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What, you want me to bury it for you, too? Hold a funeral while we're at it?

No... Every animal in the forest is hungry during the winter. If we leave it here... maybe one of them can have a good meal.

I might be a bit of softy, but... that doesn't mean I'm completely oblivious.

If you get it, then try to keep up, Miss Mercenary. I'm guessing you don't wanna get lost in the woods again.

The wind's cleared the fog... Sir, did you bring us here just to get a view of Davistown?

...When I was little, I loved running to the high places near the plate, just to get a good look at the town I lived in.

What was it like back then?

Livelier, more glamorous... More full of life.

As for now... Well, there's no going back. No turning back the clock.

Brrrr... It's freakin' cold. Can't believe they shipped us off to a place like this.

Franka...

What's on your mind?

I was just... thinking about Jessica again.

What about her? Didn't you say you weren't worried?

...I was thinking about that 'opportunity' we were talking about.

Oh, you mean the chance for her to see her own worth?

Who knows? Maybe one day... it'll come to her in a gust of wind. A freaking cold one, so cold it makes her shiver all over.

But it'll sweep away all the fog before her eyes, and everything will become as clear as day.

I just hope that what she sees then... won't be anything like what we're looking at.

Amidst the dispersing fog, huge tracks formed of fallen trees and broken branches can be seen winding down the hillside towards the center of the valley.

At their end is an abandoned plate.

Despite the distance, everyone can clearly see an energy tower rising from the middle of it, feebly wheezing out puffy white breaths.

Like a dying patient, struggling for air.

Brrr... Helena, ain't it way too cold in here today?

Almost out of charcoal. Have to save some for later.

Just burn that mountain of bills piling up at my place. The bank's just gonna send more anyhow.

*cough*

Did you catch a cold? C'mon, let's swing around to my place and grab a stack of that waste paper.

(*whispers*) Why do you think I'm coughing? Not in front of her...

Oh, if it ain't Sylvia!

G-Good morning, Mr. Theremin...

What brings someone from the bank out here to our shabby little establishment? Something wrong?

S-Sorry...

Hmm.

*cough* *cough*... Leone, I ain't seen Benny in a while. What's the kid been up to?

Busy with his studies. Got his nose in a book till dawn every night.

Didn't the school close down a while ago?

Our neighbor, Ms. Selena, used to be a schoolteacher. She reckoned it'd be a real shame for Benny to miss out on all that book learning, so she's been letting him study at her place.

Huh, good for him. Benny's always been a smart kid, and he was real shook when he learned he wouldn't be able to go to school no more.

Yeah. He was so anxious that whole year.

M-Mr. Theremin, actually, I... I could teach Benny too...

Oh right, you graduated from the best business school in Columbia—

And what's he supposed to learn from you? How to become a banker so he can bury people in bills too when he grows up?

I...

Leone, eat your damn breakfast before it freezes over!

Hmph!

I-I need to get to work, so I'll be leaving now... I'll leave the money on the table.

You know she ain't responsible for any of the loans here in Davistown, right? What're you giving her lip for?

Then let her have a heart-to-heart with the others. They'll be even harsher, I guarantee it.

But still, we watched her grow up...

That's exactly why! Pisses me off even more!

*sigh*...

Sorry to keep you waiting, ma'am. I hope we're not too late.

Oh... H-Hello. It's fine, you're not late at all.

What would you like me to call you?

You can call me, uh...

Achoo—!

How long have you been standing here, ma'am?

Since... this morning. The message only said you'd be arriving today, but not the specific time.

But it's already afternoon. You've been standing here this whole time?

Yes...

Three hours ago we sent a notification to the plate, updating them on our ETA.

...I-I didn't get anything of the sort.

That's weird. Who sent you?

Um... the manager.

Manager? That's not a title I'm used to hearing in government work.

Actually, I... I'm not from the government. I work for a local bank.

Since when is a bank in charge of this?

Actually... Um, actually, Davistown is...

We're here, Captain Liskarm. Is this woman the one in charge of our reception?

Wait, Sylvia? They sent <i>you</i> out here for this?

Th-That's right, sir.

Hey, old man, any idea why the government sent a banker to pick us up instead?

*sigh*... You'd best ask the bank directly. I sure ain't gonna be able to explain all the twists and turns.

Alright then. Franka, go ahead and take the gentleman home. And while you're at it, take a walk around Davistown to get a better grasp of the situation here.

...Understood.

Laura, bring the others with you and find a good place for a safe house where we can securely stow our supplies and vehicles. If you manage to get a hold of Jessica, report it to me right away.

Got it.

Sylvia and I will head to the bank... to find out what exactly is going on here.

That's our teacher's pet for you. Thanks for volunteering for the hard part.

Where should we regroup once we're all finished?

Y'all can meet up at the only diner still open in town. It's right by the only road to the mine. Run by a real nice lady named Helena.

And if this Jessica of yours finds her way into town, I reckon that's where she'll end up too.

Mm... It's decided, then.

The bank is right up ahead, Miss...

People have been avoiding us the whole way here... Had I known, I'd have asked Franka to take my equipment back with her first.

N-No, that's not why...

Oof...

You asshole, you run into someone and don't even apologize?

It's over...

Sir? Are you okay?

...It's all over.

Sir? Sir! What happened?

What's going on... He looks like his soul has left his body. Where's he going?

Do you recognize him, Sylvia?

No, I... umm...

Let's, um... h-head to the bank first.

...Along with the rapid development of pioneer settlements, nomadic plates both large and small have also been springing up.

But at the time, very few financial institutions in Columbia were specialized in pioneering.

...After looking deeply into the living conditions of the countless pioneers on the frontier's edge, our founder decided to plant his roots alongside them and established the first bank to provide practical financial support to the lower and middle classes.