Location: Liu Association - Southern Branch
Liu S. Section 2 Fixer Mei
We’ve been receiving reports recently that cases of the Distortion are growing exponentially, centered around Nest L.
Liu S. Section 2 Fixer Cecil
Even private Offices are reluctant to take the work, going so far as to cancel contracts one-sidedly.
Liu S. Section 2 Fixer Cecil
Not only would they shun requests about dealing with Distortions, they’d also avoid any task related to the Library as well…
Liu S. Section 2 Director Lowell
…I guess it was to be expected. There’s a reason the Liu was put in charge.
Liu S. Section 2 Fixer Mei
Director. I heard that Section 1 has sent us a report about the Distortion.
Liu S. Section 2 Director Lowell
Yeah. That’s why I called you here.
Liu S. Section 2 Director Lowell
You both know how we’re encouraged to take records of the Distortion in order to gather data, right?
Liu S. Section 2 Fixer Cecil
Yes. And our records can only be shown to those in close proximity to a moonlight stone, product of M Corp’s Singularity.
Liu S. Section 2 Fixer Mei
Which we’re obliged to carry for our mission, so it doesn’t matter much to us.
Liu S. Section 2 Fixer Mei
What they sent is no ordinary report, is it? If you’re sharing it with us…
Liu S. Section 2 Director Lowell
You got that right. There’s something that irked me about the footage that came with it.
Liu S. Section 2 Director Lowell
Long story short, the Liu’s South Section 1 has failed to capture the Crying Children.
Liu S. Section 2 Fixer Mei
…Was the team wiped out?
Liu S. Section 2 Director Lowell
No… They just missed it.
Liu S. Section 2 Fixer Cecil
But if Section 1, led by Director Xiao of all people too, couldn’t capture it… This can’t be an average Urban Nightmare.
Liu S. Section 2 Fixer Cecil
Has it been exalted recently?
Liu S. Section 2 Director Lowell
We’ll watch the footage first. It starts around here.
Location: Somewhere in V Corp’s Nest
Liu S. Section 1 Director Xiao
Stay sharp, people! We never back down no matter what happens.
Liu S. Section 1 Fixers Liu Association Fixers
Yes, ma’am!
Liu S. Section 1 Fixer Miris
Director! The Crying Children just fell to the ground.
Liu S. Section 1 Director Xiao
It won’t be flying anymore with that messed up body… We’re almost there. This is the final push, so give it your all!
Liu S. Section 1 Fixer Liu Fixer 1
D—Director… There’s someone…
Liu S. Section 1 Director Xiao
What?
The Blue Reverberation Argalia
Aw, you poor thing… Section 1 of the Liu is out for your blood, a little kid.
The Blue Reverberation Argalia
Isn’t it sad that no one recognizes the pure and clean melody flowing within you…?
Liu S. Section 1 Director Xiao
…The Blue Reverberation.
The Blue Reverberation Argalia
Hi there~ Been a while, huh?
The Blue Reverberation Argalia
Your greeting is as sharp and bitey as I remember.
Liu S. Section 1 Director Xiao
I don’t know what you’re up to this time… But I’d be glad if you could gently retreat and stay out of this.
The Blue Reverberation Argalia
I’m only here to take that pitiful friend rejected by everyone, that’s all.
The Blue Reverberation Argalia
Injured, abandoned… And about to be struck down by the likes of you.
The Blue Reverberation Argalia
How sad… All he wanted to do was cry. I would shed tears for him, almost.
Liu S. Section 1 Director Xiao
Cut the nonsense. What more could you possibly want to justify doing this?
Liu S. Section 1 Director Xiao
I doubt a Fixer at your standing would feel that anything is insufficient…
Liu S. Section 1 Director Xiao
Don’t think being a Color will save you. If you keep snooping around pulling nonsense like this, your elimination will be in order one day.
The Blue Reverberation Argalia
To feel that nothing is insufficient… Eliminated…
The Blue Reverberation Argalia
Tell me, are you satisfied with your current life?
