As Her Grace's latest instructions state, Ratatos's feigned death must have a reason. She is most likely carrying important information on her person, and is to be captured alive.
I heard... more fighting outside. What in the blazes is going on?
Ratatos
Quiet down!
Ratatos
The trickiest enemies for us to handle are outside right now. Degenbrecher's risking her life to protect us.
Ratatos
The only thing you can do right now is sit down, shut up and not be discovered.
Alberta
I... I heard the broadcast say that I'm a hostage abducted by Kjerag? Why...
Ratatos
Heh... Your fellow Victorians got their weapons out and started up their tanks. They're not letting anything out of this place.
Ratatos
So are they here to rescue you, or are they here to keep people in the know locked up in here so they can get their other plans done? The answer is obvious.
Alberta
You mean they're using my rescue as an excuse to invade Kjerag...?
Ratatos
It's what you said... and it seems reality agrees with you.
Alberta
...
Alberta
...How did it all come to this?
Ratatos
If you've got a way to get the information out, you can ask your fellow countrymen that question.
Alberta
When I came to this place, I thought I could help the oppressed people. With my camera and my words, I would be able to let more people know about the true Kjerag.
Alberta
I believed all that I did had meaning...
Ratatos
...Should I be thanking you for your kindness or something?
Ratatos
Alright, alright, I'll treat you as an actual kind-hearted lady then.
Ratatos
So don't play dumb with me now. Why do you think what you've seen is the 'true Kjerag'?
Ratatos
And who do you think is doing the oppressing here?
That's a question you need to answer yourself, along with your country.
Ratatos
On the Kjerag side of things, I might have also considered using one as pure-hearted as you, so I can't really blame Victoria for doing it.
Alberta
...So what exactly does the information I have mean to Victoria, and to Kjerag?
Ratatos
They're just making a fuss out of you to make it look like the facts are already settled. Don't take it too seriously.
Ratatos
We're hostages, nothing more.
Alberta
I feel like this is all rather absurd.
Ratatos
Well, that's one way to sum it up. If your camera still works, this would make some excellent material for you.
Alberta
If... I walked out that door, the rest of you would be fine, right?
Ratatos
If you did, they'd point their swords at you and confiscate all your material. You yourself might even disappear without a trace, with nobody else knowing what had happened to you.
Ratatos
With things having come to a head... You're the one who's meant to understand them the most, not me.
Alberta
So are we supposed to sit here and do nothing?
Ratatos
I don't think the Victorians want to lose you, Miss Hostage.
Ratatos
Just calm down, wait, and then...
Ratatos
I don't care what your plan is, Enciodes, it's time to put it into action.
We've built some temporary fortifications, just like you ordered, Sir Arctosz.
Paleroche Warrior
The enemy fleet hasn't fired yet. Instead, they're marching towards a place three clicks from us. How should we respond?
Arctosz
Our explosives reserves?
Paleroche Warrior
We've moved over all we could. We'll be risking our lives, but at the very least, we can delay the Victorian advance for a while.
Arctosz
Good.
Arctosz
Go get the troops in formation! Meanwhile, I'll have a chat with these Victorians!
The ship stops in front of him, its dark gray armor plating reflecting the sun's light. This is one of the rare moments in Arctosz's life he is forced to look up.
Arctosz
Who's your commander? Tell him to come out for a chat!
Victorian Officer
My commanding officer does not wish to come to blows with you, Arctosz Paleroche.
Arctosz
That all depends on why you've come to Kjerag. Don't tell me you're all just lost in the woods.
Victorian Officer
Her Grace has already made everything clear in her open letter. We must defend Victoria's interests while helping Kjerag stabilize following the Catastrophe.
Victorian Officer
All we ask is for the mastermind behind Kjerag's troubles, Enciodes Silverash, to receive the trial he deserves, which I believe is in line with Clan Paleroche's thinking.
Arctosz
The only thing I'm thinking is this: if you take even one more step forward, you'll pay the full price for it.
Arctosz
The only way you'll be going any further into Kjerag is over my dead body!
No changes. We keep guarding this final checkpoint. Once all their people are in, they'll definitely find Kjerag's arsenal.
Victorian Guard A
They've been searching for ages now, but they still haven't found anything?
Victorian Guard B
Yep. Even if Kjerag can't make any big moves like they said, I'm not willing to bet that that Enciodes guy doesn't have something up his sleeve.
Victorian Guard A
Maybe—Hmm? Another transport truck.
Victorian Guard B
Well, this one's all yours, buddy. I'm all tired out from checking all those beans last truck.
Victorian Guard A
Fine.
The guard waves down the truck slowly approaching him. It obediently comes to a halt.
Victorian Guard A
Sorry, mister, but as per Her Grace's orders, all vehicles passing this point are to be searched.
Victorian Guard A
Unload your cargo—
A thick baton smacks into his head with a 'bonk'. Before the other guard can cry out for help, a shadow appears behind him, tightening itself around his neck.
Kjerag Warrior
We've cleared the road again, sir, just like the plan said.
???
Update Sir Gnosis on the situation.
???
Get those supplies transported. We can't keep him waiting.
She is unsure whose blood is blurring her sight as it runs down her cheek into the corner of her mouth.
She tastes an iron tang she has not tasted in a while.
Her twin degenbrechers quiver as they fend off blades coming at her from all directions. While her enemies' wily tricks have left wounds all over her body, she has not taken a single step back.
The knight takes a shaky step forward, leaving behind two trails of blood upon the ground.
