Глава 10

What about their commander? Do you see him?

I don't.

Stay frosty. Wait for my signal.

8:09 P.M. \ Overcast

Abandoned Liquor Plant, Sudean Borough, Londinium

Aaah... ah...

Ha... Haah... ah...

Benny, who's in that room?

Uh... the Self-Salvation Corps soldier they captured this afternoon.

Are they interrogating him?

The Sarkaz won't let the chance to get some Self-Salvation Corps intel slip away. That soldier... probably doesn't have much longer to live.

I hope he'll hang in there for a little longer. It won't be much longer now...

Are they here...?

No signs of anyone yet.

Then stay on the lookout.

How's Hoederer's search going?

The mercenaries are watching our prisoners in the cells. They've been working all day, but we have too many prisoners. It'll take time to check each one of them.

What's more, this guy we have in here is a stubborn one. We haven't managed to beat anything out of him...

Hm... Make good use of what time we have left, then. If he still doesn't give us anything...

Is it my time to shine, then?

Ugh—You, you...!

Put your blade down.

General! How did he...?!

Wait outside. I will take care of this.

Yes... Please be careful!

I'm sure you know that even if he actually tried to attack us, that blade wouldn't have done him much good.

Please... I would rather you stop startling my men. They're all fairly anxious as is.

Very well. We just didn't want to be late. Especially considering the guy inside isn't even breathing anymore.

You came at just the right moment, then.

Who's in charge of the south side of the factory?

Schwab's squad, Captain.

Schwab, huh...? He was in my squad five years ago.

Is that what you meant when you said I should pay attention to the shadows beneath my feet?

Get ahold of Schwab's position. No, have him come see me right now.

Benny, it's a little quiet outside the building, isn't it? Where are the mercenaries guarding the place? Are they gone?

Right, not one of them's still here.

They are acting quite strange...

They were strange to start with, no? The Sarkaz never made any sense, whether making friends or killing.

Don't say that unless you're trying to anger them.

Sorry, Lady Heidi... but I've been locked in here for two weeks. It's hard for me not to hate the Sarkaz.

No one blames you. You're doing very well.

Right, I heard the Sarkaz general paid us a visit at noon, with the mercenary leader.

Manfred did...?

Manfred... that's not good.

What's the matter?

This is a trap. Clovisia... and maybe them...

Are you worried that the commander will start the operation tonight? We need to find a way to get in touch with them... Uh... but it's been so many days, and we still haven't found a way to get any news past these walls.

No, I'm sure they've considered that this could be a trap. This might perhaps... be an opportunity too.

Benny, let everyone know that our operation might need to be pushed up. Anyone who can fight should get ready to fight.

But even if we can make it out of the factory building, it won't be easy to push through all the defenses outside the gate...

Then let's come this way.

A mercenary told me this wall here... is very safe.

8:45 P.M. \ Overcast

Outside the South Wall of the Abandoned Liquor Plant, Sudean Borough, Londinium

Higher... A little higher... Yep, this is a nice view, stable and all.

Closure, what do you see?

Hm... Three entrances. Each of 'em have some thirty men standing guard.

The ones guarding the entrance to the east are all Sarkaz. So are the ones to the southwest, actually... Uh, different outfits, though. Looks like they might be mercs.

And there's the main entrance to the north... It's the Dublinn forces who're guarding that one.

Then there are also some five or six squads patrolling the campus, going about between each factory building...

Huh? Wait up... The south... like, the wall closest to us... This place's empty.

Empty?

Going by how things are laid out everywhere else, there should be a squad patrolling here, too... but there doesn't seem to be one.

Might be a trap.;Perhaps we have a helping hand.

Doctor, should we proceed as planned?

What do you think?

We need to rescue Lady Heidi, and we also need to get to Central Londinium as soon as possible... No matter the case, we don't have any time to waste.

What about the Self-Salvation Corps?

We'll do as you say in this operation. Commander's orders.

We have someone to rescue too.

Doctor, I was going to say that no matter what your call is, we've got our operation... but my brothers in the 3rd are right. You're the commander.

Alright, we'll proceed as planned.

Team Morgan, to the east entrance.;The 3rd will split up and distract the north and southwest entrances.;Closure will stay on surveillance and support.

Alright, Doctor. Dagda, let's go.

Roger that. Let's move!

No problem. Leave it to me.

Amiya, send a signal to the others.

Others? Are there other Rhodes Islanders aboveground?

Right, Mr. Feist. As soon as they get our signal, they'll know that we'll have an operation here tonight.

Do you see them, Doctor? I'm guessing not yet, right? They aren't close enough.

You said they aren't nearby? Uh, does the Doctor have some kind of special Arts?

No, PRTS is helping me.;I've got X-ray vision.

What... That sounds like some amazing technology.

Doctor, you have to tell me more about it once we get back.

Doctor, you aren't pulling my leg, are you?

You have to have some kind of special terminal. The kinds with displays and all!

But if someone is here, should we wait outside?

No need. If they determine there's a need to rendezvous with us, it'll be after we head inside.

Then the problem at hand is still how we get inside...

Doctor, it's your call. Which way?

Let's go south.

That's a wall...

Ah! I get it.

Closure, Mr. Feist, do you have any way for us to climb over there?

We could blow it up? We made a buncha new demolition devices. Couldn't have blown Londinium's outer walls, but they could work here.

Uh... it might be difficult.

Londinium's factories are usually built with reinforced outer walls. Unless you blow it up from the inside, it probably won't have as much of an effect as you'd expect.

Then... How about if I pack in some more firepower?

No, that'll attract too much attention. Morgan's efforts will go to waste.

Alright... I guess we should've had Morgan take some with her.