Part 41: W-Well, that was certainly...a thing.

-Factory City of Zeiss-



We'll head to the dock once everyone's ready.
Given that it's the military--which, y'know, means your dad--calling, we might wanna hurry. Still, if we got any jobs left or shopping to do, we can take care of that, I bet.
Off we go!

Kloe and Tita almost just died, so let's give them a break.



Zane specializes in wuxia, tanking, and hammer pants. He easily has the best base HP and DEF out of the whole party. By default his STR is only slightly better than Estelle's, but he gets an excellent buff for serious fights--less flashy than Wild Rage, but safer by far. Zane's current crafts:

Taunt: Enrages enemies, making them focus on him. Estelle's Taunt affects a small area, but Zane's affects the entire screen.
Distend: Increases Zane's STR and DEF.
Composure: Heals one party member for 800 HP and removes ailments.
Smite: Melee attack with 50% chance of Confusion.



Zane also gets the least EP, the lowest ATS, and the worst orbment. His magic is tragic.







After a quick tune-up at the Central Factory, Olivier is set up for Time arts...



...and Zane has access to some heals and Earth Wall, which might be the only things I ever use his EP on.

Estelle and company are all set to leave, which of course means it's time for new jobs.





Martina: Do you have a reservation?
Sorry, that's not why we're here. We came from the guild.
Martina: Oh, are you bracers? Pardon me. We've been waiting for you. Can you begin the search immediately?
Yeah, no problem.
According to the request, a customer hasn't been back in a while.
So in other words, they're missing?
Martina: Yes, that's exactly the case. He's been gone for three days.
Three days, huh? That is kinda worrisome. Lately, the monsters on the roads have been pretty nasty, too.
Martina: I almost wish that was where he had gone...This particular guest...He...He's gone to the Limestone Cave.
The Limestone Cave?! The one that's, like, in the middle of the Kaldia Tunnel?
Martina: Yes, exactly. The Kaldia Limestone Cave. We tried to stop him, but...
Yeah...That's pretty bad. That's not the kind of place your average citizen should go.
I can't believe this. Why go there without an escort?
Who was this crazy guest?
Martina: He seemed to be a fairly ordinary young man. He checked in as 'Jimmy' from Ruan.
J-Jimmy from Ruan?
C-Could it be...?
You know him?
Yeah, I've done a job before for someone with that name.
I think it was a search for treasure? I wonder if he went to the Limestone Cave looking for something like that again.
We'd best away to the Limestone Cave immediately. If fortune doesn't favor this young man, we might already be too late.
Yeah, we should hurry.
...Got any other information?
Martina: I've told you everything I can. Please, take care of our guest.
We're on it.
Let's move.

This sounds pretty urgent.



-A Cat Relaxing in the Sun-





Recia: All the customers are so old, though. Would be nice if we got some eye candy once in a while...Huh...? Am I dreaming? Could he really be...?
It's been a while, my princess. Have you been a good girl?
Recia: Aaaaaaahhhh! I knew it! Lord Olivier, you're back! Heeheehee, I'm so happy! You're back, you're back!
(L-Lord Olivier...?)
Recia: Please, Milord, sing for me again? My heart goes all aflutter whenever you're playing your lute. ♥ *siiigh* Oh, Lord Olivier is so dreamy...I wish he would whisk me away to the Imperial capital!



-Wandering in the Darkness-



Soldier: The sandbags were moved, too. Talk about irresponsible! What if someone wanders in there by mistake?
Other Soldier: It's possible someone got in. Has there been any contact at the guild?



-Peace Bestowed By Twilight-





Penguins?



Penguins.

















Let me help you with that.





The raw sex appeal oozing off of the pink penguins can Confuse, but it seems they're not Zane's type of penguin.





Lily Necklaces prevent Confuse, and this quest can be hard to complete without at least one. Unfortunately I couldn't see any places in Ruan or Zeiss where you can buy them.



Whenever you enter a new area of the Limestone Cave, check to see if you can rotate the camera. The last area doesn't let you. Turn back here if you haven't found the Lily Necklace, and protect your party against Seal and Confuse as best you can before you take any steps further.



