story_lionhd_1_1

Negative in zones E31 and E32. Possible positive in zone 30...

Hey, are you okay?

I'm fine, just a little dizzy...

Let me guess, fatigue?

That bloody Cowell thinks we're burdenbeasts.

There are so many of us here. We should be burying our pickaxes in his skull, not these rocks!

Shh! Not so loud. His men are nearby.

Who knows what they might do if they hear you?

Yeah, it's okay... don't worry about me. I can take it...

Let me handle it. You take a break, see if Leonhardt needs anything.

That Catastrophe Messenger has it easy!

It's his fault that we got kidnapped and taken here in the first place!

Hey! What are you doing? Slacking off?

But...

But what? Know your place.

You're hostages!

Hey now, take it easy.

Put yourself in his shoes. What's left of them, anyway...

Imagine if you were a miner who got packed into a crate like ore, dragged to this dangerous Catastrophe zone, and made to bang on rocks without rest.

It's exhausting just thinking about it, am I right? Like, just saying it made me feel so tired I can hardly talk anymore...

So why not let them have a little break, my good man? I'm sure they'll work even harder afterwards.

Or, say, maybe we could do it this way. I'll go look for veins, and if I find something, we could get the miners to—

That's enough out of you, brat.

There's only a small window when the veins are exposed after a Catastrophe. Timing is everything in the competition for mining rights.

Don't think I don't know what you're thinking. You want to sit on your thumbs until Maize Drill sends a rescue and steals what we know about the veins!

Wait, wasn't it Cowell who kidnapped you all? Why would the miners blame <i>you</i>?

Eh, learning to deal with people getting upset is like Catastrophe Messenger 101.

And hey, I couldn't persuade the guards, so... I get it. Perfectly understandable.

But hadn't you been helping them, mate?

Well, not for very long, I hadn't... Maybe they'd have listened to Cruise Jr.

Hey, now there's a familiar name.

Wasn't he the one who sent you a thank-you letter? The one you read to us?

Oh? Ahaha... did I read his letter to you guys?

You did. I remember.

Ah... I thought I only read it to the girls at Medical...

Well, it wasn't just his letter. There were many others. I can see how you'd forget which ones you'd read.

So, why do you keep bringing up this Cruise Jr.? Was he the real culprit behind the scenes?

Hm? That can't be right. He sounded to me like the kinda guy you can count on.

In terms of narrative, someone in his position isn't necessarily the antagonist. He could also have a positive influence on the protagonist's actions.

All we can infer from what we know is that he played an important role in this event.

Hey, what's with all this attention on Cruise Jr.? This is about MY heroic exploits!

Hey, is that... Ayers!

Ayers! Over here!

Stop shouting, Leon.

I knew you were here. I could hear you babbling about your 'heroic exploits' from the cafeteria entrance.

Cowell would have cut your head off if you were half as noisy when you were kidnapped.

Cowell? Wait, so the story is true?

...Parts of it, maybe? I haven't heard this version yet.

You can take my seat then. I need to return a book to Sonya.

Well then, Kroos and I will also...

Hey, don't go! I'm not finished!

What do you need, sir?

Huh? Ah, just hold these for me. You can sit down over there, take a break. Oh, and check if there are any notable cracks on the walls while you're at it.

Take a break? So you overheard us talking...

Yeah, I did. No need to worry about my feelings though, we Catastrophe Messengers are tougher than we look. Mm-hmm.

If Cowell's men ask, I made you do this.

So take a break. Keep that up, and your lungs will only get worse.

Thank you, sir.

All my years of hardship would it worth it, if the young folks of Rim Billiton all grow up like you.

And Ayerscarpe... he can be aloof, but there's something about him that's different from the other guards.

When I fell behind earlier... he saw through how sick I was and helped me carry my stuff.

My lungs have been giving out for a few years now, but mining is the only thing I know...

I haven't told anyone except Cruise Jr. Didn't want to be seen as useless.

Well... Ayers and I grew up together on a mining ship.

So how should I put it...

I managed to grab this before Cowell burned our camp. Have you seen it before?

This is... did it belong to Ayerscarpe?

Yeah, he puts his edamame inside.

Edamame?

Hilarious, isn't it? He looks so tough, but he has such a soft spot for the stuff.

When we were little, we knew an old man around the mines who had a lung disease.

He sold snacks next to the mine because he couldn't go in anymore. Grease and smoke were too much for him too, so he made stuff like salt-boiled edamame.

And he always gave kids like us extra.

Only when we grew up did we learn how little he made.

