Canto V: The Evil Defining/Story Episodes/Part I
Jump to navigation
Jump to search
Amidst the conflict that knew no end,
We set sail on the Great Lake.
Into its ineffable Waves,
Into the flames of a certain Wrath.
We sail on, the incident with the green lights
finally behind us. Faust approaches the helm as though
she noticed something.
The engine came to a sputtering halt
as Outis's seafaring lecture reached its climax.
But we still have so much to go…
Our busboat with a dead engine was still sailing,
with every Sinner's hearts and bodies… well, not
exactly every Sinner, but most Sinner's hearts and bodies working as one.
Oh, and we learned a very valuable lesson about surviving
in the Great Lake: that breaking its laws can have catastrophic results.
…And that's when we noticed that our busboat was getting dragged
by something off course.
After numerous trials and tribulations,
we finally arrived at our destination. Looks like
this place is called Marlin Portship of U Corp.,
a giant seafaring vessel made by merging together
countless shipping containers.
In place of the LCCB Agent we were supposed to meet
was a posse of kidnappers who demanded
ransom from us. As we were discussing
our plan of action, Ishmael suddenly decided to act.
I could see from her eyes… that there was
a mix of numerous, complex feelings.
Now, we have no choice but to take these kidnappers out,
even if we are yet to learn
if the LCCB Agent is alive or not.
Maybe not everyone felt a sense of unity,
a sense of belonging from this group.
We headed to the boss's location
that Ishmael threatened out of the kidnappers.
Following the kidnapper's directions, we found ourselves
at the entrance of a club blaring with music.
I wanted to do this quietly… But we broke
into a fight prettly much immediately as we tried
to talk to the bouncers. We had to find different ways
to convince them to let us in.
We trashed the club and defeated members of the
Syndicate that the kidnappers were part of. Hopefully
we can learn their boss's location soon…
We learned where the boss's room was,
all thanks to Sinclair. She introduced herself
as the first mate of the Twinhook Pirates…
Smee, first mate of the Twinhook Pirates, told us
where they were keeping the captured LCCB
Team Leader. Ishmael wanted to leave no looe thread behind…
But I stopped her, even if it meant putting myself in danger.
I have no logical explanation for what I did,
nor could I convince Ishmael… But I don't regret what I did.
When we opened the shipping container Smee singled out,
an unexpectedly tearful and youthful face
of an LCCB Agent greeted us. I'm glad that he looks mostly unharmed, but…
Is he really the Team Leader?
We met an LCCB survivor who called himself Pilot.
He shared a very good news with us——that Saude
was alive! It's time to listen to
what he's got to say.
Pilot handed us the variable coordinates of the Lobotomy Corp. Branch
where the Golden Bough was last seen. Pilot, who so far
was trying to appear nonchalant, broke into tears.
I really wanted to believe that there are survivors
at the upcoming Lobotomy Corp. Branch.
We have to make our way to the Lobotomy Corp. Branch
based on the variable coordinates that Pilot gave us.
Meanwhile, Ishmael keeps nervously checking the telescope.
The Twinhook Pirates were tailing us. I decided to follow
Ishmael's advice and board their ship first
before they did ours.
We defeated the Pirates, but… I can't shake
this uneasy feeling. Well, no choice but to continue
our voyage while minding the laws
of the Great Lake.
Outis suggested that we break the laws
of the Great Lake and sail headfirst
into the Waves. The sky immediately darkens,
and the unknown Waves begin crashing into us.
|Part II —>
We set sail on the Great Lake.
Into its ineffable Waves,
Into the flames of a certain Wrath.
5-1: Setting Sail
finally behind us. Faust approaches the helm as though
she noticed something.
| Speaker | Dialogue | |
|---|---|---|
 |
FAUST |
…… |
 |
Vergilius |
Ms. Faust. |
|
|
FAUST |
Yes. We have received a signal. |
 |
DANTE |
<Faust?> |
 |
YI SANG |
Hurk… Haah… The long-awaited signal has arrived, then…? |
 |
DON QUIXOTE |
Oooh! Then shall our adventure in the Great Lake finally commence?! |
 |
SINCLAIR |
What signal? I don't hear or see anything… Not even an alarm. |
|
|
FAUST |
A smoke signal outside our visual range has been picked up by Mephistopheles. |
 |
GREGOR |
A smoke signal… the beacons are lit, then. I guess that's what we've been sitting on our butts for. |
 |
Charon |
Sailing is a go. Splish splash. |
|
|
FAUST |
Soon… we will be moving away from the coastal area and draw closer to what one could call the Great Lake approach. |
|
|
FAUST |
Activating automatic navigation system now. |
|
|
DON QUIXOTE |
How, how! Thou meanest to say that what we have experienced so far… was not the Great Lake? |
|
|
FAUST |
By strict definition… Yes, it was. We have been inside the Great Lake's borders for a while. Yet I make the distinction based on the information available to you, as our path has so far lacked any real threats. |
|
|
DON QUIXOTE |
No real… threats, thou sayeth. After all that… |
|
|
DON QUIXOTE |
Lo! Yi Sang there has hitherto been burying his face in that very bucket, I shall have thee know…! |
|
|
YI SANG |
I… mind me not, plea— hurk… |
|
|
DON QUIXOTE |
I had thought the bucket's purpose was to remove water from the ship in case of a flooding… yet all it hath heretofore removed were contents of Yi Sang's stomach… |
|
|
DON QUIXOTE |
And! That uh, Wal-puree-gisoonaught? That incident is still quite fresh in my mind! |
|
|
FAUST |
Walpurgis Night. |
|
|
FAUST |
And… not many of those 'threats' could be attributed to the dangers of the Great Lake. |
 |
MEURSAULT |
False Cause Fallacy. |
|
|
DON QUIXOTE |
… Quite the rush of daunting ideas thou hast thrown in mine direction. I shall henceforth continue to slumber, then… |
 |
OUTIS |
NO! We have just entered a hostile environment. We must rouse ourselves from sleep and ready ourselves for what dangers there may be. |
|
|
DANTE |
<Outis?> |
|
|
OUTIS |
All hands, to defensive stations! |
|
|
GREGOR |
Guh?! |
 |
HEATHCLIFF |
… What in the bloody… |
|
|
GREGOR |
… Augh, my heart dropped for a sec there. |
|
|
FAUST |
Outis, this ship is currently steered by an automated navigation system. As its name suggests, it will automatically avoid any threats the Great Lake may pose. Should a threat prove to be unavoidable, it will sound an alarm. |
|
|
OUTIS |
Bah… Do you really expect me to trust that incomprehensible contraption? |
|
|
OUTIS |
Besides, this 'automated navigation system' is nothing but some slapdash, last-minute installation by the Boatworks Fixers! |
|
|
FAUST |
… Indeed, Faust was not the one who installed this system. So, no. Its reliability is not absolute. |
|
|
OUTIS |
Well said. It is well-known wisdom that the path of a sailor is fraught with dangers unknown, which is to say that a human must handle it! |
|
|
DON QUIXOTE |
Then shalt thou be the one to lead this vessel to victory?! |
|
|
OUTIS |
I must rise to the occasion, as Executive Manager unfortunately lacks any memories pertinent to sailing. Luckily, I am quite experienced with a leadership position. |
|
|
DON QUIXOTE |
Ooho… Commander! |
|
|
OUTIS |
I am no commander! I am… your Captain! |
|
|
OUTIS |
Executive Manager! Allow me to briefly assume your authority so that I may lead this vessel as its temporary Captain. |
|
|
OUTIS |
Atten-tion! Sailing, that is to say, the act of traveling across bodies of water… |
|
|
OUTIS |
… And that concludes the fundamentals of sailing! Have you been taking your notes, men? |
|
|
Charon |
Snore, snore. |
|
|
DON QUIXOTE |
Oho, marvelous! Quite a considerable amount of new knowledge I have acquired! 'Tis akin to an adventure, is it not?! |
|
|
DON QUIXOTE |
'Twas one of mine humble eight-hundred-and-sixty-three old dreams to sail the Great Lake as an adventurer, like a challenger of storms, a queller of rogue waves! |
|
|
YI SANG |
Such an exact number of aspirations you have. |
|
|
SINCLAIR |
Outis, Ma'am? I have a q-question! |
|
|
OUTIS |
Yes, you are recognized. |
|
|
SINCLAIR |
Uh… What's that complicated looking lever over there? |
|
|
OUTIS |
… Um. |
|
|
DON QUIXOTE |
Ah, It has been a riddle in mine head as well! What may be the function of that peculiar device? |
|
|
DON QUIXOTE |
Ooh, perchance it shall load and fire a volley of cannonballs at the press of a button? Kacha-chaw! Puh-puh-puh-pow! |
|
|
YI SANG |
A lever of transformative variety. It shall be an auspicious day in which we are availed sight of this contraption in action. |
|
|
OUTIS |
…… |
|
|
OUTIS |
… Hm… |
|
|
SINCLAIR |
Uh, Outis…? |
|
|
OUTIS |
Hmph. I've been seeing more and more of these as of late. These so-called 'bleeding-edge' technologies are hollow inventions that have nothing to show for it aside from their pretty exteriors. |
|
|
OUTIS |
A blind pursuit of convenience breeds increased risk. There's nothing but ruin at the end of the road paved with overreliance on these bleeding-edge technologies! |
|
|
OUTIS |
Fervor fueled in the furnace of bolts and engine oil, the ship's blood and sweat… |
|
|
OUTIS |
A combined force of the commanding officer's decisive leadership and their subordinates' firm loyalty. |
|
|
DANTE |
<Blood? What?> |
|
|
OUTIS |
That is how proper workshops of tradition and history are supposed to be run! Now THAT is how true comrades are born! |
|
|
SINCLAIR |
I don't know what she's talking about… but that was kind of cool…! I can feel something rising from deep within my chest…! |
|
|
DON QUIXOTE |
Commander! Ah, I mean, Captain! This 'bleeding edge' technology is bleating like a mule! Whatever shall we do? |
|
|
OUTIS |
…… |
|
|
OUTIS |
I, Outis… Shall prove it to the world. |
|
|
OUTIS |
That I don't need this high-tech junk to sail! |
|
|
OUTIS |
Now, seawoman Don Quixote, set the power lever to the maximum output! |
|
|
DON QUIXOTE |
Power lever to the maximum output! Aye aye, Captain! |
|
|
OUTIS |
Seaman Sinclair! Set the helm to the neutral position and hit the switch! |
|
|
SINCLAIR |
Set the helm to the neutral position, s-set the helm to the neutral position, and… h-hit the switch! |
|
|
OUTIS |
LET'S GOOOOO!!!!! |
|
|
OUTIS |
The engine… has fallen silent. |
|
|
FAUST |
The automatic navigation system has failed. It is an old model; rebooting will be complete in approximately five hours. |
|
|
Charon |
That's what you get for abandoning your bus driver. |
|
|
DANTE |
<Wait, wait. So we're just stuck here?> |
|
|
FAUST |
Of course not. While Mephistopheles' engine may be inoperable as it has melded with the automatic navigation system, the ship itself can still move. |
|
|
FAUST |
We still have a manually activated backup power system on standby. |
5-2: The Laws
as Outis's seafaring lecture reached its climax.
