Intervallo IV: Timekilling Time/Story Episodes
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Main article: The Final Problem/Floor 1
6.5-1: A Scandal in Time
6.5-2: The Visit from T Corp.
Post-battle
6.5-3: A Case of the Gallows
6.5-4: The Adventure of the Three Detectives
Speaker | Dialogue | |
---|---|---|
|
DANTE |
<Okay… I can clearly see that you are both accusing me of letting the Sinners run wild again, but we had our reasons—> |
|
Vergilius |
… We have reached an agreement. |
|
ISHMAEL |
And? You explained things to them, right? Please tell me that the agreement doesn't involve us collectively dangling from that stupid gallows. |
|
Vergilius |
A ten billion Ahn… is certainly an absurd amount of money. But that doesn't change the fact that we are still responsible for it. We did benefit from the extra time it granted us, and its use was something that wasn't mutually agreed upon before our unilateral activation. |
|
FAUST |
Because it was an unexpected event, no countermeasures could be put in place either. |
|
DANTE |
<Yeah, but we didn't exactly have a whole lot of time to debate whether I was allowed to slow down time or not.> |
|
OUTIS |
If you plan to sacrifice one of us to settle the debt, I request that you evaluate our worth based on individual merit. |
|
OUTIS |
I have prepared performance evaluation sheets for each Sinner precisely for one such occasion. On the last pages of those evaluation sheets are extra opinions, that— |
|
Vergilius |
… I don't plan on leaving any of you behind to take the fall for the group. Besides, ten billion Ahn isn't the kind of money that you can settle with a sacrifice of an individual. |
|
DANTE |
<…….> |
|
Vergilius |
But we did eventually find a reasonable compromise while you were wasting your time horsing around in front of the gallows. |
|
DANTE |
<And that compromise is…?> |
|
FAUST |
We have been contracted to deal with a Distortion. |
|
GREGOR |
Huh… I guess we're really starting to put our names out there if they specifically sought us out to deal with this Distortion. |
|
FAUST |
They have sought out other Fixers and companies to deal with this issue first. We were their sixth choice after the first five failed to produce a meaningful result. |
|
GREGOR |
Ahm, hm… gotcha… |
|
Vergilius |
Well, the stories are starting to circulate via word of mouth. I will not deny that. |
|
DANTE |
<So what kind of Distortion are we dealing with this time?> |
|
FAUST |
This is a request regarding a series of similar, unsolved cases within T Corp.'s borders. Some call it… |
|
FAUST |
… 'The Case of Timekilling Time'. Several people have already fallen victim to the perpetrator. |
|
DANTE |
<The Case of Timekilling Time…> |
|
Class 4 Collection Staff |
It is exactly what it says on the tin. |
|
Class 4 Collection Staff |
A Distortion is running wild, killing our time. |
|
Class 4 Collection Staff |
'Time' is an asset here at T Corp. It is not so difficult for us to track down the occasional time robberies by tracing it, but in the Case of Timekilling Time, the killer does not leave any traces. It is simply gone, completely removed, and untraceable. No such thing has ever happened here before; thus the significance of this case cannot be emphasized enough. |
|
Class 4 Collection Staff |
That is why we formally request that you solve this case for us. In return, we will exempt you from your Time Tax debt. |
|
DON QUIXOTE |
Hooah… thus arriveth once again, my time to shine. |
|
DON QUIXOTE |
According to a book I have perused in recent days, any and all detectives working to solve cases of Urban Nightmare or beyond are issued this 'Special Investigator Badge' during the course of their employment! 'Tis a badge that may as well be a universal pass to command all kinds of aid regarding the investi— |
|
RODION |
Detectives? |
|
DON QUIXOTE |
FIXERS!! |
|
Class 4 Collection Staff |
… We plan to issue you those badges, yes. |
|
DON QUIXOTE |
WAHOO! Much have I longed to add one such badge to my collection! Perchance thou shalt allow us to keep the badges once this case is dealt with? Nay, I demand that I be awarded at least three badges; one for my private collection, one for display, and one for business, so that— |
|
HEATHCLIFF |
Shut it, lass! Right, what are we waiting for? Let's crack on, whack this Distortion, and get the hell out of 'ere. I hate dealin' with money problems. |
|
Class 4 Collection Staff |
……. |
|
Vergilius |
I value your enthusiasm. But I would also appreciate it if you could allow others to finish their sentences before cutting them off and going on a long tangent of your own. |
|
Vergilius |
The problem is… that they don't want all thirteen of you running amok in an effort to solve the case. |
|
Class 4 Collection Staff |
Indeed. I can't have your entire group run wild in the streets and potentially waste the precious time of our residents. |
|
Class 4 Collection Staff |
Also, the 'Special Investigator Badge' isn't something that T Corp. hands out like candy. We can't give away a whole box of badges for all thirteen of them. |
|
OUTIS |
Mm, I concur. To a degree. |
|
OUTIS |
We should have done something like this a long time ago. What use is there in hauling around these dead weights? |
|
OUTIS |
We will leave the useless pawns behind to wait in the bus while the elite team of high-performing individuals takes care of business. |
