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Courier has a thick stack of paper in his hands as he stands by the shredder. The first page says 'Kjerag Logistics System Proposal'.

He wears a heavy, hesitant expression on his face, but eventually extends the proposal toward the shredder.

Wait.

Mr. Bison...

Why are you destroying the proposal?

Because it failed.

I'm your logistics lecturer. You're not the one who decides what's failed.

Besides, you didn't have that look on your face when you first told me you were drafting a proposal for Kjerag's logistics system.

May I have a look?

Yes, sir.

Pretty comprehensive.

You've covered all the bases, from manpower to cost to transportation method to storage.

It's a solid proposal.

There's only one problem left to solve—the engineering issues in Terra Nullius.

Right.

A Terra Nullius exists between the zone of actual Kjerag control and our neighboring countries.

I

A full-fledged logistics system requires a more developed transportation infrastructure, but neighboring countries will not simply sit and watch as Kjerag develops Terra Nullius.

I could not find a way to solve this problem, so I decided to give up.

If I recall correctly, I've discussed solutions to similar issues.

One way is to invest in an international logistics company.

In that case, there's no need to write a proposal at all—just leave it to a developed international logistics firm, like MountainDash Logistics.

We discussed this too.

In order to effectively operate in Kjerag, MountainDash would need someone reliable to manage local operations—someone like you.

But you refused. Do you regret that choice?

Well—no.

Another way is to leave Kjerag and establish my own logistics firm.

As clear as such a firm's Kjerag links would be, it would face a lot less opposition, as long as it does not belong to Kjerag officially.

I'm clear on that much, but—

You're not willing to accept it.

Just like you turned down my offer.

Because either way means leaving Karlan Trade, perhaps even leaving Kjerag.

It's the thought of leaving Kjerag that you really want to banish, isn't it?

I realized that everything in this proposal was written with the assumption that I would manage it personally.

The proposal was custom-made for myself. Implementing it means I'm the one who would need to leave Kjerag.

I was too arrogant.

So you're just giving up on the proposal?

I'll write a new one for the Master, so that he may find the right man.

So you're just giving up on the opportunity?

I know how much Kjerag means to you.

But this is a chance for you to show your value, isn't it?

If you're not interested—

Why did you choose to study at Rhodes Island?

Thank you for the kind words, but my mind is made up.

Courier snatches the proposal from Bison before he can react.

Before he can put the proposal in the shredder, however, he hears a crowing from behind him.

The fowlbeast is even faster than he, and whisks the proposal away in its beak. He is familiar with this fowlbeast—Tenzin.

...Master.

Your thoughts seem have been heading down a dangerous path lately.

I... I'm sorry, Master.

But—

But I'm also curious. Let's have you implement the proposal, Weiss.

Mapping, route planning, negotiating with the villages, deploying personnel...

Once you actually put things in place, you may find that they don't require your presence as much as you assumed they would.

Yes, Master.

Wait.

I'll go with you.

But—

You have an avalanche warning team, don't you?

Just treat me as one of them.

Let me see up close whether you really can do what you think you can.

Yes, Master.

Are you sure about this, Mr. SilverAsh?

I am.

It's high time Weiss took a good look at himself.

*Huff*... *huff*...

Here, take my hand, Master.

No need. What of the others?

They're already at the summit.

This trail may be a little difficult for you, sir.

You're just trying to get rid of me, aren't you, Weiss?

Of course not.

But one who spends his time in an office doing paperwork is bound to be less active than those of us who spend most of our time outdoors, no?

Heh.

We can take a break here.

The team at the summit can wait a while. They'll understand.

Let's go.

We can't delay the surveying on my account.

As you wish.

You're right, it has been a long time since I last climbed a hill.

You used to be very good at it.

I took after my mother.

Not so much these days.

You are still very much like her. You've just learned to hide it better.

By the way, I never told you this, but the day I took you in, I was only out there because my sisters made me go hunting with them.

I knew.

Did you?

Your sisters are not as tight-lipped as you are.

By chance, they had you join them on a hunting trip in the mountains that day. By chance, you got separated from them. By chance, you ran into me.

It was snowing heavily that day. You were lost too, weren't you?

You put on a brave face, told me to come with you, and took me to the Silverash manor.

When my grandparents came and begged the old master to take me on as a servant after I had lost my parents at a young age, it was you who persuaded him, saying that you wanted a male companion around your own age.

And so, I became part of Clan Silverash.

Perhaps...

Are your grandparents well?

Thanks to you, my grandfather is quite the man in Turicum's senior center, and my grandmother has opened a little shop of her own. They're rather enjoying their lives.

Good.

To me, Matterhorn is a guardian, one who has always served my family. I almost take him for granted. You're different.

You, I took under my own wing—at least, that's what I thought at the time.

Besides, you were quick and nimble. For a while, I had you carry my messages to others, and their messages back to me.