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Pipes. They are buried deep underground with no end in sight.

These pipes connect the entire city. They are the veins of Londinium. It is through them that the energy is supplied to Londinium's heart, and that is where we are right now.

Never fear the darkness before your eyes. When the sun sets at night, the shadows live on in the city's veins.

When the light is taken, you trust your ears, your nose, and your remaining senses.

Listen carefully. The mechanical rumble is the flow of its blood. The gears rotate rhythmically like breathing.

Indeed, Londinium is alive. Even if we do not sit on its tall throne, it lives on as its own organism.

If you ever find yourself here again one day... no matter what may be chasing you, you needn't be afraid.

After all, you run through the body of Londinium.

Vina, you are home.

Okay, everyone. We can stop here for a while.

Uh, where exactly are we?

We've been climbing down all this time... It's like we burrowed ourselves into some kind of pipeline...

The walkway's broader, but it's still sark as hell...

Waaahhh... Are you those cutthroats who would drive us to some abondoned construction site and slice our neck?

Huh...? *Cough*, you might be right about that.

Who the hell are you anyway, punk? Don't think we'll just follow your every word.

Hm... to be on the safe side, let me ask you the same question.

Who are you people? Why are you trying to sneak into Londinium?

Before we answer that, you need to let our employee go.

Right, you're taking me hostage.;......;Let go already.

Is our hooded friend your commander?

Sure enough. I figured out who calls the shots in battle. That said, Cautus lady, you're the one who's actually in charge, right?

Don't be so surprised. I'll admit you have a few tricks up your sleeves, but... we're locals, and we know this playbook a lot better than you.

A local... You live in Londinium, then?

Were you part of that big fight earlier?

Stop with the guesses. We haven’t worked up the mutual trust yet.

Dublinn and the Sarkaz fighting each other doesn't prove anything. Them bickering doesn't mean we should fall down on either side.

Londinium's veins.

Wh-What did you say?

We've made it inside Londinium.

How can you tell?!

These pathways connect the city to the outside. They can get us past the Sarkaz guards and inside the city.

How long have we walked? Twenty minutes?

I reckon we're right underneath a certain key facility in Sudean right now.

Uh...

The facility isn't far from the walls. And it is a key hub. From here, you can get to many places in the city.

Rail tracks...

Just another kilometer or two ahead, and there will be a train station above us.

You know Londinium well. I suppose you used to live here?

I'm a local, too.

No wonder. I was about to say your hammer feels especially familiar. Feline lady... Uh, you're a Feline, right?

Whatever you are, that's what I am.

*Sigh*. I’m really gonna regret this if you guys are actually Sarkaz spies, aren’t I?

Don't hurt the Doctor—!

He can't hurt me.;It's too late to regret anything.

Huh?! W-When did you take over the drone?

Y-You're holding it in your bare hands?! I could detonate the drone bomb right now, you know?!

You don't have a remote.;This drone isn't even finished. All it can do is fly.

Urgh, this is bad.

When did you figure it out? When I was talking to you? Or when I led you down the underground passage?

Maybe even before that...? Hold on. You didn't... you couldn’t have figured out all the way back when I captured you? That this drone poses no threat?

And you let me drag you all the way down here?!

I had to get a feel of your intentions.;You think my friends here didn't know?

If I had thought for a second you were going to hurt the Doctor, my hammer would've cracked your skull before your hand could even touch the remote.

You know, you really should've picked someone dumber for your hostage, like this punk who only knows to speak with her fists. She might have fallen for your trick.

You think he could come anywhere close?

Uh... so the signal jammer I brought along isn't gonna come in handy?

—Mr. 'Local.'

I think it's about time we put an end to this charade. No more testing each other.

We may not face enemy cannon fire, but there's still a threat to the both of us out there.

Haven't we proven ourselves?

We've had many opportunities to take you down from the moment we met. Suppose we were actually spies sent here by the Sarkaz. We've already figured out the size of things here, so why waste any more time talking to you?

The only reason that the Doctor was playing the hostage here and that we willingly followed you into this passageway is because we believe you mean no harm.

So shouldn't you put your trust in us more and tell us what your goal is?

Hm, that sounds very convincing. I mean, you could say I'm your hostage now.

Rockrock, come on out.

D-D-Dr-Drones...? So many?! With that formation, they're aiming at us, aren't they? T-They could shoot us all full of holes!

Rockrock, stop it.

It doesn't matter if they spot you or your drones. Considering their strength, I wouldn't be able to get out alive, if we came to blows.

If you knew that, maybe you shouldn't have brought me along to play your stupid games.

Fine, you're right.

Hey, hooded friend, can you give Rock-17 back? The drone in your hand there. It's only half-done. If you break it, Rockrock is going to be livid.

Phew... Well, pleased to make your acquaintance.

I'm Feist. This is Rockrock, my partner.

We belong to the Londinium Citizens' Self-Salvation Corps.

How many places do you think there are in Londinium that our eyes cannot reach?

Countless many.

There are thousands of old factories in the city. Roughly four-in-ten are abandoned. The remaining sixty percent are still operational.

Most of the factories that are still running are built on the sites of even older factories. The factory buildings might as well be labyrinths filled with centuries' worth of industrial waste.

As many factories as there are, there are even more slums hidden away between the factory buildings. Not even the top echelons of the city's defense force can say how many there are living in these civilian industrial and old logistics districts.

Sometimes, I even think this place isn't so different from Kazdel.

The more colorful outer shell is the main difference. That, and they buried the rotten parts deeper inside to keep the stench from suffocating the distinguished elite.

Trying to fish a group of troublemakers out of the Kazdel slums in three days is like trying to rob a group of Lateran envoys covered by the Apostolic Knights on your own. Not an easy ask.

It is still built atop the foundation that we were all born in Kazdel.

Londinium... Who dares to claim to know Londinium so well?

How long did it take us to defeat the parliamentary guard and take command of seventy percent of the city's defense forces?

Less than a week.

How long did it take us to hang the aristocrats that took the lead in the opposition and defeat the hooligans they spent great sums to hire dozens of times, until they all finally fell in line?

A month and a half.

Yet we are now months into our tug-of-war with the so-called rebels here in the Sudean streets and alleys.

In just half a year, we seized nearly every borough of Londinium.

Every borough except this one.

A half-abandoned industrial district. From the south all the way to the north, it surrounds the mountains in Londinium's center and connects to the rarely-visited old logistics districts.

'This is where the history of Londinium begins.'

So the history books claim.

I know that there must be at least one king, perhaps even several, who are dissatisfied with my progress.

You mentioned that they wanted to completely seal off this ward.

They are far too easily offended. As soon as command here falls into their hands, they will build a new wall between Sudean and the other wards with the bodies of the Londiniers.

At the very least, the Regent supports you.

No, it is I who must do everything I can to support the general.