Глава 7

Let us act!

You shouldn't have come.

Heh... haha, ahahahaha...

Wei Yenwu, that's all it took to show your true colors? Your private army just shows up here in your office?

Madam Ch'en, Lungmen is threatened!

Sounds like you have a strong sense of duty.

But I don't believe a word you say. If you have something for him, go ahead.

Lord Wei... it is within our means to infiltrate the city, kill the mastermind, and stop the collision! We shall sacrifice our lives for the city, and lift this burden from thy shoulders!

Get out!

Lord Wei!

How about it, Wei Yenwu? Will you send them, or send me? Is that a tough choice?

Why is it you're so decisive when it comes to killing people and so indecisive when it's time to save them?

That's how it is now.

That's how it was then.

I didn't expect a chance at a proper goodbye.

I've thought about it many times, Wei Yenwu, but I never expected to give anyone a proper goodbye.

Miss Fumizuki, I'm sorry my mom treated you like that. Thank you for looking after me all these years. I've always thought of you as family.

...Ch'en?!

Superintendent Ch'en!

Not anymore. This badge? You can have it back.

Seize her!

You want to fight here first? To decide who's the real traitor?

Superintendent Ch'en, the enemy is at our gates!

I'm Infected. I'm your greatest enemy.

Cease and desist! Or I will show no mercy!

Who have you ever shown mercy?!

...Hng?!

Don't sound all high-and-mighty about things you can't do!

Lord Wei, look out!

Chi Xiao - Rouse Qi!

'Brother, if this sword is used to slay dragons, does it also work on Dracos?'

'It just might. Looks like I'll have to be more careful around you, haha...'

Her Arts... are overflowing?

Doctor, get behind me! I'll block the Arts!

No... It'll just get torn apart by that kind of power.

She's not aiming for us. Get out of her range right now.

Ah, okay!

Her Arts are beginning to expand. Back up!

——Release!

The dragonslaying sword... unsheathed?!

Tsk...!

You can block it with just your wrist?

Most astute! I see your swordsmanship is sharper than ever, Superintendent!

...Tempered Originium. Chi Xiao, huh? To think that they're still making weapons like that...

Doctor, is that sword specifically forged to fight against energy-based Arts?

...At first, Madam Ch'en didn't even let me look at that sword. Was she envisioning a situation where I would be an enemy...?

Out of my way!

Lord Wei, the Superintendent has chosen her path. I may not be able to block a second blow. Shall I put my life on the line?

Through my death, I assure you that Inspector Ch'en will remain in Lungmen. Though I cannot guarantee that she'll have her limbs intact, I can ensure that she lives.

—Impermissible. You, fall back. Don't engage her directly!

I shall immediately alert my brothers.

Planning to call reinforcements? Chi Xiao—!

Cease!!

Gah..!

Hui-chieh, are you going to use the cloud-splitting sword?

Don't forget, who taught you your swordsmanship and your Arts?

I never once thought to strip you of your swordsmanship, but I will no longer play nice at this point.

Don't force my hand, Ch'en Hui-chieh.

Do it then, Master Wei. Chi Xiao answers to me.

The day you gave me Chi Xiao, did you think I would slay you?

I won't use it to spill your blood, Wei Yenwu.

You think you're protecting me, right?

My mother died to depression. Talulah was taken away. I contracted Oripathy in the course of my work.

You think everything you've done was for the sake of protecting me, don't you? Is that because of your guilty conscience, or because of your confidence in your own strategies?

I don't want to witness another tragedy ever again.

Liar!

Wei Yenwu, there are those who this sword seeks to kill... and those who it seeks to protect.

If she truly wishes to destroy Lungmen...!

No... No. You must not go.

I never thought I would beat you and your Black Cloaks here.

...But there is more than one way out of here, Wei Yenwu.

The window?!

Ch'en Hui-chieh! Stop this foolishness! We're hundreds of meters above the ground.

This wouldn't be the first time I've used the window route. Or the second.

Ch'en Hui-chieh, you must not go to her!

Ahhh... Ch'en...!

You mustn't repeat the same mistakes! You can't go down the same path we did!

If there's anyone who should die for this city, that person should be—

*Sigh.*

Uncle...

No... Wei Yenwu. Starting today, we are strangers.

The sound of glass smashing echoed across the room, and Ch'en falls face-up from the tall building.

The lord of Lungmen let out a thunderous roar, and the man in the black poncho leapt toward the window like an arrow springing from a bowstring.

But Ch'en had already made up her mind.