My dear citizens and friends, as well as our beloved tourists from afar, Candela speaking.
Candela
First, please don't be alarmed.
Candela
I will admit that I did not see Old Pancho's plan coming.
Candela
I never expected that my trusted subordinate would do something as horrifying as to plot against me to take this city. How terrifying!
Candela
However, as I said in the beginning, this is no cause for alarm.
Candela
Rather, I must give Pancho my thanks.
Candela
To be honest, I've been wondering for the past two years what we could do to make the championship more exciting, more eye-opening, and more thrilling to all of us.
Candela
And I've never found a particularly nice way to do this.
Candela
Yet Pancho's found it. Through his actions, he's putting on an even more exciting championship!
Candela
Think the championship's over?
Candela
No, not at all. At that very moment, our championship has reached its true climax!
Candela
At this point in time, all teams are revived, and betting has reopened.
Candela
Stop the troublemakers that are sowing chaos in the city to the best of your ability. I know you can.
Candela
And once everything comes to a successful conclusion, you will be adequately rewarded.
Swire
......
Hoshiguma
......
Candela
Oh, you must be the ones. My subordinates told me you helped them foil a plan to assassinate me.
Candela
Come, sit with me. As your reward, you may sit here in the front row to enjoy this match with me.
Swire
Are you... serious?
Candela
Of course. I'm always serious.
Candela
Pancho knows he wouldn't stand much of a chance if he flipped the table right in front of me.
Candela
And that's why he's holing up in the ship I entrusted to him.
Candela
And if my guess is correct, he probably added quite a few features to it in secret. Maybe a cannon or two?
Hoshiguma
But if that was all there was to it, it would hardly be a threat.
Candela
That's right.
Candela
Between the second and third rounds, we invite dignitaries from all factions to board the ship so they may enjoy the competition in person.
Swire
Oh, I see. The dignitaries. That's the key here.
Swire
The city's operations depend on dealing with them.
Candela
Right, right, right. It isn't a matter of whether I want to solve this problem of his or not, but whether the bigwigs' underlings want me to solve his problem right away.
Candela
Tsk, making such a huge ruckus, only by playing dirty.
Candela
It was probably Ernesto who taught him that.
Candela
Well, as you can see, there isn't much I can do, and there isn't much that he can do either.
Candela
In that case, we might as well make things more interesting.
Swire
Wouldn't that be provoking him...?
Candela
If he actually dragged the brass hats out to slaughter one by one, he wouldn't be doing much with the city even if I handed him the keys.
Hoshiguma
You don't get it, Missy. He wants to take over the city and take it to war, so he needs the big shots' backing.
Hoshiguma
Otherwise, he wouldn't have the money or manpower to actually go to war.
Hoshiguma
And if I had to guess, some of the big shots on the ship might already have come to an agreement with him.
Swire
......
Candela
Oh? Now I'm taking an interest in you young ladies. From the way you are dressed, I suppose you're not from Bolívar?
Hoshiguma
Haha, we are from Lungmen, and two of our friends happen to be on the ship.
Candela
Hm? So you are friends of Ch'en and Lin? They didn't mention you at all.
Hoshiguma
We didn't tell them we'd be here on a vacation, so that makes sense.
Candela
Hahaha, I see.
Candela
In that case, let me tell you one more thing—
Candela
I gave Ch'en and Lin this mission, but I also promised Lady Fumizuki that they would not come to harm during their stay here.
Candela
Do you know what that means?
Hoshiguma
It means it's not yet time.
Candela
You know your stuff, young lady of Higashi.
Candela
And if something does happen to them, then I'm afraid the old men on the ship will find themselves lost at sea, thanks to Pancho.
Swire
......
Hoshiguma
Missy, don't be scared.
Candela
Come, come. They say that it takes a fight to get to know each other. It just happens there's one unfolding before us. Come, sit down. Let's talk.
Looks like having you deal with Ernesto while I investigate didn't save us enough time.
Ch'en
Right...
Lin Yühsia
Not happy about it?
Ch'en
Not one bit... but not much I can do.
Lin Yühsia
This whole affair isn't all that simple. We knew that ahead of time, no?
Ch'en
I didn't expect things to get so out of hand, though.
Lin Yühsia
You scared?
Ch'en
Of course not.
Ch'en
Where are you now?
Lin Yühsia
In one of the cabins.
Lin Yühsia
I took a stroll around while you had your chat with Ernesto. The atmosphere wasn't all that tense before Pancho put his plans in motion, though.
Lin Yühsia
But right after his speech, the crew and the sailors started to make their move.
Lin Yühsia
The whole ship is on high alert now, and they are very well-supplied and well-equipped.
Ch'en
Sounds like you're ready for a seesaw battle?
Lin Yühsia
We aren't completely out of options just yet.
Ch'en
How do you figure?
Lin Yühsia
They locked all the dignitaries in a single room.
Ch'en
Common practice among thugs... Hold on.
Ch'en
Let's start with the hostages.
Lin Yühsia
Looks like you figured it out.
Ch'en
It doesn't matter how many weapons they have on the ship, how well supplied they are, and how many men they have to support them on land, Lady Candela has control here. The best outcome he can hope for is a draw.
Ch'en
The odds will be against him if it drags out.
Ch'en
These hostages are basically his lifeline.
Lin Yühsia
Heh, that's right. These dignitaries are high officials in the three governments.
Lin Yühsia
As hostages, they really help keep things in check.
Lin Yühsia
It doesn't take very long. All he needs is a brief moment, he just needs Lady Candela to hesitate for a second.
Lin Yühsia
Then he'll get to do so much more. He'll have so many more bargaining chips.
Lin Yühsia
But there's only the two of us here.
Lin Yühsia
To be honest, I really am not into the idea of playing hero of justice with you.
Ch'en
I'll do it.
Ch'en
I'll get their attention and leave the hostages to you.
Lin Yühsia
That could work. There should be a lifeboat on the ship, or we could make them jump into the sea and swim.
Lin Yühsia
What happens after that?
Ch'en
What do you mean?
Lin Yühsia
You'll run after everyone's rescued?
Ch'en
If you want to stay on the ship and play the hero, feel free.
Lin Yühsia
I guess that's how it'll go, then.
Lin Yühsia
So, should we begin?
Ch'en
Let's do it. Right, don't hang up. Stay in touch with me.
