Liberi Reader

...In response to increasing volcanic activity since 1097, Mayor Herman Doykos initiated the Siesta Free State Relocation Project.

By early 1099, more than 90% of Siestans are expected to leave the volcanos and beaches for a new life in a nomadic city.

Just to make it clear, girl, you only paid enough to get you to the next hub. You'll have to find your own way from there.

...I will.

You say that, but have you any idea how dangerous the barrens are? It's no place for a kid like you.

Why are you going to Siesta, anyway? Chasing your favorite band?

Work.

Going from Columbia to Siesta to look for work? You must've been living under a rock for the last 70 years.

There was a time when people flocked there to make their fortune. They say you could bend down and pick up some obsidian anywhere on the volcano.

But Columbia is where opportunities are these days.

I interned at a construction company before I graduated. There was a serious accident just as my internship was about to end, and the company blamed it all on me.

With that on my record, the only job I could find was some tiny demolition operation, where I got Oripathy from the way they misused Originium bomb.

I wanted to stay in the city, but got scammed out of my last savings paying for medical insurance.

Well, that's tough luck.

Don't let Oripathy stop you from being a pillar of the nation! Join the frontier Pioneers!

The Pioneers provide an opportunity for every child of Columbia to have a better future...

I thought it was time for a change... my grandfather told me Siesta is a beautiful place.

I hope you find better luck there.

I think I will.

I've lost my way♪

I've lost the path♪

What the heck is going on?

......

......

One more dessert of the day, please!

Of course! Would you like to try a different flavor?

Prices here are nothing like Columbia... it's a tourist town alright.

All the food looks so nice... the cocktails too...

All original. Can't get them anywhere else.

Every cocktail has a story. Like this Nutmeg Beach...

Hey—

Are those two friends of yours?

Yeah, we're all from Lungmen, and we work for the same company. We get along really well.

But why do they look like they could break into a fistfight at any time?

Even good friends fight sometimes...

Didn't expect you to grace us with your presence personally, Commissioner Swire.

The L.G.D. has annual leave. Got a problem with that?

I know why you're here.

I have to say, I was surprised to see you and your family on the list of bidders for the new plate and shopping district rebuilding project.

*Cough* *Cough*—

Mr. Enis! A-Are you ok?

Just got a fright... I mean, I choked on something...

Well, MountainDash Logistics's activities in Siesta are no news to me. You want to set up a logistics hub at this plate because of its location. Where's Eurill?

I'm in charge of this project.

Mountaincomm Trade may be a subsidiary of MountainDash Logistics, but I'm not relying on MountainDash's resources at all.

This boy born with a silver spoon in his mouth says he doesn't rely on his family's resources. Did you bike here?

This is no time or place for jokes, Miss Swire.

Very well, we'll talk business.

This is a project with a lot of potential, a lot of eyes on it, including my own.

It's fair game so long as MountainDash Logistics doesn't have a formal contract with Siesta.

Then may I ask your plans for the district?

Let's call those a business secret.

Shopping center or ski resort, anything with some economic benefit has a reason to be part of the bidding.

I think I saw some engineered lava hot springs on the way here? That seems pretty interesting. Maybe I should rebuild this whole area as a hot spring resort.

This is serious. Let's talk seriously.

I know your family is a linchpin of the Lungmen economy, and you've contributed much to the city's development.

But the project in this area of New Siesta isn't just a commercial venture. It has to take into account the city's long-term development, and the livelihoods of the people here.

I'll ask you to rethink, if you're just in this for fun...

Mr. Bison, sir.

If you're really confident in your proposal, then all you need to do is to outbid me fair and square. Why did you feel the need to come to me here?

MountainDash's efforts at establishing a large-scale international trade network are innovative, but innovation entails risk.

Why are your methods more correct than mine, when they both involve business and profit?

If you insist on continuing this pointless competition... I will play your game.

And I'm happy to play. We have some time until the official bidding starts. We'll each play our hands until then.

What are you looking at, Snowsant?

Miss Swire! Something is not right with the route that gentleman took when he drove us here. There's no way this was ten kilometers.

