act15d0

You were working on your designs too just now, right?

Yep, I got a couple new ideas. I'm gonna try them out as soon as we're back at Rhodes Island.

Hehe, see, Control's like this too.

She can see very far ahead of her. Sometimes, I get the feeling that not even the sky above can keep her from seeing beyond it.

There probably isn't a single person in the world who knows just where it is she set her sights. Even I only have a vague idea of what's going on in her mind.

Eh, I've only ever caught a glimpse of her when she's giving speeches. Never knew she'd be like that too.

That's right. There are lots of things that she just doesn't care about. To her, as long as her research isn't being blocked, that line might as well not exist.

That drove a wedge between her and Saria.

But why are you telling me all this? Shouldn't you be talking to Silence?

I'm not sure what I'd do with this information.

I'm telling you this because you don't know.

I figured that you two probably could've gotten along, so I wanted you to get a better idea of the kind of person she is.

Besides, I actually want to be friends with you myself. I like researchers like you, so pure.

If I'm not mistaken, you voluntarily signed up for Rhodes Island?

Yeah, I wanted a change of atmosphere.

Mind telling me why?

Hm... I guess there wasn't really much of a reason.

Alright. If you ever come back to Rhine Lab, though, you should think about transferring to our department.

Hm, I'll give it some thought.

Don't worry. We've got time.

Alright, why don't we get back to that story?

You... sure about this?

Yeah, I want to... try.

Mm...

Well, hello there.

Where am I...?

This here's my room, and it's also the prison clinic.

I know who you are...

I know who you are too... The name's Domma.

What am I doing here...?

Right, there was a fight, and I got dragged into the mess...

You passed out, Ms. Robin.

Anthony...?!

How come you know my name?

Domma has a list of prisoners here.

You're a hitman too, aren't you?

Domma found this weapon on you, and you were there. I could only arrive at this conclusion.

Of course, if you really aren't, you are free to prove me wrong.

Regardless of whether that is truly the case, I hope you could at least listen to what I have to say. Everything I'll be telling you is under the assumption that you came here to kill me. I mean no offense, and I hope you don't get the wrong impression.

I know who sent you here. They are the ones who orchestrated my family's downfall. They are also behind my imprisonment here for the past six years.

And I've made my decision to break out of this prison to get to the end of it.

I can tell your combat prowess is superb, and I'm hoping you'd be willing to abandon your contract as a hitman and come help me.

It's as simple as that.

I...

You don't need to give me an answer right away.

I need a lot of time to prepare. You have a lot of time on your hands as well.

If you want to kill me, you are free to keep trying. You could also give up.

If you are interested in helping me, just pay the clinic a visit and let Domma know.

Mr. Anthony, Captain Barton was wondering if you are doing okay. Are you hurt?

Nothing serious; just a few scrapes. Let him know to wait a little longer. I'll be finished here soon.

Right, not a problem. Take your time.

I need to deal with Barton.

You should head back and think this offer through, Ms. Robin.

Heh, I thought Anthony was just some simple, kind-hearted guy, but it sounds like I'm not giving him enough credit.

Hm? What makes you say that?

We know for sure that Robin was there to kill him, but he didn't have any concrete proof. Yet he still made her that offer.

Really? I thought that was pretty reckless of him.

If Robin wasn't there to kill him, and she tipped him off to the jailers, what happens then?

Hehe, that's the part that I like about him.

Think about it. You're a fresh fish. No one knows who you are. Meanwhile, Anthony's built a reputation, a prestige for himself over the years.

Whose words do you think carry more weight?

Let's take a step back. Say Barton and the guards there really believed her. Could they have done anything about that?

They couldn't have acted on that information.

Well, now that you mention it, I guess there wasn't much they could've done even if she ratted him out.

Hehe, you think it's reckless, and you'd be right under normal circumstances. It's a risky move if he didn't have his 'prestige,' or perhaps 'influence' is the better word to use here.

But what I think is really interesting is that—Those who know how to build prestige for themselves don't usually do something like that.

Hmm, and why's that?

That's because what he said was also a threat. He was telling her, 'You could tell him, but it's not going to do you any good.'

When you hear that, it doesn't really sound like something that someone who's really got prestige would say, right?

Heh, you're right. It does sound like a threat.

That's what I mean. Besides, did Anthony ever say anything about what he did to appease Barton?

Hm? Oh... he said he volunteered to be put in solitary for half a month.

Everyone knew that he wasn't the one at fault, but he chose to be punished to get this thing behind them, huh...?

I can almost imagine that grin on Barton's face when Anthony told him he was willing to accept punishment.

But he still held back.

Tsk tsk, such a hard guy to deal with.

I think he probably just figured Robin wouldn't rat him out.

Hm... it's possible. I won't deny it.

By the way, Ms. Silence is really taking her time, isn't she?

Yeah, you're right. I'll go take a look.

Ferdinand... Director of Energy.

...Yes.

Well, that's kinda a surprise, but you know what really bothers me?

Just what the hell was Saria doing there?

I wanted to ask you about that myself. Why was Saria there, Director Muelsyse?

What do you mean by that?

Saria was your right-hand man in this incident, wasn't she? Out more accurately, she was your former right-hand man.

Oh? What makes you think that?

Ever since we started our conversation, I've been wondering where you come in in this string of events.

You said you have nothing to do with HydeBro and Energy, and I believe you, but since you went out of your way to find me, you're perhaps a little too passionate for someone who's supposedly just an observer who knows about this incident.

So my preliminary judgment is that you are most likely my 'competitor' as far as this incident goes.

You want Anthony as well.

And the thing that puzzles me the most is what Saria was doing there.

She's completely cut ties with Rhine Lab. She's a Rhodes Island operator right now.

The way I see it, she had no reason to get involved.

Well, I could probably say she's your trump card too.

I really didn't know she was there when it all happened.

I still remember what you said in the beginning—

The only parts I understand are the beginning—

—HydeBro initiated this assassination plot they'd been brewing forever against Anthony Simon—the last of the Simons—who was locked up in Mansfield State Prison.