act34side

Whatever Blandus did to us during surgery has dulled our senses.

Consider the hunt on! Time is of the essence! Get out of here!

*pant*, *cough*—

Your cheeks are flushed, and your clothes soaked through with sweat.

I-I'm not nervous!

No.

You're accustomed to dry, arid land. You're more sensitive to dampness than an average Ægir.

The humidity is wracking you.

Hold on...

Look, look at the chart!

Densely packed bio-signatures... from—from right above us?

It's the dome above the tower... The Seaborn are seeping into the city through there.

No, but weren't there two Legions out there keeping them at bay? Plus the Hunters...

Even, even if some from other nests slipped around the perimeter, Milliarium still has countless sensor units across the dome, and all sorts of complex defenses...

How could the Seaborn get into the city without a sound?

Did this tower draw them in?

*cough* *cough*, *pant*—But why?

My guess is, someone showed them the path.

Blandus, had it ever dawned on you that your folly would lead to such disaster?

Ulpianus is pensive.

He does not turn to look at the culprit of all this, lying motionless on the floor. He stares closely at the holographic sea chart. Dots representing the Seaborn swarm converge right on Milliarium's coordinates.

They shine like the stars.

Do you really mean to return?

I've finally found out that man's whereabouts.

No matter who he is or what vulpohole he's decided to hide himself in, he hurt our daughter. He needs to pay.

Then let me come with you. I don't care if it's famiglie standing in our way, cruel Catastrophes, endless tides, or fire raining from the skies, we'll face them together.

Would the shrine be alright without you?

Relax, it's just killing a few people. It long past time for those bastards to head to hell.

Then it seems we must part once more...

Heavens drink their fill, sky besot by sakura, drunken clouds stumble.

Was that a haiku? It's got a good rhythm, perfectly suited for reciting while swinging a sword.

(Blows nose)

The hell, man, why're you crying?

An assassin gets revenge for her daughter by crossing two big famiglie, so she's forced to flee to a distant country.

And many years later, she has to leave behind her gentle husband and re-enter the storm, all for her daughter's sake again.

When I think about the people in real life who live like that, I can't help it... The way I see it, the movie should be from <i>her</i> point of view!

I hope I don't gotta remind you that this film's supposed to be our famiglia's business card in the new city. And we're supposed to be reviewing it together.

We gotta control how this city looks at our boss and our business.

I thought you said it was great last time?

Great? Then why'd that killer lady show up outta nowhere?

'Cruel Catastrophes'? 'Endless tides'? 'Fire raining from the skies'? Who wrote this crap?

Sure, the Columbians poked a hole in the sky, but I ain't never heard of no fire raining down. When's this supposed to take place, anyway?

When're you gonna learn to have a bit of perspective?

A cold-blooded killer putting down her blade for a peaceful tomorrow in Nuova Volsinii, all thanks to our famiglia's influence. You can't get more with the times than that!

Eh, if you put it that way, the film's even more crap. But you're right, as long as it's to the Signora's liking—

Hey, which bastard touched the switch? We under attack?!

No, look at the screen!

Mr. Tin Man?

We have a press conference starting soon, so please keep it quick.

While you all were busy flinging all those things into the sky, I made a few rounds in Kazdel.

You know how I feel about this.

I do, young Banshee, I do.

My verdict is that they feel about you much the same as you feel about them.

Considering the many vile connections they have across Terra, if they <i>do</i> decide to get behind your project, there will be plenty of headaches for all involved.

Thanks for the tip. Now, the press conference is about to begin—

Don't be so hasty. Let me finish.

Nasti Lunorey, Director of Engineering at Rhine Lab.

You know full well that the dream you were promised can be shared with more than just the Sarkaz.

The Maylander Foundation will pledge their full support towards you and your Elf friend's brazen plan.

We will decide on a date to discuss the details later. That includes future launch plans, where we hope to re-establish a more complete—

Galleria Stellaria.

Yes, that's the one.

Nasti? You on the phone?

Once the conference is over, we'll need a meeting room, a coffee machine, and to clear an entire weekend off our schedule.

That bad, huh?

If only it were as simple as good or bad.

But first, the conference. Is Silence here?

I was hoping she'd stop by, but fat chance she's got the time.

I put one of those burdenbeast blind boxes from Kjerag on her desk, and sure, she'd opened it after a week, but the little beasty was already buried under an avalanche of files in need of review!

The guy who's supposed to be making a speech for us isn't here yet either.

Well, he's still got two minutes—

(Clears throat)

Ladies and gentlemen, the press conference is about to begin. Please quiet down.

I'll be happy to answer any and all relevant questions during the Q&A segment.

Sounds like he's in a good mood.

Let us first—

Playing the same trick twice? Doesn't it get old?

No, Ferdinand's confused too! This wasn't part of his plan! This is—

...The challenges we face are far greater than ourselves or Catastrophes. We must form a community...

...under the leadership of Ægir to overcome them together.

Repeat.

...an Ægir broadcast to all surface-dwelling peoples. We ask all of humanity to set aside your conflicts and prejudices, and join the Ægir in building a bulwark together.

The matrix has broken through the blockade and swept past the sea. Essential information and calculation results are about to make landfall.

The challenges we face are far greater than ourselves or Catastrophes. We must form a community...

...under the leadership of Ægir to overcome them together.

...'Under the leadership of Ægir.'

You're still looking towards the land, Dr. Kal'tsit.

Hmm... Like a mother, anxious about the child she had to leave behind.

A child, is it?

In one brief communication, you have delivered knowledge that countless others have given their lives for to no avail. Geographical data on the Foehn Hotlands and Infy Icefield, and images from even further north of the continent.

One way of 'showing goodwill,' I suppose?

To share knowledge is natural, while showing goodwill takes intention. I fail to see how the two are related.

It was essential to thoroughly evaluate the extent of shock this would be to our terrestrial friends. Were these not urgent times, we really should have been more cautious.

My concern is that—

There are immediate dangers more worthy of our attention.

How much longer do you believe Milliarium can hold, Consul Clementia?

With our fleets taking shifts, we can keep up continuous, twenty-four-hour covering fire for a week.

There have been no major changes in the Seaborn's movements. As the energy supplying the force fields dries up, the stopping power of our weapons will also gradually dwindle... but this is not outside expectations.

The city can hold for another half a month. No more.

How long will it take reinforcements to arrive from the home territories?