Vengeful Soul

Operator Click, Operator Ayerscarpe, our situation has changed.

Y-yeah, I know already!

Since you and Ayers rescued me from the mountain, I'm more than glad to help!

Don't call me Ayers... *Sigh*. What has Leonhardt been telling you...?

The Catastrophe was immensely destructive. Wolumonde will not be in better shape now. What were their Catastrophe Messengers doing?

Things wouldn't have gotten so bad if Leonhardt or Earthspirit was there...

No point thinking about that now... we should prepare for the worst.

Any objections to setting up camp outside the town?

None whatsoever!

I am after all a professional Catastrophe Messenger bodyguard. And this is the 'wunderkind' who nearly got herself killed shooting videos deep in the Winterwisp Mountains.

Why are you still rubbing salt into my wounded pride?!

Just kidding. But... GreyThroat wouldn't want us to storm the town and kick in the doors of the mayor's office, would she?

Sorry. Please be patient. I have to confirm what happened to Atro.

I'll be right back.

...Famine?

Yes. Famine ruins everyone.

I know what you're going to say. A town the size of Wolumonde should be self-sufficient.

The day the Great Rift happened, there wasn't so much Originium breaking through the ground, carving the land up, ruining farms and granaries.

We've been very lucky, in fact. There haven't been any explosions in the town center or any of the very populated areas. But even so, the losses have been severe...

That, on top of an inopportune season. We're well into autumn and we're on a course for the Winterwisp Mountains. Winter's coming early this year.

We haven't announced it to the public yet, as to not cause a panic.

And then we were stabbed in the back by our own people, unwitting as they may be.

What do we do then... about the traitors?

Tatjana took the young people to survey the situation. No one could reach the power plant without a guide.

Each district should have its own auxiliary hauling equipment. What's the situation?

Too slow. At best an eighth the speed of the other towns. We wouldn't get out of the mountains before winter.

We can't let anything happen to the granary. Send more men.

Men...? Even if we're talking old folks and children, anyone who's willing to carry a weapon is already...

But they wouldn't go so far as to attack the granary. That's tantamount to killing every last person in Wolumonde!

You give them too much credit.

Um...

Go ahead.

Zwölftontechnik Strasse, the quarantine zone, is it as bleak as it is because...?

Would you believe me if I told you we had to cut down on rations entirely because of the Infected population?

No, it doesn't matter if you believe me or not. Would they believe me?

They would tear down the granary doors and count every last grain before they believed anything that came out of us.

So, do we let them tear it down?

......

I wouldn't mind a little open honesty if they really just wanted to take a look. But not everyone's going to let it end there.

Even without an official announcement, anyone smart enough would be able to figure it out with a calendar and a look at our route that Wolumonde is bound for a terrible winter famine.

They stirred the people up into a frenzy, they looted. They're just thinking of themselves, making sure they can survive, whether or not it means someone else has to starve. To put it bluntly, they want an excuse to steal.

I believe Rhodes Island has the expertise of dealing with the Infected, like you say. Dr. Atro's professionalism and your combat skills proved that much.

But...

Is Oripathy the only problem in the world?

......

Even at a time like this, I have to ask after Atro.

That was a murder.

Everyone out! The Rhodes Islanders have something important to discuss with the Schultz!

Severin.

I know.

Then, I leave it to you.

I guess this isn't a topic you can put on the agenda?

Should I have added 'murder' as 'old business' or 'new business?'

It's all a consequence of your coverup. No, no need for formalities. I'm disgusted with you.

Rhodes Island Operator Atro was murdered in the course of her duties here in Wolumonde. And I need answers.

And, according to a particular Infected resident, they are also hunting this 'murderer.'

Maybe the killer is one of those Infected. Like when a thief cries out 'thief!' Oldest trick in the book.

Maybe...

But before we discuss the murderer, I'd like—

Stop. You don't have to say it.

I do have enough of a conscience left that your request would wound me.

But Wolumonde needs Rhodes Island's help to get out of this mess. And there's no point in making things hard for you anymore.

Come with me.

What is this place...

......

Sorry about the... hasty handling. But they're mostly Infected. We had to put them somewhere underground to keep the others from panicking.

...It's cold.

I make sure to keep the refrigeration units running.

Impressive Arts. As to be expected from a Leithanian officer.

Eight victims.

Four from Wolumonde, Dr. Atro, and three Infected outlanders.

Including your son... Mr. Thorwald.

Tatjana told you that too, huh?

It's true.

Because I wasn't there...

Here you are... Atro.

You... You really gave me the runaround here... Stupid cat.

Incredible... how can she tell...?

(Could we... give them some space?)

Alright.

As strong as she is, I forgot she's just another girl trying her hardest to move on. Same age as Tatjana too.

Tatjana is... holding up.

I know.

Hey! I told you to quit smoking!

Maybe...

Smoking will only make your bronchitis worse!

...

Are... are you...?

You got it, little fox. You're sharper than I expected.

But do me a favor and keep it to yourself.

......

Do you... feel any better, Miss Folinic?

Yes.

Quite impressive, exhibiting such resilience at your age.

I know my eyes are swollen. Are you mocking me?

You lost a good friend and you're still keeping your calm. What could I possibly mock you about?

......

...Things aren't over yet.

You're right, it isn't. Now, I hope we can work together.

What is this?

The Arts core of the L-44 'Gramophone' autonomous defense device. To put it bluntly, this is your murder weapon.

Of course, civilians aren't allowed to possess destructive power like this. But any educated Leithanian would know how to drive this core.

Overloading, heating, and igniting are all features of our town's defensive equipment. Originium Arts engineering is complex. Not everyone can use it.

So this is it. Someone used this to kill Atro...

.......

We have to find the murderer.

And then what?

And then... I'll make them pay.

How about that. You move past restlessness and sorrow, and you choose revenge.

Miss Folinic... we shouldn't...

I know.

Of course I know. As a Rhodes Island Operator, as Dr. Kal'tsit's student, I should know better than anyone.

But the murderer, and the murderer alone, must face justice!

What did Atro do? She was helping the Infected! What did she do to deserve this?!

At least...

At least let me ask them... I have to know why...

I understand.

Schultz Severin, Miss Suzuran, Miss Fol—

Oh... Miss Folinic has already seen...

They had their time together. You look flustered. Did something happen?

Yes. During our inspection, a fight broke out between the Infected and the non-infected...

Again.

But this time... the councilors weren't even able to calm them down. They're demanding a declaration of war against the armed Infected.

People must be starting to understand what it means to have our town's movement basically crippled... They can't hold it in any longer.

But there's more... Many of the residents who were working with the Infected were themselves uninfected. They...

I already figured as much.

Huh?

The Winterwisps. Those damned savages. They're back to haunt Wolumonde again.