Hofmann: ... The Field Agent Squad cannot make it this time. They have a more urgent mission.
Hofmann: But the Vienna Branch already requested support from the army, even though we haven't told them what is happening. They are irritated by the blatant attack.
Hofmann: We'd better use the power of the "era" now.
Hofmann clips a Laplace-issued communicator back on her waist.
Hofmann: Only one question remains. Is the source of this intel reliable, Marcus?
Hofmann: Are Isolde and Heinrich really playing in the premiere of Tosca?
She questions her assistant, but her gaze is fixed on Kakania, who sits there idle in thought and action.
Marcus: Yes. It may sound a bit absurd, but that is Ms. Kakania's inference ...
Kakania: ... It is you who asked for cooperation. I've done what I can and told you everything I know.
She hangs her head, her voice uncharacteristically dispirited.
Kakania: Unless the show is canceled, Isolde will show up. She is a perfectionist when it comes to her work.
Kakania: If she shows up, so will Heinrich.
Kakania: Neither of them is under bounty. And the upper class loves her performance, so it's not hard for them to guarantee a show even in these troubled times.
Kakania: I know her well. She will be there ...
Kakania: ... If I know her as well as I think I do.
Kakania says nothing more, and her eyes fix on a curtain, locking into a trance.
The opera is about to begin. The audience pass through the aisles and take their seats on the soft chairs.
Marcus: ... Madam Hofmann, what mission is the Field Agent Squad dealing with?
Marcus speaks up, trying, in the manner of her books on conversation, to ease the momentary awkwardness.
Hofmann: Assassinations. There's been an outbreak in the Empire over the past three days. They are sent to guard the important people.
Hofmann: We're out of manpower right now, so don't expect any backup.
Hofmann: But don't worry. We don't need to capture or defeat the Manus. Just focus on the original ritual.
Hofmann: Put your own safety first. Understand, Marcus?
Marcus signals her understanding. Once again, she dives into her "read" on the interior of the Vienna People's Opera.
Marcus: Hmm? The audience is bigger than the tickets sold.
Marcus: I counted the seats in the balcony and gallery. There are still too many people in the main hall. Are they all staff of the Vienna branch?
Hofmann: No. This could be the doing of Manus Vindictae.
Kakania: Haha.
Hofmann: What are you laughing at?
Kakania: At you, Ms. Foundation. You have no idea where you are. This is Vienna, the city of music!
Kakania: And this is Isolde and Tosca! People are crazy about them!
Kakania: I bet they would even stand outside the railings if standing tickets were sold ...
Kakania: And when it reaches act three, they would fling themselves over the edge, crying "O Scarpia, avanti a Dio!"
Hofmann's brow hangs heavy with vigilance.
Hofmann: I don't get what you're saying, but it sounds even worse than Manus Vindictae.
Marcus: I-I collected information about this opera ...
Marcus hands off another stack of material to her mentor.
Hofmann: "Rome, 1800. Painter Mario Cavaradossi and singer Tosca are two lovers ..."
Hofmann: "Cavaradossi has been arrested for helping the fugitive Cesare Angelotti, former consul to the Roman Republic."
Hofmann: "To save her lover, Tosca turns to Scarpia, the Chief of Police."
Hofmann: "Scarpia has coveted Tosca for a long time, so he proposes that Cavaradossi will be freed if Tosca gives herself to him."
Hofmann: "Tosca submits to him, but when he tries to embrace her, Tosca stabs him in the heart with a dagger ..."
Kakania: For heaven's sake! How did you make that sound so boring?!
Kakania stands up, unable to bear the indignity any longer.
She reaches out, snatching the stack.
Kakania: I don't think you should read the script ahead of time. It takes away all the surprises.
Kakania: Just let the singer guide you and immerse yourself in this world ...
Kakania: Isolde is very good in guiding the audience. She's the best there is!
Kakania grips the script tightly, ready and willing to defend her beloved play.
Kakania: As a seancer, her incredible arcane skills allow her to act like the characters themselves on stage.
Kakania: She can do all kinds of voices, even those that seem physically impossible ... When she does this, she becomes a completely different person, taking us to a world beyond reality.
Kakania: It'll feel like witnessing a miracle firsthand.
Kakania: ...
She realizes her behavior is, for the moment, quite grossly inappropriate.
Kakania slinks back down and removes her glasses, holding them in her hand.
Kakania: ... Sorry. I got a little excited.
Kakania: So this is how much I looked forward to this opera ...
She trembles as her hands reach up to grasp her forehead, her voice falling into a sob.
Marcus hesitates, but eventually reaches out, placing a hand on her shoulder.
Marcus: I'm sorry. I know you still see her as a friend.
Kakania: No. I'm just thinking ...
Kakania: I thought I knew my friends and my kin, but really I had no idea what they were truly thinking, even with this mirror and all the psychological theories.
Kakania: I am like Pandora who opened the box without knowing what was inside. Was it hope, or destruction?
Marcus: That sounds ... dark ...
Kakania: But I also think ...
Kakania: ... Perhaps we can never truly understand one another, but things won't get any better if I give up because of it.
Kakania shakes her head, rubs her eyes forcefully, then puts on her glasses once more.
Kakania: I can not turn my back on this.
Kakania: Don't worry about me, Ms. Marcus. Now that I'm here, I will fulfill my promise.
Kakania: I will stop her.
Kakania: As for the doomsday you talked about ... I don't know what I can do about it, to be honest.
Kakania: All I know is, if I don't stop her today, every day of my life will feel like doomsday.
Kakania: No matter what happens from here, the show has begun.
The lights dim.
Just as she had scripted it.
The black-haired opera singer steps to the front of the stage.
Isolde: ...
Marcus: —!
Kakania: Please, enjoy.
Kakania: Even if the world ends tomorrow, we still have a show to enjoy.
