Liberi Reader

Urgh, god dammit, where in the world did my card key go...

Did I flush it while taking a dump?

Chief Barton, what's wrong?

Mind your own business!

Y-Yes, sir!

Tsk, stuck-up asshole...

I'm guessing... someone probably pissed him off.

Heh, probably Anthony.

I don't really know what's going on, but it seems like someone's trying to kill him.

Barton likes to brag about how perfect the prison is. This is gonna keep him on tenterhooks.

We're prison guards, you know.

Eh, it's not someone getting killed that I'm happy about. I just like seeing him so peeved.

Besides, let's be honest. We've seen Randal and Barton do so much dirty work over the years.

If you ask me, I think Randal knows who sent these hitmen in here. He's just turning a blind eye because he's in their pocket.

Maybe.

Gah...

Don't move, Robin.

Don't make me kill you.

......

Well, damn, Robin. You're good. Even I didn't have you pegged for a spy.

I think you just might have a gift for this gig.

Wait a minute. What are you holding?

Whoa, that a bomb switch?!

Kafka, lower the tower right now!

Whoa! It's burning!

Hurry!

I forgot which one's which!

And I kinda get the feeling these probably aren't gonna work anymore!

Oh, there we go! Should be this one!

Please! Please work!

There!

Dagnabbit!

Whatever, I don't even remember when was the last time I was up there.

Just need to have Randal make me a new one.

Tsk.

Chief Barton, you...

What?

What are you doing?

I'm heading upstairs to see how those damned fools are doing with the clean-up work!

What... What happened here?!

What in the name of... What's going on here?!

Anthony, you and Robin okay?

I'm fine. I got Robin.

Seems like the whole prison's power went out. It's pitch dark here.

This is an opportunity for us.

Yes.

It feels like the tower crashed straight through the floor.

We're probably at the second floor basement. Still some distance away from the clinic.

Right, we should get going before the jailers get here.

Robin, are you okay?

......

I-Is it really a good thing that I'm okay?

It is.

Don't let it get to you.

I did tell you before you could keep trying to kill me.

If you think you betrayed me for what you did, let me tell you this—

I'm afraid none of us are close enough to talk about trust just yet.

Heh, not even me?

Not even you.

Oh, come on, that's cold.

Wouldn't you say it's more problematic to completely trust a person after just a few months?

Of course, I am a little disappointed, but that's all.

Nonetheless, I'm curious. I can tell you weren't acting when we were working together. You can't fake those emotions.

Why did you do this, Robin?

......

My father. He made lots of money, and he was nice to me. I'm proud of him.

But one day, his company went bankrupt.

And he's been a failure ever since.

So he changed. He started drinking a lot, and he got angry. He hated everything around him.

My mother left him. He was heavily in debt, and in the end, went into the hospital with liver problems, and so many other complications I don't even get the details of.

My mother tried to talk me into moving in with her.

But I never forgot how well my father used to treat me.

I wanted to do something for him. So I gave up my hobbies. I tried taking on all kinds of jobs, but the medical bills kept coming.

Then, one day, someone came to me. He said he could give me lots of money. I just had to kill someone for him.

And I'm the target.

I see. I can't offer you anything, and that's why you made this choice.

No, he's been watching you here, dressed as a jailer. His name is Jesselton.

After you made me the offer, he found me and told me—

The very last thing that the Simons did was destroy my father's company.

My goodness.

In that case, not only should I not hold this against you, I must apologize.

No, don't apologize. That isn't what I'm trying to say.

It's not like that, Anthony.

I knew I was doin' wrong. I knew I shouldn't do it.

But I gave up.

I didn't know what I was supposed to do, otherwise. I just didn't know.

I'm tired. My mother wanted me to make a choice, my father wanted me to make a choice, life wanted me to make a choice, Jesselton wanted me to make a choice, and even you wanted me to make a choice.

I don't wanna make any choices. I don't wanna judge what's right or what's wrong, good or bad. I just don't want to.

I'm sick of it! Why do I have to choose?!

But, you know, Robin, you can't just hand off your decisions.

You have to think everything through and make your own choices. Then, you need to take responsibility for each of those choices.

Otherwise, you'll never be able to take your fate into your own hands.

This is the most important thing I've learned during my years here in prison.

Strength is important, and so is intelligence, but the most important trait of all is courage. The courage to make your own decisions and pay the price for them.

I'm afraid of making wrong decisions myself, but I can't let that get in the way of making decisions at all.

I used to think I had no one to rely on because I hadn't found anyone reliable, but I've come to realize there is no one we can truly rely on anywhere in this world.

No one but ourselves.

......

I'm sorry I didn't notice your pain in time, Robin.

I must reiterate. What you've done almost ruined my escape plan. That's why I won't forgive you so easily.

Nonetheless, as someone who has suffered a similar situation, I hope you can forget about all this for the time being.

You must scrutinize yourself and think about what it is that you want to do.

What it is... that I want to do...

Domma's room is right up ahead. You have all the time you need to think.

I understand if you don't completely trust me, but I told Jesselton everything about your plan. He's definitely waiting for you somewhere up ahead.

I know.

Oh, you don't hafta worry about finding me. I've been waiting for you right here.

?!

It's coming from Domma's room!

You don't mean...?!