But we still have so much to go…
| Speaker | Dialogue | |
|---|---|---|
|
|
OUTIS |
Now, men! Clear orders and solidarity are of paramount importance in times like these! |
|
|
OUTIS |
Right leg on 'HEAVE', left leg on 'HO'! Let's go! |
|
|
OUTIS |
HEAVE! |
|
|
DON QUIXOTE |
HO! |
|
|
OUTIS |
HEAVE! |
|
|
HEATHCLIFF |
… HEAVE HO HOW is it fair that you get to stand there barkin' orders at us while we're pedaling our bums off? |
|
|
OUTIS |
A most dimwitted question. A Captain must preserve her strength, or risk putting her subordinates in danger. |
|
|
OUTIS |
That is precisely why I am refraining from partaking in this collaborative effort myself! |
|
|
DANTE |
<……> |
|
|
HEATHCLIFF |
… Since when were you our Commander? |
|
|
DANTE |
<Well, she did say she's the Captain, not the Commander…> |
 |
RYŌSHŪ |
…… |
|
|
RYŌSHŪ |
Those damn seagulls can flock off already. |
|
|
HEATHCLIFF |
How 'bout we kidnap them seagulls and train them to pedal the generator? |
|
|
HEATHCLIFF |
Oi, Faust! Smartarse! I thought you were a genius; make it so! That should be easy-peasy for your brilliant intellect, no? |
|
|
FAUST |
I can make it happen, indeed. Yet I do not, as it is inefficient. Rudimentary toilet training will be the first step in making them viable as a consistent source of labor. |
|
|
Charon |
Charon's bored. Charon wants to vroom-vroom. |
|
|
RYŌSHŪ |
I'm tagging out. You're the driver, so do your job. That should keep you occupied for a while. |
 |
RODION |
Oho, ya sure about that? Vergie's not gonna let that slide~ That's how ya get yourself a 'consultation', y'know? |
|
|
GREGOR |
Haah… Wait…! Let's think about this for a hot minute. |
|
|
GREGOR |
Let's think about the actual reason we're sweating, pedaling the crap out of the generator, huh? |
|
|
OUTIS |
… To nitpick and seek someone to take the fall for every little thing is… a stinking thought. All that happens on the road to success is merely a part of the process. |
|
|
GREGOR |
Look, I'm not saying that we should play the blame game. I'm just wondering why we're pedaling so darn hard to begin with. It's not like there's something coming after us. |
|
|
GREGOR |
We're headed toward one of the largest ports of U Corp., and we know exactly where that is and how to get there. |
|
|
GREGOR |
It's not like the port's gonna sail away, right? Why all this urgency? |
|
|
FAUST |
…… |
|
|
GREGOR |
I mean, am I wrong? The Great Lake has been very tranquil so far. It's not like some monster's going to suddenly appear out of nowhere and attack us, right? |
|
|
FAUST |
It appears that your consolidated field experience has evolved into a form of intuition. Fascinating, Gregor. |
|
|
GREGOR |
What…? |
|
|
FAUST |
Faust finds this development optimistic. |
|
|
FAUST |
We must exit this area within the next 10 minutes. We are… falling somewhat behind the forecast of my predictions. |
|
|
GREGOR |
Okay… that was ominous. Why precisely 10 minutes? |
|
|
FAUST |
The 'laws of the Great Lake'. |
|
|
RODION |
Ohh… I knew it! It's that darn law of the Great Lake again, huh?! |
|
|
FAUST |
…? |
|
|
FAUST |
Your foreknowledge of the laws of the Great Lake is an unexpected development, Rodion. Quite difficult to believe that, even with the consolidated experience, your intuition would— |
|
|
RODION |
Sorry, sorry~ I just wanted to look like I was in on it for once. Girl gets tired of asking every time, ya know. |
|
|
FAUST |
The Great Lake of U Corp. has laws that… must never be broken. |
|
|
FAUST |
And yes. The port can and will sail away, Gregor. |
|
|
HEATHCLIFF |
It's a bloody lake… What laws could it possibly have? |
|
|
HEATHCLIFF |
What, are the Lake coppers going to come spank the bad boys with a stick for breaking class rules? |
|
|
RYŌSHŪ |
There better be a law that lets me SYNC, whiny brat. My ears are starting to bleed. |
 |
ISHMAEL |
So, if there's anything you want from me from now on, state it. Clearly. |
|
|
FAUST |
As much as I would like to provide you with an explanation, leaving this zone takes precedence. |
|
|
FAUST |
According to my calculations, our last conversation left us with 7 minutes. |
|
|
MEURSAULT |
We are approximately 15km away from the edge of this zone as the crow flies. |
|
|
MEURSAULT |
Each person must pedal to generate enough energy to travel at least 10km per hour if we are to escape in time. |
|
|
Vergilius |
Wonderful. I love to see some proper teamwork for once. |
 | ||
|
|
DON QUIXOTE |
Hyaah! Rocinante! Our destination is nigh! Gallop on! |
|
|
GREGOR |
Where does… that girl… get her energy from… Ugh, augh… |
|
|
RODION |
Cough, cough… I think I'm done for… Just go on ahead without me… |
|
|
SINCLAIR |
And leave you where… We're on… a ship… agh. |
|
|
MEURSAULT |
Hup. Hup. Hup. Hup. |
|
|
MEURSAULT |
Diaphragmatic breathing is conducive to maintaining consistent speed in an exercise of this intensity. |
|
|
FAUST |
Especially more so when each Sinner is responsible for about 10km per hour of energy output. Any higher and it would have required hyperpnea to maintain that speed. |
|
|
RODION |
Do you ever get tired, girl?! |
|
|
FAUST |
No. 3 minutes remaining, now. |
|
|
RODION |
Aough… We don't even know what happens in 3 minutes! Why are we doing this?! |
|
|
DANTE |
<She said there's no time! Just step on it with your life!> |
|
|
Charon |
Charon wanted to vroom-vroom. This is squeak-squeak. |
|
|
Charon |
Squeak-squeak. That's no fun. |
 |
HONG LU |
Hm hm hm~ I didn't know how energizing work songs could be. |
|
|
RODION |
Huuh?! How do you guys have so much energy left? |
|
|
HONG LU |
This is not even a warm-up compared to the training my family forced me to do~ |
|
|
HEATHCLIFF |
Ach, you lot! Shut your gobs and pedal! |
|
|
FAUST |
30 seconds remaining. |
|
|
SINCLAIR |
30… 30 seconds…! |
|
|
DON QUIXOTE |
Khaaaa! Quite the thrill this is!!! Now this! Is true adventure!!! |
|
|
DON QUIXOTE |
'Tis like charging an overwhelmingly colossal enemy, is it no— Ach?! Cough! Ack! |
|
|
MEURSAULT |
Save your words. Your breathing. Remain. In the flow. Breathe in. Out. Breathe in. Out. Breathe in. Out. Breathe in. Out. Breathe in. Out. |
|
|
GREGOR |
Huff… Huff… How… much… time… |
|
|
FAUST |
10 seconds remaining. |
|
|
FAUST |
4 seconds. |
|
|
SINCLAIR |
4? Why are you not… doing this by multiples of 5…?! |
|
|
OUTIS |
Look alive, deckhands! Put your back into it! Toil, men! Toil! |
|
|
DANTE |
<So… we made it somehow, but…> |
|
|
GREGOR |
I don't see any signs of those 'laws'… Am I missing something… Frau Faust? |
|
|
HEATHCLIFF |
Agh… I swear, if all this 'law of the Great Lake' drivel was some hogwash you made up… |
|
|
HEATHCLIFF |
… just to make this journey go just a tad faster, I'm going to seriously… |
 | ||
|
|
DON QUIXOTE |
PHWAAAH?! |
|
|
RODION |
Woah… That was too close! We were almost pancaked… |
|
|
DON QUIXOTE |
W-well! No a-adventure is complete with uh, cough, cough… nar-nary a peril, of course… |
|
|
RYŌSHŪ |
N.B. Now this is more like it. |
|
|
MEURSAULT |
We have no chance of weathering a single strike from one of its limbs. |
|
|
Vergilius |
No. But 'it' will leave us alone as long as we are 'here'. |
|
|
Vergilius |
That is the law of the Great Lake. |
|
|
FAUST |
Now we have time for my explanations. |
|
|
FAUST |
Though the laws of the Great Lake are numerous, I will relay only the pertinent information for now. |
|
|
FAUST |
Lingering longer than a predetermined amount of time in a single Lake will cause one to be struck by the 'Waves' of each Lake. |
|
|
GREGOR |
'Waves'…? That didn't look like any waves I've seen before. |
|
|
FAUST |
There are also laws governing the time and direction in which ships are permitted to cross the borders between the Lakes. |
|
|
GREGOR |
Wait up. So… if we ever just come to a stop for a bit, that… octopus tentacle-like thing'll whack us? |
|
|
FAUST |
Precisely. Thus, it naturally follows that everything on the Great Lake is in a constant state of motion to position itself according to the laws. |
|
|
FAUST |
And the route toward our destination will also change accordingly. |
|
|
HONG LU |
Hmm… Can I get, like, a written list of these laws? My nanny used to stick a piece of paper with our family rules in my room. Not that I could follow them all, but… |
|
|
ISHMAEL |
… The Waves finally hit, huh? |
|
|
DANTE |
<Ish… mael?> |
|
|
ISHMAEL |
You can't just scribble the laws of the Great Lake down on a notepad and call it a day. Each Lake has wildly different sets of laws, even though the overarching laws governing the Great Lake are pretty straightforward. |
|
|
ISHMAEL |
More importantly, you should know that unauthorized recording of their laws is one of U Corp's better-known taboos. |
|
|
RYŌSHŪ |
Then my body will remember it. |
|
|
FAUST |
… Tattooing them on your body, if that is what you are referring to, is also prohibited. |
|
|
FAUST |
Taboo Hunters of U Corp. have been sent in pursuit of individuals who have attempted precisely that. It is best that we do not produce any written records of their laws. |
|
|
DANTE |
<… What have you been doing all this time, Ishmael?> |
|
|
ISHMAEL |
Whetting my harpoon. |
|
|
DANTE |
<Your harpoon? Why?> |
|
|
ISHMAEL |
Because I need it to be sharper. |
|
|
ISHMAEL |
Because I'll give her the kind of pain that makes her wish she was dead. She'll feel it, even from the smallest cuts. |
|
|
HEATHCLIFF |
… Then why don't you spare us from your misery and crawl back into your hole. |
|
|
ISHMAEL |
I'm afraid that if I did, I'd later emerge to a deck littered with your melted, unrecognizable flesh. |
|
|
ISHMAEL |
And I'm not rearing to see a sight like that again. |
|
|
ISHMAEL |
Besides… |
|
|
ISHMAEL |
Watching you landsmen waste time tinkering with a ship you don't even understand, wasting precious time… has been unbearable. |
|
|
DANTE |
<… Okay, fine.> |
|
|
ISHMAEL |
… Hm. I had a feeling this would happen. |
|
|
OUTIS |
What are you doing? We are smooth sailing at the moment. A northbound breeze is pushing us along. |
|
|
ISHMAEL |
I guess it could look that way for some people. Simple, one-dimensional, predictable ground pounders like you. |
|
|
OUTIS |
You little… How dare you insult my— |
|
|
DANTE |
<Outis, let's hear her out.> |
|
|
OUTIS |
… You got lucky, swabbie. |
|
|
DANTE |
<Okay, Ishmael. Tell us… How are we not smooth-sailing? We've got the wind at our backs.> |
|
|
ISHMAEL |
That's no wind. |
|
|
ISHMAEL |
We're getting dragged. |
|
|
DANTE |
<Dragged? By what?> |
|
|
ISHMAEL |
Those ships. |
5-3: Resonance Tuning Fork
with every Sinner's hearts and bodies… well, not
exactly every Sinner, but most Sinner's hearts and bodies working as one.
Oh, and we learned a very valuable lesson about surviving
in the Great Lake: that breaking its laws can have catastrophic results.
