Глава 7

Uptown Lungmen 7:00 P.M., Dusk

A secret arrest warrant? For Ch'en Sir?!

It's gotta be a mistake? There's no way...

Hey! Get back here! I asked you if this was a mistake or not!

Damn it, Ch'en Sir, what the hell... who's behind this?!

I have to find her. I have to hear her side of the story!

...Yes. I understand.

Anything else, Master?

No. Go and do what I told you for now. When you're finished, find somewhere to lay low for a while.

Got it.

Now go. Hurry.

Ah.

——*Sigh*. It turns out there really is someone who can outplay Wei Yenwu.

Talulah, Talulah... is this really just fate?

Oh, Young Master, if you could see us now from up there, you also would not wish to see this, would you?

But alas, Lungmen's finally come to this.

But Hui-chieh... Hui-chieh! Be careful, Hui-chieh... You mustn't get yourself killed!

Lungmen Harbor Dock 7:20 P.M.

Guh... agh! Nng... grrgh...

Damnit, there's still so many of them out there... I thought the L.G.D. was supposed to have this area under control?

Yesterday it was Reunion, today it's these weird Infected. Even we can't hold them off. And we can't use heavy-duty weapons inside the city...

Hello, Operators. Is that who we're fighting today?

Rosmontis! Thank goodness, we're saved.

They're Infected who have been twisted by Arts...? And we can't stop them?

That's right. We mostly brought defense equipment, but I never expected that they'd shred through our steel cables and polyfiber nets like paper. We might have to bring in some military-grade weapons.

We're at our limits here, so we had no choice but to ask for backup from the landship. Thankfully, now that you're here, we might be able to turn the tides.

The Originium structure inside makes their bodies incredibly tough. We use suppressing fire to keep them under control. Also... our scans aren't picking up any signs of brain activity at all.

The main point there is, they're pretty much... already physically dead. They're just empty husks, propped up by Arts. It's unbelievably cruel...

Whoever did this... has to pay.

But more importantly, at least you all are safe.

Let's make a plan. I'll... get them to settle down.

You're going to fight?

Yes.

But you look...

Doctor... have you never met Rosmontis before?

Please stand aside, Doctor.

Then, you might want to take a step back. I guarantee you've never seen anything like this.

Is that a metal box from the landship flying by?!;...?;That thing floating in the air there, is your equipment?

It's mine.

Operator, please describe your impressions of the target.

Hold on, I'll check the manual... Okay, the target's, uh, a large group of active, restless individuals?

They're moving as a group with no clear objective. Their general trend is clear, but with no set route. That should be good enough, right?

Received. I'll handle this.

Dr. Kal'tsit was very clear, once we finish with this, Rhodes Island is to leave Lungmen immediately...!

Evening, old friend.

Hoshiguma...? What are you doing here? How about your injuries?

I'm an Oni. Those scratches are long gone.

Good. Now, I—

Hold on. Were you waiting for me here?

That dune buggy you're pushing is a new model from Rim Billiton, right?

'Great for off-road performance. Dustproof, climbs hills with ease, incredible range and fuel efficiency. Minimal environmental impact with maximum comfort.' That one?

Yeah, sorry. I saw that ad on the terminal a million times. Guess it got stuck in the old noggin.

It's a damn good buggy though. I'm not even into off-roading and I'd like to get one.

What are you trying to say?

You look like hell, Ch'en. Where do you plan on going?

How did you know I'd be here...?

You come here every time you want to sneak out of the city. Remember, I also know every nook and cranny of this place.

The L.G.D. issued an arrest warrant.

But that's not what you're here for.

Of course not. I know exactly what kind of person you are.

This is my only way out of Lungmen.

I stayed dark the whole way. If the whole L.G.D. knew me half as well as you do...

Then you'll never make it out of Lungmen.

...Excuse me?

What do you mean by that?

They're just like me. They don't want you to go.

Hoshiguma... are you going to stop me?

Why you, of all people, Hoshiguma?!

Of course I am, Ch'en. I'm an L.G.D. inspector, and more importantly, your friend.

Did you seriously plan to wander off and play the lone hero on a grand adventure? That is precisely why I cannot let you leave.

You're a Lungmenite, Hoshiguma!

This is our last chance. If Wei Yenwu has it his way, more people are going to die!

And your way is better?

They call you 'Madame Oni.' They trust you to take care of the Lungmen they love so much. Let me go, Hoshiguma.

...Hah.

Do they really love Lungmen, Ch'en?

You—

Me? I'm old school.

Comics, movies, booze, rainy streets, some guy running by without an umbrella. I like my stuff retro, just not bikes.

People say some stuff goes out of style quick. Ch'en, can we really outrun time itself?

I can't. No way. It moves too fast. That chase has crushed so much of what I cared about.

This is all I have left. A yellowed splotch, a tear, a dog-eared page. I've got names for 'em all.

And it sucks. I hate how time took all these people from me.

They died horrible, miserable deaths, sacrificing themselves to try to find a place in this world. But me?

I simply watched them all vanish into dust. Some of them? I smashed their dreams to pieces with these very two hands.

They didn't love Lungmen. They simply had nowhere else to go. And in the end, that was my fault.

You're not going anywhere, Ch'en.

Ah Faat died, all those people died for Lungmen... You're going to pretend you never saw any of that?

Don't act like you knew them.

They were with me a lot longer than you. I knew them much better than you.

It's my duty to protect Lungmen. No matter who stands in my way, it's my duty. That hasn't changed.

So you're still Superintendent Ch'en? And who gave you this duty?

I did.

...Is that just something you wanted to hear yourself say?

Look at you. You're gonna save Lungmen all by yourself? One woman against all of Reunion? Your temper tantrum won't get you that far.

It's funny. You're the one who always carried out Mr. Wei's orders, because you could relate with him. Now I'm the one who relates with him a bit better, and I'm the one carrying out his orders. How the tables have turned.

I've seen the gist of Mr. Wei's plans. If someone has to die, Mr. Wei thinks it ought to be him. You're carrying the Ch'en family's blood. Once all this blows over, no one's coming after you.

You mean, he—

Mr. Wei would rather he die than you.

You give him too much credit.