Story Reader / Interlude / Front Sight Focus / Story
And that was how...
Sophia stumbles trying to make her way past the carriages, until no Corrupted can be heard behind her.
She runs until she finally finds a lit-up carriage, and uses the last bit of her energy to barge in.
Help... Corrupted... In the commoner carriage...
...rupted...
What's the situation?
We've finished cleaning up. It's a miracle no one from the inspection team lived, but it has caused too much of a commotion to stay under wraps.
If "she" finds out...
Tsk... There's nothing she can do about it even if she does find out.
Well... You were the one who ordered us to disobey "her"...
Although you'll most likely keep your head, it's true that you disobeyed the leader. There'll be punishments.
That doesn't concern you. I've served under ol' Amir. His daughter can't even hold a gun properly, let alone going against me.
Although...
My lord...?
That little brat who crashed my birthday party the other day... What happened to her?
There were too many witnesses so we had to get her to a doctor.
The doctor told me that there's no hope saving the lower half of her body and that she only has less than 36 hours left.
If you were planning to silence her, my lord, then we do not need to do anything at all.
That's not what I'm thinking.
We need to do something. We need her to live.
My lord?
This is a chance to plant the seeds of "hate", we can't let it go to waste.
My lord, you're not...
Go make the arrangements. Now. Time's a-ticking.
It's time for us to teach that so-called "leader" a lesson.
You understand what you need to do?
It's not easy to find all the equipment and components on a train, let alone to do it in less than 4 hours.
If anything goes wrong...
W-we understand the orders.
My family... Please don't hurt them.
Hmph, that depends on the outcome of your work.
Lord "Ashlar" is a man of his word!
Alright, I'll do it.
Commencing... Preparation for Construct reconstruction surgery.
...
Prepare to commence tantalum substitution procedures, NEMCO connection, cardiopulmonary replacement...
Give her a standard dose of adrenaline and then prepare to commence organ replacement.
I see, so this is the technology retrieved from City 173.
N-not only that, we also learned from "that experiment", to use the technology from Babylonia Construct parts to strengthen the system.
Hey, it's time to replace the skeleton, quit dilly-dallying! I can't do it alone!
C-coming!
...All vitals are normal, the secondary "heart" and tantalum "cerebellum" are fully functional.
...It worked.
...
Now that I look at it... I'm sure she was only able to break through all the barricades of the Corrupted with the help of many who were willing to sacrifice themselves.
I hope you'll be able to demonstrate as much hate as the love they've shown you... Hehehe.
Uhm, does this mean we can...
Scram. Your work here is done.
Th-thank you!
Well then... It's time to pick the perfect time for it to "bloom"... For this flower of hate, that is.
A few months later.
Are you here? Sophia?
...Coming.
This is?
This month's supplies and consumables for maintenance work.
...This is too much.
You're the last of the inspection team, of course you'll be treasured.
The new inspection trainees have already graduated and are ready to carry out maintenance work on their own.
Well done. Who would've thought there would come a day when "Hyena" lives in the noble carriage and is even qualified to train others.
...
Don't you ever forget, this is all thanks to Lord "Ashlar".
I understand. I have never once forgotten Lord "Ashlar's" benevolence.
Oh? Is that so?
Yes.
Good, then. I come bearing some... Insider information for you.
?
Read it for yourself.
An exquisite envelope is casually tossed in front of Sophia.
That's all for today. Remember, as usual, I was never here.
...
Sophia opens the envelope once she was back in the safety of her own room.
The cruel leadership of Akdilek Jamilah is planning to remove us—the foundation of her throne.
And she, is the one behind the incident. She refused to deploy help and ordered for the carriage you were on to be destroyed.
Akdilek Jamilah Amir is no longer fit to rule Akdilek. She became the enemy of Akdilek the moment she forced us to carry out her absurd orders.
You are hereby tasked to infiltrate the front coach and eliminate the maleficent Akdilek Jamilah Amir. Our dire request rests upon your shoulders.
It is only because you share the same hatred we do that we have decided to entrust you with this important mission. Your Construct frame was prepared with this moment in mind.
Complete your task and eliminate Akdilek Jamilah Amir, and you shall be rewarded with your life and eternal peace upon Akdilek!
—Ashlar
I see...
Sophia clenches the paper in a tight grip, her mechanical arm instantly tearing the paper into pieces.
I understand now, and I will do it.
For Lord "Ashlar" and for myself.
