CV-1 In a Lonely Place

Don't do anything rash, now.

You ought to keep your wits about you here.

Thank you... for saving me.

Just passing by.

It's so damn cold around here.

...Excuse me, sir, but are you a local hunter?

Suppose so.

Do you know how to get to Davistown?

...The hell are you going there for?

I'm meeting up with my teammates.

You ain't alone?

Well, my team split up to rescue a hostage from some bandits, but afterward, I broke my communicator and got lost in the woods.

A hostage? Who?

An elderly Forte man.

...Didn't expect it'd be you people.

Alright then, follow me.

Wh-Where are we going?

Didn't you say you were heading for Davistown?

Umm, but...

Don't say I didn't offer.

W-Wait up!

Hrmm... You sure about leaving Jessica all alone out there?

I know you're worried, and so am I. But after fighting by her side for so many years, I trust that she's perfectly capable of handling herself.

I'm just worried there are more bandits out there. A couple of stragglers, sure, but what if they've got a whole band of reinforcements?

Jessica's been through much worse than a bunch of thugs.

......

Whether it's a rain of arrows whizzing past her scalp, blades nicking her throat...

Or surroundings choked with active Originium, where even a single crack in her protective gear would be immediately evident...

Each and every time, she completes the mission. Without our support, and without the company's supervision.

She may be on her own, but she never fails to deliver results.

...I can't deny that.

But I'm sure you also know that she comes back every time with red, swollen eyes. So before she returns, someone has to be there for her when she's bawling her eyes out, right?

What do those puffy eyes mean? They mean that she's wiped her tears before coming to see us. She doesn't want anyone to see her crying.

Yeah, she's only twenty-three...

Yes, twenty-three. And two-and-a-half of those last three years have been spent on the battlefield.

Excuse me, but did an explosion just go off nearby?

Nope.

I could swear I heard something... Pretty sure I wasn't imagining it.

It was a tree, not an explosion.

A tree?

If it gets too cold in the forest, the sap inside expands as it freezes, causing the trunk to burst.

From a distance, it sounded... a bit like a firefight.

What are you, anyway? Soldier? Merc?

I've been a mercenary for almost five years now.

Family in debt or something?

No... I just... didn't want to always be sheltered by my family name. I don't want to follow the path that they laid out for me...

So you went and became a merc?

Y-Yes...

Hmph. So, what're you looking for on the battlefield? Fame? Fortune? Or glory?

None of the above. I want to eliminate crises, resolve conflicts, and protect those in dangerous situations...

Huh... So there are mercs who do that kinda stuff. News to me.

Sir... We're no ordinary mercenary group. We're...

Let me remind you, Jessica. You're a mercenary. This is about business, not duty.

We...

Alright, enough of that. Don't give me your whole spiel.

Sorry to bother you two, but are you talking about that 'seasoned' mercenary with five years of combat experience?

Yeah. Why, got anything to add, Laura?

You two have worked with Jessica a lot longer than me, so you've got a much better grasp of her abilities and limitations than I do, right?

What, so you think she can handle it on her own?

Of course. Captain Liskarm is right – she's been to far more dangerous places over the last three years.

While I can't help but worry when I think about that crybaby side of her, we all know she's going to be perfectly fine. Am I wrong?

She doesn't know that.

Yeah, she's the only one...

But maybe she just needs a chance. Just one chance to see her own worth.

And you're saying that this is her opportunity?

Uh... I wouldn't go that far...

S-Sir... Excuse me, sir!

You're awful noisy, young lady.

I, uhh, didn't mean to bother you... But if you could please take a look over there?

It's just a cub... Maybe we can let it go. If its mother is in the area, we could take a quick look around.

Also, I heard that during the winter, hunters will often let mothers and cubs go so that the pack can reproduce...

Its mother is right here.

You mean... the beast you just killed?

I've seen this female with her cubs a few times before.

Now, the mother's been shot to death, and the cub stepped in some sloppily-placed trap, so its pelt is all ruined.

So... what should we do with it?

Wring its neck. Put it out of its misery.

How could you say that?!

