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No one has been in here the whole time?
Affirmative.
No signs that the Little Handy's logs have been altered, either.
Excuse me, how do I view those records?
Grant her the permissions.
Yes, ma'am.
Ah, very nice!
Secunda takes a device from her belt and dances her pen across its surface, leaving trails like a labyrinth of seaweeds.
What's your Praefecta doing?
She scribbles whenever she's thinking. Says it helps her organize her thoughts. It's a habit she's had ever since she was a researcher.
No one else can decipher what she's writing... or drawing? Not even that's clear. She's the only one who can parse it.
(Books are arranged by thickness, shell decorations by size, and data downloaded from the Sophontheatrum by time.)
(Seaweed cream to prevent dry skin. Is it because Milliarium is approaching the coast?)
(There's enough to last three years.)
(An ordinary Ægir woman. Cautious, timid even. Matches the data from the Institute of Development Planning.)
(Those hydroponic tanks—)
What are these boxes for? Why put them on the wall if they're empty?
Yes, the hydroponic boxes may provide a lead.
Scan all equipment in the room related to plant cultivation.
Yes, ma'am.
Also, pull whatever you can from Tullia's files. Education, employment, hobbies; anything that might be relevant.
She previously worked at the Institute of Ecological Art, with a focus on the cultivation of endangered seaweed.
To quote straight from the IEA's files...
'The artist has carefully cultivated these deep-sea seaweeds to weave a dynamic, ever-evolving portrait of life as they grow.'
These hydroponic boxes were Tullia's belongings. Images of her artwork are also available.
How beautiful.
...
They look like they've been left empty for quite some time.
According to the files, she joined the Waterway Program after a reassignment.
She wouldn't have abandoned her old life for no reason.
True. Her disappearance may very well be related to her career change.
How's that scan coming?
Nothing unusual with the cultivation equipment, but we found an operating log in the integrated terminal.
Two days before she went missing, she downloaded some data from the beacon tower control center and made a backup.
We were unable to locate the file itself, though.
Try to backtrack her steps. Contact the control center and trace the data from their download logs.
If she was still going to work before she disappeared, couldn't her friends or colleagues know something?
Perhaps.
What's the situation on her social relationships? What about the person who made the report?
We've arranged a questioning.
...
Anything I can help you with, Jordi?
Sorry. I have so many questions, I don't know where to start...
This, er, metal tree? Do I just ask it? I've heard legends of ancient trees acting as repositories of knowledge, but I've never seen anything like this...
This coral-shaped integrated terminal is the culmination of centuries of Ægir's knowledge and culture.
Everything we think, know, create, appreciate, and even the questions we have yet to answer... they're all here. It's the heart of the Sophontheatrum.
And what is the Sophontheatrum, exactly?
Conceived and established by Mártus, the great scholar of anthropology and prehistoric civilization, it is a public facility that has had a profound impact on the nation.
Aside from the mutually-supporting atoll city clusters above sea level and the modular city networks in the trenches, most of our other cities have unique forms and designs.
Yet even so, nearly all of them have chosen to adopt Mártus's design and establish their own Sophontheatrum.
Look around you. This is a place for people to think, doubt, and debate, eventually coming to an understanding and making a decision. A coliseum of wits, if you will.
The most complex equations, the most ancient drawings, the most beautiful songs, and the most well-traveled roads were all born here. I believe this is exactly what Mártus himself wanted.
You keep mentioning this Mártus... what kind of man was he?
Simply listing all his contributions to Ægir would take an entire day, perhaps more. But I do happen to have some insight into his personality.
Oh, you knew him?
No, no, he lived more than two centuries ago. He'd been gone from Ægir long before I was born.
But our professors liked to speak of his eccentricities. He was unmatched in theoretical and deductive reasoning, yet was always reluctant to draw a conclusion.
Even on issues where the answer was plain to all, he would refuse to put the question to rest until after an extended debate with himself.
Some would say that trapping himself in endless debate showed he cared too much about the value and meaning of things. But is that not in our human nature?
Which is why he built the Sophontheatrum. We needed a place where we could engage in intellectual discourse, both with ourselves and with others.
I wouldn't say I'm up for a debate, but I do have a lot of questions. Should I ask you, myself, or this terminal?
—
It seems our little discussion must give way to a greater showdown.
What do you mean?
They're holding a tribunal, and it concerns three of those you arrived with.
The Abyssal Hunters?!
Oh, hey, is that our landbound friend I spy? Aw, he looks worried about us.
(Waves)
He won't see you from that far away.
Others are looking this way, though.
This tribunal has drawn more attention than expected.
We Hunters always have, and now they even have the lovely story of our return from the dead.
Like it or not, the Abyssal Hunters are in the spotlight now.
This tribunal will be our final 'checkup,' yes?
Frankly, they're getting tiresome.
The Hunters need to keep a low profile. We must also act with prudence, Doctor.
Indeed. This time, we're not merely mediating between two countries, but between land and the sea. Two vastly different civilizations.
Following the tribunal, I will formally address Ægir's consul to foster cooperation between land and sea. But for now, you'll need to assist Gladiia independently, Doctor.
The situation remains uncertain for both the city and ourselves. Certain matters become more difficult if I am placed at the center of attention.
