1:11A.M.

Doesn't look like it. Oh, someone's coming.

Hm?

Agh...! I think... I hit the wrong person...

Isn't it kind of unsafe to stay here?

I could go back to the office, but what would I even do there?

Don't you have a test tomorrow? In the afternoon?

......

......Crap.

Those two seem as if they are uninvolved in this event.

We should ask them to leave. We would not want them to get hurt.

...Hold on, isn't that man up there with his belly cut open the Emperor of Penguin Logistics?

He's dead. And you seem not at all bothered?

Bothered? Why?

Mr. Emperor gets himself into such trouble several times a month. We have grown accustomed to this behavior.

His death?

Correct.

...Sounds like Mostima really shouldn't be getting close to you people.

You worry about her?

I'm just here to make sure she doesn't do anything out of line.

But, hm, it's a really clumsy act. Since she looks so relaxed over there, I guess there isn't anything worth worrying about.

I'm going for a walk. Don't tell her I came. I'll go see her myself when things quiet down.

...There she goes.

She shows up, asks her questions, and leaves just as suddenly as she appears.

Is this the way they do things in Laterano now?

...Heh. I suddenly find myself envious of you young people.

You always choose your own paths, thinking only of yourselves. You don't consider your places in the grand scheme of things.

I also work hard.

But no one has ever been able to get to the bottom of you.

If you ever really did, that would be the most frustrating of all.

Indeed. There are some things that should not be so thoroughly investigated. Especially those things that have to do with Mostima the Messenger.

What is this? Occupational discrimination?

I'm only speaking from experience.

Let's take a break for a moment now.

Huh.

My Arts are suppressed...?

So you were the one holding back your strength all this time?

As were you.

But you have wasted enough time.

This little punk, how can he keep fighting...? Grr...

*Pant pant* I can... keep going... all night...

Yep. You're doing great.

Good thing you were able to deal with so many bad guys so quickly.

Hey. We won't let you disappear on your own this time.

So this guy's the evil mastermind pulling the strings here? I definitely owe him a personal beating!

We got ourselves one helluva workout today. And the bill's gettin' mighty long too.

Texas, I'm thinkin' there's a lot we ain't gonna get to expense here tonight...

Don't ask me. That's a question for the boss.

But the boss is dead...

...Then it'll have to wait.

Speaking of, did anybody go deal with the boss's corpse? Leaving him up there to get trampled feels kind of...

There we are. The players are assembled.

...Young people always make their own choices.

Even if it means walking through a Catastrophe, leaving your bodies splattered and broken, you still proceed with such determination.

What is he talking about?

Just a grandpa's muttering. Don't worry about it.

Right then. Are you enjoying your Sauin?

S'all right. Kinda like a hangover. No way I can think about what I gotta do tomorrow.

So... nobody's going to take care of the boss?

...Penguin Logistics, you truly are unfathomable.

I think we don't need to worry about that, considering.

It's Penguin Logistics. The whole reason for this war was someone questioning the boss's tastes.

I'm sorry, what?

He gave his life to preserve his style. That's our Emperor.

But I must say, not one of you ever surprised me in the slightest.

Mmmff! What's this sand?!

He still has the strength?

Yes... everybody focus. This fight is going to be different.

If you let your guard down for even a split second,

You'll die.

Sauin must be a lively event!

Let me see with my own eyes the freaks that Emperor raised.

——

My blade broke the moment it touched the sand... that's a problem.

Mmm. In all my years, those bold enough to approach me with blade or bullet were few and far between.

I'll give him one of these!

Oof, no good! Croissant, you're up!

My hammer's already stuck in the quicksand! I can't move!

Hopeless. Is this all you have, Penguin Logistics?

That's not all.

...Hm?

His sand shield is broken. Now, Exusiai!

It's barrage time!

How many guns do you have? Troublesome angel.

Don't even think about it!

Oh? I've been blocked?

Thanks, Bison!

I'm up! Sorry fer the elder abuse!

Aagh! Couldn't get him! Texas, yer up!

Wishful thinking.

I got this, Texas!

Hmm, a voice-based Originium Art. What an interesting little girl.

How's your spatial awareness?

...Hm.

......

He even dodged from that angle...

At least you made him move. When he takes us on just standing in one place, I feel like he's looking down on us.

...Oh, Penguin Logistics.

That coat was a gift from my daughter.

In all these years, you are the first to even touch it.

How many young people like you are in Lungmen? What are you capable of, actually?

It's enough to just be yourself, isn't it? Or are you upset?

No, I just find myself with some... complex feelings...

But it's getting terribly late now, so it's time I——

Mmng?!

He- he's been shot?

It's that sniper from before. He's still here.

...Target down. Moving to confirm.

What have you done?!

Young Master, he was a threat.