So for me and Ayers, miners are kind of like family... well, close neighbors, at least.

Leonhardt...

L-Leonhardt! Are you there?

Hm? What's wrong?

Cowell's men are taking Luca away! Cruise is trying to stop them!

Wait, there's a new character? Who's this Luca?

It's gotta be that 'Angry Miner' guy from before, right?

Oh, you mean the guards overheard the miners talking?

Well, I don't know the full picture... All I know is that Cowell's men had Cruise Jr. surrounded and were beating him up when I arrived.

Because he wouldn't let them take Luca away?

Cowell wanted to make an example of him. Show what happens to people who speak up.

Thank you for saving me... even after all I said about you...

No worries. Cowell wouldn't exactly refuse to trade a miner for a new ore deposit.

Cruise Jr. is the one you should thank. He put himself on the line for you, against so many burly guys too.

You're right...

So... how is he?

Still out cold.

He has a broken arm and quite a few bumps and bruises, but no harm to any vital organs, fortunately.

Damn it... that bastard Cowell and his goons...

Please, Luca! Just keep your head down, and we might see daylight again...

Get on Cowell's bad side, and we're all dead men walking!

I heard Cowell has a female bodyguard...

Former assassin. Real nasty stuff... There was a young entrepreneur who got into a bidding war with him at an auction.

The bodyguard cut the guy's arms off. In front of everyone.

Why would someone like that take orders from a man like Cowell?

Apparently, she has friends and family working for Cowell Mining... He must be holding them hostage.

He's pretty paranoid and likes to keep a firm grasp on his subordinates. The mine guards are probably the same.

But I haven't seen any female subordinates around him... strange.

...Maybe she's watching us from the shadows.

I would've said you were full of shit, if I hadn't seen Ayerscarpe in action.

After seeing him fight a whole regiment, though... I wouldn't be surprised if Cowell had someone like that under his command.

Who knows which of 'em would have the upper hand if they came face-to-face... but I'm guessing a former assassin knows some dirty tricks.

You give me too little credit, Leon.

But that's checkmate isn't it?

If it's someone not even Ayerscarpe can handle...

Wouldn't you be stuck in that mine at Cowell's mercy?

Let's see how the protagonist gets out of <i>this</i> predicament.

Well, that's not the important part... the bodyguard was a ghost who never even appeared. But I made an even more shocking discovery in the mines...

What was it?

Explosives.

Cowell was waiting for Maize Drill to send rescue, then he'd blow us all up together.

Maybe you could have dealt with the guards, Ayers, but could you stop an explosion?

Tch.

Er...

This is getting a little scary...

Zzz... zzz...

Kroos...

Kroos?

She dozed off.

Let her sleep. I feel it's going to be a while before we get to the good part.

Hey, are you implying that wasn't a good part?

An unarmed miner, bravely making a stand against the evil mine owner and his hired muscle!

Inspired by his act of courage, the Catastrophe Messenger heads towards a showdown with the villain!

(Yawns)

Did you just... yawn at me? I sure hope that was the fun kind of yawn.

Oh, sorry, couldn't resist... I must have eaten a little too much...

Ha.

Let them off the hook, Leon.

Isn't tormenting me enough?

So, how did you propose to deal with the explosives, Leonhardt?

He caused a massive explosion.

Hey, spoilers! We're not there yet! Good storytelling is about the journey!

So, this is where the detonation switch should be...

Number 26. Any more in this area...?

Leonhardt...

Oh, you're awake! Does it hurt anywhere?

I'm much better. It's just the arm... There's no need to do all this for me, Leonhardt.

Stay put. You have a broken forearm.

...What're those?

Oh? Well... these are transmitters I use to detect Catastrophe movement.

I used to be an engineer in the army. Those are explosives, aren't they?

Did Cowell do this?

Most likely. There must be seventy, eighty bundles in this hole. Enough to flip this entire place upside down, and us along with it.

Good thing they're not the type that explode on contact...

I can help. I've defused explosives before.

Not with that arm you can't. There are better ways to be a tough guy.

Look.

...Originium Arts?

I can't believe you destroyed the detonators with such precision from such a distance.

Completely undetectable, too. No alarms raised.

But it's all over if they see you fiddling around down here and decide to press the BOOM button.

Head back and join up with the rest. The company will send rescue soon.

But...

Leonhardt...

Will the company really send help?

Most of us are on short-term contracts with Maize Drill.

No one expected this, the whole Catastrophe and vicious competition between corporations...

To tell you the truth, though... most of us in this group are still owed wages.

The workers disappear, no more wages owed, there's evidence implicating a competitor...

