Part 54: Long live...Colonel Richard's dream!

-Engaged People in Secret Maneuvers-



What...?!
Dammit! This must've been their next move!



Calm down, Estelle. He's breathing normally...and peacefully. Looks like he's in a deep sleep.
I take it this is the Grancel guild receptionist?
Y-Yeah...
...Oh, oh, NO! EVERYONE!









Are they all okay?
Looks like it...They're all just asleep.
What the hell happened?!
If I must hazard a guess, Miss Estelle, they were put to sleep with drugs. They all look as though sleep took them very suddenly.
Y-Yeah, good point.
Hey, good catch.



Hold on a second...That's the same kind of envelope we got!
It is!




WHAAAAAAT?!
His Highness...!
So the 'tea party' is in the capital after all...Thought so.
Who's this girl they're talking about, Estelle?
Girl? No...!
Renne?! Renne, where are you?!







Another member of your team?
No, she's just a kid we were taking care of!
I can't believe we got her involved in this...
Estelle...
Miss Estelle...
Phillip, I'm sorry. I'm pretty sure Dunan's been taken as well.
You need not apologize. If it's true, it is his responsibility for going off to...play about on his own. Do not blame yourself for his failings, Miss Estelle.
He's right, Estelle. First we need to figure out what the tea party in the letter is!
R-Right...



I kinda remember Elnan saying something about a 'tea party' in relation to the Intelligence guys...
...Wait, Kevin. When I read the letter you said it's, 'in the capital after all.'
Oh, er. You heard that didja?
Yeeeeah, 'bout that...
Woman's Voice: I believe I can explain, Father.



Huh? Sch-SCHERA?!
Hello, Estelle. Things have gotten a little serious, haven't they?
And...Father, it looks like neither of us made it in time.
Yeah. Nobody's hurt, thank Aidios, but I got no excuse.
Schera, why are you here...And what are you talking about? How do you two know each other?!
I imagine you heard that Anelace and I found the Intelligence Division base? We met Father Kevin there. He helped us investigate where the Intelligence special forces had run off to.
Oh, I see...That's why he's so up to speed, then.
Haha, bingo!
Girl's Voice: Scheraaaa!



Estelle! Yay, you're safe!
And hey, Kevin's here too!
Yeah. Afraid I didn't make it in time, though.
How's the phone downstairs?
No good. Someone removed some crucial bits, so it's totally useless.
I wonder...



So...the 'enemy' broke them?
I'm sure of it. I still can't fathom their goals, though...
Oh, Schera! They left this letter.

A 'tea party'...Now it's all making sense.
It must be the Intelligence Division men who kidnapped the duke and the girl. I'm sure of it. And Ouroboros is pulling their strings.
Yeah, we got attacked by some weird machines...But what does 'attend our tea party' mean? Where are we even supposed to be?
We'll simply have to search anywhere that seems likely.
Anelace. Can I ask you a favor?
Sure, what's up?
I need you to run to the Erbe Royal Villa and get in touch with the patrol HQ there. The men on the roads are a diversion; the real fight is going to be in Grancel tonight.
Oh, yeah!
Their goal is nothing less than dominance of the capital, I bet.
U-Understood! I'll run until my legs fall off!
Anelace! Be careful, okay?
I will! You too, Estelle!



We'll bring the duke back. You have my word.
Very well. I will tend to your friends while I am here. Please...recover His Highness.

-Leiston Fortress-



Soldier: They should have the enemy surrounded shortly.
Other Soldier: In the eastern division, several Intelligence Division units are fleeing to beyond Romal Pond. Squads three and four are in pursuit.
Good work.
Proceed until both groups are neutralized.
Soldiers: Sir!



Warrant Officer Belc: Do you think this could be a diversion?
I've a full company stationed at Grancel Castle. Even if they box us in here, they won't shut us down completely.
Unless...Does Amalthea have some ace up her sleeve we don't know about...?
Warrant Officer Belc: An ace?
Soldier: Excuse me, sir!



