6 6 301 AniZhuanchangEnd Right now, Kurono is treating Cerberus as if they are real dogs.
7 7 301 Worried that they would make a mess together or collude with one another, Kurono has separated the three Cerberus members for interrogation after setting up the quarantine zone.
8 8 301 Crossing her arms, Vera does not change her response regardless of how the interrogator questions her.
9 9 201 1 500168 -400
10 10 201 2 500019 400
11 11 301 1 Vera I told you, we don't know who our mindless attacker is. 1
12 12 301 Vera It called itself "Voodoo", and it kept mumbling about a guy named Vonnegut. It first attacked the Ascendant Roland before coming after us. 1
13 13 301 Vera That's all I got. Ask me however you want, but that's all I can tell you... What else are you expecting? A lecture on its behavior pattern? How the hell would I know what the Punishing Virus has done to it? 1
14 14 301 Kurono Construct Based on the mission logs, you had disengaged the remote connection for a time not long after the mission began. 2
15 15 301 Kurono Construct Your tracks deviated from your planned route quite extensively afterward. 2
16 16 301 Vera Hah. 1
17 17 202 1 2 1
18 18 301 Vera sneers.
19 19 201 1 500168 1
20 20 301 1 Vera Planned route? What on earth is that? Our mission was to investigate what appeared to be Luna's M.I.N.D. activities and locate her. 1
21 21 301 Vera If there was a planned route, why the hell would we need to "locate" her? 1
22 22 202 1 1
23 23 301 Vera narrows her eyes.
24 24 201 1 500168 1
25 25 301 1 Vera Cerberus accepted your assignment due to the Chief Commander's order, but that window closes when the mission ends. 1
26 26 301 Vera Now that you've terminated our mission—our mission has ended, so you have no authority over us anymore, given the terms of our arrangement. We don't even have to sit here and get grilled by you. 1
27 27 301 Vera Understand this—we're staying here listening to your macho crap because we're in a "good mood," not because we're afraid. I know your type, so don't think for a second that your scare tactics will work on us. 1
28 28 202 1 1
29 29 301 The hostility in her voice has all the Kurono soldiers raise their weapons.
30 30 301 The red-haired Construct stands amidst them proudly like a rose above its thorns. She has shown no signs of aggression; her fingertips have not even moved an inch toward the hilt by her waist.
31 31 301 Still, the threat she poses just standing there can nonetheless make one shiver with fear.
32 32 301 Kurono Construct The redheaded Death...
33 33 301 Someone whispers.
34 34 301 Vera tilts her head toward whoever muttered her old nickname. She grins from ear to ear, almost in a teasing way.
35 35 201 1 500168 13
36 36 301 1 Vera Ha! I haven't heard that name in a very long time. How "nostalgic"... 1
37 37 301 Vera raises her hand, and all the soldiers hold their breaths just from this one simple motion.
38 38 301 Everyone is expecting her to draw her sword, but she does not. Instead, she slides a finger across her neck in front of the soldiers tauntingly.
39 39 301 Vera Do you want me to cut you down? 1
40 40 301 Her tone is cold, unlike her expression.
41 41 301 The Kurono Constructs interrogating her take a look at each other.
42 42 301 This conversation is going nowhere. Continuing any further will only fan the flame.
43 43 301 A Kurono soldier in charge steps forward.
44 44 203 1 0.25 -400
45 45 201 2 500028 400
46 46 301 1 Kurono Construct We have a grasp on the situation, more or less. A transport craft will pick you up soon. You'll have to make a detailed report back on Babylonia. 2
47 47 204 1
48 48 301 Vera I want to see my team. 1
49 49 301 Kurono Construct Our report shows that a member of your team, designation BPH-22, has shown abnormal fluctuation in her M.I.N.D. during the operation. This might be connected to the hostile force's abilities. 2
50 50 301 Kurono Construct We'll need to quarantine her in isolation and inspect her frame. Before we can confirm she is stable, we cannot end our observation in case something goes wrong. 2
51 51 301 Kurono Construct Given that all three of you have come into contact with a new enemy type, we cannot eliminate the possibility that you are all potential risks. 2
52 52 301 Kurono Construct Each of you will be retrieved separately, and you will regain your freedom after we make sure everything checks out. 2
62 62 301 1 Right as he finishes speaking, a blade that cuts metal like butter has already slid across his cheek.
