Warning Shot

No need.

How are we doing?

Debugging will take roughly another fifteen minutes.

You've got eight.

We don't have time to spare here.

You don't need me to go see what's going on down there? Just a suggestion, of course.

You're worried I'll fail.

Of course not. When have your plans ever failed?

My job is just to make sure we've got fewer unknowns along our path to victory.

You've already done more than enough, mercenary.

Come, stand with me. I need you to see for yourself what is going on beneath these walls, before the experiment begins.

......

Lively.

How does it compare to the battlefields of Kazdel?

Nothing new.

But at least... it's not Sarkaz on both sides tearing each other apart.

Surely you hunted, during your time in Kazdel.

You're asking if I've been hunting? Us mercs are out in the wilderness all year 'round. Hunting is how we get fed.

Then, you should understand why I left these ports open.

Sometimes, even if your trap is obvious, a beast will step right into it because there's no other choice.

If it can't find a way out, it'll panic and run wild. That means we've got to expend energy and spread our forces thin to round up all the wild beasts.

Sure. That's how things go in the wilds, but there's more to it.

Look at the city below us. It is little more than a concrete wilderness.

Who has the confidence to seal off every exit to the wilds themselves? Who can find every nook and cranny in a jungle? Who can secure every last potential hiding spot?

I am certainly not so conceited.

So that's why you left a few openings. Focus your attention, and wait for the enemies to reveal themselves. That's a pretty efficient way of dealing with it.

But it does come with one risk.

Nothing ventured, nothing gained, right?

If I was in your position, I'd do the same thing.

Good. If you're capable of leading mercenaries, you're capable of leading the hunt.

That's why I'd rather fight alongside you than the relics in the Court.

And by the looks of things, you'll be feasting tonight.

Not just the rebels, but Dublinn as well...

Wait, I've seen that caster before. She came to see you once. Didn't you sign a truce? Not that either of you took it particularly seriously.

If you recognize her, then you should also know that people like her don't know when to stop.

You've been wanting to eliminate that variable for a while now, huh?

The situation has changed. His Majesty's opus is reaching its conclusion. If the theatre is too rowdy, it is too easy to overlook an actual threat.

We need to keep a closer eye on the dukes out there.

Couldn't you just send me to do that?

If I wanted her dead, I wouldn't even need you.

What's the problem then?

'The Iron Guard of Wellington.'

You mean...

He hasn't made a move on Londinium yet.

And if he's quiet for even a single day, all the nobles outside Londinium ask their emissaries, first thing in the morning, whether the Iron Duke has spoken.

Okay.

Which is why we haven't made an enemy of Dublinn, so far.

Now though, since she's the one who lost control and took the first step toward violating our agreement––

The Sarkaz have no more reason to continue tolerating them.

So the commotion down there is just the beginning.

Yes. We still need something... more decisive, to take Dublinn out of the picture.

Where the hell did they come from?

I don't know, Captain... I haven't seen these weapons or Arts before!

They're also fighting the Sarkaz... They're not here to back up the devils?

Not that it matters. We'll eliminate anyone who gets in our way.

Hey––

Give us our guy back!

It's... It's you!

Oh, a familiar face? Too bad I still recognize you after the pummeling I gave you this morning.

Look out behind you––

People don't just stand around in a fight and wait for you to run up to them swinging.

Isn't that why I have you?

Don't go too crazy. Remember, we're getting out of here as soon as we secure our target.

I know.

That just means I gotta punch faster.

You're telling me... these are the ones who snatched our mark?

Don't forget their faces.

No, wait a moment... Try to capture one of them alive. I'm sure the Leader would be interested to find out what new power has its eyes on Londinium.

Uhh... Where are these rocks coming from?

......

Stay on your guard. We're still not inside the city yet, and the Doctor doesn't want to see anyone get hurt.

Alright... You too!

She smashed my construct to pieces with one swing of a hammer?

This one... she's just as nasty as that Victorian soldier!

I wasn't even trying for that one though... See how you like this instead!

Get out of the way, Siege!

Who covered me?

Balin, did you see who that was?

No, there's too much going on. I can't make heads or tails of it.

Amiya, there's somebody else in this fight.

Someone besides us, Dublinn, and the Sarkaz...

And they just might be on our side.

Captain, the situation isn't looking good for us... Do you think you could bring down this entire wall...?

The entire wall, huh? Hah... I've fantasized about it too many times...

But, not now. We'll still have our chance, whenever the Leader decides to come.

Let's not get too carried away here, and just grit our teeth for the time being...

Hear me. Pack your weapons and try not to leave a mess. I don't want that Manfred devil to come knocking on my door ahead of schedule.

Four minutes. We'll wait four more minutes.

As it happens, our men haven't had a chance to do anything fun. Defending a city like Londinium is worlds apart from raiding Lateran caravans in the wilderness.

The nice thing about meeting old friends is you don't have to worry about them taking your head. I've got nothing to complain about.

Don't mistake yourself for one of them.

There aren't a lot of mercenaries out there who could stand being locked up in a little courtyard, reading books all day. That's your department.

