act13side

Huh, wonder what that sweet smell's about.

Flowers? Who's planting flowers here?

(Relaxed beeping noises)

Whaaat?! Who knew you could do this stuff too, Justice!

(Hurried beeping noises)

Swoosh.

Loosing a rubber arrow, Justice Knight knocks over the plastic water bottle beside it, fresh water hydrating the flowerpot in front of them.

(Loud beeping noises)

Justice! You're amazing! Did you learn to do this yourself?!

(Loud beeping noises)

—What?!

Whoa, watch out! The wall's come down!

(Hurried beeping noises)

No questions! Move!

(Hurried beeping noises)

Tch—

(Couldn't confirm my position, so she immediately began vacating. Solid intuition.)

(But... this is too slow of a pace.)

I'll be seeing you.

So we just come back like this? And, uh, the Union shouldn't be randomly waltzing into the General Chamber's building, should it?

*Sigh* Of course we can't, logically.

But you can't ignore a Lazurite's orders... ugh, I didn't have a boss this annoying back when I was a merc.

Won't it be a little... unsafe, leaving Monique alone in the Infected ghetto?

Ha, you're worrying about her? What, us? Worried about a Lazurite?

Well... the Lazurites are people too, and she looks pretty young...

*Sigh*... You've never seen the Lazurites get serious first-hand? You'll wanna make sure to prepare yourself, then.

Have you heard how it goes? 'Platinum' needs to be someone with the leadership to guide a team, the brains to plan out the big picture in the most involved operations.

As for the 'Lazurites'... they say the ones of the past, whether one or two... were all chosen because they could 'kill any one target in Kazimierz.'

Uh... you're kidding, right? Any? Including all those campaign knights?

Well, that's lost to history... I'm not sure if it's true or not. They say even a few campaign knight leaders were—

Oh, hey, what's got you two so excited?

Erk...

R-Roy, sir!

You know something? People will suspect the Armorless Union, showing up publicly at the K.G.C.C.

It might be comedy to you, but you guys should take a guess. There's a reason they don't let the Union wander in and out of here... why?

(Shudder) I—It... it's not like that...

Sir, this is a misunderstanding. Monique wanted us here to notify you. Otherwise, we would never—

Ahahaha, why so tense? What, you scared I'm gonna eat you?

As... long as you understand. Monique's carrying something out in the Infected ghettos, and she wanted us to inform you.

Infected, huh.

Alright, got it. Thanks for the notice.

Now get out of here quick, it smells of sterilizer everywhere. Hm, but the coffee downstairs is pretty good. You can steal a cup before you go.

See you. Hope you have fun with work~

Phew.

...Ulk... *cough* *cough*... urp...

Where's the bathroom... *sigh* I told you to prepare yourself.

I'm lucky enough I was a merc, but most others who switch jobs to join us are in for a little roughness. Just ride it out.

Urgh... hah, hah... am I still alive?

You are, you are. Now you get it, don't you? We shouldn't get mixed up with their work.

And Monique wouldn't mess up.

(Another wide shot? What's the deal?)

(But this force—I still can't clock the position—is the enemy messing with me?!)

Dammit—

Is this all I can do?! Run?!

Missed... grr.

You...

Hey, miss, don't give me that look. I just wanted to ask you about something.

Am I disturbing you? If you're not up to answer, I'll go on my way.

What is it?

Ah, thank you. Actually, I'm looking for someone—

—'Lazurite' Monique. It's a pseudonym, of course. Heard of her, if you don't mind me asking?

As it happens, I'm looking for someone too.

Oh? Sorry to confess, I'm fresh on the boat here. Can't say I recognize all that many heads or tails yet.

That's alright, he's a plenty infamous bounty hunter. Seeing him once would be enough to remember.

Hoo. Go on, do tell?

The 'Guildmaster', Toland Cash.

Thirteen counts of murder, eight of robbery, twenty-three of disturbing the peace, six of illegal Originium dealing... and to top it off—conspiracy, on one count.

Also, most importantly, he's gotten in the way of my work... twice, now.

I hate people who get in the way of my work. Despise them.

Well, well... Say, ever think you've gotten the wrong idea about him?

All of us turn a blind eye to the bounty hunters' influence by default... but they shouldn't have organized, let alone grown large-scale.

That's not fair to say. With 'Flamelung' and 'Yellow Smog' suddenly AWOL—poor brothers—that big of a territory without any boss, of course there's gotta be an organization. Work needs it to go smooth.

Go ahead. Calls always come at the worst times, don't they?

It's me. I'm working.

...Got it.

It seems you're leaving. What an awful shame.

Tell Miss Monique I said hi.

Likewise, then. Tell Toland this for me.

Tell him—

—That slippery little clown face of yours spoils my appetite.

We really had a close shave there, Kuranta.

She might not catch up to me, but I'm sure she'd win the fight.

Who... the hell are you?

I'll introduce myself again. Toland Cash, just a bounty hunter.

I come in good faith—that's my real name, you know. My old daddy gave it to me before he drank himself to the other side. True story.

Bounty guy, just now, that was the Armorless Union's...

The Armorless Union's Lazurite. Put away any funny ideas of chasing her—you'd all be done for then.

But if even the Lazurite's showing up to this party, that means I'm in the right place.

You're mad off the mark if you want treasure. Only the Infected, homeless and penniless living out the days here.

What are you here looking for? Huh, bounty hunter?

The will to rebel.

I came on this informant's info, see... heard you guys were planning something real extraordinary.

I don't want you to jump the gun, now. There's no traitors in your gang, and I can tell you they didn't have the loose lips to blab to me.

But when the city moves forward, it sucks everyone into the wake. You can't just make believe it's only 'heroes' and 'villains' in the Grand Knight Territory, right?

I'm not Sona. I'm not all good at chewing this stuff over.

But seeing how you just saved my life, I guess I can show you to someone or other.

Now THAT'S what I call lifesaving.

(Slow beeping noises)

Oh? What's this? A takeout cart?

Takeout, my ass! This is my pet! My pride and joy! You watch what you say!