act37side

Hehe.

A city defense system that belongs only to us, automation that the dukes have long ignored, and a new deterrent for a post-Steam Knight era...

Your help is needed in all of this. And it must be for Londinium, not for any individual.

I don't deserve your trust, Feist, and neither does Parliament in its current state... send Matthew my apologies again, if you see him.

I will continue to lobby Parliament for policies that will improve the condition of workers.

The medicine that we purchased from the dukes is on its way. Things will get better, once supply routes are secured.

Hah, who dares threaten the dukes' cargo ships?

...I'll continue to communicate with the ducal representatives in the city.

We're here for you if you need any help.

Feist stands up, but then hesitates. He does not leave the room.

Granny always scolded me for my fancies.

But she said nothing the day I brought back the proposals for the future from the Industry Development Association.

She retired from the line soon after, claiming health issues.

We like to dream about the future, Vina. We'll pull through.

The office falls quiet. Vina stares at the mountain of papers on her desk, then turns on the radio.

*Bzzt*—

Late afternoon today, citizens witnessed the Speaker of Parliament, Alexandrina Victoria, put a scoundrel in his place.

It was reported that a gentleman had attempted to bribe the Speaker for his own selfish interests, which the Speaker rejected in the most direct manner possible.

Many citizens speak highly of Speaker Victoria's charisma and believe that she—

<p=1>Londinium Underground</><p=2>December 21st, 1098, 8:01 P.M.</>

I guess we've finally learned to trust each other a little bit.

Whether you're confident that this supply route is safe enough for one person to manage... or that most of you have left Victoria, just as you said.

Some sign of trust when you have your little trinket in plain sight.

This is a city full of homeless, desperate people. Who knows if somebody won't get ideas?

Never said you're not part of the threat, of course.

Not that many people in Londinium remember Reunion's past.

Go ahead, check. Everything on the list is here, and I'll deliver the next batch of medicine on time.

You said most of you have left. What about Nine?

Left. Along with many people for whom there is no place in the city.

Our factories outside the city won't be affected, of course. And the routes you found for us will continue to be useful.

You're not going with them? Londinium isn't a great place for Infected anymore.

'Isn't a great place.' Spoken with true Londinier irony.

When I was little, I was fascinated by the Londinium in the storybooks. The palaces and the gardens where the king and the young princess lived, the adventures to be found in the maze-like factories.

Now I find that Londinium is no different from anywhere else in Victoria. It's no place to make a home.

I stay because somebody has to, and I like doing good, honest work. Besides, the treatment of the Infected in Londinium today is... not terrible.

Really?

I followed them because they saved my life. I'm not like those who are ready to die, who've already figured out how to die for something worthwhile.

Besides, in the end, it usually isn't worthwhile. Nobody deserves to die.

You saved a lot of lives. Thank you, on behalf of the workers.

Stop by Highbury the next time you're passing out pamphlets in the city. I'll see right through that disguise.

The goods check out. I'm off, then.

One more thing, Catherine...

Go ahead.

...If the rocks hurt at night, I know a few techniques to make you feel better.

I think you know... our medicine doesn't work as well as the stuff from the big pharmas.

Yes. It may fool the other workers, but it can't fool me. Same for most of the suppressants you can get in Londinium right now.

At my age, though, I don't have too many lucid days ahead of me. And I guess you could say I've seen worse.

One more day with my senses is one more thing I can do. That's plenty.

Our men have tracked down Reunion's hideouts outside the city, two major factories, and their supply routes.

Should we shut them down?

No need. Based on available information, they are not a threat to the citizens of Londinium.

Vina says she has personal reasons to be wary of Reunion.

But even she admits that they were a big help to us when they incited the citizens to oppose the dukes.

As for the gray market... just make sure we keep track of everything that's going on. Percival is not stupid. She knows what she's not supposed to touch.

The Reunion threat is much diminished now that their main members have left Londinium. Continue to monitor the situation.

I will even go so far as to say that establishing contact at a private level is an option, if there is consensus about improving the Infected situation.

Understood. We will continue to monitor Reunion activity without taking direct action.

I suppose I'm wasting you lot on this kind of work.

Of course not, Lady Delphine!

From the day we left the Duke of Windermere's ship, to setting intelligence work aside to focus on the assault of Londinium, and now...

...Do you miss the waters of Lynncardine?