4 4 301 DialogEnable 1 Noan I heard Commandant Simon said you would be going to another large-scale operation soon. When is it? 1
5 5 302 Tomorrow morning. 6
6 6 204 1 16
7 7 301 Noan peeks at the clock on the bar counter. Its vintage hands are pointing at 17:45.
8 8 204 1
9 9 301 Noan Why are you still here then...? Aren't you going to prepare or have a final rest? 1
10 10 302 I have a gathering later. 11
11 11 204 1 9
12 12 301 Noan Gathering? At this point in time? 1
13 13 204 1
14 14 302 ...More like a social occasion. 15
15 15 302 We have been struggling on the battlefield lately. A lot of people have defected. 16
16 16 302 So... 17
17 17 204 1 10
18 18 301 Noan I see. A lot of senior management staff are also under tremendous pressure, so they need to have meetings, which will likely contain lots of quarrels. They need such social occasions to repair their relationship. 1
19 19 302 Something like that. 20
20 20 204 1
21 21 301 Noan Is that gathering important to you? 1
22 22 302 No, just like you said... 23
23 23 302 We just had an overall combat meeting in the morning. 24
24 24 302 So all the participating commandants must attend the dinner. 25
25 25 301 Noan But the leaders don't need to prepare tonight, nor do they have to wake up early. Who gives them the right to drag you into this nonsense? 1
26 26 302 N-nonsense? 27 This isn't nonsense. 27
27 27 301 Noan No matter what fancy reasons they have, they are just ignoring other people's feelings for their own enjoyment. I call that nonsense. 1
28 28 302 But it's hard for me to say no. 29 I don't want to go either. 30
29 29 32 301 Noan You have been working non-stop for so many days. Are you really going to deprive yourself of rest before a dangerous mission? 1
30 30 301 Noan Then don't. 1
31 31 204 1 16
32 32 301 Noan If you don't know how to turn them down... 1
33 33 204 1 2
34 34 301 Noan How about letting an infamous bad guy hurt you? Then you claim you are not feeling well and can go back to rest. 1
35 35 204 1 1
36 36 301 Noan It's not like this has never happened before. 1
37 37 301 Noan pushes forward a drink that he just made.
38 38 301 Noan Right? 1
39 39 302 ... 40
40 40 301 After a prolonged period of thinking, the commandant finally picks up the cup and takes a couple of sips.
41 41 301 Holding the cup, the commandant sits back at the desk and starts sending messages on the terminal.
42 42 301 Noan did not ask about the content of the messages, but he knows they will not be easy to deal with just from the frown on the human's face.
43 43 301 Ten minutes later, the commandant puts away the terminal and takes another sip before walking over.
44 44 302 Noan. 45 Shrek. 47
45 45 204 1 1
46 46 301 Noan Hmm? 1
47 47 301 Noan What is it? 1
48 48 302 Let's run away. 49
49 49 204 1 2
50 50 301 He closes his eyes and chuckles.
51 51 204 1 1
52 52 301 Noan Thanks. But who is going to be responsible for your sick leave if I run away? 1
53 53 301 Noan I am tagged. There is surveillance everywhere. No matter where I go, they will find us. 1
54 54 301 Noan You should go back and have some rest. I can walk you to the lounge if you need me to. 1
55 55 302 They will be worried if I take sick leave and go back to the lounge. 56
56 56 301 Noan Then just go to a place you like and chill out. 1
57 57 302 Can't I just stay here? 58
58 58 301 Noan They are coming to get the bad guy very soon, and you will still be forced to take a break. 1
59 59 301 Noan Maybe they will take you directly to Star of Life. 1
60 60 302 But I can't leave you alone... 61
61 61 302 And let you face all of that. 62
62 62 301 Noan I still have to face it if I run away with you. 1
63 63 302 In that case, I will become an accomplice. 64
64 64 302 And I will share half of your problems. 65
65 65 302 Isn't that what you said? 66
66 66 204 1 9
67 67 301 Noan ... 1
68 68 204 1 2
69 69 301 Noan ...You are so... 1
70 70 302 It's just that... 71
71 71 302 Sorry, I never thought there would be a tag on you. 72
72 72 302 If that's the case... 73
73 73 204 1 1
74 74 301 Noan If that's the case— 1
75 75 301 He opens his arms and reaches out both hands over the counter.
76 76 301 Noan The tag is right on my wrist. Are you going to disarm it? 1
77 77 301 Noan sounds like he is just teasing, as if he is not serious and prepared to be rejected.
78 78 302 ... 79
79 79 302 I don't have the authority. 80
80 80 301 Noan But you know who has. 1
81 81 302 Simon? 82 Asimov? 82
82 82 301 He nods.