I do remember thanking you when you scooped me up and gave me back my sword.

Enough. You're not here to share me this drivel.

Sure, I know.

You need mercenaries, and for more than a couple reasons.

Indeed... And you're as good as they come.

Coincidentally, a few more mercenary squads have joined up with us recently, including some of your old acquaintances from the Scar Market.

What mercenary could resist an offer from the Regent himself?

They want more than just the payout from completing a contract or two.

When we followed the Regent out of Kazdel, each warrior carried a different weapon, some even wearing armor that belonged to the enemy just moments ago.

But what about now?

As you've seen, the factories of Londinium now work day and night to produce weapons and armor for us. Our troops are well-regulated, and take orders as a unified unit.

We are united as never before, and that makes our solidarity stronger than ever.

Yes, all of Victoria... No, all of Terra is watching.

All according to the Regent's calculations.

Just a year ago, they guffawed about how Londinium's defenses were impenetrable. They thought we were mercenaries in service to some duke.

Profit is no longer the only thing that motivates mercenaries... They are all looking to see what the Sarkaz can do.

What's a sellsword who's lost interest in selling his sword?

We're not asking our compatriots to give up their status as mercenaries. They simply found other reasons to follow the Regent.

They believe he has created a turning point in the fate of the Sarkaz. That we have an opportunity to earn a new identity for ourselves, not just as looters and servants of the powerful.

You need a home to have an identity.

'When the Sarkaz desire war, the Sarkaz become war itself––'

'––And when each battle ends, the Sarkaz have a home to return to.'

This is what the Regent told all the Sarkaz in Londinium. You saw it yourself. That was the first time we met.

I asked what you thought about that statement.

'If you're a fighter who crawled out of the ruins of Kazdel, how could you say no to that?'

It was three years ago I heard that answer.

Since then, you've left that estate, and now stand with me.

Do you still... hold the same belief?

Manfred, you've earned my loyalty.

......

Does your left eye still hurt?

It's been over a year. It healed a long time ago.

I... hope you understand. I've never doubted our friendship, not once since that day.

But you know what I'm talking about.

The Confessarii don't drop their guard around a merc. That's how they look after the Regent.

And I... I'm not here to prove my loyalty to anyone. That'd just make me a weaker blade in a fight.

So your answer is still 'no.'

That's fine too.

Sometimes, what I need more is a friend, and for that, Kazdel must temporarily endure the absence of an officer.

We're ready, General!

Excellent.

Tell the patrol to retreat immediately.

Activate the automatic aiming system and enter the long-distance targeting coordinates––

––Coordinates, Sudean Borough, Port 309.

Our efforts over the last few months are finally about to bear fruit.

Hoederer, will you do the honors?

Lieutenant, Dublinn looks like they're about to win.

That's not the situation, but it's also not what matters.

Regardless of who wins, what's important is that they keep each other in check.

That's the situation we need, one that allows your people to charge.

Charge...?

Indeed. While they're too occupied with us, that's your best opportunity to get out of the city.

No... No!

What's on your mind, Robben?

Lieutenant, I don't want to leave anymore.

But...

I have to stay.

But this might be the only chance you have to leave Londinium!

After the scuffle here today, the Sarkaz will have the gate blocked tomorrow.

Conceal your weapons and blend in with the other civilians! Hurry, get going!

We can't just run away like this.

Lieutenant, we can still fight.

Did you see that? I just took down a Dublinn fighter and injured two Sarkaz!

This crossbow is... pretty crude. It's nothing like the standard-issue military crossbows we're used to.

You made it, right? If you even need to make your weapons yourself, don't you also need more men?

It's not a question of what I need...

If you don't want to leave, I won't force you.

I don't want to order another good soldier out of the fight, not again, not when she wanted to stay...

Lieutenant...?

But let's set that aside for now.

We need to get out of here first.

Now's the best shot we're going to get, so if you don't want to move onwards, then fall back with us!

Doctor, the Sarkaz troops are withdrawing from the fight.

I find it strange that after fighting us and Dublinn for so long, the Sarkaz didn't call in reinforcements or start massacring the Dublinn forces.

That's not how the Sarkaz usually fight. Even the mercenaries that W brought with her into Reunion fought more ferociously than they did.

Doctor, have we fallen into a trap?

This conflict came about so spontaneously and coincidentally... It's as if someone was trying to corral us all together, and then...

Umm, do you think they set all this up for us?

Siege said she found other people who were blending into the crowd just like us... and they seemed to be on the civilians' side.

Might they be the ones the Sarkaz were after?

The Doctor ordered a retreat.

Huh? We're about to complete our rescue though!

There must be a reason behind it. Let's go.

Grr.

Excuse me, Miss Indra! I, I'm over here!

Thomas?

Don't go over there!

I...

What just happened?!

Did we get a bomb dropped on us? A huge crater... suddenly appeared in the ground?!

Thomas... *cough* *cough*... The smoke's too thick, I can't see anything!

Indra!

Siege told you to stop.

Fine, I owe you another one.

As long as you get it. Now hurry, let's get out of here––