Part 31: Geez, is there anything this nutcase doesn't have up his sleeve?
-Factory City of Zeiss-We've got a few orders of business before we hit Wolf Fort.
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There's a job that can be finished while saying hi to everybody who pitched in on the Leiston Fortress caper...
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...and speak of the devil, it seems the army command has asked for Estelle by name, ASAP.
I do hope there's no connection there.
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quote:
'Should you desire its release, you must defeat my curse. The first key is in the city. Search the back of the [Forty-year-old Man].'
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Let's...not go searching the backs of forty-year-old men just yet. For one thing, we don't have any rubber gloves.
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Jinkies! If my recollections are accurate, that is approximately forty years ago.
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quote:
'Your second key is in the Central Factory. Search within the [Wisest One].'
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Father Vixen: Ohh, you look to be doing well. If you've recovered this much, then my worries are for naught. However, you mustn't overextend yourself, no matter how much you've recovered.
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Father Vixen: Hmm. Well, as long as you understand. But remember, it was the will of the Goddess that saved you. It means you still have a duty that you must perform. Please, do not let the precious gift that is your life go to waste...Though this is but my own wish for you, mind.
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Father Vixen: My, pardon me! That nearly became a lecture all its own. Please, feel free to drop by anytime. If I can be of aid, I will happily provide it.
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Rehmann: If things go pear-shaped when descending, there's not much we pilots can do. I bet the guys piloting the scheduled liners sweat over that way more than me.
Priam: *phew* That earthquake was quite the shock. Well, when you're shocked, you should have something to drink and calm down. So, how about a cold drink?
quote:
Premium Herb Tea
[To-Go/HP4500/Cures Seal/Mute/Confuse]
Tea brimming with nourishing extracts.
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Simon: I-It's okay. I'm okay. *pheeeew* Deeeeep breaths...
Mirano: Simon, if you're rattled by a tiny thing like an earthquake, there's no hope for you in negotiations. Keep it together, will you. That earthquake...No way it could have reached as far as Bose, right? My mother would probably die of shock if she felt one of those things.
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Igor: In my youth, we kept on experimenting right through a fire. I mean, look at Russell. You only get crazy hair like that when it all burns off once or twice. Really, the recent crop of researchers are such cowards. I'm pretty sure the story about Russell's head is a joke, though.
Freddy: Huh...!? I-Is it really you, Estelle?!
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Freddy: Well, I've left things in Rolent to my dad and came here to train. I'm learning about the new orbment models.
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Freddy: Yep. Had the basics beaten into me when I was young. Well, I guess even now I'm having the basics of the new model beaten into me. Heh. By the way, Joshua's not with you?
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Freddy: Huh, too bad. Would've been nice to see Joshua too. But, I'm pretty happy just to run into you here. It'll be a good story to tell my dad once I get back to Rolent. Seems like you're doing really well. That's a bit of a relief. Anyway, good luck with your work.
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The Central Factory maintenance desk has a line of tier 2 quartz, but I wasn't able to put together any new arts with them. For now, I'll save my sepith.
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Hazel: Glad to see you're all in good health. Hmm, I see...So that's what it was.
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Hazel: Ah, well, Kilika said she'd called for assistance. She must have meant all of you.
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Hazel: Yes, as am I with you. Well, then, good luck on your end.
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Constance: You're that person who found me a book a while back.
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Constance: Hmmhmm, don't worry. I don't intend to put out any new requests any time soon. There was a newbie posted here recently, so I'm leaving little tasks to her.
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Constance: Well, for now. If something comes up that's too much for her, I'll probably ask the guild. I hope you'll help me out when the time comes.
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Constance: Thank you!
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Muriel: Well, it's probably more like fifty percent earthquake, fifty percent lazy boss...Right now, I'm just an office newbie. Uuuugh. I'm getting sick of this. Rearranging books is soooo boring.
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Prometheus: It's weird. It doesn't share any similarities with our previous data on earthquakes. It may have been an earthquake caused by some special source.
