Глава 14

And don't get spotted when we make a kill, yeah?

You're more wary with these regular workers and 'The Exemplars' than you are with the Sarkaz.

In case something <i>does</i> go awry, could you just let me know if you see them as friend or foe?

That doesn't matter. The person they knew is no longer here.

That disgraceful traitor died in the Mausoleum of Kings, and... is no longer worthy of retrieving the glory they threw away themselves.

She hears a faint familiar sound once more.

Again and again, agitating her eardrums and heart.

But there is no white steam in the sky at all.

Perhaps, it is merely the sound of Active Originium rapidly evaporating into the air.

That armor... did it fly away?

We haven't gotten any news.

The Sarkaz might have taken it apart, or maybe Originium buried it on the battlefield.

You achieved your goal for now by leading it to the Sighs of Kings to help the Exemplars out. But it's really difficult to control. Do we have to figure out a way to retrieve it?

Let's not risk ourselves with that yet.

Sure, I mean, it might just pop out on its own accord whenever. Who knows what a mad ghost would want to do next?

Perhaps...

Or maybe, when next we meet, he can find a bit of... something that belongs to him.

*cough* *cough* No, absolutely NOT! You know just how rare it is to find protective gear able to cope with high levels of Originium in Londinium nowadays!

But, your price is just too—

We have a lot of people in our community who needs these, so can't you just cut it down...?

You just told me your wife and child have stones growing on them, and they can't bear with the pain—

I'll be frank. Me too! Every night it gets so bloody painful I can't catch a wink!

I suspect the same goes for everyone in this city. These wretched crystals are growing wantonly on everybody!

Not to mention those devils anxiously running amok now.

So, listen well. My price is fairer than fair. You're worried for your health, but I have to plan for my future.

Columbia's private sanatoriums don't come cheap. I know a director there who's a cunning scoundrel, and I only hope he doesn't con me out of my coin.

I also have to pay my servants, my chef...

What's going on?!

Mr. Hall, they're currently—

Have the Sarkaz found us? Hurry, get moving! And push out those paupers still clinging around our doorway to buy some time! Those devils can't tell whose lives are more valuable!

No, that's not it! They're not Sarkaz!

Blast it, they've smashed in our warehouse wall! Now everyone's rushing in to grab the goods inside and we can't stop them!

What do I pay you for?! Where are your electrical nets and heavy crossbows? I don't care if you attract some Sarkaz as long as you keep the goods safe!

B-But they have fire on their side—

Fire?

Good day, Mr. Hall.

...I know you people—

'Reunion', right? The city has been all abuzz about your group these past few days.

Listen to me, Reunion. I don't know why there's a misunderstanding between us—I'm Infected too!

We're basically family, right? We can work together!

Just name a price—how much for you to be my bodyguards?

Reunion does not accept employment offers.

Then—ngh, what about a share of my sales? Or a donation?

I can make a donation as an Infected! The city's Infected need all of these urgently, aren't we the people you fight for?

Heh. 'Donation'? That's not the tune you were whistling earlier.

I see, I get it now. I should have thought of it earlier.

Ha! Of course, of course... everyone would want all of this for themselves—you're just capitalizing on another crime!

You want to set the score? Sure, I'll begin.

Stewart Hall. You applied for a huge subsidy every year for protective equipment because your factory processes Originium.

But your workers have never seen a single garb of protective gear you've accumulated. The Infected living in the outskirts of town—just how many of them were your workers who were kicked out from your factory?

Meanwhile, you stuffed yourself with Columbian pioneer company meetings. Failing to send all these gear out before war broke out in Londinium must have cost you a pretty penny.

But you still thought yourself lucky. Londinium's done for, and the protective suits you almost deemed a loss came in handy once again.

You... just what do you people want?! Are you not a group that liberates the Infected? Look, just look at the stones all over my body—

Physical illness is not the source of the Infected's suffering—it is injustice.

Your luck has run out, Mr. Hall.

Because Reunion is here.

You're Talulah, right? I've heard of you, it's all thanks to you—

Just doing what I should do.

This is a <i>lot</i> of protective suits we have here. We'll have to distribute them...

Even if infection is inevitable for some, this equipment can slow the disease's progression for those already sick. At the very least, they won't suddenly explode into bits from continuous exposure in a high level Originium zone.

But most Infected choose to hide in their homes, so they wouldn't know who to ask for help even if their condition gets terribly dire, right?

So let us go look for them.

Tommy, you know how dangerous that is.

Of course. That odd thing hanging above the Shard seems to be gone, and the sky seems to have lightened up a little.

Guess the Sarkaz are having some trouble. Our blokes are saying a huge amount of Sarkaz are retreating into the city.

They're also swarming the spot where that flying fortress fell. According to the current alert level, going out is practically suicide.

Then you still—

We were doomed long ago, right?

...I understand.

My brother lives in County Castshire, you've met him. If I don't make it back, just give my wrench to him. If... if possible, tell him I was a...

Nah, forget it. Tell him nothing.

Also, Catherine. My stance towards you, Feist, the Self-Salvation Corps and Rhodes Islanders has never changed.

There's no meaning in saying that. What's happened won't change.

But you can influence and change whatever's yet to happen, kid.

Hah!

Then... we're all good to go.

That's quite brave of them.

You've spent quite some time staring at some of those punks.

They turned their backs on us. Reunion nearly collapsed because of traitors.

These few fellas didn't shake things up too much. Is there anyone who has never been confused in their life?

We have our own rules.

There are other places that could use your help, but you'll go over anyway, right?

Save your strength, avoid combat, go get some suits from Percival and keep yourself safe.

How did you know—

No, forget it.

Thanks.

That went smoothly. Quite a number recognized you and your fire, Talulah.

I already put the shackles back on.

If only they could see my flames as hope.

Now, we have a literal city of Infected.

Can you find a shadow of your former ideals in it?

Only rubble and ruin everywhere I look.

Even we Infected live in our vastly different lives. We suffer from the same disease, but never the same kind of suffering.

This is why Reunion has to be here.

If the Infected are born from injustice, then we... will stand against all injustice.

You're finally back! Are you hurt, child? The Sarkaz didn't spot you, did they?

I'm fine. Thank you for letting me stay here. I brought some food back with me.

How are you feeling today?

There's more stones, but it's fine. It doesn't hurt. An old lady like me never had much long to live anyway.

But a group came by while you were gone. They're good people, they gave me a checkup, and I asked them to come back in a bit to examine you too—