Chapter 7: Blockade

How've you been? Still playing chess?

Still playing, but less. I don't dare stop, after all...

I still have to play against you, and I don't want you to mock me.

How about you?

I haven't been playing. I've been waiting...

... for you to come back and play with me.

Well, I'm sure we'll find a chance.

Let's get down to business.

I need to confirm something with you.

That guy...

He's the lock?

Well, if you know what that means, I guess this whole thing's no big secret.

An open scheme...

?

An open scheme.

I'm not sure if you're aware of this eastern concept, Mr. Gaius.

I've heard whispers that someone in the Union is from Tangton.

I quite like this term.

If your plan requires you to stick to the shadows, then there's a flaw in your strategy.

The best schemes are carried out in broad daylight. Wouldn't you agree?

And that's what you mean by "an open scheme"?

See? An old dog can learn new tricks.

So... I have news you may be interested in.

If the mayor of Utgard thinks it's worth calling me herself, then I'm all ears.

Perhaps you'd like to know...

... that Utgard is quite interested in that "lock".

If the lock can remain in Utgard, it would serve the interests of Utgard's citizens.

After all, the Sonic Miracle has gotten far too close to Utgard.

I'm sorry... what do you mean by a "lock"?

Oh, that's no matter. Saying and doing are two different things, aren't they?

I don't care what you say...

I'm only interested in what you will do.

Many people have got their eyes on me. I'm certain that I'm doing exactly what I should be doing.

What kind of help will Mr. Gaius give us?

A signal?

Is it some kind of message?

You two need some help?

If you wanna know how tough civilization can be...

Then just take a look at the Raine Tundra!

There's nothing but snow and wind here. Then there's the Sonic Miracle, which constantly spews out Miramon.

It's the least habitable place for humans on Grandis.

That's why Raine's Wall was built, to keep those Miramon out.

Now we've got hotels, industries, and all kinds of entertainment facilities. Civilization lives on atop the tundra!

Utgard!

... The diamond of the tundra!

Amazing, you already know the saying! Have you fallen in love with Utgard too?

No, it's just that we've heard it a million times already!

Yeah, we've been touring the place for an entire week.

Oh, sorry! I guess I've been repeating myself.

The mayor put me in charge of taking you around Utgard.

And since the mission isn't over, I'll have to lead you around a bit more.

Moving on to Raine's Wall, allow me to tell you all about the diamond mindset of Utgard!

Maybe another time. We just want to meet with Mayor Abigail.

Our application to visit the Raine Tundra requires her approval.

Sorry, we've been trying to arrange that, but...

The mayor's still not in today.

All you're doing is leading us around and apologizing! What's going on?!

The mayor's been gone all week?

Don't give him a hard time, Sachiko.

That's enough touring for today, sir. Sachiko and I will look around on our own.

Ugh, what do we do...?

The Raine Tundra is dangerous, so ordinary folks like us have to get approval from the mayor to visit. We can't get around that.

Sachiko, do you still have that letter from Gaius?

Oh, right. Here it is. Why?

Hey, what're you doing opening it?!

Mr. Gaius told us only to open it if we ran into trouble!

Well, aren't we in a tough spot right now?

I guess you're right...

What kind of help will Mr. Gaius give us?

A signal?

Is it some kind of message?

You two need some help?

Whoa!!! The guard!!! You're still here?!

I stayed close in case you needed some help.

You guys looked worried just now.

Is that paper important? Show it to me and maybe I can help.

Mr. Guard! Are you spying on us?

What if we don't show you the paper?

It's nothing. We just thought the paper was made of an interesting material.

Special? It just looks like...

An ordinary sheet of blank paper.

!!!

I'm gonna go get an ice cream, Sachiko.

You and Mr. Guard just wait here. Don't wander off.

Oh? Really?!

Awesome! Get me a strawberry one!

Mr. Guard, I'm really interested in the history of Utgard. Could you tell me more about it?

I made it, and there aren't any guards tailing me.

This is legitimate business, sir. It wouldn't matter if any guards had come.

Let's get to the point. What do we do next?

Uh... Buy ice cream?

Is that... some kind of code? Um... What flavor should I get?

That depends on what you like...

Be quiet, you silly little snowman, or else...

... you'll sound even sillier!

I put the balloon here, see?

What?!

People don't understand what I'm doing.

But I know. Only I can talk to this silly little snowman!

We can't help. This is Utgard, after all, so the Union can't give direct support!

Silly little snowman! Don't you know? You'll never see the mayor if you just wait around like this.

The snowman needs a letter showing the mayor's approval, though.

The mayor's got an electronic stamp in her office. Couldn't you just borrow it? Then you'd have her "approval"!

There's a fire drill happening right now at the City Admin Building, so the whole place is empty.

It's like magic. One swipe of the wand, and the obstacles vanish!

Head straight for the mayor's office and pick up your approval!

Uh, sir? You still gonna buy some ice cream?

(Does Sachiko actually like strawberry? Should I really bring her one?)

Yep, I'll take a strawberry.

You got it!

We should rappel in by rope from the ceiling, like in one of those cool spy movies.

Who do you think we are, spies?

We're sneaking in! It would be rude just to walk in.

Whatever. Go ahead, I won't stop you if you wanna play spy.

The security system already told everyone to clear out for a fire drill anyway.

To be honest, I didn't think Gaius would get us this far.

I told you before: Mr. Gaius has some serious skills!

I don't doubt his abilities...

I just feel like this is way more than just helping us out.

Why is Gaius willing to go so far for us?

Or, to put it differently: does Gaius have a personal interest in us making it to the Gate?

If you ask me, you're overthinking it again.

And if you keep thinking, is that gonna solve our current problem?

We have to go to the Raine Tundra, so we need the mayor's approval. That's for certain.

Mr. Gaius already cleared the way for us, so why don't we just go and get the approval that we need?

Unless they restore the security system right now, nobody's gonna hold me back!

You make a lot of sense, Sachiko...

A little too much sense.

What?

Intruders detected! Fire drill halted! Fire drill halted!

Intercept the intruders immediately!

Whew, I snuck in without anyone noticing. Perfect!

Knocking all the guards unconscious is what you call sneaking?

You're not Ezio, Sachiko. Don't misunderstand.

Who's Ezio?

Oh, I was just thinking about something from my world. Forget it.

There goes Captain again, talking nonsense.

Alright, now let's go look for that electronic stamp!

No need to look for it.

The stamp is with the mayor herself. Nobody can get the stamp without her approval.

And you are...?

Xuan Pin, head of the Utgard City Defense Force.

You two are visitors to Utgard, so I'll let you slide this time.

But let this be the last time. This silly plan was never going to work.

We have to make a visit to the Raine Tundra.

Giving up is not an option, so if this plan was a dead end, we'll have to find another way.

Utgard means you no harm, you see.

Otherwise, it wouldn't have been me waiting for you here. It would've been the handcuffs of the defense force.

There's a reason the mayor can't see you right now.

But we're not privy to that reason, are we?

If you want us to give up, why don't you just come out and say it?

It seems that you're quite determined, so I'll give you a hint.

I know of someone who can get you the approval you want.

Ever heard of the Golden City?