Глава 10

*sigh*... It's hard to say.

Yeah, I know where you're coming from.

I've also made the big mistake of trusting people I shouldn't.

After that, for an entire month, it took everything I had to force myself to keep going.

As soon as I stopped, I... Well, I'd feel like I couldn't look Amiya in the eye.

Well, the battle's not over yet.

People don't have enough time to catch their breaths. It'd be too much of a luxury for me to mourn or wallow in self-doubt.

Mr. Feist, do you need help? I can calm you down.

How? Is that some sort of Originium Arts?

Something like that.

So... do you also help your men with psychological treatment, under normal circumstances?

If the operator thinks it's necessary.

Ugh...

Relax. Amiya's looking out for all of you.;Amiya won't see our people become cold war machines.

Mr. Feist, did I come off the wrong way?

No, no, that's not it. I was just thinking you have some truly amazing Arts.

Even in a big place like Londinium, I've hardly seen anything like them before.

Miss Amiya, I appreciate your kindness. But, I don't think I'm ready to drive that scene out of my head so quickly.

Then we'll just have to get right back to work.

Let's do it.

The drones are showing that the defense structure layer above us is... very thick.

Can it be blown up?

Not likely. If Londinium's defenses could get blown up so easily... Well, let's just say, we would've stormed the Shard yesterday.

You'll find a way.;I believe in you, Closure.

I appreciate that, Doctor. You sure know how to twist your employees' arms.

Hmm... I've finished scanning the lift, and as long as you guys can open up enough of a gap for me to push the drone through, I should be able to hack into the lift and take control of it.

Of course, you'll have to find a bigger gap to get yourselves up first.

Doctor, don't you think you should send a signal and call Misery over?

He has work to do.

Fine, I guess we'll have to do it ourselves.

Maybe the locals over here can give me some inspiration.

If you can locate the support structure and apply an extremely strong external force, you might be able to open a little seam...

Someone's rapidly approaching our location!

Did the Sarkaz expect us to find a way to climb up the wall?

Who cares about that? I'll have the drone pack some Originium explosives!

Feist, calculate the position. I'll think of some way to amplify the explosive effect––

He's here!

....Hoederer.

We meet again, leader of Rhodes Island.

What happened to W...?

Are you sure you should be worrying about her right now? I heard you folks were short on time.

I'm willing to set aside whatever happened between you two. As well as... what happened at Chernobog, with Scout...

But, Mr. Mercenary, if you intend on standing in our way, I'll cut you down without mercy.

For any mercenary, dying at the hands of Her Majesty's heir would be a great honor.

You'd better hurry up, Amiya!

The bomb I planted just started ticking down––

One minute! That's all the time we've got!

I'll stop Hoederer...

No... Miss Amiya, let me handle this mercenary.

Mr. Feist?

I've found the support column. Plus, I have a plan, though I don't know how solid it is... If it works out, you and the Doctor need to seize the opportunity to get up the wall.

I know you, young warrior.

I also know that look in your eyes. The weight of everything you've lost has finally begun to set in, and you've lost your ability to trust in the soundness of your own decisions.

Lost?

Sorry, but even if I had the time, I'm not interested in a heart-to-heart with a butcher.

Over here––!

Another smoke bomb?

Even if I'm short a usable arm, your little tricks won't work on me.

Come on, Sarkaz. Give me your worst!

Let me taste your sword, your machete, whatever weapons you've got on you––

Trying to draw me away? Not a very sensible strategy.

Empty bravado with no self-awareness isn't going to buy you any miracles.

Even if all your men were here, you wouldn't stand a chance against me.

Ugh...

Pretty ugly run there. Without help, you're going to bleed out soon enough.

After all, you're just a craftsman... You and your men wave around wrenches and hammers, and hope that is enough to hold back Sarkaz blades tempered by centuries of war?

Beg the King of Sarkaz for help. Have her deal with me.

The King of Sarkaz?

What... are you talking about...?

Sarkaz... You're the ones who brought war to Londinium.

This is a war between us!

Thirty seconds!

Amiya, focus your energy.

Hold on tight, Doctor!

Mr. Feist, I need your location––

Mercenary... Are you seeing this?

Another flashy toy? Stop resisting. You can't fool me.

Sure, you're right––

Please, one last push!

A metal crab? A mechanical toy? What's your play here? Quit screwing around.

No, that's the most important thing you've taken from me.

I've never fought alone...

Look, Old Bill helped me out again. It's all thanks to your paranoia, mercenary.

My paranoia? You...

You're using my––!

Ha... Haha! Do you finally get it now?

Every time you swung your blade at me... you were carving your path to defeat!

Amiya, Hoederer cut through the structural layer!

Hurry, take aim! The bomb's about to blow!

Three... Two... One––

Hrrgh––

It's been split open! That's a big enough gap! Alright, you're up, drone––

The lift is ours now!

Doctor, let's head up!

Feist, are you hanging in there? Grab onto the zipline, and we'll head up after them––

You're not going anywhere!

Closure, have any more explosives?

Yeah, catch!

You...

Thanks for the hand, mercenary.