Location: Thumb Southern Base - Meeting Room
Thumb Capo Boris
Phew~ Just had a call, it looks like there’s huge fights with
the Index going on outside.
Thumb Capo Boris
The streets are gonna reek of blood, eh?
Thumb Capo Denis
It’s not just the streets, the entire Nest is awash with blood…
Thumb Capo Boris
The hell is the
Liu Association up to anyway, poking around an abandoned Nest?
Thumb Capo Boris
The Index and
R Corp. are already keeping us swamped…
Thumb Capo Boris
Besides, there’s been an awful lot of Distortion sightings around here these days. All those feuds took out half my good men.
Thumb Capo Katriel
Everyone seems to be looking for clues on the Distortion. They must’ve determined that the Library sitting at the center of the Nest has to be closely related to that phenomenon.
Thumb Capo Katriel
And it’s true that the Distortion has been happening here more frequently than any other place.
Thumb Sottocapo Kalo
Sit down now. As you have said, the Index, the Liu, and R Corp. are ransacking this Nest.
Thumb Capo Katriel
It’s not just them, we’ve received reports that the Blue Reverberation and the Purple Tear are also present.
Thumb Sottocapo Kalo
The Blue Reverberation, you say…
Thumb Capo Boris
The one who took our fabric turned out to be working for him.
Thumb Sottocapo Kalo
I see… What do you think is attracting the Blue Reverberation and his gang here?
Thumb Capo Katriel
It must be the Library. Several well-known individuals and groups fell victim to it, too.
Thumb Capo Boris
Whoever takes over that Library is gonna be the victor of this tedious battle.
Thumb Capo Katriel
But whenever we try to go there ourselves, the invitation to the Library just vanishes.
Thumb Capo Katriel
It’s as if they’re refusing to let us in…
Thumb Sottocapo Kalo
That was true up until now. We tried acquiring it through our subordinates, and claiming it from others with force, but nothing worked…
Thumb Sottocapo Kalo
However, I directly received an invitation today.
Thumb Sottocapo Kalo
It says they have a book of the Liu Association up for grabs.
Thumb Capo Katriel
That’s the book we need the most right now.
Thumb Capo Katriel
If we can find a way to deal with the Liu Association, then we’re guaranteed to win at least half of this Nest.
Thumb Capo Denis
It’ll give us a chance to stifle them for sure…
Index Messenger Yan
An underboss bringing all his capos into the Library doesn’t strike me as a good idea, though?
Thumb Capo Boris
What’s a Messenger of the Index doing here.
Thumb Capo Denis
If you say anything stupid, I’ll pull out your tongue…
Index Messenger Yan
You guys are always on edge.
Index Messenger Yan
I’m not here to see you bleed today.
Thumb Capo Boris
And I reckon you aren’t here to throw cheap jabs at us, either?
Index Messenger Yan
Sottocapo Kalo? May I speak to you for a moment?
Thumb Sottocapo Kalo
I appreciate the Index for upholding basic manners. Go on ahead.
Index Messenger Yan
This is just my opinion, but… I don’t think you should go. You’re most likely to turn into a book there.
Index Messenger Yan
If the underboss managing this area ends up disappearing, it’d only be a matter of time until the Index seizes this place.
Index Messenger Yan
And just think about it; if the Index happens to get your book at the Library, not only will the Thumb have a harder time trying to break the Index, it’ll also put the entire Syndicate at a huge disadvantage. Wouldn’t you agree?
Thumb Sottocapo Kalo
Well, this is a rare occasion. A Messenger, stating their own opinion instead of delivering Prescripts?
Thumb Sottocapo Kalo
…I only have the patience to acknowledge the Prescripts of the Index, not the personal ramblings of a mere Messenger.
Thumb Sottocapo Kalo
Tell the zealots of the Index remaining in L Corp’s territory this: Once we’ve sorted out this matter, we shall pull out their teeth and tongues, and feed them to the hounds as punishment for insulting the Thumb.
Thumb Sottocapo Kalo
Although you won’t be alive to relay that message with your own mouth.
Index Messenger Yan
…So it had to go this way.
Thumb Capo Denis
…When one dares irritate their superior, take their tongue.
Location: Inside the Library
Library Director Angela
They execute anyone who ruffles their feathers even so slightly.
Servant Roland
They don’t care who the offender may be.
Library Director Angela
It certainly looks like they don’t. Not even the member of another Finger seems to be exempt from their rules.
Library Director Angela
And remembering what I heard last time… the echelon appeared to matter as well.
Servant Roland
That’s right. You have to be courteous to people whose position is higher than yours.
Servant Roland
You can’t casually mention their name or speak before they do. You need permission for every little thing.
Servant Roland
Well, there are exceptions, strictly speaking… A high class person can theoretically lend the authority of their position to someone else, but it’s a rare case.
Servant Roland
Generally speaking, a Grade 1 Fixer is on the same position as a capo in their hierarchy.
Servant Roland
You can’t even make eye contact with a person whose class is higher than you… Neither of those Fingers are right in the head, I gotta say.
Library Director Angela
I don’t know about that. I actually like the straightforwardness of it.
Location: Library Entrance
Thumb Sottocapo Kalo
Anyone sustained heavy injuries? We don’t need dead weight getting in our way.
Thumb Capo Katriel
I’m unharmed, sire.
Thumb Capo Boris
It wasn’t easy, though. The Index is a bothersome bunch, even just a Messenger can be a pain in the ass to deal with.
Thumb Capo Denis
Those who don’t respect their superiors need to be taught a lesson in manners…
Thumb Capo Katriel
Are you going to be alright, sire? The words of that Messenger had a point, it may have been safer… and beneficial for the Thumb if you stayed in the base.
Thumb Sottocapo Kalo
Shouldn’t you be worrying about your own safety first?
Library Director Angela
Greetings, dear guests.
Library Director Angela
I am Angela, the director and librarian of my role’s namesake.
Thumb Capo Katriel
That’s intriguing. I heard that the director of this place was a machine… but I suppose that’s not entirely true.
Library Director Angela
It’s rather irritating to hear you go on about whether I’m a machine or not right in front of my face, you know?
Thumb Sottocapo Kalo
The ruling figure of a Star of the City stands at a higher echelon than a sottocapo such as myself…
Thumb Sottocapo Kalo
You ought to pay her due respect, Katriel.
Thumb Capo Katriel
…That was impolite of me. I’ll pay my price now.
Thumb Capo Katriel
Denis, please cut off my tongue.
Thumb Sottocapo Kalo
Katriel may not be flawless, but I appreciate how she’s quick to reflect on her mistakes.
Thumb Sottocapo Kalo
Please forgive our rudeness with this, madam.
Library Director Angela
Sigh… He was right about you all being sick in the head…
Library Director Angela
May you find your book here, I suppose.
