Medicine Pocket: Move, ugh, move!
Navigating this corridor is no easy feat, as researchers, engrossed in their Brownian motion studies, hurry along without watching their step.
Medicine Pocket: ... Shoot, are you blind, or did you hit me on purpose?
Medicine Pocket: ...
A viscous, deep purple substance drips from their face onto the hem of their lab coat, marvelously landing in a spot not yet coated with other stains.
Laplace Staff I: Hey! Hello!
Laplace Staff I: Do you know how to control this thing?
Laplace Staff I: It always drips on my bread at lunch. I had to skip breakfast for a week.
Medicine Pocket: Just remove your brain. Problem solved.
Laplace Staff I: That makes sense. How come I didn't think of that? Thank you for your advice. You are so sweet.
Medicine Pocket: Oh, you're so welcome, pal.
Medicine Pocket: I'd wipe my eyes more often if I were you. Just do something to get that black snot off those lashes.
Medicine Pocket: The good news is, the persons in charge of this place are all dead ...
Medicine Pocket: The bad news, the one in charge right now is not a "person"!
Lucy: Hello, Researcher Medicine Pocket. Your meal allowance is being deducted to pay for door repair.
Medicine Pocket: I don't care, bucket head. Do your worst, a few pennies don't bother me.
The head of the computing center nods, taking this as a sign of amicable agreement.
Lucy: You could have called me from your lab terminal. The technology department has equipped every researcher with the latest communication device, and I have the energy to communicate with everyone.
Medicine Pocket: Then how am I supposed to know whether my report is lying in your trash or not? Oh please, you know we gotta talk face to face to solve our issues when things get ugly.
With a flick of their wrist, a gray folder lands with impact, spilling its contents across the desk.
Medicine Pocket: Congrats on the one and only achievement you got from the Manus Mask: we're now fully aware of its side effects! And this great achievement is filling the halls with oil and insanity!
Medicine Pocket: You should thank the hatted cuckoo for her report. No one's turned into a crazy monster yet, or the Manus would be attacking the headquarters from Laplace right now!
Medicine Pocket: Dn it, what are you doing? Are you even listening to me?!
Lucy turns her head, having just fastened the buckle on her face.
Lucy: My apologies. You said we needed to talk "face to face."
Lucy: If I understand it correctly, this is your number one request.
Medicine Pocket: ... You always carry a face in your pocket? That's just ... great.
Lucy: You are welcome. It is our duty to learn and meet the needs of every researcher. This will help them reach their full potential while respecting the nature of their being.
Lucy: I received some letters of complaint. They asked me to develop a better sense of humor. They said it would help me understand the researchers' sarcasm, so I am studying it.
Lucy: 75% of the complaints mentioned they did not want to see a face on my head. Some even used strong words like "Never let me see that face of yours again!"
Lucy: I am glad that you are one of the other 25%, Researcher Medicine Pocket.
Medicine Pocket: You know what, I don't mind if you keep that face on, as long as you let me kick it around a bit.
The newly face-flaunting robot nods slightly, pleased with their renewed consensus.
Lucy: Regarding your second request, I have read your report. I fully understand the side effects of the mask as well as the ... feasibility of the decryption.
Medicine Pocket: Then what's the point? It's like trying to get the syrup formula out of a coke can! Ugh! Again, we are all screwed without the original ritual from the Manus!
Lucy: It is too early to conclude that the mask does not contain important clues. The attempts we are making are very necessary.
Lucy: Besides, the situation in Laplace is not as bad as you say. The side effects are completely under control. The subjects are only suffering from dehydration and mania.
Lucy: Fortunately, the Rehabilitation Center has extensive experience in dealing with manic patients. And some researchers, like yourself, are already manic without putting on the mask, so the side effects will not affect them much.
Laplace Staff I: Hahahaha! Yes! Ball pens! Ball pens love brains!
Two researchers arrive swiftly, removing the poor soul who lodged a pen into their eye socket and just as swiftly replacing the broken glass.
Medicine Pocket: Extensive experience, huh?
Lucy: That is right. I am glad you have noticed our efforts. We have prepared a large amount of polymer materials in case of minor vandalism by the patients.
Medicine Pocket: Hahaha, amusing.
Medicine Pocket: So this is the logic of a machine, huh? Humans are as expendable in the lab as glass. You should be glad that your head is harder than my teeth, or I'd ...
Lucy: Your opinion surprises me, Researcher Medicine Pocket. There is a big difference between the human body and glass.
Lucy: As for the original ritual, you are not the first researcher to make this suggestion. We are fully aware of its importance.
Lucy: We have dispatched investigators and members of the Field Agent Administration to investigate various regions. Here are the images they sent back.
Medicine Pocket: Field ... What?
Lucy: Field Agent Administration. If you have not heard of the name before, most prefer to call them the History Guards, given their function.
Medicine Pocket: Right. That team of cannon fodder.
Medicine Pocket: The thought of people being thrown around like garbage makes me feel lucky ... that I'm just a piece of glass.
Medicine Pocket lifts their head, examining the screen. Their attention completely diverted.
Medicine Pocket: Looks like "face to face" conversation does solve problems. Finally we're getting somewhere, aside from the insane colleagues running amok.