…And that's when we noticed that our busboat was getting dragged
by something off course.
| Speaker | Dialogue | |
|---|---|---|
 | ||
|
|
DANTE |
<We're not exactly on a collision course with them, though…?> |
|
|
DANTE |
<Woaah!> |
|
|
Charon |
This skill… Splashy drift…? |
|
|
GREGOR |
Huh, didn't know ships could drift like a bus… |
|
|
Charon |
Charon, impressed. Redhead… not bad. |
|
|
Vergilius |
You have competition, Charon. |
|
|
GREGOR |
…! Hold up. |
|
|
GREGOR |
That's weird. She turned the helm all the way… Why are we still headed between those two ships? |
|
|
SINCLAIR |
I-it's like we're stuck on rails… |
 | ||
|
|
RODION |
Ishy?! Don't tell me you hit the reverse gear?! |
|
|
ISHMAEL |
I turned the engine off. |
|
|
RODION |
What… |
|
|
HONG LU |
Woah… are those ships melding into one another? |
|
|
HEATHCLIFF |
You bloody loon!! That's what you've got to say?! We're about to get squashed like bugs! |
|
|
OUTIS |
You, swabbie! What happened to all of that bravado from earl— |
|
|
ISHMAEL |
Shut up. |
|
|
OUTIS |
…! |
|
|
ISHMAEL |
I'm going to use the momentum of the pull when it's the strongest to get us out of here. And… |
|
|
SINCLAIR |
W-we're going to crash!!! |
|
|
ISHMAEL |
Now. |
| ||
|
|
SINCLAIR |
The back of our ship… |
|
|
FAUST |
Mephistopheles' engine can reconstruct damage of this severity within the next few days. |
|
|
GREGOR |
Wait, this is more than just some damage… It's like they deleted a part of our ship. |
|
|
YI SANG |
Gone, as though it had never even been a part of the ship's blueprint. |
|
|
ISHMAEL |
It's U Corp.'s Singularity, the resonance tuning fork. |
|
|
ISHMAEL |
Ships operating in the Great Lake can merge and separate when needed. As though they’ve always been a single vessel or as though they’ve never been parts of the same ship. |
|
|
ISHMAEL |
Resonance tuning forks used by vessels of that size are strong enough to pull in smaller boats without tuning forks like ours, or even ones with tuning forks with mismatching wavelengths. |
|
|
ISHMAEL |
… Oh, right. Apologies for taking the helm without your orders, Manager. |
|
|
DANTE |
<No, don't. You just saved all of our lives…> |
|
|
ISHMAEL |
I wasn't trying to. But thank you for understanding anyway. |
|
|
ISHMAEL |
Oh, and please accept my apology for giving unsolicited advice. A certain somebody won't stop flapping her gums at me, so I had to. It's not like I can plug my ears in the middle of a voyage, right? |
|
|
OUTIS |
…… |
|
|
OUTIS |
Tsk. I've heard my share of blunt, foul-mouthed talk during the war. She's not the first to do so. |
|
|
OUTIS |
Doesn't matter. As long as she can live up to her words… No need to get in the way, I suppose. |
|
|
OUTIS |
I'm sorry, Executive Manager. I must… take a short break. |
|
|
DON QUIXOTE |
Be not so crestfallen, Commander… I mean… Captain…! |
|
|
OUTIS |
Silence. Executive Manager is our commanding officer. Always been. |
|
|
FAUST |
Our destination is near. Welcome to one of the Five Great Ports of U Corp., the Marlin Port. |
|
|
HONG LU |
Wow… That's so big. |
|
|
HONG LU |
That has to be one of the biggest ships I'd ever seen. |
|
|
YI SANG |
Mist fades, and what was unseen before unveils itself. I scarcely did expect the pall to shroud a structure such as this. |
|
|
GREGOR |
Ship…? I don't know, can we really call that a ship at this point? |
|
|
DANTE |
<Can't help but agree there. Ishmael, does that count as a ship in the Great Lake?> |
|
|
ISHMAEL |
Your landsman common sense is useless at the Great Lake. |
|
|
ISHMAEL |
Ships that use resonance tuning forks like those are as common as crimes are in the backstreets. Or, I guess, as common as the Whales are in the Great Lake. |
5-4: Kidnappers
we finally arrived at our destination. Looks like
this place is called Marlin Portship of U Corp.,
a giant seafaring vessel made by merging together
countless shipping containers.
Pre-Battle
| Speaker | Dialogue | |
|---|---|---|
|
|
Vergilius |
Well, then. This is where we will go our separate ways… for a short while. |
|
|
Vergilius |
Charon and I have business to attend to here. |
|
|
RODION |
Business? Why? What is it this time~? |
|
|
Vergilius |
…… |
|
|
Vergilius |
… I'm looking to buy some Mermaid perfume. Let's leave it at that. |
|
|
DON QUIXOTE |
Oho! Art thou planning to procure some for us as well? Quite curious I am, of that 'Mermaid Perfume'. What other curiosities of the Great Lake await us, I wonder? |
|
|
FAUST |
A significant source of income for the people of U Corp. comes from selling Whale and Mermaid products. Whale oil, Mermaid tears, Mermaid perfumes, Whale cuisine, and more, to list a few examples. |
|
|
DON QUIXOTE |
Ooo! Lo! I spy a purveyor of iced creams over yonder! |
|
|
GREGOR |
… Sardine Whale flavored ice cream…? How is that appetizing to you? |
|
|
HEATHCLIFF |
… Sardines are quite the savoury nosh, even if they do have a funny look to them. |
|
|
DON QUIXOTE |
Alas, I am more keen to learn the flavors of the Marlin Whale ice cream… |
|
|
YI SANG |
Will you not accompany us to our destination, dear guide? |
|
|
Vergilius |
… I've done my job as your guide. |
|
|
Vergilius |
I point you in the right direction, and that's where my responsibilities end. It's not my job to accompany you all the way there. |
|
|
YI SANG |
While you may be correct… your words also come across as rather impersonal. |
|
|
Vergilius |
Then you heard me right, Yi Sang. I don't intend to make friends with any of you. Nor do I want to. |
|
|
Vergilius |
Hah. Don't let these small talks give you the wrong impression. |
|
|
Vergilius |
Now, Ms. Faust. |
|
|
FAUST |
Our allies are expecting us. |
|
|
FAUST |
The Before Team on the ground will relay us the location of the Lobotomy Corp. Branch housing the Golden Bough. |
|
|
FAUST |
According to our last communication, they should be waiting for us… there. |
|
|
SINCLAIR |
This place is a bit spooky… |
|
|
RODION |
I don't see anyone here. What's up with that, Fau? |
|
|
FAUST |
… I can tell from your tone that you doubt me. This is the location I was relayed. |
|
|
HEATHCLIFF |
Huh, so we got here first? Bloody Brilliant. Before team? More like Belated team, innit? |
|
|
FAUST |
Allow me to make a minor correction. We arrived about 1 hour and 30 minutes behind schedule. |
|
|
OUTIS |
Hm, odd. LCCB Agents we met back at J Corp were already on the scene and… |
 |
Sinners |
…… |
 |
??? |
Snrk! Snore… |
|
|
MEURSAULT |
It appears that they have elected to sleep in lieu of our appearance. |
|
|
??? |
Ungh… Ain't none of ye got a watch, eh?! What the hell's wrong with ye lot?! |
|
|
YI SANG |
Ah… Apologies… In our hurry, we happened upon an unforeseen mishap on our journey here… |
|
|
??? |
Gah, then why didn'tcha take that into account before ye left? Yawn~ |
|
|
DANTE |
<They sound… oddly aggressive…> |
|
|
HONG LU |
…! |
|
|
HONG LU |
My, my! |
|
|
DANTE |
<Hong Lu, wait—> |
|
|
HONG LU |
Your badge is upside-down. Remember to always keep your appearance tidy! |
|
|
??? |
…… |
|
|
HONG LU |
Huh? What's this sticky red thing on your… |
|
|
??? |
… Yawn. I hoped that this badge would have a more dramatic effect. |
|
|
??? |
Let's see 'ere~ Limbus Company… Before Team… Team Leader. |
|
|
??? |
The fool was loitering around in our territory. I've gots to say, that was bravely stupid. |
|
|
RYŌSHŪ |
Hmph. That sorry production was an insult to art. Get to the point before I SYNC. |
|
|
??? |
Phew, lads! So tardy, yet so impatient. Why don't ye first give us a listen? |
|
|
??? |
Yer lookin' fer… the Golden… whatchamacallit, aren't ye? |
|
|
OUTIS |
…! |
|
|
OUTIS |
What have you done to the Team Leader? |
|
|
??? |
Hold your horses now. Lad's alive and well. |
|
|
OUTIS |
This is a hostage negotiation, then. |
|
|
Kidnapper |
This ain't me first ransom rodeo, if ye know what I mean. |
|
|
Kidnapper |
'Tis simple. Give us the cash, and we return yer friend. |
|
|
Kidnapper |
We don't get the cash, and we give yer friend an impromptu burial in a shipping container, right 'ere. |
|
|
HEATHCLIFF |
Kidnappers, eh… Pieces of shite… |
|
|
Kidnapper |
Woah, woah! I wouldn't do that if I were ye, laddie. Think before ye act, eh? |
|
|
Kidnapper |
Anything goes wrong, and yer friend bites it. |
|
|
Kidnapper |
It's very straightforward if I do say so meself. Just do as we say, and ye and that friend of yours continue on yer merry adventure. Get back to findin' yer Golden… whatchamacallit. |
|
|
Kidnapper |
Hells, we'll even throw in a full-on gourmet tour guide for ye. Just to sweeten the deal. |
|
|
HEATHCLIFF |
… You bloody maggot… |
|
|
GREGOR |
Okay, okay… Gotcha. I see what's going on here. Give us some time to discuss this, why don't you? |
|
|
GREGOR |
Look, there's no point in escalating this. It'll do nothing but draw unnecessary attention to us. |
|
|
GREGOR |
And if our impulsive actions get that LCCB Agent killed… |
|
|
OUTIS |
True. They hold the upper hand in this negotiation. |
|
|
OUTIS |
But I don't believe these fools know much about the Golden Bough. They likely kidnapped him by chance, thinking they could get a hefty ransom out of him. |
|
|
DON QUIXOTE |
Though we have come across many men and women of evil nature in our adventure, Such brazen villainy has heretofore not been encountered… |
|
|
RYŌSHŪ |
How classless. It is grotesquery without a cause. |
|
|
OUTIS |
Charging them head-on will only sic their friends after us. Friends who may be involved with a powerful local Syndicate. |
|
|
MEURSAULT |
Our chance of victory is slim, should such an event come to pass. We do not possess enough intel on U Corp. to effectively maneuver that situation. |
|
|
RODION |
Yeah… We don't even know how big the Syndicate behind this guy is. But from the way he said his lines… this probably isn't his first time doing this, right? |
|
|
HONG LU |
Um… then there's also a chance that they're just small fries, isn't there? |
|
|
HEATHCLIFF |
If they're small fries, let's crush 'em all. We'll hit them before they even have the chance to lay a finger on the hostage! |
|
|
OUTIS |
… No. It could mean that their Syndicate may be so small and scattered that it is impossible to be traced. |
|
|
HEATHCLIFF |
Ugh… |
|
|
DANTE |
<So we don't know anything… Great.> |
|
|
SINCLAIR |
Are they really going to… If we don't pay up… |
|
|
HEATHCLIFF |
Blast it. I know their kind. Scum like them are around every corner of the City. If this goes cock-up, they'll kill the hostage and won't even leave a body for us to find. |
|
|
DANTE |
<Okay… Then I'm going to start off by asking how much they want.> |
|
|
ISHMAEL |
Huh. |
|
|
ISHMAEL |
You're going to pay them? Those bastards? Are you crazy? |
|
|
DANTE |
<What else can we do? Even now, the hostage…> |
|
|
ISHMAEL |
I don't care about your excuses. |
|
|
ISHMAEL |
I only care to know if this really is the best course of action you could come up with. |
|
|
MEURSAULT |
Any doubts about the manager's decisions— |
|
|
ISHMAEL |
'—are unnecessary'. Yeah. You're as predictable as always. |
|
|
OUTIS |
Executive Manager's decisions are orders. To doubt them is insubordination. Ishmael, it doesn't matter how competent of a seadog you are— |
|
|
ISHMAEL |
Hah, okay. If you say so. But who cares? They've not given me an order. They didn't forbid me from doing anything. So what's your problem here? |
|
|
ISHMAEL |
… I just can't sit here and watch this play out. |
|
|
ISHMAEL |
I'll gladly accept the consequences… |
|
|
ISHMAEL |
… for insubordination, manager. |
 | ||
|
|
DANTE |
<…?!> |
|
|
RYŌSHŪ |
O.O.F. |
|
|
SINCLAIR |
Ishmael…? What did you just… |
|
|
SINCLAIR |
W-what did you just do?! |
|
|
SINCLAIR |
The LCCB Agent they took hostage… We just put him at risk…! Because of us, h-he could…! |
|
|
SINCLAIR |
Just like then…! Just like back then with… Effie, with Saude…! |
|
|
SINCLAIR |
It was only few months ago when…! Don't tell me you've moved on already! |
 | ||
|
|
DANTE |
<…!> |
|
|
ISHMAEL |
…… |
|
|
DANTE |
<…!> |
|
|
ISHMAEL |
This one's been dead for at least a week. And of course, isn't our LCCB Agent. |
|
|
ISHMAEL |
From the looks of it, this one was a tourist visiting Marlin Port. Probably loaded too, if they could afford to travel to the Great Lake just for its sights. They would've been able to afford whatever ransom the pirates demanded. |
|
|
ISHMAEL |
Kidnap. Extort. Execute. These Syndicates have been repeating these three steps for a good while at U Corp., even as their names and organizations changed with time. They're everywhere, like vermin. |
|
|
ISHMAEL |
It would be more accurate to call them 'pirates' here. |
|
|
ISHMAEL |
They never return the hostages. They'll keep asking for more and more ransom until the money well dries up… |
|
|
ISHMAEL |
Then they kill the hostages. Like they did this one in. |
|
|
DON QUIXOTE |
… Quite numerous, the prevalence of such tragedies must be… How can this be? Wherefore doth no hero rise to the occasion and put a stop to these villains? |
|
|
DON QUIXOTE |
I-I believed this to be a place of tourism, is it not? |
|
|
RODION |
Well… That usually means that there's a bigger fish looking out for these small fries. |
|
|
DON QUIXOTE |
Nay! That matters not! To let such villains run rampant in the City is…! |
|
|
DON QUIXOTE |
Ah, it must be the case that the Fixers of the City are yet unaware of this travesty. Mayhaps they were preoccupied tending to others in need, indeed! Naught else but that explains this! |
|
|
DON QUIXOTE |
Were we to send a missive to one of the just and honorable Associations of the— |
|
|
ISHMAEL |
Don Quixote… Please. |
|
|
ISHMAEL |
Isn't it about time you woke up from your delusions? I've had enough of your ramblings about 'justice'. Your 'villains'. |
|
|
DON QUIXOTE |
I…! |
|
|
ISHMAEL |
Y-you know what? Nevermind. It's like I'm talking to a brick wall. You're not going to listen to me anyway. It's so frustrating to have to sit here and just… |
|
|
ISHMAEL |
This shabbiness is… why we can't get anything done in time… |
|
|
ISHMAEL |
By now, we should've been talking to the LCCB Agent, getting the intel we need…! |
|
|
ISHMAEL |
…… |
 |
Kidnapper 2 |
Y-ye have brought this on yerself…! |
|
|
Kidnapper 2 |
This is our waters! Do ye even know what Syndicate ye dogs just…! |
|
|
ISHMAEL |
Yeah. If we're doing this… Then let's get it over with. |
5-5: Insubordination
was a posse of kidnappers who demanded
ransom from us. As we were discussing
our plan of action, Ishmael suddenly decided to act.
