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We have the signal!

The Vice President's convoy is reaching the target area on the west side of Rhine Lab.

Colonel?

Blake places his hand on the cold mechanical button. A chill runs up his finger, and he pauses for a couple of seconds.

The soldier glances at his superior officer, whose brow is furrowed behind his sunglasses.

The soldier realizes that his commander is even more anxious than he is.

(Whisper) Damn it all to hell!

Blake presses the button.

There is no sound, only an explosion on some of the screens.

On the tiny screen, the collapsing streets were like foam boards underneath bubbling flame. Then the screen goes black, the camera destroyed by flying debris.

There is no sound, but Blake and the soldier could hear the deafening boom in their heads.

The surface should be close, but I can't see the path with all these stone slabs in the way...

Hey, are you two okay?

Oh no, a chain explosion.

Ifrit?!

Ifrit hears a familiar voice through the echoes of the explosion and the falling rubble.

Saria? I'm here!

I hear you... hang in there!

I have a lock!

Ifrit can hear Saria's voice shaking. Something touches her fingertips in the darkness. Calcium crystals? Saria's Originium Arts.

Like a stream of water, the crystals fill the gaps in the rubble, then expand, releasing a sickening crack—

Saria has forced an opening in the collapsed structure.

A hand reaches down from above. Ifrit grabs it and feels it pull her up, while the calcium tunnel shatters behind her.

Don't move.

I'm fine, just a little dusty.

Your face... were you crying?

I-I wasn't crying! Just a little anxious, that's all.

Alright.

Your hands are dusty too, Saria. You're making my face even dirtier.

Oh, sorry.

And these two?

They were the ones who planted the bomb that blew up the liquified Originium pipelines, so I brought them out.

But I couldn't stop the explosion...

You did well.

You really did.

What is it, Ifrit?

Silence? What are you doing here?

...Silence.

Why are you here?

Mr. Vice President, Mr. Pavard, it's safe to go now.

The convoy?

Just a couple of mechs blown up. No need to worry.

This car has been modified by the Engineering Section. It may not look much, but you can trust it.

I hope you brought your driver's license, Mr. Pavard. We'll take a special passage on the east side. We've planned a new route for you.

The rest of your retinue will return in small groups once the dust has settled.

Was the explosion expected?

No, we wouldn't have allowed an explosion of this size to occur if we knew about it in advance.

But Rhine Lab and the Maylander Foundation's work isn't done until you're back safely at your residence... the enemy has more than one plan, and we have more than one contingency.

Very good.

I just don't want to see 'Another Triton?' in the headlines tomorrow.

There's no need to worry, we already have a plan in place for the press.

Once again, I wish you a pleasant stay in Trimounts.

Thank you.