What else? It won't last long on a broken leg with no mother.

You wanna leave it here to die a slow death, you won't hear me complaining.

...So, there's no way for it to survive?

Nope.

Could you please hand it to me then...?

You want to finish the job? Be my guest.

Shh... It'll be alright, little fella... Everything will be alright.

I couldn't save it, but at least... I can let it go in a warm embrace.

Mercs doing hospice care, huh? That's another first for me.

...Do you mind if I leave it here? I think... the mother is a good enough catch on its own.

What, you want me to bury it for you, too? Hold a funeral while we're at it?

No... Every animal in the forest is hungry during the winter. If we leave it here... maybe one of them can have a good meal.

......

I might be a bit of softy, but... that doesn't mean I'm completely oblivious.

If you get it, then try to keep up, Miss Mercenary. I'm guessing you don't wanna get lost in the woods again.

The wind's cleared the fog... Sir, did you bring us here just to get a view of Davistown?

...When I was little, I loved running to the high places near the plate, just to get a good look at the town I lived in.

What was it like back then?

Livelier, more glamorous... More full of life.

......

As for now... Well, there's no going back. No turning back the clock.

Brrrr... It's freakin' cold. Can't believe they shipped us off to a place like this.

Franka...

What's on your mind?

I was just... thinking about Jessica again.

What about her? Didn't you say you weren't worried?

...I was thinking about that 'opportunity' we were talking about.

Oh, you mean the chance for her to see her own worth?

Who knows? Maybe one day... it'll come to her in a gust of wind. A freaking cold one, so cold it makes her shiver all over.

But it'll sweep away all the fog before her eyes, and everything will become as clear as day.

I just hope that what she sees then... won't be anything like what we're looking at.

Brrr... Helena, ain't it way too cold in here today?

Almost out of charcoal. Have to save some for later.

Just burn that mountain of bills piling up at my place. The bank's just gonna send more anyhow.

*cough*

Did you catch a cold? C'mon, let's swing around to my place and grab a stack of that waste paper.

(*whispers*) Why do you think I'm coughing? Not in front of her...

Oh, if it ain't Sylvia!

G-Good morning, Mr. Theremin...

What brings someone from the bank out here to our shabby little establishment? Something wrong?

S-Sorry...

Hmm.

*cough* *cough*... Leone, I ain't seen Benny in a while. What's the kid been up to?

Busy with his studies. Got his nose in a book till dawn every night.

Didn't the school close down a while ago?

Our neighbor, Ms. Selena, used to be a schoolteacher. She reckoned it'd be a real shame for Benny to miss out on all that book learning, so she's been letting him study at her place.

Huh, good for him. Benny's always been a smart kid, and he was real shook when he learned he wouldn't be able to go to school no more.

Yeah. He was so anxious that whole year.

M-Mr. Theremin, actually, I... I could teach Benny too...

Oh right, you graduated from the best business school in Columbia—

And what's he supposed to learn from you? How to become a banker so he can bury people in bills too when he grows up?

I...

Leone, eat your damn breakfast before it freezes over!

Hmph!

I-I need to get to work, so I'll be leaving now... I'll leave the money on the table.

You know she ain't responsible for any of the loans here in Davistown, right? What're you giving her lip for?

Then let her have a heart-to-heart with the others. They'll be even harsher, I guarantee it.

But still, we watched her grow up...

That's exactly why! Pisses me off even more!

*sigh*...

Sorry to keep you waiting, ma'am. I hope we're not too late.

Oh... H-Hello. It's fine, you're not late at all.

What would you like me to call you?

You can call me, uh...

Achoo—!

How long have you been standing here, ma'am?

Since... this morning. The message only said you'd be arriving today, but not the specific time.

But it's already afternoon. You've been standing here this whole time?

Yes...

Three hours ago we sent a notification to the plate, updating them on our ETA.

...I-I didn't get anything of the sort.

That's weird. Who sent you?

Um... the manager.

Manager? That's not a title I'm used to hearing in government work.

Actually, I... I'm not from the government. I work for a local bank.

Since when is a bank in charge of this?