I could see from her eyes… that there was
a mix of numerous, complex feelings.
Now, we have no choice but to take these kidnappers out,
even if we are yet to learn
if the LCCB Agent is alive or not.
Post-Battle
| Speaker | Dialogue | |
|---|---|---|
|
|
Kidnapper 2 |
Ye bastards… When our boss hears of this, yer all finished…! |
|
|
Kidnapper 2 |
So if ye… uh, bow down and… beg fer… |
|
|
Kidnapper 2 |
W-wait! I'm not finished! Get away! Git! |
|
|
ISHMAEL |
Oh, that's convenient. |
|
|
DANTE |
<……> |
|
|
ISHMAEL |
Nice. Now we know we can go up the chain and talk to their 'boss' in charge. Let's stop wasting our time here. |
|
|
ISHMAEL |
I don't want to have to crack open these shipping containers one by one and go through mountains of rotting corpses. |
|
|
ISHMAEL |
You can still point, right? |
|
|
Kidnapper 2 |
…… |
|
|
Kidnapper 2 |
P… please… |
|
|
ISHMAEL |
The location of your boss. Mark it on this map with your finger. |
|
|
DANTE |
<Ishmael, Wait—> |
|
|
ISHMAEL |
Well, we have our next stop. What are we waiting for? |
|
|
GREGOR |
What are the odds that the LCCB Agent we were supposed to meet is still alive…? |
|
|
ISHMAEL |
Depends on how rich they think we are. |
|
|
GREGOR |
… He could already be dead, then. |
|
|
ISHMAEL |
Even if the worst comes to pass, we should still find his body. That'll at least give us something. |
|
|
SINCLAIR |
… If that's all we find at the end of this, his corpse… Ishmael… |
|
|
SINCLAIR |
I… don't think I could forgive… |
|
|
ISHMAEL |
Ha… who, me? |
|
|
SINCLAIR |
No. Us. We who… didn't even try to save them. |
|
|
DANTE |
<Faust.> |
|
|
FAUST |
I am listening. |
|
|
DANTE |
<Should we do something? Is she going to be okay? I mean, Ishmael…> |
|
|
FAUST |
I can give you answers regarding her insubordination and her emotional state. |
|
|
FAUST |
But this is not a matter in which Faust's answers can be of much assistance. |
|
|
OUTIS |
Executive Manager, such insubordination and nigh rogue behavior would have resulted in an on-the-spot execution in any other organization. |
|
|
OUTIS |
I am aware that punishing the Sinners is not a part of the authority given to you, but there must be penalties befitting her actions for proper management. |
|
|
DANTE |
<Outis, you're always on my side.> |
|
|
DANTE |
<Pretty much always, now that I think about it…> |
|
|
OUTIS |
I have been… a leader of men once, as you are now. I can sympathize with your troubles. |
|
|
DANTE |
<I don't know if I can manage Ishmael anymore… I just don't.> |
|
|
DANTE |
<Though it looked like she was acting rash, maybe it was… maybe she knew the right thing to do in this scenario.> |
|
|
DANTE |
<If Ishmael suddenly decides to quit, or something…> |
|
|
OUTIS |
Executive Manager. That doesn't matter. |
|
|
OUTIS |
We don't need there to be 12 Sinners. |
|
|
DANTE |
<… Are you saying that we leave Ishmael?> |
|
|
OUTIS |
Executive Manager. I have wandered for many years in far, far lands before making my journey here. And I have done so with steadfast determination—for a single clause on my contract with the company. |
|
|
OUTIS |
I came ready to face all the hardships that the journey entails. Adversity, conflict, and loss of comrades are simply facts of this quest that I must weather. Truth be told, I expect all of them to happen at some point in our journey. |
|
|
OUTIS |
Oh, I will always remain by your side, of course. |
5-6: The Club
a sense of belonging from this group.
We headed to the boss's location
that Ishmael threatened out of the kidnappers.
Pre-Battle
| Speaker | Dialogue | |
|---|---|---|
|
|
DANTE |
<So… this is the place?> |
|
|
RODION |
… Any of us been to a loud, flamboyant, deluxe dance club like this before? |
|
|
GREGOR |
Well, if I had to guess… My bet would be on you. |
|
|
RODION |
Oh, come on~ A flashy bar like this? At my Backstreets? |
|
|
RODION |
I doubt it would've had much business back there, hmm? |
|
|
RODION |
People would sometimes host secret Backstreets parties, but Sonya somehow always caught on~ |
|
|
DANTE |
<So, why are we talking about this?> |
|
|
RODION |
Don't you see, Dante? Bouncers, at the gate. |
 |
Bouncer |
Welcome; how many do you have with you today? |
 |
Guest |
Two. Come on, man. Don'tcha remember me? I'm on the list. |
|
|
Bouncer |
Ah… my apologies. Please, enter. |
|
|
RODION |
Look, look! They're checking something with the guests before letting them in. We gotta squeeze in there all smooth somehow… |
|
|
GREGOR |
Welp, since Rodya's out… Next in the line is… |
|
|
HEATHCLIFF |
Huh? What, me? |
|
|
HEATHCLIFF |
The hell are you blathering about? I'll smash your skull in! |
|
|
RODION |
Mm~ I'd take that as a compliment if I were you, Heath~ |
|
|
HEATHCLIFF |
Ahem… S-should I? |
|
|
HEATHCLIFF |
Khm. Sorry to disappoint, but my Syndicate was less about music and dance and more about… blood, loyalty, things like that. |
|
|
HEATHCLIFF |
I'm more of a small watering hole or an old pub bloke than a fancy clubber. Gettin' sloshed, drinkin' from old rickety tables… Yeah, that's more like it. |
|
|
RYŌSHŪ |
Me. |
|
|
RYŌSHŪ |
Music: Screams of fear and pain. Deluxe: Walls painted red with blood. Dance: People with crushed joints, forced to dance… |
|
|
GREGOR |
Yeah, that's… not a club. |
|
|
GREGOR |
Well, I can't think of anyone else, then… |
|
|
MEURSAULT |
I have been to such a club. |
|
|
MEURSAULT |
Quite often. |
|
|
DANTE |
<……> |
|
|
GREGOR |
… Y-you're joking. |
|
|
MEURSAULT |
I am not. I fail to see why that is difficult for you to accept. |
|
|
MEURSAULT |
It was merely one of the places I visited when I used to wander in search of life's joys. |
|
|
MEURSAULT |
A cursory observation of their procedures reveals that it is, in fact, a private club. As a general rule, visitors must receive the bouncers' permission prior to entry. |
|
|
MEURSAULT |
Most bouncers are of above-average mass and are likely to be armed. |
|
|
MEURSAULT |
Key elements to getting past the bouncers are… |
|
|
ISHMAEL |
You'd be right… if this was just any other club. |
|
|
RODION |
Ishy…? |
|
|
ISHMAEL |
This is a home to a leader of a Syndicate. The question you should be asking is… what are the *other* ways of entering this establishment? |
|
|
ISHMAEL |
And I'm sure the answer lies with a Syndicate member. |
|
|
ISHMAEL |
Easy enough, right? |
|
|
Bouncer |
What brings you here, if I may ask? |
|
|
ISHMAEL |
I… |
|
|
Bouncer |
…? |
|
|
ISHMAEL |
I'm… Queequeg's… friend. |
|
|
Bouncer |
You're… whose friend? |
|
|
ISHMAEL |
Queequeg. |
|
|
ISHMAEL |
You recognized that name, didn't you? |
|
|
Bouncer |
Wait… |
|
|
Bouncer |
$@$#@$@#… |
|
|
DANTE |
<Is he really going to let us in?> |
|
|
Bouncer |
Are you truly a friend of this Queequeg? |
|
|
ISHMAEL |
… What if I am? |
|
|
Bouncer |
Where is Queequeg? |
|
|
ISHMAEL |
…… |
|
|
Bouncer |
It's the Boss askin'. |
|
|
ISHMAEL |
Right… so your Boss is in the club, huh. |
|
|
Bouncer |
I ask again. Where is Queeq… |
|
|
The Twinhooks? |
The Twinhooks are on our way. I repeat. We are… |
|
|
DANTE |
<I thought we were trying to sneak in?!> |
|
|
ISHMAEL |
No. |
|
|
ISHMAEL |
I just wanted to know if their Boss was home. We should be able to get all the intel we want from them. |
5-7: The Club 2
at the entrance of a club blaring with music.
I wanted to do this quietly… But we broke
into a fight prettly much immediately as we tried
to talk to the bouncers. We had to find different ways
to convince them to let us in.
