Story Reader / Floating Record / ER05 Sands of Wrath / Story
I give up! This thing ain't working at all!
Frustrated, Noctis throws his terminal onto the bed and paces back and forth in front of the window.
Two of you wasted the whole morning trying to modify the terminal in order to contact Babylonia.
Still, it looks like you have overestimated your abilities. Compared to professionals like Lee, two amateurs like you can hardly carry out such modifications.
What? Didn't that old man tell us not to do it?
If you can still get Daemon through covert investigation, Mayor Max will not have much to say.
Are you sure it will work...? But we can't really get anything done in this room. Better get moving then. I'm already bored to death.
Noctis sighs and walks to the door. He tosses his terminal to you.
Have you forgotten already? You are their primary target. Maybe they have been waiting for you to get out...
Just stay here and keep in touch. I'll go around the town and investigate.
I'll find some clues. I swear.
Cut the nonsense. You'll only slow me down.
Noctis has a point, but given his personality, you still deeply suspect whether he can even start a proper conversation with the locals.
—Perhaps you should just start praying that he will not engage in another conflict.
Hey, mate. Do you know this guy...?
Noctis stops a young man passing by. He takes out Daemon's photo and tries to ask, but the man just rolls his eyes.
Hey you, old woman. Have you seen him...?
He finally finds another elderly woman selling her crops in a shop on the roadside. She seems quite easy-going.
She looks at Noctis' terminal, then stares at him for quite a while before revealing a smile.
**** off!
With a voice that is way too loud for her age, she pulls the door closed with great force, shutting Noctis—who is still clueless about what just happened—outside.
****! What's wrong with these people!
Despite all the negative experiences, Noctis just grumbles and continues on his journey to find the next person who may possibly listen to him.
I promised to find some clues. No way I'll go back empty-handed... That sucks.
Meanwhile, in a dark corner that Noctis has not noticed, the person he is after already has his eyes on him.
Hah... That idiot's still looking for me. He would never imagine that I'm just right here under his nose.
With a smug smile, Daemon pats the shoulder of the person next to him.
It wouldn't be so smooth without your help, Fann.
I grew up in this town. Nobody knows the people here better than I do. The Babylonia outsiders will have a hard time here...
The Forsaken troops will soon pass through here. Since you have helped me, you are our friend. Rest assured that we will keep the locals unbothered.
I don't care about the uninvited outsiders. It'll be great if you can drive them both away... But no matter what, I won't let anything harm this town. This is the last thing that can remind me of Mother.
That's easy, but I still don't know about your father... He seems to want this town to remain neutral.
We warned him many times, but he refuses to give in... He really has no clue who is providing shelter for this town.
Due to their cooperative relationship, the Forsaken camp has been setting up gates to protect New Oakley from Corrupted for years.
He only clings to those old-fashioned ideals like neutrality and freedom... He must have forgotten how Mother died long ago.
Daemon looks at Fann with a hint of a smile. To him, those people with resentment cannot be any easier to control.
As long as things can go smoothly this time, I'll recommend you to Generalissimo. You'll be able to join the Forsaken and seek revenge against Babylonia...
Revenge against Babylonia... Is that really possible?
We, the Forsakens, are just like you. Every single one of us hates Babylonia for some reason. After Generalissimo joined us, we have also been secretly accepting the victims of Babylonia.
Soon, we will grow into a formidable power... Those hypocrites in Babylonia won't even be able to imagine what's coming for them.
Daemon points at the faraway tower glowing in blue light. There is a sharp gleam in his eyes.
We deserve a place in the area under that light, but Babylonia has taken it all away.
Are the Forsakens going to attack the Clean Zone...?!
Correct, and this town acts as a crucial gate near the Clean Zone without the worries about Corrupted interference. As long as you can allow the Forsaken troops to pass, our plan will succeed.
Daemon squints at Noctis, who is still wasting effort on his futile investigation.
But right now, these two from Babylonia are our greatest obstacle. It will be a lot of trouble if they discover our plan before it is executed.
Fine. Those scums always disgrace this town, but now would be a good time to make use of them.
Excellent idea. If the locals here take action, those Babylonia people would probably hold back due to their hypocritical rules.
Fann signals at a few thugs hiding in a shadowy corner.
Hehe...
****, ****...
Feeling extremely bored in the room, you cannot figure out what to do. From what you have heard in the terminal, Noctis seems to have no progress either.
You cannot help but let out a sigh. It seems like an eternity since the last time you felt so powerless. Once again, you realize your limit as a commandant.
Right then, someone knocks on the door slowly and steadily. You take off the terminal and instinctively reach under the pillow, where the pistol is hidden.
Without waiting for a response, the door is pushed open, and a burly man walks in assuredly, followed by several retinues.
You are a commandant of Babylonia. A smart person.
Max sits down on a chair, handing his cane to one of his followers.
He seems not surprised at the absence of Noctis, indicating that he must have picked this time when Noctis is not around.
Then I hope your unintelligence won't bring you too much trouble... The rules you are used to do not work here.
This place is a haven for criminals, thugs, scumbags, and people who couldn't make it anywhere else... These people, well, will not surprise anyone if they suddenly lose their lives the next moment.
That Construct probably has some reason to stay. But I can tell that you are different...
He glances at the communicator you were working on just now. The screen still shows a Babylonia message title.
You still want to return to Babylonia, don't you?
That is why he seizes this moment and tries to convince you.
If you fail to find Daemon, you will not be able to explain why you went solo. Your joint operation with Noctis, who was a suspect, can only be interpreted as attempting to defect.
Even if you stay here, you won't find anything... Like I said, you are not welcome here. This place is full of...
Max seems somewhat surprised. You do not know if it is just a delusion, but his gaze has softened slightly.
Hmph... In that case, I won't be able to stop you. You will become the new blood of New Oakley.
Max stands up, takes the cane from the follower, and firmly plants it on the ground with a crisp thud.
Now that you've become a resident of the town, you must, like the others, find a "job" that suits you. Anyone without a job here will be expelled.
What other job can you possibly handle other than being a commandant...?
Right then, you hear a loud noise from the communicator in your hand, followed by several screams.
