3 3 301 DialogEnable An icebreaker from a previous century, the ship now has scars all over it.
4 4 301 Standing on either side of the port are deserted buildings—a telltale proof of yet another failed attempt by those who tried to conquer Antarctica.
5 5 301 The Constructs set up temporary tents of all sizes around the bay and pulleys that go from the ground up to the ship. In their polar suits, the Constructs travel back and forth between the tents and the ship with tools in hand. It is now apparent what they're trying to do—they're fixing the ship.
6 6 201 1 500533 7
7 7 301 1 Bianca An icebreaker from the Golden Age...? 1
8 8 204 1
9 9 301 Bianca Is this what you meant to show us? 1
10 10 201 1 500028
11 11 301 1 Expedition Captain Precisely. The expedition, the Engineering Force, and the Support Force—we put almost everyone we have here in Antarctica on this project to bring the icebreaker back to the sea. 1
12 12 201 1 500019
13 13 301 1 Expedition Member A Half a month ago, our Pioneering Squad came across this dock and port from the Golden Age along with this deserted icebreaker around the bay. 1
14 14 301 Expedition Member A Our Pioneering Squad believed this ship used to belong to the Transatlantic Economic Community—unfortunately, however, we didn't find any survivors around the port. 1
15 15 301 Expedition Member A We didn't come across any traces of the Punishing Virus on the ship, although we did stumble across a few dozen decayed human bodies. All the blood traces and the bullet casings and guns around seem to suggest that there was a violent conflict. 1
16 16 201 1 500405
17 17 301 1 Expedition Member B We have no idea what happened here at the port, but this much we know—what we have here is a once-in-a-lifetime chance. 1
18 18 301 Expedition Member B If we can manage to get this icebreaker back to life, we'll be able to take our exploration drastically further—even to the Golden Age's extent! 1
19 19 301 Expedition Member B And based on our assessment of the ship's damage level, getting it back to life is no daydream at all with the manpower and resources we have. It is, in fact, totally within our reach! 1
20 20 301 You see fires burning in their eyes as they speak.
21 21 201 1 500533 8
22 22 301 1 Bianca ... 1
23 23 301 Feeling their enthusiasm, Bianca keeps her eyes closed, apparently deep in thought.
24 24 302 What about that message though? 25
25 25 201 1 500028
26 26 301 1 Expedition Captain If my memory serves me correctly, the message was originally a draft, and one of the guys from the Engineering Force stumbled across the draft box in the system trying to fix the telecommunication system on this ship a few days ago. 1
27 27 301 Expedition Captain And it just so happened that the message was sent out by accident and reached Babylonia when we were testing for communication channels. 1
28 28 301 Expedition Captain We don't know what it says in the message, but the fact that you're both here says something. 1
29 29 301 All the dead bodies, bullet traces, and violent conflict... It's anyone's guess what happened in the final moments of those on this ship in this corner of the world.
30 30 301 Expedition Captain We did try to reach out immediately to Babylonia, though, except all our devices went down from the EMI that took place when we booted up the telecommunication system on the ship. 1
31 31 301 Expedition Captain So we tried to go with a different channel, but with the snowstorm around, we weren't able to reach Babylonia through the long-wave communication we usually use. 1
32 32 301 Expedition Captain And today, we were finally able to bring Babylonia up to speed on what we'd been doing over the past half a month and our discovery of this icebreaker. 1
33 33 201 1 500019
34 34 301 1 Expedition Member A See, we'd just finished updating Babylonia and were about to laze away right when you barged in... 1
35 35 302 So this whole thing is just... 36
36 36 302 A huge misunderstanding? 37
37 37 201 1 500533 8
38 38 301 1 Bianca Uhm... 1
39 39 301 Hearing everything the expedition just said, Bianca is lost for words.
40 40 202 1 1
41 41 401 2 1099
42 42 301 Right then, both your and Bianca's terminals start ringing.
43 43 302 One second, please. 44
44 44 301 AniZhuanchangBegin Nodding to the expedition and alighting from the vehicle, you and Bianca find a spot with no one around and start sharing your findings with Babylonia.
