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Reunion Soldier
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Patriot asks W about Kazdel's past. And now, Hoederer has no choice but to go to Victoria to shake off his enemies. The lonesome W must now decide her own destiny.
<Background black>
Months ago, after contacting Reunion
10:14 PM \ Clear
Ursus, unnamed desert outskirts
<Background 1>
Hoederer ...You've met all the Reunion leaders.
What'd you think?
W Are you asking me, or her?
If you ask me, I'd say nothing out of the ordinary. The stuff they do is pretty par for the course for people like that.
Ines A strange bunch. There's a child who seems to been purposefully pushed into that position to the point of becoming cruel, and then there's a warrior whose toughness is beyond imagination.
W There are some incredible people, but then there are also some two-bit villains.
All I can say is, we've seen all kinds of people after fighting wars all these years.
Ines But, there is someone who caught my eye...
W Oh, you must be talking about that one. The one who was waiting at the side with that other little rabbit.
Ines Their squad seemed on a completely different level compared to those ordinary Infected. That kind of Sarkaz warrior can be said to truly bear the mark of war.
Hoederer Sarkaz...?
W Yeah, but you don't see Sarkaz like that every day. He claims to be with Ursus, saying he broke off contact with Kazdel long ago.
How pitiful. He never needed to live such an exhausting life.
Ines Maybe we should all go meet him.
The impression I got from him... was that he has become much more than a "warrior."
And you, don't you love thinking about things? Instead of philosophizing, why not have a chat with someone like that?
We might all learn a lot from him.
Hoederer You're talking about...
??? Pardon. I would like to. Speak with you alone.
W ...Speak of the devil. What's up?
Hoederer To who do I owe the pleasure?
[A towering Sarkaz clad in heavy armor appears.]
??? My name. Does not matter. For the time being.
Rest assured. Right now, I am not. Here on behalf of the leader.
I just want to hear...
About my countrymen. About my homeland. What has become of them.
I know that, in Kazdel. Many things happened.
Some things, I have heard. But details, no.
W You're just an Ursusian.
??? These two identities. Do not conflict.
The bloodline. Has not changed. Dark, and deeply rooted.
I care not for it. But run from it? I cannot.
W So even if I told you, what do you plan to do?
These things happened a long time ago for me–
??? Nothing. There is nothing. I can do.
But, it has been so long. Since I saw Theresa.
W Ooh...
??? From your reactions. I see. She is with you. Her mark is here. After all, you are Sarkaz.
Muddied. Blood-soaked.
She is a hero, at least. So respected. A great warrior. A worthy ruler.
My flesh. Loyal to Ursus. From my people, I exiled myself. But I, am still Sarkaz.
I want to know. What happened to her Kazdel.
I just, want to know.
<Background fades out and in>
En route to Chernobog
5:22 AM \ Clear
Chernobog, Sarkaz mercenary garrison
W ...
...Need something?
Reunion Soldier We hope that your mercenaries can give us an explanation.
First, your team defected. The people who went after them reported back that you weren't even trying.
A few hours ago, some enemies managed to infiltrate Chernobog. Again, due to your negligence.
Combined with the fact that when we first captured Chernobog, someone tipped us off that you let–
W Okay, okay, I got it. The client's dissatisfied with our performance. Can you say that with fewer words?
We're simply in a "cooperative" relationship, and I'm the leader now. If I get on this table and start grovelling, will Talulah be happy?
Or, did having Papa Patriot around give you the illusion... that Reunion is actually good at fighting a war?
Make no mistake about who the people actually capable of bringing you victory are.
Reunion Soldier ...
W If you've figured it out, hurry up and crawl back to that dragon girl. I'll tell her what she wants to know soon enough, so don't rush me.
Reunion Soldier There's one other thing.
Just now, stragglers from an enemy party were detected inside the city. That mercenary, Ines, died after exchanging fire with them.
W ...
Reunion Soldier Reunion also participated in this battle. The enemies were very strong, and we all suffered losses.
This is all due to your negligence.
W ...There's no need to get pushy with me.
Seems like something happened to the east of here not long ago.
Reunion Soldier Precisely.
W So... where's the body?
Reunion Soldier Unfortunately, I have bad news.
W I'm talking about the enemy's corpses. Ines wouldn't use such flashy, destructive Arts.
Reunion Soldier Our casters were also involved in the battle. The entire street was destroyed.
W Don't you think you're being a bit too blatant here?
Reunion Soldier I don't know what you're talking about.
