Глава 9

—The point is, you heard it yourself.

The County Hillock Incident's a military drill gone wrong. That's what they told the public.

Everyone who's hurt or sick will receive compensation and be resettled. According to government documents, anyway.

If Dublinn, or the spectre force, had taken over County Hillock when you left, then they've long since left the place without a trace.

That's not going to change, even if we go back to see it for ourselves.

I agree.

But I still remember everythin' I saw there. No matter how peaceful their things might seem, County Hillock... and the cities around it have gone through a great change.

Besides... isn't it all the more scary, when you think about how those changes are so well hidden in plain sight?

If the enemy chose to lay low after they made such a huge ruckus, that just says they're brewin' an even bigger scheme!

Victoria... might be lookin' at a crisis way bigger than the Hillock situation.

I believe you.

That's why I'm here.

But I'm not sure there are many more out there who do.

That's why we need to work harder!

Then I guess we need to figure a way into the big cities.

Do you remember Hughes?

The, um... the round one who tripped and bumped his head just about anywhere in trainin'?

He's the vice-chairman of Tradersmill City's Business Alliance.

If any of our classmates caught wind of anything on the down low, it's him.

Actually, before you even brought it up, I'd been thinkin' of askin' Hughes to help... No, not just Hughes. I wanted to try Big Green, Ginger Bill... and all the rest!

I've tried findin' them myself... It was plenty tough, though...

But now I've got you here, plus the supplies and intel support that Rhodes Island so generously provides—

So I'm pumped up on hope!

Let me warn you first. I have no idea how easily they'll be convinced—Huh?!

Bloody son of a... Why'd you yank me that hard?!

Chenchen, the transmitter's on!

An emergency message from Rhodes Island...?

They got our location before the transmitter broke, right? Could they have been trying to reach me...?

What's the matter? You look like that message socked you straight in the gut...

Oh, I think I get it... Is it about her?

Sure enough...

I need some time to think about what's to come.

Jessica, how's the mission going?

I'm on the road already.

Don't let your guard down.

Relax, Liskarm... I may not have been back to Victoria much, but we have entry permissions for our aircraft. The navigation system is working fine, too.

Our mission to escort the expats back to Columbia isn't difficult in itself, but the situation could change at any moment.

I was actually pretty surprised when we got their message, though...

The journey's been pretty much smooth sailing so far, but... have things really gotten so bad?

Phew... Sorry, I couldn't really show it when the captain and the rest of the team was there, but I'm actually rather nervous about this.

Your captain's not there...?

Oh, no. She left with a few others not long after we'd got to Victoria.

I guess... they might have another mission?

There's obviously a reason that the expat evacuation was assigned to the Department of Equipment and Applied Technologies.

I-Is there an obvious reason?

It's not necessarily a bad thing that you haven't noticed.

Do you mean... they are still having discussions with others?

But the Victorian government hasn't given us any orders...

Per the confidentiality agreement, I shouldn't be speculating or commenting on the other departments' information.

Forget what I said.

Focus on your mission, and let me know if anything comes up.

Remember, although this mission is Blacksteel's, our agreement with Rhodes Island still stands.

Alright! I got it!

Once Rhodes Island's squads make it to the outskirts of Londinium, I will rendezvous with them, as needed.

We're getting close...

Vina, are you nervous?;......;We've waited so long for this day.

A few months ago, Dr. Kal'tsit asked me if I was ready.

And I told her, I didn't know.

And I still don't know, even now.

So, I can't say for sure that I'm not nervous.

Doctor, thank you for staying with me.

If I'm still here seeking the quiet by your side... does that make it seem like I'm hiding from my problems?

Ever since the day I escaped, yeah, I've been waiting for the chance to return.

I can't help but wonder... If someone's gone for too long from where they belonged before, do they still really have a place to go home?

When I woke up, I didn't even know how long it'd been since I left.;Amiya and everyone welcomed me.

I heard about those days.

You'd just awakened, and right away you had to take command and go through everything that happened at Chernobog... Most people couldn't have handled things as well as you did.

Amiya... Doctor, you're family to her.

Rhodes Island needs you. All of us operators need you as well. There's no doubt about it.

I'm sure someone is waiting for you in Londinium too.

The Glasgow Gang must have a new leader by now. They could never have set roots down in Londinium without one.

As for the others...

I doubt my absence has left Londinium wanting.

If you want the answer, we must keep going.

You told me before... you wanted to go to Londinium to find the truth.

Are we all bound for there together?

It really does lighten me up, knowing I won't take this journey alone.

I hope the answer that lies ahead won't be one too ugly.

But whatever it is, I will do my best to shape it into something half decent with my hammer.

Have they arrived?

Soon, Your Majesty. The Nachzehrer King and the Vampires' Prince of Blood will arrive in Londinium in three days.

With the court reassembled, the Sarkaz have not been so close to reunification since before the civil war.

We mustn't let any other factions get in the way.

Speaking of other factions, Your Majesty, the envoy from County Hillock is still in Londinium.

We've already reached a conclusion on that.

It's just as you said, Your Majesty. They don't truly wish to form an alliance.

Had they such a motive, they wouldn't send a lunatic of a servant in their place as they hide whole behind the curtain.

There is no chance she lays hands on what she wants, but that is not why she left. The force she brought with her has been involved in multiple skirmishes with noble remnants and local residents in Londinium's outskirts.

They're probing the situation in Londinium, as well as evaluating our strength.

Yes, Your Majesty. If we appear weak, the powers behind her will step onto the stage sooner.

Yet if we take a strong approach, she will lose her value as a pawn, and face a hasty disposal.

All those who would wield the blade that is the Sarkaz will find themselves slain by that very blade.

She is not even in the same class as Talulah.

They may come from similar bloodlines, but Dublinn's leader and Talulah are nothing alike.

Compared to Reunion, the troubles that Dublinn stirs in the south have more than proven their strength. And it proves they are either ready to or are preparing to rip Victoria apart.

If one seeks to kick a man when he's down, one will only appear at the climax of the chaos.

At this stage, so long as the objective before us has nothing to do with the Sarkaz, no matter what they are scheming outside, they are unworthy of my attention.

But I will not allow any more chaos in Londinium.

Have Manfred do something about this. Dealing with the nobles is far too simple a task for him. He needs growth, and he needs it fast.

Manfred has always known how you feel. He's made the preparations.