Pre-Battle
| Speaker | Dialogue | |
|---|---|---|
|
|
HONG LU |
Woah, I can't believe they're letting us in like this! |
|
|
DANTE |
<… Let's go.> |
|
|
Guest |
Heyy… you here with anyone? |
|
|
FAUST |
Yes. I have twelve companions with me. |
|
|
Guest |
T-twelve…? |
 |
Twinhook Pirates? |
There! Get 'em! |
|
|
Guest |
Aaah! S-sorry for disturbing you! |
|
|
Club DJ |
Okay everyone~ Let's do the famous 'Marlin Dance' of our beloved Marlin port! |
|
|
Club DJ |
Arms out~ Like this! Swing~ and lock! Swing~ and lock! |
|
|
HEATHCLIFF |
Ngh… what's with all the booming bass? |
|
|
YI SANG |
It feels as though the sound waves are vibrating my entire brain matter… |
|
|
ISHMAEL |
Get out of my way or you'll all be sorry. |
5-9: The First Mate
Syndicate that the kidnappers were part of. Hopefully
we can learn their boss's location soon…
Post-Battle
| Speaker | Dialogue | |
|---|---|---|
|
|
SINCLAIR |
Y-you better tell us where your boss is before t-things turn ugly… |
|
|
Twinhook Pirates? |
Hmph… Go drink some more milk before ye start tossin' around threats like that, laddie. |
|
|
SINCLAIR |
I-I'm serious! Talk, or the next thing getting s-smashed is your h-h-… |
|
|
SINCLAIR |
… Your skull. |
|
|
Twinhook Pirates? |
Ha… ha ha… O-okay. Let's calm down. |
|
|
Twinhook Pirates? |
Captain ain't 'ere. If it's hostages yer lookin' for… the first mate should know. |
|
|
SINCLAIR |
Directions. |
|
|
Twinhook Pirates? |
The last room… at the end of that… uh, corridor… |
|
|
SINCLAIR |
… Go. |
|
|
Twinhook Pirates? |
Aaah… |
|
|
SINCLAIR |
Not that way…! Get out of this club. |
|
|
Twinhook Pirates? |
Huhh?! A-aye! I'm sorry!! |
|
|
HEATHCLIFF |
… Oi, kid… You're getting better at this, aren't you? |
|
|
SINCLAIR |
I don't want to get complimented for doing something like this… |
|
|
SINCLAIR |
I just… I just think we have to get to the hostage as soon as possible. |
5-10: The First Mate 2
all thanks to Sinclair. She introduced herself
as the first mate of the Twinhook Pirates…
Pre-Battle
| Speaker | Dialogue | |
|---|---|---|
 |
??? |
Whew~ You’ve certainly made a mess out there. Tell me. Who sent ya? A rival Captain? Or are you looking to collect my head for the bounty? |
|
|
GREGOR |
Haah… So you’re the boss here? |
|
|
Smee |
Yeah. I’m Smee, first mate of the Twinhook Pirates. |
|
|
Smee |
Heard ya wanted to see me. What, want an autograph? |
|
|
MEURSAULT |
We were last informed that you were the second-in-command. |
|
|
MEURSAULT |
We seek your superior. Tell us of their whereabouts. |
|
|
Smee |
Hook? … That asshat has to be drowning in bottles of Fairy Wine somewhere, three sheets to the wind. |
|
|
Smee |
So I pretty much run this joint. De facto and all, you know? |
|
|
Smee |
And ya gotta understand our predicament. The perfume business has never been the most lucrative venture at this port, so we're just looking to branch out… A purely business decision, devised by none other than yours truly. |
|
|
MEURSAULT |
Understood. So you must have the information we seek. |
|
|
MEURSAULT |
We are in search of a certain individual held hostage by this establishment. Hand over the information regarding his whereabouts. |
|
|
Smee |
Hostage? Oh, what a crude choice of words. We prefer to call him our guest. |
|
|
SINCLAIR |
… Guest? |
|
|
Smee |
Yep. Well, then… how about a deal? |
|
|
Smee |
Tell me everything you know about Queequeg. And I'll see to it that the guest you're looking for is safely returned. |
|
|
Smee |
Besides, that guest of ours… He's a big shot, ain't he? LC… something's Team Leader? |
|
|
Smee |
Oh, and one of you's a… friend of Queequeg, right? |
|
|
ISHMAEL |
…… |
|
|
Smee |
Tell me everything you know about Queequeg. |
|
|
Smee |
What she's up to, who she's with, the last thing she said to you… I want to hear all of it. |
|
|
Smee |
I'm sure there's no need to remind you who's got the upper hand here. |
|
|
ISHMAEL |
Ha… I wish I could tell you. I really do. |
Post-Battle
| Speaker | Dialogue | |
|---|---|---|
 |
Smee |
W-wait! You better stay away! Lay a finger on me, and you'll regret it! |
|
|
Smee |
You have no idea who's looking out for me. |
|
|
GREGOR |
What? |
|
|
Smee |
It's… don't freak out now… a Big Brother. From 'the Middle'. |
|
|
RYŌSHŪ |
… Oho. a B.B? |
|
|
Smee |
And this Queequeg? The Middle put a pretty hefty bounty on her pretty head, in case you didn't know. |
|
|
Smee |
She not only dared to quit the Middle, but also decided to fall off the face off the earth. Now that's what you call prime stupidity. |
|
|
Smee |
Given that the Middle… never forgets. |
|
|
ISHMAEL |
… Okay. Are you finished? |
|
|
Smee |
Wait, really…? You're still going to kill me? |
|
|
ISHMAEL |
It's our mess. I'm not about to leave any loose threads behind. |
|
|
Smee |
It's the Middle we're talking about! The Middle! Don't you know who they are?! |
|
|
ISHMAEL |
…… |
|
|
Smee |
Wait! Fine, fine! I'll tell you where your friend is! |
|
|
Smee |
The shipping container you're looking for… We keep our living hostages in shipping containers marked with a green triangle. And since he's a recent catch, you can go find him on the East side, probably… |
|
|
ISHMAEL |
Green triangle, huh? What if there's more than one of those? What if it's in a different shade of green? What if you’re just lying to get out of a pinch? |
|
|
Smee |
You should be able to tell! You should be able to tell right away! I'm serious… Please! |
|
|
ISHMAEL |
… There you have it. I'd say that's more than enough confirmation. Happy now, Sinclair? |
|
|
SINCLAIR |
…… |
|
|
DANTE |
<… Wait. Killing her could cause us a lot of trouble.> |
|
|
DANTE |
<We know where the hostage is, and I think that's good enough. Let's head back.> |
|
|
ISHMAEL |
… I don't feel the need to convince you, manager. Kindly get out of my way. |
|
|
ISHMAEL |
I don't want to waste any more time on this. |
|
|
Smee |
Y-you know what else is a waste of time? Killing me. How 'bout we just go on our merry ways, huh? |
|
|
ISHMAEL |
I disagree. |
|
|
DANTE |
<Ishmael!> |
|
|
ISHMAEL |
I can be pretty fast. |
|
|
ISHMAEL |
…! |
|
|
OUTIS |
Executive Manager! |
|
|
ISHMAEL |
Dante… are you insane? |
|
|
OUTIS |
You, you're the one who's insane!!! You dare lay your hands on our Executive Manager? Was insubordination not enough?! |
|
|
Smee |
S… Smart choice. |
|
|
Smee |
If you killed me… a Big Brother or even a Big Sister would've gone after you. |
|
|
ISHMAEL |
Did you just… Did you just take a harpoon for that bitch? |
|
|
ISHMAEL |
If I aimed a bit to the side, I would've hit you in the face! Your stupid clock face!! Do you understand?! |
|
|
DANTE |
<Yeah, I do… Boy, you really did whet the heck outta that harpoon… This really hurts.> |
|
|
ISHMAEL |
Wha… Can you please stop it! With your stupid goddamn quips! |
|
|
OUTIS |
Executive Manager. |
|
|
OUTIS |
Her words and actions just now are more than enough to constitute a full-on mutiny. She made an attempt on the life of her direct superior! |
|
|
OUTIS |
I can no longer sit idly by and watch. Though you may not have the punitive authority… |
|
|
OUTIS |
We must make a detailed report of these incidents and relay it to the higher-ups of the company to discuss our future actions. |
|
|
DANTE |
<It's okay, Outis. I chose to get in her way.> |
|
|
OUTIS |
This is NOT okay!! |
|
|
OUTIS |
That individual has consistently and repeatedly caused serious setbacks to our mission! |
|
|
OUTIS |
And that, Executive Manager, is crossing the line! |
|
|
DANTE |
<Outis. I said it's okay.> |
|
|
DANTE |
<I didn't take the harpoon for that woman. I took it for Ishmael.> |
|
|
ISHMAEL |
Haah? |
|
|
ISHMAEL |
What, did you flip a switch and decide to become a humanitarian all of a sudden? |
|
|
ISHMAEL |
You never had to dirty your hands with a drop of blood. Not even once… |
|
|
ISHMAEL |
You just sat back and ordered us to bloody ours in your stead. |
|
|
ISHMAEL |
And now you're telling us to, what, 'ease up on the murders'? What are you even trying to say? That you don't want us to get traumatized anymore? Some touchy-feely shit like that? |
|
|
DANTE |
<No, it's just my intuition.> |
|
|
DANTE |
<… That probably wasn't very convincing, was it?> |
|
|
ISHMAEL |
No. Of course not… Intuition comes from experience. From memories. |
|
|
ISHMAEL |
You remember jack all before the clock, Dante. How can I trust your intuition? |
|
|
DANTE |
<That woman… I think she's in a pretty important position of power, at least in this District. Killing her before thinking things through could complicate things.> |
|
|
ISHMAEL |
Did it not occur to you that NOT killing her could also complicate things? |
|
|
DANTE |
<… I just think killing everyone in our way left and right like this…> |
|
|
DANTE |
<… Won't help us in the future.> |
|
|
ISHMAEL |
… In the future, huh. |
|
|
DANTE |
<Sorry… I can't… I don't have any better explanation for what I just did.> |
|
|
ISHMAEL |
I don't know how far in the future you're talking about, but… |
|
|
ISHMAEL |
… I'm sure we have different things in store for us there, Dante. |
|
|
DANTE |
<Ah…> |
|
|
YI SANG |
Dante… |
|
|
YI SANG |
Do not ever put yourself at risk in such a manner again. |
|
|
DANTE |
<Come on… That advice coming from one of you guys? Not very convincing.> |
|
|
YI SANG |
Responsibility of twelve lives weigh upon your shoulders, Dante. Thus you must watch yourself twelvefold. |
|
|
YI SANG |
Doubly so, in that… should you perish… we do not possess the means to bring you back. |
|
|
YI SANG |
And… |
|
|
YI SANG |
Ones that cannot be brought back… leave behind an unbearably painful void. |
|
|
HEATHCLIFF |
Oi… You uh, all right, clockhead? |
|
|
DANTE |
<Yeah, I'm good. The clock still works.> |
|
|
HEATHCLIFF |
What? That's not what I… Hah, Looney bugger. You're not all there either. Or maybe it just took you a while to lose it, eh? |
|
|
HEATHCLIFF |
And here I thought we at least had one sane person on the bus. But you're no different. |
5-11: Shipping Containers
where they were keeping the captured LCCB
Team Leader. Ishmael wanted to leave no looe thread behind…
But I stopped her, even if it meant putting myself in danger.
I have no logical explanation for what I did,
nor could I convince Ishmael… But I don't regret what I did.
Pre-Battle
| Speaker | Dialogue | |
|---|---|---|
|
|
DANTE |
<You think all of these shipping containers are full of…> |
|
|
GREGOR |
Right… Let's try to not linger on that thought. |
|
|
Shouting Thug |
Hey! Who's there? How'd ya find this place?! |
|
|
RODION |
Ah, hey, we're just here to check out that shipping container with a green triangle over here~ And we'll be right outta your hair, 'kay? |
|
|
DANTE |
<Let's take them out before anything worse happens to our Agent…> |
5-13: Mr. Pilot
an unexpectedly tearful and youthful face
of an LCCB Agent greeted us. I'm glad that he looks mostly unharmed, but…
Is he really the Team Leader?