W ...So, from your side's point of view, how should this situation be handled?
Reunion Soldier ...Our main force is focused on the battle that will take place in Lungmen. We have no time to waste here.
The Leader won't investigate your responsibility in this just yet, so you should handle it yourself.
W Hmm... You have a pretty thick Ursus accent.
Reunion Soldier ...What of it?
W You guys...
[W threatens the Reunion soldier with a wand.]
W ...Didn't really think that I'd take some random excuse, did you?
Hoederer W, stop.
(Put that wand away and calm down first.)
W ...
Sorry, got a bit carried away there. You can breathe a sigh of relief first and be grateful that you get to live.
Reunion Soldier What's the meaning of this?!
W ...Don't get me wrong. The death of one Sarkaz won't affect the outcome of the next battle.
And neither will the death of the entire Reunion Movement.
If you don't believe me, you're welcome to try me.
Reunion Soldier ...I'll make sure our Leader hears about your true attitude.
There won't be a next time.
<Background fades out and in>
Hoederer ...
W You heard 'em.
Hoederer Since you let that Rhodes Island squad escape, Reunion has never allowed us to act alone.
W If they could put half this much effort into their actual battles, they wouldn't be getting their asses handed to them so badly.
Hoederer Despite that, you still deliberately let that traitorous blademaster get away.
W ...I didn't deliberately let him go. I just didn't want those idiotic Infected to kill a Sarkaz I brought here.
Hoederer ...The old you would've slaughtered Flamebringer on the spot to get Reunion's attention off of you.
Regardless of what you wanted.
W Eh? Was I the only one who couldn't remember his codename? How embarrassing.
Hoederer ...
W ...
Hoederer So, is Ines really...
W Now's not the time...
She... I'll have someone identify her, identify her c–...Tch.
Let's talk business first.
Hoederer ...Three things.
First, Ines wanted to warn you that something's wrong with Talulah. She must've seen something more specific, but I'm not clear on that.
All she told me was, Talulah apparently had "two shadows." From her reaction, this isn't some common byproduct of Arts interference.
W That damn coward... Why wouldn't she ever be straightforward...
Hoederer Second, the old man has left. Received an order to go fetch something. Talulah didn't even make any efforts to hide it.
W ...
Hoederer ...Finally, a messenger has already set off for Victoria. Shortly, the Regent will know everything that has happened here.
Theresis knows many things, and he has just as many monsters around him.
If he is allowed to intervene, this would no longer be a simple question between Reunion and Ursus...
W ...
Hoederer W! Are you listening to me?
W ...Too noisy. Since it's all good news anyway, let me have some peace and quiet.
You've had your hand on the hilt of your blade... ever since you walked through the door.
You were like that when we first met, as if you were ready to cut me down at any moment.
But the way you stayed calm back there was just like Patriot–
What do you really think about this?
Hoederer That's not important.
W And none of us are. We all know this, and bad habits die hard.
Ines, she...
I have the right to hear what she said, right? ...In order to respect her sacrifice.
Hoederer ...You two are both similar. Never considering the consequences of the things you do.
The Regent will not sit idly and watch them lose control. If you can't give him a suitable answer, Londinium's summons will destroy everything you've painstakingly put together.
Ironically, I still don't know what you're trying to accomplish, even now.
W ...Who knows?
Hoederer Just, don't think you can handle everything alone, W. You'll come to regret it sooner or later, just like me.
W The reason you have the right to ask questions is because you avoided the center of the whirlpool.
Hoederer Really? Who's still left on Rhodes Island now?
W ...Why are you asking that?
Hoederer I've seen your interactions with the messenger. You've been investigating Rhodes Island's trail.
That drug company... I had assumed they only got caught up in that war, but turns out, the truth isn't so simple.
Especially, Scout...
...According to your plan, we were in charge of all the other fronts during the battle to hold Chernobog.
W Yeah, and you guys did a great job–
Hoederer But, someone still found him, the ghost of Babel. You chose to find him yourself, and then you let him go.
In the past, I would've seen this as a sign of untrustworthiness.
But by the looks of things, you didn't plan to keep that secret for long anyway.
W Ugh, what point is there in hiding that?
If you've ever fought in a battle, you're bound to know some people who have a bit of a reputation.
After all, if those people have been fighting tooth and nail to hang on, there's no getting around it.
Hoederer What's your plan now? We shouldn't have had to fight against them in the first place.
If that Kal'tsit is still in charge of Rhodes Island, this might be a chance...