Th-That's...!



Man: Okay, I-I've managed to pull the chest up...No doubt about it. I finally found it...









Man: Ah...I guess this isn't the time to be goofing around. I'd better check the contents before some monster shows up...



Man: Who are you guys?!
Forget that! Wh-What the heck are you doing playing around in a place like this? Are you nuts? *sigh* Oblivious as always. You haven't changed a bit.
Man: Huh? You...You're...!
Hey, Jimmy. It's been a while. When did I take that job of yours back in Ruan...?
Jimmy: Oh, man! That takes me back! So, uh, what brings you here?
Your lodging put out a search request. So, we came looking for you.
Jimmy: Oh, you came all the way from Zeiss, huh? Well, sorry, but I can't go back yet. I'm about to make the discovery of the century!
Are you speaking of that chest?
Jimmy: Yeah, I managed to pull it up just a moment ago.
Pull it up? Like, from the lake?
Jimmy: Yeah, talk about a crazy hiding spot. Still, that's what I'd expect for the great pirate Schirmer's treasure.
Whaaat?! THAT'S the treasure you've been looking for?
Jimmy: Heh heh heh, no doubt about it. I've followed a long trail and many old maps to get here.
Look, I don't care whose damn treasure it is, just hurry up. If we hang around here, the monsters are gonna notice us.
Jimmy: Whoa, yeah, right. A-All right. I'm gonna do it! I'm gonna open the chest!



Jimmy: G-Give me a second. Whaaa...? What is this...?

-Silence-

*WEEEEOOOO WEEEEOOOO*

Jimmy: Wh-Whoaaa! *phew* That sure surprised me.
Uh...Anyone else hear that?
Oh, man. This is sooo a trap, isn't it?
Dunno, but I've got a bad feeling.

_{*AWK AWK*} *AWK AWK AWK*

Looks like your bad feeling was right on the mark.
Here they come!

-Pinch!!-







Jimmy! Behind you--!







Hmph...I guess that's the new lord of this little domain.
Heads up! Here it comes!

-Obstructive Existence-







Wow, these penguins are dicks. That Sardine Bullets could have dropped Jimmy and cost me the game.

























The samba has a high chance to inflict Seal and Confuse on the whole party. I've never seen it miss before.























why do I even bother using Olivier's CP for anything



Okay, this looks nasty. Better put him away.



-Peace Bestowed By Twilight-



Jimmy: *pant* *pant* I thought I was a goner!
Well, we managed to push them back. Let's retreat before more come.
Jimmy: R-Right. O-Okay, then, I'll be quick.
...Hold up.
Leave that to us. There could be another trap.
Jimmy: Y-Yeah, good point.
Well, then, here we go.



I think we're okay, but...

All right, the dubious pirate treasure has been secured.
Wait, huh?
Jimmy: Wh-What's wrong?
There's...a scrap of paper in here. It looks like a letter.



The end.
Jimmy: Holy crap! L-Let me see it! Pleeease!
Okay, okay, calm down. Zeiss first, then I'll let you have it.
Though if you'd rather fight that weird monster again, we can hang around...
Jimmy: P-Pass! Going is good!
Yes, very good. Let's go, then!
Yeah, let's.



-Factory City of Zeiss-



If you'd opened the chest first, you'd likely be monster food now.
Jimmy: Wh-Whoa! Monster food...?! I-I totally regret it, so please don't scare me like that.
We're not tryin' to scare you. But, you really were saved by a coincidence this time. Understand that and make sure you learn somethin'.
Jimmy: G-Got it! Anyway, I'm going to focus on getting a job for now so I can pay for an escort next time.
S-So that's how it's gonna be...You may regret it, but you're still going into danger, huh?
Jimmy: W-Well, yeah. I gotta. Treasure hunting is a man's romance. For discoveries like this, a little danger is unavoidable.
Hm, speaking of, what happened to the discovery this time? It seems it really was pirate treasure in the end.
Ah, right, right. Anyway, I need to return the treasure to Jimmy.


