act19side

It's because you're always here for me that I can focus on my job without worry.

You never needed anyone to come save you.

But you came nonetheless.

That face again... You're angry.

All those years out there have made you a more emotional person.

I thought you'd better understand my decision after you took a good look at the reality of the lands outside.

Answer me.

Did you authorize the experiment at Site 359?

No.

I'll never lie to you.

I'm sure you know that better than anyone.

But you also don't care what's going on over there...

You turned a blind eye to what Ferdinand is doing.

Just like you turned a blind eye to Parvis all those years ago.

Hm? Which experiment are you talking about?

You don't remember...

You never remember any little thing that isn't related to your own research.

There is only so much that the human brain can process. I have more worthwhile work for mine to focus on.

Ferdinand's little tricks bought me some time to relax, and it's thanks to him that I can concentrate even better. And think.

My experiments have seen some major breakthroughs in the last few days. Why don't I tell you about them?

Why you...

It's not like you're not interested.

You're just... worried about all those insignificant people and things.

They were never insignificant.

You'll never escape the weight of those people and things, Kristen.

After all, both you and I... and Rhine Lab too, we're all grounded in this land, we've put down roots.

I'm sorry, Dr. {@nickname}.

Why are you apologizing all of a sudden?;Changed your mind again?

Don't worry... We're still on the same side.

I won't do anything to you, at least not right now.

It's just... It's hard to say.

Kristen might not necessarily be on Saria's side.

I heard they used to be very good friends.;I heard they had a falling out.

You don't know what Rhine Lab was like back when it started...

Kristen's radiance brought all kinds of people in, at first, but it was Saria who quietly propped it all up.

A falling out, huh? They had a huge fight in the Control office, and blew a huge hole in the roof of the Rhine building. Does that count?

Even then, Saria walked out of the office herself, and Control was completely unscathed too.

If the two of them... actually played serious, there wouldn't have been anything left standing.

It's just Kristen doesn't care what kinds of experiments Ferdinand runs.

I was eager to make sure she's okay. That's why I lured you guys here... but I never knew Kristen would interfere with what's going on at the site.

That's why it was so important for Ptilopsis to see the truth behind the site herself.

Please inform Ms. Wright;Control needs to know we 'saw' everything.

You... you're not going to stop at telling Kristen the situation over there?

The important thing is that you... that Rhodes Island has caught wind of this.

If Ms. Wright doesn't want this information, there are lots of people that do.

Like Beachbrella and all the other companies competing with Rhine.;Like the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Arts Units, and Originium.;Like the Maylander Foundation.

Information is the most valuable bargaining chip there is.;Having information is the best way to keep yourself safe.

As long as Ms. Wright wants to keep Rhine Lab alive.

She has to intervene at the site.

You've been planning to force her hand since before you got here...

Dr. {@nickname}, she might just remember you for this.

Good. We really should get to know each other to improve our cooperation.;Sounds like I should be honored.

You're confident... No, you have real faith in your operators at the site.

That's wonderful.

I have one last question, Director Muelsyse.

Are you bothered by those experiments?;Are you bothered by anything in particular?

Dr. {@nickname}... At the end of the day, I'm the Director of Rhine Lab's Ecological Section. Not a lot of people ask me questions like that to my face.

Hm... How should I answer this...?

Wouldn't you agree that if I didn't keep a secret or two, my charm would take a hit?

Doctor?

I still haven't received Ptilopsis's synchronized message.

Sorry, I don't have the time to fill you in on the details...

I still have ten... No, maybe eleven hollows to take care of.

Right, one more thing.

Ho'olheyak got away.

She might head to the site... she seemed like she had her own objective.

Right, I agree with you.

She's more dangerous than we expected.

*cough*... How am I doing?

My robotic arm is overheating a little. That's all.

I won't let myself get hurt before things really get hairy.

Elena, you're staying here with me.

You've contributed a lot to the experiment, and I am proud of your results. You've earned the right to stand by my side and witness the glory it brings us.

You turned the whole site... into a petri dish. You put all those Pioneers in danger just to create that giant monster.

What could it bring, if not disaster?!

The way I see it...?

Several miles out, the silver geometric body remains steadily suspended above the site.

The body seems as if it has started a storm. However, aside from the chaotic gales, there are also countless scraps blowing around it.

Some of the scraps were originally trees, while others were once parts of buildings and machines, but all of them have taken similar shapes, hovering around the body in the center.

The geometric body could appear at any moment on the outskirts of other Columbian cities. It could also suddenly descend upon Londinium or central Kawalerielki.

It has redefined what people imagine when they think of Originium Arts, it has redefined the known rules of physics, and it will soon redefine the already changing tides.

A new era.

What I see is a new era. Its arrival carries with it all sorts of possibilities, chances at things we may never have thought possible. It also implies a change in the standings of factions old and new.

I'm taking these risks not for myself.

It doesn't necessarily have to be Columbia that enters this new era. It doesn't have to be Rhine, either.

But when the time comes, our money and connections will both leave us behind.

The city of steel we have forged will be torn apart at the hands of other nations, just as Lingones became fodder to a new hegemon.

The laboratories of which we're so proud will be dismantled and sold for scrap on the second-hand market, while Rhine's signs will be forgotten and slowly rust away in an underground warehouse.

When that time comes, we will lose any chance we ever had to drive change. Our ideals will shatter, and we will be left to live out the rest of our meaningless days staring at the backs of those who have gone ahead.

When the epoch decides who to leave in the dust, it doesn't think back on past glory, much less hold out for future potential.

All we can ever seize is the present.

Searching for signal...

Connection failed.

Still no comms...

Doctor, we've been surrounded.

The living quarters probably won't last long. Soon, this building we end up leveled like the others at the site.

The silver construct is controlled by the subconsciousness of the Hub's test subjects.

If we forcibly remove the treatment bands the pioneers are wearing...

Negative.

Removal of the treatment bands carries as much risk as the removal of Device #9.