act12side

Suppose you succeeded, would the Bolívar you go on to forge really be the Bolívar you've always dreamt of? Somehow I doubt it.

It doesn't matter what you say. All I've ever wanted is an end to the war, for peace to be restored to Bolívar.

I lost. I accept defeat, Candela.

My undertaking may not be righteous, but, at the very least, I am more righteous than you are!

Oh, pardon. Look at me, I confused you with the men behind you.

You are not the kind of man I described. You wish to save this country from the bottom of your heart, and that earned you this seat right now.

However, you must be punished for your failure, so I will treat you as their leader nonetheless. Makes things easier that way.

I've never thought myself righteous, dear old Pancho.

I don't care what the three governments are doing, and I certainly don't care about your Bolívar.

You say I'm obsessed with this city, but you're wrong. I don't care about this city.

What I care about is the meaning that this city represents.

Meaning? You call wasting your life away on entertainment meaning?

*Sigh*, look at how stubborn you are. You will never understand what money represents.

Okay, take this old bastard away. I will talk to him some other time.

If you come across anyone trying to resist, you know what to do.

Yes, ma'am.

Wow, I bet not even the Hung-mên Banquet was this intense.

Just watching them was enough to give me creeps.

That was about as suffocating to watch as watching my father and grandpa having dinner together.

Agreed.

Hoshiguma?!

Swire?!

Hey there.

Look at you two. You're drenched. Get a towel and dry yourselves.

What are you doing here?!

Hahaha, it's a long story. We'll talk about it over dinner.

Eh, I'm not sure I'm in the mood for dinner after all this.

Oh, my girls, look at me chattering away with Pancho, leaving my heroes of the day out in the cold.

Hey, you over there, get two drones over here right now. Lighting, too.

That was beautiful from the two of you. Simply beautiful.

I have to thank Wei Yenwu for introducing me to such fine examples of the younger generation.

And you contributed a wonderful, unparalleled ending to this championship.

Championship? Ending?

That's right. If nothing goes wrong, I am guessing a lot of people are sitting in front of their TVs, watching us.

Although we didn't get footage of everything that transpired inside the ship, I am sure the sight of you taking on Pancho on the deck has left a deep impression.

Everyone must be cheering for you two right about now.

You once told me that as long as you're here, no one can threaten this city.

Yes, I did. What of it?

You don't consider everything that just happened a threat?

Hahaha, my little Ch'en, you are still far too young.

What constitutes a threat? Is it the city getting leveled? Is it seeing its entire population massacred?

No, those are hardly threats, Ch'en.

The real threat is the city's people losing their desires, never to seek enjoyment again.

But you've been a policewoman for a great number of years. Do you think that's possible?

Oh, the look on your face tells me what you think.

You see. You know it yourself. The answer is that it's not possible.

And as long as that remains the answer, this city will continue to exist. And if Dossoles falls, Tressoles will rise in its place.

However many cities you need, I can build.

Nonetheless, that doesn't erase the fact that you two are heroes to this city.

Oh, look at me. How forgetful I am.

Is the party ready yet?

For the most part.

Now where's my mic... Oh, there we are.

Ahem, my dear citizens and tourists. Whether you are sitting in front of a TV or watching from the beach...

It gives me great pleasure to announce to you the final victors of this year's Dossoles Warrior Champion, as well as the heroes that saved our city.

Our heroines from Lungmen—Ch'en Hui-chieh and Lin Yühsia!

Let us also thank Pancho for taking it upon himself to give us such a grand performance!

Now, we'll be throwing a party on the beach. Everyone is welcome!

Well, if this isn't a shocker! Who could have known this would happen during the highly-anticipated scrimmage preliminaries?!

Two non-participants who joined the fray out of nowhere ended up our final victors!

Mr. Pancho, is something like this going to fly?!

Ahem... Indeed, this rarely happens in our competitions, and, in principle, we prefer our contestants follow the competition's rules.

It's very regrettable, then...

However.

It isn't so bad for something like this to happen once in a while.

Right! Ahem, it's very regrettable, then! I am afraid we have bad news for our other contestants!

Heh, looks like the MC's pretty good at thinking on the fly. He was about to say we were disqualified.

Maybe.

Looks like we barged into some competition venue.

If I remember correctly, this is the Smash Splash Preliminaries.

But don't forget the whole point of the competitions is to bring joy to the people!

Although the two of them did not go through the proper procedures to join our competition, thanks to their extraordinary skills and flawless teamwork, they survived until the very end!

What a fantastic turn of events! Let us give these ladies a huge round of applause for their performance!

He said our teamwork was flawless. Were we even working together?

I sure hope not.

*Sigh*... how did this happen?

Dad, what's the story behind this invitation...?

Another year, another letter, eh? That woman doesn't know when to give up.

What woman? Give up on what?

Is this something I should tell Mom?

Settle down. It's one of the mayors from that commercial city alliance. Some ten years ago, Wei Yenwu was still in the mood to go visit himself. These days, they only talk to each other via Messenger.

But she's not one to take no for an answer. She sends both of us invitation letters to go visit around this time every year.

Commercial alliance... The one in Columbia?

No, it's in Bolívar. You heard of it before. She's the mayor there.

Dossoles... Candela Sanchez?

I heard that place is a money sink... Are you not going?

It's halfway across the world, and what would I do there? My arms and legs are too old for that kind of abuse.

Besides, even if I were in the mood for a trip, it's meaningless if Wei Yenwu doesn't go.

That's right. The one they want to butter up to is the Chief of Lungmen, Mr. Wei, and it's true that he doesn't have the luxury to take a trip now, given all the responsibilities on his shoulders.

Please don't sell yourself short either, Dad. If you were to take a trip, we wouldn't have anyone look after the flowers at the shop, and the uncles would have one less person to play chess with.

Seoi neoi. So that's how you compare me to Wei Yenwu.

Our cities have a trade agreement. If Wei Yenwu had his heart set on going, he'd go. He's sick of Dossoles, and it's certainly not worth visiting.

And if Wei Yenwu isn't going, then I'm not going either.

Okay, I understand. I'll toss the invitation, then.

Hm? A phone call from Lady Fumizuki?

Mr. Lin, it's me.

Lady Fumizuki, to what do I owe the pleasure?

A phone call from Lady Fumizuki? I'll give you the room...

Is that Yühsia? Ask her to stay. This has to do with her as well.

Yühsia, stay.