Liberi Reader

Did we really need to be here so early? There's nobody outside the bank right now.

I have some mint candy, if that'll perk you up.

Appreciate it, but I don't think that's going to do the trick. C'mere, Teacher's Pet. Gimme a good pinch.

Tch...

Ow!

Now, let's get to work. Rise and shine, my friends! Hey, I'm talking to you!

*yaaaawn*... Oh, sorry about that, Franka.

Alright, listen up.

The bank has a total of four exits. Beanie, take your four people with you and guard the rear door.

Roger!

Copperplate, you and Coins will head to the garage door.

Roger!

Everyone else, come with the three of us and stay at the front door.

*cough* *cough*... Excuse me, ma'am. I'd like to ask you something...

Will you people be out here all day?

Er, yes, we will. But we're simply handling some business and don't intend to interfere your daily affairs.

Handling business? A few days ago, I signed my pioneering agreement right here. That's the last bit of business I'll be handling.

Who are you...?

Hmm... I should at least fill out their customer service review.

(Checks the thumbs up)

Phew...

This bullet... Were you the one who asked Jessica to bring it?

Mm. Found it in an antiques shop in Victoria, a few years back.

No wonder you searched all over the camp but couldn't find it back then. By the looks of it, seems like one of the officers secretly brought the gun into Victoria.

And now that the gun's missing, that bullet is the last artifact he left behind.

I warned the fella not to engrave all that flowery nonsense on it... In any case, why didn't you hold onto the bullet yourself?

Because you're the one who should have it, not me.

What, your ghosts finally catching up to you?

We were friends once, at least. I can't say I'm happy things ended up like this.

And do those feelings of guilt and sorrow do you any good?

What are you after, Woody?

Call your men back, and stop driving out the residents.

Even if Blacksteel pulls out, the government's just going to hire some other mercenaries. It won't change the outcome.

I heard you initially had the option to turn down the commission. Am I wrong?

Despite its name, at the end of the day Blacksteel Worldwide is still based in Columbia. We don't have the right to refuse a job from the government.

I see, so even you have to tuck your tail between your legs like a normal person from time to time.

Times have changed. As far as the Columbian government is concerned, soldiers like us mean nothing compared to the geniuses in Trimounts.

...

Tell me, bossman, what does Blacksteel stand to gain in this contract between the bank and the government?

This isn't a long-term arrangement, Woody.

The government has a job for us, so we follow orders and get paid. Beyond that... I don't particularly care, nor am I allowed to care.

I remember back in Laterano. You'd always tell me about all sorts of things, from minor tensions between different groups to massive conflicts between countries... And you'd always put it in the context of how much the people would suffer.

That was a long time ago. I can hardly remember at this point.

But I do, clear as day. You told me this on our way from the library to the student dorms: the strong protect themselves, but the truly great protect others.

So why is it that now, after you've seen these people with your own eyes, you can say you don't care because you're not allowed to?

We've both gotten old, Woody. There's a limit to how many things you can care about.

True enough. But even so, there ain't that many things worth caring about... Everything that's left, that's what's important.

Maybe I can't protect everyone on the plate anymore, with these rickety old bones. But, the people around me... I'd give my life for them.

I swear—if any of them get hurt because you got involved, then so help me God I will return this bullet to you. In one piece.

...I sincerely hope it doesn't come to that.

Captain, more and more people are showing up... Do we need to set up a blockade?

We're not at that point yet. We don't know what the crowd's intentions are, and acting rashly will only make it harder to keep things under control. If dialogue is an option, I'd like to negotiate with the organizer first.

But... from what I can tell, people have been trickling in since morning. I don't think they're organized.

Nobody's armed, so I'm not too worried about it coming to violence. But, you know, not not worried...

After all, the pressure isn't coming from the crowd in front of us, but rather from what's behind us.

Captain, take a look at her...

Helena...

Most of them have already signed the pioneering agreement, so what are they all doing, gathering out there?

What are you worried about? Those aren't toys the Blacksteel people are holding, you know.

*sigh* Good grief... And I already turned the TV on to watch the special New Year's interview. I can't imagine what the Governor's going to talk about this year.

Isn't it the same old song and dance, no matter how they try to spin it?

Hello, everyone. First, I'd like to wish everyone a happy New Year on behalf of everyone on the broadcasting team.

During this program, we will be interviewing the Governor and asking him a variety of questions on the issues our citizens are most concerned about. I'm glad you could join us today, Governor.

Hello there.

Just as a routine reminder for our viewers: this program was pre-filmed in September, and the situation may have changed since the time of recording. Please keep this in mind.

You only have the scientists perched up in Trimounts to blame for that. Because they still haven't worked out a way to get a Messenger all around Columbia in a single day, hahaha.

Helena, it's so cold out here today. Why are you—

I appreciate the thought, but I ain't budging an inch.

I know that you have your issues with the bank... If you have any demands, I might be able to pass them along for you.

No need to be so uptight, Captain Liskarm.

Most of us here already signed a pioneering contract, and will be leaving with the next convoy. As for what we want...

There's nothing left. We're sick and tired of these stupid games, and we're not going to do it anymore.

Then what's the point of you all coming here?

To take a look.

At what?

Ever since I was little, I was always told that when you say goodbye to something that's been with you for a long time, you take one good long last look.

So far... I took a good long look at my diner, at the mining plant, at every last place here on this plate.