Wouldn't that be rather convenient for the higher ups?

No worries, you're talking to a super experienced Catastrophe Messenger here! I'll find a way to get you home.

Listen, Cruise. I've got a plan, but I need your help.

The guards still think you're out cold, so you're the best man for the job.

W-What is it? I'll do whatever I can.

Do you remember the way in?

I'll create a diversion while you go back the way we came.

Wait for Ayers at the entrance. He'll help you get out of here.

And... give him this.

Your clothes? There's blood on them... are you hurt?

Just a little scratch.

Pass on a message, too.

'Stay away, Ayers. Forget the contract. Leave this to me.'

Honestly, I find it hard to picture those words coming out of your mouth.

Hey, I got all the miners out safely! I'm not all talk, I've got the receipts!

So, about the explosion...

Heh, now <i>that</i> was my genius plan!

I overheard the guards say that Cowell kidnapped me because his Catastrophe Messenger died in an accident.

He was really anxious to claim that mine... but the only person in the area who knew about the Catastrophe's movements was me, employed by Maize Drill.

So he knew nothing about the Catastrophe situation. And I happened to be a Catastrophe Messenger. The rest, as they say, is history.

Huh? So you led him into a Catastrophe area?

What? No! I would never! I'm a professional too, I've got standards!

I see...

You were the sole authority on Catastrophes present. So you faked one?

H-Hey, how did you guess my genius plan?!

But how do you fake a Catastrophe?

The explosion. Leonhardt used Originium Arts to cause explosions, then told Cowell that the tremors were caused by a Catastrophe.

Exactly! I was observing the rock formations in the mine while surveying, in order to identify locations where I could create an explosion without compromising the structural stability. And...

There was one more important point.

...What was it?

The explosives.

Ah...

Now this is getting a little interesting.

Cowell may not have felt threatened by the aftershocks of a Catastrophe on their own. He knew, however, that there were explosives set up all around the mine.

B-But what about the workers? Weren't they scared? Didn't they want to flee with you?

The lives of Rim Billiton's miners are threatened by much more than a mere Catastrophe.

Compared to becoming chips... or rather, expendable fodder in the competition between mining companies...

Staying behind was the better option.

Now I understand... I suppose that's one way to 'rescue' them.

Yup, the miners would be safe, as long as Cowell and his men were gone from the mine.

Cowell thought he could hold them hostage as long as he still had the detonation button.

Little did he know that I had already defused the explosives!

W-What's going on?

Is it a Catastrophe? Leonhardt?

No, I did it.

Look at Cowell's men panic.

I'm guessing they'll be looking for me to take them somewhere safe.

But a commotion like that...

Trust me. I need you guys to help out too.

Once Cowell's men take me away, gather the others and make sure they don't leave this area.

Tell them it's part of the Catastrophe Messenger's plans.

Catastrophe Messenger! The boss is looking for you.

See? What did I tell you?

Move it! Now!

Leo—

Leonhardt!

Hm? What is it?

We'll see each other again, won't we?

Of course!

We'll see each other again, safe and sound!

And so the brave Catastrophe Messenger lured the villains away from the shelter he had prepared for the miners, and stood alone, steadfast, against Cowell's terrifying fangs...

Alone?

...The brave Catastrophe Messenger, and his trusty bodyguard.

The guards would've beat you to a pulp if I hadn't arrived when I did.

Come on, I could've dealt with a few grunts on my own.

Now, I'll grant you that things wouldn't have gone so well if that bodyguard of Cowell's was around... Indeed, they could've gone very, very badly for me...

Yup.

Zzz....

Zzz....

Zzz....

Hey, they've all fallen asleep!

Ha.

Don't laugh!

I was wondering why you sat here listening to me, when you've already heard the story a dozen times.

Now I get it.

You were waiting to laugh at me!

The story is different each time you tell it. I've lost track of how many embellishments you've made.

You're depicting Cowell as an evil but stupid comedic villain, in order to give the impression that you're making a noble sacrifice.

Well, I can't exactly get into the gory details, can I?

It's enough that they know he's a really, really bad guy, right?

Yup.

No matter which version you tell, though, it always ends with me saving the day.

Feeling a little verbose today, aren't you, Ayers?

Leon.

It's okay to make someone worry.

There are some things you don't need to hide.

Hehe...

Incidentally, Cowell's obituary appeared in the papers not long after that incident.

At first, I was pissed that he got away, but I guess karma caught up to him in the end.

So, Ayers.

What?

Do you REALLY not know anything about how Cowell died?