Promise of Repayment

A wanted criminal hardly worth mentioning. A traitor to Seš'qa.

......

I'm hunting him down. That's all.

I shall retrieve the blood samples and capture him. Nothing else matters.

Endmin, you promised your trust ... so cease the questions and let's go.

I used to be connected to him, but now...

...that connection is gone.

This sandbox... I never knew that Char had infiltrated Valley IV so thoroughly.

That traitor was Jakub Meissen, Warlord of the Wilds. He broke from Seš'qa and became the founder of all Landbreakers.

More than half a century ago, he convinced many Sarkaz to leave the Stop. The losses were significant.

Turned out they occupied the Underground Area to build their own community... How absurd.

He... Long ago, Seš'qa had to face a traitor's challenge.

Char's parents died in that battle, yet he chose to side with the enemy and become Jakub's enforcer.

...That's ... not really important.

In any case, I intend to end this. That's why I became an Agaš'mekanaz.

Don't. It's one of Char's witchcraft contraptions.

I'll handle it. My Arts share the same origin as his. I can open it.

...Tch.

I'm fine. Just normal exhaustion. Hold on.

Endmin, my old shoulder wound ... feels phantom pain whenever Char is close.

I can sense Char's presence. He's up ahead.

Like my blood ... longing to reclaim the half that was lost.

After decades of hunting... I finally have the chance to end all this.

I will take everything back from him.

Yes. Together, Endmin.

No. I should call you ... friend.

It's not him.

You came for ... the blood samples, didn't you...

It was me ... who took them. They're gone now...

...I have passed the wrong judgment about Philip.

What are you talking about... Lord Vampire...?

Leave his body, now.

......

Char Arno...

You've learned how to store blood within a human vessel, to enthrall this innocent driver.

...So you have found me.

Don't make me say it twice!

...Endmin, you're here. But Char...

Is that so... It seems he used witchcraft to escape.

The pieces we've found along the way do not complete the puzzle.

Sure. This place ... has nothing worth staying for.

He tried to kill me with an illusion and seize my blood. You woke me up just in time...

I'm sorry. I failed your trust.

But how did he move the blood out? The Landbreakers? That's not plausible.

And what was that prophecy...?

Glad to see you're still breathing, brother.

Those memories ... what was that all about?

I can resonate with your blood. When we first found Dunning, my old wound gave a faint jolt of pain.

You controlled Jeffrey and Philip from the shadows, murdered Dunning, and filled him with the blood...

That body was your escape plan, wasn't it?

Tear off your other wing, and I'll come back to catch up. How's that sound?

Sounds good. Once I catch you, I'll peel it right off your bones.

Drop the tough act, Camille. You couldn't even figure out how I escaped.

Or are you pinning your hopes on this ... help from outside? What could she possibly offer? / Or are you pinning your hopes on this ... help from outside? What could he possibly offer?

...Oh? Go on and tell me more.

...Seems like I just couldn't hide from you.

Or is this the Endmin's work? After all, your Endfield once defeated the Warlord of the Wilds.

Why partner with Camille when a far better option is now available?

I had a gift for you, but I've changed my mind.

Until next time, brother.

His gift ... is probably the blood sample. With his blood, tracking him down will be child's play.

If he actually left it behind... Come on. We should leave.

Haha. No matter. My plan is complete.

...Outsider, this is none of your concern.

How pathetic. A homeless vagrant forced to drift along the fringes of the Band.

If anything, you are the outsider.

......

And you, Endministrator.

We saw many pipelines when we first entered the facility...

Char doesn't like to be seen. He would use the pipes to move around undetected.

Char's blood. And a note.

Just as I cannot fathom why he attacked me, or why he trampled upon our parents' legacy...

Endmin! Mr. Camille! Something happened! You won't believe it!

A miracle! The crew mate transporting Dunning heard movement in the cargo hold and investigated...

He saw blood leaking out of Dunning's body! Poor man was totally shaken, but Dunning pulled through!

That is the only local entry to the pipeline network. Give me a few minutes, Endmin.

...and why the prophecy? One that I had never heard before?

Well, we actually just... Never mind. Go on.

...No one died. Very good news.

Endmin, your assistance uncovered the truth and helped me defend the honor of Seš'qa.

...I do not know.

Seš'qa replied, "Carry on as usual". More resources will be focused on Char to help me track him down.

...In that "home" built by Char, his questions struck true.

But I remembered your words, your help, and your trust along the way.

Seize my abilities and attack Seš'qa... Everything he's done is tied to that prophecy.

If I intend to go further, Endmin, would you ... be willing to join me?

I gave Seš'qa a report on Char. Includes all our encounters ... and my lack of resolve.

Like a faint light shimmering through me, reminding me of the kindness I've forgotten.

That light grew stronger and pulled me out of the darkness. I believe this is ... the reason why Seš'qa's asked you to help me.

Though I failed again this time, and Char still roams free...

I did say I hoped to earn your trust... But back then... why did you agree?

So it boils down to sincerity.

I don't know where he intends to lead me, but even if he flees to Talos, I shall be there to stop him.

I thought my ability to trust others had been ... permanently destroyed along with my past.

