Ambush (before battle)
Deep resentment ought to be washed away~
for when the far one comes, betwixt the burnt doors shall a star fall astray~
A-are you sure we're going the right way? I don't like the sound of these weird songs...
The main streets are most likely teeming with those seeking to bring harm to the young master. We must venture an alternative path.
And like he said, there weren't any skirmishes once we made it deeper into the dark alleyways.
The lack of foot traffic would normally be pretty unsettling, but I guess that's what we needed at this moment.
As for the song... it's a song that's become rather popular in the Backstreets in the recent months.
The lyrics are pretty uh... ominous for a popular song.
It is a song that spread through word of mouth. It sings of how the annihilated Kong family -
Ahm. This is not the place to discuss such matters. I will share the tale in a more appropriate setting later, should we come across it.
Didn't know there was a song like that.
Is this the first time you've heard of it too, Hong Lu?
He's a posh git from a posh family. I doubt he's ever set his precious feet in the Backstreets, so it's no wonder he's never heard anything like it.
Hm~ I have been to the Backstreets before... but Heathcliff isn't wrong.
I did spend most of my time in my room.
That is precisely because you were the most treasured one of them all, young master.
Much like how the jade of the greatest worth is to be cherished, prized, and hidden in the deepest depths of one's coffers where none shall reach!
…….
I'm... like him...?
... To a lesser degree, particularly as of late.
<Hm...>
So that guy used to work for the Jia family, huh...
<Do you know him, Hong Lu?>
Hm? Um...
... Young master? Is there... something on my face?
Ah...
Hong Lu stopped himself as though a thought flashed in his head, and glanced quietly in my direction.
Then...
It's nothing. Shall we continue walking down this road?
Indeed. Humble as I may be, I am very well-versed in the roads of this area.
Hong Lu shook his head at me as he casually changed the subject.
It was... as though he was trying to hide something we know from Qingtao.
<... Should we be suspicious of something?>
…….
... He is a collaborator, but only a temporary one. A degree of caution would be advisable.
Given Pilot's clear inexperience and naïveté, we would do well to remain suspicious of this character.
Faust and Outis approached me as Hong Lu was nodding along and chatting amicably with our guide.
Well, looking back at our journey so far...
... I think we learned our lesson about blindly trusting every collaborator we come across.
With this growing mistrust in mind, I slowly made my distance from the guide before asking Faust the burning question.
<So what was that about back there with Vergilius? Something about him going off to help them out...?>
... The consequences of his actions at Wuthering Heights.
... Oh.
His actions were a violation of one of the more important items in his contract with the company. He is simply taking responsibility for the breach of contract.
... I think back to the incident at the manor. It feels like such a long time ago now.
<Well, that's kind of a bummer... He really helped us out of a pickle.>
What?! That's what they're dragging him away for?!
... Is there a problem, honored guests?
Aha! Ahahaha! It's nothing, nothing at all! No problemo! Right, Ryōshū?
Kuh!
S.U. Idiot.
Meursault, can you carry Heath for a little bit? He's dead tired.
It will be done.
Heathcliff, punched in the gut by the hilt of Ryōshū's sword, fell forward right onto Meursault's welcoming shoulder.
<Rodya...?>
Y'know the kind of person I hate the most~? The kind of dull people who can't read the room~
Don'tcha feel the same way, Dante?
<Y-yep...>
I nodded enthusiastically, as something seemed to imply that she wasn't really asking me a question.
I don't think she was about to punch my lights out, but…
... Rodion and Ryōshū judged correctly this time. Classified company information must not be discussed in the presence of an outsider.
Reminds me of the time he got knocked out cold for a while because he kept asking questions without raising his hands. This guy just doesn't learn, huh.
Mm. You successfully preserved the secrecy of classified information without spilling blood. I applaud this policy.
Heh heh. I did good, didn't I?
... I'm just not a fan of how they're treating Heathcliff like dirt now.
If it is 'no problemo', as you say, then that is well indeed...
... Yet I worry that it appears that the problem has found us anyway.
I stopped and looked around, realizing that we were surrounded by a group of people wielding various weapons in their hands.
What, uh, happened to finding us a safer path?
It is likely that my guidance has indeed given us a much safer path away from the more obvious skirmishes. However... to my great regret, it appears that the more observant of our enemies have tracked us here.
Dammit, then what are you even here for? Isn't it your job to prevent this exact scenario?
Haah... let's leave the finger-pointing for later. We're gonna have to take them all down.
Mm. They must not be allowed to disseminate our current location.
Exactly. ... Where are you slinking off to, Mr. Qingtao?
I must regrettably and humbly say that my talents in war are terribly lacking, so I intend to become scarce for a moment. Yet, I have the utmost faith in the strengths of our young master and the honored guests in overcoming this adversity, so...
Qingtao was already standing so far away from the front lines that he was practically hiding behind me.
<... Faust. Anything you can tell us about these enemies?>
No. But a consultation with the Gesellschaft seems unnecessary if we are to determine whether negotiating with them is an option.
... They're coming.
<Meursault... wake Heathcliff up and set him down.>
It will be done.