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...To be more precise, Saria and Kristen are important to me.

I've always believed that we'll only get where we really want to be if the two of them work together.

The music ends. The vivarium is empty, except for Muelsyse standing opposite you, calm as a pale fir.

You hear the sound of the air circulation system running.

The wind on your face feels unusually moist. The scent of plants, the soft earth... you realize that the droplets of water, the music, and the dance really existed.

You've found my wobbliness, Doctor. Yes, I'm trying to manipulate everyone, including you...

But everything I do, I do for myself, the few kin that I have left, so we can breathe, feel the wind, run, travel freely...

To make our journey a little less hard.

All I've done, I did to keep the few friends I have, so that in this city, I won't be so...

This is all I can tell you. All I can promise you.

There are a lot of things you haven't made clear.;There are a lot of gaps in your story.

Should I trust you?;You didn't really manipulate me.

And so...

Help me one more time, Muelsyse.

Hm?

I must find Loken Williams.

Even if I could help you... why do you not ask me to help you and Rosmontis get out of Trimounts safely?

We've come too far to turn back now.;Rhodes Island only goes forward.

Saria and Dr. Kal'tsit have reason to get involved. But what about you? Will you get to the bottom of all this, even if the price is a two-front war with the military and Maylander?

That's not the most logical choice.

I want to help Rosmontis.;I want the truth.;I want to find myself.

She's sleeping soundly...

You want to find her lost past?

Are you so interested in Kristen's dream?

Do you believe you'll find your past in Trimounts?

Alright... we have a deal.

Our partnership will go on.

Who was that on the phone?

A lonely soul, searching for companions.

Since when have you two become such close friends?

We just happened to be going the same way for a while.

Same for you. When are you going to leave my lab? The smell of alcohol affects the equipment.

That's so cold.

Thanks to you and that agent's improvisation, I have a dozen calls to make tonight just to keep you out of jail. Like hell am I doing this sober.

You got what you wanted. Is Kristen's price not enough for a businessman like you?

Price? Are you reminding me how much I lost to this crazy plan?

Then you should have gone to Kazimierz.

Join the Chamber and play with the knights and speculators?

Yes, the plan has been lying in my terminal for years. I could make more money, and do so in a safer way.

But all those great projects... they're about a nation, an era.

I want to seize the opportunity before me, to see a future far beyond anyone's wildest dreams rise from my palms.

Is that a dream? From a practical person like you?

Anyone can dream. Especially facing the fickle tides of fate.

You put it astutely. Going the same way.

Look at those scientists. For all the conflicts they went through, from friend to foe and from foe to friend, they all end up on the same path.

They all saw a part of themselves in the least likely of all futures.

What about you?

A meaningless question. Why do you think I've tolerated your presence for so long?

That's why I like the 'going the same way' part. Even if it's only temporary.

Miss Nasti Lunorey.

If we still have our life and liberty after tomorrow—

Will you come with me to the highest point in Trimounts, and take a good look at the sky that hasn't changed for thousands of years?

A lot of noise. Another delivery from your Engineering Director?

Final tests will take about forty-five minutes.

Plenty.

My greatest achievement will be complete once this data is transferred.

I will retain your research records.

I know. Give it to that girl, Ho'olheyak, or someone else... I don't care.

Being able to finish this research here in my final days almost lets me forget all the regrets in my life.

Haha... *cough*.

I still remember how hard it was to accept when you showed this to me for the first time.

...hehe.

Hahaha... *cough*, *cough*...

The irony. How it scorns every conceited researcher who walked the halls of science for the past few centuries.

It laughs in the face of our research, made all it worthless...

What is this, Kristen?

How are you able to speak of its theories and emerge with such confidence, when you've never performed a single experiment?

This thing... it's beyond my understanding. Even more frightening is that all those tales you tell of these black cubes are true.

Tell me, Kristen.

Tell me! What is this that I am about to study?!

That's your job.

Where did you find it? How did you gain this knowledge?

Don't be so hard on a dying man, Kristen.

Who gave you this?

...God.

Have I overestimated you, young genius? Do you believe in ghosts and spirits, look up to the unknown in awe?

No, you're not the kind of woman who would joke about this. You're not foolish or shameless enough for that, or to place your hopes in empty faith.

I'll take your word for it... hmph. The irony.

'God.'

Another month has passed since 'God' bestowed on me his mercy.

In this short period of time, I completed more work than I could have imagined for decades.

Hmph. Even I can't help but wonder...

What 'miracle' do you plan to bring us... bring to the people on his land?

Kristen does not answer.

She gazes at the stars outside the window silently, lost in thought.

Another half an hour... bah, I should start thinking about supper.

Donut? Fried fowlbeast? Hot dog?

All of Trimounts is up in arms over this place, but look how carefree the heart of the storm is.

*cough* Wh-Who are you?

I want the blueprints and efficiency data for the S.H.A.F.T. and the associated facilities, now.

S-Sir, that's highly classified...

Do you see my clothes? My security pass right here? Or do you need me to put Blake on the line for you?

N-No, sir, I'll put it together...

No need. This terminal right here. Turn it on.

But sir, this is raw data without visualization...

...I'm Ferdinand Clooney.

Rhine Lab's Director of Energy.

I designed the Trimountian energy circulation system. The processor of the terminal in front of you is based on an Originium energy conversion formula named after me.

The Clooney... Formula?! Y-You're...

You've wasted two minutes. Data, now.