Part 48: This mission kinda feels personal now.

-Royal Capital of Grancel-



I'll be done soon, so would you wait just a little bit longer? Once we're done questioning, we'll head back to the guild.
Really? Okay. I'll go back and wait.
Yeah, let's all get dinner together.
Estelle, hurry and finish work so we can head back.
The ice cream here is so yummy, too...
Why won't Agate eat any with me?
Maybe he doesn't like ice cream?
I don't think that's quite it.
This is Agate we're talking about. He's probably just embarrassed, so he's turning you down.
S-So he doesn't want to be with a kid like me, you mean? Do you think I could get him to eat some with me when I'm older?
Hmm, I dunno...Why don't you ask him yourself?
But, a grown-up Tita and Agate...
What a waste on someone like Agate.
Huh?

The entrance to Grancel's west sewers is right near the Liberl News.



-Steel Floor Blocking The Way-





♪ Mystery Paste, oh Mystery Paste ♪
♪ Now with ten percent less bodily waste ♪
♪ Grab yourself a tube, shove it into your face ♪
♪ Never mind the taste it's MYSTERY PAAASTE! ♪

...I'm sorry. That just crawled into my head from I don't know where, and I couldn't get rid of it without writing it down.











-Obstructive Existence-



These guys are actually pretty nasty.







I guess this is counted as a magic attack? I have no idea why else Zane is taking the most damage, and Kloe the least.



These little blue dwarf-moles have a chance of deathblow on their melee attack.















Well that's a little less health than I'd like









Oh and Mad Splash has a chance to Confuse, since it wasn't bad enough already.



The connecting hallway to the east sewers has been sealed off again, so that's pretty much it for now. Let's go see Nial. He won't mind the sewer smell, he smokes like a chimney.

-Royal Capital of Grancel-



Ah, really?
Editor-In-Chief: Yeah, he's upstairs in the reference room. Haha, that expression's one he wears when he didn't get a scoop.



