Part 12: Let's return. To the land being swallowed by the creeping shadow...to Liberl.

-Conspiracy-











The professor's taste remains excellent as always.
Man's Voice: You're late, Campanella.
Why, Mr. Bladelord, hello! It's been SO very long. The last six months were so dreadfully dreary without you.



That's a funny way to spell Lorence.
I understand you handled the attacks on those Bracer Guilds in Erebonia? You must have enjoyed playing with Cassius Bright.
Awww, you heard about that already? There goes half my fun.
But oh, yes, the man was incredible. There's no way he could have known about me, and yet he always managed to put together a proper counter to everything I did. As a result, I...broke one of our jaeger corps, I'm afraid.
You 'broke' Jester, huh?
I did train them to some degree, but normal men do have their limits. I suppose throwing them up against the Divine Blade was too much to ask of such men.
But, hey. I managed to keep him tied up until your little sabotage mission was completed, so all's well that ends well.
Oooh, wait. I'm sorry, you were looking forward to having fun with him yourself, weren't you?
Hm...A little.
But the blade has been bound by the chains of duty. There's no longer any hope of stopping us through official means. He is no longer a threat.
Heheh. Looks like the professor's plan succeeded brilliantly. The other members are already in Liberl, then?
Yes, we all conferred for the first time yesterday.
Bleublanc has apparently been here for a while, however. 'The Phantom Thief,' 'The Direwolf,' 'The Bewitching Bell,' and 'The Angel of Slaughter'...
All of them powerful...and not a normal one in the lot.
Haha...Mind you, you're not exactly one to be talking on that score, hmm?
Oooh, speaking of the hopelessly crazy, what about HIM? Is he still playing hard to get?
...
Haha! This is going to be SO much fun. Out of all the Enforcers, he's the finest undercover operative we have...well, had. I wonder how long he can evade the sight of the Bladelord and the Faceless?
Mm.
In his heart, he abandoned the society years ago...with all that entails. I doubt he'll be able to pose any real threat.
Man's Voice: Now, I'm not sure I'd say that.



You have my sincere thanks for your excellent work in delaying Cassius Bright.
Haha...It was no trouble. It was a fun bit of work, in fact.
Speaking of fun, though, I must say, I've taken a look at your plan...It seems like you're preparing to have quite a LOT of 'fun.'
Well, well! Such praise from the Fool! I'm flattered. I think you'll find it to be even more enjoyable in practice. Compounding your delight will be the fact that everyone participating is pursuing their own individual goals as well. Myself included, of course. Even our fine silver-haired friend has his own plans in mind.
...I won't deny it.
I'll kindly ask you not to imply anything about my loyalty, however.
Now, now, it was simply a jest. Nothing more.
Ooh, I seeee. There's more than meets the eye, here. I do so love such games.
Well, either way, your bad taste has a special kind of artistry to it, Professor. As for me...I'm going to make sure I enjoy myself.
Come now, bad taste? You wound me. Regardless, you're free to watch the plan unfold to your heart's content. You are, after all, a representative of the Grandmaster.
Oh, I intend to.



Well, Weissmann. I shall enjoy watching the Anguis' 'Gospel Plan' unfold...to the very end.

-Hamel-





















Girl's Voice: H-Heeey...Joshuaaaa, where did you goooo?!



Sheesh, don't freak me out like that! Running off on your own...



I told you, I had personal business here, and you did not need to come.
Oh, thanks, real cute with the gratitude, there!
And after I ran out here to look for you!



Don't quite get the interest, though. Nothing but burned-out shells and ruins here. Place looks old, too.



I never heard anything about a town in the south burning to the ground. Bit of a shock, this.
What was this village called, lad?
...
Hamel. That's what it was called...once.
Hamel...Never heard of it.
Kyle, you ever heard of it?
Doesn't ring any bells, I'm afraid.
You got anything, Don?
Hmm...Hang about a second...
The Imperial government might've said something about a 'Hamel' way back when...
No, been too long. Can't remember what it was about.
Real help, bro, thanks.
...My business here is done. I...thank you for coming out here, even though it doesn't really concern you.
Well, it's no big, but...mind if I ask something?
You're acting way differently than the first time we met. You aren't leading us on or anything, are you?
...That's a little ironic, coming from you.
As I seem to recall, you were putting on quite the performance when we first met. What I used to do was...not really all that different.
Whaaaat...So, what, is this the 'real you' or something?!
'The real me'...If you want to think of it that way, you can.
The point is, I'm hardly a 'bracer' any longer...and I'm certainly not the young junior bracer you remember.
Hmm...We're obviously missing some details, but I can respect the fact that you've got your own reasons for doing what you do.
'Sides. You seem a bit easier to trust now, what with being more...honest, in a way. Not quite like before, when you were...wearing a sheep's skin, I guess you'd call it?
...
Besides, we owe you for saving us from the Royal Army. We'll let your little...insolences...slide for now.
You hardly need to let anything 'slide.'
I saved you because I require some useful pawns. All I need is for you to work enough to pay that debt back.
Guh. You really have a thing for getting the last word in, don't you...?
Well, it doesn't matter to us. Your plan is exactly what we needed, anyway. We'll be making plenty of use of you, too, 'Mister Chessmaster.'
...As you wish.
Simply remaining in my company puts you in a great deal of danger. I will support you to the best of my ability through what is to come.
'To the best of'...? Feh. Ungrateful, unreliable, AND uncute!
And to think I thought, even for a second...
Hm?
Ahhhhhh, SHUT IT! Just drop it, okay?!
Josette, calm down.
The point is, we're allies until we all achieve our goals.
We'll be countin' on you, Joshua.
...
Yes...as am I, with you.
Ahem! Well, shall we head out?
Yes...Let's return.