act18mini

Most of you are Infected. You should know how their nobles treat you guys.

Today's paper, sir.

Hmm... I can't be bothered to read it, Alyosha. Anything noteworthy?

New tax policies, some literary works, a few scandals, and...

And?

Revolts. All over the country.

Let me see.

Finally, some real reporting. I thought those Deity Grypherburg reporters only knew how to run tabloids.

'Infected have been striking at factories and outposts across the country. Some regions are experiencing a surge of uprisings, as Infected have brazenly attacked outposts and government agencies, causing serious losses...'

'It is said that they are inspired by an Infected organization known as Reunion...'

Oh, look, they even left some symbols...

...Do you wish to end your convalescence now?

Of course not. Do you even realize how hard it is for me to get a vacation?

But your colleagues from the propaganda department have visited you many times already.

Oh, my dear Alyoshenka, our dear nation has been suffering from a chronic disease for quite some time, and there are many who wish to heal her.

But to do so, these rotten old wounds must first see the light of day.

I've had enough of my colleagues patching them up, over and over.

How should I reply then?

Tell them any discussion must wait until my vacation is over.

Did they ransack the streets again for another batch of prisoners? Here's your soup, Talulah.

Thanks.

Too bland? Well—I had to ransack our stash to get the last of the salt.

It's fine. Good, even.

Heh. 'Ransack'? That's a good word.

Only a week ago they wouldn't have come here, let alone taken any children among the prisoners.

But we just saw both happen.

They've been dead set on wiping out any trace of the Sarkaz for the past two weeks.

At first, it was just Sarkaz soldiers who couldn't evacuate in time. Next, it was any Sarkaz civilian who had any dealings with the army. Now? Even Londinium-born Sarkaz aren't being spared.

I thought you'd make a move, Hui-chieh.

...That would only complicate things. We're in Victoria, so I have to act more cautiously.

That'll only cost us more time.

A few days ago I saw a group of kids harassing a poor woman... all she did was to marry a Sarkaz and raise their children together.

This is how they treated the Infected before the war, and now it's the Sarkaz's turn. Eventually, every Londinium citizen will face this.

Time is what these mistreated people lack most.

Nine pauses to glance at Talulah right beside her.

However, she seems unusually calm, as if the sudden temperature increase earlier was just a hallucination.

I thought you'd make a move on the Victorians earlier.

It was only a warning. It'd only bring us more trouble if we pestered them any further. Hui-chieh has a point—We should keep a low profile until we're forced to show ourselves.

Attacking ducal alliance troops on the factory streets certainly won't do anything to improve the lives of the workers here.

So you weren't angry.

What you're experiencing, I have too, long ago. But at least Sarkaz blood isn't contagious like Oripathy.

I've long since learned to control my rage. At the very least, I won't waste it on clueless underlings like the soldiers from before.

This war has turned the oppressed into oppressors. It's not their fault.

Then who should the innocent Sarkaz vent their anger on?

Remember that Sarkaz merchant with the motorbike who helped us get supplies...? The Infected killed him out of fear.

Now, that fear is spreading unchecked as the Sarkaz are gradually retreating.

Infected, soldiers, nobles... heh, even civilians who've never seen war. Everyone thinks they're in the right.

So you're correct, Talulah. Sarkaz blood isn't contagious like Oripathy... but hatred and fear are.

You've decided then?

To save the Sarkaz? I see no need to hesitate. They're no different from us.

I'm just not sure how to minimize the fallout, so I need your help.

Keep the people at camp safe, as well as the workers.

...If you need my flames to burn for them, I won't hesitate.

Red, let the workers know our plan. Those willing to join us can stay; anyone too afraid to escape, bring them to the Exemplars' camp.

Got it.

Ch'en.

You can try to stop us, or you can leave and pretend nothing happened.

Saving those Sarkaz means you'll have to change everything you've planned.

And if you go with them, none of the Dukes will let you stay long in their domain, Nine.

They won't let us stay long anyway, even without those people.

We're Infected, Ch'en. Maybe your time at Rhodes Island has made you forget how we're actually treated.

Then where will you go next?

So you agree with our plan?

Even prisoners shouldn't be executed so hastily. They don't even have an official order.

Hui-chieh, the issue isn't where Nine and the others <i>want</i> to go, but where they're needed.

We'll find a place that truly needs us, Ch'en.

Not just the Infected... Anyone enslaved or deprived of their right to a fair chance at survival.

A place with no discrimination or oppression.

...You know as well as the rest of us that that'll be difficult, if not impossible, Nine.

Of course. But this is the path a man we all knew left us before he died.

Guard...

Someone has to see it through, Hui-chieh.

This new Reunion makes their own medicine and strives to help anyone in need, without asking for anything tangible in return.

Change is happening, but it's too fragile.

They need something to believe in, an objective. That's the only way they can push forward.

I don't completely agree with Nine's way of doing things, but I see no reason to refuse to cooperate either.

She's always admired the 'fairness' you seek, Hui-chieh.

So why not take a look at what <i>she</i> seeks?

On the tundra ignored by the Emperor's edict, rebel activity has intensified, with thousands of Infected banding together to break their shackles and regain their freedom.

We've achieved what used to be unthinkable.

Ever since that first fire ignited by that anonymous noble, many of us have been communicating in hushed tones: Is there someone leading us? To be honest, I'm not too sure myself.

What I do know is that our call to rise up has not been silenced, and is even now trying to escape from the tundra and its army of trees blocking the way.

Our proof is that unique symbol everyone's curious about, the symbol scorched by flame.

The hoarse voice on the radio smashes the countryside's peace apart.

People open their doors or climb onto their windowsills, listening quietly.

The broadcast excites them, their palms feeling hot even though they live in a place with temperatures far below zero.

Then, they light up torches in the center of the village. The light illuminates their eyes, and warms the bodies underneath their thin layers of clothing.

Soon, nearby villages spot the firelight and start bonfires one after the other.

On the dark tundra, countless fires light up the night sky.

We gather on this inhospitable tundra, following in their footsteps to take root here.

Everyone has heard of the group that disappeared into Chernobog to fight for the Infected: 'Reunion'.

Have they heard our call?

Have they finally returned—

Alrighty, you dregs! Turn around!

Sir... please... spare my life, please...

I was born here!

I-I'm different from the rest, sir, please!

I said, shut it!

S-Sir, please...

Kid, he doesn't give a damn who you are. He just wants to kill every Sarkaz he sees.