83 83 302 ... 84
84 84 204 1 11
85 85 301 Noan Shouldn't you turn me down immediately? 1
86 86 301 Noan Are you seriously thinking about whether you can trust me? 1
87 87 302 I... 88 I was really thinking about it. 88
88 88 301 Noan Do you trust that I will not sneak into a shuttle, and contact the Ascendants when I land? I can pass the filtering and become mightier than ever, you know? 1
89 89 302 ... 90
90 90 302 If you really have that plan, you wouldn't have come back with me. 91
91 91 301 Noan I was badly wounded and had no choice. I either came with you, or got killed by you—at least that's what the doubters always think. 1
92 92 302 I don't think so. 93
93 93 301 Noan Then... 1
94 94 301 He waves his hand. Still, he looks like he is mocking himself.
95 95 301 Noan I just happen to know a route without surveillance. I can take you with me. 1
96 96 302 Did you really study the surveillance system? 97
97 97 301 Noan Yeah. I discovered it by accident though. 1
98 98 301 Noan I really sound like a defector now, don't I? Do you still believe me? 1
99 99 302 ... 100
100 100 301 After a moment of hesitation, the human picks up the terminal again.
101 101 204 1
102 102 301 After a lot of communications and procedures, the ID card of Gray Raven Commandant finally has finally been granted authority. The commandant flashes the card over Noan's wrist.
103 103 401 100 2 897
104 104 402 897
105 105 301 —Beep.
106 106 301 The closely attached wrist band falls off his artificial skin onto the bar counter.
107 107 302 I only got six hours for you. 108
108 108 302 After six hours... You still need to put it on. 109
109 109 301 Noan More than enough. I'll be back soon.
110 110 301 Noan ...Thank you for believing in me. 1
111 111 301 He moves the wrist, walks out from the bar counter, and reaches out his unshackled hand to the human in front.
116 116 301 DialogEnable Two of them run across the square into a long, narrow safety path.
117 117 201 1 500506
118 118 301 1 Noan Stay close to the wall. Follow me. 1
119 119 301 Noan Actually, there is still surveillance here. But it has a blind spot. 1
120 120 302 How did you ever find that? 121
121 121 301 Noan It's a secret. Can I not tell you? 1
122 122 302 No. 123 But I already trusted you. 123
123 123 301 Noan I'm actually good at finding the blind spots of surveillance. 1
124 124 204 1 2
125 125 301 Noan When I was a child, I had a secret base. It was a warehouse and I had to avoid the surveillance to get in. 1
126 126 302 Secret base? 127
127 127 204 1 1
128 128 301 Noan Yeah, it was a warehouse of books. The books inside are all for sale, but nobody would find out I am reading them as long as I don't damage them. 1
133 133 301 As they talk, they have already gone through the path into a deserted bridge in Zone Z.
134 134 301 Noan Once we are here, nobody will find out. 1
135 135 301 Noan Sit on the stairs and take a break. 1
136 136 302 OK 137
137 137 301 The human nods and sits next to Noan.
138 138 301 Noan has not said anything. He just takes out a book he brought from the library and starts reading.
139 139 301 Nobody will ever visit here. The lighting and temperature control system stopped functioning long ago. Only the dim emergency light is blinking in the cold air.
140 140 302 Are you going to read a book here? 141
141 141 301 Noan I'd love to talk to you, but I got you here to let you rest. 1
142 142 301 Noan Wouldn't it defeat the purpose if I keep talking? 1
143 143 302 ... 144
144 144 301 Noan If you still can't fall asleep, at least you can empty your head. 1
145 145 204 1 1
146 146 301 Noan Rest assured that I will stay here. 1
147 147 301 Noan I'll send you back when you feel a bit better. 1
148 148 302 But it's a little cold here. 149 Alright. 155
149 149 301 Noan Sorry, but I didn't bring any coat or blanket either. Would you like to sit closer? 1
150 150 302 (Nod) 151
151 151 301 Noan Come this way... 1
152 152 301 With the book in one hand, he pulls the cape with the other and puts it over the commandant while still looking at his book.
153 153 301 His action is very natural, as if he is calming down a good friend or child.
154 154 301 Noan You should rest now. 1
155 155 301 Looking at the distant stars, the human slowly calms down.
156 156 301 Noan also remains calm like the empty bridge.
157 157 301 Time slowly goes by...
158 158 301 He finishes half the book and looks up, only to find the human has fallen asleep.
159 159 301 Noan ... 1
160 160 301 Noan You really fell asleep... 1
161 161 301 Noan ...What a reckless act. 1
162 162 301 Noan Are you just that type of person who easily trusts others, or do you really find me trustworthy...? 1
163 163 301 1 AniZhuanchangBegin His soft, gentle voice melts in the calm breaths.
