89. Close yet Distant

... I see. Well, if everyone's happy with that explanation...

Ah-haha... It hasn't been easy. I'm super-relieved you guys are okay with it!

Hey... who said we are okay with it?! You lied to us and now you have the gall to pretend nothing happened!

You say that, but who are you to speak for everyone else? You should understand better than anyone, Snezhana.

This is not a question of my comprehension or lack thereof. You've got a nerve. You show absolutely no shame for having deceived us!

(Still...)

Well, haha... We should probably say goodbye then. I should probably get going.

Maybe when things calm down you can come and see me, in Eastrise?

(... She hasn't changed at all. Exactly the same... in every way...)

...I know you and Xen have history. But she was betrayed by Eastrise. Don't you get that?

And I'm pretty sure she's not an agent sent to spy on Teslovik and Watchtower, What do you say, Snezhana?

Well... I can't say right now.

Okay, so that's settled! You guys are friends again, right?

Ah... um... I don't think it's possible.

... Why are you asking?

I was definitely Snezhana's friend when I was Sunflower. But that's got nothing to do with me now.

What you mean, ''nothing to do with me''... Are you mad?! Five years ago we were living together!

You said you would never forget me! Were you lying?!

...The person who said that stuff, was ''Sunflower''. She died after that mission. The person standing here is Xen, of the Watchtower.

I suggest you forget that person Sunflower who betrayed you. Someone like that isn't worth remembering.

Someone like that''...?! But I've always, !

How could I ever forget Sunflower?!

Huh! I sense we might be heading towards an amicable resolution...

... I think they just need some time.

Okay, I think that brings us to the end of the meeting. You know what to do, split up and look for signs of the Dragon Orchid.

Wakey-wakey, Taisei. The meeting is over.

(Yawn)... Huh? You all done? What do you want me to do?

I wondered why you were so quiet. I didn't realize you had fallen asleep... How long were you asleep, if you don't mind me asking?

Ah... How long...? Oh, isn't that Dosen?! Long time no see!

Huh? Oh, yeah. It has been a while...

You didn't even realize Dosen was at the meeting. You must have slept through the whole thing. You should join in next time.

... Anyway, are we going to help search?

Yes... Let's go, Snezhana.

B-But...!

Snezhana, please try to calm down. We can talk about this issue all day long and still get nowhere.

...Humph. Whatever, do what you want!

Are you okay with that, Xen?

Yeah, fine. Snezhana should just forget about Sunflower and move on with her life!

But Xen, you must be very pleased to see Snezhana again...

I said I'm fine!

I'm not Sunflower anymore...

Hey guys. Check this out. It's a government pamphlet...

Oh, weird. Eastrise is actually quite progressive.

Well, it's basically a nationalist pamphlet, state propaganda.

Which means it gives the official version of the current political situation and latest scientific achievement.

Wouldn't a would-be dictator outlaw these kinds of publications...?

Obviously anything that reflects badly on the government would be censored. The only issue is the tech articles would be missed. That's why the government tends to focus on that.

If all information dried up, people would become suspicious. The government controls its messaging very carefully.

I see. It serves a function, to build up public confidence, even if it is clearly biased.

So what does it say?

Dragon Orchid Research Notes

Research Notes?

Yeah. Check it out.

Look... the Journal of the Association of Scholars? What's the Association of Scholars?

It's a government institute. The journal is where they publish recent findings and research interests.

This one is an interview with Pan Pan.

...Pan Pan?

Founder of the Association of Scholars and pre-eminent scholastic authority in the country.

She was Raeon's personal tutor when she was a girl. Raeon still trusts her implicitly. They have a very strong relationship.

So they go way back, huh? And Pan Pan is the one in charge of Dragon Orchid research?

Correct. Listen to this.

In recent years we have been investing heavily in new fields of research. No doubt these investments will bring great dividends to the people.''

Eastrise now possesses a weapon capable of destroying other nations. The future of our homeland is bright indeed''...

This ''weapon capable of destroying other nations''...

The report does not mention it by name, but I think it must be referring to the Dragon Orchid.

...I get it. In that case, it's very possible that this Pan Pan character knows where the Dragon Orchid is to be found, am I right?

I think so. It's just speculation. But it's all we've got to go on at the moment...

Well, compared to our progress a few moments ago, it's a big step forward. Now we just need to figure out how to make contact with this Pan Pan...

...

Does it mention where she is based or what her movements might be? That would give us a good idea of where to...

ARGH!!! Stop blabbering, will you?!! Just find her, tie her up and bring her back here for questioning! Do I have to do EVERYTHING myself?!

But you still need to know where to look...

...Actually, that's not true. I think I know where we can find her, at a certain time of day anyway.

I know it is her custom to go for an evening walk in the park next to the Forbidden City.

How do you know, oh, yeah. You worked for Raeon's mother Mahiru, didn't you? Were you...?

Yes. I used to work with Pan Pan. We used to be good friends, but we've gone our separate ways...

...Really. But what if things get rough...? Will you be okay with that, given you're old friends?

If we could do it without violence that would be great... But I'm not sure that is going to be possible...

More than likely, we will need to use force. We need a detailed battle plan to avoid unnecessary casualties.

Okay, what do you think of this plan?

First, I try to talk to her and get her to lower her guard... If it turns out she does know about the Dragon Orchid... we grab her!

Huh? And that's... your... detailed battle plan?

Relax! After all, secret to marketing is knowing exactly what the customer wants! Allow me to show you guys a few of the tricks I have learned on the road!

Uh... erm... For some reason, the more she reassures us, the less reassured I feel...

No... Let's give her a chance.

Most Watchtower members are known to them. They have files on us.

But Dosen spends a lot of time on the road, and the enemy might not know of her existence.

Okay! If Chiraha thinks it's a good idea, then we should give it a go!

Of course, Dosen should not be expected to do this alone. Everyone, get ready. We need to be ready for anything.

We move tomorrow at nightfall. As the first step in the Watchtower counter-offensive, it cannot fail.

Yes, ma'am!

...

Awakener? Is there something bothering you?

Uh... sorry. It's a bit of a coincidence, don't you think...?

Maybe I'm just overthinking it...