63 63 301 No one can react in time. The female Construct is so fast that no one caught the moment she drew her blade. Despite being a Support-type Construct, her movement is as swift as an Attacker.
64 64 301 By the time vital fluid drips down the soldier's cheek to his shoulder, the Kurono Constructs around Vera aim their guns at her as if they have just been snapped awake.
65 65 301 With their fingers on the triggers, they are prepared to fire.
66 66 301 Vera's blade does not shift a bit.
67 67 301 Vera As I've mentioned, don't attempt to treat us the way you treat Gray Raven. No one understands you more than I do—your bogus claims might work on those birdies, but you aren't fooling me. I know what you're planning. 1
68 68 301 Kurono Construct Lower your weapon, BPN-13. I repeat, lower your weapon, BPN-13. 2
69 69 301 Unfazed, Vera just stares at him.
70 70 301 At the same time, No. 21's beast-like growl can be heard dozens of feet away from them on the other end of the quarantine zone.
71 71 301 No. 21 I... want to see my captain.
72 72 301 No. 21 Do not... come near me.
73 73 401 2 561
74 74 301 Her growls spread to Vera's end sporadically. It is then followed by loud clashes and Noctis' yelling immediately afterward.
75 75 401 2 561
76 76 301 Noctis Hey! I have no idea what any of your words mean! I said I wanted to see my boss, do you hear me?
77 77 301 Noctis Oh? You're trying to stop me, is that it?
78 78 301 It seems that Kurono has given her teammates the same speech.
79 79 204 1 1
80 80 301 Vera's furrowed brows relax.
81 81 301 Vera turns out to be the "calmest" one of them all—this thought makes her chuckle.
82 82 301 But then—
83 83 401 2 1515
84 84 204 1
85 85 301 A voice in her ear stops her from smiling.
86 86 301 This is not a voice her audio module picks up from the surroundings. This is a message directly transmitted to her audio-visual module.
87 87 202 1 2 1
88 88 304 Encrypted channel connection identification confirmed. Mission ID: 961211. Data transmitted to Construct BPN-13's data bank. ffffffff 1 Assets/Product/Texture/Image/BgStory/Bgstory422.png 4
89 89 304 O (Your location) 718EA3FF 0.01 Assets/Product/Texture/Image/BgStory/Bgstory422.png 7
90 90 304 X (Destination: 4.63 km away) 718EA3FF 0.01 Assets/Product/Texture/Image/BgStory/Bgstory422.png 1
91 91 301 Two sets of coordinates appear on Vera's visual module. One of them points to a location fairly far away, while the other is less than five kilometers away from where she is.
92 92 301 A field not far away from the outskirts of the town.
93 93 301 As the captain of the Task Force directly under the Chief Commander, Vera has an encrypted communication channel with Nikola, who owns the only key.
94 94 301 Hounds are tools that help the hunter hunt. She needs not ask nor think—her only duty when an objective arrives is to make haste to the destination, retrieve the object, and bring it back to the target location.
95 95 301 This is an order only she can hear, coordinates only she can see... a solo mission for Vera and Vera only.
96 96 301 She understands immediately.
97 97 301 AniZhuanchangBegin She sheaths her blade and makes a circle with her thumb and index finger, placing it next to her lips, and she whistles. The sound penetrates and echoes throughout the quarantine zone.
102 102 301 No. 21 has her back arched like a trapped beast, her body tense, growling, ready to strike the surrounding Kurono troop any second.
103 103 301 Upon hearing Vera's whistle, however, she slowly puts down her hands, lowering her head like a tamed puppy.
104 104 301 No. 21 I... will listen. 1
105 105 202 1 1
106 106 301 This is a signal Cerberus rarely uses. Seldom would people on the battlefield use such a loud and obvious signal.
107 107 301 In fact, it does not entail any strategy at all. Cerberus never thinks about tactics or plans... this signal of theirs is simply used to issue a simple command—
108 108 301 "Sit. Good doggy."
