Part 15: Hilltop Conference

Chapter 15 - Hilltop Conference

My apologies again for this, I had to turn all the pictures into gifs and some of them may still not work. Let me know if that's the case.



"Uh... Nanami... a little longer... you know... I hate mornings..."

"C'mon. I know it was rough, but it's already been a week. Snap out of it! Let's go!"

"Let's go? Where are we going?"

"Something's about to start at Jowston Hill. People have come here from all over the place. Is it a festival? Maybe something like that. Let's go see.

"Shall we go then, Riou?"



"Viktor, what is this?"

"Eh? It's a meeting of the leaders of the City-State of Jowston. This is Jowston Hill, so they call this the Hilltop Conference. Leaders of the five State cities, Muse, South Window, Greenhill, the Matilda Knights and... oh I forget. Anyway, it should interesting."

"Interesting?"

"It's okay, don't worry. You can get in if you stick with me. You should see it, it'll be something to tell your grandkids, I'm sure."



"I'm Viktor, mercenary leader under contract by Muse City. The others are with me. Let us in."

"Wait a minute. Show me some proof of identity."

"Hey, you don't recognize my face? My face is my proof of identity."

"Sorry, but I can't let you in."

"What...!?"

"I hope you're not planning on using your 'good trick' again."

"Oh! You... You're... are you really Sir Flik?"

"Er, yes, but..."

"You're the mercenary soldier... the one... the one they call... 'Flik of the Blue Lightning'..."

"............"

"Please, please go in."





Gorudo is another translation I have to question in this game. I think his name would have been better translated as Gold or Goredeaux, but as it stands you want to pronounce it Gore-ooh-dough which isn't really right.

"Pardon us, my lady. I believe he was but overeager. May we have your forgiveness?"

"No... I mean... yes..."

"What are you doing, Camus?"

"Just doing my job as a knight. Got a problem?" (Nice translation.)

"Ah, ah... it's... it's okay."

"That is good. Please excuse us, then."

"Let's hurry, Camus. It's also a knight's job to be on time."

"Hey! Hey! Riou, Jowy, did you hear? He called me 'lady!'"

"Leader of the Matilda Knights and the White Knights, Lord Gorudo! Representative General of Two River City, Lord Makai! Acting Mayor of Greenhill City, Lady Teresa! Mayor of Tinto City, Lord Gustav! Mayor of South Window City, Lord Granmeyer! Commander of the Muse City Forces, Lord Hauser!



"The Highland Army is massed at our border. They have only two weeks provisions with them. We believe they'll attack us soon."

"Wait a moment. Aren't they still in compliance with the peace agreement?"

"The Highland Army has already invaded the eastern part of Muse and burned several villages to the ground along the way."

"As for that, didn't Highland reply that was a 'trick by mountain bandits?'"

"Do you really believe that Viktor's mercenary army could be crushed by a group of mountain bandits?"

"You can't deny that the Highland Army is massed at the border. It is a fact, and this represents a threat to the City-State."

"The Highland Army has approached the border before and they've never truly attacked. Why should this be any different?"

"The commander of the Highland Army has changed from Agares Blight to his son, Prince Luca Blight. That's why things are different."

"Oh? So you an't pay your annual rice offering for three years, but your mouth still works fine, I see."

"How dare you..."

"It is just as Lord Gustav said, they'll run at the first sign of battle. I'm certainly not going to expend my knights for this."

"The people of Two River are also tired from many battles..."

"Luca Blight is more demon than man. If he breaks through Muse's defenses, the State will be in shambles. In the name of our mutual oath, I order you to provide troops to protect Muse City, capital city of the City-State of Jowston."

"I'm not afraid of your threats. What good is it if I protect Muse and my people of Tinto starve?"

"That's an order in the name of the State. You should watch how you speak, Lord Gustav."

"Excuse me."

"I have news to report. The Highland Army has slaughtered our border guards and they're reportedly headed for Muse."

"What?!"

"It appears they were serious."

"You all heard. I'm ordering all of you to gather your armies."



"So that was pretty interesting, huh?"

"You think so? Looked like just a bunch of old men talking to me..."

"Ha ha ha ha! I guess you're right. Man, I'm tired out from just sitting in there. Let's head to Leona's place."

"............"



"Well, just part of my job. Nobody's giving full cooperation, but nobody wants anyone destroyed by Highland, either."

"So what is it? You didn't come here to make small talk."

"Viktor, I need you to somehow slow down the Highland Army. It will take seven days to gather all of the State forces. But the Highland Army will arrive here in five days. Two days would be plenty. Please, just buy us two days."

"Two days... We battle outside muse and maybe bloody their noses a little. Yeah, I think I can buy you two days."

"You'll never change. You ask for crazy things like they're nothing. The idea of us alone trying to stop that Luca Blight..."

"I'm counting on you, Viktor. Also, we'll be expecting reinforcements from the Matilda Knights to arrive early."

