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Floating pods by her side are riddled with cracks, black smoke billowing from within. A sign their core energy modules have been destroyed, and they should have all crashed to the ground.

But the pods stubbornly remain amongst the clouds, piecing together a precarious path, as if an invisible pair of hands are holding them up.

Nasti?

Update the others. I'll go get her.

The agent rushes towards her, but just as he takes a step forward, the bricks under his feet shift.

Ah—

Target sighted. Location: Flying Donut station. Requesting backup.

We tried to intercept her, but something's up here. We—AH—!

...(Speaks in Sarkaz) Disorder?

Nasti recalls the river at the mouth of the Convallis of the Banshees. Still and calm, where even a child could safely row a boat on their own.

However, unassisted intruders find the dense forests on both sides constantly shifting positions, like a mobile labyrinth, with the distant riverbank always hidden beyond the thick mist.

After a momentary silence, Nasti steps out of the pod and into the empty sky. Brick and stone immediately form a floor beneath her.

(Speaks in Sarkaz) Disorder.

A path held together by an incantation.

Convallis Banshees often isolate themselves from outsiders, or decorate their own courtyards with this method.

She also used the same tactic to momentarily stall Saria back in the Ring Lab.

...This is a path specially paved, just for her.

To her surprise, the whole area centered on the 'tree' has been reconstructed by the incantation, but she fails to find the caster within the tree's core, among its roots.

Only the roots of the 'tree' are breathing, just as always.

Please verify your credentials.

Nasti Lunorey. Director of Engineering, Rhine Lab.

Nasti dashes towards the roots. She must confirm if any abnormal changes have happened while she was away.

This is what is left of the Vivarium, and the secret Rhine Lab has been protecting at all costs. No matter how the unrest in the park ends, it is the only bargaining chip in Nasti's hand.

She touches the roots, allowing data to flow into her fingertips and gather in the 'branches' around her waist.

Muelsyse always teased Nasti about being a human computer, and she always took it as praise.

In the current situation where biotechnology has fused with Banshee witchcraft, her body is perhaps the best data cable to use.

The 'branches' begin to vibrate quickly, a sign of the device overclocking. Almost simultaneously, Nasti feels some sort of temperature shift—not the chill of condensation, not the heat of electricity, but...

Body heat?

She experiences a strange feeling out of nowhere. Here and now, she is no longer Director of Rhine Lab's Engineering Section checking if a device is still operating normally, but a Banshee touching another of her kind...

Just like so many years ago, when that woman held her own hand and taught her how to blow a leaf whistle.

Nasti abruptly looks up—

(Pained murmurs)

(Elated murmurs)

Nasti, my child...

You're back.

Report.

All pods on the levitation layer are now connected to the detonation web. We have people on the lower levels evacuating people from the square.

People are very passionate about the exhibition. Things will take some time, but it will not delay our plans.

We will detonate the levitation layer as soon as Propeller Paradise docks with the District.

Any movement from Rhine?

We've taken twenty-three into custody. A dozen are still at large on the platforms.

We have control of the eight observation points. Those people are going in and out of the exhibit area and the ropeway stations. No special Rhine equipment other than standard maintenance gear.

They're just playing hide-and-seek? No plan B?

Keep an eye on them. They don't know the details of Maylander's plan, nor do they have any means of communication. Any last-gasp effort is doomed to fail.

Understood.

The outline of Max, D.C.—the most vibrant nomadic city in Columbia—is already visible from the ropeway station's waiting area.

The agents have not had a chance to enjoy the view of Propeller Paradise until now. With an excellent visibility, all the elaborate facilities of the levitation layer are brimming with vitality.

Pods float in mid-air like aquatic creatures. Floating botanical units line up orderly between small platforms, forming a power grid that supports the entire layer...

Wait... where did you say Rhine's people were?

Exhibit area and ropeway stations.

Where exactly? Show me.

Looking at their movements, there's no way they can reach the platform where that 'tree' is, or other companies' pods...

Could it be... they're not trying to take back their turf at all?

But Rhine's people, the testers, and the company reps, they all seem to be flying around blindly in the dark...

What's the point of it all?

The agent casts a casual glance at the nearest planting unit. The unremarkable Rhine creation stands quietly.

He suddenly realizes that the warning lights on their edges are easily visible even during the day, and they have been blinking irregularly for quite a while now.

Spotters report that all the Rhine people have disappeared from sight!

No, they didn't disappear!

They're going in the same direction... there's a pattern to their movement!

Everybody, listen up! Destroy all the planting units you see along the way! They're not decorations! Rhine is using them to communicate!

Cut off the exhibit area from all the ropeway stations, and find every one of those people playing hide-and-seek! Find out where they're heading!

What on Terra are they thinking...

You've been looking outside the window for a while.

You said you must win your gamble, and you have a reason.

Yes.

I'm in the middle of a gamble too.

I have a rough idea what's going on in Propeller Paradise, given the look on your face and the freefall that we just experienced.

You wouldn't run this kind of risk with me for no reason. But there's nothing I can offer you now, except—

Hm...

You want the Lucky Cystybeast?

You could say that.

I want the contraband that Gordon Tannen sold you.

Coming to the broadcast room to bother me, when you should be preparing your own speech? You sure have a thick hide, Mr. Tannen.

I would have died a long time ago if all my enemies refused to work with me ever again.

Work with you? I'm afraid I can't.

Maylander has a laundry list of violations that I committed during my career. I don't want to spend the rest of my days giving prison tours.

Neither are you looking for a peaceful life. Besides, my proposal has something to do with Maylander.

There's no better vantage point than here on Propeller Paradise. Oakley's too excited to notice, but I doubt you would miss what's going on.

Well, if I gotta say it...

The broadcast screens of the levitation layer are switching too quickly. They say it's because they're doing testing, which I'm not convinced about. There are a dozen testers on the square whom I don't recognize. They don't look like they're taking a stroll; they look like they're patrolling.

Like they know that danger is impending.

Are you trying to trick me into another plot?

There's a plot afoot on Propeller Paradise alright, that's a fact. It's also a fact that I won't let Gustave make a mockery out of this place in front of all of Columbia.

You have ten seconds. Yes or no.

What are the chances of success?

Ten percent.

Doesn't sound like a gamble you'd take.

I don't have a choice with that old fox sitting across the table, holding all the cards.

A plan almost certain to fail... interesting. Tell me about it.

I need you to convince as many people as possible to return to the levitation layer, and retrieve the Originium equipment and Arts units on this list.

...All contraband that you sold?

They have far more potential than just sitting under the spotlight.

You want to...

Escape. And take all of Propeller Paradise with me.

Gustave and Maylander never intended to allow the exhibition to go ahead. The opening ceremony was just a smokescreen.

The levitation layer will fall a second time soon. But miracles don't happen a second time.

The Lucky Cystybeast can't afford to start over...

Neither can most startups on Propeller Paradise.

'Escape. And take all of Propeller Paradise...'