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Isin, I'm counting on you.

Mm, what is this for...? Gold coins? Old Isin needs no money at all...

Our enemies are still coming after us. We need to get the preparations done as soon as possible.

Old Isin understands, but please keep your coins. Old Isin is in no place to take them... and Old Isin still has much to ask you.

Very well, I understand... Feel free to ask me any time. Even now.

Thank you... Old Isin is far too old... Old Isin has forgotten far too many important things.

Alas, most of those who remembers what I wish to know have come and gone. That is why Old Isin is looking for clues...

Lady, you are young. Normally, Old Isin would not hold out hope for those your age... but you know of that city, the secrets that disappeared in those great winds long ago.

What do you want to remember, old Savra?

Old Isin once served a padishah... The Padishah of the Land of Reefsteep. The padishah saw Old Isin as a friend and would even die for Old Isin. An honor Old Isin can never fully repay...

Yet... it has been far too long. Old Isin has forgotten the words of the padishah. Before Old Isin dies, Old Isin must remember his words.

The disaster that destroyed the city left you directionless.

It has been too long, Lady. Look, you remember even that Catastrophe—

The padishah who ruled Reefsteep doesn't show up in the history books much, but, at the very least, the written accounts and folklores do not mention a Savra fortune teller.

It will probably take some time if you want to figure out who you are.

Oh, that's fine—Even if you must leave this place behind and there is still a long wait ahead, Old Isin will patiently await your return.

Old Isin dares not to die. Old Isin only asks you to remember this.

I promise you.

Please, come with Old Isin. Old Isin has a home here. An old dwelling...

Umm...?

Isn't this just a normal—Wait, what's this?

Pure gold—?

You buried a whole mountain of pure gold here?!

These are Old Isin's riches... but Old Isin had no way to spend them. Now, Old Isin is glad to finally give them purpose.

That's no small sum you have. Has no one gone after your riches before?

Old Isin was the padishah's favorite courtier. Even if Old Isin had not a bean to his name, Old Isin will always be protected.

Old Isin will get started with the preparations now.

What do you want to know?

Far too much, my lady...

But you possess all the answers.

It feels pretty empty up here...

A black market always starts out as a normal underground bazaar. It's a fairly common sight for areas barraged by Catastrophes.

When nightfall comes, the lights are moved underground.

Something on your mind?

I've been on the run with you for a while now, but you're still keeping me in the dark for a lot things. Like that old Savra with amnesia.

Long ago... there used to be a city here. The only nomadic city in Ibut's vast territory.

The building of a city is a miracle in itself, but, before the Reefsteep Padishah, no one had managed to unite all of Ibut. And the symbol of that unity? That city among the golden sands.

That was what inspired everyone to unite under his rule. That era was not that long ago, and I believe there are still a fair amount of people out there wallowing in their homeland's former glory.

Unfortunately, it was not meant to last. The city met its fate during a Catastrophe. Supposedly, after the padishah had evacuated all his citizens and workers, he simply lamented and lashed out at the gathering storm.

Lash out... at the Catastrophe?

That's how it was recorded in history, at least, but it most likely actually happened.

The Catastrophe laid waste on the padishah's grand achievement in a brief moment. In just one night, all its citizens became refugees. They very well could have built a new home together, but with the destruction of the city... everything was left behind in that sandstorm, forgotten.

Old Isin was among them. The lords ameer and the new padishah didn't want to spend a huge sum of money to rebuild the city. Thanks to that, their descendants likely had no idea where to begin to rebuild their homeland.

This filled them with grief, and this is also why they give all those who still respect the 'Land of Reefsteep' the same amount of respect.

So... Is that why they're helping us...? Because it's like helping out their countrymen?

From the looks of it, we'll get to leave Sargon soon, right?

If everything goes well, we should be leaving Sargon territory within the month.

And we're going to Ursus?

That's right.

Why?

I don't get it. Did you really abandon everything you had in Columbia and came to Sargon just to keep our research from becoming the powder keg that sparks a war?

None of you could've possibly foreseen what the chain of events would eventually lead to.

And you can...?

If you really want me to give you an answer, I'll say yes.

It would be so much easier for you if you killed me and destroyed the box now... but, here you are, letting me hold onto it.

Do you want me to do that?

No...

At first... I was really bothered that I was the only survivor, but I don't feel that way anymore.

Kal'tsit... If I give you this box now, will you do something for me... for us?

You know the Ibuti Lord Ameer was dragged into this mess. From Sargon to Columbia, the accomplices of this conspiracy are everywhere.

But I still want them to pay the price...

See, this box—It's my one and only trump card.

But once it's destroyed, you'll have nothing—

—Nothing?

Actually... Kal'tsit, ever since the beginning, I've always felt I didn't need this box.

I remember all the details, and I can replicate our past results.

You...

Of course, it'll take a long time, and there's probably going to be lots of difficult issues... but I think I can do it.

If, just like you said, there's some kind of way to turn this Originium energy source into a weapon—

This is the first time you are looking me in the eyes, Kal'tsit. The first time you aren't treating me as a kid or someone to be protected, but as a scientist, a Columbian.

Perhaps I've been underestimating you because of your age, Elliot.

Relax, I won't let these bad guys use the Professor's research as they please. I won't.

But I will use it to finish one last thing.

You don't understand how Professor Thorne's research came to be.

I heard him say before that the basis of the technology came from a set of ancient ruins that archaeologists found in Sarkaz, and it could provide nomadic cities an entirely new and convenient energy source—

—I'll say it again. If misused, this could easily bury half of Sargon under its golden sands.

Hmm...

Well, you were the head of the mercenaries to begin with. You probably have a few other tricks up your sleeve just to be safe, don't you, 'Adviser?'

Such as... taking me out right now. The way you people like to take care of things.

(Happy sounds)

Go back inside...

You—

Enough with the tough act, Elliot. With the way you are now, you can't make a sensible decision.

You should really think about what it is that you want to do carefully.

Thank you, thank you. This is all that Old Isin wants.

You're going so far away?

Old Isin won't be going... Old Isin will go nowhere.

Alright, your call. You got the cash, and I got the goods. It's as simple as that.

You need any help packing?

No, no need. We must keep my lady's whereabouts a secret...

Isin.

Ah, my lady. The preparations are almost complete. We have medicine, food, water, and a small amount of refined Originium Ingots.

This car here's stolen, and it's already been modified about four or five times by the Vouivre.

It's kinda beat up, but that's the only downside to it. It's got everything you want in a car, even got a Multi-Grenade Launcher.

I heard you guys are going north? Where to? Sami, perhaps? Whoa, will you guys actually make it that far?

As for your compensation...

All pure gold? I ain't giving change, you know. That's a pain in the butt.

Just like how we were treated in the old days, Old Isin is never stingy when it comes to compensation.

Heh. Well, thanks!

Let's call it a day here, Isin.