liskam

I... I think so too...

Blacksteel's operations help maintain the peace where it operates, but that peace is on the surface only.

It wasn't until I came to Rhodes Island that I understood things can actually be far grimmer.

That's also why I never talk about those ideas I had anymore. They're way too foolish.

Rather than a security company that focuses only on opportunities, I think it's far more important to focus on your personal mission and responsibility.

Jessica, have you heard that, though deadlocked, Vouivre is still at war, and how it is completely disorganized?

I heard some stories about it before, but now that I've finished this book...

I want to learn more about Vouivre.

I used to think that perhaps the people out there just didn't know how to help Vouivre out of the hole it's found itself in.

It wasn't until I'd left and joined Blacksteel that I realized hardly anyone even knew how hard life was in Vouivre, or should I say... no one cared.

But I still wanted to make my homeland a safe place to life.

I want to make it a place where people from Vouivre would want to go back. I want to bring everyone together, to turn it into a place that can defend itself even without the PMCs outside.

I heard you babble about how Vouivre needs a security company to bring it peace while you were drunk one time. Is this what that was all about...?

That was just drunk talk!

I just started putting together these data on Vouivre not too long ago...

G-Gathering intel is just a habit of mine. It's got nothing to do with ambitions or whatever!

So don't make fun of me...

I wouldn't! I am sure you can accomplish anything you set your mind to.

From the moment I first met you, I've never seen you slack off, whether it was back in Blacksteel or here in Rhodes Island.

Although you've been drinking with Franka a lot more ever since you came here.

That's all her fault.

She said she was going to fix how deadpan I was, and this was the way she went about it...!

But I think you live a much more fulfilling life now.

You smile a lot more too.

I think... Franka changed you for the better...

She may have become infected, but she's still trying to make her life more delightful.

She's serious when it's time to be serious, and she enjoys life whenever it's the right time to.

If we were still at Blacksteel, she wouldn't have that luxury. Blacksteel doesn't give its Infected members that kind of treatment...

And don't even ask if they'd let us stay together as partners.

Even though Franka got infected, she was still able to think about how to live her life to the fullest.

On the other hand, I... I'm nothing compared to her.

But haven't you already found your goal, Liskarm?

You want to go back home, and to bring peace and change to Vouivre.

I know you'd definitely give it a lot more thought than me. I-I'm sure of it!

I'm... still not strong enough.

I don't have a clear goal like Franka does.

I still don't have the slightest clue what I'd have to do to start a new organization and run the whole shop myself.

Even so, I know it's definitely possible to bring change to Vouivre with the power I have.

I really think so.

I'm sure it is!

Vanilla told me that Vouivre has lots of special dances and food, and even though life may be pretty simple for the tribes in the outskirts... they are all very hopeful about the future.

Looks like you're getting all hyped up about Vouivre again.

Well, I mean... both the story and the protagonist are really special in this book.

I'm sure stories that take place in Vouivre will become more and more popular.

I... I even want to pay Vouivre a visit, actually. Just once.

Of course... If I have time, I could take you around and be your bodyguard.

Not even you too, Liskarm... *Whimpers*... Is Vouivre such a scary place?

Right now? It's way too dangerous.

Coming across bandits is the least of your worries. If you found yourself caught in a fight between the mercenaries there...

T-That's a little...

That being said, Vouivre will become a place that's worth paying a visit, Jessica.

When that happens, you won't need a bodyguard. You'll be able to travel through the countryside, the wilderness, and the cities freely.

And to make that happen...

*Yawns*... Hey, Liskarm, you there?

Who told you to just come in without knocking—

What'cha writing?

Don't just go looking at my report.

Hm? What's this? A novel?

Don't just start rummaging through my bookshelf either.

'Vouivre Love...' Oh, isn't this—

I knew it. This is yours.

Isn't this the romance novel I left in your room?

So you really didn't care for it, huh...?

It's such an emotional story. Kinda makes me want to start a book club about it.

So you never so much as opened it after I lent it to you?

Jessica borrowed it from me the other day, and she just returned it.

Well, I'll talk to Jessica about it, then. I'm never recommending books to you ever again, you party pooper.

Hmph, it's just a made up story. There's no reason to read it.

You know, this is the hottest romance epic among girls right now, and it's one of the few stories out there that takes place in Vouivre.

I guess it's kinda weird to have someone from Vouivre read a Columbian novel about Vouivre, but still.

I actually wouldn't mind hearing you criticize how different the book is from the real life over there.

Well, I can tell you at the very least that your favorite part, the part where they keep sending letters to each other, is never going to happen there.

Tch.

But well... After she finished the book, Jessica now knows a lot of the places and names there.

She's also very curious about Vouivre now. Even borrowed quite a few of my research reports.

That's the kind of power that novels have.

Yeah, I guess I could research it from a cultural perspective.

You know, you really aren't a romantic at all.

We just aren't interested in the same genres.

If you'd brought me some sci-fi...

That's got no romance in it at all.

It's weaponry and equipment research! Anything wrong with that?!

A-Anyway, did you need me for something?

Hm... What was it again?

What?

Just kidding.

We got a new mission. Mutant Originium Slugs.

I was kinda thinking I could just take this mission on by myself or not tell you at all, and you'd be so mad.

So how about it? Wanna come join me on the hunt?

(Breathes in)

(Breathes out)

Yeah.

I just finished this report.

Alrighty then.

Well—

Let's get going already.