Chapter 91: The Lady's Mansion: A Dance of Lies

Huh? That girl...

What is it, Korobo?

No, it's nothing. I felt a slight tingling in my chest. It was probably just my imagination.

Minalca, I've been meaning to ask. Before on the train, you said that Omegapolis was your friend's city. Does that mean you have a mek friend here? What would an Imperial arbiter like you be doing with a mek friend?

I don't think I said that.

I definitely heard you say it.

You must have been imagining things.

......

Welcome to my humble abode. Please make yourselves at home.

Actually, we'd rather you told us about this world, about the hollow time layer and the Chronos Empire. We think the Time Layer drew us into this world, but we don't know why. What is their aim?

Very well, if that's what you want. Though I don't know everything on the matter, of course. I will tell you what I know, if you will help me in return.

In freeing the meks from the oppression of the Empire!

What?!

Don't let her fool you, Aldo. She's just stalling for time. The Imperials will be here any minute.

Darius? You're alive?!

You can't get rid of me that easily.

Your Ladyship, it was you who sold out my friend Yuki to the Empire, wasn't it?

Yu...ki?

Whatever are you talking about?

Don't play dumb with me. Yuki was investigating the mystery of the Tree of Time. He was also looking into the lightspark thieves. I know he had his doubts about them.

The lightspark thieves? You mean all those thefts of meks' lightspark, right?

But I was under the impression that this thievery was the work of the Acacia Stargliders?

Our goal is to escape from the oppressive rule of the nobility and the Empire. We've got absolutely nothing to do with the lightspark thefts. I think someone set us up to take the blame.

Bwa ha ha ha ha! You're right. I fed his information to the Empire. I didn't like him poking his nose into the lightspark thefts. I told them there was a troublesome mek snooping around the Tree of Time.

They sent the arbiters to deal with him, as I knew they would.

Where is Yuki's corpse now?

How should I know where that confounded meddler died? He could be buried under a pile of rubble, or rusting at the bottom of the ocean for all I care.

GRRR! DIE!!

See! Her Ladyship has fallen. This is the first step. Now the world will change!

I did it! I did it! Yuki, I actually did it! Hahaha... Bwa ha ha ha ha!

I wouldn't be so sure about that.

*gasp*

No! How did you, This is impossible! The bullet penetrated your lightspark! How are you still alive?

I have two hearts.

What?! No... You've been taking the stolen hearts for yourself?!

Death is no longer equal, nor must it be absolute. We who have, may now live forever.

So you stole the lives of the have-nots? Just for the few of you?

I don't see the problem? No one gets to choose their own life. It is all decided from the start, without our own knowledge. The rich are chosen to live a life of plenty, the poor are chosen to live a life of poverty... That never changes, whenever you are, whichever world. It is neither good nor bad, it just is.

Grr!

Now, what are you standing around for? Deal with this rebel!

Ngh!

Darius?!

You wanted to know the secret of the hollow time layer? If you wish to uncover the Chronos Empire's ambitions, I will not stop you.

But what can you do? You fools don't even know where you stand!

Mwa ha ha ha ha!

Ack?!

You've only got the two hearts, right?

Your life ends here. For Yuki.

Before you do anything you regret, know this. I shall be the one to take you on.

So your friend was Yuki?

Yuki often used to talk about you.

He said he didn't want to use force like me... He wanted to walk a different path from the Stargliders... That his duty was to uncover the truth...

Yes... I know.

Please...continue his legacy... Go to the Tree of Time... Something...sleeps...there...

......

Minalca... Was Darius' Yuki also an acquaintance of yours?

Yes. As Darius said, Yuki was investigating the Tree of Time all on his own. I hadn't seen him in a while... But I never imagined this was why.

Minalca, are you okay?

You need not worry. But, I need to see what happened to him. Perhaps when he was investigating the Tree of Time, one of the arbiters...

It certainly sounds like this Tree of Time holds some great secret.

The Tree of Time, eh?

But how do we get to this tree?

First, sail to Rust Town. There's a route through the reef. You'll find the Tree of Time looming over Rust Town.

So the time has finally come for me to go there.

Are you really okay, Minalca? You're an Imperial soldier, surely doing this...

Yes, yes. Whatever will be, will be.

Um, okay then.

All right, let's head to the Sleeping Pearl and set a course for Rust Town.

So this is the Tree of Life? The place where all meks who were ever born lay to rest? I wonder how many souls are in this place?

That cat...

......

Aldo, be careful. Something unfamiliar slumbers in this land.

Ogre Rancorem? You're awake?

Unfamiliar? What do you mean?

I do not know. Something that does not exist in our world.

Okay, we should proceed with caution. Let's find out what secret is hidden here.