act22side

It's no wonder, considering her background and her hidden supporters.

That leader and her intelligence personnel are both fully aware it was the barracks that shelled the masses with dirty bombs, that being why the truth of the County Hillock incident will never be traced nor pursued.

However... I've read the reports. All the reports.

Some say the Dublinn 'Leader' that appeared in County Hillock on that day... is more than one person.

That doesn't match up with the other intel we got from the Dukes.

Have you seen these two jigsaw puzzles?

They're exactly the same...

As long as the forms are identical, they can fill the same holes. And the moment you put them together like this, most people who cast an eye would treat one piece like the other's shadow.

...Shadow?

So that's why you suspect that previous arson case, the one tied to Dublinn...

It was only a suspicion at first.

It was, until... the reaction from that Harmonie Feline fed me some interesting information.

Who knew the Duke of Wellington would actually turn a blind eye to King Gaeil's other descendant walking freely in the wilds?

Madam, as you predicted, someone took the people from those farming households in for questioning this morning.

I looked into it. They weren't wearing barracks uniform. it seems they're not part of the nearby patrol at all.

Hm... say, if I asked for a holiday and went out traveling, what would the better location be? Leithanien, or Kazimierz?

Or maybe I'll run off even farther... just maybe, like my good friend from the school days, I'll take a trip to Yan?

...I don't understand what you mean.

*sigh*.

Forget it. We'll be caught in a snare if we don't tiptoe... but either way, we do need to remedy this as best we can. Ensuring her safety is priority number one.

You mean...

My dear friend, Loughshinny.

You're sure she's the one they're looking for?

Well, can you be sure she's not?

We've got no other choice. Who let her be 'The Leader' too? We can't allow her to fall into anyone else's hands... especially not the Duke of Caster's.

Come, now. We need to pay 'The Brigadier' a visit.

Selmon, what do we do? You said you'd take us to shelter with a Dublinn squad, and now they're right here in front of us, fighting with Vic's army.

My gut says we should head in and help the Tarans' troops. My brain says we need to show some loyalty before we join them... I mean, right, right?

No, no, what are you people on about?! We'd never beat those servicemen!

A—And besides... what would Reed's lot think?

They're hiding over there. They're not that near us. Maybe they won't see what we're doing.

Oh, God, down goes another...

...We can't just sit here watching Tarans get beat to death, can we?

...Fionn, take a look behind. How are Reed's bunch reacting to this?

All men, pull back! Prioritize shaking pursuit!

Our investigatory mission is complete! We can't waste our time here. Dublinn's deployed far too many diversions.

Captain, human activity at three o'clock.

...Who are they?

Seemingly normal refugees, with improvised weapons.

Initiate contact, confirm the true situation. All men, prepare to fight on two fronts.

Beware the possibility of Dublinn's regular forces disguising as civilians.

Hey, what's he doin' pokin' his head out from the bunker?!

Oh, the unit noticed him. They're comin' over.

I'll try and see about negotiatin' with them. I'll tell them it's all civilians here.

No. Tara's local barracks—would never trust civilians...

...They've never protected us before.

Hah... hah... hi—hi there... we're Tarans, we want to join Dublinn...

...Hello?

Guh—wh—what the hell?!

Fall back!

...Retreat ASAP. These two units are attacking us simultaneously.

But aren't Dublinn... meant to be defending Tarans?

...I can't give you a response. All I know is these soldiers are already dead.

Standard piledriver spear, Vouivre... you're ex-Tempest Platoon personnel, aren't you?

Oh! Have we met before?

Well, since we're not strangers, that makes things easier. We're not an ambush, and we've got nothin' to do with Dublinn either. You've gotten the wrong idea about us.

...Hah, surprise, surprise. That Fischer boy only sent me out here to follow a trail, and here we've run into his true goal headfirst.

No, I'd wager he sent me here specifically to wait until you ran into us.

Bagpipe, why are you protecting the Tarans?

Eh? Because that's our duty, right? The Tarans are Victorians too.

If we've cleared up the misunderstandin', are we able to ceasefire? Attackin' civilians is a violation of military discipline.

...What gives you the continued right to say that?

Eh? What's wrong with me?

You seem to not be duly aware of the situation here.

Oh, excuse me, I'm very well aware.

My friend said you wouldn't protect Taran civilians, and I've just confirmed she was right.

You're the same as that old Colonel Hamilton back in County Hillock, na?

So even though I'm discharged? I'm positive now, I still have to fulfil a Victorian serviceman's duty, and do what you're not willin' to do—

Defend these civilians' lives.

Then let me ask. Have you ever inquired into that white-haired Vouivre's identity?

C—Come on, let's go, Selmon...

Everyone's looking to escape!

...No.

Ugh, now's not the time to be stubborn!

I know this is hard to take, but... what Ch'en said seems true... so, let's get away for now?

Come on, survive first, then we can talk after...

...Who's that you're staring at? Wait, it can't be...

...Bro.

There, Fionn... Your wound is like last time's. It's not too severe.

But—it'll still hurt.

Nrgh, that's whatever... as long as I don't see blood. Anything else flies with me.

Coward. You said you'd help Selmon. All you've done was scarper with her on your shoulders.

N—Nothing wrong with that, at least we made it out. All of us made it out.

...*sigh*.

Reed, I need to ask something... I've been wanting to ask it all day.

You and your friends seem to be professionals with this stuff. But—I still just don't get. Why do you say those people... those Dublinn people are dead?

Is there any off-chance they're sleepwalking? Maybe it's that witchcraft from the legends that makes people lose their consciousness?

Just... just on the off-chance, that they are sleepwalking, we could go and wake them up...

...We can't. I wish I could provide you some consolation, but—it's a unique Originium Arts I recognize.

*sigh* Alright. I'm just a little frightened myself. What's Selmon gonna think, though?

What's... wrong with her?

Oh, go on and tell, Fionn, we all know her. You were the one vouching for her since the beginning. She's a good girl. We wouldn't have come with her otherwise.

The... the truth is, I actually know her because she robbed me, once.

We sat down and got talking with one another in the end, of course. She just wanted a pair of sturdy boots. Her brother was out in the snow that winter with half his soles worn through, feet frostbitten something hideous.

So you gave her yours?

No, actually. Her brother went off to Dublinn. I was only in time to cover for them. Couldn't do them any solid boots quickly enough.

Fact is, she's been out here this whole time looking for her brother.

What? She brought us to join Dublinn just for that?

No, it's more than that, it's...

She wanted to join Dublinn along with her brother, she just ran away on the way there. That was two years ago.