|
Vergilius |
You seem rather confident that you'd be a part of that 'elite team of high-performing individuals', Outis. |
|
OUTIS |
It's ridiculous to even suggest otherwise— |
|
ISHMAEL |
All right, all right, enough with your nonsense. So… how many of us are allowed to work on this case anyway? |
|
Vergilius |
Hm… |
|
Vergilius |
They have decided that three… no, four individuals, including the Manager, is an appropriate amount of people allowed to partake in this investigation. |
|
ISHMAEL |
That's not a lot… |
|
Vergilius |
Accept it. We barely managed to get the authorization for four after much debate. |
|
OUTIS |
Hmph. Then you have wasted your breath. A tag-team of the Executive Manager and I will be more than enough to handily complete this mission. |
|
DANTE |
<Right… so it all comes down to my choice, huh. Three Sinners…> |
|
Vergilius |
Looks like the manager is deep in thought. … But pointlessly agonizing over something like this is a waste of time. |
|
Vergilius |
I’m taking volunteers first, so let’s see some hands. Quickly, now. |
|
DON QUIXOTE |
FORSOOTH, I SHAN'T HESITATE BEFORE SUCH EXCELLENT OPPORTUNITY! |
|
RODION |
Hm, maybe it's finally my time to shine? |
|
HEATHCLIFF |
Oi, don't even need to ask me, alright? Let's get on with it! |
|
MEURSAULT |
Mm… |
|
GREGOR |
Oh, nah. That wasn't… I'm not raising my hand. I'm just cleaning my glasses. |
|
Vergilius |
What a mess… haah. |
|
Vergilius |
It would be too much trouble for me to list and debate all the arbitrary limitations they set, so allow me to make the choices for you this time, Dante. |
|
Vergilius |
Dante? Are you listening? I just said that I will be the one to choose your companions. |
|
Vergilius |
The Sinners who will accompany Dante to solve this case are… |
|
DANTE |
<Dammit, I've got it! I choose Faust, Meursault, and Yi Sang!> |
|
Vergilius |
… Rodion, Ryōshū, and Hong Lu. |
|
DANTE |
<…?> |
|
FAUST |
Dante has selected me, Meursault, and Yi Sang. |
|
Vergilius |
Haven't you been listening, Dante? |
|
Vergilius |
I have certain things to discuss with Miss Faust regarding our upcoming journey, so she was not an option. Yi Sang was immediately ruled out even before the meeting adjourned due to his history of developing an unauthorized invention at T Corp. |
|
Vergilius |
Meursault did not volunteer. |
|
MEURSAULT |
There was no reason to volunteer. |
|
YI SANG |
Though I may have been disallowed from joining this investigation, I am truly grateful for your appreciation, Dante. I shan't soon forget this. |
|
DANTE |
<W-wait. That's, uh…> |
|
OUTIS |
……. |
|
{[AfilCon|b|10]} | <H-hey, Outis… you know that's not at all what I meant. I just thought that maybe we needed someone skilled and experienced like you to effectively manage the remaining Sinners while we're—> |
|
OUTIS |
Uh, um. Okay. |
|
RODION |
Woah, just the three of us, huh? A trio's such an eye-catching number, isn't it~? |
|
DANTE |
<Rodya I get, but… why'd the two of you volunteer…?> |
|
RYŌSHŪ |
Thought it sounded F.A.H.[1] |
|
HONG LU |
The greater the quantity and diversity of experience, the better it is. |
|
DON QUIXOTE |
Gyah! |
|
DON QUIXOTE |
I have naught else to blame but my slightly lower vertical placement in this world… Indeed, that must be why Sir Vergilius has failed to catch mine impassioned hand… |
|
DON QUIXOTE |
Hup… 'Tis my final legacy I bestow upon thee… |
|
RODION |
What's all this? A book, a magnifying glass, and… are these clothes? |
|
DON QUIXOTE |
'Tis my treasure, my colección… Prithee, be gentle with them… |
|
HONG LU |
Ooh~ But why are you carrying three sets of clothing? |
|
DON QUIXOTE |
One for my private collection, one for display, and one for business, verily. Is that not obvious to thee…? |
|
RODION |
'Records of Investigation: Solutions to the Thirteen Problems' by Agatha… Huh, somebody's autographed it. |
|
RODION |
So who's this Agatha? |
|
DON QUIXOTE |
Fie! How art ye all so ignorant in the lore of Fixers? Once, she was a Grade 1 Fixer who was so prolific that she may as well have been the face of the Seven Association… Truly, no one? |
|
GREGOR |
Most people don't know those… lore, Don Quixote… |
|
RYŌSHŪ |
Cumbersome clothes. |
|
DON QUIXOTE |
How wilt thou call thyself an ace detective when not dressed appropriately for the occasion?!!! Hear, hear! 'Tis only right that the leading ace detective adorn her countenance with this special mustache! |
|
HONG LU |
Look, Lady Agatha says in the forward to this book that any self-respecting ace detective must always dress themselves in impeccable fashion. |
|
GREGOR |
Don Quixote, just… just let go… |
|
GREGOR |
So… I mean, I'm sure everyone has their reasons, but how come you didn't get picked for this, Ishmael? |
|
ISHMAEL |
Didn't get picked? I never volunteered. |
|
ISHMAEL |
Hey, it's not every day you get a legitimate chance to get some free paid time off without breaking company rules. And I wasn't about to let that chance slip. |
|
ISHMAEL |
I… guess I did have some last-minute regrets when I saw who Vergilius picked, but… I'll just relax for a bit and jump in to help 'em out when needed. |
|
ISHMAEL |
Well, good luck. While the… |
|
RODION |
Heh, call us 'The Elite Four'! … How's that? |
|
ISHMAEL |
… while 'The Self-proclaimed Elite Four' runs around T Corp, why don't we find a place to take the edge off and unwind? |
