10 10 301 Roland and Lamia find a broken wall nearby that can cover both of them, and hide in its shadow against the dawn light.
11 11 301 ...
12 12 301 Just as Roland expected, a few Corrupted show up behind their previous position.
13 13 301 There aren't many of them, and they look just like ordinary wandering Corrupted.
14 14 301 A few hours ago—just after daybreak, to be precise—Roland didn't have any idea yet, but he and Lamia decided to head out first, trying to follow the known clues.
15 15 301 Soon, strange wandering Corrupted began to show up on their route every once in a while.
16 16 301 They kept coming. Every time, they ended up in Lamia and Roland's way, even in the areas where there was nothing to infest.
17 17 301 Like every time in the past, the small number of Corrupted do not pose any threat. But Roland feels something isn't quite right.
18 18 301 He extends his hand, trying to control their leader to turn back—
19 19 301 —But nothing happens.
20 20 201 1 500334 -450
21 21 201 2 500165 450
22 22 301 1 Roland (What's going on? Is it because of this body, or...) 1
23 23 301 Lamia Just a few wandering Corrupted... Can't we just finish them off? 2
24 24 301 Roland So? 1
25 25 301 Lamia ? 2
26 26 301 Roland Don't you feel strange? These annoying Corrupted just keep coming. They can always find us. 1
27 27 301 Roland We changed our route many times, they came back every time, even in the areas impossible for Corrupted to exist. 1
28 28 301 Lamia (Eek? I thought we were just lost...) 2
29 29 301 Lamia Eek—! 2
30 30 301 Roland Whoever is behind them, I have no idea what they want... Are they just testing us? 1
31 31 301 Roland (Not necessarily. They should have sent stronger forces to test us. Maybe they just wanted to change our route, so they sent those Corrupted in the hope that we would avoid them.) 1
32 32 301 Roland (Better ask Lamia to control them if they ever show up again. I can't let her know that I've lost control of the Corrupted.) 1
33 33 301 Roland Alright, let's kill them all! 1
34 34 301 Lamia ? 2
35 35 301 Roland still doesn't know why his opponent sent in these soulless weaklings, but he has no time to waste on them.
36 36 202 1 2 1
37 37 301 AniZhuanchangBegin Roland has a plan in mind. He rushes out from the broken wall, along with a still clueless Lamia.
48 48 301 AniZhuanchangEnd 1 Roland (...This isn't right.) 2
49 49 301 Roland? What is it? 1
50 50 301 Roland (What do they want from these meaningless attacks?) 2
51 51 301 Roland (Whether they want to get rid us, or make us leave, none of that is going to happen.) 2
52 52 301 Roland? Unlike humans, attrition warfare isn't going to work on Ascendants. But if the opponents can control Corrupted, they are probably no different. 1
53 53 301 Roland? They are definitely aware that such trivial attack are never going to pose any threat. If they send in all the Corrupted together, they might at least have a chance. 1
54 54 301 Roland (Which means, they must be doing this on purpose for some reason.) 2
55 55 301 Roland? The question is... What do they want? 1
56 56 204 2 2
57 57 301 AniZhuanchangBegin Roland ...Interesting. 2
62 62 301 AniZhuanchangEnd 1 Lamia Eek... Just what are you mumbling? Say something that I can understand. 2
63 63 301 Perhaps Roland and Lamia are staying at the same place for too long, as Roland talks, more Corrupted have appeared on the other side of the road, stumbling toward them.
64 64 301 Lamia Eek... 2
65 65 301 Roland ...Have they come again? 1
66 66 301 Roland (They must be coming from the exact same spot. I walked a large circle just to confirm this.) 1
67 67 301 Roland watches the Corrupted as they march forward. He already knows what to do.
68 68 301 Roland Lamia, make them stop. 1
69 69 301 Lamia ? 2
70 70 301 Lamia wonders why Roland doesn't do it himself, but she follows his order anyway—
71 71 301 But the Corrupted aren't stopping. Actually, their action is not impacted at all.