Actually... Um, actually, Davistown is...

......

We're here, Captain Liskarm. Is this woman the one in charge of our reception?

Wait, Sylvia? They sent you out here for this?

Th-That's right, sir.

Hey, old man, any idea why the government sent a banker to pick us up instead?

*sigh*... You'd best ask the bank directly. I sure ain't gonna be able to explain all the twists and turns.

Alright then. Franka, go ahead and take the gentleman home. And while you're at it, take a walk around Davistown to get a better grasp of the situation here.

...Understood.

Laura, bring the others with you and find a good place for a safe house where we can securely stow our supplies and vehicles. If you manage to get a hold of Jessica, report it to me right away.

Got it.

Sylvia and I will head to the bank... to find out what exactly is going on here.

That's our teacher's pet for you. Thanks for volunteering for the hard part.

......

Where should we regroup once we're all finished?

Y'all can meet up at the only diner still open in town. It's right by the only road to the mine. Run by a real nice lady named Helena.

And if this Jessica of yours finds her way into town, I reckon that's where she'll end up too.

Mm... It's decided, then.

The bank is right up ahead, Miss...

People have been avoiding us the whole way here... Had I known, I'd have asked Franka to take my equipment back with her first.

N-No, that's not why...

Oof...

You asshole, you run into someone and don't even apologize?

It's over...

Sir? Are you okay?

...It's all over.

Sir? Sir! What happened?

What's going on... He looks like his soul has left his body. Where's he going?

Do you recognize him, Sylvia?

No, I... umm...

Let's, um... h-head to the bank first.

...Along with the rapid development of pioneer settlements, nomadic plates both large and small have also been springing up.

But at the time, very few financial institutions in Columbia were specialized in pioneering.

...After looking deeply into the living conditions of the countless pioneers on the frontier's edge, our founder decided to plant his roots alongside them and established the first bank to provide practical financial support to the lower and middle classes.

He prided himself in building trust, showing kindness, and doing his best to provide attentive service to everyone who walked through his doors in the rough-and-tumble frontier.

It wasn't long before his hard work and empathy won him wide recognition.

Then, we began forming close and fruitful partnerships with local governments, working together with mining and pioneering companies to help them flourish and expand rapidly into settlements just like Davistown.

......

Quite the legend, wouldn't you agree?

And who might you be...?

Sorry for keeping you waiting, Miss Liskarm. I am this bank's manager. My sincerest apologies for not being able to welcome you in person earlier.

We are aware of the problems facing Davistown. A few inconveniences are to be expected. However...

No need to be reserved. Feel free speak your mind.

We were planning to liaison with the local government, not a bank. What exactly happened to the government here?

Sylvia, did you not explain the situation?

Manager, I...

Sylvia stood alone in the cold for the better part of the day. If you ask me, what she needs right now is hot water and a blanket.

Of course. Sylvia, take half a day off to go home and get some rest.

Okay... I'll see you later then, Miss.

Oh, Sylv—

Miss Liskarm, if there's anything else you need, please let me know. Resources are scarce on this plate, but we will do everything in our power to accommodate you.

I appreciate the sentiment, but please don't try to change the subject.

Why is it that Blacksteel's client was the local government, but we're being greeted by your bank's employees? Where are the heads of the local government agencies?

......

Please come with me.

Are you telling me that your government officials are in the bank's garage?

During last year's bankruptcy liquidation, the local government cut most of their departments and laid off most of their employees. But that wasn't enough to pay off the massive debts they still held. In the end, the remaining government buildings were put up for auction as well.

What about the mayor, then? Where is he?

Unfortunately, after the last mayor ran off with hardly a penny to his name, the townsfolk never found a suitable candidate to replace him.

As you can see, all that remains today is... the mayor's secretary, and a few temporary employees.

Ha... Haha, it's okay. If the bank hadn't generously provided us with free office space, we'd be out on the streets.

It's just the right thing to do. Besides, it's nothing compared to what you've been through.

Seeing as the government is still functioning, can we—

No!

I mean, as much as we'd like to help you, we simply don't have the manpower to support your work.

