Section 6: Business District (Ⅰ) / Where Is the Beast?

There. You're fine. Everything's fine. You're going to do great again today!

Hehehe. I was miserable most of yesterday but it still ended on a high note.

Now I'm feeling more normal, so I bet today will wind up even better.

I've got to look for the silver lining. Hehe.

G-good morning, Ereshkigal!

I'm sorry to spring this on you but we have an emergency!

Oh? What's wrong?

It's the Spirit Origin radar embedded in my shield.

Granted, it has been acting up since we got here...

...and I'm still not able to get an accurate read on everyone's Servant class.

That aside, this morning, it returned a reading I never expected here!

I know this is hard to believe, but...it says it's detecting a Beast in the area!

...Uh... W-wooow, really?

？！

I'm afraid so, Master.

I can't tell you exactly where it is or what it's capable of, but I'm certain it's here somewhere.

While the radar may not be able to determine a Servant's class...

...I don't think this is a bug. The Beast detection is a separate function from the rest of the radar.

Of course we believe you, Mash. This is a serious matter indeed.

I knew it. I knew I wasn't just imagining that bestial scent.

You're right. Then the heat I felt earlier was indeed excitement for the battle ahead.

Hang on a sec. Do Beasts normally just wander around like stray cats?

Hmm. I would expect to see it destroying the city, tearing people to shreds, and the like.

Only it's pretty clear none of that is going on here.

I'm so sorry. I wish I could tell you all more, but I have no more information to go on.

What do you think, Master? How do you want to handle this?

？！

Good point. We don't have any verifiable, actionable intel yet.

And while your hunches are lending credence to this discovery, the possibility that the radar is just malfunctioning remains.

？！

G-g-g-good idea. I think that's the best thing to do right now, too.

Y-yeah! Let's just keep going as if this Beast doesn't exist!

I mean, who ever heard of a Beast hiding in plain sight, right!?

... ...

A-anyway, we can cross that bridge when we get to it!

For now, let's talk about today's itinerary. We're going to the financial district.

For the most part, we'll be sightseeing. We'll take the bus there, like usual.

Okay, um, our next stop will be the area between Old Dubai and downtown Dubai.

The financial district is actually part of central Dubai, andWait. Huh? Are we in the right place?

And the Ain Dubai Ferris wheel... Was that always in the same area? I thought it was over by the marina...

？！

U-uh, no, not at all!

(Ghh, come on, Lip, stay cool! You don't want them thinking you're a terrible guide!)

... ...

I guess this guidebook is a little out of date. Anyway, as I was saying!

This area is distinguished by its many high-rise buildings.

And not too far from those is another huge building, but unlike any you've seen before: the Dubai Frame!

That said, it's not the only unusually shaped building here. The Museum of the Future is really unique too!

However, the museum is incredibly popular. So much so, I doubt we'll be able to get in. We'll start with the Dubai Frame!

？！

Here we go. This is the Dubai Frame.

It's 150 meters tall, about the same as a 48-story building, and it's 95 meters wide!

It's even been officially recognized by the "Guinness Book of World Records" as the world's largest picture frame.

I saw pictures of this while I was brushing up on Dubai...but seeing it in person is truly something else!

Incredible. I can scarcely even grasp what I'm looking at. This is already turning out to be a wonderful experience.

I can't believe it. The sheer bravery it would take to build something like this...and with such style at that.

It's wholly unnatural...yet it blends so perfectly into its surroundings, all while exuding a sense of majesty unlike anything I've ever seen.

Amazing... My brother would have loved to see this...

So, what exactly is this building for, anyway?

Um, I think it's supposed to be a large-scale representation of Dubai's picturesque beauty...in building form...

They say, depending on where you're standing, you can get a great view of either Old Dubai or New Dubai through it!

So they made this building because they consider the city itself to be a beautiful work of art.

Ah, a beautiful picture does need a beautiful frame to emphasize its qualities. That makes this frame Dubai's dress.

No... You could even say it's Dubai's armor. So cool...

？！

Speaking of art, I notice there are two people over there eagerly painting their own.

I guess it makes sense that artists would be fascinated by a building like this.

And over there, I can see a couple of people taking selfies with the frame. Makes sense. This does seem like a great place for Servantgram-worthy shots.

And then there's

？！

This is the place. Are you the one who ordered the kebabs and shawarma?

MEEEAAATTT!!!

Delivery complete. Always good to have an uneventfulHm?

A new review. Let's see...

"Your prompt and professional delivery allowed my husband to sate his hunger."

"Without your service, he would soon have begun to attack camels and dromedaries to devour their flesh."

"The resulting wild display would inevitably garner public attention, so exposing women around the world to his devastating attractiveness..."

"...which would force me to cast many curses I would prefer to save for other matters. Thank goodness that didn't happen. Curse!"

"Apologies. I was so caught up in imagining those events, a little curse slipped out. At any rate, our rating is, of course, five stars." "-Customer's Wife"

(Big thumbs-up)

Odd. The way our system is set up, it should not be possible for someone to write a review on another's behalf.

Ah well. It sounds as if you are family, so I will not worry overmuch about this.

At any rate, this review is the best reward I could have asked for. Thank you, and we look forward to your next order!

Hm? I know you.

？！

Those glasses... That necktie... The CEO of Amazones.com? Is that you!?

Hmm. It is, and it is not.

Here, I am not only the CEO of the galaxy's largest online commerce and delivery company.

I am also the founder of a local startup.

My firm is focused on bringing our experience with online commerce and delivery to an entirely new product line.

Perhaps you have heard of us before?