| Speaker | Dialogue | |
|---|---|---|
|
|
ISHMAEL |
This one… It's gotta be this shipping container. And in here should be the LCCB Team Captain… |
 |
??? |
Pshaw…! I… I really thought I was done for. Sniff, sniff… |
|
|
ISHMAEL |
…… |
|
|
Unit 3 Pilot |
Name's Pilot. LCCB Preliminary Observation Unit 3 Assistant Manager. |
|
|
ISHMAEL |
Wait, you're not the Team Leader? But the pirates said they captured the LCCB Team Leader…? |
|
|
Unit 3 Pilot |
Hey… I'm standing right here… What's up with the obvious disappointment…? |
|
|
Unit 3 Pilot |
Anyways— thank you for savin' my life! I heard so many stories about y'all. The LCB, huh? |
|
|
DANTE |
<What kind of stories, I wonder…> |
|
|
Unit 3 Pilot |
Happy to make your acquaintance, sirs and ladies! I've been a huge fan ever since I joined the company! |
|
|
Unit 3 Pilot |
… Uhh, why are y'all looking at me like that…? |
|
|
GREGOR |
Long story short, there was a whole mess with this other guy who claimed to be a fan. So… yeah. You gotta understand. |
|
|
YI SANG |
Khm, ahm… |
|
|
Unit 3 Pilot |
Ohh, and I've a message to deliver to you guys. |
|
|
Unit 3 Pilot |
Ahem, ahem… |
|
|
Unit 3 Pilot |
"Hey. I bet you guys are chaotically running around somewhere in U Corp. like headless chickens and messing everything up." |
|
|
RYŌSHŪ |
… Time for O.O.F. |
|
|
Unit 3 Pilot |
W-wait! I'm just delivering the message exactly as she said it, intonations and all! |
|
|
RODION |
Watch out~ Don't cha think it might've been better to start with "and I quote"~? And tell us who this 'she' is, too. |
|
|
RYŌSHŪ |
Abbreviations and omissions are two completely different things. I'll let this slide, fledgling. Just this once. |
|
|
Unit 3 Pilot |
Who 'she' is? Well, of course! It's none other than… |
|
|
Unit 3 Pilot |
Manager Miss Saude herself! |
|
|
DANTE |
<…!> |
|
|
ISHMAEL |
Saude… is alive? |
|
|
GREGOR |
M-manager…? Did she get promoted? |
|
|
Unit 3 Pilot |
She's still in recovery, but After Team arrived just in the nick of time and treated her wounds, saving her life. |
|
|
OUTIS |
… I'm glad it wasn't a posthumous promotion. |
|
|
Unit 3 Pilot |
Manager Saude wanted to meet all of y'all too, but couldn't make it on account of her bein' on a different mission. |
|
|
DANTE |
<I'm glad she's okay…> |
|
|
ISHMAEL |
Is Saude… okay? |
|
|
Unit 3 Pilot |
'Course! It wasn't the smoothest recovery, but she's now healthy enough to eat some grub and hold a lengthy conversation. |
|
|
ISHMAEL |
That's great, but I was asking, because… |
|
|
ISHMAEL |
She lost her partner. Right before her eyes. |
|
|
SINCLAIR |
…… |
|
|
Unit 3 Pilot |
Oh… |
|
|
Unit 3 Pilot |
'This is a reminder to all LCCB employees. We, the Before Team, are assigned the paramount task of clearing the path before anyone else does. Every bloodied step, every flesh given becomes another stepping stone for your fellow Limbus Company employees to follow into the future.' |
|
|
Unit 3 Pilot |
That’s the very first line from the new hire training guide we were issued. |
|
|
Unit 3 Pilot |
And I'm proud of it! I'm proud of the sacrifices we make. Most of my coworkers at LCCB just want to make a quick buck before quitting and say I'm the odd one, though. |
|
|
ISHMAEL |
You're… proud of sacrifice? |
|
|
ISHMAEL |
Seriously? |
|
|
RODION |
Now now, Ishy~ Whaaat? You want Sardine Whale flavored ice cream? No way, me too! Why don't we head out and get some together~? |
|
|
ISHMAEL |
Hey, let me go. Let me g— Gah, how are you so strong— |
|
|
DANTE |
<Well… just in case she gets into another fight…> |
|
|
FAUST |
…… |
|
|
RODION |
Ishy, ya gotta stop bringing down the mood like that~ We saved his life, didn't we? |
|
|
RODION |
I understand that things are a bit rough right now, but let's be a bit more patient, 'kay~? |
|
|
ISHMAEL |
Rodion, that back there… that's just indoctrination. They're brainwashing them. |
|
|
ISHMAEL |
No one wants to admit that they're just throwing themselves into a meat grinder. So they wrap that neatly in the name of self-sacrifice… |
|
|
RODION |
I know. |
|
|
ISHMAEL |
Then why… |
|
|
RODION |
People need a way to endure that reality and go on living somehow. Some people live from paycheck to paycheck. Sometimes… they just don't have a choice. |
|
|
ISHMAEL |
…… |
|
|
RODION |
Let's hear out our overzealous friend, how 'bout that? |
|
|
ISHMAEL |
… Don't talk down to me like you're coddling some baby. |
|
|
ISHMAEL |
We're not that close, Rodion. |
|
|
ISHMAEL |
But I'll listen, just this once. |
|
|
RODION |
… Fine, fine~ |
5-14: Mr. Pilot 2
He shared a very good news with us——that Saude
was alive! It's time to listen to
what he's got to say.
| Speaker | Dialogue | |
|---|---|---|
|
|
DON QUIXOTE |
'Tis injustice that thou hast left me out of thine iced-crrream jaunt… |
|
|
RODION |
It tasted like fish! Not worth the walk~ Maybe they put ground Mermaid in there. |
|
|
DON QUIXOTE |
Ground Mermaid… in ice cream…? |
|
|
Unit 3 Pilot |
Boy, I'm nervous. What an audience, huh…? |
|
|
RYŌSHŪ |
T.O.S.T.O.O.F. |
|
|
Unit 3 Pilot |
…? I'm sorry? |
|
|
SINCLAIR |
… Talk… |
|
|
RYŌSHŪ |
S… F.S.[1] |
|
|
SINCLAIR |
Haah… Or Suffer The Obliteration Of Forehead… |
|
|
Unit 3 Pilot |
…! |
|
|
Unit 3 Pilot |
I appreciate you translatin' it… I… I feel a bit better… |
|
|
Unit 3 Pilot |
She reminded me a lot of our LCC Before Team Director just now. |
|
|
GREGOR |
Must be a helluva boss, huh… |
|
|
RYŌSHŪ |
Heh… |
|
|
Unit 3 Pilot |
Where do I begin… |
|
|
Unit 3 Pilot |
It took us a hot minute to pinpoint the location of the Lobotomy Corp. Branch housing the Golden Bough, actually… |
|
|
Unit 3 Pilot |
Me and my teammates, we ran a pretty tight ship… |
|
|
Unit 3 Pilot |
But the Twinhook Pirates of U Corp. Backstreets caught wind of us sniffin' around! |
|
|
Kidnapper |
Listen 'ere lad! This be the cheapest bottle of oil in all the Great Lake, I tell ye! |
|
|
Unit 3 Pilot |
What? How? That's ridiculous! Y'all are tellin' me that this Whale oil of dubious origin is worth HOW much?! |
|
|
RODION |
Wait…! Yeah, no wonder! You pretty much antagonized them to their faces! |
|
|
Unit 3 Pilot |
Okay, in my defense, those fellers was about to rob us blind! |
|
|
GREGOR |
I mean… Couldn't you have just paid a bit of money for some intel, though…? |
|
|
Unit 3 Pilot |
W-well, anyway… |
|
|
Unit 3 Pilot |
After a thorough search, we identified the exact location of the Lobotomy Corp. Branch with the Golden Bough. |
|
|
FAUST |
Did you find the Golden Bough? |
 | ||
|
|
Unit 3 Pilot |
Yup. Saw that fabled golden light, too. "Too bright yet not too bright", was it? |
|
|
Unit 3 Pilot |
I had to see it with my own two eyes to understand what that meant. |
|
|
Unit 3 Pilot |
Boy, what an incredibly incandescent glow that was, even from deep within the Lobotomy Corp. Branch Ship. |
 | ||
|
|
Unit 3 Pilot |
Observation: check! Confirmation: check! All we had left to do on the docket was the report. |
|
|
Unit 3 Pilot |
Oh! Our job, by the way, was advance reconnaissance to confirm the presence of a Golden Bough. |
|
|
Unit 3 Pilot |
They say that plenty of advance reconnaissance teams encounter Abnormalities or get wiped out in the process. |
|
|
Unit 3 Pilot |
We were about to make our return journey, considering the mission a resounding success, when… |
 | ||
|
|
GREGOR |
So those pirates followed you guys there, huh… |
|
|
Unit 3 Pilot |
Team Leader Haru assured us that nothing was out of the ordinary and that these uh, interruptions by opposin' parties happened all the time. |
|
|
Unit 3 Pilot |
But… |
|
|
Smee |
So… I don't really care what you're doing all the way out here on this creepy ship, but… |
|
|
Smee |
This gentleman here was rather curious about what business you guys were up to. So I tagged along. No objections, hmm? |
|
|
Unit 3 Pilot |
… That's when I heard the weapon slip outta our Team Leader's hand and onto the ground. |
|
|
Unit 3 Pilot |
Our Team Leader's an experienced field agent with a decorated track record… |
|
|
Unit 3 Pilot |
She… I've never seen her just give up like that. She ain't the kind to be so easily rattled… |
|
|
Unit 3 Pilot |
So I turned to look at her, and the look on her face was… |
|
|
Unit 3 Pilot |
I say, that was a look of resignation. |
|
|
FAUST |
Would I be correct in assuming that she had something to say at that moment? |
|
|
Unit 3 Pilot |
… "Mission failed". Verbatim. |
|
|
RODION |
… Who'd she see? To immediately give up like that… |
|
|
Unit 3 Pilot |
… "An officer from the Middle shouldn't be here…" Again, verbatim. |
|
|
FAUST |
… Hm. |
|
|
RYŌSHŪ |
…! |
|
|
RODION |
I'm guessing the guy had like… a huge fancy tattoo? That glowed purple? |
|
|
Unit 3 Pilot |
H-huh, how'd you know? That was the very first thing I noticed about him, actually. That… weird-lookin', purple-glowin' tattoo. |
|
|
Unit 3 Pilot |
Still, I thought that maybe, just maybe, we had a shot… |
|
|
Unit 3 Pilot |
We're Unit 3, after all… We weren't no slouches, and we had some impressive names with us… |
|
|
RYŌSHŪ |
You didn't. |
|
|
Unit 3 Pilot |
… And I do not recall much more after that… |
 | ||
|
|
Unit 3 Pilot |
When I came to, I was on the floor, face down… |
|
|
Unit 3 Pilot |
At first, I thought I'd gone deaf and couldn't hear a thing. Y'know, when a bomb goes off right next to you, your ear starts ringin' and all. Thought I'd burst my eardrums. |
|
|
Unit 3 Pilot |
… But that wasn't it, no. It was my team… shoutin' and screamin', shoutin' and screamin'… And all of it combined into some kind of a incomprehensible cacophony. I just couldn't register that at first. |
|
|
SINCLAIR |
Ah… |
|
|
Unit 3 Pilot |
Once I recognized that, I also noticed… a deep rumbling, echoing underneath all that. |
 | ||
|
|
Unit 3 Pilot |
A bizarre, terrible rumbling… that sounded like it was echoing from a place far away from the Branch. |
|
|
ISHMAEL |
… Bizarre rumbling? |
|
|
Unit 3 Pilot |
Yes ma'am. It was almost like a distant explosion. And it seemed like others were picking up on that odd noise too. |
|
|
Unit 3 Pilot |
The pirates… suddenly started actin' all nervous. |
|
|
Unit 3 Pilot |
And even the 'Big Brother' from 'the Middle' was rattled. |
|
|
RODION |
… They all called him 'the Big Brother'? Did you hear that right? I guess there really was a big fish looking out for the pirates… |
|
|
Unit 3 Pilot |
Yes ma'am. Loud and clear. They called him 'Big Brother'. |
|
|
RYŌSHŪ |
Keh… Kehehe… Hah! I wonder how those fools are doing nowadays. |
|
|
Big Brother |
Take only the high-value hostages. We're leaving. Now. |
|
|
Big Brother |
That right there is one of the Five Calamities. We have to book it before that thing gets here. We're all dead meat if we don't. |
|
|
Unit 3 Pilot |
One last thing I remember… is our Team Leader. |
|
|
Unit 3 Pilot |
Right before I lost consciousness… The Team Leader, she… |
|
|
Unit 3 Pilot |
Stuck her employee card badge to my chest when the pirates weren't looking… |
|
|
Unit 3 Pilot |
Back then, I didn't understand what she was doin'. But now that I had some time to think about it… |
|
|
Unit 3 Pilot |
She did that so I'll look more valuable… so they'll take me hostage instead of leavin' me to die… Me, who's just a rookie… |
|
|
GREGOR |
To summarize… Every LCCB Agent was either injured or unconscious… |
|
|
HEATHCLIFF |