And today, on the first day of the new year, I'm here to take a good long look at the culprit that's making me say goodbye to everything I've ever known.

Ms. Helena, I'm loathe to remind you of this fact, but you voluntarily signed every one of those mortgage agreements yourself.

You're right, I sure did. We walked this path together, but you also pushed us down it.

Nonsense. Take that other gentleman, for example. I seem to recall his business taking a major setback, and no one else would provide a loan. We were gracious enough to lend him forty thousand certs.

Right. At first, it was just forty thousand. Not too massive, but not pocket change either. All I wanted was to pay it off as soon as I could.

But then you people said I had to properly plan out my investments and liabilities. You said I shouldn't pay everything off in one lump sum along with the interest. You gave me preferential installment rates, and told me to use the leftover money to buy your other financial products...

Right. What you lent me was forty thousand, but what you took from me was my store, my house, my car, and even my whole family!

We all believed your propaganda and lies at first.

You said you'd make our lives prosperous, and help us achieve a better future. But where do us customers sit at the table of your so-called better future?

Right. We were fools blinded by our greed and short-sightedness. We all wanted that little extra something out of life, so we snapped at the bait.

But, why did we do that? Why was every last person on this plate so desperate, so eager to bite into that life-threatening hook, like a school of hungry fins?

Is it really our fault? Or has the well been poisoned this whole time–

Miss Liskarm, please have these people vacated within ten minutes.

Make it quick.

(*whispers*) Jessica! Find a way to call up Mr. Cliff! Hurry!

On it...

No good. I can't get through at all.

Keep trying.

No. Sorry, Captain, I need to tell him what's happening here, face-to-face.

...Then hurry.

Now then... Helena, Jessica's gone to report the situation to upper management. In just a little while—

You ever given any thought to your own future?

I... I've always wanted to start a security company of my own.

Would you take out a loan for it?

Hypothetically, if I had to. Because that's my dream.

Then you better darn well be careful. That stack of cash only represents the future. It ain't gonna take you there.

That's the painful lesson the guys you're protecting taught us firsthand.

They're liars and thieves. They tamper with the street signs, then turn around and laugh at us for hurtling down dangerous roads in the dark of the night.

I... I understand. I really do.

Mr. Governor, let's dive straight into the key issues. As we all know, there are still a number of areas in the transitional phase between frontier settlement and fully-developed zone—

Most of these settlements in the region are pioneer plates with decades of history and their own core industries, but don't yet meet the standard to be considered nomadic cities. Correct?

It's just as you say. I've heard that the state government is currently grappling with the question of how to dispose of these plates.

Nomadic plates are an important strategic resource, so I cannot agree with your use of the word 'dispose.' Providing assistance to these transitional areas and their residents has become one of the most important items on our desk.

For example, additional investment, tax exemptions, school admission discounts, and low-interest loans... All of these policies are designed to benefit people living in just those situations.

Manager...

Fetch the authorization agreement. The one sent by the state government that allows us to mobilize private armed forces in case of emergency.

But—

Hurry it up. Don't just sit there gawking.

Decades ago, when our forefathers came here, the Columbian customs officials asked about their dreams.

Later, when development on the plate was booming, you encouraged us to stride forward towards a brighter tomorrow. Saying that all of Columbia wanted to hear our enthusiasm.

But now that we're destitute, sickly, and worthless, you're slamming the door in our faces.

That's not how this works! We'll holler, we'll shout, and we'll roar!

So you'd best prick up your ears and listen!

We cry out for a blizzard, and a mighty storm comes♪

Pushed out in the wilds, with hardly a crumb♪

Far, far away, from the lands where we've grown♪

Searching for new lands, new soil to call home♪

About these low-interest loans...

Did I catch you on the back foot? How unusual. Normally, you'd be bombarding me with questions.

To be honest, I think this is a rather tough question, and hope that you'll answer it truthfully.

Some believe that providing a deferment on the interest is simply using tax money to subsidize the local economy. Which is not only a waste of money, but also dampens the enthusiasm of the residents and promotes laziness over self-reliance.

Speaking from the state's perspective, we have identified specific plates where something similar can be observed, but we must also extend an appeal to our other citizens. Please show patience and wait for our projects in the transitional zones to fully come to fruition.

I implore you to have faith that our local residents aren't lazy, but simply need time to rediscover how to use their legs to walk again.

The day they're strong enough to cast aside their crutches, they will repay our Columbian brothers and sisters back in full, with their hearts full of gratitude for your generosity.

Found it!

Go and close the windows. Draw the curtains tight, and stay away from doors and windows.

What are they doing outside... Singing?

...

The plow trudges on, the hammer strikes true♪

With our own two hands, there's nothing we can't do♪

Ever since the day we were born♪

A heavy burden we've always worn♪

Your ten minutes are up. Seeing how they still refuse to vacate the premises, we'll have to resort to more forceful measures.

Sorry, ma'am, but we can't do that.

...We shouldn't let these sorts of things get between our partnership.

If you insist on neglecting your duties, then I can only regretfully inform you that your team is now under my direct command.

Who the hell do you think you are–

The agreement to reclaim this plate was jointly signed by the local government, the bank, and Blacksteel. There are clauses within it stating that Blacksteel's personnel must obey our commands and mobilize in case of extraordinary circumstances.

This is an authorization letter sent at the time of the signing. Please take a look.