Part 102: Mission #36, Encyclopedia Takemura is on the Case!

Another load of exposition, so I'll break this mission into two chunks, though I'll try and get the other half up tonight.

Mission #36, Part 1: Encyclopedia Takemura is on the Case!



After the bitter failure last mission, the party has ended up in this village...



: I'm fine.
: No. You're exhausted.
: I'm gonna fall over!
: We should take a break.
: Hey, there's a girl standing over there.
: I'll ask her. Excuse me.
: ...
: We're Hua Lian Rebels.
: ...Can I help you?
: Is there a doctor nearby?
: Is someone sick?
: I think she's just exhausted.
: I'm fine. Don't worry about me...
: You don't look well.
: I can't even stand up!
Yun, you don't count.
: Um... I don't want any trouble. I'm sorry.
: Wait!! We won't cause any trouble. Just tell us where the doctor is.
: Stop, Kazuki, We can't get civilians involved. I'm sorry, young lady.
: Will you promise me?
: ?
: That you won't cause trouble in our town?
Er...that's not a promise we're going to be able to keep, but sure.
: You'll help us?
: Promise me.
: I promise. You are...?
: I'm Lixian.
: We won't cause any trouble, Lixian. I'm Kazuki Takemura. Nice to meet you.
: Follow me.



: Oh, cozy.
: Do you live by yourself?
: I live with my brother, Kwang.
: What about your parents?
: They're both dead.
: ...I'm sorry.
: It's okay. Please get some rest.
: That's what we'll do.
: Thank you, Lixian.
: Emma and Yun should rest here.
: Sorry to stall you guys.
: Likewise!
: Are you really all that tired?
: Thanks for letting us stay here.
: Don't worry about it. Should I call a doctor?
: No thanks. I'll be okay.
: Emma, are you really okay?
: Yes. I just need to lie down for a while.
: Hey, are you really tired?
: Of course I am! Are you calling me a liar?
: You certainly have enough energy to talk back.
Everybody hates Yun.
: I'll cook up something warm.
: Yeah! I want bamboo shoot soup!
For just cause.
: ...
Anyway, it's time to begin the brutal ping-ponging between Lixian's house and the local bar.



: You're staying at Lixian's house? She's cooking for you guys? Really? Do you have the sensibility to truly appreciate her cooking? Only a sensitive and pure soul like her can cook like that. Do you guys realize how lucky you are?
: This is not a village that welcomes soldiers. Just having you here causes trouble. Like the accident 8 years ago. The government was filled with people who wanted Vice-Chairman Ming dead. The vice-chairman was assassinated. I wish he was still alive. The good guys always die early.
Chekov's exposition.
: Are you the bums staying at Lixian's place? Don't ever hurt the two of them.
: What do we look like? A disease?
Well, when it comes to killing people we meet, we are deadlier than Ebola.
: The two of them aren't related, but they're a true family.
: Not related? And that was Kwang.
: Kwang grew up a nice young man, thanks to Lixian. So don't ever cause any trouble for them. I'll throw you out if you do anything to hurt them!
: Welcome. What would you like?
I guess to move this along. Back to Lixian's house!



: Yes.
: You're totally popular. Everyone talks about you.
: That's not true.
: Must've been hard adopting Kwang and raising him.
: Ryogo!
: Oh, damn!
: So you heard.
: We didn't mean to...
: Um, sorry...
: It's okay. It's not like there's anything to hide.
: Was Kwang abandoned?
: Stop, Yun.
: But I'm curious!
: It happened 8 years ago. I was 16. I went to a nearby mountain to collect some wild plants. I heard a loud roar, so I ran to investigate. A commercial airliner had crashed there.
: A plane crash...
: The accident was horrible. I was about to go down the mountain to call for help. Then I heard a groan.
: And that was Kwang?
: Yes. He was buried under what looked like his mother.
: She protected him.
: I'm sorry to make you recall an unpleasant incident.
: It's okay. I received a sibling because of it.
A likely story...but something doesn't add up here! To the bar!



