act32side

Where, exactly? I'll get someone to untangle it.

It's an awkward spot... between the third and fourth floors, far away from the windows.

Use a safety harness?

Maybe... we'll give it a try.

Isn't it kind of dangerous to send someone down from the eighth floor like that? That's much higher than the puppet's head.

They don't have other options... They can't find a spot to anchor their ropes on lower floors.

Can you not move it with a remote control...? Oh, that building's outer walls don't have any good spots for easy climbing.

We handcrafted these puppets and their internal structure is real complicated... only someone super familiar with them could handle this.

Be careful...

Almost... just a little bit more to the left—

Oh no! The technician fell!

Phew... he's fine, he has a safety harness on.

Can he try again?

I'm afraid not... that drop has his legs shaking uncontrollably.

No, hermano... I really can't do it, I'm afraid of heights... I, I...

But you're the one who's the most familiar with the puppets' internals... anyone else would just find it near impossible to fix...

No... it was so scary, when I fell... I really thought I was a goner...

Wh-Why not call Tecno? She... designed it, after all...

Tecno! Tecno!

Is he alright?

He's fine, but he's scared out of his wits. So the boss was hoping you could try your hand at it...

I don't know a thing about the insides, though.

Huh? Didn't you design them?

I mean, I only designed what they look like, I wasn't involved in the actual production.

Then... wh-what should we do?

Tecno, mind letting me and Fuze have a try? We both have experience with heavy machinery.

Huh? Miss Ela, you're already done talking with Papá?

Give us a chance, Tecno.

But didn't Papá say...?

I can help out too, Tecno. We all have some engineering experience, so I'm sure we can do something.

I... I...

You're not afraid of heights, Señorita? That's the eighth floor... Knowing theory isn't exactly enough.

I once dropped out of a twenty-story building, mister. This'll be a piece of cake.

No, you can't do that... You stay here, I'll go up myself.

Tecno?

I'm sorry, Ela. It's not that I doubt you, but I promised Papá I wouldn't let you participate, no matter what.

But will you be able to fix it, Tecno?

I'll try my best.

*sigh*...

Can you do me a favor, Meijer?

Of course. What is it?

Those guys over there with their eyes on me? Get them off my tail if they follow me, I need to find Fuze.

Oh, so Papá Diaz sent some backup.

I can do it, but where are you going?

Up there. There's no way Tecno can handle the big guy.

Ela! Hey!

Damn it, where did that lady go?

*sigh*

Sorry, Mister, but I need your help with something!

Huh?

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.