act13side

Malkiewicz.

Yes!

Are you willing to give everything for the General Chamber of Commerce?

You are a capable person. I can tell, just from reading a few words of your report.

Could it be that you still... harbor compassion for those knights?

Seems like I hit the mark.

Child, let me pose you a question.

When the number of Kazimierz's attack ships far exceeds that of Ursus, when Columbia is flooded with Kazimierzian caravans and goods, when our border strongholds more than double in number––

Will that be the end of war? Would Ursus still threaten us? Would Kazimierz still be weak?

Of course not.

The knights are the true parasites on Kazimierz. Imbeciles barking for glory. Nobles? Bah.

I heard about what happened at the Major. Does the Adeptus Sprawiedliwi think they've 'protected their honor?'

Honor and glory. Give them as much of it as they want.

The time, and the people, are on our side. After a few more tournaments, the masses will forget about the shockwaves brought by the Radiant Knight, and return to invest in the next round of consumption and entertainment.

For them, arguing over 'which knight is stronger' and 'whether knight merchandise is fairly priced' is more important than looking after the dregs we leave behind.

The country stands on our side. Kazimierz is already inextricably tied to the economic foundations laid by the K.G.C.C. Those pitiful campaign knights... Look how many have already voluntarily surrendered to us.

Malkiewicz.

This time, you have the right to choose.

Before I answer, can I first ask a question?

Please do.

Mr. Czarny... Because he failed to prevent the Radiant Knight from entering the arena, he was exiled... By my standards, this is unacceptable.

Why did it happen?

Oh, Mr. Czarny. I see, the turning point in your destiny, Malkiewicz. I ought to thank him too.

However, what if I told you Mr. Czarny's disappearance–– was not directly related to the Radiant Knight incident?

What if I told you that his exile was just a consequence of a longstanding series of power struggles, and an excuse finally being found to take him out of the picture?

––Czarny was exiled by political opponents over a bribery incident a few years ago.

It had nothing to do with the Radiant Knight... It had nothing to do with your destiny. More often than not, this is the truth of the world. The truth of modernity is one of supreme indifference.

Come, Malkiewicz.

Let us become the voice of this world.

...Huh?

What? Not a fan of our new storefront?

Storefront? You're... opening a shop?

Are you blind?

No... But, hand sanitizer?

Origi-Cloud Daily Wares has been the most popular brand in recent years––

...and there are 'three bosses' behind the company that launched Origi-Cloud Daily Wares.

Soon, those three bosses will become a part of the General Chamber of Commerce.

You guys...

Yes, but it's just for the sake of joining them.

As you know, the more inside information we have, the more we'll know about the direction the winds blow in the future.

Sooner or later, mercenaries and assassins will become obsolete. There's no need for so many of them, and in the end, all they're good for is killing. Them, on the other hand, they can take over a country.

This is another crossroads of our time, Platinum.

By the way, why don't you come be our poster girl, since we're missing a clerk anyway? You're very good-looking. It'll be perfect.

Hmph.

During an upcoming mission for the Union, the three of us will 'vanish,' then we'll find the best plastic surgeon, swap faces, and become by-the-books businesspeople.

So... you took advantage of the blackout caused by the Infected... to kill everyone with connections between the Board and the Union.

They deserve the credit for making it so easy.

The Board can't stop fighting with itself, under the table or otherwise.

Whoever controls the Union holds an overwhelming advantage–– and no director dared to blatantly manipulate it, or let others do so.

It is precisely because of this tacitly agreed restraint that they ended up losing control of the Union.

Haha, let me tell you a joke. The people of Kazimierz no longer know the name or whereabouts of the person leading the organization they hire for their hitjobs.

Does Darksteel really exist?

Who knows?

Darksteel might be a single person, maybe two. Darksteel might even be a front, or just refer to the signals us Lazurites use during operations.

But for all you know, Darksteel might've passed you on the street, or be sitting in a board meeting, or on vacation in a Sami villa.

Nobody knows. And that's why the name strikes fear.

One last thing. Whatever the case, you should've been a damned woman. Condemned as a scapegoat.

We'll have our eyes on you. You're Armorless too. Surely you wouldn't want to make enemies of us, right?

(I... have to run...)

Doctor, Amiya.

Oh, Nearl.

The reason I called you here is...

This isn't goodbye.;We'll meet again, right?

Oh...

Yes.

If Rhodes Island ever calls for me, then I shall head to your side. Doctor, Amiya.

Great!

I've been a drifter for many years. It isn't until now... that I've finally had the time to look back at my old home.

Maybe I should go visit my grandfather's grave...

Nearl.

Oh, Doctor, let's give them some space.

Nearl, take care of yourself!

Until next time.;Be safe.;We'll meet again.

Of course. Godspeed.

It's time for us to part ways as well, Nearl.

...Shining.

Actually, I...

It's alright. I know what you're going to say.

We will return to Londinium. Just as you've returned here.

The past... and those sins. We'll excise them ourselves.

Shining?

Liz... You might really come to hate me at some point.

But, trust me, I will always stay by your side.

I... How could I ever hate you?

If that time comes, and you ever need me––

I swear to you––

––that the Radiant Knight, Margaret Nearl, will fight for you both.

The lights of Kawalerielki shine brightly once more, as do the lights throughout the General Chamber.

Like the answer smeared across the city by humankind.

The curtains of night slowly begin to lift.

That is how civilization continues to flourish.

Three days later, in a certain village outside the Grand Knight Territory...

This is the place?

Quaint little town, isn't it?

Do you always come stay out here?

I used to stay at a more classic den of thieves. Even if I had my eyes on other cities, I did most of my work underground and in the black market.

But then... I met some people. They changed the way I saw things.

I'll skip to the important part though. A bit after that, we fought a battle with the Rusthammers. Know those guys? A bunch of lunatics.

Many people have the wrong idea about the Rusthammers, that they're just a band of thieves. But they aren't. During that battle, I saw kids, teenagers, swinging metal pipes.

Pretty crazy, huh?