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All the data are destroyed.

A distraction and then immediate retreat. The enemy had a clear objective.

There aren't many who know about this hideout.

And there are even fewer who would stand against us.

It was Rhine Lab's mass-produced remote armors that carried out this attack.

Is it someone from Rhine Lab, then?

That's not for certain. The military has already infiltrated Rhine Lab, and decisively eliminating unknown factors in their plans is more their style.

Anyway, you seem to be on the right track. There are people who wish for us to not go any deeper into this.

Or perhaps, we've been going the wrong way, and someone is trying to get us to continue our investigation.

What is certain, at the very least, is that we have hit a critical point somewhere.

And no matter who they are, the people behind this will pay the price.

You're angry, Saria.

Don't let anger cloud your judgement.

If Kristen has already solved her energy troubles and cut ties with the military, then we must hurry and find the energy core she's relying on.

It shouldn't be too far from the S.H.A.F.T. under military control.

I already have a few conjectures based on my recent findings. I'll try to look for it, but I require more information.

I need to head back to Rhine.

I'll go with you, Saria!

Don't be silly. I can't watch you right now.

If you're here and you can't leave Trimounts for the time being, you should spend this time with the Doctor. Don't go anywhere.

But the bad guys came to our doorstep looking for trouble... Besides, I helped the Doctor!

You should—

No... You did great.

Be extra careful when I'm not around. Take care of the Doctor, and don't let yourself get hurt.

You aren't talking... The room is quiet.

I don't really wanna talk... Are you bored?

Not really. I'm just not used to it.

Ifrit has been frowning from the moment they got back to their room, or more accurately, from the moment they left Saria.

There are several intricate geometric shapes scattered on the table. It's a scale model of cities like Trimounts, given to guests by the hotel for free.

Rosmontis and Ifrit sit on opposite corners of the sofa, chatting on and off sporadically.

You look at the children but do not interrupt.

You wanna try building 'Trimounts' again? It's really tough. It took me so long last time.

I've done it twice already.

Oh... so fast?

I remember... I wrote it down. There are a few really hard steps, and there are a few city blocks packed with buildings. They all look alike, so it's easy to get them mixed up, but I have it written down.

Do you always write things down?

Yep. I could forget them if I don't.

What did you write down? Mind telling me?

Doctor, Amiya, Dr. Kal'tsit, Blaze, Weedy...

And some people and things farther away...

A long corridor... I got lost.

My brothers aren't much older than me, but I can always count on them. They come to look for me in no time, and they pat my head and tell me I have nothing to be afraid of.

They have scars that look alike on the back of their heads, too. Like the marks I made to group flowers together last night...

...Brothers?

You don't look so good... Relax. Don't think no more.

I'm in a little better shape than you, but not by much... If only we could choose what we remember.

I keep on remembering the noisy, buzzing machines, the room all painted white. Layer after layer, it's like they built them like that to mess with me. Just thinking about it pisses me off.

But I wanna remember what Silence and Saria told me, and what they did, too!

So you're all sulky because of what just happened. Because Saria...

Maybe she's worried you'd get hurt? Dr. Kal'tsit didn't let the Doctor go with her to look for the 'Arc-01,' either.

Silence won't let me see Saria, and Saria won't let me follow her and help her out.

Maybe they aren't worried I'd muck things up. Maybe they think they didn't protect me well enough before, or maybe they think I'm still a kid who only knows how to throw a fit.

They have a point.

But I super hate this feeling.

I think... I get it.

You do?

Yep. When I left Rhodes Island, Blaze and Weedy kept trying to talk me out of it. Blaze almost burned the letter.

Amiya and Dr. Kal'tsit let me go in the end, but I could tell they didn't actually want me to come back to Columbia... They were really worried, maybe just like Saria?

Adults are all like that.

But I want to remember the things that I've forgotten, even if I'll lose even more...

I'm right to come back... It's the one thing I'm sure of.

You have a better memory than I do. That must mean you know what you have to do more than I do.

That's exactly what I mean!

You and I, the two of us came back to Columbia, to Trimounts of our own choosing, and we both have things we have to do.

Phew, now I feel much better. Rosmontis, once this is all over, let's do some touring with the Doctor. We'll go out and have a look around town. What do you think?

The sky over Trimounts is usually pretty gloomy. It's really special that it's so clear. I could be your tour guide...! Oh, wait, you already built 'Trimounts' twice. You know this place better than I do.

Mm, okay.

Is Kal'tsit back? I'll go get the door.

It's you...

You're the Tin Man who ate four big-ass hot dogs in one go!

Finally made it out of District 13.

I'll have to thank Director Jara for the new equipment. The drone's rotor is probably made of some kind of high-performance optical material, its camouflage ability has increased greatly, and the surveillance range has doubled...

Now what next?

This is my only clue... it doesn't matter where it leads me, as long as it brings me closer to the truth.

The Transmitter's response has been growing stronger ever since I approached District 9...

If I remember correctly, the park right here should be closed due to some government planning issues.

Irregular geometric shapes of silver float slowly in the air, accompanied by the buzz of a high-frequency hum.

It is another Transmitter, but it seems to be slightly different than the one in her hand, and Silence could not make out what the specific differences were.

An aged Caprinae in the middle of the room nods slightly, as if he had heard someone call him. The Transmitter draws a huge arc in the air as it lands on his shoulder.

Long time no see, Silence. You look well.

Silence pulls the excited Transmitter back into her arms, and slowly walks towards the other party.

...Professor.

Made it all the way here from Site 359? You're so much braver than you were before.

But... I never thought... the man I found... would be you.

I heard you helped Dorothy. Very good.

Ferdinand is too hungry for success, and Dorothy is an extremely obstinate woman. Things might not have ended as they did without you.

You...

I know you have many questions you want to ask.

But first, pass me that crystalline unit over there.

Silence picks up the experimental instrument next to her, walks over to Parvis and puts it down where his finger is pointing.

She connects the unit to the operating terminal's port, and Parvis is already seated in front of the monitor without even glancing at her as a slew of complex equations frantically calculate themselves on the display,

Only when Silence stands up does she realize that he had given the order as naturally as she had executed it.

I'm a busy man, but you've done very well to find me here. So I'll tell you whatever you want to know.

Are you all using Transmitter?

Indeed.

What exactly... is it being used for?

The Transmitter is extremely sensitive to micro-vibrations.

It can receive and encode nerve signals, and Dorothy hoped it would replace traditional Arts Units, becoming a brand-new medium that would allow everyone connected to it to be completely equal individuals.

And Ferdinand intends to use its 'superorganism' characteristics to manufacture super-equipment that can accurately deliver weapons across vast distances.

So you know everything that happened at Site 359?