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...That's the honey drink I'm talking about. It's got a sweet taste at first, but I didn't expect it to hit me so hard after!

It wasn't really all that bad, though. My friend said I was honey drunk, but in the end, I was as sober as can be, and she was totally wasted.

Hm? Hey? Dedushka?

Hey! Are you listening?

Hmm...

Oh?

Forgive me, Rosalind. What did you just say?

She was totally blitzed on honey!

Oh, right, right. Of course, on honey.

Ugh... c'mon...

If you have something on your mind, you should just deal with it.

You're barely even here. How are we supposed to have a conversation?

No, no, there is nothing more worthy of my attention than your story right now.

Please, tell me more about honey drunkenness. If I recall correctly, they do offer specialty beverages made with honey on this train.

Alright, that's enough.

My eyes are pretty sharp. You've been acting weird since that guy in the hat showed up.

Is he your friend...? No, you don't look like friends.

So you must be enemies?

Not quite.

Perhaps the two of us can just barely be described as colleagues. We don't work for the same department of the company, however.

Okay, so he's a colleague you don't get along with, bumping into you on vacation.

I love the way you describe it.

Right then, Rosalind. I'll admit I'm a little worried my colleague may not get his work done quite satisfactorily, so please excuse me for a short while.

By way of apology, I will secure for you a honey beverage. Its main ingredient is a Kjerag specialty, highland honey. Each and every drop is Kjeragandr's blessing, pure and unadulterated...

Really? I'm pretty much desensitized to all that Kjeragandr marketing talk though...

Without a doubt.

But you did tell me your friend said you get honey drunk, so I'd like us to make a promise to one other. One bottle per day, at most. Let's keep you from actually getting drunk on our trip.

There's no need for things to be so tense between us, Madam Degenbrecher.

Her Grace's heart lies with Karlan Trade, and she is also keenly interested in Kjerag's continued development. It is my job to keep an eye on all aspects of the country.

This is no different. There's no reason for you to be on alert.

So your job description includes visiting train cabins?

The changes this place has been through are quite shocking, are they not?

From what I understand, they've deployed Victorian rolling stock on this route extending from the foot of Mount Karlan to Lake Silberneherze.

But this series of trains has gone through significant modification since its initial deployment.

As the first to sow the seeds in all this, Her Grace is struck with admiration for Karlan Trade's technological improvements in these three short years.

If Gnosis hadn't done all this, then Enciodes would've been in deep trouble after speaking up for him.

You're going to discuss technology with me?

You're talking to the wrong person, then. Better find Gnosis yourself. He might be interested.

Most curious, Madam.

I did not expect to find you here, much less under these circumstances.

Who exactly is it that necessitated your personal intervention? What kind of situation could be so urgent and precarious that... you haven't even the time to change your bloodstained gloves?

I dealt with a small issue, that's all.

This is not the right time for your curiosity, Trilby Asher, and I suggest you abandon it.

I'm here looking for someone, and I don't want to dirty another pair of gloves for the time being.

I mean no offense.

And I don't mean to interfere with your work in any way.

It's just... surely there must be someone important aboard?

And if there is?

If you wouldn't mind divulging some details to me, perhaps I could be of some assistance.

After all... finding people is one of the tasks that we handle on a day-to-day basis.

You seem to be mistaken.

I beg your pardon?

Enciodes might be willing to turn a blind eye to you sticking your nose here. That's his choice, and none of my business.

But I don't share his patience.

Do you know what's so much nicer about Kjerag than Kazimierz?

The place is cold, but consequently, there aren't as many insects around.

The flying ones buzz around until you can't help but squash them dead.

Now you'd best behave yourself, or I will act in Enciodes's stead.

Thank you for the advice.

This is not advice. It's a warning.

Enough chit-chat. Are you through wasting my time?

What luck, the man I'm looking for is eavesdropping on the other side of that door.

Erk.

Madam Degenbrecher—

Before he can finish his sentence, a flash of cold, white light sweeps past his field of vision.

