Serenade

Raimund! Let me go... you don't get it!

—!

Sorry... was I hurting you?

I'm okay.

I-I decided to go with them to Laterano, Raimund.

What?

What are you saying? Did they threaten you? You'll die if you go there!

I deserve to!

Let me go, Raimund. No one threatened me. I killed Fina. I can't run away from this!

Delfina...? That was an accident...

No! I don't want to hear that anymore, especially from you!

An accident... an accident! Of course I wouldn't point a gun at Fina on purpose. It was a tragic accident... but she's dead! Dead!

She'll never open her eyes again. She'll never speak to us again!

Fortuna, calm down... you'll hurt yourself!

I want to calm down... I don't want to be crying like this!

But why doesn't anyone blame me? Why does everyone call it an accident? As though that means Fina's death didn't matter?!

I killed Fina! What difference does it make that it was an accident?!

Breathe. Don't hold it in.

Huff... hah...

Huff...

Feeling better?

......

I'm sorry, Raimund. I shouldn't be like this, but I don't know what to do...

I only know that I can't go. I can't run away and pretend nothing happened. I can't accept that it was an accident.

This is my sin...

No more talking.

Don't worry about me, Raimund. It might not be that bad.

Serpilia, that Lateran emissary who came today, she was kind to me. I wasn't mistreated.

Maybe they'll lock me up when we get to Laterano.

I have horns now... I don't know if I'm Sankta anymore. It doesn't really matter if I'm not...

Anyway, I'm fine, Raimund. You—

No.

Huh?

I can't let it happen.

I can't just leave you like this, Fortuna—

(Hush! Hold your breath...)

(...?!)

(Someone's coming!)

He hung up.

When did you get Richele over to your side?

That's an exaggeration. He's always been that type who only does what's good for him.

He's even better than I am at looking out for himself...

...Oh?

I feel like I'm being watched...

Has your paranoia finally caused you to hallucinate, Oren?

I'd rather believe that there really is someone watching in the shadows.

......

Just a joke. Don't look at me like that.

Where's the fallen angel you were watching?

Sound asleep, I would think.

Stay on topic.

What were you saying about pushing the schedule forward? Not that you can't, but that's not what we agreed on.

Why the sudden change? Give me a reason.

What difference does it make to you?

Not much, which is why I can choose not to cooperate.

Unless my memory deceives me, I have command of the troops.

I'm prepared to write a report.

......

You're anxious, Oren. What's the matter?

This is a secret operation. It's not so easy to deploy troops, if the matter of the saints didn't catch His Holiness's attention.

Even then, His Holiness seems to have noticed something, and specifically sent Federico... you know how hard it is to pull wool over Federico's eyes.

Do you really think you succeeded?

Probably not.

But I would say I know him well enough. There won't be much trouble if he doesn't pursue the matter. Our goal is just to stop everyone who wants to leave, isn't it?

On the other hand, the beast is out of the bag the moment you give the order to attack.

Federico isn't concerned about the means, only the end.

Oh, you think so?

Let me just make it clear that if you get on his bad side, I can't stop him.

So much for camaraderie.

A message? Who could it be at this hour...? Oh.

Who is it?

See for yourself.

So much for the wool.

*sigh*...

Everything you talked about, I'll take care of. Do as I say.

We take control of the abbey immediately. Get all available hands on it.

...That urgent?

An old man has given the last sixty years of his life to the abbey. He went so far as to imprison Lateran emissaries for the sake of those Sarkaz.

He suddenly became open to compromise in desperate circumstances, even proposing something so ritualistic as a final farewell... why do you think?

That, plus some Sarkaz who are not entirely unknown, and 'visitors' hiding in the shadows...

We have to act quickly.

I've got a bad feeling...

Take control? What does he mean... why?

Don't you understand? The Sankta lied to us!

I have to tell Gerald! I knew it! Those Laterans never intended to play nice.

The situation has changed. It's dangerous for you to be with me. Find a safe place; I doubt they'll do anything to you immediately—

Wait, Raimund!

*deep breath*

I changed my mind. I'm coming with you.

My, my, what a coincidence to run into you two!

I'm so glad you're safe, Lemuen.

Any news?

You look concerned, Executor Richele.

I found something that I thought warranted investigation. It has to do with the abbot, but... anyway, more investigation is needed.

What about you, Federico? What are you doing?

Work.

Um, ok, that much is obvious... what did you find? Something to do with the Sarkaz?

Yes.

I heard last night's fire was started by angry Sarkaz. Is that true?

No.

What's this? Rehearsing your stand-up comedy routine?

Enough jokes.

Jokes?

Oren and Serpilia will be here soon.

Well, by the sound of it, you knew Oren hid on purpose from the get-go?

Obviously.

That's just his luck, isn't it? He just can't seem to get away from you, whether at the Summit of Nations or now.

I allowed Oren to act of his own accord, because the complicated situation at the Sanctilaminium Ambrosii called for a Plan B.

But maybe he needs a reminder...

So, what's going on? I was told to come immediately and bring Oren.

Ah, there you are, Oren. Finally decided to show your face?

It's been a while, Lemuen.

Can't you be a little nicer to me? We're partners on this mission, after all.

It's because we're partners that you're still able to talk.

Whatever your plan was, the situation here doesn't call for that kind of aggression. It's time to stop, Oren.

Couldn't you two pretend you didn't see anything, like that guy over there?

Oh, er, I would prefer if you didn't drag me into this...

I will deal with Richele when we return to the Notarial Hall.

Gratias, Oren.

As for you, Oren.

If you truly believe there is a need for you to operate independently, you may try to persuade me.

Well, since there's no one else here, I'll cut straight to the chase.

Did you really think I wouldn't notice that you were trying to let those two kids go?

A fallen Sankta and a Sarkaz. Even a blind man would notice.

...Hmph.

You...

I've been patient for far too long.

Are you criticizing my methods?

Not at all, not at all.

But I have my own methods. We've wasted too much time here. It's we need to consider how to can get this done quickly, with no loose ends.

And so you decided to deploy a special forces unit?

You make it sound so easy. You know full well that deploying troops and giving the order are two different things.

Do you know how hard it was to come up with a justification that even His Holiness could not rebuke?

Now, I have one.

That Sarkaz boy—Raimund? Arson of a sacrarium is a serious offense, that's before I mention that he's Sarkaz. We're perfectly justified in seizing him and taking the investigation into our hands.

He was not the one who set fire to the sacrarium. Your justification is baseless.

I have no need of your intervention until I uncover the truth.

The truth? Ha. Is the truth really important?

What is more rational and logical than taking control and securing order?

Did you not consider it, Federico? Is the truth really so important to you?

......

Did you not consider the possibility of the locals resisting, Oren?

I didn't think you'd say something so silly, Lemuen. If the Sarkaz want to resist...

So much the better.

—!

Who's there?!

......

Senior Federico...

Clément?

I finally found you, Senior Federico.

I was asked to bring you this...

By whom? What is—

The sinner, Holst Tyfindale, offers his head freely.

The sinner had admitted responsibility for all the crimes, all the evils committed hitherto.

He has now paid his price. All that remains is a band of insignificant vagrants.

Will the reverend emissaries of Laterano show grace and mercy?

——

Senior Federico... I bring you Gerald's last words.

He begs you take the head of the fugitive Holst and his weapon...

In exchange, spare Fortuna and Raimund...

Spare the other Sarkaz.