But time and time again, you reached out to me. I... wish to reciprocate.

Friend, I promise you this. Wherever you go, my blood shall be with you.

Whenever you call, I shall stand by your side.

Until the very last drop of my blood is spent.

Just a quiet place to wait for you.

He won't be able to run for long.

Of course. Speaking of which... Endmin, may I ask you a question?

Exactly. Thanks to you, we took out Char's lair and uncovered his true plans.

Most importantly, I broke free from the past. I earned trust, and a ... friend.

These are things that Char will never acquire. He cursed me to solitude. It will not happen.

STOP RIGHT THERE!

...Vampire? Baws, you headed out for a bit?

I knew it *mumbles*... You faked about leaving...

Go away, will you?

Boss, you're ... acting a bit strange.

...You learned to think, and actually reached a conclusion. Now that's strange. Kindly step aside, won't you?

Out of the way…

We look nothing alike. Maybe it's because we're both Vampires...

Never mind. Don't bother trying to understand Landbreaker logic. They're always extreme.

Baws! Who's that next to you?

My friend. / His assistant.

Baws, you tolds us before ... you won't be bringing *mumbles* anyone...

Kinsfolk, the time is nigh. I am leaving to pursue matters of grave importance... Decades of waiting have culminated to this moment.

If you still remember the glory of the Bonekrushers and the legacy of our Warlord of the Wilds ... then build a home. Guard this ground.

Why fear death when a traceless existence is worse? We must leave things worth remembering, be it a tile, a machine, or...

...a scar across the throat.

There's a trace of witchcraft on the music box... What else have you got up your sleeve?

My partner is with me, and I shall arrest you this time!

For decades, I never truly resolved to confront you. I've always let you slip through my fingers.

But this time ... I didn't come alone.

Let's go. Back to where we found Dunning, and find the final piece of the puzzle.

Time to verify our final conclusion.

Alright. I'll be here.

The sample... He knew I could track him with the blood, yet he left it behind on purpose.

Escape was not his plan. He's simply luring me to the next location.

By the way, Endmin, there's a thing I'd like to discuss... Once things get settled, may I contact you?

...Perhaps, I should request further assistance from the Stop.

Yes I will. This only ends when one of us lays dead.

Strange, even in my memories... Your "talent" is still so noisome.

You never respected me. Sharing your life was just an act of charity.

No! That's not true!

What ... are you trying to do?

We're twins. Yet you were always stronger. Always more loved.

...So I've resented you ... endlessly, all this time.

No! You made the wrong choice! Seš'qa —

Do they trust you? A useless hunter who never caught the traitor, someone bound by blood to their enemy?

......

No. Someone trusts me, and stands by my side —

...How droll.

Me...?

We must join our forces, to completely bring Seš'qa down.

In your dreams.

Seš'qa has always lied to you, fed you nothing but falsehoods. Why stay in that wretched city?

No one in this world cares about you but me.

Aren't you lonely? Come to my side ... brother.

We sprung from the same drop of blood. It is our fate to become one again.

Look. No matter how much hate we carry ... we still only have each other.

This facility has been completely taken over.

Nefarith's Bonekrusher Clan should have pulled out by now. The ones in front of us...

We should alert the UWST Security Bureau after this. Can't let these Landbreakers become a threat again.

Exactly. Finding their nest is an unexpected bonus.

...Damn it... I can't...

Stay back! I can still—

Endmin ... your hand...

...Apologies.

I swore I'd handle everything myself, but just now ... I reached out to you for help.

Something's been slipping out of control this whole time. I'm getting weaker and less like myself...

...Char is my twin brother.

Unlike me, he had no talent for witchcraft.

Perhaps I emerged a few seconds before Char ... and took what should've been his.

He was the scrawny troublemaker who always shadowed me, who always cried when things went wrong. I had to be protective.

The day Seš'qa was attacked, I failed to reach home in time...

Mother and father ... their eyes never opened again. But Char still breathed.

So I gave him half of my blood. He received my life force ... as well as my Arts.

Indeed. He ambushed me, then joined the Landbreakers.

I shall arrest him. But what then? I ... do not know what I'd choose to do with him.

But this time ... Seš'qa's suspicions remind me — it's time to make up my mind.

I will kill him.

Time to keep advancing.

Sure.

Endmin, are you ... doing this on purpose?

It's the weapon he'd always dreamed of.

It's terrifying ... yet it also feels like a weight lifted.

Sorry, I can't really explain it.

I ... couldn't lose him too.

I made a monster with my own hands.

I don't know why, but my head feels all fuzzy...

Endmin, you're here! Quick! Thank the Endmin. She brought Dunning back to life! / Endmin, you're here! Quick! Thank the Endmin. He brought Dunning back to life!

I've called the Security Bureau to dismantle the hideout. It'll be done this month.

Say, I don't know who gave this gift box to me. There's an apology letter inside...

Does anyone else know I'm heading to Morospolis?

The Endmin and Mr. Camille didn't just save our transport team. They took down a breaker stronghold!

Char ... he left his touch here.

Let's split up and investigate.

...He was never good with Originium tech to begin with.

...Valley IV?