act39side

The chance of failure was at least 87%... This was the safest way I could think of.

Are you that afraid of failure? Even if the chance of success were one in ten thousand, I would have wagered everything on it.

That's not experimentation. That's gambling.

Hah... Have you ever considered that the odds of getting a second chance might be even lower?

Tell me, is life a gamble, or an experiment?

Weedy's on her way to pick me up. Are you coming with us?

...My journey is not yet over.

I will continue.

What about you, Pascuala?

I...

Come with me. I can find a way to get you out of here, at least...

Alright... Take care, Isidro.

Take care.

You too. Both of you.

Señor Silver.

You're willing to stay. Good, very good...

Have you forgotten? I've got a bad leg. Can't go.

...No, I haven't. You were injured during the second raid, correct?

See, you have forgotten. It happened on the day of the execution. You treated the wound yourself, but it ended up infected anyway.

If... hypothetically... if I were a better doctor and fixed your leg then, would you have come with us now?

Of course.

...I see.

What were the two of you discussing? It is time.

Señor Anastasio...

Yes?

It is an honor working with you.

Where were you, señora?

...Saw the kids off.

I did what you told me to.

...Take the crew and Nene. Lie low in the Salt Flat for a few days.

I can't leave you here by yourself.

This is an order, Teach.

Under the moon, Isidro walks by himself through the Salt Flat, leaving behind a trail of lonely footprints.

He does not know how long he has walked. The entire night, probably.

He feels like he has let a lot of people down, but does not know what he did wrong.

Suddenly, he feels lonely and wishes he were with a friend. Then he realizes he just bid farewell to Elysium.

Perhaps Weedy has already found him. Their mission would have come to a close after confirming he was safe.

Perhaps they are discussing the journey out of the Flat and their next mission even now. As for him, he will continue his journey, alone.

Nothing wrong with that. No attachments, no responsibility.

*yawn*

Shouldn't have had those extra swigs of saltfin garum...

Ugh—!

The guards have been eliminated. Inform the Alguacil that the intel is good.

Prepare to advance.

You work fast, Javier.

...You're alone.

As you can see.

You shouldn't have been left unguarded...

Maybe because the one who should have been protecting me is standing before me now.

Pointing the blade I made for him at me.

Go on. Kill me, and the fleet is yours.

Juana is in our custody. Keep an eye on her, but don't let her get hurt.

...What a joke.

How did you find this place...? Which finshit sold us out?!

Even now you think of vengeance? Meet your end, villain!

Gah—!

What of the compass? Have you learned anything?

Nothing, Señor Alguacil. It's all rank-and-file thugs who can hardly string two sentences together.

We won't find anything unless we go deeper into their base.

Do not stop without my direct command. Everything here must be cleansed with fire.

There is no reason to allow such tools of sin to continue to exist.

Sir!

A noise rouses Isidro from his musings and causes him to halt his steps.

He turns around and sees the dark night lit up on the horizon.

That's...

It is the light of a raging fire...

No...

In the direction of the fleet.

How could it...

I...

Isidro steps forward without hesitation.

It is a decision made not with reason, but pure impulse.

He runs as if his life depends on it, retracing his old set of footprints, towards the direction that he came from.

That same set of footprints is no longer lonely.

Don't bother searching. You won't find it.

The sailors told me that the kid screwed up. The compass was wrecked. It'd be of no use even if you found it.

Do not think to presume whether it is of use to me or not, bandit.

Yeah, yeah, perdón.

I have safeguarded the compass for nearly a decade, and slain all who reached for it...

Even if it has become dust, I must see this dust with my own eyes.

Where is your leader?

We had a deal. Juana will be spared.

And how does your agreement with Silver concern me?

Surely the woman fled with the compass, yes? This tale of alchemical failure a ruse?

A lie... to protect a woman, for the sake of your own desires? You, too, ought to be cleansed—

I'm not lying. Juana doesn't have the compass. Whatever's left of it is of no use to her.

It's the alchemist and his lab you should be looking for.

And where might that be?

Second tent in the back row. There's a secret door leading to the lab.

...More lies.

Do not make me cut you down where you stand.

On the ground! Don't move a muscle!

I-Is it true? We'll all get pardoned if you find the compass?

Are we gonna get a lighter punishment if we don't resist?

Fools.

Okay...

Chaval.

Teach? What's going on?

Javier led the Inquisition to us. Señora Juana is being held captive in the captain's quarters.

Why did you come back?