|
Vergilius |
How unfortunate. |
|
Vergilius |
T Corp. did not authorize the rest of the Sinners to run abound unmonitored. |
|
Class 4 Collection Staff |
You must understand that we simply cannot let individuals responsible for ten billion Ahn's worth of Time Tax roam free without proper collateral. |
|
Vergilius |
… Looks like they have temporary lodgings for those who have failed to pay their Time Tax. |
|
OUTIS |
……. |
|
OUTIS |
… Are you certain that's the 'lodging', Guide? |
|
ISHMAEL |
I… they're going to… I'm going to jail…? |
|
SINCLAIR |
Yep… as living collaterals, apparently… |
|
RODION |
It'll be fun! Hey, betcha you'll look fondly back at this memory when it's all said and done, 'kay? We'll be right back, so be nice and stay put~ |
|
HEATHCLIFF |
Nice, this jail cell at least has some heating. … Wait. |
|
HEATHCLIFF |
What happens if they just… leave and don't come back? |
|
GREGOR |
We'll be seeing 'em again after ten billion Ahn's worth of time passes, I guess… |
|
OUTIS |
… WHAT?!?!?! |
|
OUTIS |
Hey! Wait, get back here! That's more than enough time to finish weaving on the loom! |
|
DANTE |
<Calm down, alright? We'll be back before you even—> |
|
DON QUIXOTE |
THOU SHALT RETURN TRIUMPHANTLY AS A GLORIOUS BAND OF ACE DETECTIVES! MARK MY WORDS!!!!! |
|
Employee? |
All right! Looks like everyone's ready, then. Let's get a move on and have a little chat with the third victim! Let's see… the case records say that… aha, there it is. It's just a stone's throw away. |
|
RODION |
… Huh? |
|
Employee? |
Huh? What do you mean 'huh'? Look at the record; it clearly states that neither of the first two victims is in a communicative state. Mm, how unfortunate. |
|
RODION |
No, I mean… why are you coming along with us? I'm sorry, but we're not taking sidekick applications right now. Go away, shoo. |
|
Class 4 Collection Staff |
Incorrect. One of us will be joining your team. |
|
Class 4 Collection Staff |
We were going to send an employee with you so that we can receive immediate updates regarding your investigation progress. |
|
RYŌSHŪ |
Pull that stick out of your ass. |
|
Class 4 Collection Staff |
… We planned to send a Class 2 Staff with you. But you're… |
|
Employee? |
Me? Class 5. See the badge? |
|
Class 4 Collection Staff |
… I-Apologies for failing to recognize you, sir. I scarcely expected to see a Class 5 Auditor all the way down here. |
|
RODION |
That guy's a Class 5 Staff…? Really? |
|
HONG LU |
Class 5… is the highest rank one could reach as a Wing employee, right? |
|
RODION |
Um… Yeah, I thought so too. |
|
Class 5 Audit Staff? |
Well~ don't be so sure. It depends on which Wing you're talking about. Who knows, maybe there are Class 12, or even Class 20 employees out there! |
|
Class 5 Audit Staff? |
Get it? Got it? Good. Then let's get a move on! |
|
Class 5 Audit Staff? |
Isn't it absolutely brilliant? The very concept of 'killing time'. They're not slowing down or speeding up time; they're eliminating it completely, just yanking it out of circulation. |
|
RODION |
So uh, your name is… |
|
RODION |
Mai? |
|
Mai |
Relax and call me however you want~ Names are such unimportant things, aren't they? |
|
RYŌSHŪ |
No. Names matter. |
|
DANTE |
<Really? You never call anyone by their names, though.> |
|
RODION |
Relax and call you however we want? But you're obviously here to be our handler. |
|
Mai |
Hm, that's true. That does make things a tad awkward, doesn't it? Let me think. |
|
Mai |
Aha, I've got it! You're all dressed like detectives; why don't you consider me your ever-helpful assistant who tags along to your adventures? |
|
RODION |
Okay, but… still… |
|
RYŌSHŪ |
Assistant. Lead us. |
|
Assistant |
Right away, ma'am! |
|
HONG LU |
Hmm, what's the difference between an 'assistant' and a 'servant'? You know, my family used to employ… |
|
DANTE |
<They sure warmed up to him fast…> |
6.5-5: Timekilling Puzzle
Speaker | Dialogue | |
---|---|---|
|
Assistant |
Let's see… the third victim of this case is this watch factory's… |
|
RODION |
Hold up…! |
|
RODION |
The obviously gaudy and expensive suit… the meticulously trimmed and shaped mustache… the third victim must be the owner of this factory. Assistant, confirm my deductions! |
|
Assistant |
You're right on the money, detective. |
|
HONG LU |
We're off to a great start! |
|
RODION |
Fuhu. |
|
RODION |
Ahem, ahem! We are detectives working on the 'Case of Timekilling Time'. My name is— |
|
Watch Factory Owner |
[Highly accelerated speech.] #@$@$#(*&$^&*#&*^@!!@@$#@$? |
|
RODION |
Whuh— what's going on? |
|
RYŌSHŪ |
Ryōshū. Detective. |
|
HONG LU |
He sure is a fast talker. He's talking way faster than Meursault did when he reviewed those chickens. |
|
Watch Factory Owner |
#@$@$#!%!#%#@!@#$#%^!#$@#@#!@$#@$!!! |
|
Assistant |
He's someone who has a lot of time. |
|
RODION |
What's that supposed to mean? |
|
Assistant |
An average T Corp. citizen has about 20 to 28 hours in a day, but you might also run into someone like him: people with plenty of time to spare. Because they have so much surplus time, they can afford to condense 40, 50 hours into a single day. And to people with fewer hours in a day… it'll look as though he's moving two, three times faster than them. Someone with that much time could pick their nose in the blink of an eye before anyone even has the chance to catch them in the act. |