45 45 104 0|150|-200 0
46 46 201 1 500533 3
47 47 301 AniZhuanchangEnd 1 Bianca Whew... 1
48 48 301 Finishing the call with Babylonia, Bianca lets out a little sigh. You can't be sure what's going through her mind at the moment, but she rarely ever does it.
49 49 302 So everything the expedition said is true. 50
50 50 204 1 1
51 51 301 Bianca We've just had everything confirmed with Babylonia. 1
52 52 301 Bianca But the higher-ups don't seem to think that we need to know anything about the message, and I'm guessing it's likely because it has to do with the Transatlantic Economic Community. 1
53 53 302 And that just makes the whole thing more fishy now. 54
54 54 301 Given that they put Bianca—the Purifying Force's ace—on the mission solely based on that one message from the past, one can't be blamed to wonder just how many secrets the now non-existent Transatlantic Economic Community used to hold.
55 55 301 But doing as told is your only option since you're in no position to ask any questions. Years of experience have taught you that knowing more than you should won't do you any good.
56 56 204 1 3
57 57 301 Bianca We never saw any of that coming, but all in all, everything turned out just fine, though. 1
58 58 204 1 1
59 59 301 Bianca And I'm glad to have you here, Commandant. 1
60 60 302 I didn't do anything, though? 61
61 61 204 1
62 62 301 Bianca To be honest, I pretty much dropped the idea that they might be "defectors" or that they might have been "assaulted" before we even came to this port, judging by their attitudes and conditions. 1
63 63 301 Bianca The thought that this whole thing might be a trap still lingered in the back of my mind, though... The nature of what we do as the Purifying Force makes it so that we can't count on our gut feelings. 1
64 64 204 1 1
65 65 301 Bianca I'm sure the whole situation would have gotten out of control and ended with bloodshed hadn't you been here today, Commandant. 1
66 66 301 Lest we forget the door Bianca blew away—you were about to bring up the door but decided to drop it.
67 67 202 1 1
68 68 104 0|0|-200 10
69 69 301 In unison, you both turn to look at the bay in the distance.
70 70 301 The Constructs working around the icebreaker are still hard at work.
71 71 301 It's only been a few hours since you met them—but, looking at them now, you seem to share their enthusiasm.
72 72 301 You now share their cravings in wanting to see the ship back to the sea as soon as they can...
73 73 301 And toward that end, they carry on working away.
74 74 302 Would you say this trip was worth it? 75
75 75 201 1 500533 1
76 76 301 1 Bianca Yes, of course. 1
77 77 301 Bianca We wouldn't have had the chance to come here and see everything this place has to offer... 1
78 78 301 Bianca Had Command never decided to send us here. 1
79 79 301 Bianca And we found ourselves a "battlefield" we never knew about before, right? 1
80 80 302 Would have been great if we were here on vacation now, though. 81 I would have taken some time to look around if we weren't on a mission now. 81
81 81 301 Bianca A lot of people came here for travels back in the Golden Age, though. 1
82 82 301 Bianca Because there isn't anywhere quite like this on Earth. 1
83 83 301 Bianca You can come here with the rest of Gray Raven when the command center assigns you your days off. I'm sure Management will say yes if you ask them. 1
84 84 302 Aren't you going to come with us? 85
85 85 204 1 7
86 86 301 Bianca Me...? 1
87 87 204 1 8
88 88 301 Bianca Schedule conflicts aside... 1
89 89 204 1 5
90 90 301 Bianca Technically, being a member of the Purifying Force means that I'm in no position to have personal contact with the Task Force's Commandant. 1
91 91 204 1
92 92 301 Bianca This mission itself is already an exception, and I can only imagine there being even fewer contacts between us down the road. 1
93 93 202 1 1
94 94 201 1 500019
95 95 301 1 Expedition Member A Hey, guys! 1
96 96 301 One of the expedition members who came from the research station with you comes running this way.