: Unlike you.
: Right! Hey, go back to sleep!
: But this is too interesting! I got curious about something.
: What is it?
: That story earlier...
: What?
: I researched it on the net.
: You work fast.
: That's good, right?
: And?
: There's a rumor that the current chairman, Jie, killed his rival, Ming.
: Never heard of this before.
: It's inside gossip.
: Yup. I found some more information, too.
: What did you find?
: That the crash was caused by the Rapid Reaction Force.
: What!?
: Right. That was right after Chairman Bai died.
: Ming, a capitalist, and Jie, a socialist, were fighting for power.
: So, Kwang's family was...
: All killed in the accident.
: That's some revolting stuff the Rapid Reaction Force did.
: If Kwang is Ming's son, it might be possible to overthrow Chairman Jie.
This is heading in a decidedly bad direction...
: Why don't we check?
: Are you sleeping over at her place? Don't you think you're asking too much of her already? I'm warning you, Lixian hates dirty guys like you.
Dude, we're about to conscript her brother, I think her liking us is a lost cause.
: I hate the military, but I hate politicians even more. If only Vice-Chairman Ming were still alive... Chairman Jie killed Ming. But there's no evidence. I wish someone had survived the crash. The chairman's gonna fall hard if any evidence is found.
Unless Kwang is half-man, half-flight recorder, I don't know that he's really going to be much help in that regard.
: I heard you're sniffing around about the plane crash 8 years ago. What do you hope to achieve by doing that? Are you trying to find Kwang's parents? Lixian and Kwang worked hard to get on with their lives. If you break them up, I'll never forgive you! Don't cause any trouble for them!
: Hey, can I get another bottle?
: Thank you! Kwang! Would you get another bottle from the cellar?
: Yes, sir.
: You raging alcoholic.
: You'll understand when you grow up.
: No thanks!
: Wait. Didn't he just say Kwang?
: I think so.
: Bartender!
: Yes. Another brandy?
: No, thanks. Is he Kwang?
Kazuki, being a man of class, only drinks the finest brandies.
: Yes. He always helps me out. He's a great kid.
: He's Lixian's brother, right?
: Ahh, so you're the strangers at Lixian's house.
: Yeah. Can we talk to Kwang?
L Sure.
: You must be Kwang.
: Yes. Who are you?
: We're the ones staying at Lixian's.
: I see. Nice to meet you.
: I wanted to ask something about you.
: About me?
: Yes. Something about your past.
: You mean the fact that I'm not really related to my sister?
: You knew already?
: My sister told me when I turned 16.
: Do you remember what happened?
: No. Nothing.
: You lost your memory?
: Maybe. I'm not really interested.
That's a decidedly odd response. I'm pretty sure he know whether or not you remember something.
: You don't want to know?
: Excuse me. I have to take inventory. Please tell Lixian that I'll be home late.
: Okay.
: Quiet kid.
: You guys don't understand.
: What do you mean?
: He's trying to be strong for his sister.
It's time to bring this investigation to a close! To the zone of summation! By which I mean Lixian's house!



: How are you feeling, Emma?
: I'm much better. Thanks.
: Hey, weren't you sick?
: Are you worried about me? Can't leave me alone, can you?
: Maybe if you were cute and helpless. It's too bad.
: Hey, what do you mean by that!?
: Oh, back already?
: Yes. We met Kwang at the bar. He said he'll be home late.
: I see... I told him not to overextend himself.
: Does Kwang know you ain't his real sister?
: Yes. I told him.
: He said he lost his memory.
: Probably an aftereffect of the accident.
: How much do you know about Kwang?
: Only his real name, from his passport.
: What's is his real name?
: His real name is Kwang Ming.
: !
: And you know what the name means.
: ... Are you trying to use my brother? To make him a tool for war!?
: No. But we can't not do anything, knowing that he is a Ming.
So, by 'no', Dennis really means, 'abso-fucking-lutely.'
: Did you know about my father, Lixian?
: K-Kwang! I didn't know you were home.
: I've been meaning to ask you all this time. Who are my parents? What happened to them?
: What's the use in knowing?
: I need to know the truth!
: You're my brother, Kwang.
: Why? Why won't you tell me about my parents!?
: Fine, do what you want. I don't care anymore.
: Lixian! Wait, Lixian!!
: Lixian!
: Why is she angry?
: She's afraid that you'll leave if you find out about your parents.
: Being the son of such a high-profile person, you'd never know!
: You know what happened to my parents? Please tell me.
: All right, I'll tell you. But you'll have to decide where your fate leads on your own.
: I understand.
One thrilling tale of political assassination, rebellion and improbable twists of fate later...
: ...And his name is Jie Bo Liao. The current chairman of Da Han Zhong.
: So, Chairman Jie murdered my parents.
: You have 2 options, Kwang. One is to keep living this quiet life with your sister. The other is to pick up where your father left off.
Ask yourself, Kwang, what would Batman do?
: But... I don't know...
: We can't help you make this decision.
: Lixian...
: It's up to you.
: I need to think about it...
: Think hard and make a decision you won't regret.
: Where's Marcus?
: He followed Kwang.
: He's just like Kazuki.



: What should I do?
Not this.
: Hey, kid.
: Y-You're...
: I wanna talk to you.
: ...
: You're confused.
...
: I'm not the one to talk, but... This country's not gonna change if you stay with your sister.
: Are you telling me to change this country?
: No, but you're the son of a great man. What you do with that is up to you.
: Up to me...
: I guess what I'm trying to say is... do what you really want!
: Marcus...



...for getting Kwang killed. Not that he's dead yet, but the party being the party...
: About what?
: I told Kwang everything.
: ! What!?
: You had to tell him sooner or later.
: But...
: You don't trust Kwang?
: Of course I trust him!
: Lixian...
: Kwang!!
: I'm going to pick up where my father left off.
: Do you understand what you're saying?
: I think so.
: Marcus, what did you tell Kwang?
: Nothing much.
: You're all Hua Lian Rebels?
: That's right.
: Please take me with you.
: Is that your decision?
: Yes. I never even thought about things like this before. Knowing what I know now, I want to change this country.
The free market shall prevail! Capitalism today, capitalism tomorrow, capitalism forever!
: Why...? Why, Kwang?
: I'm sorry, Lixian, but I've decided.
: You're the most important person in my life, Kwang.
: I'll be back, Lixian. I promise.
Perhaps only as partial charred remains, but he'll be back.
: Don't forget that you're my brother, okay?
: ... I won't forget.
: What are you going to do, Kazuki?
: Let's take him to Guangzhou to meet Huang.
: He's a good kid.
: Yeah. There was no need for worry.
: Kazuki, please take good care of my brother.
: Of course.



Back to Guangzhou, always back to Guangzhou.

Next Time: Fun times with Senor Goodtimes!