|
RODION |
Ew… |
|
Watch Factory Owner |
#@$@(*%(*#^@))$&*^@%<@$!!! |
|
RYŌSHŪ |
……. |
|
RODION |
Um, would ya mind slowing down a bit? I'm just worried that… you're at a serious risk of becoming a victim of a completely different, slightly more fatal crime. |
|
Watch Factory Owner |
[Voice recorder.] Pleased to make your acquaintance-uh. My name's Bumble, a proud proprietor of this watch factory-ah. |
|
Bumble |
Apologies for this awkward method of communication-uh. |
|
Bumble |
You see, my days are fifty-two hours long-uh. I used to live 100 hour-days in my heyday, but the things have taken a turn for the worse at the factory in the recent years-ah. |
|
RODION |
Fif-fifty two hours?! |
|
Bumble |
To me, it looks as though you are all talking very, very, very slowly-uh. I must say-ah, it's quite frustrating… but I am willing to suffer this annoyance as long as you can solve this case-uh. |
|
RODION |
You have fifty-two whole hours to spend in a single day? Gee, I can't even imagine what that'd be like. |
|
Bumble |
Oh, I can tell you if you're that curious-uh. It's a very, very full life, I must say-ah. Having more time to spend in a day means that I can get more things done in a day-uh. Like sleeping ten or more hours a night and having more than forty hours left to spend-uh. Good sleep really is the key to keeping your skin moist and fresh, indeed-ah. I'll let you touch it, if you want-uh. |
|
RYŌSHŪ |
I.D.C.[3] Get to the point. |
|
Bumble |
It was one late evening-ah. |
|
Bumble |
Let's see-uh. Like always, I was busily walking down the street-ah. I had a very, very important meeting to attend to, you know-uh. |
|
Bumble |
And all of a sudden…! |
|
RODION |
An attack?! |
|
Bumble |
No-ah. I just happened to recall that I left the bacon on the kitchen counter at home-uh! I should've left it covered with District 23's purple salt-ah~! |
|
HONG LU |
Aha, my second-oldest-aunt used to sprinkle that salt all the time. |
|
RYŌSHŪ |
The. Point. |
|
Bumble |
Well, so I stopped briefly, looking up at the Clock Tower and wondering if I should head back home to salt that bacon-uh… |
|
Bumble |
… and that's when the Time Ripper struck-ah! |
|
RYŌSHŪ |
The Clock Tower? |
|
Assistant |
Each one of the twelve zones at T Corp. has a Clock Tower that displays A Corp.'s standard time scale. Because everyone has different hours to spend in a day, their watches sync with their respective time scales as well. So, to tell the 'real', objective time, one would have to check the Clock Tower. |
|
RYŌSHŪ |
Oho… |
|
HONG LU |
That's pretty neat~ |
|
RODION |
All right, you two. Let's focus on the important stuff. Let's see… um… ah, how about we start with a physical description? |
|
Bumble |
Hmm… a fine, tailored suit… |
|
RODION |
Huh… a tailored suit? A bit fancy for someone called the 'Time Ripper', don'tcha think? |
|
Bumble |
It must've cost me about fifty-eight-million Ahn-uh. Of course, since it was tailor-made, its comfort was beyond human imagination-ah. |
|
RODION |
Wait, what…? |
|
Bumble |
Oh, and how could I forget-uh? This impressive yet keenly shaped moustache-ah. |
|
RODION |
Hey, I wasn't talking about your own physical description… |
|
RYŌSHŪ |
One more chance until I S.Y.N.C. |
|
Bumble |
Ohh~ you mean the murderer's appearance-uh! Well, let me think-ah… |
|
Bumble |
… I don't recall anything-uh. It just happened so, so fast that… |
|
RYŌSHŪ |
How did it feel to have your own time killed? Was it painful? |
|
DANTE |
<Can you not ask something like that with such a big grin on your face?> |
|
Bumble |
Nope-uh. It was just… |
|
Bumble |
Mm, a hundred hours was gone in the blink of an eye-ah! I missed my very important appointment thanks to that, I'll have you know-uh! I suffered so much damages-ah! |
|
RODION |
Gah! A hundred hours? So you lost a whole week in the blink of an eye? |
|
Bumble |
Huh? Nope-uh. A hundred hours for me is just two days or so-ah. Still, you have no idea how much I lost because of those two days-uh! |
|
Assistant |
Ripping away time, huh? An invention that enables something like that would certainly win the 'Inventor of the Year' award and the loads of prize money that comes with it. T Corp. really values and supports its inventors, you know? |
|
Assistant |
Some people say that, once upon a time, T Corp.'s Executive Director himself showed up to bestow the awards. I guess once an inventor is always an inventor; I say that he probably wanted others to carry on his inquisitive spirit. I've seen the ceremony once, and he was giving away autographs! |
|
RODION |
Hm… Then maybe we're looking for an inventor who received an award for that tech? Assistant? |
|
Assistant |
But every invention at T Corp. needs to be registered at the Technology Administration Agency, though it is not without a few exceptions. There once was a time when a rogue group of inventors called ‘The League of Nine Littérateurs’ made some inventions that they neglected to register. And wow, what a mess that was! Every single corner of T Corp. was up in arms! Everyone dashing about in a panic, making arrests, holding important meetings, while I— |
|
HONG LU |
It was that big of a deal…? I can't even imagine how hard it must've been for Yi Sang… |
|
RODION |
