Liberi Reader

......

There is one thing I must reiterate, my dear.

If you are only here to return the book, and are still unwilling to consider my prior suggestion, then leave it by the fireplace, and off you go.

Do you really mean that if I don't agree with your method, you won't even say another word to me?

Were this any other time, I would be happy to entertain your adorable follies of youth and talk with you into the wee hours of the night.

I have missed much, after all. About you, your parents, and what you experienced in Chernobog...

I can just as well tell you all of this now.

But I am in no position to listen.

Even when faced with a choice between life or death, I was unable to persuade you to accept my arrangements: to leave Grypherburg and lie low, or at least submit a testimony that brings you only benefit.

I could not protect you, which leaves me ashamed to face your parents. How could I have the right to learn anything about them from you?

It's not like that, Countess—

Have you read the book?

I have, cover to cover. I now understand why you lent it to me.

What does it say on the title page?

'There is no cause worth sacrificing a beautiful life.'

Indeed, indeed. Yakov Petrov's Confessions, published posthumously by his family. A discussion about a traitor's experiences, bought with his life. So, I simply do not understand...

If you already know that people have paid the ultimate price for these experiences, and you still have the freedom to choose another path, then why must you repeat the mistakes of the past?

Surely you do not have to be on your deathbed, perhaps even choking on blood in prison like he did, to know what you believe in is doomed to be a flash in the pan, forgotten by history?

Countess, I...

Tell me, child. Tell me why.

...To be honest, I have asked myself the same question. But if...

......

Forgive my shamelessness, but I have a request of you.

If I write my testimony as you say and save myself, can you promise me that the other members of the Ursus Student Self-Government Group will be treated equally as well?

Of course! So long as you do as those people want, and list out some specific names in your testimony—

Very well. I will do as you say.

I will submit a testimony like this one to the hearing...

A 'confession'.

Countess?

Ah, yes, I'm listening. What did you say?

Pardon me. I simply wished to notify you that the arbiter has just mentioned Baryshnya Rostova. He will require you to hand over her testimony in a moment.

Our next witness is Baryshnya Natalya Rostova. Due to special circumstances, she is unable to attend in person today.

However, she has requested that her testimony be read by someone else, on her behalf.

Your Honor—

Baryshnya Rostova sent me a letter yesterday. I'd like to request the committee to look over said letter, and permit me to read it aloud.

Very well. The hearing asks Young Zoya to recite what knowledge Baryshnya Rostova offers about this incident on her behalf.

'To the honorable and esteemed ladies and gentlemen of the committee, this is a confession...'

'Due to my remorse, and the sensitive nature of the contents of this letter, I will not mention the specific names of any nobles, save for Pavlovich, who must be discussed.'

(Quietly) Countess, what we said was to—

Hear her out.

'...I hope this will be sufficient to win your trust.'

...Haha, I met with a friend of your father's, Baron Shuvalov. He borrowed heavily, then ran off to Chernobog to invest it all, only to return to Grypherburg with absolutely nothing to his name.

But when I met him the day before yesterday, his hands were shackled, and he was being escorted by two police officers out of the city, to be sent east. My curiosity had me asking him what great crime he had committed to be sentenced to exile.

He had quite the air of mystery as he whispered in my ear that during a banquet, he shouted: 'Long live the miners'.

I was absolutely flabbergasted, so I asked him why. Can you guess what he said?

Forgive me, but nothing comes to mind.

He laughed as he turned to look at the officers with him, saying: 'If I'm exiled, my creditors can't find me, hahahaha.'

What a... unique anecdote. If I didn't have more pressing matters at hand, I would be happy to listen to them all day.

Oh, look at me, such a windbag. Most deserving of your mockery.

Come, my dear Baryshnya Rostova. Let's talk business.

My good magistrate, I am here for—

What's going on? Who's in charge today? Send them to me this instant!

Thousand pardons, sir, we brought in quite a few people last night—

What do I care how many people you have? Don't you know I'm entertaining a guest right now?

I'll have them stop right away.

Terribly sorry about that. What were you going to say?

