Mesmer Jr.: I will explain all of these as briefly as possible.
Mesmer Jr.: Good news.
Mesmer Jr.: The analysis report on the mask you submitted to the Scientific Computing Center is now available, Timekeeper.
Mesmer Jr.: We've found the same component in it as the raindrop from the Storm.
Vertin: ...!
Mesmer Jr.: This is a component named "asymmetrical nuclide R" by the Scientific Computing Center.
Mesmer Jr.: Its name comes from the bifurcation structure it presents under the arcanum imaging.
Mesmer Jr.: The Scientific Computing Center has also run some tests on the samples of the raindrops you previously submitted. After removing all water, mud, human hair, and dandruff within, the remaining unanalyzable component is what we called "asymmetrical nuclide R."
Vertin: What a familiar name.
Yes. As an expedient, she borrowed the first half of it to make up the answer to the "Three Questions."
Mesmer Jr. doesn't pay attention to her murmuring.
Mesmer Jr.: But it disappeared right away, and we only have a photo of it.
Mesmer Jr.: Fortunately, we extracted the stable form of it from the Manus mask.
Mesmer Jr.: It might be the key to staying immune to the "Storm."
Vertin: Does that mean it'll be possible for the Scientific Computing Center to develop protective gears which are immune to the "Storm," like the Manus does?
Mesmer Jr.: Seems to be so. A credit to you.
Mesmer Jr.: The whole center is crazy about it, and I'm responsible for passing along the good news on behalf of my fatigued colleagues who stayed up all night and suffered from neurasthenia.
Mesmer passes them a heavy leather box.
Mesmer Jr.: We need more samples.
Mesmer Jr.: This is the sampling device for "asymmetrical nuclide R." It's the one and only. The manual is in the interlayer.
Vertin: I'll be careful. Thank you, Mesmer.
Mesmer Jr.: Don't be. I'm just delivering this for someone else.
This is the first time she has seen her since waking up.
Vertin: ...
Vertin: How do you feel now? I'm sorry about what happened in the rehab center.
Mesmer Jr.: I'm good. It just helped me further verify some factual information about arcanists.
Mesmer Jr.: It's just ... I thought you weren't one of them, Vertin.
Vertin: ...
Mesmer adjusts her cufflinks and quickly walks away.
At the same time, the first assistant rushes from the other side of the corridor.
Sonetto: I just heard some spirit-lifting news at the hall. Phenomenal achievement, Timekeeper!
Sonetto's face brightens with sheer delight.
She has changed back into her familiar attire.
Sonetto: It's a tremendous breakthrough in our fight with Manus Vindictae. Everyone at the headquarters is cheering.
Sonetto: Although I don't know what this component really is. Is it a kind of ritual or a unique substance?
Vertin: That'll be the next thing to find out in our investigation, I think.
Vertin: Manus Vindictae always has more information on the "Storm" and how to be immune to it. We've been trying our best to keep up with their progress.
Vertin: Fortunately, now we have another direction.
Sonetto: Oh, and these are the files you asked me to search for.
Sonetto hands out a stack of magazines with yellowing covers, each corner carefully flattened.
Sonetto: Luckily, the SPDM library has every single issue of Global Arcane Geography since the 1960s.
Sonetto: Also, Ms. Sotheby accepted your request.
Vertin: Thank you, Sonetto.
Vertin: With these files and the help of Regulus ... That should be enough.
The figures of the big names are moving between piles of paperwork ...
And someone is in big trouble.
Regulus: Haha, yeah, go on, what else do you get except for playing dumb? You cunning flower-headed tin box!
Regulus: Speak! Tell us what you know!
Regulus: Like what were you doing in the Olitiau's base? In what way are you associated with Manus Vindictae? And who put you in that box which has Vertin's name on it?!
???: I, I have no idea.
The rockin' pirate advances while her hostage slowly retreats.
Till she knocks into someone more callous.
Lilya: And those ridiculous radio programs, end of the 20th century, Voice of the Millennium, and Roaming in Apeiron ...
Lilya: Don't waste our time. Otherwise, we have no choice but bathe you with this bottle of vodka.
Regulus: Geez, do you really mean that? Anything less cruel?
Lilya: Formalin, of course! I never waste my drinks.
Regulus: Yeah, that's more like it!
The kidnappers smile grimly.
???: But I, I really don't know anything.
???: I'm just the receiver of signals. Please believe me!
???: When I woke up, I was already in that box!
Vertin: This interrogation won't get us anywhere.
Vertin: Laplace didn't detect any unusual arcane marks on her.
Regulus: But she was there with those Manus pawns in that base!
Regulus: Say anything you want, she will still be a solid suspect.
Vertin: Yes, I understand what you mean. But for now, the evidence can't support our speculation.
Vertin: A field trip may be helpful, I guess.
Vertin: What's your plan? Will you come with me?
Vertin: I've informed Madam Z. This will be the first official field mission of our team.
Vertin: Sotheby and Druvis are still on leave. They will not take part in this action.
Vertin: While Ms. Moissan will stay put in the Foundation's headquarters as our contact.
Regulus: Wait, a field mission?
Regulus: Didn't we just come back from that Olitiau base? Besides, where is this "field"?
Vertin: ...
Vertin: The Apollo Star we just heard about means the sun. The Ford Sextant Model T is an arcane device produced in the early 19th century. The Scientific Computing Center has one of those as a part of their collection.
Vertin: The Gorgon Current is mostly created in the Aegean Sea, near the Balkan Peninsula. I remembered an arcanum magazine in the 1970s had a detailed article about this and introduced the circulating current. I read it in the periodical room in SPDM.
Vertin: The current will be flowing backwards every time the Earth is at aphelion and perihelion. This is also known as the Current Reversal.
Vertin: Which is on the third day of January and July this year.
Vertin: And the time in the outside world is ...
Vertin: January 1st, 1914.
Regulus: Are you saying that all those broadcasts are leading us to an actual place?
Regulus: Ah, why? I thought we'd have a nice break after this!
Vertin: ...
Vertin: Regulus, you've been longing for a ship, haven't you?
Vertin: What if I tell you that I have got you one?
Regulus: Now, hold on a second.
Regulus: Come to think of it, it wasn't the flower-headed radio thingy who tricked me into the Aegean Sea. It was ... Vertin?!
Sonetto: Watch out, the big waves!!!
Lilya: Fk! This is enough! Su-01ве!
Sonetto: Wait! Lilya, are you sure about taking off in such stormy weather?
Lilya: This isn't a normal storm. Something is attacking us from the ocean!
Lilya: I need to pull it out! You guys go study that whatever instruction right now!
The red 38 rocket takes off and speeds across the sky like a shooting star.
Lilya: Haha, I finally got you, dn b*****d!
Lilya: It's my turn!
