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My name. Does not matter. For the time being.

Rest assured. Right now, I am not. Here on behalf of the leader.

I just want to hear...

About my countrymen. About my homeland. What has become of them.

I know that, in Kazdel. Many things happened.

Some things, I have heard. But details, no.

You're just Ursine.

These two identities. Do not conflict.

The bloodline. Has not changed. Dark, and deeply rooted.

I care not for it. But run from it? I cannot.

So even if I told you, what do you plan to do?

These things happened a long time ago for me—

Nothing. There is nothing. I can do.

But, it has been so long. Since I saw Theresa.

Ooh...

From your reactions. I see. She is with you. Her mark is here. After all, you are Sarkaz.

Muddied. Blood-soaked.

She is a hero, at least. So respected. A great warrior. A worthy ruler.

My flesh. Loyal to Ursus. From my people, I exiled myself. But I, am still Sarkaz.

I want to know. What happened to her Kazdel.

I just, want to know.

En route to Chernobog

5:22 A.M. \ Clear

Chernobog, Sarkaz mercenary garrison

...Need something?

We hope that your mercenaries can give us an explanation.

First, your team defected. The people who went after them reported back that you weren't even trying.

A few hours ago, some enemies managed to infiltrate Chernobog. Again, due to your negligence.

Combined with the fact that when we first captured Chernobog, someone tipped us off that you let—

Okay, okay, I got it. The client's dissatisfied with our performance. Can you say that with fewer words?

We're simply in a 'cooperative' relationship, and I'm the leader now. If I get on this table and start grovelling, will Talulah be happy?

Or, did having Papa Patriot around give you the illusion... that Reunion is actually good at fighting a war?

Make no mistake about who the people actually capable of bringing you victory are.

If you've figured it out, hurry up and crawl back to that dragon girl. I'll tell her what she wants to know soon enough, so don't rush me.

There's one other thing.

Just now, stragglers from an enemy party were detected inside the city. That mercenary, Ines, died after exchanging fire with them.

Reunion also participated in this battle. The enemies were very strong, and we all suffered losses.

This is all due to your negligence.

...There's no need to get pushy with me.

Seems like something happened to the east of here not long ago.

Precisely.

So... where's the body?

Unfortunately, I have bad news.

I'm talking about the enemy's corpses. Ines wouldn't use such flashy, destructive Arts.

Our casters were also involved in the battle. The entire street was destroyed.

Don't you think you're being a bit too blatant here?

I don't know what you're talking about.

...So, from your side's point of view, how should this situation be handled?

...Our main force is focused on the battle that will take place in Lungmen. We have no time to waste here.

The Leader won't investigate your responsibility in this just yet, so you should handle it yourself.

Hmm... You have a pretty thick Ursus accent.

...What of it?

You guys...

...Didn't really think that I'd take some random excuse, did you?

W, stop.

(Put that wand away and calm down first.)

Sorry, got a bit carried away there. You can breathe a sigh of relief first and be grateful that you get to live.

What's the meaning of this?!

...Don't get me wrong. The death of one Sarkaz won't affect the outcome of the next battle.

And neither will the death of the entire Reunion Movement.

If you don't believe me, you're welcome to try me.

...I'll make sure our Leader hears about your true attitude.

There won't be a next time.

You heard 'em.

Since you let that Rhodes Island squad escape, Reunion has never allowed us to act alone.

If they could put half this much effort into their actual battles, they wouldn't be getting their asses handed to them so badly.

Despite that, you still deliberately let that traitorous blademaster get away.

...I didn't deliberately let him go. I just didn't want those idiotic Infected to kill a Sarkaz I brought here.

...The old you would've slaughtered Flamebringer on the spot to get Reunion's attention off of you.

Regardless of what you wanted.

Eh? Was I the only one who couldn't remember his codename? How embarrassing.

So, is Ines really...

Now's not the time...

She... I'll have someone identify her, identify her c— ...Tch.

Let's talk business first.

...Three things.

First, Ines wanted to warn you that something's wrong with Talulah. She must've seen something more specific, but I'm not clear on that.

All she told me was, Talulah apparently had 'two shadows.' From her reaction, this isn't some common byproduct of Arts interference.

That damn coward... Why wouldn't she ever be straightforward...

Second, the old man has left. Received an order to go fetch something. Talulah didn't even make any efforts to hide it.

...Finally, a messenger has already set off for Victoria. Shortly, the Regent will know everything that has happened here.

Theresis knows many things, and he has just as many monsters around him.

If he is allowed to intervene, this would no longer be a simple question between Reunion and Ursus...

W! Are you listening to me?

...Too noisy. Since it's all good news anyway, let me have some peace and quiet.

You've had your hand on the hilt of your blade... ever since you walked through the door.

You were like that when we first met, as if you were ready to cut me down at any moment.

But the way you stayed calm back there was just like Patriot—

What do you really think about this?

That's not important.

And none of us are. We all know this, and bad habits die hard.

Ines, she...

I have the right to hear what she said, right? ...In order to respect her sacrifice.

...You two are both similar. Never considering the consequences of the things you do.

The Regent will not sit idly and watch them lose control. If you can't give him a suitable answer, Londinium's summons will destroy everything you've painstakingly put together.

Ironically, I still don't know what you're trying to accomplish, even now.

...Who knows?

Just, don't think you can handle everything alone, W. You'll come to regret it sooner or later, just like me.

The reason you have the right to ask questions is because you avoided the center of the whirlpool.

Really? Who's still left on Rhodes Island now?