone writes a report—whether you explain it away as an advertising hologram or new Arts from Leithanien, that's up to you.

...Do you need anything else?

Sir, this call wasn't from a citizen...

We just received word from our Messengers... Zwillingstürme, Laterano, Montelupe... Catastrophe clouds have appeared over the capitals of every nation.

What about Deity Grypherburg and Max D.C.?

...Same situation.

That little 'Amnannam' thingamajig is pretty handy. It can send a Catastrophe to someone's doorstep before you can blink.

Tch, no wonder Doctor and the hag were so nervous when we came to take it away, and the little bunny insisted on tagging along to keep an eye on me.

Hmm...What if we just, like, destroyed every capital of the Core all at once?

While it may indeed be able to rain down disaster on those nations, that doesn't mean it can destroy them.

I have no doubt that doing so would bring nothing but retaliation against Kazdel. Our history has repeatedly proven this, even from the earliest records.

It would be unwise, Wiš'adel. In fact, you must use Amnannam sparingly—the strain it places on the mind and body is even greater than I imagined.

You just experienced that pain firsthand.

You don't get to tell me that, Manfred.

Amnannam's potential extends far beyond intimidation, assuming we figure out the proper use for it.

Their Highnesses had much higher hopes for it. Yes, it is a weapon, a deterrent, but more importantly, it is the means by which we will break free from our destiny—

You know, you're even more annoying than Hoederer.

Don't forget who you are, dude. You're a prisoner, and we're only keeping you alive 'cause Kazdel needs you alive.

Hell, the only reason we let the Military Commission stick around is that the surviving Sarkaz still need something to believe in on the way home.

Fucking Theresis sure thought of everything, huh?

...I'm guessing Hoederer saw this coming long ago too, didn't he?

This was always the Regent's overt strategy: to reunite a people—brought together once more by hatred—around Kazdel—

Even Babel and the Military Commission are working together again, united toward a common goal.

Yeah yeah, but don't expect to wriggle your way out of this one, Manfred. Remember what I said.

Wiš'adel...

What, still got more to say?

If, someday, Kazdel really does normalize its relations with the other nations, just as Her Highness Theresa once strived for...

Then I, along with the rest of the Military Commission, will have to draw a clear line between ourselves and Kazdel.

As the Sarkaz see it, outbloods bring only pain and hatred, just as we do to them.

.....

Sooner or later, they will claim that we haven't paid for the crimes we have committed, and on that day I will be waiting for those hateful avengers to find us—

Just shut up already. Stop acting like you're a saint or whatever.

Theresis and the rest of you assholes screwed up big time. You were so goddamned stupid I wish I could blow you to pieces right now.

Don't forget: almost all the lunatics who actually believed in your plan died in Londinium, along with the Nachzehrer.

You killed them with your own hands. There were hardly any left to even evacuate.

.....

But the Sarkaz will pay for their own mistakes.

Babel's not so spineless as to cast the entire Commission from the city just because a few dumbasses were bold enough to provoke Kazdel.

Her Highness would never do that, and neither will I.

If they're stupid enough to come, I don't mind giving 'em a fight.

But if you keep talking shit, I'll just toss you over to someone who's willing to put up with your crap.

.....

You're not afraid of it?

Look at that moving Catastrophe cloud over there. It seems so far away, but I can't shake the feeling it might suddenly appear right above my head...

Of course I'm afraid. Who isn't afraid of Catastrophes?

But there's a trick I picked up in Sami: whenever I'm scared, I just pull my hat over my head, crouch down, and think of something happy. The things you're afraid of will disappear before you even know it.

After all, I'm just minding my own business—they wouldn't give me a hard time for no reason, would they?

Just last week you said you'd lost count of how many times you'd been captured and interrogated by one of the Famiglie.

*sigh* I'm sorry for the trouble.

.....

But misunderstandings always get cleared up in the end. I mean, you guys did let me go, didn't you?

...I really can't figure out how you managed to make it all the way through Sami and Ursus in one piece. You ain't lying about that too, are ya?

I just happen to come across perfectly reasonable people like you all the time.

Hmph. Try reason your way out of Catastrophes, then.

Remind me again where you're going? Some place called 'Black Flow'?

Yes, and I'm also going home, friend, back home to Bolívar.

That's one long-ass journey. An extra day or two won't make a difference. Besides, that tattered paper talisman you're carrying ain't gonna expire.

Anyhow, I advise you to wait for that parade of crazies to pass. They started a war; they can destroy cities.

Or maybe wait for someone or something else to test out the Catastrophe for you.

Just some friendly advice.

Those devils are bold as hell—someone's bound to try and take a bite out of 'em sooner or later.

.....

Paryaqaqa, you ain't actually... fascinated by that cloud, are ya?

Maybe I am. I find it hard to hide my excitement whenever I encounter something I've never seen before.

True, I paid a price for it back in Sami, but I just can't get rid of this bad habit.

