Code Purple (before battle)

The line's moving quickly. It'll be our turn in about 10 minutes at most.

Will all thirteen of us need to answer immigration questions? They won't be able to understand Manager Dante, so what should we do?

Ishmael seemed to have a habit of speaking quickly and being more inquisitive when she got anxious.

I was just about to get to that.

Listen up. The K Corp. official will only ask very simple questions to the passengers in this line.

And your answers will be similarly concise.

When the border official asks about the nature of your visit…

Say: "I'm here for business on the behalf of Limbus Company, please refer to my work visa."

Remember this exact phrase so that you can recite it word for word.

I'll take care of the rest, so you just have to prove that you aren't here to cause trouble.

If even memorizing that is too much of a burden for you, I suggest that you keep your mouth shut.

You can present your employee card instead.

<Keep quiet and don't cause trouble. Easiest tasks in the world.>

I sneakily mumbled a sarcastic remark.

I was worried that Faust might rat me out, but thankfully…

Vergilius was idly staring off into space, sparing me from his scathing commentary.

Now, next up.

If you have a question, make sure to first ask yourself if it's actually meaningful.

Then quietly raise your hand.

Several hands were lifted, including mine.

Rodion.

Since this trip is for business, we can carry our weapons, yeah~?

Correct. Next.

Then, Greg's creepy-crawly arm and Dante's chichi clockhead're getting a pass too?

That should be the case. For your reference, our manager's head counts as a prosthetic rather than a weapon, which means it'd be approved even if what we had were a tourist visa, powers to revive notwithstanding.

Ishmael took the role of the model student and answered in Vergilius's stead.

It feels like something changed about Ishmael's attitude since the casino job…

She seems to have decided to take matters into her own hands after I betrayed her expectations of my capabilities as a leader.

Precisely.

Gregor and I put our hands down at the same time.

And, Ryōshū. Put out your cigarette before you speak.

…I didn't raise my hand.

……

Vergilius was doing his best to ignore Don Quixote's arm stretched skyward…

But he finally caved and gave the woman with an adamantly raised hand the chance to speak.

…Fine, Don Quixote. What is it?

For what purpose doth that barrier of glass serve?

Following Don Quixote's finger, our attention was drawn to the glass wall stood in the middle of the building.

On the other side of that clear dividing wall…

Were countless people waiting in line.

That line's slowed to a crawl, people are sat on the floor waiting for it to move.

Looks like they've been there for quite some time.

There are many armed guards as well. Three times as many compared to this side.

…Most of the glass walls you find inside buildings are there for safety reasons.

Well~ Simply put, that line's for Backstreets folks. Each Nest handles immigration differently, but wherever it may be, it's super-duper hard to get into another Nest without a proper visa.

Why'd you think those bullies jumped us on the way to the checkpoint? They wanted our visa so they could enter the Nest.

…A problem we are not in our power to resolve.

However, that answer didn't satisfy Don Quixote.

Whether it was the fault of the gloomy yet oppressive atmosphere of the area beyond the wall…

Or the disturbances happening in there, I couldn't say.

Manager, it's our turn now.

<Huh? Right…>

Our line moved at such a quick pace, we barely had time to chat before it was our turn to answer the official's questions.

Remember: When you're asked about the purpose of your visit…

…Remind me one more time and I'll show SANGRIA to you and the official or whatever.

Despite Ishmael's worries, our inspection was smooth sailing.

Please state your affiliation and purpose of visit.

Ah, I've come from Limbus Company on business. Here's my employee card.

…All checked out. Next.

From Limbus Company. Business reasons. Take a look at my card and all that.

…All checked out. Next.

After our first Sinner proved who we work for, it was a breeze for the rest of us.

The official asked the same question in the same dry tone, took a cursory glance at our faces and employee cards―though based on their speed, it seemed more like a customary gesture rather than an actual look over―then let each Sinner pass.

…… ……

…Something's amiss over there.

The glass wall standing between us and them was thick enough to block out sound.

It was hard for us to tell what was going on through the wall.

However, I could see what was happening unambiguously; someone with cuffed hands was being dragged away by security.

And a small child was crying next to them, clearly scared and confused.

…We shouldn't bother. I don't know what happened, but I guess someone broke a taboo.

Yeah, sure. Those impoverished vandals and their audacity to break the taboo of not stuffing enough cash in the right people's pockets, am I right?

…Are you mocking me right now?

Huh. What, I thought you didn't care? Guess someone's knickers are in a twist.

While I was distracted by Heathcliff loudly celebrating his first successful tease on Ishmael…

Our usual suspect sprang forth at her least expected moment yet again.

Please state your affiliation and purpose of visit.

……

I am come to liberate the weak and powerless!

An emotion is expressed for the first time on the checkpoint official's face.

Flabbergastation.

They looked up at Don Quixote with a face screaming that it was flabbergasted.

Release them at once! Can you not see that they are suffering?

…Please state your affiliation and purpose of visit.

The official ignored her demand and parroted the same question.

All the while, Don Quixote was getting more upset by the minute.

And then…

In looking through the transparent wall again…

I saw the desperate child mouth a scream at the man dragged away in handcuffs:

"Daaa

aaddy!"

If you are unwilling to take action, then I shall myself!

…Hoo.

Code purple. Code purple. Violation of Taboo K185 on site.

Requesting Thrombocyte units. Repeat, requesting Thrombocyte…

Veering away from inquiry like a broken record, the official spoke an intimidating immune response to the radio.

쾅 쾅 쾅 (철문이 강하게 내려찍는 소리)

Siren

Attention all personnel: Code purple. Code purple. Circulation Hall 2, Inspection Booth 14. Thrombocyte, Leukocyte.

Blaring sirens accompanied the perplexing announcement, all the while thick metal gates shut around us.

…Should've smashed her skull in and carried her in a body sack.

I doubt that would've made much of a difference.

Thrombo, Leuko… I believe they refer to platelets and white blood cells respectively.

It must be them. Fitting for K Corp, I'd say.

Looking in the direction Faust indicated, we all saw what she meant.

Security forces wearing menacing uniforms were staring at us.