Alright, alright. So? Is there anything like that registered in T Corp.'s Tech Agency? |
|
Assistant |
Nope. First time hearing about anything like it. |
|
RODION |
Haah… Ya coulda started there, y'know. |
|
DANTE |
<What if this is a power granted by the Distortion…?> |
|
RYŌSHŪ |
No killer, no corpses. |
|
DANTE |
<Well, yeah… No one's actually dead, and we don't know where the killer is.> |
|
HONG LU |
Who could it be, I wonder? |
|
Bumble |
Someone who took a liking to my very expensive suit, I say-uh! |
|
RYŌSHŪ |
Disagree. Your suit's shit. |
|
Bumble |
Aw… |
|
RYŌSHŪ |
Besides, if I really wanted to kill you… |
|
Bumble |
… M-me-ah? Why would you— |
|
RYŌSHŪ |
… I'd have to be able to move as fast as you do. |
|
RYŌSHŪ |
I won't be able to get a good aim at your vitals otherwise. |
|
Bumble |
Gah! |
|
RYŌSHŪ |
… Just like this. |
|
DANTE |
<…!> |
|
RODION |
Woah… I thought she was actually about to beat the crap out of him with that scabbard… |
|
HONG LU |
That'd be case closed then, hm? All we'd have to do is to arrest Ryōshū~ |
|
Bumble |
Y-you scared the heck out of me-uh! |
|
Bumble |
Well… I suppose that villain didn't really stab me in my vitals, or whatever-ah… |
|
Bumble |
But he did appear all of a sudden, just like you did-uh. |
|
Assistant |
I see. So the killer isn't just running around ripping time away from random people left and right. |
|
RYŌSHŪ |
Yes. The killer was going specifically for that A.S.S. |
|
DANTE |
<…….> |
|
RYŌSHŪ |
… I meant that 'Annoying, Stupid Stache'. Tsk, not having that kid here is frustrating. |
|
Bumble |
No way-uh… Can you think of a single person who'd hate someone like me-ah…? |
|
DANTE |
<I can think of more than a few…> |
|
Bumble |
I say that it must have been the work of some bandit who wanted to try on my tailored suit-uh! |
|
HONG LU |
Oh, what about your employees? |
|
HONG LU |
Lady Agatha's book says that… to find the culprit, we must first look at the victim's immediate circle! |
|
RODION |
Yeah, that works…! |
|
RODION |
Then, the culprit! |
|
RODION |
[Fanfare!] … has to be someone who hates the owner so, so much, enough to try to take his time! |
|
Bumble |
Nuh-uh. That seems quite implausible-ah. As you can see… |
|
RODION |
Wh-what…? The laborers at this factory… |
|
RODION |
… They're all working so slowly like… they're moving through molasses… |
|
Assistant |
Oh, most factory laborers like them usually live rather short ten-hour-days. Most of which they spend at their factory jobs anyway. |
|
RODION |
… What did you say? |
|
Bumble |
Listen up, everyone-ah! Our output gain saw only 13% growth compared to last month's growth-uh! Have I not impressed upon you how important this is-ah? We'll be falling behind profit margin projections at this rate-uh! |
|
Factory Laborer |
[Very slow speech.] B…o…s…s… It…’s… I…m…p…o…s…s…i…b…l…e… T…o… W…o…r…k… A…n…y… F…a…s…t…e…r… T…h…a…n… |
|
Bumble |
Whew, how bothersome-ah! Less complaining, more assembling-uh! Use your times effectively-ah! Chop chop-uh! |
|
Bumble |
$#%%><*()(&*&^(&%*(&$#^$^%! |
|
Bumble |
You have no idea how frustrating it has been for me as of late-ah! Did you even know that the next batch of cogs have stopped all of a sudden-uh? |
|
Bumble |
$#%#$^$#^$$#(&*^%$&^*(&&><%#^! |
|
RODION |
Hey. Mister Bumble. |
|
RODION |
You're talking way too fast for them to understand, you know that? How do you expect them to understand a thing you're saying? |
|
Bumble |
So-ah? It's not me who's too fast; it's them who are too slow-uh. Only hustlers and busy-bees like myself who make the best of their time can rise above the rest in this chaotic, bustling City-ah! |
|
RODION |
I… what? You know that's a load of bull. |
|
RODION |
How are they supposed to 'hustle' or 'make the best of their times' when they're practically nailed to the floor? And with what time? |
|
DANTE |
<Rodya, hey…> |
|
DANTE |
<I don't think someone like him will ever understand what you're talking about. He was born and raised in T Corp., after all.> |
|
RODION |
……. |
|
RODION |
Hey, Assistant. You're a Class 5 employee, right? Aren't you supposed to be a big shot? Do you seriously think there's anything normal about all of this? |
|
Assistant |
'Normal'? |
|
Assistant |
Dear detectives. Do you happen to be returning from a round-trip across every single Nest in the City, all the way from A to Z? Can you confidently say that you have seen all there is to see? |
|
RODION |
Not… really, but… |
|
Assistant |
Then give this idea a thought, why don't you? That the notion of what is 'normal' is just a mirage conjured by the downtrodden and the suffering? |
|
Assistant |
That is to say… that suffering is just a part of life in the City, regardless of which Nest you're in. |
|
RODION |
Hah. I don't see any suffering in that mug of Mister fifty-hour-days right here. |
|
Bumble |
Such harsh words-uh! I have my share of pain, I'll have you know-ah! |
|
Bumble |
I've been waiting for something to get finished for a while-uh. Do you know how much of a pain it is to wait for something but also have too much time in your day-ah? It's so so so tedious! |
6.5-6: The White-scarved League
Pre-battle
6.5-7: The Rewinding Clock
Pre-battle
Speaker | Dialogue | |
---|---|---|
|
Meticulous Activist |
Tsk, retreat! |
|
Assistant |
Hey, participation trophy. |
|
DANTE |
<Participation… trophy…? Is he talking to me?> |
|
Assistant |