W No.
What do you think my objective is?
Hoederer ...I see.
W You said you'd help me do this one thing. We agreed on it.
Dishonest mercenaries are worth just as much as dead mercenaries, so I don't mind making some extra arrangements.
Hoederer Ines can no longer help you.
And soon... I'll have to leave too.
W Oh, I haven't heard about this before. Where to?
Hoederer I'll head back to Victoria with the messenger. It'll be about a three or four-month trip. We'll leave tomorrow morning before sunrise.
W ...Are you in that much of a hurry to reunite with Ines in death? With your reputation, you plan to head back to Londinium carrying all that sin on your shoulders?
You'd probably be better off fleeing back to Kazdel.
Hoederer You killed Garcin and reorganized the mercenaries. Someone has to report this to the Regent.
If nobody goes to report this, he'll treat us like disowned children and cast us straight into the next warzone. A battlefield within his reach.
When that time comes, there really will be no place to run.
W You're taking this risk to cover for me? Why would you do that?
Hoederer Her Majesty, Theresa... She remembered my name. And my family.
Though Her Majesty is no longer here, there's a part of her left in this piece of shit, no good squad.
W How come I've never seen it?
Hoederer Mm. No matter how perverse the Sarkaz's personalities and methods may be, judging from the results, they're still fighting for that lofty, unrealistic idea.
W ...Do you even know what you're talking about?
Hoederer We've known each other for a long time, W.
That's all.
W Out of compassion, let me also give you a reminder.
This is your best opportunity to escape Kazdel. Leave from here, past Lungmen and Ursus, to the distant lands beyond. I'm willing to keep one eye closed.
But if you go back, know that you will die.
Hoederer Hah... Just earlier, you said you wanted me to help you do your thing.
W If your idea of helping me is just committing suicide, then I suggest you hang on to your life instead.
When it's my turn to collect, I'd like some of my debtors to still be alive.
Hoederer I wouldn't necessarily be going there to die. Depending on the Regent's mood, there are many possible outcomes.
Reunion has been manipulated into something far beyond what you can imagine. The Regent may well change his mind.
...In any case, I no longer have the luxury of running away.
I've left Kazdel. And I'm about to leave here. What's the worst that could happen? Patriot has already taught me enough.
W You've been influenced by him a lot, just from your short time here.
Hoederer Just like you were, with Theresa. It's all the same, isn't it?
Theresis sits on his throne. Even if I am only able to grovel my way up there with my head pressed against the ground, I must reach where he is, and figure out what he is thinking.
Otherwise, if we continue acting recklessly as we are now, that will truly be committing suicide.
W You know, you could also just submit to him.
Hoederer I've thought about that before. Just so you know, Garcin was always suspicious of you. He even gave me the order to kill you once.
W Oh? Sounds like things would've been a bit more entertaining if you had listened to him.
Hoederer Sorry, but I'm not into the same kind of stuff you're into.
Now, let's decide.
W Hm... I won't deny that I'm curious about what Theresis is up to.
Seems like I have no choice though.
Hoederer That's right. Even if you rejected my proposal, I don't plan to let you keep running the show.
W You're not gonna say that this is for my good, right?
Hoederer Of course not. What kind of Sarkaz goes around taking care of others?
W ...How disappointing, you've just gone right back to your old ways. I thought you were going to keep falling.
So, do you already have a plan?
Hoederer Why don't you go ask Ines?
W That's a really unfunny joke.
Hoederer Then, before I leave, let me tell you another joke.
Ines once told me that you looked more and more like a lunatic, but your actions got less and less decisive.
W Who, me? Do you really believe that?
Have I been using fewer bombs recently?
Hoederer Maybe. No matter how good you might be at hiding it, we've worked together for far too many years.
Who's to say, maybe we trusted you this whole time.
<Background fades out and in>
[Hoederer leaves.]
W ...
...So, which line was the joke?
<Background 2>
Reunion Soldier ...Oh, it's you. Sarkaz mercenary, Hoederer, huh?
I heard you were leaving. What business do you have with us?
Hoederer Before I leave, there's something I'd like to confirm...
Did any of you personally see Ines fall in battle?
Reunion Soldier No.
As soon as we received the support request, the battle was over.
The street had been torn apart, and the Originium crystals left by the Catastrophe caused a violent chain reaction.
We got the situation under control with fairly minimal–
[Hoederer suddenly attacks the Reunion soldier.]
Reunion Soldier ...What are you doing?