97 97 301 Expedition Member A So? Have you had everything confirmed with Babylonia already? 1
98 98 302 We just filled them in on everything. 99
99 99 301 Expedition Member A Apologies that you came all the way for... nothing? Uhh... How should I put this... 1
100 100 201 1 500533
101 101 301 1 Bianca That's fine. We're glad to see all of you doing just fine here. 1
102 102 204 1 3
103 103 301 Bianca The Logistics Department does have quite some work to do to get us back to Babylonia... but I'm just glad that we didn't need to "purify" anyone or anything here. 1
104 104 204 1 8
105 105 301 Bianca On the expenditure of deploying the transport craft multiple times... I'll give an explanation in the report when I'm back. 1
106 106 201 1 500019
107 107 301 1 Expedition Member A Speaking of which, we do have a huge favor to ask of both of you. 1
108 108 301 Rubbing his hands, the man looks imploringly at both of you.
109 109 301 Expedition Member A So... a few of our men who insisted on staying on the icebreaker to carry on with repair works ended up with some damage to their frames because of the snowstorm... See, a lot of us are of an older version. 1
110 110 301 Expedition Member A And we're actually a bit tight on parts to fix them with here because we've put most of our resources into fixing the icebreaker, and it'd probably take about half a month to fix our men. 1
111 111 301 Expedition Member A But we're also a bit tied down by all the observational work we need to do these days—which is what we were sent here to do in the first place—in addition to bringing the ship back to life, because we're going through Antarctica's active phase of life forms here. 1
112 112 301 Expedition Member A So I was wondering if you could lend us a hand if you aren't in a hurry to leave. 1
113 113 201 1 500533 7
114 114 301 1 Bianca As in... you want both of us to help you with your observational work? 1
115 115 301 With the mission ending way ahead of schedule, you now have no choice but to request an emergency pick-up if you want to return to Babylonia immediately.
116 116 301 If you accept the proposal just now, however, you and Bianca would be able to take advantage of however much time you have left until you're picked up.
117 117 302 Sounds like a plan, no? 118
118 118 204 1
119 119 301 Bianca Pardon me...? 1
120 120 302 Hold on. Let me send in a mission request for that first. 121
121 121 202 1 1
122 122 301 Without waiting for Bianca's response, you pull out your communication device and send the command center a mission request.
123 123 301 A few moments later, you get a positive response from the command center stating that you and Bianca can hop on the next resource transport craft that comes to Antarctica.
124 124 302 We'll be happy to help as non-regular members until the next transport craft comes. 125
125 125 302 What do you say, Bianca? 126
126 126 201 1 500533 8
127 127 301 1 Bianca There is only so much we can do, though, given our lack of professional knowledge. 1
128 128 204 1 3
129 129 301 Bianca But if you're fine with that, we'll definitely be more than happy to help. 1
130 130 201 1 500019
131 131 301 1 Expedition Member A Really? Oh boy, this is definitely a pleasant surprise. Thank you both so much! 1
132 132 302 That's one point for me, Bianca. 133
133 133 201 1 500533 3
134 134 301 1 Bianca I see what you did there, Commandant. 1
135 135 301 Rarely, Bianca puts her arms across her chest, mocking you.
136 136 302 My bad... 137
137 137 201 1 500019
138 138 301 1 Expedition Member A Hey, why don't you both come on board for a look with us? 1
139 139 301 Expedition Member A We're setting sail soon. 1
140 140 302 Already? 141
141 141 301 Expedition Member A Yes. This ship wasn't terribly damaged to begin with, and we've all been working around the clock to get it back to life. Our Engineering Force just told us that the ship is ready to hit the sea again. 1
142 142 301 Expedition Member A The ship is far from being able to go all the way out, though. It's just going to be a sea trial for today, but we thought it'd make for a wonderful experience all the same, and we thought we'd invite the two of you onboard since you literally don't get to come to Antarctica every day! 1
151 151 301 AniZhuanchangEnd The icebreaker sets sail.
152 152 301 Finishing your conversation with the Captain and walking up the deck, you see Bianca standing alone at the bow staring into the distance.
153 153 301 Compared to the Nighter—which you once took—this icebreaker may seem like a lone leaf in the sea.
