act30side

You idiots, why didn't you call me over to help?

Are you going to let your brother propose empty-handed? No ring, fine, but not even a flower?

It's all ice and snow here. Where are you gonna find a flower?

Make an ice flower, then! What do you carry your weapons for? Nothing shows sincerity like the handmade stuff. That's what the ladies like, don't you understand?

Well, you're in a better position to understand than any of us...

Right, Harold? Ice flower, eh? I'm sure there's someone back home who will be very interested to know.

W-Wait! Don't you run your mouth in front of my wife!

I've never given an ice flower to any woman other than Lily... it was just an example! Really!

I didn't expect to see you here.

It's my job to protect the Doctor.

Same old story.

Care to spar?

After you've fully recovered.

We can do it after hours, if I'm still in Kjerag then.

Alright.

How many people do you have who are better than you?

I wouldn't mind making the trip myself, if there are enough of them.

You used to commentate the knight competitions?

No wonder your voice sounded familiar. Maybe I watched a match you were covering!

Thanks for the compliment. Not that I have much to write home about other than my voice!

I didn't expect to see the campaign knights here, though...

The ones in silver armor? They're so cool!

I invited them here!

And you, too, Rosalind! You're a guest of mine as well.

Enjoy the hospitality of Kjerag!

I must thank you, Doctor.

Thank you for accepting the invitation, and for your little gift to Mr. Mob.

It was quite helpful.

You had a plan even without my help, didn't you?;Save it, I know you always have a backup plan.

It would have involved more effort.

Under the circumstances, I'm plenty thankful just to speed things up by a step.

I hope you're happy with our hospitality.

Don't think you can hook me with an invitation letter next time.;Was it you who invited Rhine? I thought Rhodes Island was the extent of your manipulation.

Looks like you still remember our game of chess three years ago, Doctor.

Our relationship has changed over the past three years. There's no need for this level of caution.

Karlan Trade invited Rhine Lab to discuss cooperation.

But I, Enciodes, invited you, Doctor, for the sole purpose of attending the ceremony, and nothing else.

You can take part of the credit for this festive scene before us.

Come, ally.

I will be happy to be your guide, if you would like to see what Kjerag is like now.

I guess we could do worse than a shore leave.;I'll be your guest, then, so to speak.

One more thing.

Next time, if you want me to bring someone with me, just say it.;Are you surprised that she didn't come?

As an ally, I'm sure you understand what I mean.

Cliffheart is doing fine. It's just that this was on short notice, and she happened to be away from Rhodes Island.;Your sister is busy with her own business. Send the invitation earlier next time.

She'll come back to Kjerag next time.;She said she'll give you a surprise. The plural 'you'.

Glad to hear that.

It's a shame that she couldn't come on such an important occasion, but if she continues to climb, then whatever peak she reaches...

She'll hear the wind of Karlan from the top.

...Ratatos?

You shouldn't be here now. The absence of the head of one of the three great houses at the Saintess's banquet will draw unnecessary attention.

Sciurus will take care of things.

If there's anyone who shouldn't be here at this time, it's the CTO of Karlan Trade.

I'm sure that director of Rhine Lab has many things she wants to discuss with someone in a technical position.

Enciodes will take care of her needs.

We want Rhine Lab's technology, and they want Karlan's elevated terrain. Fundamentally, this is a business deal.

That's more in Enciodes's domain.

I guess you're right.

I'm thinking that Enciodes must have had a dozen contingency plans for today's incident.

He put up a good act of being worried, though. Did it fool you?

That's the kind of person he is. I'm not surprised.

But there's one thing that you're off the mark about, Ratatos.

This is the rare occasion that he didn't put up an act.

Yes... It's not like him. Not sufficiently profit-driven, too much risk, yet the best outcome was achieved for everyone.

*Sigh*.

You hear that, Gnosis? It's the sound of metal coming together to form a monster.

I've listened to the heavy noise of construction for long enough.

Project One is near completion, from what I've heard.

You heard right.

But for all the effort we committed, even building Kjeragandr's statue as a ruse and building the base underneath Lake Silberneherze...

For all the time we put in, the effort it took to hide it all—

One battleship is all we managed to build.

We can't hide it for long. Even if Victoria lets it go this once, the world will eventually figure out what we're doing.

That's why we don't need to hide it on purpose.

Just try not to draw too much attention.

I'm sure you realize why Victoria stopped.

We must develop as much as we can now, while all the powers at work are still in balance.

This is the only way out for Kjerag.

I hope it all goes as well as you say.

Speaking of which, Ratatos.

Yes?

I heard some rumors.

Are you really going to call the Project One ship the 'Walnut'?

Heh.

Why not?

That silly sister of mine came up with an interesting idea this time.

She said that when she has her own kids, she'll tell them that this ship is their older brother.

Cute, isn't it?

Rosalind?

I'm sorry I couldn't come with you to Kjerag this time.

You took the box to the top of the mountain, didn't you?

Mamochka!

You can trust me.

You went out again? The doctor told you to stay in bed!

Just taking a walk. I'm fine.

All this fuss over one broken bone. I'm getting suffocated, stuck in a hospital room all day.

That's because you weren't careful when fiddling with that jetpack...

It was fun, wasn't it?

I want to try it again sometime. Did you have the chance to try out rock-climbing while you were in Kjerag?

No, I didn't.