"Well, if it's just slowing then down, I think we can handle it."

"Thanks, handsome."

"Well, er... hey that's my job... Plus if it's a request from a fine lady like you, I could never refuse."

"........."

"Umm... Please us let us fight with you."

"Jowy, Riou... It was wrong of me to get you guys involved in this whole mess. Forgive me. But you don't need to do any more than you already have. This is a problem for us adults."

"No... we want to fight. We'll help you slow down the Highland Army... Riou, you'll fight too, won't you?"



"Well, I...

"Riou, please. Fight... with me. Riou... that Luca Blight..."


"Well, I..."

"Please... Riou... I want to make sure..."

"Okay."

"Riou, Jowy, Nanami... Don't get yourselves killed. When the battle is over, come back and visit me. I'll tell you all about Master Genkaku. Well, I've got to get back. Viktor, do a good job for us. I know you will."

"Yeah, well, you're right."



"I'm already awake, Nanami. Actually, I couldn't sleep..."



"Our job isn't to defeat the entire Highland Army. If we can slow them down, it'll be enough. But remember, if we don't protect Muse and it falls to Highland it's all over. So give it all you've got!"

"Everyone, gird yourselves for battle."

Strategy Battle #3

For those of you who may not want to watch this (it isn't very exciting but it does have some story elements) I have a list of highlights.

• Riou controls two mercenary groups.
• Flik and Viktor meet Gilbert, a mercenary, working for Highland.
• They battle him and convince him to join them.
• Matilda Knights show up. They are useless.
• Matilda Knights leave, called away by the Fat Man.
• Solon Jhee bitches and leaves.

"You all fought well. Now everyone get some rest."



"Well, Riou... About this battle, do you... No, forget about it. There's no choice, I guess... We have to protect ourselves. Goodnight, Riou."



(Kage) "I understand. It will be just as you order." (No, I don't know if it's Kage from Suikoden 1, but I would imagine it is.)



"Don't worry... it's just the wind. Now hurry and go to sleep. ...I hope... I'm taking the right path..."



"Good morning, Riou."



"I'm here too."

"Oh? Sorry, sorry. You're going to see Anabelle today, aren't you? Tell her what a great job I did, okay?"

"Who did a great job??"

"Hahaha! That's right. Anyway, don't go outside of the city. The Highland Army is all around."

"Okay, let's go, Riou. Don't you want to hear about Master Genkaku?"





"That's not what I'm saying. But as long as we don't know the Highland Army's intentions, I'm not going to commit my troops."

"I think their intentions are clear. Perhaps you're just frightened?"

"How dare you! It was the South Window Army who retreated at the first sign of blood during the Scarlet Moon Empire war!"

"You're a fool... War isn't a gambling game..."

"Stop it, the both of you. It's no use arguing."

"In any case, we're not ready to commit troops. That's my decision."



"Yes, of course. Let's go you two."

"Lady Anabelle... Umm... May I ask you something?"

"What is it?"

"Why are you fighting? What do you hope to get from this war?"

"I'll get nothing from it. I fight so we won't lose. I was born in Muse, raised in Muse. It's natural that I want to protect her."

"............"

"I was still debating about what to do... She's still busy, so let's go back to the tavern."



"We saw her, but she told us to come back later. She was really busy, it looked like she was arguing about something."

"Yeah, well, that figures. She hasn't really seen with her own eyes how scary Blight is."

".....????"

"I'm sorry... Pilika. Nanami, could you play with Pilika for a little while?"

"Huh? What? Sure I can... but what's up?"

"..........."

"Over here, Pilika. Come play with me."



"........... Oh... Riou..."



Either choice

"...I'm sorry... Riou... I can't say right now... Riou... This war isn't going to end for a long time. You and Nanami should run far away..."




Anabelle If you watch no other videos, watch this one!











"What? What? No! What happened!? Anabelle is..."

"Forgive me... Riou."

"W...Wait! Jowy...!!"

"Uh... uhhh..."



"What the... You! What have you done?! What the hell have you done?! Explain yourself!!"

"Lord Jess! The Highland Army has entered the city!"

"What! How could that have happened so quickly?!"

"It was opened from the inside. Someone must be working with them!"

"What?! Okay, Riou... Don't move! Hey! Call a doctor!"

"Riou... Tell Jess... I don't need... a doctor... Riou... Genkaku's son... You... I meant to... apologize to you. For what the... State... and I ... did to... Genkaku."

"Anabelle... don't talk..."

"Riou... Nanami... Did you... were you... were you happy... with your life with Genkaku?"

"Y...yes... of course..."

"...Is... that so... then... at least... I can rest... Hurry... hurry and escape... The Highland Army... they... they'll come here first... Hurry."

"But... but..."

"I ... I have... a last... request... Don't die... Riou... Nanami... Live... Now hury... Hurry and run!"

"Let's go... Riou."





Next Time - Chapter 16: Escape