Indeed, a company's name is its lifeblood. Branding is key to the synergy of any new endeavor.

If you need a reminder, I am happy to oblige as many times as it takes you to learn our name by heart.

I also hope you will share it, along with these coupons for new subscribers, with your friends.

At any rate, the name of our new food delivery startup rolling out service in this city is...

Univer Eats.

And I am the Univer Eats CEO!

Indeed. Have you already made an account with us? If not, scanning this handy QR code will allow you to do so easily.

...No, wait. Perhaps it is fate that brought us here together.

Let me ask you a question.

？！

I have seen firsthand how adept you are at problem-solving.

That you are here now leads me to believe we are experiencing another incident.

Thus, my question to you is this:

Do you have anything to do with this latest news which has all of Dubai in an uproar?

Um, I'm sorry, but could you tell us what it is you're talking about?

You mean you haven't heard? There is a notice about it on this very bulletin board.

It looks like BB has noticed it, too.

Then whether there really is a Beast here or not, something is clearly giving off a bestial aura.

... ...?

(Hang on. If BB's putting up notices like this in a city she controls...)

(...does that mean she DIDN'T do this to me?)

(No... It could just be a trick to make me think that while she enjoys watching me get confused and flustered.)

(Yeah, I can definitely see her doing something like that, so I can't rule it out yet.)

(Either way, the fact that everyone's on high alert now is definitely not helping!)

I-I don't think there's a Beast here, personally...

I, um, couldn't tell you WHY I think that, but, I really don't think there is!

？！

Hm, I suppose we are kind of in the middle of an investigation to see if it has anything to do with us...

...but we're mainly here to relax and enjoy a vacation touring Dubai.

I see. Too bad. I was hoping you might help me arrive at a new breakthrough.

Why? Did something happen?

...Hmm. All right. Maybe telling you this will lead to some sort of hint.

Then let us begin this brainstorming session in hopes it leads to a mutually beneficial relationship.

The reason for my personal interest here is that my employees have been coming under attack with increasing frequency.

And you think these attacks are connected to the Beast?

To be honest, I do not know.

Regardless, this problem is unlikely to resolve itself.

It is doubly strange that it should be occurring here in Dubai, which is supposed to be safe and peaceful.

As the problem is itself unusual, it stands to reason that the cause may be so as well, no?

That makes sense. All right then, do you have any information you can give us that might help?

I do not.

That is why I adjusted my schedule to ensure the issue is resolved as quickly as possible.

？！

I gave all my Univer Eats employees a leave of absence and am now making all of our deliveries myself!

This guarantees that I will be the next employee to be attacked, at which time I can assess the situation for myself.

This highly strategic, mission-critical methodology is designed to deliver a high-impact solution through optimized best-in-class execution!

Sounds an awful lot like brute force to me.

？！

Yeah, saw that coming a mile away. But, sure. Okay.

You've probably got a moped or something, right? Maybe we can follow along in our bus?

No, I use the traditional Amazones means of transportation for our deliveries: my feet.

Oh. I see.

Does that mean we need to literally run around? I really don't think I'm up to that.

Not to worry. I should be able to keep up with her on my own.

My experience being Santa Claus should prove useful when making ordinary deliveries as well.

I kind of hate that you're talking complete nonsense but I understand you perfectly.

(Okay, let's think this though. If there's a Beast alert in effect now, then it's safe to say there is a Beast out there.)

(But I also really don't think Ereshkigal has been going around attacking these delivery workers.)

(Which means the attacker isn't a Beast...or we're dealing with a completely different Beast.)

(Anyway, for now, I definitely don't want everyone to start suspecting there's a Beast under their noses, so...)

(...I think the best thing I can do for Ereshkigal right now is find whoever is responsible for these attacks!)

(She and Fujimaru put a lot of trust in me when they told me her secret. I can't let them down!)

Well, um, helping with these deliveries would probably take us to lots of different places.

And since we were planning to travel around the financial district anyway...I don't think it would affect our itinerary all that much.

So if this is what you want to do, Fujimaru, I'm totally fine with it!

Thank you. This will be a big help. Oh, good timing. We just received a new order.

Let us head to our delivery location right away.

But first, we need to stop by, let's see...a curry restaurant to pick up the order.

Be careful. There is no telling when or where the attacker might strike.

？！

Yes, that's true.

The souqthat is, the market we'll visit later, is supposed to be more overtly commercial...

...but it's clear how busy things are around here from all the cars and motorcycles on the roads.

Univer Eats is not the only food delivery service operating in Dubai. We have several competitors.

It is inevitable that new entrants will appear whenever people see an opportunity for success.

Indeed, we have many rivals in the online commerce and standard delivery markets as well.

Sounds like you're right in the middle of a battle for your very survival then.

Exactly. And the fact of the matter is, this city's economy is thriving.

It's certainly better for a city to have a good economy than a poor one...

...but when people begin to come not for love of the city, but in pursuit of wealth, that is when problems can crop up.

Not that I would know anything about that.

This city is home to a diverse customer space spanning a wide variety of backgrounds and lifestyles.

There are both good and challenging aspects to that.

Ordinary citizens, celebrities, business owners, workers, and now, a possible Beast...

... ...

Anyway, our client should be somewhere around here.

Hmm. I'm supposed to be incognito, so I don't really want to stand out too much, but...this should be okay, right?

Yeah, it's got to be better to order delivery than to walk into a restaurant and ask to be served.

Plus, it's too late to cancel my order now. Yeah, this should be fine...right?

I think that is them.

Delivery from Univer Eats!

Oh, yes, that's mine. Thank you so much!