Hoederer Ursursian, you're pretty calm for someone who just saw a companion fall in front of your eyes.
Reunion Soldier ...
Hoederer You give off the stench of conspiracy and war. A stench that is all too familiar–
If Ines was still here, that's definitely what she'd say.
Reunion Soldier So that's what this is about. It's all too common for people to vent their anger on the Infected over a fallen comrade.
I just thought you would've been a little smarter than W.
Hoederer ...A little smarter, huh?
Yeah, looking back, I've been a bit overprotective of her. Always have been.
But not because I was afraid she'd get in trouble. You see, I was more afraid that I'd have nobody to kill.
After all, I'm also a Sarkaz... the real deal.
Reunion Soldier You—!
[Hoederer kills the Reunion soldier.]

Before the Regent and Confessarius, Hoederer is horrified to discover that the Regent had orchestrated everything. He and is messengers must find a way to warn W.
Background-Victorian Palace
<Background black>
Confessarius I have seen your report.
Your achievements with Reunion are, to say the least, not worthy of commendation.
However, that being said, you have indeed procured some unexpectedly useful information.
Hoederer Thank—
Confessarius No, there is no need for thanks. At least, not this time.
You are all impressive warriors, and until your deaths, you are entitled to the rewards you've earned by virtue of the blood, sweat, and tears you have shed.
His Majesty the Regent knows well the acts and deeds of all Sarkaz, even those as insignificant as yourself.
The Infected are not the only thing in this temple gradually depreciating. Do you understand?
Hoederer ...I do.
Confessarius Mm.
If I am correct in my predictions, Rhodes Island has already welcomed the return of a certain unpalatable individual.
And you... you should have made contact.
Hoederer —!
(The Regent is even faster than W? All the way from Londinium?!)
Confessarius Mercenaries know loyalty only to their own interests. But that nonetheless makes a fine starting point.
When the dust settles, and you stand once again before the throne of His Majesty—
That is when you will receive your reward.
Hoederer And what about the other warriors?
Confessarius The young Infected has her own plans. Were you unaware?
But His Majesty will not participate in such nonsense. We have mutually decided that Victoria will stand by and watch Reunion's next move.
We lack "effective measures" to retake control of that unit from W.
Furthermore, it is important that we, in the name of our supporters, continue to whip up the Infected in all corners of the world.
Hoederer We're still going to use Reunion? I was sure His Majesty would have...
Confessarius Given up? Oh my no, young mercenary.
Things are yet far from chaotic enough. Even if Reunion has strayed from its leadership, it remains a source of chaos—
What's more, should your words just now be taken as a question of His Majesty's intentions?
Hoederer No, absolutely not.
Confessarius Very well. Raise your head...
Oh, yes.
For the time being, you need not return to Kazdel. The journey back is too long, and matters have been progressing rapidly there.
You are to stay here, for now. Enjoy this small respite however you can.
Hoederer Thank you very much.
Confessarius Now then, His Majesty awaits me. You are dismissed.
Remember, see to your own business first, Hoederer.
Hoederer Of course.
[Hoederer leaves.]
Confessarius Hoederer, yes?
I look forward to seeing what else you uncover.
<Background 3>
Hoederer ...*Sigh*.
Sarkaz Messenger Looks like it's house arrest for both of us?
Hoederer It's not like I never thought about it. And hey, it's better than I was expecting...
But we were a little too naive.
Sarkaz Messenger Which part was naive? The part where you thought you'd die, or the part where you thought the Regent didn't know?
Hoederer Both. He's been pulling the strings from the start.
Not that I'm surprised... he's Theresis. We've all heard the stories about him and Theresa, the invincible forces of nature...
But I guess in the course of the war, I forgot those stories... weren't just stories.
Sarkaz Messenger So how do we warn W? What's going on with Reunion?
We wasted so much time on the road. She might've already split with Talulah.
Hoederer The other possibility is the show ends in Lungmen.
Sarkaz Messenger Wouldn't that be a bit too quick?
Hoederer It fits with the way W works. If Talulah's gonna destroy the Infected, W'll destroy Talulah first.
Sarkaz style. With extreme prejudice.
She's pretty upset over the death of a certain merc, after all.
Sarkaz Messenger She knows the score.
Hoederer She's out of room to hesitate any longer. Now she just needs to get into the right headspace to make a move.
Sarkaz Messenger And that means we're left waiting.
Hoederer We've got ways to fool the Regent's eyes. It'd be a crazy risky play, but...
I've still got my own squad I can keep on "standby."
