act47side

Who's that?!

...A letter?

I knew it... I knew it!

After hesitating for so long, he settles on the obvious choice, me!

How much effort did I put in just to snatch the opportunity to transfer here? How much did I have to finagle to climb the ladder from my lowly admin job in six months?

<i>I'm</i> the chief executive of Propeller Paradise, I'm the only one who can front it!

Oh, he even wrote a speech for me? That sly old fox, never leaves anything to chance.

'My fellow Columbians, I am Gordon Tannen, the chief executive of Propeller Paradise. I'm sure I've kept you waiting in front of your screens for some time now.'

'Now, it is with a heavy heart that I announce the official cancellation of Air Expo Columbia. A major accident occurred in the park, and as the one in charge of the place, I bear an undeniable responsibility for this...'

Wait, an accident? Is this a mistake? This is a—

A public apology?

Alert! Alert!

Patrol complete, letter not obtained. Part of the path has been blocked by a group of Terrans. Based on their travel route, they are presumably heading toward the levitation layer's experiment zone.

At the same time, detecting several high-powered Originium products on the move, bearing cargo identification tags...

They belong to Gordon Tannen.

My tags...?

An apology letter, and the news brought back by Five-Four... This is no mischievous prophecy, but indisputable reality.

Shock, panic, anger... countless emotions fill Gordon's chest.

Is Gustave about to cause an accident? On Propeller Paradise, the expo all of Columbia has been eagerly waiting to see?

For what reason? When did he begin planning this? What sort of pawn is 'Gordon Tannen' to him?

'Apology', 'Amends'—Gordon is all too familiar with these words. Ostracized by his colleagues and driven by his eccentric hobby, he was always 'violating the rules'.

The thin sheet of paper before him reflects the cumulation of his work over the past seven years.

He wrote hundreds of self-reflection letters during his time at ATAO. He remembers every single time Gustave would demand an apology from him, and how he slid from defiance to compromise.

The reward he deserved, the things he begged Gustave for like a child—were accusations against him all along.

Did you get the speech, Tannen?

So? Can you do it?

His carefully chosen necktie tightens, like a torture device.

All I have to do, is do as I'm told.