The Blue Reverberation Argalia
Affluence on the surface isn’t all there is to it.
The Blue Reverberation Argalia
A corner of my heart is always empty. When I try to fill it with useless things, it only gets bigger, and strangles me…
The Blue Reverberation Argalia
Yes. I’m looking for something, a something that has to fit in that void.
The Blue Reverberation Argalia
I think I found it… But I’ve yet to claim it.
The Blue Reverberation Argalia
I can’t wait for the day I fill that emptiness and make myself whole.
The Blue Reverberation Argalia
…Oh, is yours filled already? Filled by a person dear to you.
Liu S. Section 1 Director Xiao
…Don’t yap your mouth any further.
The Blue Reverberation Argalia
Haha, I can’t dare to crack a joke under your fierce gaze…
The Blue Reverberation Argalia
I’d hate to see each other’s insides today, so could you kindly put this scary fellow away?
Liu S. Section 1 Director Xiao
Just one last question…
Liu S. Section 1 Director Xiao
What in the Wings’ name are you planning to do with a monster like that?
The Blue Reverberation Argalia
That’s a funny question…
The Blue Reverberation Argalia
When there’s a pitiful thing on the street, everyone gets the urge to bring it home and adore it, no…?
The Blue Reverberation Argalia
I think this one could join me… He looks like an interesting specimen, too.
The Blue Reverberation Argalia
Don’t you agree, Oswald?
The 8 o’Clock Ringmaster Oswald
He smells too sour right now, but… In our hands, he’ll be letting off a dirty stench in no time!
The 8 o’Clock Ringmaster Oswald
This weird sourness is what you get if you don’t know how to wash a body right.
The 8 o’Clock Ringmaster Oswald
I was juuuuust about to neaten him nicely, but Mr. Funnybones over there had to send him elsewhere!!
Liu S. Section 1 Fixer Chun
…What even?
The Blue Reverberation Argalia
The bottom line is, us taking him shouldn’t bother you at all.
The Blue Reverberation Argalia
If I took him, he’d stop destroying this Nest any further. In other words, I’m saving you the fundamental trouble of taking care of him.
Liu S. Section 1 Director Xiao
No, that’s all the more reason to stop you. For us, capturing the Distortion is an option.
The Blue Reverberation Argalia
Creatures are everywhere in the City, does it have to be this poor friend?
The Blue Reverberation Argalia
I’m starting to get tired of talking… So let’s wrap up our friendly conversation here.
The Blue Reverberation Argalia
Oswald? Give them a show for me.
The 8 o’Clock Ringmaster Oswald
Ms. Mermaid, Mr. Knife! It’s time to show the skills we’ve honed and whet!
The 8 o’Clock Circus Oswald
This place will be filled with thunderous cheers and wondrous applause~!
Liu S. Section 1 Fixer Miris
Dammit… Director, give us an order!
Liu S. Section 1 Director Xiao
Blue Reverberation…
The Blue Reverberation Argalia
The three of us can go to a quiet place for some private talk… Pluto?
Yesterday’s Promise Pluto
But of course.
Location: Liu Association - Southern Branch
Liu S. Section 2 Fixer Cecil
…The Blue Reverberation.
Liu S. Section 2 Fixer Mei
I don’t get it. Why would a Fixer at such a high grade do something like that…
Liu S. Section 2 Director Lowell
That’s beyond anyone’s understanding for now. Only the Blue Reverberation himself knows.
Liu S. Section 2 Director Lowell
Anyway, even though the team had no problem handling the troupers of the 8 o’Clock Circus… The Blue Reverberation vanished with the Crying Children in the meantime.
Liu S. Section 2 Director Lowell
Section 1 will be staying at the temporary base for a few more days to secure samples of other Distortions.
Liu S. Section 2 Fixer Cecil
So that’s why they hadn’t come back by this morning… I was wondering if anything happened to them.
Liu S. Section 2 Fixer Mei
You must be worried a lot, director.
Liu S. Section 2 Director Lowell
Not at all. I trust in Xiao.
Liu S. Section 2 Director Lowell
Setting that aside… How’s our situation?