How on earth did you do that earlier? Tick-tock tick-tock and voilà, it seemed to me that you rewound the time and un-wounded your friends. I've never seen a tech that could rewind time like that. |
|
DANTE |
<Well, that's…> |
|
RYŌSHŪ |
Trade secret. Ask and you shall receive… pain. |
|
Assistant |
Fascinating… Aren't you terrified of 'time'? |
|
Assistant |
As far as I am aware, there is practically no way to 'rewind' time for a singular entity that exists in an open, unenclosed area. Either that, or my study didn't reach as far as I thought it did. Wait, no. That's actually a very serious problem, then. I was very desperate, you know. It's very unlikely that I missed anything. |
|
RODION |
Ya know what else is a serious problem? The fact that we're wasting our time chatting about inane stuff while they're all getting away! C'mon, Dante! |
|
Assistant |
Hold on, 'inane stuff'? This is extremely serious! Its importance is absolutely incomparable to what amounts to arresting a few small-fry revolutionaries. Mm… if it was a true resurrection, then the Head would've been after your heads already, so I doubt that's what this is. Then it must have something to do with time manipulation, I'm certain of it… |
|
Assistant |
Maybe it works with the same mechanisms as the TT2 Protocol under the hood—nope, that works only within an isolated enclosure; it can't rewind the time of a singular individual. |
|
Assistant |
Perhaps they are drawing time from elsewhere to inject it into their timestreams? Mm… ah, that seems a tad more plausible. If you're actually 'rewinding' their time, then the visual elements of that process would manifest in a vastly different manner. I suppose this means that you can't really 'rewind' or 'skip' time either, am I right? |
|
DANTE |
<You can't just say all that gibberish and expect me to be able to—> |
|
Assistant |
The process also seemed to involve a great degree of pain… Oh well. It seems to be in bad taste to say that it's good news, but I suppose I can say that what I'm about to tell you is somewhat auspicious. I was going to get into the nitty-gritty only if we had to venture into one of the more dangerous places like the Backstreets, but here we go. Check the other side of your badges; there should be a small clockwork knob attached to your badges in there. Mind rotating it for me? |
|
Assistant |
Not all Fixers specializing in investigations are strong enough to defend themselves in emergencies. That is why these Special Investigator Badges are all equipped with the same special function that goes into suits that higher-ranking staff members of T Corp wear. |
|
Assistant |
It's called 'Golden Time'. If you keep the clockwork wound, it will automatically speed up the body's natural regeneration process as soon as it detects that its wearer is at risk of death. It's nothing compared to what you're capable of… but it's quite something, isn't it? |
|
DANTE |
<So… I don't actually have to turn the clock myself?> |
|
Assistant |
Of course, it takes some time for it to refill once its charge is spent. If you ever run out of its uses, then... I suppose it all comes down to you, participation trophy! You'll have to take one for the team and bring them all back yourself. |
|
RODION |
You're willing to do that, but not willing to help us before we get torn to shreds, huh? |
|
RYŌSHŪ |
I… prefer that. Good. Hoo. |
|
Assistant |
Ready? Let's go after them, then! |
|
DANTE |
<Haah, haah… Where… did they run off to…?> |
|
RODION |
I'm pretty sure they came this way… |
|
RYŌSHŪ |
Tsk, no more tracks. We wasted too much time on his boring lectures. |
|
RODION |
Heya, Assistant. Are you sure it's okay for you to just… saunter behind us like you're out on a picnic? |
|
Assistant |
Why would I run? I hate running. |
|
RODION |
It's literally your job to arrest the Yurodiviye, isn't it? |
|
Assistant |
Is it, though? But my job at this precise moment is to keep my eyes on you and your investigation regarding the Case of Timekilling Time, not making Yurodiviye arrests. |
|
RODION |
But you're a T Corp. employee! |
|
Assistant |
Okay, fine. Let's say that I decided to run instead of walk and helped you capture those Yurodiviye rascals. What then? Will T Corp. suddenly stop having problems just because they're gone? Will this place suddenly transform into some kind of humanitarian paradise? Not to mention that, as long as their leader runs free, they'll be back before you know it. |
|
RYŌSHŪ |
Excuses. Then K.T.A.[4] |
|
Assistant |
If we do kill them all, that only opens up room for a worse Syndicate to take their place. If that happens… that Collector friend from earlier might end up suffering from something much, much worse than having to stop-and-search random passers-by. Not to mention that I'll be getting muscle cramps from all the running. |
|
RODION |
That's… |
|
Assistant |
Besides, isn't your friend one of them? Weird, I thought you wouldn't want me to arrest them. |
|
HONG LU |
Right? I thought Rodya would be a bit happier to be reunited with the Yurodiviye. |
|
DANTE |
<W-well, since it looks like the trail's gone cold, let's go back to the stop-and-search lady and ask if she noticed anything suspicious since we left.> |
|
RODION |
… Fine. |
|
HONG LU |
Poor woman! I can’t believe she's still on duty at such a late hour. |
|
Assistant |
