Глава 16

Let's hope you are.

Relax a little, Nikto. Today is the day of our first victory. It's a good omen. No need to look so anxious.

When someone awakens to the truth and decides to set off on a journey, it is the grandest of beginnings.

Quoting from Igor's biography again?

No, those are my own words.

Trust me, Nikto. We are doing great things right now.

All the surgeries are complete, Captain.

Some of the patients are developing fevers, and we're limited in what we can do...

Got it. I'll go have a word with their leader after this, and do my best to ensure the wounded are provided with food and water.

You've worked hard today. Get some rest. Taking care of yourselves is important too.

Captain, we still need to—

The Far North is under martial law, and the weather is affecting our ability to communicate too. It's difficult for us to connect to the outside.

What happened here will surely draw the attention of the Ursine authorities. We need to leave ASAP. We can't stay here.

But do we really need to work with them?

I'm worried that if we do, we'll be drawn into a conflict with Ursus...

Rhodes Island has no reason to make an enemy of the Empire, but right here, right now, these are just people struggling to survive.

Changing the lives of the Infected has always been our mission.

Besides, they have also helped us out a lot.

Don't worry for now, just do your best to prepare for the unexpected. I'll keep trying to get in contact with our base in the city.

If they can receive the information we sent earlier... I hope they will notice the clues we left behind when they come to help us.

<p=1>Bresk, Far North, Ursus</><p=2>Three days ago</>

<i>Bresk Times</i>, get your copy here—

Do you want one, <i>devushka?</i>

Oh, s-sure. How much?

Twenty <i>para</i>, is that okay?

That's fine.

But I don't have any spare change on me... Here, take this.

Thank you, <i>devushka!</i> You're amazing!

Amiya carefully places an entire <i>chervonets</i> in the boy's palm. He quickly disappears around the street corner, as if frightened his benefactor might regret her decision and take it back.

Amiya?;What're you looking at?

That boy's clothes looked... very thin.

Bresk is colder than the Ursus I remember.

It was winter the last time we were in Ursus.;Bresk is further north than Chernobog.

I still remember...

It was the first time I saw such intense fighting. I was so nervous I forgot to be scared.

At the time, I thought I would never see anything so dangerous again.

We've been through a lot since then.

At least now there's no Catastrophes or people chasing us.;At least now I know who I actually am.

Yes.

On that topic, Doctor, it's rather rare for us to have the chance to quietly watch a city like this, isn't it?

Chernobog, Lungmen, Londinium... Wherever we go, our memories seem to be filled with chaos and the fires of war.

It's how this land should be.;We should remember what this city is like now.

Let's check today's paper.;Does it say why the mines have been blocked off?

(Shakes head)

We might only be able to learn more once Eloysius has finished negotiating with the Grand Duchess.

She said she would help us apply for a permit to enter the mining district, but how will she actually go about doing that?

She made sure we knew how limited our info is.;She wants us on the back foot.

The Grand Duchess's office is right ahead.

From the intelligence we gathered beforehand, her name is Elisaveta Konstantinovna Lacitsara.

She's not the typical Ursine noble. Her policies are known for being kind, to Infected and non-Infected alike.

Every channel of information we've checked describes her as a good person.

A woman like that deserves more than just 'kindness'.;The Grand Duchess must also be a bright woman.

Her office is rather humble-looking.;Almost looks like a regular home.

The buildings in Bresk are relatively short and regular. It must be the style here in the Far North.

But looking at the map, all the surrounding buildings seem to almost envelop it. A rather unique location, in terms of urban planning.

So, here we are again.;They're not even letting us wait inside this time.

A no-nonsense young lady.;A local leader with quite the reputation.

Are you worried, Doctor?

Honestly speaking, so am I. Even if Eloysius has made her thoughts on the matter clear, we still do not know her true goal—

(Shakes head);Doesn't this all feel rather familiar?

Oh... You mean like in Lungmen?

Ch'en really is no-nonsense, isn't she?

Don't you mean 'hard to work with'?

Let's go with 'strict'.

Ch'en treats others the same way she treats herself. That's how it was back then, that's how it is now.

Oh, right! We got news from her before we left home. While she didn't go into detail on her movements, she sounded well.

When she heard about what happened, she promised that if Rhodes Island needed her, she would return.

We've made a lot of friends.;But a lot have left us too.

I still remember when we were working with Ch'en, the one who actually represented Rhodes Island and negotiated with Chief Wei was Dr. Kal'tsit.

Doctor, I'm worried that I won't be able to solve problems or get people to work with us like she did.

Also, we know practically nothing about Ursus's current circumstances, or the Grand Duchess.

Doctor, I...

We don't need to do what only Kal'tsit could do.

Be yourself, Amiya.;We'll find a way.

May I ask which of you is Dr. {@nickname} of Rhodes Island?

Her Imperial Highness the Grand Duchess invites you to meet with her.

We thank our honored guest for your patience. Please follow me.

You comply with the guard's request, patiently waiting again in the office lobby for Eloysius and the much-rumored Grand Duchess's discussion to come to a close.

The subdued interior has no clock or other timekeeping instrument, as if time is not a right conferred upon its visitors.

You while away the minutes in utter boredom, thinking back to your own discussion not long ago—

Only the Doctor is allowed to meet with her?

I also think that's unreasonable. If something unexpected happens, there's no way for Amiya and I to protect you.

In the end, this is her domain.;It does not seem like she is giving us any room to bargain.

Eloysius said she wanted to introduce us to the Grand Duchess, but we still don't know why she really wants to help us.

My memory bank has no record of a young Ursine noble like her either.

But a woman acting as a special ambassador, who also personally knows the Grand Duchess, must be extraordinary.

She has many secrets.;This relationship between a Grypherburger envoy and a local noble is a subtle thing.

But she did clearly say she wanted us to go with her to the mining district.

We need to cooperate with her, no matter what.;This is the only chance we have to get into the mining district.

But Rhodes Island has stepped into the sights of Ursus, and we have no way of knowing how the local administration views us.

I've had my fair share of past experience.;I've been in this sort of situation before.

I will support your decisions, Doctor, but please be careful.

Take a comms terminal, at least! If anything happens, reach out immediately. We'll come get you right away, even if we have to smash the place up while we're at it!

I will if I have to.;I'll make sure I don't need to use it.

But...

What is this mine lockdown hiding...?

The corridors of the building are exceptionally empty, just like the streets of the city it stands in.

The moment you are led inside, a slight nod is all you are left with. Not a word has passed your guide's lips the entire time.

Perhaps he trusts your intuition will lead you to the correct room, or perhaps he is used to putting visitors to the test.

Fortunately, you had detected the warm scent of applewood smoke wafting off that guard, which takes you to the only door emitting such a smell.