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Silence! Finally! Ever since I entered the city I've been wondering when I would get to see you...

Um... S-Silence?

Ifrit, come over here.

Don't worry, Silence. I'm all good here, good enough to knock out a row of bad guys while carrying you in one arm and running laps around them! If you don't believe me, I'll even carry Saria with my other arm just to prove it! Ha... haha...

Stop speaking for a bit, you'll affect the drone readings.

Oh... okay.

Silence lowers her head to examine Ifrit, just like she used to do, with the same meticulous and gentle manner as ever, but Ifrit still feels very nervous.

She has never been scared of Silence getting angry at her.

One of the first things she learned growing up was that Silence's anger stemmed from a concern for her.

She knows that after Silence is angry, she helps her take care of the things that were doing her harm, and helps her chase off the things that were scaring her.

It was not real anger.

But Ifrit is scared of this silent Silence.

When Silence does not show an ounce of anger, and rather, is quieter than usual, she realizes—

Something must have hit Silence's limit.

The skies in Trimounts are always gloomy and grey, and the storm clouds are as big as monsters. No wonder you used to always walk into my room with your hair all drenched.

Oh, and 'hot dogs,' do you like 'em? The Doctor bought some for me and Rosmontis, and I wanna try one with strawberry-flavored syrup next time.

Silence...

I decided to come here myself. I bothered Dr. Kal'tsit about it for a long time, and also wrote the Doctor a super long letter.

I completed all my courses and trainings in the last few years, I can do a whole lot of missions, just like you and Saria...

Blood Originium-Crystal Density has slightly increased.

What are the estimated rates of increase for that and for Cell-Fusion Assimilation?

For now, they're within controllable ranges.

We won't know the rest of the results until Ifrit returns to the landship for a comprehensive examination.

You want me to return to the landship... you guys still don't trust me...

No, Ifrit. I trust you.

But...

There shouldn't be a need for any 'buts' here with Saria around!

Four years ago, it was in this very city, and under the very same signboard.

I almost lost you forever. Back then, she was at your side too, no different than right now.

But I lived, and I've been living good! Saria protected me, so this time I can protect you and everyone with her!

Ifrit, listen to Silence. She's your doctor, and you should trust her the most.

But I trust you too! I trust the Doctor, and Rosmontis too, there's no difference in the amount of trust I have in you guys.

Saria, I saw you the other day. You were with that mysterious man in a trenchcoat, at Triton Factory in District 13. And on the very same day, something fell from the sky.

So you were there too.

Just another Rhine-related secret experiment, right?

Of course you won't answer. Because... this is you trying to 'protect' me and Ifrit.

Just ten minutes ago, Ifrit stopped an assassination attempt on the Vice President.

What?

I'm not trying to conceal information from you, Silence, but what I have on hand is also very limited. There are simply too many different factions involved in this, and all I can do is try my best to prevent the situation from deteriorating even further.

'We must put this back on the right track'—I've heard that line from Director Saria too many times.

You were always in control of the situation back at Rhine Lab, but those horrifying experiments kept popping up, one after another.

There will always be someone hurt by the ambitions of another, and these wounds won't simply be healed by criminal charges and trials... Not to mention, a trial that should never have happened in the first place.

I can't help but wonder... when you people finally extinguish this fire, just how many will be left lying in the ruins, breathing their last breaths just like Ifrit was?

You perceive the situation more thoroughly and clearly than I can.

But you still choose out of habit, to help them 'control.' You hope to minimize any damage, and preferably, shrink it until it becomes unnoticeable, rather than put a stop to the immorality at its source.

I can't deny that.

Saria... I've been waiting years to ask you a question.

Your inability to make a genuine stand against Rhine, is it because deep in your bones, you've always been the same as them...? The same as Control?

I...

Sniper!

Silence, get down! Ifrit—

What—

S... Saria...?

White calcium crystals float before her eyes.

They had briefly protected her and Ifrit just moments ago, but now they disintegrate silently as the caster falls.

Confirmed hit on the target!

Great.

This high-powered energy weapon is capable of blasting a hole open through an armored vehicle, and yet it wasn't able to penetrate her Arts.

This damned Vouivre and her Arts are tough as shit, harder than power armor.

You mean to say... There's a possibility she might survive?

Heh, 'possibility.' I'm so fed up with that word. All those researchers tossing it around.

What I want is results, definite results.

Then what happened with the Vice President...

Maylander won't give us a second chance.

The op team is still on standby. Should we order them to withdraw?

No need. Give them something else to do.

Just like how we dealt with that eyesore of a Vouivre, don't let anyone causing chaos in Rhine get off scot-free.

It's time for these idiots who think they can do whatever they want with just a few companies under their belts to wake up—

No one can challenge the Columbian Army's authority on Columbian soil and get away with it.

Move!

Blake, I didn't give you Rhine's contacts for you to drag it into the gutter!

Which is why you've used your channels within Rhine.

The guilty are often the first to complain, Ferdinand.

Are you aware of our current situation?

Someone disrupted the intel, and the detonator went off too early.

And now, reporters have already spun the story that this has nothing to do with Jackson at all.

What did you say?

I said, the assassination failed.

Are you satisfied?

Come on, Ferdinand. Put away whatever weapon you're hiding.

Do you really think you can even leave a scratch on me?

Relax, I don't blame you.

Blake pats Ferdinand's cheek twice.

Ferdinand expected Blake's eyes to be filled with a murderous intent, but to his surprise, all he sees is a smile.

Carrying out an assassination within Rhine given our current intel would have been extremely difficult, even without your meddling.

And even now, that company's all that's on your mind. Loyalty to your own desires isn't necessarily a bad thing, though.

I'm serious, Ferdinand. It's an admirable trait.

You're fit to be a soldier.

But now that we've failed—

What of it? This is just the beginning.

It's a good thing that Maylander has us pinned down. Do you know just how many of my superiors have been waiting ages to strike out against them?

Before the situation spirals out of control, our losses will only win me more support.

And if things really spiral—

Trust me, you don't want to know how things will end for me.

Of course, I can't guarantee how they'll end for you either.

I'll stick to our agreement, to help you find Kristen.

We can still turn the tables once we have her in our grasp.

That goes for the both of us... and Rhine too.

I'll go meet with Jara.

Sure... by all means.