...Then, who's in charge of matters concerning our job here?

We've given full authority over that to the woman standing next to you. Go to her for anything you might need.

Absolutely. My door is always open.

...I certainly hope you can issue a formal document showing this authorization.

Mr. Secretary, when can she expect that document?

I'll have it ready right away! The official seal somehow went missing yesterday, so I've sent someone to go look for it!

Thank you.

Now then... I'm very much looking forward to a mutually beneficial partnership.

......

I'll show you to my office. Try not to dawdle, as we have many things to discuss before our work begins in earnest.

Sure.

Wait, just a moment, ma'am!

What is it now?

Um, well... It's been way too cold in here recently. W-Would you mind turning up the heat in the garage a smidge? Everyone's freezing down here.

...Of course. I'll always do my best to accommodate your needs.

Have you and your teammates decided on a rendezvous point?

Um... N-Not yet. B-But, it'll be fine. I'll find somewhere to wait for them on my own...

Achoo!

There's a diner in Davistown. Wait in there.

Wh-Where is it? Oh, um, you don't need to take me there. General directions should be fine...

......

Forget it, just come with me.

......

......

Huh? Is he.... one of the plate's residents?

That man... Why doesn't he have anything with him?

Excuse me! Sir! Where are you going?

Hello? Are you leaving the plate? It's not safe out here!

Over here! I'm talking to you! Look, over here! Can you hear me?!

Sir? Sir!

......

Are you coming or not?

I... I'll be right there!

I'm back, Helena.

Woody? About time!

Wait... Where's Miles?

He was rescued by this girl's friends.

Um, and who are you?

I'm, umm...

...She's a merc I met on the way. Her communicator broke, and she got separated from her teammates. So I brought her into town to wait for them.

Mind if I take a look at the communicator? Might be able to fix it up for you.

H-Here... Sorry to bother you like this.

No problem. You guys saved Miles, so what's a little communicator between friends?

That said, why come here of all places?

...We received a commission from the local government to help Davistown restore its power facilities and get the plate back onto its navigation route.

Hold on, girl, could you repeat that? Restore our power facilities? You ain't pulling my leg, are you?

You should see the goofy grin on your face.

Young lady, regardless of why you and your companions are here, thank you so much for rescuing Miles... I've been so worried I ain't slept a wink in days.

Alright... All's well that ends well? Then, got anything to eat?

Didn't have nothing ready, but looks like you brought something back for me.

Oh, right.

A mother beast?

Sorry... It was my fault...

No use fretting over something like that, this time of year. Nothing beats meat.

Fair enough... Okay, you two, sit your butts down and grab something to drink. I'll prepare the meat—

Hey, why're you getting up to leave? Weren't you gonna eat?

Change of plans.

Sir... How badly damaged is the communicator?

Nothing serious. C'mon, let's go take a look around my warehouse. Might be some spare parts we can use—

Stop tinkering for a second and give this a try.

Deep-fried? Now this is the good stuff!

But... this definitely ain't enough for everyone.

If you're worried about that, then stop scarfing it all down! The poor girl still ain't had a piece!

Haha...

It's totally fine. He helped me fix my communicator, so... he deserves to eat his fill.

That barely counts for anything. It's so cold round these parts, we all gotta help each other out, just to get by. Give us a holler if you ever need anything.

Thank you. I appreciate it, ma'am.

By the way, I happened to see someone a ways out from the plate. He wasn't carrying anything, and wouldn't respond when I called out to him... He just kept walking deeper and deeper into the snow, until I couldn't see him anymore...

Did something happen to him?

......

You're a guest here, young lady. Don't worry your pretty little head over stuff like that and just fill your tummy first, okay?

Then... would you mind if I asked you two about someone else?

*sigh*... Kids these days. Barely stepped on the plate, and already so many questions. Alright, fine, ask away.

I wanted to know about a man named Woodrow Bianchi—

Who...?

Sorry, I guess you're not familiar with him. I'll try asking someone else.

No, that ain't the problem... You sure you're not confused?

Woodrow's the man who brought you here, though?