The pressure the Trilby Asher managed to exert is suppressed within himself. The signature hat on his head is suddenly split into two down its brim, at last revealing a hint of the fear the disguised spy is feeling.

The woman's hand rests on her weapon, apparently casually. Her gaze makes it clear to the Trilby Asher that—

Right now, he is prey to a ferocious beast.

I don't want this train decommissioned.

Don't make me say it again.

Out of the way.

If you'd rather I make my own way, that would be fine, too.

(This has certainly got to be a joke!)

(The Black Knight in the flesh... In Kazimierz, they would print the image of the bloodied Black Knight on rare foil cards!)

(Set the Trilby Asher aside... Even the Black Knight is on this train...?)

(Oh, and me—A Victorian viscount, personally named by the Black Knight as the one she's looking for. What a star-studded cast! Inconceivable!)

(I need somebody to tell me right now this is all some kind of impromptu entertainment... That's what I need!)

Lisburn?

I need you to check for me right now if Karlan Trade has made any strange moves—

No, never mind. First, make sure our men are safe!

Our men? They're all fine in the barracks. We all went back after we chauffeured you to the station. Saw nothing strange whatsoever.

But Jefferson and the lads are not yet back from their drinking contest... I'll have someone find them right now.

What's the matter, Harold? The way you're talking, is something up?

Everything is fine for now. For now.

I hope I'm merely overthinking this...

Anyway, confirm their status and have them report in immediately! Even if they've drunk themselves to death, pick them back up and get them to report in before they drop dead again!

Understood. I'm on it.

...*sigh*.

O Kjeragandr, if you're really omnipresent and omniscient as the people here say—

Now is the time for you to appear.

Please don't abandon a faithful traveler.

If I can't be a good, proper guest, I may have no choice but to be an unwelcome guest.

So that's the gist of it.

The signal here is kinda wonky. I gave it a try, but I got almost no signal at all in the cabin. It's a little better in the corridor.

Good thing Aurora set this up for us ahead of time. Otherwise, I probably wouldn't have a way to get in touch.

What could happen to me? Relax, I'm fine.

Alright! I'll leave it to you to get in touch with the landship. Say hello to the others for me!

I'll hang up now. Later.

This should take care of it...

Rosalind!

Waugh!

Oh, it's you. You spooked me...

What are you doing? Are you running from somebody?

Terribly sorry, but now is not the time to discuss this.

Rosalind, why didn't you stay in the cabin?

Uh, I wanted some fresh air.

Got a problem with that?

Oh, not at all. Fresh air is a fine thing.

It's just—

...A shame. Seems we won't have much time for an explanation.

Rosalind, you go on back to the cabin—Wait, no, you can't. The Trilby Asher has already seen you.

(Besides, he said she looked 'familiar'...)

Trilby Asher? You mean your colleague with the weird hat?

Yes, exactly. That's him!

I ran into some small trouble, Rosalind.

Let me say this now. It was not my intent to bring you into this mess. However...

I don't want some strange man to come propositioning you because he's failed to find me.

Huh? Propositioning?

I just ignore those weirdos. And if they can't take a hit, I sock 'em right in the nose!

Not a bad idea. If ever you find the chance, please do.

But there are certain men who don't give up simply because they've been punched in the face by a young lady...

So, I'd like to offer you an invitation to the dining car, to sample the honey beverages there and evade the stubborn flirts.

Hm, so you mean you want to drink honey with me?

Yes, let us proceed to imbibe the honey drink.

And you want to run all the way there?

Hah, yes, let us proceed to run all the way there.

Heh, they've almost caught up to you, haven't they? I can hear their footsteps!

You really aren't hiding none of it.

I said as much. I would never lie to a lady.

Alright, I've got no idea what kind of ruckus you guys are stirring up...

But it sounds pretty fun. I'm in!

Pleasure to have you onboard.

Then, without further ado—

Now! Quick, we have to run!