act13side

卡西米尔2 纯1

'The city is a man-eating behemoth, but still we must dwell in its bowels gratefully.'

'We wait until life digests us, until our flesh and bones are excreted, so that whatever remains may become nutrients to feed the city as it lurches onwards.'

'That is the flourishing of civilization.'

Welcome to the Kazimierz National Arena! Welcome... to the Kazimierz Major! I am none other than your old friend –– Greatmouth Mob!

After a long qualifying stage, this is the moment all of Kazimierz has long been waiting for –– the first match of the Kazimierz Major starts today!

Dueling, jousting, and assorted miscellany! Three categories, eight major events, forty-three minor events! Countless knights and knightclubs will take their share of gold and glory!

How did Mob end up as the MC? Think he greased some palms behind the scenes?

Like he bribed his way in? How much do you think something like that would cost?

Mob's never been the type to keep his mouth shut. What if he let something slip, right here on the big stage?

Hah. You hear about that loudmouth, the Bearded Cage? Heard he 'badmouthed' a pretty big deal of a knight during the Major...

...and that was the last anyone saw of 'im. Want some popcorn?

Pssht. Probably just took the fall and resigned. A by-the-book trick.

*munch* I shed... dish-appeared... *munch*... not resigned. You get it?

Huh... No shittin'?

Today's Major features eight big knightclubs, sixty-four of the normal ones, and two unaffiliated, independent knights!

The Kazimierz Major is a showcase of the beauty and majesty of our knights for all of Terra to enjoy!

Our first match will pit the Blade Helmet Knightclub against the Cloudhaze Knightclub! How many points will the ten knights from each side take home to their clubs?!

A big prize pool is getting bigger as I speak! A portion of everything you spend at this arena will be added to the tournament prize for the knights to fight over!

Which knightclub will take the most trophies? Which knight will stand above the rest and become this Major's Knight-Champion?

Now... LET US SEE FOR OURSELVES––!

5:43 P.M. \ Clear

The Grand Knight Territory Kawalerielki, Wall of Champions

How's the fit, Mr. Malkiewicz?

Good, thanks to you.

That's enough of that. Custom-tailored formalwear is a must for maintaining our image.

Do you still have the tailor's contact information? I believe you'll find his services most helpful.

Sir, could you please get me a glass of wine? Thank you.

What's on your mind?

Nothing in particular...

Maybe... This banquet is just too much for me.

Ah, 'maybe.'

Maybe you haven't gotten over the incident with Mr. Czarny. Quite the shame, for all of us.

He was a conscientious one, who always put his best foot forward, whether as a company employee or as a spokesman for the K.G.C.C.

In fact, I only met him after becoming a spokesman myself. In terms of our work in the Majors, he was far senior to a fresh face like me.

He always treated those he respected well, yes?

Maybe...

Let's do away with these maybes, and lift our spirits instead.

Today is but the second day of the opening ceremonies, and a great day to open the Wall of Champions to the outside world. It would hardly fit the occasion for the resident manager to wear such a dour expression.

Yes, you're right... Sorry...

You should speak up more, Malkiewicz. And there's no need to be so stiff around me. It's certainly not conducive to our working relationship.

What was that? Did something happen outside?

Hmm.

I believe it's a guest of honor, a very important knight. Let me check the time... See, look how punctual she is. We need more knights like her.

Pardon me, I'll be right back. In the meanwhile, do avail yourself of your right to the open bar.

S-Sure...

The sweet release of libation is wonderful indeed. You ought to indulge in it.

Madam Droste, we meet again.

Good evening. Am I late?

Not at all. I'm glad you could make it.

I do believe the glow of the Candle Knight will add a beautiful touch to tonight's opening banquet.

6:15 P.M. \ Overcast

The Grand Knight Territory Kawalerielki – General Chamber of Commerce, Reception Room

I—

Ah, no need to explain yourself, Platinum. We didn't expect this to happen either... Just doing your job, of course?

You do what you have to do.

I screwed up.

Ah yes, a screwup... But we aren't exactly nine-to-five office drones here. In our line of work, 'screwups' are very serious.

Deadly serious, even.

Luckily this time, you only let the Radiant Knight barge into the Infected quarter... Oh, but that did throw a wrench into Monique's work.

Her job was to make a little fireworks show out of those illegal settlements, and then bring the Pinus Sylvestris Knightclub to Area 0.

It was going so smoothly, but suddenly... from the slaughter came the Radiant Knight, and there went all our plans.

She's very unhappy now, you understand? We all know her temper, and if someone was to get in the way of her bounty, you know how troublesome that'd be.

I didn't know what Monique was doing.

No, you did know. Besides, whether you knew or not is no excuse.

After all, your job was to 'track the Infected.' Did I not say a long time ago that our jobs would be changing?

Now now, what's with that icy expression? Oh, were you perhaps born with that face, little pegasus?

How seriously can I take someone who submits seventeen or eighteen time-off requests a month? ...Ah, forget it.

Count your lucky stars that the whole thing about the Radiant Knight rushing into an Infected quarters to fight off a group of mysterious assassins didn't make headlines in the major news outlets.

Though the media are still our valued partners, suppressing these kinds of things costs a lot of money. And let me tell you, they don't pass up on these juicy opportunities.

...I'll accept responsibility for these losses.

Your self-awareness is commendable, but you can't afford to 'accept responsibility' for many more mistakes. After all, the Board of Directors only pays you so much, yes?

Sorry.

Hah. Enough of that. Playing the villain isn't exactly my strong suit.

We're still work partners, right?

If you think so, then so it must be, Lord Roy.

Tisk tisk. When you call me that, doesn't it seem like we're strangers? 'Platinum' Centaurea... See, doesn't hearing that make you feel uncomfortable? Why don't we go with a nickname instead, my little pegasus?

Kazimierz has many pegasi.

It's fine as long as you know I'm referring to you... Oh, right. There's just one more thing, though it's not a very big deal.

If you're talking about it, there's no way I can treat it as anything less than a big deal.

Then it appears that you misunderstand me. I'm willing to talk to you about all sorts of things, from small talk to important matters... Haha.

Mm. I heard you spared the life of Szewczyk's runt?

Czarny was already removed from his post at that time. I wasn't in the mood to listen to him and kill a kid.

Ah, so frank. That's fine.

Though I also feel bad for Czarny, that isn't the real issue here... Put simply, Szewczyk has gone missing.

Plastic Knight does not come from an esteemed lineage. He's just another tournament upstart.

Though we didn't have any plans to remove him from the picture, he is the property of the Roar Guards Co., and it never bodes well to let someone else take the initiative. We'll definitely get complaints from the K.G.C.C.

Did you find out who did it?

The Infected.

I don't understand. How could a few Infected knights accomplish all this?

Who knows, little Platinum? That's exactly what we're trying to figure out right now.

But there's one thing you shouldn't misunderstand.

Oh do please illuminate me.

What we face... is not just a few meager Infected, but rather all the Infected of Kawalerielki.

Mieszko Industries just delivered eight new plates. The purpose of the plate called Area 0 will soon be brought to light.

I've mentioned this before, right? We're going to be real busy.

I understand.

Good, as long as you understand. *cough* *cough* Hmm...

*hiss*... It's too damn hot today, don't you think? How nice it must be to not have to wear a helm...

Hm, you can't see what's different about me?