Heeey, Nial! Hellooooo!
Who in the hell...?
Well, whaddya know! You guys! How ya doin'?
Good day, Nial.
Heh, pardon our intrusion.
Oh, it's that bard guy and...Erm, Your Highness! Er, good day to you, yeah! You even have Zane the Immovable of Calvard with you! You got kind of a gang going here, Estelle.
Haha...A lot of stuff's happened since we met last.
How'd your coverage of the election in Ruan go?
Damn well, that's how! Got the article done, thanks in part to you guys. Speakin' of, what brings you by today? Got a hot scoop for your ol' buddy Nial?
Well, actually, we're the ones who'd like to know something. We heard the Liberl News received a threatening letter...
You guys're investigating that thing? I figured the military woulda been taking care of that one.
We're working on request from the military, actually. So, do you know anything?
Well, I just got back to the capital, so I don't know much. To be honest, I'd like to hear what YOU guys know, if anything.
That's real helpful, Nial.
Come now, you're a newsman, a hound for a good story. Surely you must have a clue as to who our villain is?
Tsk...I don't have time for this.
Um, that's a bit impolite, you two.
Nial? I know this is a lot to ask...But, please, if you know anything at all, share it with us. Please.
Whoa, hey, Your Highness! You don't need to lower your head to ME!
For cryin'...Fine, fine.
Okay, so, this is off the record, but...we ain't the only ones who got a letter. Not even close. Leiston Fortress got one...Then the cathedral, the airship company, the Hotel Roenbaum...And then both embassies, Grancel Castle, AND the Erbe Royal Villa all got one too! There were nine letters in total.
Huh? Somethin' wrong?
Er, Nial. We heard that from the military already.
WHAT?!
DAMMIT! That was my big scoop for the day!
Doesn't look like we're going to get much out of this.
Yeah, time to move on, I think...
Now you wait just one second, missy! You keep talkin' like that and Nial Burns, star reporter for the Liberl News, is gonna have a name worth a pile of crap!
All right, all right. Lemme let you in on my take of this whole mess.
Well, okay...
Heh. You may want to be brief, Mr. Burns.
...Fine. Listen up. Here's the short of it. My gut tells me this is some sort of huge prank. The threats aren't real.
We'd thought of that, too.
You sound awfully sure, though. Mind telling us why you're so convinced?
Okay, trick is, I've covered terrorist threats like this before, right? But with this...there's no reality to the threat. Threats only work and have power if they describe, or at least imply, something nasty that's gonna happen, see? These letters have exactly NONE of that.
Hm. Mr. Burns does have a point. 'Disaster will be visited upon you' does not offer much in the way of a specific terror.
Exactly. I've got a hunch this isn't about stopping the signing ceremony at all. This is more about gettin' people worked up over a threat, and then sittin' back and watchin' the fireworks.
I see...That's kind of a good point.
There is some sense behind it.
I'm still bothered by the fact that so many letters were sent, though...And each and every one was sent to a place involved with the ceremony.
Yes. For a prank, whoever did this seems to know a lot about what's happening.
That does seem kinda true...on the surface.
Think about it, though. All that info would be pretty easy to find with a little digging. Hell, I knew about those places, weeks ago. Anyway, I'm gonna be workin' this on the assumption that it's a prank. Maybe you guys should stick to your guns about it being a real threat, and we can compare notes later, eh?
Yeah, good idea!
Thanks, Nial. That actually helped a lot.
Darn right it did. Just stop by if you want to swap stories. I'll be sittin' around here until the pact's signed.
Okay!
Oh, speaking of 'sitting around here'...I don't see Dorothy anywhere.
Ahh, right. She's off working the Bose region. I sent her to snag some photos.
What, for a special of some kind?
Yeah, related to the Royal Army. You remember that old fort the Sky Bandits were using as a base, right? The one you guys busted. The army decided those rats had the right idea, and have claimed and repurposed it as a training facility. They're runnin' airship pilot training out of there now.
Oh, okay. Neat! So she went off to get coverage of the base, then?
That's the idea, yeah. I was a little worried about sendin' her out on her own, but...gotta do it sometime.
Dorothy out on her own, huh? Scary...
Oh! Wait, duh, speaking of girls out on their own!
Uh, what's up?

Harold Hayworth, a trader from Crossbell...Hm. Never heard of the guy. Pretty sure he's never been in our classifieds...or our 'wanted' column, either.
Figures...
But hey. This is part of the job, right? If you guys are totally stuck, I'll help you out. We can put 'em up in the classifieds, if you want. I even have a few people in Crossbell I could poke.
Thanks, Nial!
Haha...You're way more reliable than I thought you'd be. I think I need to upgrade my opinion of you.
Ha! 'Course you do!
Wait a minute...Whaddya mean? Was I not reliable before?!
Ahaha...Just kidding.
All right! Let's get back to the guildhouse, then. Agate should be back by now.
Hopefully, yes.
Thank you again, Nial.
Eh, it was no big. Come by again anytime.







Hey, where're Tita and Renne?
They returned just before you did. I believe they're enjoying the spoils of a hard-fought shopping campaign on the second floor.
Sounds like they had fun.
Anyway, we've got a lot to report.
Yes, please.

