Triathlon

Still hard to say. The other contestants'll have their own countermeasures.

That's true. Trying to hold back LUNG wRATh normally has already proven ineffective, so let's hope the other competitors can show us some new tricks!

Heh, they're right.

And the mood between them's eased a bit too. Wonder if anything happened.

So it comes from the Iberian period, no wonder...

Hm? Missy, that's not the competition. What are you looking at?

Information on this cruise ship.

What's so interesting? Did you just say Iberia?

Yeah. The ship's actually a relic from the age of Iberia.

That early...? Actually, thinking about it, there's no other country that would have stuff like this.

Mhm.

And Mayor Candela paid big money to buy it off the Iberians, and for the tech to remodel it.

And all this just to have the thing floating out on the city's sea.

I don't think there's another person across the whole world who'd do that.

That sure is some level of luxury.

Speaking of which, Missy, weren't you looking into this Mayor the past two days? Any findings?

Findings... they're still pretty basic so far.

This Candela Sanchez, in some sense, is someone who can stand shoulder to shoulder with Chief Wei.

She's that powerful?

Yeah. It's not exactly the same, but they're both completely wrapped up in their cities, and both have a tight grip on the reins of government.

As a member of the L.G.D., I would absolutely never say I admire someone who builds a city like this.

But as a daughter of the Schwire family, I have to admit, a builder like that is a real tough customer.

If we're saying this city's base is much more solid than it seems, then its superstructure is even crazier than it seems.

Agents of three governments come flooding into this city every day, and the news will sometimes report on disputes, even small-scale conflicts, between them.

But the thing is, nobody cares.

They come here as an open secret, respect an unwritten code of conduct, and revel in a joy they could never have outside.

Can you picture it?

The first time the three sides clashed, Mayor Candela showed up for sure, and used some method we could never imagine to 'talk them over.'

And after that, anyone who came to this city had to keep by the rules she set.

But I just don't know what it was. Leverage? Or a political bargaining chip?

Lady Candela has enough armed force on hand to defend this city, that's for sure.

But beyond all of that, I feel like there's a real simple answer, Missy. Haven't you already realized?

Realized what?

Here's what it is—alcohol, sugar, coffee, and entertainment.

How could those things possibly...

It's a time-old tale, Missy. The frugal convert to extravagance, but it's a nightmare to go the other way.

Forget old boys who've been spoiled rotten since childhood. You could even take me. If I suddenly lost something I was real used to and felt was real nice, I'd be struggling for sure.

Not to mention after losing it, I'd have to make do with junk instead.

Sometimes, people's wills just bend like paper, and what Bolívar's like now really doesn't help. If you told me this place was full of people with firm wills, I wouldn't believe you.

......

It can't have been that smooth as first, but as time went on, nobody could stand up to reject it all. All of this has become some sort of status quo.

But I'll also acknowledge, for being able to decide straight from the start that this was how this city would come to manifest, this Mayor really is phenomenally powerful.

Powerful to the point that it's frightening.

There's a curve ahead. Do we take a shortcut?

No need. According to the map, we get the most shortcuts on the cycling section. If someone's going to try something, it'll probably be around then.

Don't forget, Ms. Candela has her underlings guarding the shortcuts. They're probably more dangerous than any dangerous terrorists.

If the other side didn't make a move during Round 1, I can only assume they'll be even more cautious during Round 2.

Mm. We'll see as things come.

Come to mention it, Missy, does this MC seem familiar to you?

Hm? Now that you say it, it's like I really have seen them somewhere before.

Mmm. I feel like I've seen her somewhere, too.

She's D.D.D., you know.

D.D.D.? Oh, now I remember. She's that real famous DJ, right? I saw a poster once.

What's she doing here as a presenter, huh.

Mm? Wait... Sideroca? What are you doing here? Out on a mission?

You could say that. It was a mission in Bolívar, helping Eyjafjalla with some geological research on the side. We heard there was a city here, and once we were all done, we put in for a vacation here.

How about you? Came with Ch'en?

No, we came for a different reason.

You seem pretty in the know. You a music girl too?

Not really. A lot of operators are into her, and I've learned some things by osmosis. Right, you want to come over and sit with us?

What do you say, Missy?

Alright. I was getting a little bored of the competition anyway.

Eyjafjalla's here too?

Yep. She's out here so we can get her to relax for once.

Wow, then that's perfect—I've never met her before. I intend to give her a proper hello.