act18d0

But there is not a single person who walks these lands and wishes not to live. Is it not reasonable of me to want to cast all this aside just for a chance to be cured?

Nah, I don't think that's what Heavyrain's trying to say.

You don't even seem to care that you're Infected...

What is it that you want at Rhodes Island?

Very well. There isn't much time left, so let us stop beating around the bush.

I'm looking for 'Kal'tsit.'

Perhaps she will impart on me some invaluable advice, perhaps she will show me a new way forward... Yet it's even more likely that she won't lift a finger, merely passing the decision back to me.

That too is fine.

Once I eliminate every last person involved in that incident years ago, there will be nothing more tying me to this place. I am beyond anxious to leave this forsaken land behind.

I need a fresh start.

And who could blame me for seizing the opportunity if the shadows of the past so happen to be standing right there?

What's your relationship with Dr. Kal'tsit?

Hmm... It's a long story.

I owe her my life. I'm very thankful to her. This I say from the bottom of my heart.

The decision isn't ours to make...

Three years ago... the Lord Ameer of Ibut perished in a fire during his travels. The fire consumed an entire town, and, soon after, his son set off a rebellion, vying for the throne against his many other contenders.

That's your doing, eh?

Precisely, just as I said.

Why?

All trivial matters of a bygone era. The family had a tragic, rocky relationship to start. I only played a very minor role.

Why do you want to know?

I'm looking for clues... Thanks to you, I gotta call it quits with my investigation in the Ibut region.

Ah... clues.

Perhaps this is an opportunity for me to earn your trust. Tell me what it is you are looking for. Perhaps I will be of assistance.

I'm looking for someone. The director of a Columbian military experiment.

You are investigating a Columbian company. May I ask why?

Because the person I respected the most died in the most laughable accident ever...

And what if it was actually an accident?

Even if it was just an accident... I gotta know the truth. I mean, this couldn't have been the reason those guys rose through the ranks on top of my brother's death.

Sesa...

I know. It's my own personal issue... but this chance doesn't come often. Don't you agree, 'Sand Soldier'?

Heh... Ahem, pardon me.

Where was I?

Everyone needs a revenge of some kind. Targets can be big or small, and grudges can run deep or shallow, but revenge is an eternal motif to every living person out there.

If you permit me to undergo treatment at Rhodes Island, I can investigate this matter for you. Of course, the deals we talked about still stand.

Even if you have ten times the cargo sitting outside, I have a way to take care of it all. There will be no trace left of it, and you will find the price very attractive. It's a bargain for a pharmaceutical company.

Sesa... Sorry, but we can't let your personal problems be somebody else's bargaining chip.

Of course I know that... but I...

Right... I almost forgot. It seems I've been rather forgetful of late.

I never thought much of Old Isin's prophecy to begin with. However, thinking back, perhaps the prophecy was itself a means of negotiation and communication.

Hmph, prophecy... Mere mortals will never find themselves on equal footing with time itself. Originium Arts may have many convenient uses, but that is one thing you can never achieve with Arts.

A prophecy...?

Alas, Old Isin passed away long ago. I only hope that she remembers this promise.

Did she perhaps... give you a gold coin?

An old Sargon gold coin.

Heavyrain, Sesa, we got a situation here.

Calm down. What's up?

There are some sketchy-looking teams approaching the town.

Let me remind you that they are not friendly.

Ugh, they're closing in quick. We can still get out of here without a fight if we make a run for it now. Take our time and we won't be so lucky.

Fifteen minutes. That's all we have. Captain, Lieutenant, hurry.

—Your buddies?

Of course not. I am a lone wolf with no one to turn to. Unlike machines, humans cannot be trusted.

That being said, they are most likely here for me.

—Dammit! This is part of your plan, isn't it?

You can help me escape, or we can fend off these unyielding assassins together.

What do you say?

W-What should we do?

The ball is in your court.

Tch, son of a—

—Last question, then! Why did you burn down that town? If you were after the Lord Ameer, you had no reason to drag all those people into that mess.

You even gave the townspeople the time to evacuate. Did you just want to ruin the town? Redhorn was miles away from your turf. What were you after exactly?

Is my objective really so important?

—I'm making sure you're not a warmonger, or downright nuts.

Hmm, you have a point, but I am afraid you wouldn't understand. All I burned down was my past.

Is that your revenge?

No...

It was a long overdue cremation, nothing more.

4下

22 Years Ago

3:09 P.M. \ Clear

Central Sargon, Ibut Region, Desert Outskirts

Are... Are we there yet? How far away is it?

If you're tired, we can stop here.

Drop the tough act.

It has been 7 hours and 14 minutes since our transport was wrecked in the ambush. Considering your physique and age, you've held up pretty well.

No need...

Let's... keep going. We need to get out of here as soon as we can...

Where are we...?

The nearest town to where we are heading. More accurately, it's a settlement formed of several towns that had been drifting in the desert with their hauling equipment.

At the same time, this place covers a large swath of Sargon's no man's land, more than anywhere else. This is the way out for illegal immigrants, bounty hunters, and Messengers.

Why aren't we going to Minos?

I'm... I'm still not sure I can trust you any more than those mercenaries... What makes you different?

The difference is that you are alive.

You already have our next steps figured out, don't you...? What are we doing now?

We'll look for someone trustworthy to take us out of Ibut. Not legally, of course.

Where are we going after that? Leithanien? Bolívar?

Before I give you an answer, you must understand that, whatever your choice, it doesn't change the fact you are running away from your problems.

You have no way to survive, nowhere to go, and nowhere to run.

Are you prepared to accept the fact that your old life has already shattered to pieces? Do you understand it? Are you sure you are not just in a daze from this sudden turn of events?

Stop acting so high and mighty...

If anger gives you a clearer head.

I will be going further north. Far away enough for you to leave everything in Columbia and Sargon behind.

I have to say. You've done very well.

Are you mocking me...?

Much of what you do is rife with immaturity, and you let your emotions get the better of you. If you were a little older, I would indeed make a mockery of you.

Let's go. We need to find someone to introduce us to the black market here.

Where do we find someone like that?

I don't know yet...

Hmph, so there's stuff you don't know?