72 72 301 Lamia ...Eek? 2
73 73 301 Roland ...I knew it. 1
74 74 301 AniZhuanchangBegin Lamia's Ascendant power cannot take control of the Corrupted. That means the opponents possess similar abilities to control them, if not stronger.
79 79 301 AniZhuanchangEnd 1 Roland (The only possible explanation is, these things must represent some sort of "information" that the other party is trying to show us.) 2
80 80 301 Roland? Could it be just an out-of-control automatic factory? 1
81 81 301 Roland (How do you explain that Lamia and I, as Ascendants, both cannot control their action?) 2
82 82 301 Roland? You seem to have already found an answer. 1
83 83 301 Roland Maybe. 2
84 84 301 Roland? Then what are you waiting for? I don't think I need to remind you of anything. 1
85 85 301 Roland (...Perhaps all I need is this line from you.) 2
128 128 301 AniZhuanchangEnd Roland and Lamia follow the sound, until it goes low in a particular direction, then becomes almost inaudible.
129 129 301 They continue heading in that direction, and finally arrive at the destination after climbing over a couple of building ruins.
130 130 301 They see a transport aircraft with Babylonia signs parked between the collapsed buildings.
131 131 201 1 500334 -450
132 132 201 2 500165 450
133 133 301 1 Lamia Eek... This is a Babylonia aircraft, right? Why is it here alone? 2
134 134 301 Roland Since it has come here alone, it is probably not carrying supplies or equipment, but— 1
135 135 301 They see three busy-working figures at a crossing further away.
136 136 301 AniZhuanchangBegin Roland Task Force members on a mission. 1
137 137 202 1 2 1
138 138 201 1 500168
139 139 301 AniZhuanchangEnd 1 Vera What the hell are you two doing? 1
140 140 301 Breaking the silence, Vera closes the holo-projection on her terminal and turns to face her two teammates nearby.
141 141 301 Vera It's a door! Why didn't you just open it?! 1
142 142 202 1 1
143 143 201 1 500336
144 144 301 1 Noctis Oh, could it open? I didn't notice... 1
145 145 201 1 500168
146 146 301 1 Vera Set up the gear and prepare to work. 1
147 147 202 1 1
148 148 201 1 500328
149 149 301 1 No. 21 Roger. 1
150 150 202 1 1
151 151 301 The Constructs begin to take out the node device used for enhancing remote connection from the crates they have been carrying.
152 152 201 1 500334 -450
153 153 201 2 500165 450
154 154 301 1 Lamia Babylonia Task Force? What are they doing here? 2
155 155 301 Roland Are they here for "her"...? No, it can't be. 1
156 156 301 Roland soon dispels the idea from his mind after thinking about that female.
157 157 301 Roland "She" doesn't look like the type of agent that would attract Babylonia's attention. 1
158 158 301 Roland Could it be us then...? No, I don't think so. We haven't done anything. The last time we exposed ourselves, we were with "her"... 1
159 159 301 Rationally, Roland knows he should stay away from the Task Force as they have no conflicts of interest with him, especially when his main mission isn't going anywhere.
160 160 301 But the Task Force must be sent here for some reason. Maybe that is related to what he wants to know.
161 161 301 Roland (There is no need for a direct engagement. Apart from "someone," the rest probably won't even listen to me.) 1
162 162 301 Roland (But I should at least find out what they are up to.) 1
163 163 301 Roland Lamia? Time for you to shine. Go eavesdrop on them, and find out what they are here for. 1
170 170 301 AniZhuanchangEnd 1 Vera Perhaps they've transferred Murray to the Hellhounds. They're much better than you two, after all. 1
171 171 301 Vera has quickly regained her composure, as well as her sarcasm.