Medicine Pocket: Let me guess. The blue dots are good news, huh?
Lucy: Correct. They represent the safe areas immune to the "Storm."
Medicine Pocket: Ahh, North America ... I should've gone there for a walk in the park. I don't deserve to suffer in this stupid gray prison.
Lucy: I have to say, Researcher Medicine Pocket, even though I approved your request for a sports field, which you claimed was a humanitarian need, I think it is more of a canine need.
Medicine Pocket: I suggest you install an indicator on your humor module, so we know when to laugh. See, like this blinking red dot ...
Medicine Pocket: Hm, is that Vienna?
Lucy: Yes.
They wait, but the android does not offer up any further information.
Medicine Pocket: Alright, alright. "Not privy to the information," huh? I know of your tricks. One day I will find the logical fallacies in your words, I swear.
Medicine Pocket: And, this here ...
Medicine Pocket: Yellow. Better than the worst, worse than the best.
Medicine Pocket: That's the Aegean Sea. What's all the fuss about? Don't tell me there's a five hundred meter long blue crab ...
Lucy: No. No sightings of large marine organisms other than the Gorgon.
Lucy: This is where Timekeeper and her team are right now.
Lucy: By the way, it seems you can distinguish between colors precisely, so the canine elements in you are more of a personal choice than an innate trait.
Medicine Pocket: I see your efforts on improving your sense of humor, I do, but that's enough now. Turn off the module, ok? Who the heck put these complaints in the box?! I'm gonna kick their teeth out!
Lucy: Back to business. Timekeeper and her team are in a bit of a situation. The details are classified, and I am not privy to them either.
Medicine Pocket: Hah, "classified." I know what's going on. In this place, "classified" means ...
Medicine Pocket: They're in big trouble!
Pilot: Dn it! What are they?!
Pilot: Krupp did not tell us about these things!
Pilot: D**n it! Get away from me, you arcane fiends!
???: ... Marcus?
???: Marcus?
???: Ooh!
Marcus: I'm sorry, Madam Hofmann. I was reading the newspaper ...!
Hofmann: I know I told you to practice your arcane skills more, but you don't have to do it all the time.
Hofmann: I just told you the oath to secrecy for this mission. Level Two Investigator Marcus, repeat it to me.
Marcus: Uhm ...
Marcus: Remember the Field Mission Manual ...
Marcus: Never disclose any information about the "Storm" or the "era" to irrelevant people.
Marcus: Never build unnecessary connections with the current era. Never disclose any real information about the headquarters to members of the branch. Never discuss confidential matters in unrelated settings.
Marcus: Never contact or interfere with the insignificant. Stay out of their lives, silently observe and respect their lives ...
Marcus: And, why is the stupid train never on time?
Hofmann: ...
Hofmann: Did I really say that?
Marcus: Yes, in a low voice, after the last random stop.
Hofmann: You have a talent for multitasking, I'll give you that. But the point is, as a rookie investigator, your focus should really be on the mission.
Marcus: Y-Yes, Madam Hofmann. I'm so sorry ...
Hofmann: Laplace has analyzed the information from the Field Agent Squad and suggested several Critical Points on where the "Storm" may arrive. One of them is Vienna.
Hofmann: The History Guards have reported sightings of Manus leaders there. Considering they will probably do the same thing they did in 1929, you know, escalate international conflicts to accelerate the reverse, this mission is probably quite risky.
Marcus: It's okay, Madam Hofmann. I am fully prepared!
Marcus: I've been waiting for my first field mission since I joined the Foundation. Thank you for approving my application, or I'd still be talking to rusty filing cabinets and diamond patterns on a wall ...
Hofmann: No need to thank me, Investigator Marcus. Your application has been approved by headquarters, as your arcane skills will prove very useful on this mission.
Hofmann: This time we will track down Manus Vindictae in Vienna and gather intelligence on their rituals. The intelligence should help with the "Storm" immunity research, making it the top priority over all other missions.
Hofmann: That's why I said your arcane skill, "reading," will be useful on this mission.
Marcus: Yes ... Understood!
The young student straightens up. Her mentor catches her emotion and replies unsmilingly.
Hofmann: I know how lucky you must feel for returning to your era, after being isolated from the outside world for so long.
Hofmann: I will take you to Romania and visit the orphanage where you used to live, if we still have time for that after the mission.
Marcus: ...!
Marcus: I'll do my best, Madam Hofmann! Whatever you need, as long as my arcane skill can do it!
Marcus: By the way, how's the Timekeeper doing on that Aegean island?
Hofmann: Marcus, have you already forgotten what I just told you?! This is a confidential matter!
Marcus: But it's in the news.
Marcus: "Unknown island appears on the Aegean Sea. Forces attacked by arcane creatures."
Marcus: "Ownership over island causing conflicts between Bulgaria, Serbia, and Greece."
Marcus: "Austro-Hungarian Empire and Russian Empire to establish a negotiating committee ..."
Marcus: Madam Hofmann, the increased turmoil could cause the "Storm" to arrive earlier, right?
Hofmann: That is not our problem. The headquarters will send someone to intervene, since it is caused by the arcanum.
Hofmann: Now just focus on our destination, Vienna.
Hofmann: Time to get out. Grab your luggage.