------

I see. Not bad. Sounds like you guys learned a lot.
I guess. We didn't get anything decisive, though.
Agate, did you find anything?
Honestly? I got jack all. The hotel, the cathedral, the airship company...Nobody had a single friggin' clue of who coulda sent the letters.
The head guy at the airship company was sweatin' quartz that a demand for money might come in next...But at this point? Not so much as another peep.
Doesn't really narrow things down much...How likely do you think it is the society's behind all this?
I don't think we can safely say that at this point.
Their primary focus up till now has been experimenting with those bizarre 'Gospel' orbments they possess. And we know the Gospels can create phenomena otherwise unimaginable.
Those devices certainly haven't shown an ability to create threatening letters from nowhere, however.
Yeah, this doesn't really seem like it matches the society's M.O.
Huh...I guess Ruan and Zeiss just have me on edge.
No, it's perfectly understandable.
Regardless, I think we can safely say we've done our part. I'll compile all your testimonies into a report. Could I ask you to deliver it to Colonel Cid at the Erbe Royal Villa tomorrow?
We didn't find the sender in the end, so I feel kinda bad, but I guess it's all we can do.
Oh! Erbe! Right! Agate, did you find anything out about Renne?
I did, actually. Or actually, I...Wait, lemme start over. I went to the hotel first. The kid and her folks stayed there for about two weeks. Same room the entire stay, typical tourist stuff. They just checked out this morning.
Okay...
Then I went to the cathedral. While they were here, the Hayworths came to worship a bunch of times. Thing is, the priest who attended 'em said they felt...'off' when they did. Like they were distracted during prayer or something.
That would match what Miss Hilda said.
Yeah...
And then, at the airship company...
That's where I found zip.
Wait. What?
Harold, Sophia, and Renne Hayworth of Crossbell, right? There have been exactly zero passengers by that name and nationality coming through here for at LEAST half a year.
No way! But--
That IS a mystery...Though perhaps they traveled by land?



Wait a minute...That can't be right. When we first met her, she was talking about landing in an airship.
Right, at Air-Letten. She said she saw a big lake on the way down.
Hm. Troubling.
It's possible they were traveling under assumed names.
Assumed names? Why would they?
They may have had something to hide, or they may have been hiding FROM someone. Either way, they must've known something was wrong before they set out.
I've contacted every guild branch in the country about Renne's parents. For the moment, all we can do is wait for more information to come in.
As for Renne herself...I think it would be best if she stayed in the care of the guild for now.
Yeah. I'd feel terrible if she got wrapped up in something.
This mission kinda feels personal now.
I was going to suggest that, actually. Thank you. The guild will pay for everyone's lodgings while you're in Grancel, naturally. That includes Renne, so don't worry.
Thanks, Elnan.
Oh! Wait, speaking of staying the night...We might not actually need that tonight! You see...

My, that's quite an invitation.
Yeah, and I think I'll pass.
The castle's a bit too rich for my blood. I'm not really keen on staying there. 'Sides, it'll be easier for Elnan to reach one of us at the hotel if something happens.
Oh, I hadn't thought of that. We might hear something about Renne's parents...I guess I should stay at the hotel too, then.
Sorry, Kloe.
Haha. No, don't worry. I'll explain the situation to Hilda. I'm sure she won't mind.
Zane and I are to stay at our respective embassies. The princess shall retire to her castle, naturally. So that means you two and the girls will be staying at the hotel, then?
Hmm. Parting on these terms would be dreadfully dull. Since we're all together this evening, shall we enjoy a nice dinner at the bar?
Good idea! And, you know, I'd actually like to hear you play the piano again, Olivier. It's been a while.
Ah, sweet maiden, you know just how to pluck my heartstrings.
Have you come to appreciate a mature flavor at last, I wonder? ♥
I'm going to SNAP those heartstrings if you keep it up.
Snapping or no, we should get going. With a group this large, it could be hard to find seating.
All right, let's gather up the kids and get on over to the bar.


-Under the Moonlight-







Kloe, be careful on your way home!
Haha. It's not that far. I think I'll be fine in the capital.
Huh? Miss Kloe, you live in Grancel?
Um, yes, I do. I'll be staying at my grandmother's house.
Well, if you'll pardon me...
Yeah, see ya tomorrow.
Good night, Kloe!



Olivier even dragged poor Mueller into it!
Yeah, well, you called up that reporter, too, you know.
Haha...Well, I figured, what the heck! Renne, did you have fun?
Heehee! Yeah, yeah, I did! The food was good and everyone was talking about neat stuff! The piano music was really pretty, too.
Yeah! Olivier is really good at it. I was kinda surprised.
Well, he's not all hot air when he calls himself a traveling performer, I guess.
Sure you want to duck out already, Agate? Zane and the others are still having a lot of fun.
Yeah...Honestly, if I tried keeping up with Zane, I might not have a liver in the morning.
Plus, I'm kinda beat from trollin' the city all over today, so I'm just gonna pack it in.
Fair enough! Let's go get our hotel rooms, then.