Her eyes shine brighter than ever, but it is the shine of bloodshot eyes. Her body is fast losing its ability to stand, yet her unwavering fervor still flows. From where, she does not know.
The candles of the hall slowly extinguish. The reflections on the floor become all the more blurry.
In the end, she staggers...
Several smoke grenades fly into the courtyard, covering everything in a cloud of fumes.
Trilby Asher
Who's there?!
Trilby Asher
They aren't Court guards. Someone our intelligence didn't account for is intervening. We can't continue the mission.
Trilby Asher
Abort mission, retreat with the wounded.
???
Made it right on time...
???
Victoria's elite hooligans won't be sorted that easily. We need to find somewhere safe.
???
Wake up. This is no time for a nap.
Degenbrecher
*cough* You're...
Degenbrecher
Sharp?
Sharp
Take it easy with the talking, you're wounded.
Degenbrecher
Did the Doctor send you?
Sharp
SilverAsh has been in contact with the Doctor the whole time. After hearing about the Catastrophe in Kjerag, the Doctor figured you'd run into trouble.
Sharp
While we do have our hands pretty full at the moment, the Doctor did promise that if you ever found yourselves in a pinch, we wouldn't just stand back and watch.
Sharp
I've already called Rhodes Island for reinforcements, they should be here any minute now.
Degenbrecher
...
Degenbrecher
What about Enciodes?
Sharp
No need to worry. I believe SilverAsh has managed to take the reins of this situation.
Sharp
Just hang in there, Degenbrecher. You're through the hardest part now.
Yes sir, ammunition stocks will be as expected. But, Chairman Edelweiss...
Factory Foreman
I can't help but doubt things. If what we're facing is the Duke of Caster's fleet, then even if we raised our efficiency tenfold, we still wouldn't be able to compete with them.
Gnosis
No need to worry. Just follow the plan.
Gnosis
We'll handle the rest.
Factory Foreman
...
Factory Foreman
I've worked for Karlan Trade for eleven years now, Chairman. I know what it's brought to Kjerag.
Factory Foreman
I believe in the both of you.
Gnosis
...
Gnosis
It seems you're ready now.
Gnosis
I suppose you don't need me for any further reminders, Master of Clan Silverash.
Enciodes
Since this is to be a negotiation, I thought I would change into something more formal.
Caster's army has laid siege to Kjerag, while her advance forces have control over several of our streets, forcing the civilians back into their homes.
Gnosis
Arctosz has brought his men to confront the Victorians, but they are a frail force in comparison.
Gnosis
The Duke's envoy came by Karlan Trade, asking me to pass you an 'invitation' to the negotiating table.
Gnosis
She is waiting for you, Enciodes.
Enciodes
It sounds like the situation is still within our expectations.
Gnosis
Look at you, admiring this lonely battleship... Does it not seem too weak as it is now?
Enciodes
...
Enciodes
Lately, I have found myself often thinking about a day from many years ago. The day my parents received an invitation from Clan Browntail.
Enciodes
My father told me that the reason why the Browntails and the Paleroches did not support us was because they had not seen what he had seen.
Enciodes
'If someone can take a step forward, even if it is only a single step...'
Gnosis
Even if it is the infamous Luca Browntail.
Enciodes
They knew of the worst-case scenario, but they did not hesitate.
Enciodes
Now I am at the age at which they passed away. Looking back, it seems that some things haven't changed.
Enciodes
But at least now I know why they did not hesitate.
Gnosis
...
Gnosis
In the wake of their passing, I followed my clan as we left Kjerag to head to Victoria.
Gnosis
It was a rough start. I was learning almost out of habit as I got used to the disdainful looks of my Victorian classmates.
Gnosis
The only thing that kept me going was the knowledge that one day, I would return to Kjerag.
Gnosis
But in the end, you went to Victoria too.
Enciodes
I fear I shall never forget the look on your face when I first greeted you at school.
Gnosis
...I was simply surprised by the way you greeted me, asking me if I still remembered our childhood promise like some sort of naive fool.
Enciodes
'Do you still want to make Kjerag big enough for the both of us?'
Gnosis
But it was also what convinced me that everything you said, the future you envisioned, was no mere fantasy.
Gnosis
Thus, I hitched my rope to Karlan Trade, which leads me to today.
Enciodes
Today is far from enough, Gnosis.
Enciodes
I am about to meet with the house, the most ruthless of creditors...
Enciodes
...No matter if I am there to see it or not, I will give Kjerag a tomorrow.
Gnosis
...
Gnosis
Finally, I want you to know that it's not just us supporting you. Many other people of Kjerag do too.
Gnosis
Karlan Trade's years of toil were not for nothing.
Enciodes
...
Enciodes
If you were to ask me what I had wished to hear at this very moment...
Gnosis
You always were able to get people to tell you exactly that.
Enciodes
Do you have an example?
Gnosis
Like when you told Degenbrecher you would treat her as nothing more than a pawn, and that when her contract expired, it was up to her if she stayed in Kjerag.
Gnosis
But you already knew her answer.
Enciodes
...
Enciodes
Perhaps why I wish to hear such words is precisely because I am not so sure you would give me such answers.
Gnosis
Hah, are you afraid?
Enciodes
When I declared I would make Kjerag into a grand stage big enough for us more than twenty years ago, I had signed away all rights to be afraid.
Enciodes
You have experienced it for yourself. I am sure you have not forgotten.
Enciodes
...But at times, I too need a few words of encouragement.
Gnosis
So, have Degenbrecher and I managed to provide you with them?