Pardon my curiosity, but...

Each raion of Deity Grypherburg has its own guard unit, but they are given standardized equipment. I noticed the man you spoke to just now held a weapon, but was wearing plainclothes. Is there something special about Katorga?

Special? Haha, you jest, Baryshnya Rostova, unless you believe a garbage dump to be special.

Ever since Grypherburg's factories received an upgrade, the old industrial zones lay idle. Some councilors suggested they could be refurbished and put to other uses.

Like, for example, having a place to lock up criminals and the poor folk who refuse to move, while also performing some light manufacturing. Two fowls with one stone.

Things started off rather well. If it were not for the shortage of resources these past few months, these factories would not have all shut down.

*Sigh* Ursus has never been one to pay useless places any heed. Proper guards are limited in manpower, and what funds have been given to me are only enough to hire idiots to help manage things.

It's a miracle that these fools haven't caused an accident yet.

That drill earlier did not sound like it was for putting up renovations—

Ah, my humblest apologies if it startled you. Just the dentist at work. I rather wish he would not disturb my guests.

A dentist? Here?

Yes, they drill away cavities, after all. They scrape away the rot, and fill the hole with new materials... No matter if they work with enamel, or thoughts.

Now, I believe your curiosity has been sated. Shall we return to business?

...My apologies for taking us off-track.

You saw my list of names when I first arrived. Their parents have entrusted me to check on their well-being. I hope you can tell me how they are doing.

Especially considering that among these names, there are many heirs of great and powerful nobles. I hope you can be accommodating.

Naturally, naturally. It appears this batch of arrestees really are all students. Oh, pity the hearts of parents everywhere. I know just how worried people of such renown must be about their heirs.

If these children had the least bit of empathy for their parents, why would they display such disgraceful, heartbreaking behavior?

But you must understand just how concerned I am for the future of Katorga.

Before we proceed to the next step of our discussions, I must reiterate that the parents who have entrusted me with this task wish to confirm the condition of their children.

Yes, yes, there'll be plenty of time for you to see how they're doing in a moment.

There happen to be two names on this list that I would like to discuss further with you, Baryshnya Rostova.

By all means.

The first is Naum. As far as I'm aware, he was released yesterday. Most likely already arrived home as you were making your way here.

Thank you for informing me. I shall check with his parents as soon as possible.

Ahem. Next is this girl, Sonya.

She's managed to make quite the name for herself these past few days. I heard about many things involving her from my underlings.

How is she?

No need to be so tense. I am simply curious myself. She is no noble, nor the daughter of a rich household. Just an ordinary student. So why exactly is she on the list of names?

I had no intention of hiding it from you. It is simple: Sonya is one of my friends, and she is no black-hearted thug, which is why I added her to the list. I beg you, let me check on her.

O, bozhe moi. When the scion of the House of Rostov asks me for aid, how could I ever refuse?

However, you must agree to two things: first, talk to Sonya and get her to sit still without fidgeting about for a few days. I guarantee that she'll be out of the quarantine zone in several days' time.

Secondly, go to the parents you represent, have them pressure the State Council into repealing their proposal and retaining the quarantine zone, by all means available.

'Retaining' the quarantine zone? Do you mean the quarantine will soon be revoked?

Oh my, did our dear Countess Vorontsova not tell you? This is no simple revocation, but rather... pure renunciation.

The exhaustion of the empire's resources is no secret. Ursus is desperate enough to abandon one of the capital's industrial plates, all for the sake of economization.

A week ago, the State Council proposed to cast off the quarantine zone, leaving it to the wilds. This proposal was permitted to move forward by the Chairman, which means His Imperial Majesty must tacitly approve of it.

Fortunately, with the help of some old nobles who support me, this plan has been delayed. But we cannot stave it off forever.

I noticed many renowned industrial nobles on your list. If those nobles can drum up support from their friends and stand as a united front in opposition, I'm sure His Imperial Majesty and the State Council will reconsider.

This is all for the sake of their children's lives. They would not dare be lax. If I receive an edict saying the quarantine zone shall be retained, then I release everyone.