You should never have gone so close to him. He has an affinity for Originium Arts. I could not guarantee your safety.

You must understand, the Young Master's safety is my number one priority.

...What you're saying is... I was bait?

My father knew this would happen, so he sent you to...

Young Master.

......

Young Master, some things are not as they seem. You will come to understand in time. And I promise, the Master of the House had no intention of exploiting you at any time.

And I believe Penguin Logistics will also be expecting an explanation. I must secure the Rat King's remains and confirm that he is deceased.

It's fine. The boss is gone. There's no one to hear you explain.

Thank you for your understanding. Now, Young Master, do take care.

......

Bison, now is not the time to dwell on this.

The Rat King promised us a 'gift', don't forget.

It might be a bomb. That Siracusan guy really liked bombs.

That wouldn't be very clever.

And there are still some enemies to worry about. It looks like they're waiting for us?

The Rat King is gone, and they don't seem to be reacting at all?

Right, no reaction whatsoever. Hm... I think I know what's happening...

Let's split up. Sora, Croissant, Exusiai, we'll take care of the remaining enemies.

Bison and Mostima, you deal with the 'gift.'

It's almost sunrise. We're running out of time.

Damn, where could it be...

You're all flustered. Try not to be so emotional.

I did just find out that I was being kept in the dark about my whole purpose here.

...Mostima, did we actually, maybe meet the Rat King before?

We did.

So you had it all figured out from the beginning?

Ahahaha...

Don't try to wriggle out of this one!

Hm. I couldn't have guessed what he was really up to.

But we really don't have much time. The LGD aren't going to sit on their hands.

As crazy as things have gotten around here, with them jumping in, there's no way we'd work it out.

...Victorian gumdrops, the candy box, maybe that was a clue.

But it's just common sense that using the same kind of trap over again would be really dumb.

Yeah, but, why?

If the Rat King really had everything planned out, then us running into him before couldn't be a coincidence.

He was communicating with us from the start.

It's his trap. Why would he want to give us clues? That doesn't make any sense.

I don't know either, maybe we've been too quick to consider him an enemy...? I just have a feeling.

It's not just a feeling. After we met the Rat King, he kept trying to hint at something... or something.

Mmm... Well, it's better than nothing.

Got it.

This is it..?

Looks like it's about 80cm by 40cm, but in an iron box... Yep, this definitely seems like a big gift box to me?

Could- could you explain?

Nope. I don't get it at all.

Then we better call up Texas, maybe she and the girls can——

There's not enough time. This looks like it's got a timer on it.

So it's a bomb?!

So it's a bomb. Pretty cliche. Both in shape and execution.

Right... Mostima, you get out of here.

And what are you going to do?

Take a chance.

This is a custom shield, and my body is pretty tough too. If I play this wrong, I might still survive.

Are you serious?

Yes.

Then I want to see how this plays out. And don't worry, I might be able to mitigate the damage from the explosion.

It's my job, after all.

I know. *Inhale*

*Exhale* Here I go!

......

......

You decided? That wire's the same color as my hair.

Erm! M- Mostima! Don't joke with me please! I'm almost——

Ah.

It hit zero! Get behind me!!

Okay, okay.

Nnnngg...

Why isn't it hot?

Wait, this is... candy?!

Pay attention to how you land. You don't want to break anything.

What's that sound?

Not sure, but... Woweee! There's people fallin' from the sky?!

Ow ow ow, why is this happening again... Agh! S- sorry!

S'all right. What're you two doin' up there? Playin' trapeze artist?

Yowch! Somethin' just hit me?

...Candy?

It's raining... candy?

Ugh, it's that sickly sweet smell in the air again.

I think it's about time we wrapped this up.

...Right.

Hm? Um? Texas, do you know something we don't know?

No. But I have a pretty solid idea.

Hey!! If you had a lead, you should've told us!

Sauin. It's long over.

...Wanna get dim sum?

So early? Let's go to the roof and watch the sunrise.

You mafia types are funny. Always with the sunrise on the roof...

Gah. This candy's smashed into my head so much I think I got brain damage. It's the signal to stop, and I stopped.

But boy, it's more like we just got beaten on. My whole body's so tender...

They... they all stopped. What's going on? This doesn't feel right.

We're all done, just like that? These fellers love candy so much?

The candy rain stopped.

Yes, so fleeting. If only it would truly rain candy someday.

So there was the candy...

But wait, what about the bomb?

You mean this?

Huh? You took the whole thing apart?

Just a minute.

Mostima?!

Whoops, lost control there for a second. Hope you didn't get burned.

This looks like an ordinary metal box?

...And there's one piece of candy inside. Ew, it melted. It's all sticky...

And this note? Is it from the Rat King...?

What does it say?

'Happy Sauin'...

......

......

.........Huh?