Reefsteep's Land

Heavyrain?

Everything's normal there...

But I don't trust you.

Yes, very well said. Of course I am not to be trusted.

What exactly is your objective?

My objective... is to find out what my objective actually is.

What the actual—

Did you know that the last Lord Ameer of Ibut died in a fire?

That was a few years ago... The current Lord Ameer is his son, and that whole thing caused quite a ruckus in Ibut.

I had to find myself a new fairy godmother right away thanks to that fire. Took me months to get used to the work there. Huge pain in the butt.

Right, exactly. He was my very last prey.

I did all the preparations and laid out my trap, but there's no more prey to hunt. I have nothing to do except to lounge around.

—

—Y-You killed a Lord Ameer?

The Sargon army will find you—

—Wait, hold on, what do you even want, telling us about this?

Ah, I shouldn't have expected any less from one who frequents the black markets. That's right, there is no one who knows I have to do with his death aside from you and me.

As for the Sargon army... We live in different times now. The ruling Padishahs simply care not about what is happening here in this barren wasteland.

My guess is that it matters not to them whether it's the father or the son that's in charge. Actually, to tell the truth, it hardly matters to me either.

I sought his death and nothing else. It was a rather simple request.

What are you after anyway?

Revenge.

I'm afraid it's a rather boring answer, so I don't like to share it. If I have to venture a guess, more than half of the men in this world would like to take revenge against something, be it their enemies, a city, or even the world itself.

For the past twenty years, that is all I have been doing.

My power, my status, my riches... All of them come second, and should the need arise, I will cast them all aside.

Or perhaps I could give them to this 'Rhodes Island.'

It's quite the bargain, wouldn't you agree?

......

Hoh, looks like you are still not convinced, young lady. You are quite cautious. I suppose you were a soldier? From Sargon, perhaps?

—None of your business.

What about you, young 'Bridge?' Or should I call you by the name you go by now, 'Sesa?'

......

Sesa, we can't trust him.

You're hiding something pretty important, aren't you now?

Hmm?

Oh... Yes. Right, how forgetful of me...

You claim to be a medical corporation that treats the Infected... Very well, it's a fairly tall tale, but I will accept it for the moment.

I am an Infected.

My fortunes are no less impressive than the Lord Ameers' riches, and I am well-connected and hold some sway, enough for me to bring a Lord Ameer to his downfall.

I will trade all of it for a chance to be cured. What do you say?

—You're mad.

I find myself thinking the same quite often.

But there is not a single person who walks these lands and wishes not to live. Is it not reasonable of me to want to cast all this aside just for a chance to be cured?

Nah, I don't think that's what Heavyrain's trying to say.

You don't even seem to care that you're Infected...

What is it that you want at Rhodes Island?

......

Very well. There isn't much time left, so let us stop beating around the bush.

I'm looking for 'Kal'tsit.'

Perhaps she will impart on me some invaluable advice, perhaps she will show me a new way forward... Yet it's even more likely that she won't lift a finger, merely passing the decision back to me.

That too is fine.

Once I eliminate every last person involved in that incident years ago, there will be nothing more tying me to this place. I am beyond anxious to leave this forsaken land behind.

I need a fresh start.

And who could blame me for seizing the opportunity if the shadows of the past so happen to be standing right there?

What's your relationship with Dr. Kal'tsit?

Hmm... It's a long story.

I owe her my life. I'm very thankful to her. This I say from the bottom of my heart.

The decision isn't ours to make...

Three years ago... the Lord Ameer of Ibut perished in a fire during his travels. The fire consumed an entire town, and, soon after, his son set off a rebellion, vying for the throne against his many other contenders.

That's your doing, eh?

Precisely, just as I said.

Why?

All trivial matters of a bygone era. The family had a tragic, rocky relationship to start. I only played a very minor role.

Why do you want to know?

I'm looking for clues... Thanks to you, I gotta call it quits with my investigation in the Ibut region.

Ah... clues.

Perhaps this is an opportunity for me to earn your trust. Tell me what it is you are looking for. Perhaps I will be of assistance.

I'm looking for someone. The director of a Columbian military experiment.

You are investigating a Columbian company. May I ask why?

Because the person I respected the most died in the most laughable accident ever...

And what if it was actually an accident?

Even if it was just an accident... I gotta know the truth. I mean, this couldn't have been the reason those guys rose through the ranks on top of my brother's death.

Sesa...

I know. It's my own personal issue... but this chance doesn't come often. Don't you agree, 'Sand Soldier'?

Heh... Ahem, pardon me.

Where was I?

Everyone needs a revenge of some kind. Targets can be big or small, and grudges can run deep or shallow, but revenge is an eternal motif to every living person out there.

If you permit me to undergo treatment at Rhodes Island, I can investigate this matter for you. Of course, the deals we talked about still stand.

Even if you have ten times the cargo sitting outside, I have a way to take care of it all. There will be no trace left of it, and you will find the price very attractive. It's a bargain for a pharmaceutical company.

Sesa... Sorry, but we can't let your personal problems be somebody else's bargaining chip.

Of course I know that... but I...

Right... I almost forgot. It seems I've been rather forgetful of late.

I never thought much of Old Isin's prophecy to begin with. However, thinking back, perhaps the prophecy was itself a means of negotiation and communication.

Hmph, prophecy... Mere mortals will never find themselves on equal footing with time itself. Originium Arts may have many convenient uses, but that is one thing you can never achieve with Arts.

A prophecy...?

Alas, Old Isin passed away long ago. I only hope that she remembers this promise.

Did she perhaps... give you a gold coin?

An old Sargon gold coin.

......!

Heavyrain, Sesa, we got a situation here.

......

Calm down. What's up?

There are some sketchy-looking teams approaching the town.

Let me remind you that they are not friendly.

Ugh, they're closing in quick. We can still get out of here without a fight if we make a run for it now. Take our time and we won't be so lucky.

Fifteen minutes. That's all we have. Captain, Lieutenant, hurry.

—Your buddies?

Of course not. I am a lone wolf with no one to turn to. Unlike machines, humans cannot be trusted.

That being said, they are most likely here for me.

—Dammit! This is part of your plan, isn't it?

You can help me escape, or we can fend off these unyielding assassins together.

What do you say?

......

W-What should we do?

The ball is in your court.

Tch, son of a—

—Last question, then! Why did you burn down that town? If you were after the Lord Ameer, you had no reason to drag all those people into that mess.

You even gave the townspeople the time to evacuate. Did you just want to ruin the town? Redhorn was miles away from your turf. What were you after exactly?

Is my objective really so important?

—I'm making sure you're not a warmonger, or downright nuts.

Hmm, you have a point, but I am afraid you wouldn't understand. All I burned down was my past.

Is that your revenge?

No...

It was a long overdue cremation, nothing more.