act28side

Let's prioritize preparing to tow the plate. No need to stop the work we have on hand. But... send out anyone we have to spare.

One more thing. Considering Miss Brynley's unique status, should we...?

Don't hurt her. We have to save face for the Brynleys, after all. As for Woody... I don't see us subduing him uninjured.

Forget it... Just make sure he stays alive. As for the rest, let the troops do as they see fit.

Alright, understood.

Right, which one's carrying the cash?

Still unclear.

No matter who it is, send Tila and have her keep a close eye.

H-Have you heard the news? Jessica...

We have to do something. The order from above is that, aside from Jessica and Woodrow, the teams can deal with everyone else as they see fit. That's all it says.

...Franka.

Tell everyone to prepare to deploy. We got the order to hunt them down, too.

And you're going to follow it?

...We can help them, or we could take them in. But either way it's a race against time.

We need to find them before anyone else does.

Helena, Leone, this is as far as I can take you.

I'm hearing sounds of transports that aren't from main street. Blacksteel probably sent additional men after us, just as we anticipated.

Are we going through with the plan?

Yeah, I'll stay outside to lure them away.

Godspeed... Leave this last leg of the journey to us.

Phew... Okay, Jessica...

Now you can only trust yourself.

Looks like Blacksteel will be dragging the plate off to the city in the next couple days. They have only a few guys guarding the door. Bet they have everyone else working on the connection.

Perfect... Won't be too hard to deal with, then.

How are those soldiers doing...?

Sleeping like babies. Might wake up with a sore neck though.

We need to hurry. If we want to blow up the power plant and seal off that passage completely, we need to set up the explosives there.

Look at those car lights... the Blacksteel people must be getting close to the mine.

Helena... you should go. I can take care of this by myself.

Leone...

Your job is more important.

We still haven't broken through their defenses?

Not a single car can get close to the central avenue.

How many robbers are there out on the street?

Just one... a Sankta.

Is the backup here yet?

Not yet.

Let's stop the car here... Have everyone still with us bring their gear. We'll go around the road and break through from there.

Ambush up ahead...

Going by the bullet marks... That's Blacksteel etched ammo. Good news, we found our princess.

...Give me the amplifier.

Ahem... Miss Brynley. Whatever your reasons are for participating in this robbery, we won't make this hard on you as long as you cooperate and turn yourself in.

(Whispers) Draw her attention. I'll send out a drone to track her.

Stay back. I'm not surrendering.

(Whispers) The bullet came from that diner over there.

(Whispers) Let's get in position. We'll attack as soon as we're ready.

Miss Brynley, you may not understand what's going to happen to you after this. You will be sent to prison, be abandoned by your friends and family, and society will look at you with disdain... Can you really bear all that?

Sir... With all due respect, I've worked with everyone at Blacksteel for a long time now. I'm not the naive rich girl I used to be.

I know better than anyone what the price of this is.

But I still have to do it...

There are some things you just do, no matter the price.

That guy up ahead... That him?

Sure, he looks like a normal old man, but you see those transports flipped upside down? He did that.

Like a wandering lost soul, the figure stands still in the middle of the road, under the flickering streetlights.

Kid... Is there something you can't say to my face?

He can hear us from this far away?

I've lived in far noisier places than this. I only survived this long thanks to my sharp ears.

A legendary mercenary like you must have a lot of awe-inspiring stories to tell.

A legendary mercenary... Now that's the first time anyone's described me like that.

There's a long corridor in Blacksteel where pictures of our founder and his war buddies are hung. I saw one with you and our boss in it. It's inconspicuous, but I noticed it.

What a shame... My stories ain't as legendary as you think. All I've been through is war.

That doesn't matter... Actually, I've wanted to fight the boss for quite a well, too. Still, he's the boss. I can't exactly pull a gun on him.

But if you and him are in the same picture, old man, I wonder what that says about your skills.

Rotten.

You mean so rotten you could throw a dozen of our teams for a loop and single-handedly keep us pinned down on this street?

I mean so rotten that everyone I ever wanted to save died a miserable death right in front of me. Everything I ever wanted to protect fell before my eyes.

Those I loved chose to leave me. Those I despised, I couldn't kill with my own hands.

I ain't no legend... I'm just an old failure of a beckbeast.

An old beckbeast guarding the only bones that he has left.

When he sees the old man's fingertip twitch, the mercenary keenly realizes that something terrible is about to go down.

He aims his weapon at the target as fast as he can, but a bullet pierces his shoulder first.

Ugh—!

Dammit, I can't even see what he's doing.

So how come I'm starting to think this is getting fun?

Stop approaching him, you madman!

Careful. Not a step closer, kid.

...I'm putting everything on the line for this.

So you came in here anyway.

Miss Brynley, bullets can ricochet indoors. I don't want to hurt you.

I don't want to hurt you, either. Please take everyone with you and leave.

I'm sorry, but this is the mission handed down to us. Not everyone's a princess like you, who can do whatever she pleases.

I'm so sorry about all this...

The girl's voice is coming from behind the booth seats. It is soft and with a hint of doubt. Just like the mercenary's first impression of her—sensitive and cowardly.

He carefully inches forward with his handgun drawn and held up next to his face.

This...

There is no one sitting in the booth. Just a sniper rifle on the table. The device on the trigger ensures it can be remotely controlled.

A communication device sits beside it. The girl's voice can be heard through its speakers.

...I really am sorry.

The target is not in the rear kitchen.

Second floor is clear.

Not outside, either.

She's not here...

Hurry and withdraw immediately. This is a feint—

If you know I do whatever I please... why did you expect me to act exactly how you anticipated?

No, don't withdraw yet!

A fiery beam of light crashes into the ground outside the window.

All units! Get down—

Before he can finish, there is a loud explosion.

A tire crashes through the window and, still smoking and on fire, makes a few loops on the ground before falling to the glass-strewn floor.

...All blown up. Without any transports, it'll take some time for them to make it to the power plant.