Liu S. Section 2 Fixer Mei
Section 2 isn’t exactly doing much better.
Liu S. Section 2 Fixer Mei
The staff we dispatched to Nest L have reported several casualties, including a sizable number of associate Offices…
Liu S. Section 2 Fixer Mei
If we continue… We might be in serious trouble.
Liu S. Section 2 Director Lowell
Yeah… We can’t just sit here and take the losses forever.
Liu S. Section 2 Director Lowell
We did make some progress, though.
Liu S. Section 2 Director Lowell
We’ve found that every person who was subject to the Distortion Phenomenon was under extreme emotional stress.
Liu S. Section 2 Fixer Cecil
Emotional… stress, sir?
Liu S. Section 2 Fixer Mei
It seems evident that those who manifested the Distortion were emotionally pressured to an extreme.
Liu S. Section 2 Fixer Mei
But the thing is, who in the City doesn’t get stressed in their life, really? Everyone’s holding their anguish within themselves.
Liu S. Section 2 Director Lowell
Exactly. This is my speculation, but it might be that the Distortion occurs when the emotions bottling up inside exceed a certain threshold.
Liu S. Section 2 Director Lowell
What that threshold may be, or how high it may be… is still a mystery, though.
Liu S. Section 2 Fixer Mei
If your hypothesis is sound, the only ways to stop the Distortion altogether would be to reduce people’s stress or heighten each person’s threshold…
Liu S. Section 2 Fixer Cecil
Neither of which is possible in the City.
Liu S. Section 2 Fixer Cecil
There still isn’t enough evidence to prove it. We need more info…
Liu S. Section 2 Director Lowell
Well… It’s our job as Fixers to fix the problems we’re paid to solve. We’ve got to see what else can be done.
Liu S. Section 2 Director Lowell
I have high expectations for this invitation. Let’s buck up a little.
Liu S. Section 2 Fixers Mei & Cecil
Understood.
Liu S. Section 2 Fixer Mei
By the way, director, how’s that one thing going?
Liu S. Section 2 Director Lowell
Hm? Oh, are you talking about me entering the dumpling making contest…
Liu S. Section 2 Director Lowell
No, wait… I never told anyone but Xiao about that…
Liu S. Section 2 Fixer Mei
No! I mean the preparation for your first wedding anniversary next month.
Liu S. Section 2 Fixer Mei
I heard you’re gonna give her a Nest migration permit as a present.
Liu S. Section 2 Director Lowell
What? How did you…
Liu S. Section 2 Fixer Cecil
…
Liu S. Section 2 Fixer Cecil
…Hm hmm.
Liu S. Section 2 Director Lowell
…Words spread so quickly.
Liu S. Section 2 Fixer Mei
Come on, director. Everyone in Section 2’s gossiping about how you’re spending your newlywed life with Director Xiao the Maiden of Iron.
Liu S. Section 2 Director Lowell
Let’s save that for after we’ve finished our work.
Liu S. Section 2 Fixer Mei
Yes, sir!
Liu S. Section 2 Director Lowell
And Cecil, we should have a little chat later…
Liu S. Section 2 Fixer Cecil
Yes, sir…
Location: Inside the Library
Library Director Angela
…I’m still unsure what the Blue Reverberation’s goal is, but I think I get one thing for certain.
Servant Roland
That he’s an absolute nutcase?
Library Director Angela
I’m not in the mood for jokes.
Library Director Angela
From what we’ve seen so far, the Blue Reverberation was gathering Distortions.
Library Director Angela
No, I’m not sure if they can be called as such. “Distortions” that are capable of thinking and acting rationally…
Servant Roland
Sure, that’s what he seems to be doing, but…
Servant Roland
We still don’t have a clue why. What’s a bunch of freaks going to do?
Library Director Angela
Whatever it may be, I don’t think it will be a good thing.
Library Director Angela
In any case, we’re wasting our time by pondering over a question we’ll never figure out the answer to on our own.
Servant Roland
Well… That’s a good point.
