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Sir! We've brought the hostage!

It really is you, old man.

He put up a fierce fight and even wounded one of our men, but we didn't hold back. We made him bleed.

Alright, you did a pretty good job out there. Now get back to work.

What is it?

Capitán, the fact that this old man made it up to the sixth floor means that there must be a lot of them. We might not... be able to...

Might not be able to what? Let me be clear with all of you: if this doesn't come together, we're done for!

One other thing. I have no idea what this guy was doing, with all these wires running inside the wall...

Stop asking questions and get back to work.

Yessir...

Alright, Diaz. What brought you and your men over to the Galería?

You already know the answer to that, Mateo.

We've rescued the hostages, and your minions have been taken out. It won't be long until all of Dossoles knows that it was you who orchestrated and staged this terrorist attack.

Basically, you're finished.

You can't fool me.

You can't think you're going to ship those art pieces for a quick buck, can you?

Listen, of all the trucks you brought, only a single one is loaded, and we've already got the driver and guard. Your get-rich-quick scheme is ruined.

What?!

If you don't believe me, just ask the men you sent downstairs. We already knew about the bombs, so let's wrap things up here before they blow.

The bombs... Reynell, when are your bombs supposed to go off? Give me the time.

Tell me when the bombs go off, Reynell.

Talk! Are you a deaf-mute now?!

If you're that desperate to get blasted to pieces, I can fulfill your wish right here and now–

Ten o'clock.

Give it up, Mateo. You'd better figure out what you're going to do, because there's not much time left.

If you have a shred of sanity left, let me out of these cuffs.

There are four bomb caches in the building, three of which we have under control. They'll be defused in no time. We're short the one in the ventilation shaft of Reynell's office.

Miserable old man, if I find out you're lying to me, you're dead meat!

The Capitán swears viciously and grabs the terminal before striding over into the shadow by the wall of the office.

The old firefighter looks up at the sky; Reynell finds his usual posture, leaning comfortably beside a huge painting.

An awkward silence lingers over the balcony.

Diaz.

So you can still speak after all.

How do you know when the bombs are supposed to go off? Who told you?

Why? Are you upset you can't use explosives to turn your investors' money into scrap paper?

It doesn't make a difference. There's another node in the ventilation shaft.

It might not be enough to destroy the artwork downstairs, but it is enough to turn this whole gallery into rubble and send that money up in smoke.

It's also enough to end the lives of the men up here on the balcony.

In the face of what I'm about to accomplish, does that really matter?

Diaz!

Though she has already steeled herself, Ela can't help but feel a chill grip her heart the moment she sees what's in front of her.

A large hole has been dug out on the side of the stairwell, and the multitude of metallic appendages protruding from it sprawl over the ground, a number of them crushed by people who had fallen to the ground.

But even more conspicuous is the blood spilled on the floor of the stairwell.

A trail of blood that has already begun turning black around the hole it emerges from extends all the way upstairs.

Before Ela can pick up her terminal to report the situation, the ground beneath her suddenly starts shaking.

...Oh no!

*Cough,* *cough*...

Ela, what's going on up there?

It's as you feared. The explosives in a half-connected state went out of control and started detonating, causing a small-scale collapse.

Are you hurt?

I'm fine, but the site of the explosion doesn't look good. It might get in the way of–

Ela walks down a few steps. Before she can finish her sentence, the gravel and rubble tightly choking the stairwell come squarely into view.

What happened just now? What exactly is the situation up there?

(*deep breath*) The collapse caused by the explosion has completely sealed off the stairwell between the fifth and sixth floors.

Considering that Reynell bastard designed only one stairwell to the upper levels of Galería Krysztauowa, and his elevator is out of commission, I'm cut off from the rest of you.

Doc and I are here at the explosion too–– My god, what is this...?

Solutions first. Can the stairwell be cleared with the tools you have?

Ela tries to push the large slab of concrete in front of her.

...Not easily.

Wait for me, I'll be there in a second. Tecno and Miłosz are also on the way. We're going to find a way to clear the rubble.

But... It's 9:35 right now. We're running out of time.

I'll break through and make my way up. You guys follow after me as soon as you clear the rubble. If you can't do that in time, I'll at least find a way to get Diaz out safely.