Fritz: Forgive me, but we were unable to secure a four-person room for you. Would you be willing to accept a pair of two-person rooms?
Oh, sure.
How do you want to split them up, Agate?
Ah, I don't care too much. Set it up however you want.
I want to be with Miss Estelle! You've been busy with work, so we haven't had any time to talk at all.
No fair, Renne! I wanted to be with Estelle, too...
Then you should've said so sooner, slowpoke!
I know! What if all three of us stayed in the same room? We could share a bed!
N-No, that's okay, ahaha...I'll let you borrow Estelle for tonight, Renne.
Heehee! Thank you, Tita!
Um...I think I just got horse-traded.
Then I'll be with you, kiddo. Hah, this reminds me of when we were hiding out with Gramps.
Now that you mention it...
Yeah, it does!



There's a big building outside the window!
Oh...





Er, nothing, really.
More importantly...I'm sorry, Renne. We couldn't find your papa or mama today...
It's okay. Papa and Mama promised they'd come get me. You don't need to search so hard!
But...
Papa and Mama are veeery good at hide and seek. Not as good as me, of course! But still good. So I don't think you'll find them very easily.
Haha. Is that right?
Well, I won't try so hard to find them, but only if you're okay with it.
Yeah, it's okay! It's for the best.
But never mind that right now. I have two big favors to ask of you.
Oh? What's up?
Ah-ah-ahh! I can't tell you unless you promise to do them ahead of time.
Yikes. Did your papa teach you to drive a bargain like that?
Okay, sure. If it's something I can do, I promise I will.
Really? Yay!
The first thing is...Can I call you 'Estelle' from now on?
Huh? Call me...?
Oh! You mean drop the whole 'Miss' part.
Tita gets to call you Estelle all the time, so I don't wanna have to call you 'Miss Estelle'!
Ahaha...Is that right?
All right, I don't mind. I never stood that much on formality, anyway. And it's not like I'm your teacher or anything.
So you really don't mind?
Estelle...Estelle...
Oh, I love it! ♪
Haha, glad you like it.
Call me Estelle as much as you want, Renne.
Okay, Estelle!
Heehee...That makes me happy.
D'aww. That's good. So what was the other thing, Renne?
Oh, yeah! Well...Can you tell me why you were so surprised when we came in the room?
Ah...
You had this really sad, lonely look on your face. I wanna know why. Is that okay?
...Yeah, it's okay.
See, I've actually stayed in this very room before, with someone else. Stepping in here just reminded me of him.
Really?! Was it your looover? Was this your love nest?
Ha...haha...Ah, not quite. He's someone I've known for a really long time, and we've gotten very close, but...well, it's complicated. We're not together right now, though.
Ooooh!
Well, what kind of man is he? Huh? What's his name? What does he look like?
Yikes, questions...His name is Joshua. He has black hair and amber eyes...and he's pretty handsome, I guess.
Actually, you'd really call him more 'beautiful' than handsome, really.
Huh? 'Beautiful'?
Haha, let's just say he made a GREAT princess in a certain play. In fact, it looked amazing on him.
Wow, that sounds fun! Can I meet him? When are you seeing him again? Huh?
I...don't really know, actually.
You don't know when you'll see him again, and that's why you looked sad, right?
Sort of...but I'm okay. I'm going to find him and drag him back home, even if it takes years.
But why did you seem so sad?
Well...because I'm sure Joshua's off somewhere, in way over his head...
And I can't do anything to help him. That makes me sad, I guess.
...
Haha...Sorry, Renne.
This must be pretty boring since you don't know Joshua and all.
No way! It's neat.
Joshua was a really wonderful person, huh?
Wonderful...? Actually, right now, I think he's a bit of a jerk.
I mean, talk about selfish ways of saying goodbye, taking my f-first...
Hm? First what?
Waaah, uh, nothing at all!
Okay, yep, I'm all tired. Time to go to sleep!
Heeeeeey, no fair!
I'm not going to sleep until I hear the whooole thing!
Boy, I messed that one up...