...Do you believe I can do this?

I have hope, at the very least. With only a list of names in hand, you fearlessly strode into this place that all other souls shun, even seeking to save your friend.

And so, everyone's lives are in your hands, Baryshnya Natalya Rostova. Including Sonya's.

I will pass on your requests. But first, I must see her.

Naturally.

Come, Khvoin.

Take this young lady to Sonya. And remember to announce her as Natalya.

We're not far from that sterva—I mean, Sonya's camp. You wait here, I'll go give her a heads-up.

She's already set up a camp here? And do you really need to give her a 'heads-up'?

You're her friend, which means you know you don't mess with her.

Blyat! Stupid beast!

Are you alright, Natalya?

I... Nothing, it just... No, it's nothing.

It's terribly cold out here. I must trouble you to ask Sonya to come out as quickly as possible.

Right away.

Natalya?

(Ragged breathing)

You're hyperventilating—

Chyort! Can you hear me, Natalya?

I-I—

Where are you right now?

I'm... I'm... in the quarantine zone...

Yeah, the quarantine zone—Blyat! Why do you all keep coming here one after another? You want to die or something?

Now's not the time for that talk. Listen to me, Natalya. I'm here with you. You are not alone.

Natalya!

Sonya...?

Yeah, it's me. You okay?

Sonya... No, I'm fine. I'm so happy to see you...

And to see that you're fine too.

You're still babbling. How many fingers?

Three.

Phew. Your brain's in one piece, at least.

I'm fine, really. It was just the wind making me cough, and my heart felt a little uncomfortable because of that. I'm feeling much better now, thank you.

Enough, don't put on an act when you're with me. Did the guy who was looking for me cause you trouble?

I'm really not... *sigh* Forget it.

Listen, Sonya, I can only be here for a short time, so I must catch you up on everything as quickly as possible.

I know you were sent by the guy in charge.

Let me tell you something first, Leto's already here. Anything else you need to know from me?

Rosalind... She's been insisting on finding you. She left only a note at the branch office before running off.

Don't be too hard on her, she just wanted to come and help me ASAP... I-I wanted to ask, how's everyone doing?

Is Gummy okay? Is Istina mad at me? And Zoya and Instructor Dur-nar...

Everyone's fine, but they're all worried about you.

I myself came to make sure you're safe, as well as this quarantine zone...

I don't know what you've seen so far, but the stuff that's happened here is probably way worse than that.

No food, no fuel, not even clean water. People are forming gangs and fighting everywhere over territory and resources.

Every day, people die.

Pavlovich said he will release everyone, as long as some conditions are met—

Do you really trust a guy like that?

Of course not...

I know there's nothing else you could do. Otherwise you wouldn't have had to ask all over the place for help getting in, just to see how I was doing and tell me the news.

Gotta say, even though everything I said earlier felt scary as hell, and it feels like everyone might just die tomorrow, it's nothing we haven't seen before.

A locked-off city that nobody cares about, even if it explodes, a group of students almost running on instinct, crushing each other to survive...

It's got a familiar ring to it, doesn't it?

Tell me, what do you need right now? I can leave this place, and once I meet up with everyone outside, we'll think of a way—

I need to know how many people are on those fortress-like raion walls. Excluding the thugs.

Not very many. Pavlovich has a few bodyguards. Shouldn't be more than ten, if we include those wearing old army uniforms.

...Not too bad.

(Whispers) If you can, come up with a laundry list of ideas to cut off their supply of weapons.

(Whispers) Weapons? But the 'security' I saw were hardly professionals.

(Whispers) There's a lot you don't know.

(Whispers) They've been bringing in ammo and heavy weapons every day for the past few days. If every guard on the walls has that kind of firepower, we don't stand a chance.

You mean...

I mean exactly what I said.

...I see. Once we get out, I will talk to the others, and we will figure something out.

Sonya, you and Rosalind need to take care of yourselves. You must.

Don't worry. I'll get out of here, and I'm bringing everybody with me.

Just like before.