act32side

Ugh...

You can't just sleep here.

Miłosz?

That mechanical restorationist from Iberia is here. Are you ready to see her?

Of course, bring her in.

Señor Reynell. May I ask what it is you need me to see?

The music box, on the table.

Oh... the famous designer Alizja's sensational masterpiece from fifteen years ago... it is truly beautiful.

I can feel a sense of comforting tranquility...

Just look at the carving of the female figure on the lid. Serene and beautiful, her eyes full of compassion, with a faint hint of bitterness on her lips. Truly an indescribable work of beauty.

You can spare me the details, madam. I've spent the past several days with it, so I'm well acquainted with its form.

The drum is badly damaged, and I'm not sure it can be fully repaired.

It's fine, that was my doing. I don't need it repaired.

There is a music score in the center of the box, and I hope you can make a new drum to play that.

A hidden compartment?

The man picks up the music box from the table and turns it upside-down. He lodges a fingernail into the seemingly tightly sealed bottom panel, and it opens to reveal a folded note inside.

Reynell carefully unfolds the note and places it on the table, its yellowed hue showing its age.

It is a neatly handwritten music score.

How did you know about this hidden compartment?

Oh, I was there when my mother worked on this box. I saw her put the note in there.

Are you sure about this? Going up to the eighth floor from here and then rappelling down?

Of course, it's the quickest way to get to our target.

Also the most dangerous way.

You don't trust me to keep you from falling?

No, I do. But we are not welcome here.

Such a public move will only make us a target for criticism when they decide to make us their enemies.

You're talking more than usual.

And you're talking less sense than usual.

I just don't want their idea to go to waste.

Why are you so concerned with these delusional artists?

What's wrong with delusions? It just means jaws will drop to the ground when they actually succeed in their impossibly difficult self-imposed challenges.

When you put it that way, all our operations are just like that.

And who would say otherwise?

You need to move fast when you land. People are after us and they'll catch up soon.

But don't rush yourself either. I'll buy you enough time.

...Thanks.

Tecno seems ready with the equipment she's wearing, but her constant ear-scratching tells me otherwise.

Should we act now?

Hold on, we'll wait for her to land first. I don't want to crash into her when I go down.

Hey, hey, hey! Slow down, you're dropping me too fast!

She thinks that's fast?

She's like a tiny feather falling slowly in the air.

This isn't the best time to be laughing yourself silly.

She's in position.

Everything's in place, you can go.

Ela grabs the safety rope with both hands, twists her body out of the window, and stands on the outer wall trying to balance her suspended body against the wind.

She waits until the wind gradually dies down, and frees a hand to straighten her cap that had slanted in the wind as she flashes a smile to Fuze.

Soon after, she lets go of the rope with her remaining hand and disappears out the window, leaving only a rope sliding quickly from the windowsill.

Phew... alright, seems like they managed to connect.

Waahhh—! Why are you here too?!

Quiet, and pay attention. You almost cut a major cable.

What happened to those people following you?

Shook them off.

Didn't Papá tell you not to get involved...?

Yeah, he did.

Then why did you come?

To make sure you don't mess up this project.

Why you...! Are you talking to me like that just because you know what to do?

Well, do you?

Er...

I did a quick scan of the puppet's arm controls on the way down here, the hydraulic driver is the one causing the problem. Hand me your tools.

They're right above, hurry!

We would have caught them a long time ago if that woman didn't get in our way.

Heh...

Time to deal with my troubles.

Boss! Good news, the cables are free!

So soon? Alright, get Tecno back up and we'll get back to assembling the puppets' limbs.

She says she wants to stay in there.

What?

I said, I want to stay here! I'll help out with the installation from here!

Ah, I'm glad that you want to help us out, but can you promise you won't bother Miss Ela over here?

Say that again and I'll fly right up and smash your face in!

*ahem* Miss Ela, do you mind if she stays here, for my face's sake?

Of course, Tecno is a loyal friend. She doesn't want me to risk my life all alone at such a height. How can I feel anything other than gratitude?

*cough* *cough*!

Hey, look! The puppet's arm is moving again!

That's Tecno over there... but why's someone else with her?

Who is that? An engineer? A technician? Tecno's assistant?

An assistant? For real? Tecno never liked other people getting involved in her designs.

Let me take a look again... Nope, something's blocking my view. Hey, you over there! Can you tell who it is?

You talking to me?

Yeah, you've been looking that way for a good while now. Can you make out who's with Tecno?

You mean Ela? That's a little complicated—

Woah, am I seeing things or did that one just hit Tecno on the head...? The last guy who did something like that almost got a finger bitten off.

Uh, I guess you could say she's... a friend of Tecno's?

Damn, you slipped away so fast.

Mmph...

Huh. A tough one, staying silent after tasting one of my punches.

Get out of the way, unless you plan on dying here!

Ahhh—!!

Hold on, Tecno! We'll be right there, that woman won't touch another hair on your head!

Get your hands off me! What are you up to?!

Get away from the window!

Tecno! Are you alright?!

Wh-Why are you up there?

Papá sent me to watch these foreigners and I heard you screaming, what did that woman do to you?! I'll be down to help right away!

Uh, no, it's nothing, I'm fine... I just... just...

I only bopped her on the head.

Did it hurt?

No...