act12mini

Finally.

Yeah, they should've blown it up ages ago. We've got kids from nearby schools playing hide-and-seek in it, and that's an accident waiting to happen.

Who knows how filthy it is in all those containers and shacks? Homeless, Infected...

Seriously, why do they even want to live in slums like that? Life would be so much better if they left for one of the villages in the barrenlands.

The light's green. Let's go—

A loud noise, and the grey skies of the abandoned district are lit up by flames.

Wh-What was that? Something exploded?

Run!

Why are you just standing there like that? Get out of the way!

...Did I hear you say that kids from nearby schools play in the abandoned district?

*cough* *cough*... Aloisia!

Are you okay, sir?

I'm sorry, I didn't realize...

Don't blame yourself. I'm not hurt, and I was the one who insisted on coming to the slums.

But it looks like there's a wall of rubble between us.

I'll find another path and meet up with you, sir.

The explosion was rather near our position, however.

Please be careful, as this could potentially be a targeted attack.

...Alright, I'll wait here.

I hear voices...

It hurts... ow...

Come on, get this sheet of metal off him! He's bleeding!

I'm trying, I'm trying... it's so dark, I can't see...

What if I make a mistake and open up the wound...

(Even if people are watching... I should be able to use Originium Arts to move some of the stones and metal for them without drawing attention.)

(Was this really targeted at me though? My visit to the abandoned district wasn't on the itinerary.)

(And Aloisia would have noticed if someone was tailing me.)

It's dark... I wanna go home...

You're not gonna leave me, right...?

Hold on, let's grab a rock... Hey, is someone coming?

(A businessman? Government official?)

(No, it's the man I encountered beneath the statue yesterday... with an Infected by his side.)

(He's deeply prejudiced against Leithanien, and the Infected with him doesn't exactly seem like the amicable sort. I should stay out of sight.)

...Did you see an Infected with a white scar on his arm?

(Shakes head)

I don't care who you are, we're not scared of you...

...What's going on here?

C-Could you help get our friend out? His leg got caught on a sharp piece of metal, and it bleeds if he tries to move.

(Did he just glance at me?)

If only I had my tools... If this was one of our workers, we'd have just dragged him out.

...I don't have any better ideas.

Waaaaaaahhhhh!

I-It's bleeding... the wound looks scary...

Don't cry, I'll tie it up with some clothes.

And don't worry, my dad used to get hurt all the time. He says a couple of days is all it takes to get better.

...Just a flesh wound.

Get it treated at a hospital.

Alright... come on, take my shoulder.

Leithanian.

How long do you plan on watching from there?

This abandoned district is even worse than the Infected district in the Grand Knight Territory... When I catch that brat, he's getting a stern lesson on where is and is not appropriate for a noble to visit.

...Dammit, where did he go?

Hey, did you see any kids playing around here?

Whose kid? It's such a big place, I can't possibly remember the face of every kid...

Then cut the crap.

Why are you trying to run? There's nowhere else for you people to go in this city anyway.

Look, I'll pay you to go back and rescue any children you see.

And if you run into anyone else, you can tell them too. That I'll pay for each child that they bring back to me.

Wh-Who are you? This isn't some kind of sick joke, is it?

Here's the cash. You can choose whether you want it or not.

T-This is...?! Yes, sir, whatever you say, sir!

Sending people into a fire, eh? Must be nice having money to burn.

Mr. 'Plastic' Szewczyk.

I have no idea what you're talking about.

Don't worry, I know a lot of things, and you're not one of the important ones.

If you're not here to help, then don't waste my time.

Let me put it this way... obsolete goods like you are worth less than nothing. It takes a bigger target to start this fire.

What do you mean? Who caused the explosion?

Who dares harm my son?

No need to shout, you don't scare me.

But I do enjoy watching rich folks like you flee for your lives, losing whatever you hold dearest.

If you think you can get under my nerves with this crap, then you're wasting your time <i>and</i> mine.

Look. That billboard is about to fall.

How many evacuees will it kill, and will your son be among them? Wanna bet?

An arrow whistles past him before he can finish his sentence.

Tch.

Zero, and no.

The billboard is now pinned to a wall by the arrow.

Now, let's talk business.

I could use a guide who knows the lay of the land here.

You want to go in yourself?

I'm finding my son and getting him out of here. Now get moving, unless you'd like to be pinned to a wall too?

I must warn you that any threat made upon my life will result in a diplomatic incident between Kazimierz and Leithanien.

Diplomatic incident? You'd better explain why you're here, first. Since when were our slums considered a tourist attraction?

I don't recall threatening you either. All I did was tell you to come with us.

You're hostile towards me... towards Leithanien.

Do you really think your deceitful words and suspicious activities truly represent all of Leithanien?

Perhaps we've misunderstood each other. Someone else is responsible for the explosion.

But I will not let my guard down against you. My hand is on my wand.

Suit yourself.

S-Sir, someone's calling for help over there. Can you hear it?

Should we help or... well, actually, I was wondering, aren't you afraid of being arrested for being with me like this?

There's no reason for them to do that.

And you're not worried about getting infected?

...Let's go.

If you here to help these people, I'm more than willing to demonstrate my good faith.

Of standing around and doing nothing?

...I regret not using my Originium Arts to aid the child, out of concern for my own safety.

Visitor from Leithanien... why did you come here?

...Please don't doubt my good faith.