Глава 10

Burn this view of the city into your memories.

Every time a new skyscraper is built, countless old buildings are inevitably torn down. It is this thick layer of dust, accumulated over tens of hundreds of years, that made today's Londinium.

When you inherit these lands, not only will you inherit the extravagant furs you see on the outside. You must also accept the scars that lie underneath.

It is extraordinarily difficult to build a new house among these old ones.

Your eyes need to be able to see through the flesh and into the bones to find the place with the firmest foundation that can support the entire city.

This will be your starting point.

Vina, it is when you forget everything that you must inherit that you will truly become a proper successor.

Siege, please think this through again. Follow my advice.

We must leave this place, this dark underground cavern at once.

Only timid metal crabs and insects hide underground. I can't stand hiding down here while our enemies are wreaking havoc above our heads.

You know, the way you talk is really getting on my nerves...

How could you call any of them spineless when every one of them stands up against the Sarkaz? If they were actually the cowards you make them out to be, they would've gone working for the Sarkaz long ago!

Don't get the wrong idea. I'm not trying to assign blame, but... there is only so much they can do.

What do you mean, there is only so much they can do? Remember who it was that saved you when you made it out of Londinium, half-dead? How come you didn't say there was only so much we could do?

I don't want to argue with you.

I'm not arguing with you either, but I don't want to hear your cranky little mouth either.

Morgan and I told you when you first ran into us a year ago or so. If you wanted to join the Glasgow family, you'd have to rid yourself of your shitty aristocratic attitude.

Let me say a word on her behalf. Dagda's working very hard too. She's changed quite a bit.

At a glance, no one could tell that she used to be a knight-noble.

Right, I learned a lot... from all of you. I'm sure you know that I've long thought of myself as a part of Glasgow.

But now we're back in Londinium, I just can't help but be aware that I'm also a Knight of the Tower.

Don't you think that anything has changed just because we're back in Londinium.

Do you know how many eyes are on Vina? We've never been safe. No, it's exactly because we're back now that we're especially in danger.

I agree with you on that.

And it's out of safety considerations that I think we should leave these militants we don't know the first thing about.

Dagda, you mean you're worried the resistance could act against Vina?

Their membership is too much of a mixed bag... What if some of them don't actually mean well?

Where do you think we should go, then?

As far as I know, there are still some in the city that we can count on. My mother's friends.

I couldn't contact them before the Knights of the Tower fell, but the way I see it... now might be a good time.

You mean... You want us to turn to the nobles?!

Who do you think murdered Vina's dad and forced her to hide out on the streets for years?

Who do you think... hunted us down and chased us out of Londinium? We don't even know if Baird and the rest of the gang are still alive!

The nobles weren't of one mind back then... but after the Sarkaz came...

Hah... you think the Sarkaz are our only enemy?!

Listen up, my lady! You want to hand Vina over to those dirty lords? Over my dead body!

Hannah!

What are you doing, shouting like that? Do you want everyone to know who Vina is?!

Both of you, calm down. Fighting can't solve everything, especially at a crucial moment like this!

Until you've really thought through the consequences of your bickering, you'd better shut your mouths.

What do you want Vina to...?

It doesn't matter.

Vina? W-What do you have in mind?

I think Dagda's worries are reasonable. We followed Amiya and the Doctor here, but... in the end, our objective isn't the same as theirs.

All they have to do is stop the Sarkaz in the city, and that's exactly what the resistance has been trying to do.

But we...

What do you think our objective is?

Uh...

Morgan, Indra.

Why did you recognize me as your leader, back then?

Because Glasgow needed to survive in Londinium.

We were still kids, and we made a lot of enemies. A lot of street punks had their eyes on us, and there were even a couple bad cops who always gave us trouble...

Vina, you're so much more incredible than the rest of us.

You're the one who taught me that a good boss doesn't just fight. Not only did you lead us out of trouble, you recruited so many faces into the gang, you made Glasgow stronger.

That's why I'm confident you're a good boss, and that you'll be a good leader in the future.

Very good. Looks like we haven't forgotten our convictions.

Have you heard what the resistance commander said?

They'll save Londinium, but before that, they'll save their brothers and sisters in arms.

Who's to say our objectives are different?

My hammer was forged to serve this city... to serve Victoria. If my strength can save even just one Victorian, then I have no reason to leave the fight.

Dagda.

Sorry... I won't bring that up again.

No, I just wanted to say you aren't in the wrong.

What...?

If you have your own mission to accomplish, you needn't follow my every word.

You are a fine knight, but I'm not the one who knighted you.

I'm not the lord you were born to serve. No... You should find the one you actually want to serve instead of being bound by your bloodline's oath. You're free, and you always have been.

Siege?!

Vina, that's a little...

It's not like Dagda was...

Enough. You heard me well.

Dagda, I await your answer.

Understood, Siege.

Commander Clovisia, have you thought about our cooperation proposal?

Amiya... May I call you Amiya? Please call me Clovisia.

Ah... Of course, Clovisia.

Dr.{@nickname} and you have more than sufficiently explained what your purpose here is. If I'm understanding you correctly, Rhodes Island is a pharmaceutical company that focuses on solving Infected issues?

To that end, your company has worked with cities and even countries... I also know that most Sarkaz are infected.

But... I just wanted to make sure about this. Did you come to Londinium with this objective too?

Or is it part of Rhodes Island's business to solve the Sarkaz question as well?

The Sarkaz are not a question.

Clovisia, the way we see it, the real issue at hand is the war between the Sarkaz and the Victorians.

This war has already seen more than enough bloodshed on both the Victorian and Sarkaz sides...

If the war escalates further, what happens then? How many countries will be dragged into it? How many people?

We can't allow that to happen.

Amiya, your ideals... are noble. You are Infected, and you want to fight for the Infected. I can understand that... but what do you have to do with the Sarkaz?

I... I inherited my ideals from a Sarkaz. She was a Sarkaz, but she loved me, a Cautus, and she loved everyone.

And Rhodes Island... Rhodes Island was born from her feelings.

Rhodes Island fights for the Infected, the Sarkaz, and all those who are oppressed because we know very well that, in war, they are always neglected by those cruel men who stand at the top.

It doesn't matter how many of arrogant men in positions of power we have to deal with. Our focus will always be those who truly need our help.

The cruel men who stand at the top... eh?

I see. I can empathize with how you feel, and I very much respect Rhodes Island's ideals.

However... I hope you can understand that the Self-Salvation Corps is not the same as Rhodes Island. Our people come from different backgrounds and have different ideals. And even so, we are all fighting for the same goal.

—We want to take back Londinium.

If we can't be sure that Rhodes Island will always be on our side, even if you could persuade me, I wouldn't be able to persuade my men.

We will stand together.

Dr. {@nickname}... Do I have your word?

You don't need my word.;What you need is our deeds.

Right, I admit. You've seen for yourself that the Self-Salvation Corps is low on manpower. We can't spare anyone to your cause.

Rhodes Island will not be a burden to the Self-Salvation Corps.