The Middle got involved out of nowhere… And there was this 'Calamity' that even the Middle bloke was scared of… |
|
|
FAUST |
Can you give us the coordinates to the Lobotomy Corp. Branch, Mr. Pilot? |
|
|
Unit 3 Pilot |
O-of course. |
|
|
Unit 3 Pilot |
It's all right there, ma'am. Down to every last bit of detail you'll need. I hid it from them to the best of my abilities. I'm glad that I was able to complete my mission, at least. |
|
|
FAUST |
…… |
|
|
ISHMAEL |
Wait. |
|
|
ISHMAEL |
That 'Calamity'. Was there anything else about it that stood out? |
|
|
ISHMAEL |
There's got to be more. |
|
|
Unit 3 Pilot |
… Pale… |
|
|
Unit 3 Pilot |
It was… white. An off-white color unlike anythin' I'd ever laid my eyes on before. It was, ah… towerin' and pallid. And that… rumbling… I'm sure I've heard of it before… |
|
|
Unit 3 Pilot |
Ah! Right, It reminded me of U Corp's Singularity! That rumbling… sounded a lot like them tuning forks when they combined stuff together. |
|
|
ISHMAEL |
… Yeah… Almost there… |
|
|
Unit 3 Pilot |
Let me tag along with y'all! |
|
|
Unit 3 Pilot |
I could be your guide in the Lobotomy Corp. Branch! |
|
|
FAUST |
Indeed, this was to be a joint operation with the LCCB where they were supposed to accompany us to the Lobotomy Corp. Branch. |
|
|
FAUST |
What is your decision, Dante? |
|
|
DANTE |
<……> |
|
|
DANTE |
<Tell him that while I appreciate his offer, I decline.> |
|
|
DANTE |
<People that get involved with us… often don't make it out in one piece.> |
|
|
RYŌSHŪ |
… I.A.[2] |
|
|
HEATHCLIFF |
We just saved your life! Mate, show some gratitude! |
|
|
Unit 3 Pilot |
Uh… Thank you…? |
|
|
FAUST |
Mr. Pilot, remain on standby until the After Team arrives. Then, return to base and report your findings. |
|
|
Unit 3 Pilot |
Ah… so they declined, huh? |
|
|
Unit 3 Pilot |
The stories were true, I don't hear nothin' but the ticking of their clock… |
|
|
OUTIS |
Executive Manager, in their endless generosity, has also deigned to thank you for your offer. Remember that as you return. |
|
|
Unit 3 Pilot |
Alright… |
|
|
Unit 3 Pilot |
W-well then, best of luck to y'all. |
|
|
ISHMAEL |
That's all I needed. Bye. |
|
|
RODION |
… Sigh. |
|
|
GREGOR |
Uh… Umm… Well, this meeting was pretty short-lived. |
|
|
GREGOR |
But say hello to Saude for us, will ya? |
|
|
SINCLAIR |
And… please tell her that I'm thankful for what she did for us. |
|
|
SINCLAIR |
Back then… I couldn't bring myself to tell her even that. |
|
|
Unit 3 Pilot |
I'll be… sure to tell her that. |
|
|
YI SANG |
You have endured well despite the tribulations, Pilot. |
|
|
RODION |
Aww, Yi Sang! How kind of ya~ |
|
|
YI SANG |
It appeared to me that he deserved such words. |
|
|
Unit 3 Pilot |
…… |
|
|
Unit 3 Pilot |
Kh… Agh… |
|
|
Unit 3 Pilot |
I wanna see my team again… |
|
|
Unit 3 Pilot |
They were all so kind to me, me bein' the rookie of the team and all… |
|
|
SINCLAIR |
…… |
|
|
Unit 3 Pilot |
Maybe… maybe there are survivors at the Lobotomy Corp. Branch… |
 | ||
|
|
YI SANG |
… We shall bring them home. You have my word. |
|
|
SINCLAIR |
And mine, too. |
|
|
SINCLAIR |
… We won't fail again. |
|
|
ISHMAEL |
…… |
|
|
FAUST |
I have examined the variable coordinates Mr. Pilot provided us. |
|
|
DANTE |
<What exactly are variable coordinates?> |
|
|
FAUST |
Ships beyond a certain magnitude, like our Lobotomy Corp. Branch or the Marlin Port, receive partial laws of the Great Lake in an encrypted form from U Corp. |
|
|
FAUST |
U Corp. holds a strict monopoly on the intel regarding the laws of the Great Lake within the Nest. Of course, the vessels that receive that intel pay various prices for that privilege. |
|
|
FAUST |
They use that partial information to calculate at which location their vessels must be during which specific period to ensure a safe voyage, and finalize it into a standardized form known as 'variable coordinates'. |
|
|
FAUST |
Portships often send out their coordinates to other vessels, as they want to host as many guests as possible. But vessels that prioritize privacy and secrecy, like the former L Corp. Branch in question, will never do so. |
|
|
RODION |
So… the Lobotomy Corp. Branch we're looking for… is kinda like a treasure ship, huh? Then there's gotta be a black market out there for people willing to pay big money for its coordinates… |
|
|
FAUST |
Impressive deduction. |
|
|
FAUST |
Also, unlike normal coordinates, variable coordinates are composed of lengthy and encrypted codes. |
|
|
FAUST |
Therefore, vessels sailing across the Great Lake start by entering the variable coordinates of their destination. Based on that information, said vessels will follow a certain route charted via the automated navigation system that periodically confirms the current location of their destination. |
|
|
HONG LU |
Wow~ That's a lot of big words! So basically, if we enter the information we got from Mr. Pilot here, we can somehow find our way to the Lobotomy Corp. Branch? |
|
|
ISHMAEL |
… It's useless in the waters of the Outskirts, beyond the borders of U Corp. |
|
|
FAUST |
Indeed. But the Lobotomy Corp. Branch is within U Corp.'s borders. We will have no trouble analyzing the vessel's travel patterns as long as we have its variable coordinates. |
|
|
DANTE |
<Gotcha. Then let's get a move on.> |
|
|
ISHMAEL |
…… |
5-15: Ice Cream
where the Golden Bough was last seen. Pilot, who so far
was trying to appear nonchalant, broke into tears.
I really wanted to believe that there are survivors
at the upcoming Lobotomy Corp. Branch.
| Speaker | Dialogue | |
|---|---|---|
|
|
Charon |
Charon ate ice cream. It was cold but disappeared fast. |
|
|
DON QUIXOTE |
D-did it not have the putrid scent of the sea? |
|
|
Charon |
Putrid? Charon doesn't know what that means. |
|
|
DON QUIXOTE |
'Tis… a flavor not unlike licking a fish… |
|
|
Charon |
Blonde girl licks fish? Funny tastes. Charon, shudder shudder. |
|
|
Vergilius |
Something's happened, by the looks on your faces. |
|
|
Vergilius |
Explain. |
|
|
DON QUIXOTE |
Allow me to explain…! Upon our arrival at the promised location— |
|
|
Vergilius |
… That is none of my concern. I only want to know what intel you have learned. And make it short. |
|
|
ISHMAEL |
We know where the Golden Bough is. It's in a Lobotomy Corp. Branch in the middle of the Great Lake. |
|
|
Vergilius |
… Of course it's in a Lobotomy Corp. Branch. Did you learn anything else? |
|
|
FAUST |
We obtained its variable coordinates. |
|
|
RODION |
I know what you're about to say… "That's it? That's all you got?" or something… But just listen to the trouble we went through to… |
|
|
Vergilius |
No, that's good enough. Almost makes me want to applaud you all. |
|
|
RODION |
Oh my? |
|
|
OUTIS |
Vergilius, there was… |
|
|
Vergilius |
Ah, I know exactly what you're about to tell me. |
|
|
Vergilius |
I will deal with it. Stay out of this. |
|
|
ISHMAEL |
…… |
|
|
Vergilius |
You look impatient, Ishmael. |
|
|
Vergilius |
I see that our earlier… 'consultation' did not ease your anxiety. |
|
|
ISHMAEL |
Of course not. I don't even know what's happening with my mission. We're wading blindly through a misty sea… |
|
|
ISHMAEL |
Yet here we are, shoving our noses in everything, everywhere. It's driving me up the wall. |
|
|
Vergilius |
Hah, relax. You must know that no path is ever direct in the Great Lake. I did not expect this much lack of patience from someone who spent most of her life here. |
|
|
Vergilius |
Can I assume the mess you've left the manager's shoulder in… is also a consequence of your impatience? |
|
|
ISHMAEL |
That’s… |
|
|
Vergilius |
Well… Clearly, an unintentional mistake. If it wasn't, you wouldn't be sitting before me with your throat intact. |
|
|
FAUST |
…… |
|
|
Vergilius |
Why do you fail to look further, Ishmael? By now, you must have realized what awaits you at the end of this journey. |
|
|
Vergilius |
That 'contract clause' you're so impatient about… is bound to make an appearance as long as you follow the manager's peculiar misadventures. |
|
|
Vergilius |
Your combative attitude against the manager will only delay that inevitability. |
|
|
ISHMAEL |
It happened four times. That's not a very big sample. |
|
|
Vergilius |
Well... I'm good at reading how these things usually flow. |
|
|
ISHMAEL |
…! |
|
|
ISHMAEL |
… If you're so sure about it… then fine. I won't let frustration get the better of me. I won't step out of line… not any more than necessary. |
|
|
FAUST |
Ishmael, what happened… happened. You will still have to write up a form explaining your actions and the circumstances surrounding them. |
|
|
ISHMAEL |
Gladly. |
|
|
ISHMAEL |
As long as the guide is right. |
|
|
YI SANG |
H-have you brought us any ice cream, by any… |
|
|
Vergilius |
…… |
|
|
YI SANG |
Bother not… I was merely curious of the famed ice cream of Marlin port… I shall board the busboat posthaste… |
|
|
RODION |
I appreciate the effort, Yi Sang~ |
|
|
YI SANG |
Your appreciation is more than enough… |
|
|
DANTE |
<He's not going to answer me anyway, but… What were you two up to?> |
|
|
FAUST |
Dante is asking a meaningless question. |
|
|
Vergilius |
Don't let them rub off on you, Dante. What, was I actually supposed to bring a tub of Whale ice cream for everyone? |
5-16: Pirates
based on the variable coordinates that Pilot gave us.
Meanwhile, Ishmael keeps nervously checking the telescope.
Pre-Battle
| Speaker | Dialogue | |
|---|---|---|
|
|
GREGOR |
So uh, Ishmael… This Lobotomy Corp. Branch is still a ways away. Why don't you rest up for a bit while you can? That's what we always do, anyway. |
|
|
GREGOR |
Or at least let me take the next shift. I've done my fair share of night… yawn… watches. |
|
|
ISHMAEL |
…… |
|
|
OUTIS |
That's a good attitude, swabbie. It has been my long-held belief that letting your guard down is to let your comrades down. |
|
|
DANTE |
<I guess that's good enough…> |
|
|
GREGOR |
Hmm… But we're in the middle of a Lake… |
|
|
GREGOR |
And as long as we stick to the, uh, the laws of the Great Lake, I don't see us getting— |
|
|
ISHMAEL |
…! |
|
|
ISHMAEL |
There, ahead… |
|
|
GREGOR |
—attacked by anything. My bad. |
|
|
Charon |
Time to drift again, redhead? |
|
|
ISHMAEL |
It's too late to change course. That trick won't help us here. |
|
|
ISHMAEL |
They went through the trouble of hiding themselves in an artificial fog of war… We're obviously their target. |
|
|
Vergilius |
It's a matter of time before they catch up with this ship, now that they know our location. |
|
|
Vergilius |
Deal with them as you will. |
|
|
ISHMAEL |
Manager, permit us to board their ship. |
|
|
DANTE |
<Are you sure that boarding their ship is the best course of action if we want to save our ship?> |
|
|
ISHMAEL |
According to my experience, yes. |
|
|
DANTE |
<… Okay. I'll leave it to you, then.> |
|
|
ISHMAEL |
… I hope you'll continue to make wise choices like that. |
|
|
ISHMAEL |
We'll hook their ship with harpoons, force them into a melee range! Somebody grab the helm and turn it on my signal! |
|
|
OUTIS |
Hm. Then someone should be on standby, ready to shut the engine off at the right moment. |
|
|
OUTIS |
Hey, you! Bring some extra rope. You! Wait for her signal inside the wheelhouse! |
… This thought lingered for a while in my head. | ||
5-17: Pirates 2
Ishmael's advice and board their ship first
before they did ours.