Library Director Angela
So, I suppose it’s common for Fixers to start families?
Servant Roland
Oh, it is. They’re often in life-or-death situations together, working face to face.
Servant Roland
Most end in tragedy, though. If a couple’s staying in the Fixer business, it won’t take long until only one of them remains.
Servant Roland
Exhibit A: Me.
Library Director Angela
Good point. That Fixer is about to meet his end here, too…
Servant Roland
…You’re speaking way too casually about it.
Library Director Angela
Sigh… Roland, I’ll say this before you get sentimental.
Library Director Angela
They could very well make the choice to not come to the Library.
Library Director Angela
Yet they still choose to come here out of their own volition.
Servant Roland
Urban Nightmares and beyond are no longer a matter of choice.
Servant Roland
Urban Nightmares and Stars of the City are designated as such because there’s an invisible sense of compulsion involved.
Library Director Angela
Invisible compulsion? That doesn’t change the fact that they’re able to make choices.
Library Director Angela
If they have things they cherish so much, why should they risk their lives by going to a dangerous place?
Library Director Angela
They have the liberty of choice.
Servant Roland
…Angela, you were right when you said no one is truly free in this City.
Servant Roland
Choice and liberty… The things they cherish so much?
Servant Roland
People’s desires clash and intertwine with one another to create an intangible chain. That’s life in the City.
Servant Roland
Them coming here as the Association ordered…
Servant Roland
All the guests ending up as books in the Library…
Servant Roland
Me leaving the house for urgent work…
Servant Roland
They might seem like choices made out of free will, but in truth, our hands were forced by the shackles of others’ desires.
Library Director Angela
…Sigh.
Library Director Angela
So? Are you saying that I shouldn’t pursue my freedom because I must show consideration for them?
Library Director Angela
Because I’m a machine? Because I’m unworthy?
Servant Roland
No, it’s got nothing to do with those.
Servant Roland
But if you keep trying to earn freedom this way, the karma will come back to strangle you one day.
Library Director Angela
Enough of that drivel. This is this, and that is that.
Location: Library Entrance
Liu S. Section 2 Fixer Mei
And we’re here!
Liu S. Section 2 Fixer Cecil
This place looks a lot more antiquated than I expected.
Liu S. Section 2 Director Lowell
It does for sure.
Liu S. Section 2 Fixer Mei
Are you gonna decorate your house in this style, director?
Liu S. Section 2 Director Lowell
Well, Xiao prefers something cute—
Liu S. Section 2 Director Lowell
…Mei! Stop asking silly things and focus on work.
Liu S. Section 2 Fixer Cecil
Oh, so that’s our Section 1 Director’s taste, I see… I’ll take note of that.
Liu S. Section 2 Director Lowell
Sigh…
Library Director Angela
Greetings, dear guests.
Library Director Angela
I am Angela, the director and librarian of my role’s namesake.
Liu S. Section 2 Director Lowell
We are the Fixers of Section 2 of the Liu Association, Southern Branch.
Liu S. Section 2 Director Lowell
We’ve come to retrieve the books listed on your invitation.
Library Director Angela
You may take them if you can overcome the ordeals.
Liu S. Section 2 Director Lowell
Do you have anything else to say? The situation is pressing, and a quick guidance would be appreciated.
Library Director Angela
…Are the books truly worth risking your life over, however?
Liu S. Section 2 Director Lowell
What do you mean?
Library Director Angela
I’m asking if they’re valuable enough for you to give up the joys of everyday life.
Liu S. Section 2 Fixer Mei
A machine that’s curious about the life of humans, huh~
Liu S. Section 2 Director Lowell
This is what I must do to protect the joys of life you just mentioned.
Liu S. Section 2 Director Lowell
There aren’t a lot of things that are done out of one’s own volition. And we can’t exactly afford to skip on work we don’t feel like doing.
Library Director Angela
…I see.
Library Director Angela
So you were… coerced into making this choice.
Liu S. Section 2 Director Lowell
May we enter now?
Library Director Angela
You may. And may you find your book… in this place.