Sarkaz Messenger Victoria's all over the place right now. They probably wouldn't catch the code.
Hoederer Yeah, and it would have to pass by some real tricky spots controlled by the Regent... and on to Kazdel.
Sarkaz Messenger Kazdel?
Hoederer The battlefield ruins there haven't been touched in a long time.
But we eked out a living there for a good long time.
There was a communications station in an old bunker buried under those ruins. The tower made it look like it was destroyed, but everything down there still works.
Sarkaz Messenger Hold on, that was a long time ago...
How long have you been preparing this?
Hoederer All done way back at the very beginning. Cost me a pretty penny too.
Sarkaz Messenger Heh heh.
Oh man... if they saw the look on your face right now, boy would they be surprised.
For a while now, every time you came back from a battle, you were always deep in thought, like a kid who did something bad.
I figured you'd just lost your will to fight.
Hoederer Nah, it was the opposite, actually. I finally realized what it was I had to do.
Sarkaz Messenger How?
Hoederer Because I had no choice. It's kind of liberating, in a way?
Sarkaz Messenger W must've said something to you before you left Chernobog.
Hoederer Does that sound like her? Laying all the cards on the table?
Sarkaz Messenger No. She'd be a lot less of a pain if she did though.
Hoederer You're right that she came looking for me before I left the core city. She knew what we were going to do.
She...
<Flashback starts here>
<Background 2>
W Can you put a price on the life of a merc?
Hoederer Sure. Always have. Why even ask? You knew the answer.
W But who set the price?
Hoederer The war itself.
W Sure... you got your battlefield honors, your victories, the glory you pull out of a hand-to-hand fight, all the things that raise your profile, that let everybody know what a useful tool you are.
So boring.
W But that's all in the past. At least for us it is.
Hoederer ...What do you mean?
W Every Sarkaz merc should have a nice, clean price tag.
But we don't need anybody to slap it on. No oversight. They write their own price in the blood of the enemies of Sarkaz.
Hoederer You... are you saying we should get everyone to leave Kazdel...?
W You look surprised. But like, they could choose for themselves.
Does this sound weird?
Hoederer ......
W Not weird, right?
Just give it some thought... think about what you could be doing in Kazdel.
Hoederer You're talking about doing that right in front of Theresis, in broad daylight.
W You make it sound so bad. As if you don't have your own plans.
Hoederer .......
W Chill... you were my boss, Hoederer.
You'd better do it, or we'll have trouble.
<Flashback ends here>
<Background 3>
Sarkaz Messenger That's a pretty good joke. The old hands at the Scar Market would laugh themselves into a coma.
Hoederer It certainly wouldn't make the committee happy. They'd be out a lotta money, and a lotta wasted brainpower.
Sarkaz Messenger Not to mention all the people they killed.
Hoederer Sure enough... and the old hands there too... some of them are almost friends of ours...
Sarkaz Messenger So what are you gonna do now? It's up to you.
Hoederer Well... I can't leave Londinium. Hell, I can't even leave this mansion.
I think it's up to you.
Sarkaz Messenger You can do a lot as a "Messenger."
Hoederer "Keep following Talulah's orders. Hoederer isn't coming back yet." Should be good?
As long as that comms station still works, we'll hear back. And they'll get word to W.
Sarkaz Messenger Hmph...
I know how to do this.
You don't have to tell me.
<Background 2>
W ......
*Sigh*... What a pain in the ass...
Just when I decide to go after the dragon lady... What a time you picked.
Get out here.
The ruins of Chernobog weren't like those of Kazdel.
There were still traces of life out on the streets, ravaged as they were. They gave you some idea of what had been.
Unlike the total annihilation back there.
Like, for example...
Those two kids. Kids painstakingly raising their weapons.
Unyielding Child Devil! What are you doing here?!
Waifish Child N-no, don't provoke her...
S-sorry... we were just leaving...
W Hey–
That's an army sword you're holding, isn't it?
Yes, it is. Sarkaz steel... You can't even lift it. Why are you hauling that thing around?
You gonna fight back? You gonna kill me?
Waifish Child Eeep—
Unyielding Child G-get back—agh!
Waifish Child Rublev... your leg!
W Oh, you're hurt.
You're gonna get infected. This city got hit with a Catastrophe. It's not safe here.
Unyielding Child I won't turn into a thing like you!
W Aww. What a tough kid.
Let me ask you—
—Do you know what it means to take up the blade of a fallen Sarkaz?

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