Wait, Ela! That's way too dangerous!

Think this through carefully, Ela.

I'll give it to you straight – clearing through the debris might take longer than expected.

My point exactly. We can't sit around waiting for Diaz to get blown to pieces, can we?

Are you sure you can do this?

Of course. I trust all of you, and I also trust in myself.

Sounds good to me.

Iana? Doc?

(*smiles wryly*) Looks like nobody can stop you.

Please be careful.

Thanks.

Hm, static?

My communicator seems like it's about to die. Fuze, after we get out of this mess, make sure to charge it up for me.

I've about had it with this stupid place. Climbing stairs on my first day, and now I'm still climbing stairs on my last.

If you want out, then pick up the pace.

Also, what was that loud noise with the tremors just now? Seemed like the whole building was shaking.

Quit wasting time. Hurry up and head down–

The soldiers, eager to head downstairs, suddenly run into Ela in the not-so-wide corridor.

Both sides immediately raise their weapons.

Ela aims her muzzle at the leader, but her target is the only one among the soldiers who does not respond.

Out of the way, Reynell's bodyguard. We're short on time.

What a coincidence. I'm in the same boat.

Wait, didn't el Capitán tell us to–

Shut up.

Bodyguard, you saw the hole in the wall and those wires on the sixth floor, didn't you? What is that?

Explosives. Reynell planted enough explosives in the building to flatten the whole place. Now, out of my way.

Coño, I knew it!

The irate soldier heads down the stairs with increased urgency, while the others stand there in a daze, not having grasped the link between the art gallery and the bombs.

Ela also pays them no heed. She tries to push past the group of soldiers with her shoulders.

Hold on! This isn't right!

Stop that woman right now! Hurry!

Despite their bewilderment, the soldiers still subconsciously spring to carry out the order, grouping up to surround Ela.

What are you getting at now?

Coño! The path right under us is blocked!

You know how to get out of this place, right? Take me with you! Hurry! Otherwise, we're both going to die here!

Ela swears under her breath.

The men in front of her clearly can't be reasoned with, yet she is the one caught in the most disadvantageous position.

I finally got through! Hurry up and report! Now!

Conchetumare! Did everyone go deaf today?!

Sir... Have you known about the explosives in the art gallery... this entire time?

It was news to me too! Just give me your report, now! We have ways of dealing with the explosives!

There's nothing to report.

WHAT?!

If I had to say something... it'd be that the only staircase going down is completely sealed off. Over.

The soldier slams the communicator into the ground in a fit of rage.

No one is taking orders from el Capitán anymore, so you'll get us out of here, right? You must know the way out?

You've got it wrong. I'm going upstairs to save a life, not running for my own.

Drop the act already! There's no way you're fooling all of us. You must know the way out!

The leader's words become more and more jumbled, but the routed soldiers start to understand, one after another.

Laying the GRZMOT mines, getting out of the blast zone, then swiftly coursing her way out before the soldiers can act. Ela has planned it all out in her head.

Her actions might invite another group of pursuers, but there is no other option. With each second she wastes here, Diaz's peril continues to grow–

Grenade out! Brace for impact!

At almost the same instant the order leaves her lips, Ela leaps and vaults over the stair handrails.

Just on the other side of the ignored wall, a grenade soars through the air and finds a place to lodge itself, ripping apart the surface.

The soldiers, their attention drawn away by Ela, do not notice the wall behind them until they are bowled over by a surge of shattered bricks, sweltering heat, and shockwave.

Before they can turn their weapons to the gaping hole in the wall, or even stand, the well-trained squad has already rushed in under the cover of their ballistic shields.

Go, go, go!

Laying suppressive fire!

Hostile down!

Stragglers at three o'clock!

Hostile down! One more below us! Watch for friendly fire!

Clear.

Good work.

Ela, are you alright?

Cohen, Tina, Kötz, Alexsandr...

See, I told you Ela would be inside. We couldn't have come at a better time.

Ugh, looks like we have a good number of stragglers on our tail outside the stairwell... How's the situation on your end?

I was just on my way to the roof to free the hostage. Explosives go off at ten o'clock.

Where are the others?

The smaller explosion before sealed off the only staircase.