172 172 202 1 1
173 173 201 1 500328 4 -450
174 174 201 2 500336 4 450
175 175 301 1 Noctis What?! No, I won't allow that! You're screwing with me, aren't you? 2
176 176 202 1 2 1
177 177 201 1 500168 1
178 178 301 1 Vera Ha... That's an improvement. At least you understand irony now. Alright, let's stop complaining—we have the Gray Raven Commandant with us. 1
179 179 202 1 1
180 180 201 1 500328 4 -450
181 181 201 2 500336 4 450
182 182 301 1 No. 21 I don't like it. 1
183 183 202 1 2 1
184 184 201 1 500168
185 185 301 1 Vera A mission is a mission, 21. And if someone here doesn't like it, it sure as hell is me. 1
186 186 202 1 1
187 187 201 1 500328 -450
188 188 201 2 500336 4 450
189 189 301 1 No. 21 Fine. Understood. 1
190 190 301 Lamia continues to listen for a while, but the only useful information she gathers is that the Gray Raven Commandant is involved in this mission.
191 191 301 AniZhuanchangBegin Once Lamia gets ahold of the approximate direction and distance of Cerberus' destination, she leaves them.
192 192 202 1 2 1
193 193 201 1 500165
194 194 301 AniZhuanchangEnd 1 Lamia (...They definitely have something to do here...) 1
195 195 301 Lamia (Better let Roland know...) 1
196 196 301 Lamia (If I can get Roland to help me... to go to "that place"...) 1
197 197 301 Lamia (Eek... Guess I'll just have to move with him now.) 1
198 198 301 ...
199 199 301 AniZhuanchangBegin ...
200 200 201 1 500334 -450
201 201 201 2 500165 450
202 202 301 AniZhuanchangEnd 1 Roland —I see. 1
203 203 301 Cerberus, and the Commandant of Gray Raven.
204 204 301 From Roland's past experiences, there's nothing they have in common. Yet now they have come together.
205 205 301 The strange combo gives Roland some weird thoughts.
206 206 301 Roland ...Are they here for Luna? 1
207 207 301 Whatever they have discovered, this mission must be related to Luna.
208 208 301 He also realizes why the Corrupted are no longer showing up.
209 209 301 Because they have already been guided to the right track.
210 210 301 Roland Interesting... 1
211 211 301 Whoever is behind all this, it's worth investigating.
212 212 301 This opportunity is presented to him when he almost loses his direction. It's almost too good to be true, like a blatant trap.
213 213 301 But Roland never fears traps. He is used to them.
214 214 301 He looks forward to where it will take him.
215 215 301 The only problem is...
216 216 204 1 2
217 217 301 Roland The speed difference. 1
218 218 301 Lamia ? 2
219 219 301 Both Constructs and Ascendants can walk long distance without getting tired, but they are all based on the human body.
220 220 301 Lamia can travel a lot faster, but Roland doesn't trust her enough.
227 227 301 1 Lamia Eek—! This is way too heavy! I'm so tired! I need a break! 1
228 228 201 1 500334
229 229 301 1 Roland If we keep going at this speed, we can arrive two hours earlier than Babylonia. That's a win-win for both of us. 1
230 230 201 1 500165
231 231 301 1 Lamia In what way is this a win-win?! Eek—! A rock! 1
232 232 202 1 1
233 233 301 Even with a rein on her waist, Lamia manages to jump over a rock with incredible dexterity.
234 234 301 But the old cart she is pulling isn't so lucky. It bounces high above the ground and lands again, along with Roland, who is sitting inside.
235 235 201 1 500334
236 236 301 1 Roland Watch out, Lamia! I can't find another one if this thing breaks apart! 1
237 237 201 1 500165
238 238 301 AniZhuanchangBegin 1 Lamia Then don't make me pull it eeek— 1
253 253 301 ??? I just wanted to let "Loki" have some fun.
254 254 301 ??? Plus, she was also one of the high-value targets that Mister mentioned. She claimed she no longer had the thing, but I didn't believe her.
255 255 301 Cinderelik Okay. 1
256 256 301 Cinderelik Stick to the plan. 1
257 257 301 Cinderelik Stay focused. Your M.I.N.D. is easily affected by other things. 1