Soldier: We've received word from headquarters. However, when we attempted to contact the capital branch of the Bracer Guild...The phones returned a disconnection signal. We could not raise them by any means.
What...?
Soldier: Orders, sir?
Hm.
I think it's best I call in a little extra insurance.
Belc, you're in charge. I'll be in the transmitter room for a moment.
Warrant Officer Belc: Yes, sir. May I ask who you are contacting?
A certain...someone at Leiston.



The most logical target is Grancel Castle. However...
It's well-staffed with guards and fortified. I think they'll, ah, pour the first cup somewhere else. We should look beyond the castle.
Problem is, though...this town is a huge, crowded place. We can't just go groping around in the dark. We'd be lucky to stumble on to a single black helmet.
Falcon's Voice: Screee!
Ah!









Waaaa-aaaah! What the heck?!
Hmm-hmm! And now we've got the perfect assistant!
Screeeee!
Uh, I don't really understand, but...You want to show us the way to something?
Screee! ♪











Let's go!
Ooo-kaaay...You guys are, uh, kind of amazing.

Team Bracer is down six right now. This will be a penalty kill for the history books.



Schera specializes in shamanism, corporal punishment, and hangover cures. She leans towards magic over weapons, with STR and ATS that both sit right between Estelle's and Kloe's. She gets more HP than Estelle, and her whip has a longer reach--just enough to safely dispatch most self-destructing monsters. Schera's crafts:

Heaven's Kiss: Pushes allies' next turns to the top of the order.
Bind Whip: Melee Impede.
Sylphen Whip: Melee AoE.



Father Kevin has a new craft of his own. Sacred Breath is an AoE heal for 2500 HP and ailment cure, centered on him. It's almost as good as Kloe's Lichtkreis S-Craft, for a fraction of the cost.

The shops are still open, and you should take full advantage. Weis Arms & Guards has a better whip for Schera. She and Kevin are both in dire need of some orbment slot upgrades, too.



Zacharias: Our store's not going anywhere.



Estelle is the strongest remaining weapon user, so she gets all the offense quartz that Agate and Tita were sharing.



Schera has the best ATS, so she gets Olivier and Kloe's stuff.



Kevin gets Zane's defense boosts.

oh btw you definitely should have stripped every party member except Estelle before you went to meet Renne at the landing port





Intelligence Division attack dogs!
Defend yourselves!

-Fight With Assailant-











-Leiston Fortress-



I think it's safe to say we've found our 'tea party,' though.
Seems like it! Now where are they...
Let's proceed carefully and deliberately.

Attack dogs are running all over the harbor.



They bite. That's pretty much it.







Duncan: Do you know what the army will do to you when they--
Special Ops Soldier 1: Hah. We're ready for the worst!
Special Ops Soldier 2: If you don't want to get hurt, then behave. We have no interest in harming civilians.
Special Ops Soldier 3: Unless...they get in the way.
Phelio: Aaah! No, no, please, let me live!
Yeah, you really look like you're not harming civilians there, buddy.



Special Ops Soldier 2: What? BRACERS!
One of us isn't, but...eh, close enough for Intelligence Division work.
Naughty, naughty, making us chase you boys like that. Now then...
In accordance with the laws of the Bracer Guild, you are hereby under arrest for the destruction of property and rioting!
Surrender now and I promise not to break your legs!
Special Ops Soldier 3: Damn it all! How'd they find us?!
Special Ops Soldier 2: Does it matter? Put them in their graves!
Other Soldiers: Sir!

-Recapture-

















-Leiston Fortress-



Special Ops Soldier: The rest is in...her hands...
Huh?
Special Ops Soldier: Long live...Colonel Richard's dream!
H-Hey!
He's out like a light.
Hey, Schera. They said 'captain.' You...don't think...
Yes, it's probably Colonel Richard's aide. She struck me as the type to never give up.



Phelio: Thank you, thank you! We owe you our lives!
Haha! All part of the job, folks!
Er...







Well, THAT'S an orbment. Good grief! What the heck do you use somethin' this big for?
This is the new super-engine for the Arseille! But aren't there supposed to be two of them?!
Duncan: Yeah...Some of those guys took the other on a lift. They took it farther in to the harbor.
YOU'RE KIDDING!
That can only mean bad things for everyone...
Estelle, Kevin! We need to give chase!
Right!
Right behind you!