Such is the life of a laborer. |
|
RYŌSHŪ |
… No. |
|
RYŌSHŪ |
They got her. I can't even hear her breathing. |
|
HONG LU |
That's the Time Ripper's M.O.! |
|
DANTE |
<The Time Ripper got to her that fast…?> |
|
RYŌSHŪ |
She's in a state of absolute stillness. |
|
RYŌSHŪ |
A deathlike state achieved without a thimble of blood on their hands. |
|
RYŌSHŪ |
What a mysophobic art. |
|
HONG LU |
Though she may be in a state of stasis to those of us watching from the outside… |
|
HONG LU |
… for her, this must be as brief as a blink of an eye. |
|
HONG LU |
What do you think the culprit's trying to do with all that time? |
|
DANTE |
<Guys, this is a crime scene. Let's try to not touch the body… I mean, the victim…> |
|
Hubert |
Woah, look! There must be some sort of spatio-temporal displacement superposition phenomenon going on here. She is entirely incorporeal. |
|
RODION |
Is this seriously the time to— |
|
DANTE |
<Rodya, there! Up ahead!> |
[Flashes.] | ||
|
RODION |
You, stop! |
|
DANTE |
<Ryōshū, think you can catch up?> |
|
DANTE |
I'm not your hunting dog… but sure. I'll entertain you, just this once. |
|
Assistant |
Ooh, she's pretty fast. |
|
HONG LU |
Ryōshū sure moves fast when she finds something interesting. |
|
Assistant |
It's been a while since I've seen people like you—the kind who sprint forward with their eyes fixed on the horizon. |
|
Assistant |
Here, everyone only ever looks down, their necks bent and gaze locked to the ground. Watching their own feet take their halting steps. |
|
Assistant |
I suppose they only ever look up to check the time on the Clock Towers. |
|
Assistant |
But there must have been a time when everyone walked tall… |
|
RODION |
I think I know why that is. |
|
RODION |
It's because they all learned helplessness. |
|
RODION |
Because they realized that, even if they ran 'till their lungs burst… nothing will change. That it doesn't matter. |
|
HONG LU |
Yeah, not everyone can run like Meursault. Learning to maintain a stable breathing rhythm is not easy! |
|
RODION |
Aha ha ha… That's not what I'm talking about. |
|
DANTE |
<Wait, take a closer look at her face.> |
|
DANTE |
<Remember? It's the same face she was making earlier when she shouted "It's a stop-and-search!"> |
|
RODION |
Yeah… maybe she saw someone suspicious, approached them for a stop-and-search, and got ambushed… We should ask her when she recovers. |
|
HONG LU |
But we don't know when she'll… recover. |
|
RYŌSHŪ |
Catch. |
|
Fainted Activist |
……. |
|
DANTE |
<… Are you sure you captured him alive?> |
|
RODION |
Hey, Ryōshū, doesn't he kinda look… |
|
RODION |
… a bit different from the mysterious person that got away? He's clearly wearing something different. |
|
RODION |
Besides, he's one of the Yurodiviye we already ran into. |
|
RYŌSHŪ |
Clothes are just husks that can be cast off at any moment. |
|
RYŌSHŪ |
He started running as soon as our eyes met. |
|
RYŌSHŪ |
Hey. Rise and shine. |
|
Fleeing Activist |
U…ugh… How am I the suspicious one…? Anyone would run if someone like you started sprinting after them… with that big sword in your hands… |
|
RYŌSHŪ |
Haah… I have many, many ways to crush the truth out of you. |
|
RYŌSHŪ |
First. |
|
DANTE |
<No dismembering.> |
|
RYŌSHŪ |
… Hm. |
|
Fleeing Activist |
This is the Yurodiviye's turf. You'll soon regret dragging me down here. |
|
Fleeing Activist |
Heh… I prepared this secret weapon just for this occasion… |
|
DANTE |
<W-watch out!> |
|
DANTE |
<… What was that?> |
|
Fleeing Activist |
One of the five greatest inventions of the Yurodiviye T Corp. Branch, the PortableAdjustableFrequencyPeriodicalLightingApparatusAttachmentSoundwave Generator! This will call every single Yurodivy in its range to this exact location! |
|
Assistant |
There, see what I mean? You see the problem prevalent among inventors: they never know when to stop when it comes to naming their inventions. |
|
Fleeing Activist |
You'll pay dearly for smacking me in the back of my noggin! |
6.5-9: The Dying Detective
Pre-battle
6.5-10: The Yurodiviye Mystery
Post-battle
6.5-11: An Odd Impression
6.5-12: The Time Ripper
6.5-13: Twisted Time
6.5-14: The Clock Tower of Fear
Pre-battle
Speaker | Dialogue | |
---|---|---|
|
DANTE |
<So…> |
|
DANTE |
<Will this really work?> |
|
DANTE |
<I guess it's barely a plan, and more like something we came up with in the last 10 minutes, but still…> |
|
RYŌSHŪ |
Tsk. Annoying. |
|
RODION |
… Shh, let's hide. |
|
The Time Ripper |
……. |
|
HONG LU |
Hiya. I've been waiting for you. |
|
DANTE |
<…….> |
|
RODION |
… Did he just say 'Hiya' to the Ripper…? |
|
The Time Ripper |
How interesting… Not only did you know that I'd be coming here, but you also had the manners to extend your greetings? |
|
The Time Ripper |
I see. You've been tailing us this whole time. |
|
HONG LU |
Hehe, of course. You were right under our noses all this time, weren't you? |
|
The Time Ripper |
You're one of those fools playing pretend as a detective, aren't you? Killing time… |
|
HONG LU |
You're right. Say, can you teach me how to make the most of my time? |
|
The Time Ripper |
Give us your time and we might tell you. |
|
The Time Ripper |
What, thirty hours? What is this, a bloody joke? That ain't enough. |
|
The Time Ripper |
Just think about all those hours we've lost fleeing from these sods! We could've spent that time ripping more hours from others. I say that it's only fair that we take 300 hours from him. |
