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Why can't I go out, Uncle?

By the president's orders, you are not to go running around until he returns.

So when's he coming back?

The president is currently making his way to Karlan, and will be back in two days' time.

Look, I just want to catch a breath of fresh air, okay?

If you'll stay around the estate... I'll send someone to follow you.

Ensia, this is for your own good. The situation in Kjerag is precarious right now.

*Sigh*...

Do you really need to do all this... Enciodes?

Doctor, what should I do...?

Aurora?!

Shhh–– Keep it down, it was really hard for me to sneak in with all the guards.

Weren't you and Sharp going to stay with the Doctor?

Yes. I'm here because the Doctor wanted me to tell you something.

You're absolutely sure?

Yes, Arctosz has assembled a large number of soldiers in his territory, but he's not the one leading them – the Doctor is.

Where's Arctosz?

I'm not sure... From eyewitness accounts, he disappeared after formally handing leadership of his forces to the Doctor.

Is that Doctor's squad the bait? No, it can't be that simple.

How about their numbers?

The Paleroche clansmen who responded to Arctosz's call were mostly what you expected. Based on our estimates, Arctosz shouldn't have enough men to assemble another squad.

But there's no chance he's sitting in the back. There's a high possibility of there being another team.

The Paleroche clan's warriors are skilled at operating in the mountains. It's not beyond the realm of possibility.

They can't leave this squad alone though, regardless of whether it's a decoy or the main force.

Let Weiss pass on the orders and have the troops gather at the base of the mountain, awaiting further instructions.

Then dispatch someone to keep track of the army. Your primary responsibility is to find Arctosz.

On it.

The Doctor... wants me to climb up the mountain and sneak into the Vine-Bead Court to find my sister?

Correct.

Because conflict between the Paleroche and Silverash clans is almost unavoidable now.

But if there's one person who can put a stop to all of this, it's your sister, the Saintess, Enya Silverash.

But... But...

The Doctor wanted to stick to Rhodes Island's policy of nonintervention and stand by.

But since restoring the Saintess to power was just a ploy by Mr. Enciodes, the Doctor believes he doesn't care much for Kjerag's faith.

And once the Silverash clan's forces beat down the Paleroche clan's, the only thing stopping him from taking all of Kjerag is the Vine-Bead Court.

In other words, the object of faith for all the people of Kjerag – the Saintess.

The Doctor doesn't actually need you to convince the Saintess to do anything. The basic idea is there might be a way to heal the relationship between your brother and sister.

There might also be some guilt in there for not being able to help since coming to Kjerag.

I'd never blame the Doctor for that! I just want to apologize, both to the Doctor and everyone else who came with me. This was supposed to be a nice vacation, but my brother went and screwed everything up...

It's not your fault either, Cliffheart.

Anyway, the Doctor's been dragged into Enciodes's business, and can't stand on the sidelines anymore.

And anyway, you're Enciodes's sister. Nothing can change that.

So the Doctor's decided to make a move.

And it's to have you go up the mountain, and become a kind of insurance beside the Saintess.

The Doctor wants me to stop my brother's plans when the time comes.

Or, take the Saintess and run when the time comes.

Ensia subconsciously rubs the coil of rope in her hand.

Her sister braided it for her when she was a child.

I'll go.

This is a covert operation. I'll be there with the other operators to help.

...No.

I have a better idea.

Just get me to the base of Mount Karlan. I'll handle the rest myself.

Doctor, why are you marching us at such a slow pace?

So as to give those prying eyes their fill.;We can't go any faster. Not right now.

Gulo, don't tell me you still haven't figured out what we're doing?

Aren't we drawing the attention of the Silverash clan? I think we're going a bit too slow for that.

I see you're eager to just rush in and fight the Silverashes.

Sure am.

Last time, Valais handed me my ass, so I've got a chip on my shoulder.

Doctor, we've confirmed the location of Yucatan, who was taken away during the ceremony.

As you suspected, she was not taken to the Silverash clan's territory, but locked up at the base of the mountain.

Good work.

Doctor, you really are something else. You managed to find Old Yucatan this quickly.

Hmph. Such simple intelligence gathering is child's play for a Browntail.

Anyway, we've found Yucatan, so it's time for me and this idiot here to get moving, right?

Right.

What's with the silent treatment?

What, were you talking to me? I don't remember my folks ever calling me 'Idiot.'

(Sighs deeply)

General! Gulo! Hmph... You happy now?

I'm asking you, do you know what you're supposed to be doing?

Of course. Head to the nearest station, cause some chaos, and give you a chance to rescue your man.

Good.

But a word of warning from the Doctor –– don't actually kill anyone.

Hmph. The station's full of civilians. I swear on my name not to lay a finger on them.

But, Doctor, if the Silverashes show up...

All I can say is, I'll try to hold back.

Cliffheart, did you say you were looking for... your mountaineering equipment?

Yup.

Don't tell me you're going to climb Mount Karlan...

Eh... From what you've told me, there should be a ton of people in Karlan.

If we're talking about heading up the face of the mountain, even the squad leader would have some difficulty sneaking in.

But that's nothing I can't handle~

As long as you can get me to the foot of the mountain, I can handle the rest.

But... the others and I won't be able to protect you.

No biggie, no biggie.

I've gotten plenty of training at Rhodes Island, so I'm more than capable of handling myself in an ordinary fight.

But...

Ensia, where are you going?

Uncle Chester...

I want to go climbing.

Which mountain are we talking here?

Mount Karlan.

That place is going to turn into a battlefield. You'll get hurt if you go.

Why do you want to go there?

Uncle Chester, ever since I fell in love with mountaineering, I've always wanted to summit Mount Karlan with my own two hands.

I've only wanted it even more since my sister left us and became the Saintess... One day, I would reach the peak and bring my sister home.

And now, my chance has finally come.