act28side

R-Reporting in, Captain Liskarm. I, and the rest of the squad, have safely returned...

Thank heaven you're alright...

Laura...

Phew... In any case, uhh, the explosion caused a large amount of Originium sediment to build up inside the plant's pipes, which is a critical situation that could've boiled over at a moments notice.

Out of safety concerns, I ordered everyone outside first and tried to come up with a plan. But no matter what course of action we chose, there was a not insignificant chance of activating the sediment.

Laura—

Captain, please stop asking. No matter how much you ask, there's not much else I could do to fix things up on such short notice. But I did manage to find a way to preserve the plant's basic heating functionality. So at least people won't be freezing to death...

As for whether the plate can start moving again, that'll have to wait until—

Laura! That's enough!

Captain...

This really was... the best I could do... I'm so sorry...

No, what I was <i>trying</i> to say is that what matters is that you brought everyone back safely.

Oh, really? That's good then... Actually... I'm really hungry right now... Like, really, really hungry...

Then let's go ahead and eat first.

Eat as much as you want, and get a good night's rest.

You're gonna take out a loan from the bank? Have you lost your mind?

What's your plan then, wise guy? How do you reckon we get to Trimounts in just a few days? This clinical trial is Tibby's last chance!

I'll think of some other way...

What other way? No way we're getting that kinda money without a loan!

...R-Right! Didn't we get health insurance for Tibby before? That should cover serious illness!

What the hell do you think I was doing all day yesterday? I went to the bank to cash out on the insurance, but Tibby's illness wasn't covered at all!

I'm begging you, please, let's not jump straight to taking out a loan, okay?

Just think about your sister. She only took a small loan, but it ruined her life. Remember how much she suffered until finally...

Her entire family died on their way to the frontier.

So calm down and think this through. There's gotta be another way.

Why do I see this stuff every damn time I come to the bank?

All the more reason for us to be here. And especially for us to attend this so-called 'welcoming party,' Franka.

If we don't witness these things with our own eyes... we'll forever remain left in the dark.

Is Fort Barron going to tow Davistown back onto its original route all by itself?

This request was made directly by the regional government. The outcome will affect Blacksteel's image and credibility. We'll give this mission our all.

Good to hear. We appreciate it.

All part of the job.

Would the two of you like beer or champagne? We're out in the sticks, so you may find our selection rather unsatisfactory. All I ask is that you bear with us.

...Unsatisfactory? You're too humble.

Take a look, Captain. This beer has no label on the bottle, but it's just as good as any niche brand from a craft brewery. The champagne's also high-end... I must say, excellent taste.

It's important to keep some luxury items on hand when you're stationed in a difficult area. We do have to keep up morale, after all.

Is cranking up the thermostat so high that people want to crack open an ice-cold beer also part of keeping up morale?

...Well, yes, as you've noted we do have a separate backup energy supply, which includes heating and electricity.

Funny how no one else seems to have this backup system.

That would be due to the prescience of our first president during the early planning and development phases. An important safety consideration.

The services provided by a financial institution are somewhat unique. Large amounts of money flow in and out, and be it systems or resources, it's always better to be more self-reliant.

Presumably, Blacksteel built their safe house here in Davistown out of the very same concerns. Isn't that right, Miss Franka?

Oh... I'm fine with just a glass of water. I'll leave the beer for your employees. To keep up morale.

We've sent people back to Blacksteel HQ to report the repair status of Davistown's power plant.

As the plant has not been restored to a state where it can support navigation, HQ will naturally have to formulate a new solution.

We are very appreciative of your company's contributions to our town.

However, until a solution is in place, we do have one humble request.

...What sort of request?

We were hoping you could help maintain law and order here.

I'm sure you've already encountered bandits on the town's outskirts. They've caused us a substantial amount of damage. Even more troubling is the fact that...

...a number of people living here are, to put it nicely, bandits themselves. To put it less nicely, they're the bandits' reserve army.

We would be very grateful if you could clear them out of Davistown. Here's a list of names—

Over the past few days, we've sent personnel to conduct security operations around the plate's perimeter. Based on their reports, I have little reason to believe that so many dangerous elements are operating here.

There are people here with no money, yet are unwilling to put in the work to pay back their debts. How can you guarantee they won't resort to more... desperate measures down the line?

...If you insist. We'll look into it.

You'll 'look into it'? Why must you verify it yourselves? You can't take us at our word?

If our trust is so fragile that it's broken just by double-checking a list, then it wasn't worth much to begin with.

...Do as you please, then.

But if you really want to check things, be sure to be thorough.

How'd it go? Any developments on your end?

Mm. The target's already entered visual range... Seems like he's not the only one here.

Is he working with someone?

...Seems to be someone from the plate.

Woodrow, sir, is that... possible?

Anything's possible. When the government here collapsed, some young'uns with too much time on their hands formed gangs and started making trouble all over the place.

But... what do they hope to accomplish by colluding with the bandits out in the barrens?

Jessica, they're about to disperse... Should we arrest them?

What do you think, Woodrow?

Wait and see. Now's not the time.

Then, umm... Don't do anything for now. Record where they showed up, and contact me if they show up here again.

Alright, no problem.

One sec. Which direction did the bandits go? I'm gonna follow 'em and have a look.

They went southeast.

Should I come with you?

Nah, I can handle this myself.

Head back for now.

Er, Jessica... is that gentleman someone from the plate?

Umm, he's been investigating these bandits on his own, so he should be able to help us out.

I... I'm not sure how to break this to you, but I feel like you need a reminder. Getting cozy with the locals rarely works out well.

Wh-Why's that?

Places like Davistown don't just go on like normal after getting reclaimed by the government. They've always got other plans on the docket, and when the time comes, the businesses, the infrastructure... even the residents will be replaced.

Replaced? Then, what happens to the original residents? Where do they go?

I don't know how Blacksteel usually handles it, but with my last employer, we were only responsible for kicking them out. What happened afterwards was none of our business.

How could they not care?! That's totally illegal! How could they just drive out all the locals?!

*sigh*... There's always an excuse when it comes to places like this on the verge of bankruptcy. Like, bad debts, tax investigations, security concerns...

Debts...

Not just me. Everyone left here is in debt. *sigh*... How do I put this? Well, I'll just give it to you straight.

You asked about a guy who walked out into the snowfield earlier, right? It's probably 'cause of his debts... That kinda stuff happens all the time here. After being forced into bankruptcy, he had no choice but to...

Jessica? Hey, Jessica! What's gotten into you?

I... I'm heading back first.

...that stubborn, good-for-nothing father of yours... starting today...

Huh?

...what nonsense are you spewing...

...let go of me...

Is that a child's voice?!

This brat sure knows how to whine. Guess he needs a gag and a good beating before he'll learn to follow us obediently—

Stop right there! Let go of him!

And why should I? Who the hell are you?

Help! They're trying to kidnap me!

Don't make me repeat myself—let go of the kid!