act13side

...No, never mind.

Hi, everyone! Oh, Zofia's here too.

Maria? What are you doing here alone?

Someone came looking for Margaret just now, so I came over ahead of her.

There aren't a lot of cases where someone's been exiled and then allowed to return as a full citizen. They need to check over so many legal documents...

Funny, that. Their bunch went to hell and back to catch Margaret out, and now they welcome her back with open arms?

Plotting something, aren't they?

That's what was haunting me before. Can't you two talk something nice for once?

We're just worried, you know...

If things really do go belly-up, we'll pack our bags and leave Kazimierz, head to that... Drohes Island whatsit to take a looksee.

...Rhodes. Rhodes Island.

Maria, how's your uncle?

Ah... I think Uncle Młynar's still at work. His shift might be over soon?

The Radiant Knight gave that boy a harsh talking-to, didn't she?

Hah, been a long time coming. If Old Man Nearl was still around, he wouldn't have stood for Młynar letting himself go like this—

Maria?

My sister could only make her return to the field because Młynar lost that duel. He's not going to have much more to say now.

Oho. So Młynar knows when to admit defeat, then?

But—But when they dueled, he didn't even use the slightest bit of Arts until the end...

What? Was he throwing that one?

Scared to go all out, gave himself an excuse for losing? That's my sad reckoning.

Of course not. Admitting defeat, throwing? What makes you think he'd do something like that?

He... he just can't stand Margaret. He can't stand the Radiant Knight.

He didn't deem her worthy of using his full Arts, pure and simple. Nothing else.

'Ashlock' Greynuty, have you seen Sona?

She's right over there... Why is my name the only one you put the title on?

...I can stop.

If you don't like it... I just felt—it's the impression you gave me.

...Whatever.

Sona!

Whaaat—?

Come on! Everyone's here!

Hup—

Alright, alright. Are you all better now?

My wounds won't get in the way... What's that? A figurine?

Ahaha, I'm a girl of my own, right? Is it so wrong to like cute things?

Sona...

Okay, I get it. No leeway for jokes right now.

'Industrial accidents' are on the rise. They're herding the Infected about, terrorizing them and the slums alike.

Seeing as the Armorless Union's dropped all pretenses, hiding away's not an option anymore.

Szewczyk gave us some very interesting information. We need to hurry and—

—Sona?

Huh?

You seem kind of distracted.

If one day... we win our freedom...

...what would you like to do then?

We'll cross that bridge when we come to it. We'll think about it together.

What's with you today...? Why so melancholy all of a sudden?

Ahaha, nothing. C'mon, hop to it.

Let's go meet Pinus Sylvestris Knightclub's new members.

Seems it's nearly all Infected here.

The National Council could be watching, right?

The Council don't hide when they're watching, and in the worst case, we just throw some money around. Money's the key to getting the law on your side.

But if this keeps up... will the Armorless Union stand by and let it happen?

The Armorless Union? Do they even really exist?

Best not doubt them. You'll be wiser for it.

Oh, look over there, the ones coming over. They must be the Pinus Sylvestris knights.

Huh. They look like a bunch of kids, at a glance.

But... maybe some things, only the young can do.

'Flametail' Sona.

'Ashlock' Greynuty.

'Fartooth' Justyna.

(Loud beeping noises)

Huh. I thought they had another one, a Kuranta...?

Are we going to even make it through alive, if we jump on board with these kids' plans? And if we do, what then? What about next month? Next year?

There's something Infected often say, my friend. It all depends on you.

We've got Oripathy. Plenty choose to resign themselves to that... our lives will be short, and they could end at any moment.

But at the same time, my thinking is that's no guarantee we'll die tomorrow. As long as we've got so many 'tomorrows' lined up in front of us, we should damn well be taking them, fangs out.

Our numbers are dropping.

We won't be able to save the Infected like this, Sona.

I know. That's why we need to find an opening, ASAP.

Hmph... Where's a couple of Infected-turned-knights' wealth and privilege going to get you in this city?

All the money you spend on charity for these Infected, all the meaningless work to conceal them, dragging out their miserable lives in shacks and gutters.

The city itself let you have all of this. You've got nothing close to an opening.

Ahaha, that's real hurtful to hear, Plastic Knight, sir.

What about your family, then, Szewczyk? Didn't the knight nobles win all those entrepreneurs over for you, heart and soul?

With the General Chamber of Commerce targeting you, you're no different from us. Take a long, hard look at yourself.

...Keh... fair enough, we're all trash smashed down to the dirt here. No real difference at all.

Your name was Greynuty? The knight nobility have been doomed since the moment all those years ago when the Affinity was established.

Don't tell me you hold onto any delusions about your old clan, little squirrel.

(Did you think he'd go for an argument with you?)

You're calmer than I expected.

Keh. You know what, I'm dying to get out of this place. Heaven knows when you're going to pass that Oripathy around—

But seeing how you're not going to die for the next while, let's focus our attention on other matters—

The Armorless Union.

The Chamber's scumbag lackeys. I'll give them something to regret.

On that note, you're all so willing to face off with the Armorless... so you must have some ace up your sleeve, right?

...Area 0.

Or in other words, the Grand Knight Territory's Infected assembly and treatment section. A place for Infected healthcare, formed by an alliance of several companies.

Aren't you Infected knights regulars in those parts? So you tell me. What secrets are the Armorless Union hiding there?

—Slow down, Szewczyk.

Of course we've got methods... but that doesn't mean we'll tell you about them just like that.

If that's what you really thought, Infected, you would've left me in that wretched hospital and waited for the Armorless to come torture me for answers—you wouldn't have busted me out of there.

Don't you talk at me like this. We're only here now because we all did what we had to. Would your status alone give you the standing to address me, Ashlock?

Or do you think your busting me out means I should be weeping over you with gratitude?

You arrogant noble—

Uh—alright, alright, I'm not against you two fighting it out here and now. Better right this moment than a stab in the back after the Armorless Union shows up, anyway—

—We've been doing this for a few years now, for better or worse... we have ins with some government channels.

There's the impoverished and Infected who can't even get by day-to-day, but do you know who else in Kazimierz hates the General Chamber of Commerce?

...Keh.