act15side

I would like Rhodes Island to do us a favor.

No, in fact, if you don't help us, then I'm afraid you'd be making an enemy of us.

You want Mr. Lee's goblet.

When I chased the thief that night, right away, the tracks split into two. It was dark out, and you moved quick, but I never took my eyes off the one who'd actually left the Liang estate.

I lost them not long thereafter, though. And then a certain someone showed up, just like it was a planned diversion—

The innkeeper drew my attention. Was he drawing it away from you?

No wonder he thinks so highly of you.

Bingo, eh?

What does the cup have to do with ‘Sui?'

You know of 'Sui?'

Oh... Looks like you're not lying, though you know only half the story.

Hm, is that so?

Considering you see Nian and Dusk as friends... and that she told you about this much, they must see Rhodes Island as a lifeline of sorts.

In years past, so long as they stayed in line and broke no rules, the Sui Regulator would turn a blind eye to whatever they did.

But nowadays, things are different.

Not only are the times changing, you are on friendly terms with Nian, and you even brought Dusk off her mountain. That put you on the Sui Regulator's wrong side.

We were just...

I know you meant no ill will, but what comes next?

How is Great Yan meant to know that they are not planning anything when they are all in one place?

'Great Yan...'

I'm not trying to exaggerate.

Nian and Dusk disappeared not long after they reached Shangshu, and it just so happens that a goblet associated with them made its way here around the same time. Furthermore, the man of the hour is on Rhodes Island's side.

This is a tremendous coincidence. Wouldn't you say so, Miss Kroos?

And I'm not one to believe in coincidences.

Oof!

I forgot to hang the clothes to dry. Oh no, oh no... If I don't get to that now, there won't be anything to wear tomorrow.

Shang Zhong, huh? You shouldn't have come.

Now get lost. I'll pretend I didn't see you.

There was a young man who asked me to look for a pavilion in the mountains.

We all know things were complicated when you left, but not only did you leave us without an explanation, you even set the innkeeper up. Going by the rules, that makes you a traitor.

Then your men surrounded him.

Please, traitor, Brother Shang, I'm begging you. If anyone sees us, things will get hairy. Let's put a stop to this.

Who is that man?

Brother Shang!

I'm asking you, who is that man?

The Lungmenite...?

Yes.

It's all business. It's got nothing to do with outsiders, and I have nothing to tell you.

It'll be ten full years at the end of this one. I've been thinking of giving the Association an explanation soon.

I'll give all of you an explanation.

I'll settle the score with Zheng Qingyue.

I still can't tell you, Brother Shang!

Liu! Who pulled you out of the fire all those years ago?!

I can't say.

It has to do with the goblet, doesn't it? The cup from ten years ago?

You—

Bingo, then...

So that's the 'goblet' the kids have been talking about...

Hey, you didn't interrogate any of the young disciples, did you—

This must be fate...

—Hey, Shang Zhong! Don't just leave after you got that answer from me! Our years of friendship mean nothing to you, huh?! Hey!

Hah, looks like you're a better drinker than you used to be.

The Liang Xun of the good old days would probably be curling up into a ball under the table right about now.

I drink by myself every now and then.

Well, that's our Magistrate Liang. You find the time to drink even as a government official—Hold on, you drink by yourself every now and then. That doesn't mean what I think it means, does it?

I drown my sorrows. It's human nature.

They say that it takes a personality change to build your tolerance for alcohol. Wise words, don't you think?

It's a fair point.

*Sigh*... When we drown our sorrows, it's a whole myriad of relationship we're trying to drown.

To tell you the truth, I was actually pretty surprised when I saw you again.

Hm? Why is that?

The Liang Xun I know is a methodical, taciturn fellow.

I remember that time in school, outside the Chamber of Teachers Emeriti, when you said you were going to bless all under heaven. You said the world's a harsh, cold place, so you'd build a fire to warm everyone up, and they would never know darkness again.

I was just spouting words. We were young. Perhaps those were the exact words that led me to reflect on myself now.

It was years ago.

Many years ago.

You aren't the refined young master you used to be either.

Time flies, and I frittered all mine away.

It's been a long time since you left home. Have you spoken to your family?

It hasn't been that long since I left home.

You're saying that detective agency in Lungmen is your home now?

Of course.

What about back in Jiangdong?

Jiangdong, or Kong Tung as we call it, is just a place with a house, some lanterns, and a few old friends.

We've both changed.

I hope that when we clink our glasses together, it's not the sound of our past ambitions crumbling away that we hear.

No, no, no, that's not quite right. You're a mandarin of some standing and the magistrate responsible for a city. If the masses are happy with you, perhaps you've already achieved your dreams?

We still have a long road ahead of us. Shangshu has always been a bustling place. What I'm trying to accomplish is just gilding the lily.

I hope that you won't forget who we once were, then. Gon bui.

Gan bei.

Seems like Yan's research into occult mysticism is the greatest secret across this whole world.

You make it sound like we don't want to share.

They may take different forms, but all nations approach the same problem in their own way. Everyone faces this issue.

Though, because of certain... historical reasons, Great Yan's Sui Regulator happens to be at the forefront of 'Feranmutology.' Always has been. Always will be.

Kjerag still worships them as gods and Sami attempts to coexist with them, but the Sui Regulator's research has advanced to unparalleled heights.

So, the 'Sui' in Sui Regulator is the same 'Sui' that Nian talked about?

Did Nian tell you about those legends? The old emperor, the wild hunt, and what they uncovered?

(That's the stuff Lava talked about...)

In ancient times, the people thought of certain creatures as 'gods,' and with civilization's advancement, they gradually began to go into hiding.

The 'Sui' is one such creature.

'Certain creatures...?'

Whether they actually meet the definition of a living being is up for debate, and I don't suppose we need to go there.

All you need to know is that when at last they come to bring destruction to the world, Yan has the power to annihilate them. That's all.

Fair enough...

This is not exactly confidential Sui Regulator information, but it's not exactly common knowledge either.

I'm telling you all this not because I want a scholarly discussion.

Nian, Dusk, and the one who's in hiding somewhere in Shangshu. All of them are under the Sui Regulator's surveillance.

Normally, these things would not happen at such a pace. But then one day, the clouds all dissipated from that mountain. By the time the Sui Regulator Candleholders arrived, Dusk was nowhere to be found.

That happened just a few days ago.

It took only a few days for the Candleholders to brief the court on this matter too.