|
The Time Ripper |
Agreed. He's one of the Nest's lackeys… working with those filthy watch chains of T Corp… He deserves it. If we let him go, he'll only bring further trouble. Let's show them what happens to those that oppose us. |
|
The Time Ripper |
Seconded. Let's try to extract the exact amount of hours that evenly splits into twelve pieces. |
|
The Time Ripper |
Sod it, let's stab as deep as we can go! We don't want the repeat of the fat cat at the factory, do we? We're aiming straight for the center. We're not letting this bastard slip away with just a gash of a hundred hours! |
|
The Time Ripper |
Silence. I will decide the time. We will stab as deep as we can and rip a thousand hours from him. That should be more than enough time for us to happily share. |
|
The Time Ripper |
Well, I suppose we'll be losing our sense of taste for the next thousand hours. If we divide the burden of thousand hours equally amongst one 'nother… yeah, I can roll with that. |
|
DANTE |
<Huh… it's almost like there are multiple personalities in there, all taking turns to speak…> |
… Or perhaps… that was an expression of liberation. | ||
|
HONG LU |
A thousand hours… |
|
HONG LU |
Will a thousand hours have passed in the blink of an eye? |
|
The Time Ripper |
Yes. And there will be no pain. Only the despair that awaits you upon your awakening. |
|
HONG LU |
Then… I like that. |
|
HONG LU |
Rip my time away. |
|
DANTE |
<…!> |
|
RODION |
He… he didn't mean that, did he? |
|
RYŌSHŪ |
A time-tearing razor, is it? |
|
Assistant |
So that is the core of the power that extracts time. Though it was no invention at all, but a Distortion… |
|
Assistant |
My, this is still highly fascinating! So this is the kind of power that a Distortion can grant? Powers that only one could have dreamt of… |
|
The Time Ripper |
…! |
|
HONG LU |
……. |
|
The Time Ripper |
Why… can't we rip away your time? |
|
HONG LU |
I see. Everything went according to plan. It's all… so same. |
|
HONG LU |
I blinked, but the world is just as familiar and changeless as ever. |
|
The Time Ripper |
Wh-what…?! |
|
The Time Ripper |
We've walked right into a trap, you daft idiots! Don't you understand?! |
|
RYŌSHŪ |
Detectives. A.O.T.S.[5] |
|
DANTE |
<Phew… that's a relief. Had me worried for a moment there…> |
|
Assistant |
Like I said earlier… the Temporal Scale Gallows isn't broken. This error was caused by you. |
|
Assistant |
Your time—and this applies to all twelve of you—was already bound to someone else’s time. |
|
DANTE |
<Someone else's time…? Me?> |
|
Assistant |
… This caused a multi-reference error in the Temporal Scale Gallows, which was supposed to 'hang' your time. |
|
RODION |
So what you're saying is… because we are living within Dante's time… the gallows couldn't 'hang' our time? |
|
DANTE |
<I had no idea…> |
|
HONG LU |
Well, if all that is news to us… |
|
HONG LU |
… then there's really no way for the Time Ripper to know that, either. |
|
HONG LU |
So, once the Time Ripper arrives and tries to rip my time away from me… |
|
HONG LU |
… that's when Rodya and Ryōshū can swoop in like the awesome people you are and arrest the culprit. |
|
DANTE |
<But what if… and really, what if…> |
|
DANTE |
<… what if the Time Ripper manages to rip Hong Lu's time away?> |
|
HONG LU |
Don't worry, Dante. |
|
HONG LU |
It's all going to be okay. |
|
Assistant |
Haah… I wonder how long the racket would last once the news of a malfunctioning Clock Tower breaks? |
|
Assistant |
Wouldn't it be so entertaining to watch as people's trust in the institution, of the supposedly unerring Clock Tower, crumble? It's going to be such a fun show. |
|
DANTE |
<… I'll try my best not to malfunction.> |
|
Assistant |
Tick tock… tick tock… |
|
Assistant |
Hey, participation trophy. I used to really hate the sound of clocks. |
|
Assistant |
I don't know when it started, but I started associating its noise with the perpetual cycle of pain. Like it's some… premonition that a clock hand-shaped blade will one day cleave clean through me. A blade of time, if you will. |
|
Assistant |
But your noise…? It's a bit different. It's the kind of noise that makes me dream up something new, something different. And it's not… pain. |
|
Assistant |
Well, that's why I wanted to extend my gratitude. |
|
DANTE |
<Not sure what he's extending his gratitude for… but can someone ask him to do something for me?> |
|
HONG LU |
Dante has a request. |
|
Assistant |
Right, request away. |
|
DANTE |
<I think I've had enough experience to intuit when a big fight's about to break out… and I'm getting that exact feeling that something's about to happen.> |
|
DANTE |
<So it's time for you to return the other Sinners.> |
|
ISHMAEL |
I can't believe they actually kept us imprisoned the whole time, only to let us out right before they caught the culprit… |
|
ISHMAEL |
So how was it, manager? Adventuring with just three Sinners. Was it nice? |
|
OUTIS |
I trust that you have learned your lesson, and that my absence was… deeply felt. |
|
SINCLAIR |
Agh, I'm aching all over just from sitting inside that jail cell. I don't ever want to go back to a place like that… |
|
HEATHCLIFF |
Right, so is that sod the Time Ripper or somethin'? |
|
FAUST |
A Distortion we must defeat. |
Post-battle