Глава 10

Let the weakest go first. We'll take care of any pursuing mercenaries.

Feist, can you still fight?

Of course.

Hang on tight, Bill. Things could get bumpy.

More enemies ahead! They must have come in from another entrance!

Target found!

Over here! Get them!

Hey, don't run too fast. Got to keep a pair of eyes in the back of your head when moving.

A few got away.

Still not enough?

Get that caster first. Don't let him cast any Arts on our wounded.

Thank goodness you are back.

We aren't late to the party, are we?

Great.;What luck.

Whew... Doctor, you didn't tell me there was only one fighter meeting up with us.

One is enough.;There's more than one.

You know, Doctor, the more I learn about Rhodes Island, the more mysterious it seems.

But at the end of the day, the most mysterious one is always you.

You always have a card up your sleeve, don't you?

On this point, we're the same.

It looks like the Sarkaz have been drawn over here. But we didn't see many souls on the way.

The ones holding off the enemies inside... I'm worried about them.

I'm worried about W...

W? The one who made such an impression on all those operators at Chernobog?

Er, yeah.

Rhodes Island really IS filled with talent.

We have a... temporary understanding.

Doctor, I felt something eerie in her gaze when she said she was looking for Lady Heidi.

What did you feel, Amiya?;Isn't she always like that?

Her emotions can be unusual, but there are times that she doesn't try to hide them. Her eyes don't lie at times like that.

The last time I saw that look from her was when she was yelling at me for the codes to stop the core city.

Is she still hiding something?

Ask her when she comes back.;She's W. She'll be back.

Alright... I trusted her once, I'll trust her again.

Huff... huff...

You're bleeding a lot.

You've got a few holes in you.

You should have hidden another bomb on yourself, like you used to. That way, you'd at least have a chance to take me down with you.

*Cough*... Hoederer...

How much is my head worth? Enough to buy a small house in Londinium?

Sorry, W. The Regent has better things to do than remember the name of a random merc.

Ha... did you say that to Ines too? Before she gave her life for your little dream?

Still talking big, eh?

What were you expecting? A big laugh and a standing ovation for your dumb shit? No tears on my face, Hoederer. That's not like me.

Who's the dumb one? You're on the ground, not me.

Like I said, I'm just... a little surprised.

So surprised you missed multiple chances to maim me?

Now that's not like you, W. What made you lose your cool?

Let's see... how about an old friend coming back from the dead and trying to put his sword through me?

I can believe that.

W... who is this old friend you're talking about?

That's what I don't like about you... You always think you can see right through me, same as her.

Too bad for you, I'm right again.

It's been a while since you snuck into Londinium. There aren't too many distractions like this in here. What did you see in the city?

You're the one following Theresis, not me. Have you not kowtowed to his traitor throne enough times? Still can't see through his tricks?

So you knew.

Stop playing this game of you-know I-know. Look like a mercenary for once, Hoederer.

I can't let you leave here alive, W.

Of all the old friends that I've killed... you're probably the one who could best understand the choice I'm making.

Now who's indecisive?

I'm not taking my eyes off you. I want to see the Sarkaz who had the nerve to put his sword through me.

Alright then.

Goodbye, W.

...Huh?

Something deflected my sword... a dagger? Where did it come from?

Don't move.

It's been a long time, Ascalon.

Hey...

Same to you. Don't move.

*Cough* Or what?

Wait, you came to save me, right?

Don't tell me you came to help him? Don't you know what Theresis did to her—

Maybe work on your aim? I just barely dodged that, what with my injuries and all.

Too bad.

You know you can't kill me now, right?

You've been my boss, and I've been yours. But there's someone here who's been boss to both of us. And she's clearly not in a good mood.

I know. Our heads could drop off our shoulders at any moment.

I have nothing else to say.

...W.

Each word will make you bleed a little faster.

I know, thanks for the concern.

Looks like you'll have to accept a little failure if you don't want to die here together, 'Captain' Hoederer.

09-beg

So you mean to say that Hoederer has failed?

Yes, General. I saw it with my own eyes. He was gravely wounded in the battle just now.

And he was in contact with another Sarkaz woman, aside from his longtime mercenary acquaintance?

Right. But she's... highly skilled at concealment, and moves too quickly.

I was anxious about getting too close. Couldn't shake the feeling she'd notice me with one wrong step.

Wise choice. You wouldn't have made it back alive otherwise.

That said, I'm surprised the Confessarius let Babel's assassin go free. Was that an oversight, or their intent?

...No matter.

Tell me about Hoederer. Where is he?

He's still marshaling the remaining mercenaries, and about to resume pursuing the escaped convicts.

Have him return. Those convicts will not stay free forever.

General?

As you said, his wounds are no laughing matter.

Forgive me, but why do you still trust Hoederer so much?

I've had you with him this whole time.

Correct me if I'm wrong, but you've never once reported any misdeeds from him.

But he used to work for Babel!