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Out of respect, if you give me this lead, Anthony, I am willing to give you something that's worth just as much, if not more. What do you say, Ms. Silence?

Silence, what should we do?

I...

I refuse.

Oh? How come? I think what I'm offering is beyond attractive.

Director Muelsyse, from the beginning till the very end of our conversation, you haven't ever asked me what I wanted to do with Anthony.

Did you subconsciously arrive at the conclusion that, just like you and Saria, I want Anthony, this 'lead,' as well?

Am I wrong?

He'll be one of the ways via which I'll keep Energy in check. As for Saria, I don't really know what's on her mind, but I'm sure she has her uses for him as well.

As for you.

You're a Rhine Lab researcher who had to leave the place because of an experiment gone wrong. You want to use him to wrangle something from Rhine Lab.

Am I wrong?

I don't plan on using your so-called 'lead,' Director Muelsyse.

If Saria didn't show up, and Anthony was rescued some other way and then met up with Mayer and me, I would still have told him to join Rhodes Island.

I'm not doing this because I want to keep a leash on him, your 'lead,' through Rhodes Island.

Throughout our entire conversation, you used the word 'lead' to describe him over and over. I don't really like calling him that.

Anthony isn't a 'lead' to me. He's a person; he's alive.

His entire family was put behind bars in just one night, and he himself was locked up in that place for six years!

If there was a better place for him to be, I naturally would've told him and helped him get there.

I'm not trying to keep him around to use as a bargaining chip in the future.

That's what I think is the right thing to do.

Looks like we aren't going to come to an understanding.

...I'm afraid not.

If you don't need anything else from us, we'll take our leave now.

Eh, you don't really think I'll just let you walk out of here after I told you all that, right? Researcher Silence?

I don't.

That's why I made an arrangement with food on hand.

Oh?

Anthony!

Right here.

You... I thought you'd already left Columbia!

The one who left was a decoy. The real Anthony has been staying with us at the hotel, and I asked him to come earlier just in case.

It was our Rhodes Island escort's idea. I didn't expect to see this arrangement come in handy here, though.

You want Anthony, don't you?

This is your only chance to get your hands on him, Director Muelsyse.

Care for a drink, Mr. Anthony?

If the circumstances were different, I would gladly share a drink with you, Ms. Muelsyse.

That's a shame, then. Let's get down to business.

Well, Mr. Anthony, would you be willing to come with me?

Only if you're able to defeat me, ma'am.

I eavesdropped on your conversation, and I must say that I don't really dislike the way you think.

I, too, think that there are certain things that aren't quite as colorful as they may seem.

But, after all that I've been through, I also think that there are things out there that are truly beautiful.

Well, looks like I'm being treated as the villain here.

No, I told you before, Director Muelsyse.

I don't think you're a villain.

From where you stand, what you've done couldn't be more correct, and I also think you've extended to me plenty of goodwill gestures.

It's just, I'm sorry to say this, I can't bring myself to agree with the way you think. That's all.

It kinda feels like I made myself a new enemy without knowing.

You mentioned keeping Energy in check. Did something happen inside Rhine Lab?

If you aren't going to make this deal with me, then I really can't tell you about any of that.

Of course, if you don't plan on calling it quits here, I'm sure you'll find out one day.

I...

Anyway, I'm throwing in the towel.

I'm not really that confident I fight a buff dude like Anthony with just a clone.

A clone?!

That's right, this is just a clone. Looks real, doesn't it?

Let me leave you with an advice, Researcher Silence.

You may think that helping Anthony is the right thing to do.

But that couldn't be further from the truth.

It's laughable to think the Simon Co. was merely a victim in their fight with HydeBro.

Both of them fought that battle because they were bent on bringing the other side down. It's just Old Smith wasn't playing the game as well as his opponent was.

In other words, if Smith had managed to make his move before HydeBro did, it would be the Hydes that's hunkering down in Bunkerhill right now instead of his family.

From that point of view, is Anthony really just a victim?

But...

What do you think, Anthony?

I can't deny that.

But there are no 'ifs' in this world. I know that.

Researcher Silence, I am telling you all this because I want you to understand this—

If you want to do the right thing, you need to first be able to tell what actually is the right thing. Beyond that, you also need to understand that doing the right thing doesn't necessarily mean you don't have to pay the price.

Thanks for the advice.

Well, see ya.

Whoa, she turned into a puddle!

Oh, right. I'm really throwing in the towel with Anthony. Rest assured, you won't find me doing anything uncalled for.

You can talk through the puddle too...

I might even help you guys cover this up. Better thank me.

As long as I'm not your villain, let's have another chat the next time we get the chance.

Mr. Anthony, I hope you'll have a wonderful time at Rhodes Island~

...I appreciate that, Miss.

Well then, Ms. Silence. It's actually time to set out now, isn't it?

Yeah.

Mayer, could you help me up?

Hmm? What's wrong?

My legs are a little sore...

Oh, okay.

Hff... phew...

I should've expected as much from a section director. I was so nervous just now, I almost couldn't say anything.

The way I see it, you did really well, Ms. Silence.

Yeah, I think so too. You were really cool.

Thank you.

I'm curious. What kind of a place is Rhodes Island?

It's a long way to Rhodes Island from here. I'll explain everything you want to know along the way.

I see. Very well, then. I'm looking forward to this journey already.