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Hugo: We're scheduled to load the new engine onto the Arseille very soon. Right now I'm working with the maintenance chief to put together a plan for the job. I'm really relieved there was no damage from the earthquake. It would be pretty sad if our preparations for the work got delayed.
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Karl: Oh, you came! H-Huh...?!
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Karl: No, you...Aren't you the person who delivered that prototype from Ruan a while back?
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Karl: Yeah, I'm pretty sure. You came to the weapon shop with a black-haired boy.
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Karl: ...So then, did you come because you saw the board?
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Karl: Yeah, actually, but...Actually I was just having problems because I wasn't getting many respondents. I know it's kinda sudden, but can I give you the explanation of the job now?
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Karl: Well, then, let me explain. As you know my request is a test of an orbal gun. I want you to check the reliability of this gun through live battle.
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Karl: To put it very simply, I want you to test its endurance. All machines have failings you'd never know unless you used them. The causes of many problems are usually things no one even imagined during the development period. I want to pinpoint any hidden weaknesses, and strengthen the reliability of my gun as a weapon. That's the goal of this test.
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Karl: Yes, exactly. Incidentally, are you the shooter who'll be doing the test?
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Karl H-Hunter of...?
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Karl: I-I see...Well, in that case I guess I'll trust you.
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Karl: (W-Will this really be okay...?) Uh, anyway...For now, here's the gun.
Sorry, Karl, but nobody else on the team is willing to handle guns, just in case that's what made Olivier the way he is.
quote:
Received O-Type Orbal Gun α.
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Karl: As thanks for coming, I'll let you have that gratis.
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Karl: Haha, of course it does. I'd be more upset if you were familiar with it. After all, the drive portion of this is a new model I developed. How about it? Think you can handle it?
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Karl: Gr-Great to hear...
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Karl: It's more or less as you said. Basically, I want you to wield this gun in live combat then come back with the results. I'd like you to test it over on the Tratt Plains Road. That way, even if trouble comes up, it shouldn't be too much of an issue.
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Karl: At a minimum I'd like you to fight ten battles. Of course, I want you to fight them to the end. Fleeing over and over wouldn't be much of a combat test.
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Karl: Yeah, I think that should do it. If you don't have any more questions, I'd like you to get to it. Everything clear?
I'm still fuzzy on the details. Could we try rephrasing everything a few dozen times more?
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Karl: Olivier...I'm trusting you.
Famous last words.
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The prototype isn't quite as good as the new gun you can buy in town, but it's free and it's only a few points off.
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Dr. Miriam: Agate. I'm glad to see you're well. How have you been since then?
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Dr. Miriam: Well, that's good. It doesn't seem like there were any aftereffects, in that case. Hmmhmm, what an incredible recovery ability. I guess that's a bracer for you. Your body is your capital.
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Dr. Miriam: If anything comes up, stop by any time. Of course, I never want to see an injury like that again.
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Dr. Miriam: Yes, don't forget those words. Do be very careful as you attend to your work.
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Dr. Miriam: If anything comes up, stop by any time. I'll probably be right here if you need me.
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Stay frosty, Antoine. We might have to scramble for another covert op at any moment.
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Terry: I'm Terry! I was doing research on sneakers. Please say you remember me...
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Terry: Not anymore. Thanks to your help getting that data before, I was able to achieve my research goals. After handing the findings over to the Strega Corporation, my job was finished. Oh, yeah. I gave them your message like I said I would. I told them a bracer fan said she 'couldn't wait to see the new product.'
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Terry: Yeah, of course. The Strega developers were really touched. They were making jokes about making a bracer model next.
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Terry: Haha, who knows? I thought it was a joke, anyway. One way or another, I got more research funding. So right now, I'm looking for a new research theme. I might ask the guild for help again. I hope I can count on you like before if anything comes up.
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Terry: Hahaha, understood.