109 109 301 Cerberus is often ruthless on the field. Left unchecked, they will kill nonstop, usually resulting in matters getting out of hand.
110 110 301 AniZhuanchangBegin This is why Vera has designed this signal to command them to stop. If anything, it is more akin to a leash that holds back the rabid dogs.
111 111 301 AniZhuanchangEnd Noctis also hears her whistle from where he is.
112 112 301 He hisses before throwing the Kurono soldier in his grasp aside.
113 113 201 1 500336 4
114 114 301 AniZhuanchangBegin 1 Noctis Why won't you let us act?! What are you doing, Vera?! 1
123 123 301 But in a flash of an eye, Vera spins around and slashes his gun in half.
124 124 201 1 500168 13
125 125 301 AniZhuanchangBegin 1 Vera Who knows how long it'll take if I do this by the book? If you're assigning me this operation, it's only fair that I get to call the shots on how I execute it. 1
128 128 301 AniZhuanchangEnd A breeze blows past your face. It carries the earthy smell of fresh soil.
129 129 301 Your nose scrunches. You might be imagining it, but ever since you connected with the pale, beast-like Construct, your sense of smell seems to have enhanced.
130 130 301 You are smelling the scent of dirt freshly watered.
131 131 301 This is not a scent you would smell on Babylonia, a metal-plated fortress.
132 132 301 Confused, you suddenly find the Constructs outside the blast-resistant glass raising their weapons.
133 133 301 But you have not done anything this time. Curiously, they are not aiming at you either. Instead...
134 134 401 2 561
135 135 301 RImgBg1Shake —First, you hear a loud crash.
136 136 401 2 589
137 137 301 1500 You hear a piercing "SLASH" after that. The sound of the flesh and bones of the metal box housing you being slit.
152 152 301 Your eyes have adjusted to the dark for so long that they are not prepared for this burst of brightness. Your vision and mind go blank for a second.
162 162 301 Slippery like a fish and quick like lightning, she swings her blade unceasingly. The cold hue of her blade blossoms into a blooming flower in the air.
180 180 301 1000 You close your eyes subconsciously, expecting the pain to hit, but it does not. Instead, you hear a loud "CLANG!", the sound of metal hitting metal.
183 183 301 Slowly you open your eyes, your vision finally adjusting to the brightness.
184 184 301 The first thing you see is the iron chain attached to your legs cut into two. Then you notice the blade that separates it is still pinned in front of you.
185 185 401 2 561
186 186 301 The blade wielder's force is so strong that its point is buried deep into the ground. The sword is still rattling, its hum lingering in the air.
187 187 201 1 500168 1
188 188 301 1 You follow the sword and look up... and you find a familiar figure standing before you.
189 189 301 You cannot help yourself but utter her name.
190 190 302 Vera. 191
191 191 301 Vera, facing away from the light, stands there, the corner of her mouth gently raised.
192 192 301 Vera Hello there, Gray Raven Commandant. It's been a while. 1
193 193 301 Her tone is calm as if you are greeting after running into each other on a lazy afternoon.
194 194 301 —As long as you can ignore the unconscious Kurono Constructs under her feet.
195 195 301 Her tone soon shifts back to the aggressive hostility you are familiar with.
196 196 301 Vera What's wrong? Did I make you piss your pants? 1
197 197 202 1 1
198 198 301 Before you can answer, she is already tossing the Constructs outside the opening one by one with a sneer.
199 199 301 A hound on a mission does not relax until all her objectives are fulfilled.
200 200 302 Where are we exactly? 201 Why are you here? 201
201 201 301 Having "emptied" the room, Vera pauses for a second.
202 202 301 Slowly she turns her head toward you, seemingly about to answer your question.
203 203 301 But then, the loud crackling of engines in the distance causes her expression to shift drastically. She stops smiling.
204 204 201 1 500168
205 205 301 1 Vera Sometimes it's amazing how dense you are. 1
206 206 202 1 1
207 207 301 She walks toward you as she speaks. Swiftly she retrieves the blade nailed to the ground before cutting open another metal wall of the room.
240 240 301 Noticing your look of epiphany, Vera shows you a look of disgust.
241 241 201 1 500168
242 242 301 1 Vera Only now do you notice it? Come on, Gray Raven Commandant. 1
243 243 301 You have been transported to Earth since your first remote connection.