There are greedy people everywhere... where did you get this map?

I said I wanted to borrow a map to look up some sightseeing routes, and Mr. Enis gave this to me. He says it's a commemorative edition issued for Siesta's relocation.

And so he charged me some more gold certificates...

This map's being handed out for free at the city entrance.

(Look of surprise)

I'll teach him a lesson, next time I see him.

Hum hum♪

Enis! You're in a good mood. Swindled another new visitor? Someone's gonna beat you up one of these days.

I wasn't ripping off some poor shmoe. These folks, my friend, were filthy rich.

She was talking big business with that guy from the trade company, hoping to make god knows how much money. Call it a little deductible on behalf of the citizens of Siesta.

Let's go!

Is it this one?

No, look at the shape. It has three peaks, the one in the photo only has two.

Let's keep looking.

Volcano Watchers? I've seen these plants in my mother's notes.

There's a Siestan legend about flowers that change color based on volcanic activity. Katia and Magna came looking for it the first time they were here.

There were reports of massive blooms on the slopes before every recorded volcanic activity on Mount Siesta, a beautiful warning of danger.

Did the flowers go extinct?

The flowers are just a legend. There's no proof that they ever existed, and this word-of-mouth stuff gives us little to work with.

It would make sense for Originium activity to affect nearby plants.

Would finding this flower provide another way to prevent volcanic disasters?

Perhaps, but I've never heard of it growing anywhere else.

That's the way Siesta is. There are many legends here; who knows how many were made up just to attract tourists.

Pink clouds on a sunny day, white cliffs by the mouth of a volcano... many people come seeking these legendary sights every year.

I remember you met my parents in Siesta, Professor Keller?

...Yes, I did.

They said they came to Siesta to survey the volcanoes, and ran into a geology student writing her thesis in one of the cafes.

So they brought her with them when they climbed the volcano.

I didn't specialize in volcanoes at the time... it was my first time climbing that one. A beautiful sight, it delayed my thesis.

Mutti and Vati were always reminiscing about that time.

I want to hear more stories about them. Can you tell me more?

......

Now is not the time to chat. Let's focus on our work.

Professor Keller.

Is the city council meeting over?

There is increasing public opposition to moving away from the current beachfront. The city council is keen to have an accurate estimation of when the volcano will erupt, and wants us to provide a guarantee for the estimate that we gave.

I rejected it on the spot as being impossible and irresponsible. We try to give an estimate that is as accurate as possible, but scientific survey cannot be held responsible for the government's opinion polls.

Thank you for taking care of that, Dr. Kahn.

No need to thank me. The volcano museum is your project, and I promised to help so you could focus on more important things.

This is something that matters to all volcanologists, and I hope—

...Adele?

Kahn!

I forgot. Of course you knew each other.

......

...Of course.

Is she here at your behest?

The museum's collection includes Mr. and Mrs. Naumann's research, and the eruption of Mount Siesta is a rare opportunity. I wanted to respect Adele's wishes...

I just didn't think it was the kind of work that needed to recruit a sickly... someone who's not in the best of health.

I came to help out while on vacation. It's not really a bother...

Kahn has a point. Your health is important. You have to take it easy, Adele.

Let's call it a day. May I ask you to bring Adele back to her accommodations, Dr. Kahn?

...Of course.

Have a cocktail on me! Reward for fetching a rare new customer.

You just wanted someone to test it for poison...

I call it 'Cotton Sunset'. How is it?

It has a... er... 'unique' flavor.

You're one tough customer.

So, was that girl a friend of yours?

She... forget it, I haven't got the nerve to befriend her.

Shame.

Truck driver, Messenger, ticket seller, swimming coach... how many jobs are you working?

It's the high season, after all. Got to seize the opportunity.

What do you need money for? Got a girl you fancy?

I could give you an advance on your wages, if you're running short on pocket money.

I don't—

Forget it... seeing how business has been these few months, I should feel lucky that I even get my meals. You should be worrying about dorm fees for the little ones.