Post-Battle
| Speaker | Dialogue | |
|---|---|---|
|
|
Panicked Pirate |
Ye crafty bastards, we were going to board yer ship first…! |
|
|
RODION |
We've got places to be, things to do~ Okay~? |
|
|
HEATHCLIFF |
Now, answer my question. Lie or flap your gums meaninglessly, and I'll tear the lips off your mugs. |
|
|
HEATHCLIFF |
Speak. Who sent you plonkers after us? |
|
|
Panicked Pirate |
We can't let someone who dared to lay a finger on our first mate leave in one piece. |
|
|
Panicked Pirate |
Yer very breath brings shame to our Syndicate! By Captain Hook's orders, ye won't leave here alive! |
|
|
HEATHCLIFF |
Heh, ain't that bloody marvelous. I like seeing a good camaraderie. |
|
|
HEATHCLIFF |
… So what'd I say about flapping your gums meaninglessly? |
|
|
Panicked Pirate |
Khaha! Think yer threats'll rattle us? We're no tenderfoots, ye stupid sons of bachelors! |
|
|
RODION |
What a clingy bunch… We spared their first mate's life, and this is the thanks we get? |
|
|
SINCLAIR |
You think this is what Smee meant? That we'll regret it if we… |
|
|
ISHMAEL |
No. |
|
|
ISHMAEL |
Your juvenile whining… That's not from shame. |
|
|
Panicked Pirate |
Huh? |
|
|
ISHMAEL |
When all of your mates lay dead, consumed, manipulated and led into a meat grinder by a collective insanity of a madwoman… when you are left in that endless void where the only sound is the beating of your heart… |
|
|
Panicked Pirate |
W-wait… |
|
|
ISHMAEL |
And when you realize that… your heart continues to beat because it's still desperately, pathetically clinging onto life, despite all that… |
|
|
ISHMAEL |
That's… When you'll feel true shame. |
|
|
Panicked Pirate |
Wait, wait. Looking at the sorry state of yer boat, I can hazard ye have no clue what yer doin' out here… |
|
|
Panicked Pirate |
Spare me and I'll tell ye what ye need to know. I'll even put in a good word to the bossman for ye. |
|
|
Panicked Pirate |
Nothing to lose here eh, lass? You won't have anyone to put in a good… word!… If you kill me. |
|
|
ISHMAEL |
…… |
|
|
Panicked Pirate |
Haha…! Am I getting through to ye? Spare me, and ye just might sail out of this Lake with yer— |
|
|
ISHMAEL |
… Haah. I'm tired of listening to these inane, meaningless pleas. |
|
|
ISHMAEL |
That was the last one, right? Let's go back to our ship. |
5-18: The Waves
this uneasy feeling. Well, no choice but to continue
our voyage while minding the laws
of the Great Lake.
Pre-Battle
| Speaker | Dialogue | |
|---|---|---|
|
|
DANTE |
<So something's been bothering me…> |
|
|
DANTE |
<Wasn't it weird how they all seemed so… certain?> |
|
|
DANTE |
<That if we kept going this way, we'd run into some other huge disaster?> |
|
|
MEURSAULT |
It is nothing of note, manager. It is but a byproduct of their firm belief in their advantage over us. |
|
|
MEURSAULT |
I have observed an oddity, however. They had installed numerous spikes on the lower side of their ship's hull. |
|
|
OUTIS |
Are they not for ramming into other vessels? I have heard that such tactics were occasionally used in naval combat. |
|
|
MEURSAULT |
They were installed far too low in the water to be useful as a means of ramming another ship. It can be extrapolated from the metal's level of corrosion that the spikes, concentrated on the keel of the boat, have been installed recently. |
|
|
OUTIS |
How did you see the keel of the boat…? |
|
|
MEURSAULT |
The water was clearer up close than it appeared from a distance. |
|
|
HONG LU |
Mm~ Maybe they were trying to stop something from climbing up to the ship? |
|
|
GREGOR |
Can't imagine that any fish would swim blindly into the keel of a boat. They're not birds crashing into windows. |
|
|
RODION |
Maybe it was nothing~ Y'know how superstitious pirates can be. What if it's like a good luck charm? |
|
|
GREGOR |
Mmh… Maybe we should've let Assistant Manager Pilot tag along. |
|
|
GREGOR |
Know anything about this, Frau Faust? |
|
|
FAUST |
No pertinent information has been updated. |
|
|
FAUST |
The most we could do is to ensure that we do not violate any laws of the Great Lake. |
|
|
FAUST |
… Outis, we will have to steer the ship portside. |
|
|
OUTIS |
… What? |
|
|
OUTIS |
Hey. It hasn't been an hour since you told us that we'll have to cross this zone in a straight line. |
|
|
FAUST |
We are falling short of our target speed. At our current rate, we will be struck by the next zone's Waves as soon as we exit here. |
|
|
OUTIS |
Is that the damned law of this zone? |
|
|
FAUST |
Indeed. |
|
|
FAUST |
Though our encounter with the pirates was rapidly resolved, we still fell behind schedule. The variable coordinates now points to a different route. |
|
|
OUTIS |
… How much time are we going to have to waste here? |
|
|
FAUST |
According to the variable coordinates… the necessary roundabout path will cost us three more days. |
|
|
OUTIS |
… Huh. |
|
|
OUTIS |
Executive Manager, I have a genius plan. A plan that will not only accelerate this operation but also increase the chances of securing and rescuing the lives of the LCCB Agents. |
|
|
OUTIS |
If we were to waste three more days at sea, there is very little guarantee for their well-being. |
|
|
DANTE |
<Well… What's the plan?> |
|
|
OUTIS |
… We keep going forward. |
|
|
FAUST |
…! |
|
|
ISHMAEL |
What? |
|
|
Vergilius |
… Hm. |
|
|
ISHMAEL |
Are you nuts? We'd be sailing right into the Waves, you know that? |
|
|
OUTIS |
I know what the Waves are, swabbie. I'm not as ignorant of the Great Lake as you might think. You've had plenty of experience weathering and conquering Waves as well, haven't you? |
|
|
ISHMAEL |
Yeah! But that's because they were unavoidable! Because we lacked enough information to take the roundabout path! I've never sailed knowingly into the Waves before. |
|
|
OUTIS |
But you still prevailed, didn't you? |
|
|
ISHMAEL |
…… |
|
|
OUTIS |
And that was when you didn't have someone to bring you back. I say that this is well within our capabilities. |
|
|
OUTIS |
Besides, there is the added benefit of accelerating our mission, and the higher possibility of rescue that the Executive Manager and a few underlings wanted. |
|
|
OUTIS |
It was clear to me that you, Ishmael, weren't so happy with how slow our progress has been. What is it? Did you suddenly gain a yearning for a three-day sunbathing break? |
|
|
ISHMAEL |
The tides… the odor… the speed… the color… that Lake over there is… the Blue Whirling Lake of Murk and Fish-Reek. I haven't suffered its Waves before, but I know many ships that have. Many of which are now lying at the bottom of that Lake. |
|
|
OUTIS |
Fine. As long as we don't join them. |
|
|
SINCLAIR |
W-what if we just went to take a quick look… And if we feel like it's too much for us, we can just go back the way we came from… Right? |
|
|
ISHMAEL |
Go back the— There is no such thing… as going back in this Lake! |
|
|
FAUST |
Your decision, Dante? |
|
|
DANTE |
<… Let's try following Outis' plan.> |
|
|
FAUST |
Understood. Crossing the zone's borders to the target Lake. |
|
|
ISHMAEL |
You've got to be kidding me… Haah. Outis, you better be right… |
 | ||
|
|
DANTE |
<Thunder…?> |
|
|
HONG LU |
… It's really starting to pour. |
|
|
RYŌSHŪ |
We're in the eye of the storm. |
|
|
DANTE |
<Wait… But the sky was clear just moments ago! How could this…?> |
|
|
ISHMAEL |
The Waves are already here, manager. |
|
|
Vergilius |
… Hm. That was an entertaining display. |
|
|
Vergilius |
Charon, this seems like a good opportunity to test that function. |
[Camera switches to ship's deck.]
| ||
|
|
Charon |
Ok. Switching to Endure mode. |
[Ship's deck expands.]
| ||
|
|
DANTE |
<What should… What do we do now, Ishmael?> |
|
|
ISHMAEL |
… There's this adage that every greenhorn sailor of the Great Lake hears before they set their first sail. |
|
|
ISHMAEL |
'There is but one thing you can count on if you find yourself in an unfamiliar Lake whose Waves are alien to you.' |
|
|
RYŌSHŪ |
… S.I.C.[3] Ready your weapons if you want to delay the inevitable. |
[A hand-like creature riddled with holes grabs onto the deck.]
| ||
|
|
ISHMAEL |
'It's not your sailing prowess, your far-seeing eyes of a pathfinder, or the unbreakable bond between you and your mates.' |
[Fish-like creatures emerge from the holes on the creature.]
| ||
|
|
ISHMAEL |
'Many sailors fail to endure this trial and instead choose to become sacrifices to the depths of the Lake.' |
 | ||
|
|
SINCLAIR |
Huh? S-something's climbing onto our ship?! |
|
|
Ishmael & Outis |
'Trust nothing but your own resolve to hold steadfast in the face of terror, in the face of calamity.' |
|
|
ISHMAEL |
'Though the raging Lake may remain indifferent to the will of your meager existence.' |
Post-Battle
| Speaker | Dialogue | |
|---|---|---|
|
|
YI SANG |
No words come to mind to rightly describe that… creature. |
|
|
ISHMAEL |
The unfathomable entities inhabiting the depths of the Lakes are called 'Whales'. And those that emerge from them are called 'Mermaids'. |
|
|
ISHMAEL |
That's the 'Whale of the Porous Hand'… I was… really hoping to avoid that one… |
|
|
DANTE |
<Is that… one of the Whales they were talking about at U Corp.?> |
|
|
SINCLAIR |
Do Mermaids raid ships, too…? I read about them once as a child, but these don't look anything like how they did in the books… |
|
|
HONG LU |
Mermaids… I still remember the horrible bedtime stories my brother used to tell me about them… |
|
|
GREGOR |
So… they make perfumes outta these… things…? |
|
|
RODION |
Vergie… isn't this a good time for you to lend us a hand for once? |
|
|
GREGOR |
Really? That's the guy who practically spectated like a bystander when we got slaughtered back at K Corp. He didn't even blink. |
|
|
HONG LU |
Ah, he did wave at us, though! But I couldn't wave back because my wrists were getting snapped in half! |
|
|
Vergilius |
Of course, I won't sit idly by as Mephistopheles sinks, if it ever comes to that. But… |
|
|
Vergilius |
Know that I will take action only under a very particular set of circumstances. |
|
|
Vergilius |
In which all of you are decimated, the enemies have crushed the manager's head and are about to tear the hands off that clock. |
|
|
DANTE |
<Are… Are you serious right now…?> |
|
|
Vergilius |
Dante, I can't allow them to take the company's precious assets right before my eyes now, can I? |
|
|
Vergilius |
So I'm afraid that you won't see me step in before every single one of you are dead. |
|
|
RODION |
Mr. Guide… Are you really as good as they say? Maybe the stories about you were just tall tales, y'know… |
|
|
DON QUIXOTE |
That's… no. Do not. |
|
|
HEATHCLIFF |
Uh, yeah. That's just— Not… |
|
|
Vergilius |
So either take them out, welcome them aboard with open arms, or whatever. I'm leaving it up to all of you. |
5-19: The Waves 2
of the Great Lake and sail headfirst
into the Waves. The sky immediately darkens,
and the unknown Waves begin crashing into us.
Post-Battle
| Speaker | Dialogue | |
|---|---|---|
|
|
Whale of the Porous Hand Mermaid |
… Screech! |
|
|
ISHMAEL |
Huff… Huff… |
|
|
ISHMAEL |
How… many… left…? |
|
|
OUTIS |
None. |
|
|
ISHMAEL |
Then this is the last one. |
|
|
ISHMAEL |
…… |
|
|
DANTE |
<Mermaids… were they human, once?> |
|
|
ISHMAEL |
I guess I should've explained better… |
|
|
ISHMAEL |
Not every creature that lives in the depths of the Great Lake are called 'Whales'. Whales specifically refer to… |
|
|
ISHMAEL |
… everything in the Great Lake that can parasitize humans. |
|
|
ISHMAEL |
And Whales give birth to 'Mermaids'. |
|
|
DANTE |
<… And where do the Mermaids come from?> |
|
|
ISHMAEL |
They're people devoured by Whales that came with the Waves. There's no guarantee that we won't meet the same fate. |
|
|
ISHMAEL |
See? Now you know why you could turn the clock all day and fail to bring us back. |
|
|
ISHMAEL |
I have… a mission that I can't fail… |
|
|
ISHMAEL |
And I'll kill everything that stands in my way… |
|
|
ISHMAEL |
Even if I were to stumble, even if every part of me were to fall apart… I'll see it through to the end. |
|
|
OUTIS |
Determined and ferocious. Both good attitudes to have when setting sail on an adventure. |
|
|
OUTIS |
Because our voyage is just getting started. |
 | ||
 | ||
 | ||
|Part II —> Story Chapters
| |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Inferno (Main Chapter) |
|||
| Deviazione (Detour Tales) |
Intervallos | ||
| Mini Episodes | |||
| Story Dungeon | Inferno | ||
| Deviazione | |||