244 244 301 They have replicated the dark room they caged you on this transport craft to create the illusion that you were not moved.
245 245 301 Vera I've taken down most of the Kurono Constructs on my way here, but their reinforcement will arrive soon. 1
246 246 301 Vera Go close the rear door. I've only torn apart this room, not the craft itself. 1
247 247 301 Vera I'm going to fly the plane now. Time to bolt. 1
248 248 202 1 1
249 249 301 With that, she steps inside the cockpit, no longer communicating with you.
250 250 301 AniZhuanchangBegin The red-haired Construct has been blazing around you like a fire. Only until she disappears from your side that you can finally smell the scent of crossing swords she has left behind.
253 253 301 AniZhuanchangEnd The door to the study opens.
254 254 301 All Collins does is raise his eyebrows.
255 255 301 Despite his guest arriving unprompted, Collins knows that his address is only known to a selected few, accessible to fewer. He is not worried about his safety. Someone who can arrive safely must be one of his.
256 256 301 Indeed. It is Rebecca at his door.
257 257 301 Her chest rises and falls from her heavy breaths, her usually elegant appearance slightly unkempt. It is apparent that she was in a hurry and unable to bother with how she looked.
258 258 301 This is unusual for Rebecca. Someone like her cares for how she presents herself.
259 259 301 Unless things are so dire that she cannot afford to do so.
260 260 301 Collins straightens himself while Rebecca has already arrived before him, her high heel shoes clicking.
261 261 201 1 500337 4 -400
262 262 201 2 500319 7 400
263 263 301 1 Rebecca What was that you got from the Chief Commander? The Gray Raven Commandant just got rescued by the Cerberus captain! Your plan to sneak the commandant away has backfired! 1
264 264 301 Collins pauses for a second before he starts laughing.
265 265 204 2
266 266 301 Collins Ahahaha... I can't believe it! Nicky actually did it... 2
267 267 301 Stupefied, Rebecca stares at the man before her, who laughs so hard he almost runs out of breath, and she stands there, confused.
268 268 301 Collins At least our socialite here has stopped pretending to be neutral. 2
269 269 301 Rebecca instantly understands that he is mocking how she has been playing both sides.
270 270 301 She takes another deep breath and continues.
271 271 301 Rebecca The only good news is that we have detained the other two Cerberus members. One of them was connected with the commandant for a long period of time, and her M.I.N.D. showed unusual activities during the mission. 1
272 272 301 Rebecca As long as we retrieve her and analyze her M.I.N.D., our mission is not a total failure... Why the hell are you not nervous at all?! 1
273 273 301 Collins answers her with a question.
274 274 301 Collins What was the objective of this operation? 2
275 275 301 This time, it is Rebecca who pauses.
276 276 301 The objective? She ponders. On the surface, it was to utilize the Gray Raven Commandant to investigate what appeared to be Luna's M.I.N.D. activities and locate her.
277 277 301 That was what she thought as well, in the beginning.
278 278 301 But things apparently are not what they seem. Collins promised to return the Gray Raven Commandant to the Parliament, yet he tried to move the commandant behind their back, meaning he wanted to hold on to this asset.
279 279 301 Kurono is not known for leniency. Rebecca even thought that Collins would come up with more ways to counter the Parliament after the mission.
280 280 301 The reason he has his eyes on the Gray Raven Commandant is simply that the commandant has the potential to connect to an agent without getting their consciousness corrupted.
281 281 301 Of course the Parliament would not believe him, but what is done is done. There is nothing they could do.
282 282 301 Having organized her thoughts, Rebecca almost thinks that the whole operation was set up to test and capture the Gray Raven Commandant.
283 283 301 Rebecca We were trying to track down the agent "Luna." 1
284 284 301 Having said it out loud, a slight hint of inconsistency rings in the back of her mind.
285 285 301 She knows very well that all Collins has cared about is that agent. Everything that has driven him so far is connected to the agent.
286 286 301 The reason he has his eyes on the Gray Raven Commandant is simply that the commandant has the potential to connect to an agent without a corrupted consciousness.
