act37side

<p=1>Londinium, Abandoned Factory</><p=2>December 8th, 1098, 4:43 P.M.</>

Section G12... All these linkage numbers have faded away since this place was abandoned... Is this it?

*phew* I'm praying I don't run into those damned devils again—

I think you're lost, lady.

(Hey, new guy, get her out of here. And while you're at it, ask her <i>nicely</i> how she found this place.)

(Remember, keep your tail clean this time. Don't make the boss mad.)

You heard him, lady. Come with me—

Let go of me!

Is this any way to treat a lady?

Mickey Robinson, hero of the Exemplars... Or rather, <i>one of</i> the heroes, is my husband. He entrusted me to fetch some medicine.

Th-The medicine to dull the pain from those hideous black stones. He can hardly even walk...

Hah, yet another unlucky bugger—

Shut it.

Listen, I haven't heard of any Mickey.

All you'll find in this blasted place are some bum's expired fun drugs and the dead devils' bones.

But—

Anyways, if you want Oripathy meds, go look for that newly-built Sanatorium. The new Speaker lady promised it'd be stocked.

Wait, we really have no other choice. There's simply not enough medicine there.

I know I can get it here. My husband, he...

Listen, I have a few valuables stashed away somewhere safe, all from Cumberland Manor. The late duke gave them to us. If I could just get some medicine—

Don't give a reason for the Defense Forces patrolling out there to come sniffing around here.

Just go already, <i>lady.</i>

Make her sign the list, then let her come by tomorrow to pick up the meds.

Yes, boss! But what if she doesn't have the money...?

We do it the old-fashioned way then.

That's weird, I don't think the boss ever stuck her nose into this sort of thing. Err, what should I...?

Hmph. Just give her the contract.

Thank you, tha—Wait, these clauses... My husband never mentioned them! If I signed this, then we...

He'll live well, at least before we come calling for our due.

Seems that hero husband of yours wasn't quite so honest with his better half, eh?

C'mon, hold that pen steady. If you can't, we can sign it for you.

The mercenary holds her writing hand tight. The trembling overtakes her. She can no longer maintain her veneer of calm.

She shuts her eyes, grits her teeth, and lets the mercenary guide her hand.

Go on, enjoy your life. Bloody war's over, after all.

Asking Millscar for help will be the best decision you and your husband have ever made, lady.

This morning, Londinium's interim health-secretary-cum-provisioner-general Madam Major was found dead in her office in New Auchterigg District.

In today's parliamentary session, Madam Speaker Alexandrina expressed her support of Madam Major's work in caring for the Infected, and lamented her untimely passing.

The final point in Madam Major's itinerary before she passed was a trip to the Dukedom of Normandy to discuss a purchase of medicine so as to relieve the shortages within Londinium's walls.

But according to some reliable sources, Madam Major died of an acute Oripathy attack.

Not only did she conceal her infection, she was also often seen arguing furiously with the Speaker, in recent times.

In this sensitive period where the number of reported Infected within the city is growing exponentially, it is clearly worth looking into the death of Madam Major, who had lost her hereditary peerage.

Even now, two months after the Sarkaz withdrawal, why are their sinister plots coming back to the fore?

As for the Exemplars, are the terms of the resettlement program still not finalized?

All eyes are on the newly-appointed Speaker, who has won the backing of a majority of the dukes.

We have managed to connect with the Speaker's close confidant, Miss Kate Morrigan, digging deeper into—

The broadcast in the Speaker's office suddenly falls silent.

Those louts are a real crock of shit, I tell you!

They were loafing about the Sanatorium cafeteria, waiting for me to sit down for lunch before they tried to wheedle some info out of me...

Then you beat the hell out of them.

I thought... That way, they wouldn't dare run their mouths on the news again...

Sorry. I didn't think about how it'd affect the way everyone sees you—

No, I would have kicked them out too, literally.

Huh? But...

It doesn't matter what you say to those newshounds when they're in the business of making up fluff. They've already decided what to put in their latest story a long time ago.

Since there's no way of shutting them up, might as well get straight to the point.

Vina strikes her two fists together, putting herself through the paces engraved in her instincts with ease.

Just like she always did back in the gym.

Hah! That's the Vina I know! I knew it, Hannah even said—

Whoa.

These clothes really do get in the way. Maybe I should find someone to make some alterations—

I happen to know a pretty good tailor.

He made clothes for the royal family when he was younger. Luckily, he made it through everything alive. Shame nobody dares hire him nowadays.

Infected as well?

Yes.

*cough* Ah yeah, any progress on that thing you mentioned in your message?

The situation is complicated.

We've captured the Sarkaz who have been hurting people. They're now cuffed in the Sineselde's parliamentary chamber.

I suspect this might have something to do with the gangs operating out of the abandoned underground factories.

Millscar.

As for whether or not the Duke of Normandy's heir is behind all this—

She and I will resume...

Negotiations.

Madam Major's death, the Londiniers' medicine supply, as well as Millscar's gang and those Sarkaz...

There're a lot of things to handle in this city, and none we can solve with our fists like we did two months ago.

You've settled into the job quick, Vina. I believe Parliament as it is now can manage these issues, so relax. I'm here to help you.

Mother taught me how to handle this sort of situation. I won't let her down.

Morgan?

I'm heading over to Parliament. See you there.

She's not quite used to this sort of life yet. None of us are.

There are some things Siege could do that this so-called Speaker can't.

How's the victim of the Sarkaz attack?

In the care of our colleagues at Rhodes Island's medical department. No life-threatening complications, for the time being.

Moreover, we've traced the source of those low-quality medicines. Most of them came from Millscar.

Many turned to them in desperation, but in the end, all they got was a pile of harassment from that gang of wandering goons.

As for whether this Millscar is in the know, or if it's the work of some overeager underlings, I'm not too sure—

Allerdale knows.

Millscar. The wildest villain running rampant in Londinium's shadows.

Allerdale. She's dead. The final furious flame of Cumberland the Ever on High.

Vina herself has already forgotten when the figures behind those two names slowly became one.

Was it when the war was nearly over?

She subconsciously paws at her clothes. By the time the Exemplars' 'heroic leader' walked out of the Palace of Westhaleg wearing this old suit of royal armor...

She had already torn down the flag of Kazdel's Military Commission at the break of dawn, and had seen a familiar figure and the Steam Knight fade away into the all-encompassing vapor.

That day, Allerdale did not go to her. Rather, she turned and disappeared into the shadows of the ruined city.

Let's go. To Parliament.

<i>The Sineselde, once a royal estate often rented by nobles as a banquet hall. It wasn't until everyone was dealing with the headache of where to house Parliament that Vina realized there weren't many choices left for the Londiniers.</i>

<i>The chaos of war had destroyed far too much of this city.</i>

<i>I've seen this room many times before on posters and in movies. I used to be astonished by how massive it was, big enough for every gang boss to bring all their boys and girls in to sit down and have a chat about their turfs.</i>

<i>But now, it disappoints me. It's filled to the gills, all cramped and suffocating.</i>

<i>Though Vina's never admitted it, I know her and I are of like mind—</i>

(Miss Morgan... Miss Morgan...)