act13side

Well... as for outfits... All this armor does dampen my spirits every now and then.

Though a campaign knight like me doesn't really get much chance to wear regular clothes, either.

Doctor... do you know what you're saying? 'Anything you want' is pretty much the last thing you'd want to say when you're being interrogated.

Most of us hand our decision-making power away, probably because we find obnoxious to have to make decisions... but sometimes... the one we give that power may have some unexpected ideas.

Well, then, Doctor... Would you lean back, please?

Uh, sure.

Close your eyes, okay? I wouldn't want anything to happen to them...

And then...

Doctor, don't open your eyes.

If you see an Armorless assassin's face, I'm afraid you won't be leaving Kazimierz alive.

I can't let you bear all the risks.;......;I've got to at least know what's going on, no?

You're not just a regular campaign knight, are you?

The Armorless Union doesn't hold the patent on assassination, you know?

Don't move, or I'll cut your throat open.

Now that won't do. I can't let you put the Doctor's life in danger, even if it costs me my own.

It's just some foreign company... Is this one really worth giving your life for, knight—Hm?

The barcode on your arm... You're a purchased slave. Why so loyal to an outsider?

Unfortunately, my desire to protect the Doctor comes from the bottom of my heart.

I see... The Adeptus Sprawiedliwi arranged for a lackey like you to follow Rhodes Island around. They planned to use Rhodes Island to investigate Area 0 right from the start.

Don't make our relationship sound so exploitative.

That's right. If you gotta say it, we exploit each other.;This is what you call a win-win situation.;As long as we get along, am I right?

So you are Rhodes Island's 'Doctor.' There's supposed to be a Cautus girl around too...

I'm not into hurting kids. Bumping you off should do the trick, right?

Too bad. Amiya's Rhodes Island's true leader.

You really shouldn't underestimate Amiya though.

Doctor, go on without me. I'll hold her here. Take Miss Amiya and leave this place. Look for someone from the Adeptus—

I'm not here alone.

The Armorless Union already has you surrounded... You're not walking out of here.

It's okay, Doctor... As long as I'm here, I—

—Doctor?

Shielding your own bodyguard? What's the idea? You'll give your life for someone else?

Aww, so cute... I've got a job to do though.

A mission from the Board of Directors?

What...?

If my guess is correct, the Board didn't give you these orders.

I don't know what you're talking about.

Is it Mieszko Industries?;Is it Sun Shrubs Pharmaceuticals?;Is it Cloud Pharmaceuticals?

Of course, Rhodes Island is a threat to them.

But does it matter if some foreign company knows the truth?;I'm sure they have the power to silence Rhodes Island.

What they're really afraid of are the beasts sitting at the same table.;They're afraid of their fellow men.

So?

I'm guessing it won't be hard for you to kill me, huh?;What's the rush? You on some kind of flexible work schedule?

Why don't you take a seat and catch a breather?

Do you really understand what you're doing...?

Even with this campaign knight in the way, I can—

No, you can't.

The spokesman personally oversaw our contract signing with our partners.;Malkiewicz has been very helpful.;Would you like to know, from a legal perspective, where Rhodes Island stands?

Right now, we're temporarily affiliated with the General Chamber of Commerce.;If you lay a finger on us, you're doing the same to the K.G.C.C.;Anyway, I think there's someone out there who's not about to let this chance pass by.

Of course, you people have a way to get around the law.;But under the veneer of civilization, there is a bloodbath that you can't get around.

A call...?

Answer the phone, uh... Platinum, right?;It's for you.;Have a nice chat with civilization, ma'am.

Centaurea...?

No need to be so shocked, Platinum.

I'm very glad you haven't killed Rhodes Island's leader yet.

Call it off. Your orders were mistaken. Those morons, jumping the gun. It is not up to them to give the Union orders without consulting the Board.

And stop the madness that Area 0 is pulling on its so-called useless Infected. Rhodes Island has opened our eyes. Their lives still have meaning... They can yet create value.

That's all.

You... You planned this?

How did you do it?

You cozy up to some people, and you square up to others.

Wasn't that hard.;Most people think it's difficult to even bring ideas to their bosses.

What's actually difficult is figuring out how to cozy up and who to square up to.

Thankfully, I got a friend who's a good listener.

So what will we do with Area 0...?

We'll be working with too many uncertain factors if we let the two Infected knights make a big splash after all the uprisings the Infected have instigated.

And if the public catches wind of the way Area 0 takes care of its Infected right now...

I suppose there are both upsides and downsides.

We don't permit 'both upsides and downsides.' Whether it's good or bad, what we want is control over the matter.

I have other ways to handle this...

Just to be safe, I've already instructed the Armorless Union to take care of it.

Should I let you go, just like that?

You're an outsider who knows about the Armorless Union...

Don't be such a sore loser, Platinum. You're embarrassing yourself, you know?

Doctor! I've got something to ask you about transporting today's supplies—

Hm? Do you have a guest? I-I'm sorry...

It's okay... Come in.

An Armorless and a campaign knight are having tea together because of you, Doctor. You're really full of surprises.

Um... Doctor, may I have a second? I need you to sign this...

(So that's Rhodes Island's leader... If I take her down now...)

Naturally, she is just entertaining the thought.

Even Gravel, who sits mere meters away from her, can feel not an ounce of hostility. After all, she is merely entertaining the thought.

Be that as it may, Platinum suddenly hesitates, before feeling relieved for her decision.

She is relieved that she did not carry out her mission.

In the blink of an eye, she senses a possibility in the petite Cautus.

If things escalate, will she actually be able to draw her arrow unscathed?

Or perhaps, before that—

Hm...? Miss? Is something the matter?

Never mind. Please excuse me.

I'll send someone to fix the glass I broke. Time to go.

The Doctor...{@nickname} of Rhodes Island.

I'll be back.

Doctor, Gravel... Did something happen?

No.

We had a cup of tea together. That's all.

Platinum, ma'am... Here's what you wanted.

I'm surprised you found it.

Right. We searched through the communications between Rhodes Island and the Adeptus, and we narrowed it down to this message with the clues we had.

These are the true medical examination records of Operator Nearl... the Radiant Knight.

What...?

The Radiant Knight... isn't Infected?!