287 287 301 But she suddenly realizes one thing—
288 288 301 She has the priority wrong.
289 289 301 As important as that commandant is, Collins still cares about the agent more. But, right now, he is ready to move heaven and earth just to keep the commandant in his grasp...
290 290 301 Sure, the more cards they hold in their hand, the better. But if they had to pick one over the other, they would have chosen the agent.
291 291 301 And yet, Collins is in no hurry to track down Luna, the agent, even when her M.I.N.D. activity was discovered in that town. All they did was send a squad to the surface to investigate.
292 292 301 Almost as if he cares not about finding the agent and instead the commandant's ability to "sniff out" an agent's tracks.
293 293 301 That cannot be right—the agent's whereabouts should be the most important thing, unless... Unless—
294 294 301 Suddenly, Rebecca connects the dots.
295 295 301 She raises her head, frightened, and looks at the smirking Collins. His smile is still comical, but she can see the vileness behind it.
296 296 301 Collins Have you figured it out, our dear socialite? 2
297 297 301 She tries to speak, and that is when she discovers her throat is dry from her realization.
298 298 301 Collins I chose to tell you the truth in the past because, personally, I believed you. 2
299 299 301 Collins Well, not that I believed you not to reveal our secrets to the Parliament. I believed that it wouldn't matter even if you did. 2
300 300 301 Collins repeats to her their past conversation, word-for-word.
301 301 301 Collins As for the rest, don't think about it. Just keep up your appearance and play your part as the one that dances between Kurono and the Parliament. It'll be beneficial to both of us. 2
302 302 301 Rebecca nods tentatively.
303 303 301 Collins sighs.
304 305 301 Collins I knew Nicky had something planned. I just wasn't expecting him to burn this bridge of ours to get what he wants. 2
305 306 301 Collins This makes me even more curious. Doing so means they've gotten what they wanted, something so important that they think it's okay to mess with us. 2
306 307 301 Collins What is it, Nicky? Does it have something to do with that intel? 2
307 308 301 Collins is mumbling to himself while simultaneously looking like he is talking to Nikola across time and space.
308 309 301 Rebecca, finally having her voice back, interrupts him abruptly.
309 310 301 Rebecca Then what is your... our next move? 1
310 311 301 Collins Track the transport craft. Intercept it if we can, let them go if we can't. 2
311 312 301 Rebecca We're just going to let them leave? 1
312 313 301 Collins Say you have the key to a treasure chest but not its location, and out of nowhere, someone shows up with its location but not the key... 2
313 315 301 Collins Why be selfish and hold onto the key? 2
314 316 202 1 2 1
315 317 301 Collins stands up and straightens the collars of his shirt, preparing to head out.
316 318 301 Before he leaves, he looks back at Rebecca.
317 319 201 1 500319
318 320 301 AniZhuanchangBegin 1 Collins And when they unlock the treasure chest and bring it back, we'll just... take it. Yeah? 1
323 325 301 AniZhuanchangEnd 1 Celica Your message is recorded. It'll be delivered alongside the supplies during the routine airdrop. 2
324 326 301 Celica But we don't have a forward operating base there. Dropping supplies at entirely new coordinates could catch "some" people's attention. I've tried to conceal it with other operations as much as possible. 2
325 327 301 Hassen Thank you, Celica. 1
326 328 301 Instead of joking about overtime pay like she usually does, Celica just looks tired.
327 329 301 Rather, everyone in the conference room looks tired.
328 330 301 Hassen Go rest, Celica. 1
329 331 301 Celica opens her mouth, wanting to say she is fine.
330 332 202 1 2 1
331 333 301 But seeing Hassen's look, she instead says nothing, departing the room quietly, leaving Hassen and Nikola by themselves.
332 334 201 1 500011 -400
333 335 201 2 500012 400
334 336 301 1 Nikola Transferring Cerberus has caused Murray's suspicion already. He was the one who retrieved the first part of that intel. Knowing him, he must have had a backup made. Aren't you worried that he'd give it to Kurono? 2
335 337 301 Hassen He's a smart kid. He knows what's okay and what isn't. 1
336 338 301 Hassen He won't take risks for something nonbeneficial. He's a merchant, not a dishonorable traitor. 1