To be more precise, I want to take a look at the people walking beneath the Catastrophe cloud.

How is it going? I hope no one is giving you any trouble.

Just another ordinary funeral.

...A funeral beneath a Catastrophe cloud is hardly ordinary. It's unfair to so many—they should have been able to return to Kazdel with us.

Death is the one form of equality most readily attainable to all, Misery.

The vast majority of the deceased have no relatives, nor even names.

When I asked them to leave their final words, they could not even identify anyone who might remember them after they were gone.

I shrouded the burial site in mist to keep beasts away. Unfortunately, most of the dead were still unable to return to the furnace at home as they wished.

Logos, do you know what lies a little further up ahead?

My previous missions... rarely required me to come this way.

Laterano is just south of here, not far.

.....

When Outcast and I went on missions together in this area, she'd often bring me here to drink.

We once made a foolish bet—that I'd find a way to sneak in and try Lateran ice cream.

Well, I did it. No one caught me.

But I never got the chance to tell her.

Ha. At least I'm not the one breaking my promise this time.

So you deliberately refused the order to return to the ship with Ascalon.

You knew we'd pass through here during the retreat.

Don't try to guess my intentions, Logos.

With Ascalon here, we'll have no issues escorting our fallen comrades and their tokens back to the ship.

Besides... she also needs some time to herself. To say goodbye to the past.

I tried speaking to her about the retreat, but she remained silent.

Perhaps she won't have anything to say about what happens next, either.

She witnessed the end of an era, Logos. It couldn't have been easy for her, and I fear we'll have one less participant at our future meetings.

No one can say for sure what will happen next.

It's just like the Catastrophe cloud above our heads... I may not like this plan, but I must admit it's the best deterrent we have against those who wish to seize the chance to declare war on the Sarkaz.

Without a strong measure like that to avoid war, there would only be more unnecessary sacrifices on the road back to Kazdel.

Violence is a means, never an end. There is nothing wrong with that.

Maybe I'm just a pessimist...

But I still think the rain will come down, sooner or later.

Uh-huh. So can you let me go?

Who the hell are you, anyway?

I'm really just an explorer.

What kinda explorer could stop the lightning in a Catastrophe cloud? I-It's like the thunderbolts themselves are afraid of you...

Maybe they've taken a liking to me?

See? A few of them just landed right next to me!

.....

You do realize that just makes you even more suspicious, right?

Personally, I think the Catastrophe's sending a clear message—don't come near us, and don't try and test us!

Now now, let's not be hasty. I just wanted to study the strange Catastrophe cloud you created, as well as remind you that—

I don't like you.

You tell too many lies.

This guy's the one you were talking about?

He looks pretty normal to me.

You sure you got this right, old geezer?

He is giving off a particular scent, one I loathe.

(Ancient Sarkaz language) 'Šmal'deqa'... 'enemies from outside'.

No... It is not coming from him, it is what he brought with him.

Strange. It seems to be... a piece of paper?

Pfft. You really are confused, you old coot.

So does this mean we don't need to worry about him anymore? Hey! Why aren't you saying anything?

Boss, I—

I told you, call me 'Chairman' from now on. Tch, what a pain in the ass. Why did Hoederer have to make up all these stupid rules?

Only Her Highness should be called 'Chairman'...

Anyway, your squad's out here to scout, so just keep on scouting. Leave this guy to me.

Got it.

You. If you've got something to say, say it. Don't try and pull a fast one on me.

I guarantee I'm faster than you.

.....

There's a fleet heading your way. Don't know which nation they're from—they've disabled all identifying signals.

They're coming from that direction. The terrain provides a lot of cover. It would be easy to plan an ambush.

I guess everyone wants in on this.

Tch, what a bunch of cowards. Afraid of us, yet always acting cocky.

Alright, I'll pass on the word to the guys charging to their deaths on the frontlines

So as a thank-you, how about I invite you to watch the Catastrophe cloud with me? You're here to 'explore', right?

Hahaha... I'd really rather not. I'm shaking in my boots here.

Hmph.

Alright. Your loss. Now scram. If any clueless Sarkaz grabs you again, just tell them who let you go—Wiš'adel.

You have my thanks.

That sure was a close call. If you hadn't rescued me, this journey would have been my last.

Drop the act around me. I know you got caught on purpose.

.....

It's so weird. Why do I keep running into people who have nothing to do with the Sarkaz, but want to help anyway?

*sigh*...

They're here.

I knew going home wouldn't be that easy.

Everyone, commence preparations like you were ordered.

Each of you just do your own job.

I don't want to catch any idiots of you showing off—

.....

Remain silent.

As His Holiness commanded.

Even though the Sarkaz have committed countless crimes within our holy city? Even though Laterano has never before faced such provocation and desecration?

Even though their army is openly threatening the safety of our residents? Even then, we will not respond?

Yes. His Holiness believes that Laterano should not interfere in this matter.

I wish to see him. I'm going to file a protest!

...We are unsure where he is right now.