Hah, this is nothing compared to the stuff I've seen in the past.

Are you going to tell that story about how you led a protest against the local magnate in Kazimierz through rock music, then went on to a career in Siesta's rock n' roll scene, finally settling down here with this bar? Again?

Good memory on you.

I'm too old for bedtime stories.

Say, there's something I've been meaning to talk to you about.

Business hasn't been great since last year. I heard things have been going well at the engineered lava hot springs. If we...

Getting funny ideas again, young man?

......

Don't get ahead of yourself. I'm still the owner of this place on paper. You haven't taken over yet.

This is the coolest cocktail bar in Siesta, and it hasn't changed one bit from Old Siesta to New Siesta. I'm not about to abandon it over a few slow months.

This isn't a short-term thing... city council people have been here a few times. The whole street could be demolished.

Yet you fixed the sign for the folks next door, while you haven't bothered to fix ours, even though it's been broken for days.

Is a sign going to save the shop?

Stop worrying about troubles that aren't even here yet. Life isn't nearly as bad as you think.

Act your age for once. Leave the worrying to the old folks.

I want to travel a little once the high season is over.

Sure. Columbia? Victoria?

Or even further away, just like him. See the world, expand your horizons.

You're too young to be worrying about the little things.

What I mean is... I could be gone for a while.

What's this about?

Oh, I had a little bump while moving some stuff. I thought it was nothing.

Well, the summer is pretty dry this year. You should have more fruits and veggies. Need a recipe from me?

I'm not a kid anymore...

Then don't make me have to worry about you. Look the part, if you want to be taking care of other people.

Alright, Mom.

Thanks for the escort, Kahn.

I'm sure you have a lot of work to do. I'll be fine the rest of the way.

I...

Sorry, could you speak up a little? It's noisy out here and I couldn't quite hear you.

......

Are you worried about me? Don't be, everyday life isn't much trouble anymore.

I didn't think I would see you in Siesta... are you okay?

Your disease...

Well, the Oripathy getting worse can't be helped... but things are largely under control now.

I have to wear a hearing aid and glasses, but I'm getting used to it. I've also gotten pretty good at lip reading!

It's just so unfair... a girl as young as you.

It's not about fair.

I've seen plenty of Infected at Rhodes Island. Many are even younger than I am. Some are little kids who hardly know what's going on. None of them know when their lives will end.

At least I have a clear goal, and I'm still strong enough to work towards it. I'm one of the lucky ones.

Has it really been so long since you went to Rhodes Island? How time flies... I heard you're still surveying volcanos in person, and even more frequently these days.

That's... it's dangerous, Adele.

I've talked to the physicians at Rhodes Island. I know how much time I have left...

But there's so much still to do... I can't let my parents' research end like this.

You don't have to be the one to do it. Not in your... condition.

What else can I do, though?

Kahn, I... I miss them...

Poor girl. Do you not suffer enough shackles already?

What? I wouldn't call it shackles...

What's that you just said, Adele?

I... huh?

Adele... I studied with Dr. Naumann for many years.

She was my greatest mentor. She brought me out of that little backwater, and took me down the path of science.

She changed my life. I don't know where I would be without her. I could never repay her kindness.

Mutti always said you were her best student.

I just can't accept the mysterious circumstances surrounding their deaths.

What do you mean?

You didn't see your parents the year before they died, did you?

They were always busy, practically living out of their lab at the university. I wasn't even allowed to visit them.

Did something happen?

As a scientist, I know how inappropriate it is to operate off a biased conjecture. And yet, I can't help but suspect...

My, my, another one with an obsession.

What...?

I don't trust Keller, Adele. Be careful.

I don't understand. Why do humans talk so much about things they have never seen? Why to they pretend to have more wisdom than they possess?

I didn't quite hear what you said... might be a problem with my hearing aid...

Sorry, I got excited. It's been a long time since I last saw you.

It's late. You should get some rest.

...See you.

What was Kahn going to say?

Girl? Girl?

Ahem. Hey, can you hear me?

Is someone calling me?

Hello?