act18mini

The same goes for the new 'King of Sarkaz'.

We must seize the initiative here.

The airship in the distance is faintly visible through the bones, and the ship's cannons remain locked in targeting mode.

A massive Catastrophe cloud still hovers around the ship, following the Sarkaz forces as they retreat.

But there's something else that's got me very worried.

Are you sure it's a good idea to have W guard Manfred?

She's the best for the job.

The squad has reached its destination.

The weather is clear, and visibility is good.

Keep looking to the southeast.

We've received the latest intelligence from the Ministry of Defense, which includes Kazdel's approximate coordinates.

Please closely monitor the Sarkaz army, to ensure their retreat home isn't a cover for another military maneuver.

Understood.

The officer does not, in fact, understand why he needs to monitor the Sarkaz.

However, out of respect for his comrades, he sits in the reconnaissance vehicle and stares intently at the data being sent back by the drones.

All is calm.

There's nothing unusual to report at the moment, sir. By the way—and I'm just making small talk—Maylander rarely sends someone of your status to liaise with the military.

Heh, the Victorians think they've done a fine job covering up the disaster in Londinium.

Maylander needs to investigate the situation before we have a talk with them.

Understood.

...Lieutenant! Lieutenant!

You are to report any new developments immediately!

Of course, sir. There's nothing to report right now.

Nothing at all?!

Wait. What's that...?

The officer puts down the communicator. The Catastrophe warning system on the vehicle is blaring an alarm.

He looks toward the capital district, but at this distance, he can barely make out the outline of the nomadic city.

But he can clearly see the massive shadow cast by the Catastrophe cloud, stretching from above the capital district all the way to where he stands.

Yes. He knows you are familiar with the people of Siracusa, so he hopes you'll have a chance to display your talents this time.

Not to worry. The Sarkaz hordes are a chaotic, calamitous force, but they are ultimately mercenaries.

We are now well aware that our neighbor, Victoria, has failed to keep them on a tight leash.

But I shall not allow such filth to disrupt Leithanien's glorious Güldenesgesatz. Of this I am quite certain.

Please send this message along to your master—

The noble is interrupted by a suddenly darkening sky.

...What's going on?

Come inside with me now, sir! It's a Catastrophe!

Contact the base for further orders... Damn! We've got no signal! What the hell is going on? Push the fleet forward. Full throttle!

Wait—

The data from the Catastrophe warning system sends a chill down his spine.

The cloud has stopped expanding, just as suddenly as it had appeared a few minutes ago.

The strong wind blows Originium dust up into the sky, but it doesn't fall back down.

Then the cloud starts to dissipate as the sunlight peaks through.

Can you hear me, lieutenant?

Yes, sir! The Catastrophe cloud appeared out of nowhere. There were no signs at all before it happened...

Of course, of course. This was meant as a display, a show of force to intimidate us.

You think the Sarkaz troops did this...?!

Maylander no longer requires your help with our investigation. Please withdraw at once. Of course, do not disclose any information about our cooperation.

...Yes sir.

May Terra bless us.

Enough. Deactivate the tip line. We have more than enough eyewitness accounts of the Catastrophe cloud!

Everyone saw what happened. Those of us living in the high rises got an even closer look!

For now, I need all of you to come up with explanations and file your stories. Everyone writes a report—whether you explain it away as an advertising hologram or new Arts from Leithanien, that's up to you.

...Do you need anything else?

Sir, this call wasn't from a citizen...

We just received word from our Messengers... Zwillingstürme, Laterano, Montelupe... Catastrophe clouds have appeared over the capitals of every nation.

What about Deity Grypherburg and Max D.C.?

...Same situation.

That little 'Amnannam' thingamajig is pretty handy. It can send a Catastrophe to someone's doorstep before you can blink.

Tch, no wonder Doctor and the hag were so nervous when we came to take it away, and the little bunny insisted on tagging along to keep an eye on me.

Hmm...What if we just, like, destroyed every capital of the Core all at once?

While it may indeed be able to rain down disaster on those nations, that doesn't mean it can destroy them.

I have no doubt that doing so would bring nothing but retaliation against Kazdel. Our history has repeatedly proven this, even from the earliest records.

It would be unwise, Wiš'adel. In fact, you must use Amnannam sparingly—the strain it places on the mind and body is even greater than I imagined.

You just experienced that pain firsthand.

You don't get to tell me that, Manfred.

Amnannam's potential extends far beyond intimidation, assuming we figure out the proper use for it.

Their Highnesses had much higher hopes for it. Yes, it is a weapon, a deterrent, but more importantly, it is the means by which we will break free from our destiny—

You know, you're even more annoying than Hoederer.

Don't forget who you are, dude. You're a prisoner, and we're only keeping you alive 'cause Kazdel needs you alive.

Hell, the only reason we let the Military Commission stick around is that the surviving Sarkaz still need something to believe in on the way home.

Fucking Theresis sure thought of everything, huh?

...I'm guessing Hoederer saw this coming long ago too, didn't he?

This was always the Regent's overt strategy: to reunite a people—brought together once more by hatred—around Kazdel—

Even Babel and the Military Commission are working together again, united toward a common goal.

Yeah yeah, but don't expect to wriggle your way out of this one, Manfred. Remember what I said.

Wiš'adel...

What, still got more to say?

If, someday, Kazdel really does normalize its relations with the other nations, just as Her Highness Theresa once strived for...

Then I, along with the rest of the Military Commission, will have to draw a clear line between ourselves and Kazdel.

As the Sarkaz see it, outbloods bring only pain and hatred, just as we do to them.

Sooner or later, they will claim that we haven't paid for the crimes we have committed, and on that day I will be waiting for those hateful avengers to find us—

Just shut up already. Stop acting like you're a saint or whatever.

Theresis and the rest of you assholes screwed up big time. You were so goddamned stupid I wish I could blow you to pieces right now.

Don't forget: almost all the lunatics who actually believed in your plan died in Londinium, along with the Nachzehrer.

You killed them with your own hands. There were hardly any left to even evacuate.

But the Sarkaz will pay for their own mistakes.

Babel's not so spineless as to cast the entire Commission from the city just because a few dumbasses were bold enough to provoke Kazdel.

Her Highness would never do that, and neither will I.

If they're stupid enough to come, I don't mind giving 'em a fight.

But if you keep talking shit, I'll just toss you over to someone who's willing to put up with your crap.

You're not afraid of it?

Look at that moving Catastrophe cloud over there. It seems so far away, but I can't shake the feeling it might suddenly appear right above my head...

Of course I'm afraid. Who isn't afraid of Catastrophes?

But there's a trick I picked up in Sami: whenever I'm scared, I just pull my hat over my head, crouch down, and think of something happy. The things you're afraid of will disappear before you even know it.

After all, I'm just minding my own business—they wouldn't give me a hard time for no reason, would they?

Just last week you said you'd lost count of how many times you'd been captured and interrogated by one of the Famiglie.

*sigh* I'm sorry for the trouble.

But misunderstandings always get cleared up in the end. I mean, you guys <i>did</i> let me go, didn't you?

...I really can't figure out how you managed to make it all the way through Sami and Ursus in one piece. You ain't lying about that too, are ya?

I just happen to come across perfectly reasonable people like you all the time.