Understood. We'll trace your steps after we finish off the hostiles pursuing us.

Hey... Thank you all so much, really.

Words aren't enough.

To be honest, Diaz, I was rather fond of what you people were doing in the street art community.

And you think now is the time to bring that up?

If not now, when? Which side would you take on the subject of explosives?

You've lost your mind.

I'm being serious. You've got some good stuff over there.

Are you not afraid of death at all?

I've already fulfilled my life's calling. What is there to be afraid of?

Then again, you seem pretty composed yourself. At least, nothing like that lily-white captain over there. Why is that?

I found a place where I truly belonged, and lived out a long enough life there.

If I manage to survive this mess the two of you joined hands to make, I'd like to see my community rise again from the ashes. If not, all I can say is, too bad.

You have that much confidence... in the street artists?

Simple answer. They're my family, and I know them well. As long as we're together, anything is possible.

What, do you not have any people like that around you?

I did... But when we were together, we only ever did what I wanted...

Mateo, your people should've told you what you need to know on the phone, so you should understand the situation.

Hurry up and let me disarm the node. At least that way, neither of us has to die.

Not going to happen, old man.

Mateo turns to Reynell, who is leaning to the side, a somewhat twisted expression on his face as he grabs a golf club.

Reynell, you wouldn't want your carefully-crafted fireworks show to go to waste, right?

(*takes a deep breath*)

We'll make a two-in-one deal. You promise me that you'll blow this place to bits at the scheduled time, and I'll let you and the old man over there hold onto your lives.

I know you're the only person who can access the elevator in your office. Nobody else, not even Miłosz.

Now, all you need to do is give me the elevator key and let me go down, and I'll let you and the old man leave. Considering...

Mateo glances at the clock above his head. It reads 9:50.

...we have plenty of time.

Don't go quiet on me now. You two were so chatty a minute ago?

Reynell blinks a few times.

You really want me to say what I think?

Of course.

Mateo, do you know my greatest fear? What I'm most worried about here?

The elevator key, now––

My greatest fear... is that the filthy blood flowing out of your corpse could seep into the rubble and pollute all the art.

Shut up! And give me the key!

Mateo, stop! What are you doing?!

Don't move, or I'll mess you up too.

Urk... *cough*, *cough*!

It's fine, Diaz... Let this sad little man, *cough*, blow off some steam.

The key! Don't make me say it again!

You know, Mateo. I just thought of the perfect analogy.

I didn't ask, you–

You're like a bloated burdenbeast that has broken into a solemn memorial hall, stinking up the whole place without a care in the world, so proud of yourself as you watch everyone cover their mouths and noses with their handkerchiefs.

You feel like you're the one in control, since they're all acting that way because of you.

Just like right now. You think that as long as you offer me a deal, I'll give in to your coercion because I'm desperate to escape. You think that old Diaz and I will watch you disappear down the elevator, and despair as we struggle to get downstairs. Isn't that right?

Unfortunately, at the end of the day, a burdenbeast is nothing more than a domesticated animal.

I said, shut up–

If you're in that much of a hurry to make it downstairs, I'd suggest jumping down the elevator shaft–

SHUT UP!

In a fit of rage, Mateo strikes Reynell with a heavy blow to the back.

Diaz, his hands still bound, tries to rush up to Mateo, but is kicked away.

Don't get too excited... The two of you can settle down...

After all, we're going to become monuments to Galería Krysztauowa in a few short minutes.

I SAID SHUT UP!!

Mateo lifts the golf club in his hand high up into the air again, this time taking aim at the back of Reynell's head.

Frag grenade out!

Throwing flashbang!

Who's that?!

For a moment, a loud boom and a blinding light fill the spacious balcony.

After the dizziness and tinnitus gradually fade away, the people on the balcony see a woman – furious, yet nevertheless silent – step out from behind the wall.

There once was a painting there, now replaced only by the smoldering remnants of a frame.

The canvas, blasted to pieces, swirls around the woman as if her silent rage had converged into a firestorm.

Successfully broken through to the balcony on the top level of the art gallery.

Three individuals on the balcony: Diaz González, Reynell Kowalski, and...

...a sad little clown.

Everyone, cover me. This will be our final mission.