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Ray: Though, to be honest, I'll be leaving most of it to Terry. I wonder if there isn't some more interesting direction I could take using the greenhouse...
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Supervisor Travis: Oh, thanks for asking. It's doing great. There's no sign of any real damage from the earthquake at the moment. If needed, you can use it any time to look up things. After all, we owe you a lot when it comes to the Capel. I'd say you've more than earned the right.
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Supervisor Travis: Sure thing. Any time.
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The Capel has had a couple new entries since FC. One is official...
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...the other seems slightly less so.
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~=Ur SiTe N uR mOm PwNz0reD bY //XXbl00bl4nqf4nt0m69X//=~
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quote:
There was a card stuck to the chimney pipe.
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quote:
'Raise your voice high and chant to the goddess: C-26D-E!'
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Faye: Been a while. How ya been?
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Faye: Haha, things are crazy busy here as always. And thanks to you I made up with Brahm. So, I'd say my life's pretty good at the moment. You here on the job too?
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Faye: Oh, what's that?
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quote:
Estelle showed Faye the memo left by Bleublanc.
Faye: Hmm...'The quiet earth...chant to the Goddess...' and a text string...What about it?
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Faye: So, you think this message is about the basement factory? If that's the case, then...
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Faye: C-Could this 'Goddess' be me?!
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Faye: Ah...R-Right. Right, this text string...C-26D-E. From the look of it, I'd say it's a product ID code.
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Faye: Yeah, all the things in the warehouse are organized by those codes. So, as long as you know the code we should be able to call it up by using the conveyor.
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Faye: Sure. Wanna give it a try?
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Faye: No problem! Gimme one second...
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Faye: I'd like you to send item C-26D-E over here. Yeah, C-26D-E...Thanks, appreciate it. Well, you're in luck. They said they found something under that number. They're sending it out.
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Faye: Seems like the person in charge over there was pretty shocked too. Now, then, let's see what we get...
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Faye: Seems kinda familiar...
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Faye: Oh! Isn't that the Bracer Guild...?
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Faye: It was nothing, really, but...Why the heck was the guild sign in our warehouse?!
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Personally, I think Bleublanc is ten times more frightening now that we know he edits wikis in his spare time.
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Now to prepare for Leiston Fortress.
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Elkan: That earthquake was a shock, but I'm not that fussed. Earthquakes are just a natural phenomenon that periodically occur. That's it. I would hope that the people of this technology town would respond a bit more calmly.
That all depends on how much of their technology can rattle off the shelves and smash into a million pieces.
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Estelle's laundry pole and the loot armor from Chapter 1 all hold up pretty well against Stain's wares, and Olivier has his test gun, but there are a few good upgrades here.
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Ben: Yeah, you're the bracers who brought me that Acerbic Tomato!
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Ben: Heh, you bet I do. I owe you a lot. My 'bitter tomato cooking' is pretty popular now.
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Ben: Hahaha. No kidding, right? Those researchers can't get enough of it. It's got a rep for being the best cure for a little fatigue. You can imagine why scientists would be all over that kind of thing.
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Ben: Hey, since you're here, give my new recipe a try! What do you say? It's my treat, of course. Eat some of my super nutritious cookin' and keep up the good work, and you'll go far. I guarantee it! Catch y'all later. Lookin' forward to your business.
quote:
Received Tomatrio Sandwich.
[To-Go/HP500/CP50]
Stuffed with 3 slices of acerbic tomato. The epitome of bitter.
quote:
Fruit Kingdom
[To-Go/HP800/Cures Poison/Blind/Freeze]
Regal tart piled high with luscious berries.
quote:
Fowl Magma Roast
[To-Go/HP900/STR+20%]
Crispy outside, juicy inside. The spice crust is perfection.
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Elwyn: I refuse to give in to any earthquakes, so we're open for business today too!
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Bell Station has the latest Liberl News, and some freeze-preventing woolly hats that will come in handy soon.
Next stop: Leiston Fortress.