Jimmy: Th-Thank you. It's like a dream come true to really find treasure.
Hmmm, still, I wonder what it really is. Whatever it is, it sounds pretty incredible, judging by the letter that was left with it.
Jimmy: Th-That's true, but...I've never seen anything like this before.
Hm, most likely an artifact. It's lost its power from the look of it, though.
Jimmy: Whaaat?! An artifact?!
Artifacts are relics from a long time ago, right? Even if it doesn't have any power, isn't it still pretty dangerous?
Mmm, possibly. You should have it examined by the proper authorities. It's a bit of a problem to have citizens possess those things.
The closest research facility would be the History Museum in the capital. If you wish, I could contact them for you.
Jimmy: P-Please do! If it's that dangerous, I'd definitely like to have it looked at.
Understood. Well, then, I will prepare everything, including your ticket to the capital.
Jimmy: Wooow, thanks! What great service.
No, it's a necessary expense. After all, you're completely broke, aren't you?
Jimmy: Whoa?! H-How did you...?
Ahaha, that's our Kilika.
But, the way things are outside right now, it's probably best for you to take her up on the offer anyway. Walking the roads is just way too scary at the moment.
Yeah, absolutely.
You can get your ticket from the receptionist at the landing port. Well, then, take care on your way to the capital.
Jimmy: Really, thanks for today...No, thinking about it, it's not just today. I owe you guys a lot from before too. Here, take this.


Jimmy: It's a favorite of mine. I'd like you to have it.
Are you sure?
Jimmy: It's a sign of my thanks for saving my butt so many times. Please, accept it. Hope we see each other in the capital!
Yeah, got it. Make sure you deliver that jewel to the museum.
Jimmy: Yeah, leave it to me.

Jimmy, all is forgiven.



Yin-Yang is the best quartz in the game. It prevents monsters from noticing you in the field, giving you all the time you need for pre-emptive strikes and trivializing everything that isn't a boss, guild bounty, or scripted ambush.

It also restores 2 or 3 HP per second. Whatever.



Hopefully this discovery will be some kind of clue, but...

I'll contact Elnan in the capital from my end. Go with the Goddess' blessing. And be careful.



Ingenuity slowly regenerates the wearer's EP while traveling: 2 or 3 per second, just like Heal and HP, but it winds up being a lot more useful. Since EP levels are much lower, that rate of recovery is proportionally a great deal faster. The Ingenuity quartz also has water points, which lets anyone use Tear to turn 10 EP into 1000 HP.



Hazel: I heard you're leaving Zeiss.
Yeah, we're heading to the capital next. Seems like the Royal Army needs us for something.
Hazel: Goodness, you really are very busy. Be sure to take care of yourselves. Don't push yourself too hard just because you're young.
Haha. We'll be sure to keep that in mind.
Hazel: Well, then, take care of Tita. Tita, you don't push yourself too hard, either.
Okay!
Yeah, we will.
See you later, Hazel.
Hazel: Take care at the capital. Watch over Tita. Be careful out there.



Haven't departed yet, hm?
Yeah, we had a bit of business still.
...By the way, did something come up?
Yes, we received an investigation request from the Royal Army. It's about that projection device.
Projection device...?
That weird contraption in Ruan that the enemy used. The one that could create illusions.
Hm, yes, the one you told me about.
I think it's necessary to have a look at it if I'm to study the Gospel properly.
We were going to ask the army about it, but then they sent it to us. We were just about to take a look.
Wow. You already got an investigation report together. Seems like the army's putting a lot of effort into investigating the 'society.'
Yeah, it may seem obvious, but the army's keeping tabs on them.
I intend to put my all into puzzling out this Gospel. Well, then, take care of Tita.
Yeah, leave it to us.
Good luck, Grandpa!



Gerald: You're the party of bracers bound for Grancel, right?
Yeah, that's us.
Gerald: Kilika sent over the fare payment already. You guys ready to check in?
As usual, we should stick around and wait for the ship once we check in. You sure we're all done here in Zeiss?



It's been nice, Zeiss, but we've got to catch a plane, Zane.

Gerald: All right! I'll contact the guild and let 'em know to send the rest of your party.