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Let's see if it's luck... or fate, that will catch up to us first.

Squad A, search that side.

Squad B, conduct your search over here.

Our targets are a hooded figure with no weapon, and a Feline girl able to use highly lethal Arts.

Doctor, my terminal lit up.

That means... it's time for me and Ifrit to meet up, but I can't sense her presence.

She probably found Saria.;Our plan has succeeded.

Rhine should be safe for now.

This place... isn't safe at all.

There are too many laboratories here. They all have the same white walls, just like a maze.

Ifrit hates this kind of place the most. Whenever she talks about those memories, her breaths become shorter and her hands get cooler than usual.

I want to go find her. I don't want to see my friend get hurt.

These walls aren't so tough. Just give me the order and I can get you out of here easily.

Let's not be hasty...;We can't expose ourselves yet.

Thank you very much for choosing not to smash up our walls. We imported the material from Kazimierz. They're very expensive.

There's no need to be so nervous, little girl. As you can clearly see, I'm only a businessman. Nothing but a fountain pen and a wallet in my pocket.

It's you...;Hello there.

I didn't expect to see you here, Director Fitzroy.

Haha, sure enough. My next meeting just happens to be around the corner, so I figured I would greet our guests on my way over.

...Areas C and D have been searched.

There's a ton of conference rooms in front, prepare to check them one by one.

Enemies in the corridors, and a lot of them too.

Give me the order, Doctor.

Wait.;......;We have company.

A hero working behind the scenes to prevent a terrible conspiracy, but soon to become the target of a clandestine arrest.

In Columbia, these sorts of stories are common enough, and such a script wouldn't fetch a good price in Wrankwood.

At the end of the day, is it a party being obstructed by the establishment and wanting to punish them for it, or the other party dispatching a commission to let this yet-to-be-exposed deal sink into the abyss—

What do you think?

Seems like there's no need for guesses here.;They all have 'reasons' to 'investigate' us.

You included, Director Fitzroy.

Surely you showed up here at this moment for more than a greeting?

Oops, would you just look at the time! They're waiting for me to start our meeting.

I hope I haven't disrupted your plans too much just by stalling you a bit?

Doctor, please stand back. I'm going to begin attacking.

...Director Fitzroy.

My friends call me Justin Jr.

Justin Jr.

The military seeing us together won't be good for you.

What if I told them that the young and beautiful Feline lady by your side has something to do with a top-secret military experiment that should rightfully be covered in dust and long unused?

Is that a threat from an enemy?;Is that a reminder from a friend?

The choice lies with you.

Do remind me, just how many of our excellent employees have you already poached from Rhine Lab? Was it eight, or ten?

Jara has been thinking about getting acquainted with whoever runs your HR.

Since Rhodes Island and Rhine Lab have been cooperating so closely—the next time we meet, I might even have a contract for you with an offer you can't refuse.

Looking forward to it.;......;Rhodes Island thanks you for your interest.

Alright, I won't bother you and Miss Feline here any longer. By the way, Dr. {@nickname}, after you get back, please do ask Muelsyse a question for me—

When she goes out to eat, what's her preferred cuisine?

Only one conference room left. The target is most likely inside.

Prepare to breach.

...It's empty?

Did you hear a sound just now?

What sound?

The sound of water. Ah, how wonderful it is.

It's... a lively energy, strong enough to fight even fate itself.

Saria... Saria!

She's not responding... no way...

Her head's suffered a serious impact, and though her vital signs are there, she's still in critical condition. She needs emergency treatment.

Ifrit, help me lift her arms... ugh, so heavy...

Don't even <i>think</i> about hurting Saria again!

Silence, I can burn a way out for us, and we can go try and meet up with the Doctor.

No. The people watching us are definitely also after Rhodes Island.

Yes, the military is already inside Rhine, and your friends might not be able to protect themselves.

Director Jara...?!

Come with me, kids.

I can't just sit by and watch the other founder of Rhine Lab fall here.

Mr. Vice President, Congress called back. It's regarding the bill to dismantle those military bases, they're ready to move the hearing up.

In addition, the Justice who reached out to us earlier has hinted that she's willing to cooperate with us to overturn the previous ruling.

The military is going to pay for their recklessness. We have an optimistic estimate that Colonel Blake will be out of Trimounts within the next twelve hours.

Everything is waiting for your decision, sir.

A call should be coming in, Pavard.

Yes, this is the Vice President's temporary office... Yes, he's right next to me... Yes...

Mr. Vice President, it's...

Hand it over, I know who's looking for me.

...Alright.

I understand. I feel the same. I'm not about to let everyone down at this critical juncture.

Mr. Vice President, about the bill...

Shelve it. There's no need to put this matter on the agenda for the next six months.

Is that... an order from the Maylander Foundation?

Pavard, how many casualties were there in that mess from your report?

We eliminated thirty military operatives.

And how much money do we spend on training these soldiers every year?

Three million to train a combat-ready man to DOD standards, sir.

So we basically just lost 90 million in cash and 30 outstanding talents.

...That's right.

So, there's no need to ask whose orders it is. It's a decision that's in the best interests of Columbia.

Go get me a meeting with Blake. It's time for us and the DOD to work together.

Understood.

I'll always remember the day the election results came in, when I thought smugly to myself that I could finally sit behind the desk of my dreams—and I received the biggest shock of my life.

Haha. Back then, I almost thought my country was caught up in a huge conspiracy.

But I've come to realize that's not what's happening.

Columbia isn't wrapped up in any conspiracy, and Maylander isn't the shadow government I thought it was.

It's just silly things happening in an orderly way, that's what makes it seem like we've been making real progress.

But I'm still just a regular guy. Every now and then, something crazy pops into my head.

If I really was caught in that explosion, then... would I be remembered as a martyr for Columbia? Or just tossed in the dustbin of history as some incompetent politician?

What... do <i>you</i> think?

The Vice President looks around the empty office, as if waiting for the omnipresent air to answer his question.

Then, the man standing so close to the apex of Columbian power sighs.

The military won't be bothering you any longer, so why the long face?

...Ho'olheyak, you are a difficult woman to reach.

Sorry about that. My boss, who I've not seen in a long time, has popped on over to Trimounts. I needed some time to compile my reports.