Yes, but be careful. I would prefer not to have to change our objective in the middle of negotiations with the Consul.
Dr. Kal'tsit sure uses a lot of big words, doesn't she?
Does she ever get straight to the point?
Our dear Dr. Kal'tsit thinks too much about too many things, and not nearly enough about how to convey that she cares.
Wouldn't you agree that more direct, Ægir-style communication is better, Doctor?
Don't worry, Shark and I will protect you.
Say, where's Captain Gladiia?
I imagine she'll show up with Consul Clementia. After all, she's the one who will be taking the stand today.
Excuse me! A-Are you Laurentina?
I had a hunch I'd find you here, advisor.
The environmental sample test results are out. We need you to take a look and see if we need another round of genetic testing.
Oh... Sorry, didn't see your message.
You seem preoccupied by the Abyssal Hunter's tribunal.
You used to work at the Abyssal Hunter Lab, right?
I'd rather not talk about it.
But yes, I was researching gene splicing methods that would provide a safer and more effective way to perform the Hunter modifications.
But you didn't like the program?
It's not about liking or disliking it. It's that it failed to produce results, despite all the sacrifices we made.
But what matters now is that they're alive, Gladiia and the others. I have to be here, if only for them.
Were you two close?
Hah. If only she thought so, too.
Magister Avitus. May I sit here?
Of course, Cassia. Be careful, though; recovery from embryo separation surgery takes time.
This is Jordi, a guest from Iberia.
Thank you. And hello.
Oh, er, hello.
There are more participants than I expected.
Even when the Institute of Facility Management held a tribunal to discuss modifications to the city's unit framework, only two departments were involved.
The tribunal system exists to solve problems, after all. The only reason to involve more departments is when the problem is too complex for one.
But the Sophontheatrum is already half-full. Is the return of the Abyssal Hunters really such a big deal?
It's a project that took two centuries of debate before implementation. Its philosophy shook the very foundations of Ægir, and its every progress tucks the string of Ægir's future.
Besides, the Waterway Program is reaching its most critical juncture. Even the smallest thing out of the ordinary is worthy of attention.
Simply reading a report is not nearly enough to come to an informed decision. Consul Clementia needs the counsel of experts in multiple fields.
I'm sure that many have come of their own accord, though. The return of three Hunters is bound to cause unease at such a sensitive time.
I'm not really here for the tribunal, but I heard you might make an appearance, so...
And who might you be?
Oh, sorry.
I'm Lucilla. I had the honor of meeting your parents once.
Rulers and ink... Are you an architect working on the dome system here?
I-I transferred out of that last year, but I'm still with the Institute of Facility Management. Now I maintain the city unit framework and measure ocean currents.
'Envy not the sun, for we have given ourselves the eternal stars and the infinite sea.'
...
When I was little, the foster parents at the Institute of Incubation took us to hold a performance here.
We created a matrix of tiny optical machines, representing neural activity with changes to the brightness of the dots.
We'd rehearsed thoroughly, but the Sophontheatrum malfunctioned on the day of the performance, and the whole place went dark. Except for those little machines.
But a couple in the audience worked their magic, and ribbons of light fell from the dome, as if arms reaching out to invite our little machines to dance.
It was so beautiful that the blackout almost felt intentional...
Ha, I can picture the smug look on their faces. In fact, I wouldn't be surprised if they really had something to do with it.
When the Institute of Development Planning did its career assessment, I applied for the dome system without a second thought. It was only then that I learned they were famous dome designers.
...That was the only time I saw them.
So they were at the right time and place to inspire you.
But you said you transferred out of dome work. Why, when you've already formed such a special bond with our big, transparent friend above?
I...
Lucilla! The tribunal is about to start. You want to sit here?
Sorry, my colleague is calling out to me. Anyway, welcome home, Laurentina, and I wish you the best of luck.
...
Pretty much everyone's here...
Hey, where you going, Doctor?
Kal'tsit's words really got to you, haven't they?
As you're all well aware, Milliarium has successfully made contact with Iberia. As such, the Waterway Program now enters its most critical phase.
A thread of light leaves the massive coral-shaped terminal to surround her, forming a giant ethereal ring in the air that dances to the consul's words.
More threads weave together to form cities and tides, Hunters and Seaborn, transmuting words to images and giving substance to sound.
The crowd quiets down.
And at this crucial juncture, we also welcome home our surviving Abyssal Hunters: Gladiia, Skadi, and Laurentina.
The results of their physical examinations and Gladiia's mission report have been uploaded to the Sophontheatrum's terminal and are available for your perusal. I'm sure many of you have already done so.
Concerning the irregular circumstances therein...
I now call upon Consul Gladiia—leader of Ægir's Honor Exercitus, and Chief Designer of Warfare of the Abyssal Hunters—to answer your questions.
You navigate through several rows of Ægir and sit in one of the back rows. With plenty of room around you, you have a clear view of everything happening in the Sophontheatrum.
The tribunal has already begun. The speakers do not raise their voices, yet every word is clear in the massive ring-like structure. Gladiia steps forward, drawing everyone's gaze.
Suddenly, you hear footsteps so soft they are almost inaudible, like a shadow from the somber dome touching the floor.
Not a sound.
Or I'll crush your throat.