154 154 301 What views you're seeing now, however, definitely can't be replicated anywhere else.
155 155 201 1 500533 1
156 156 301 1 Bianca Commandant. 1
157 157 301 Bianca turns to nod at you as she notices you.
158 158 302 They seem to have come up with a new name for this ship... 159
159 159 302 "Lanternlighter", they say. 160
160 160 204 1 3
161 161 301 Bianca Lanternlighter, huh... 1
162 162 204 1 7
163 163 301 Bianca Short and sweet, and the name suits the expedition just fine, too... because they literally are looking for new possibilities of the world still... 1
164 164 301 Bianca stops in her tracks before finishing her sentence.
165 165 301 Apparently having noticed something, she looks down at her waist.
166 166 301 The lantern-shaped Phantom Tracer she carries has been quiet since you arrived in Antarctica.
167 167 302 It's exactly what you think it is. 168
168 168 204 1
169 169 301 Bianca It isn't exactly a lantern, but... I was still hoping you could tell me why, if you don't mind. 1
170 170 302 Didn't you just say it suits them? 171
171 171 204 1 8
172 172 301 Bianca ...If it's meant to be something symbolic, then I think it's better if they take it more seriously. 1
173 173 302 I believe this is a decision of deliberation, though 174
174 174 204 1
175 175 301 Bianca I don't exactly understand why they did this... 1
176 176 204 1 3
177 177 301 Bianca But I'm not going to ask any questions if this is what they want. 1
178 178 302 It's probably because they see something in you that reminds them of themselves. 179 They probably know about all the great things you've done. 182
179 179 204 1
180 180 301 Bianca I don't know if they'd still see the same if they ever saw the Purifying Force in action. 1
181 181 302 One's true colors only show when they're off duty, though. 184
182 182 301 Bianca was key at the full-blown battle that took place at the aquarium a while back.
183 183 301 And who knows—some from Babylonia might have already seen past Bianca's icy facade and now see her for the heroine she is.
184 184 204 1 8
185 185 301 Bianca Is that so... 1
186 186 204 1
187 187 301 Bianca I don't deserve to be remembered or learned from... 1
188 188 301 Bianca Well, I guess I should say I don't need people to remember the path I've chosen. 1
189 189 204 1 8
190 190 301 Bianca But this sure is curious... 1
191 191 301 Bianca I mean, I thought I was going to have an epiphany when a moment like this did come. 1
192 192 204 1 3
193 193 301 Bianca But I just... 1
194 194 301 Bianca keeps her gaze straight ahead...
195 195 204 1 1
196 196 301 As a faint smile creeps across her face.
197 197 301 Bianca I just feel so happy, and that's it. 1
198 198 302 By the way... 199
199 199 301 You pull a device out.
200 200 204 1 7
201 201 301 Bianca Is that... an exploration camera? 1
202 202 204 1
203 203 301 Bianca It seems very different from your usual camera, though. Do you know how it works, Commandant? 1
204 204 302 They were teaching me how to use it just now. 205
205 205 302 Because I'm about to take a picture of my very first object now. 206
206 206 202 1 1
207 207 301 Following your finger that now points into the distance, Bianca sees that the ship has come to a different part of the sea.
210 210 301 At as far out as your eyes can reach, atop the deep blue seawater, an enormous iceberg looms like a flimsy mirage behind the icy fog that shrouds it.
211 211 301 The iceberg is newfound, and it would have taken the expedition many more years to come across it without this icebreaker.
212 212 301 And now, they're dedicating this precious moment to you and Bianca.
213 213 301 With the camera in hand, you're now recording the very first discovery—which is but one single gem among the many Antarctica still holds—Lanternlighter has made on its maiden voyage.
214 214 301 The dignity of the movement of an iceberg is due to only one-eighth of it being above water—once said by a famous author, this line is probably now common sense to everyone.
215 215 301 Still, with the view right in front of you—that is, only one-eighth of something so unimaginably gigantic...
216 216 301 You just can't help but think about what the remaining seven-eighth hidden under the water must look like.
