The master of the manor sighs.
Santos: All this time waiting for Zeno. I really want nothing more than to clear up this little misunderstanding of ours.
Santos: There's no benefit to me hurting you. I hope only to peacefully return you to your friends and, in return, receive mine.
Santos: After all, this city and its false era will be washed away by the "Storm" before long.
Santos: sigh Those poor unbelievers. We were all once like them, yet to realize that we are children bathed in the light of the divine.
Santos: One day, they will turn from darkness to light, just like our Zeno friends did not long ago.
Santos: The apostates, however, they who have abandoned our faith, they must die.
Heretics and oath breakers, the most detestable of all.
Santos: I'm still curious, you know, about who attacked the manor.
Santos: Who disturbed the meeting between the Apostles Brotherhood and the messenger of the great Manus Vindictae?
Santos: Who came here?
He kicks a small stone at his feet.
Santos: And took away my people?
Doctor Dores: ...
The potion has locked the blind doctor's throat. She cannot speak.
Santos: I wouldn't be surprised if Marcando's already messed things up in the favela, but ...
He turns his back to the doctor.
Santos: As long as he continues to recruit young arcanists, it doesn't matter.
Santos: People like him are useful.
Santos: Tools to be used to our benefit until they're lost to the "Storm."
Santos: Isn't that also how Zeno uses their soldiers, Doctor? As currency to be spent and lost?
A chip may roll away from the gambling table, but it will only find itself at another.
All the world's a casino, and all the men and women merely chips. We have no choice but to take our place at the table.
Doctor Dores: ...
He looks at the doctor.
Santos: At least Manus Vindictae promises these soldiers a future, a future worth looking forward to.
Santos: The Sufferer will be reborn.
Santos: And the Apostles Brotherhood will sail south with me. We will become followers of the Sufferer, undertake THEIR trials, and THEIR grace will be bestowed upon us.
He leans close, whispering in her ear.
Santos: And with THEIR blessing, no matter how many times the world is reversed, we will stand firm.
Santos: For we will be immortal.
Santos: Yesterday is within our reach, dear lady.
Lopera crouches in the bushes by the manor, observing the guards' movements. The place is surprisingly light on security.
Lopera: Seven, maybe eight, guards? No way to get through. Damn!
Cautious footsteps approach from behind.
Lopera: Who's there?!
Mr. Duncan: Oh, sweet Mary, I finally found you! Haha! I bet you didn't expect to see me here, did you?
An unexpected ally.
Lopera: Duncan? How did you know I was here?!
Mr. Duncan: Shh, keep it down now. Our friends at the Veterans' Residence told me everything.
Mr. Duncan: The Timekeeper said you were going to the manor alone.
Mr. Duncan: My, would you look at the beautiful greenery. Are you heading to that chapel?
Amidst the distant greenery, just past the building before them, peeks the chapel's bell tower.
Lopera: Yeah. If the doctor's in there, I have to find a way to break in.
Mr. Duncan: Do you have any plans? Reinforcements?
Lopera: Reinforcements? No time for that. Just watch. I can handle this myself.
The path to the chapel is well within the sights of the patrolling guards.
Lopera: Unless you dare to join me, old-timer?
The old veteran answers with action.
He lowers his sunglasses and lifts his blowpipe.
Mr. Duncan: Give me a few darts.
Lopera: Okay. Here's the plan: you lure the guards away, and I'll check inside the chapel.
She tilts her crucible and, in the flame of an arcane skill, produces a few poison darts. She hands them to the old man.
Mr. Duncan: Alright. When I take my shot, I'll head that way. You stay hidden in the woods and make your way to the other side.
He crouches, aiming at an unfortunate guard's neck.
*thwip*
The guard drops instantly.
Brotherhood Guard: Intruder! Over there!
Alarm sirens blare.
Lopera: Lead them toward the river.
Duncan catches the smoke bomb tossed by Lopera.
Mr. Duncan: Let's make this a little more exciting, shall we, boys?
He lobs the bomb, aims his blowpipe, and pierces the bomb in midair.
Lopera: Nice shot!
With the guards distracted, Lopera raises her guns and makes her way to the chapel.
Santos: Ah. It appears someone has come to your rescue, dear lady.
Santos: I'm not surprised.
Santos gazes at the doctor. He holds a small control button in his hand.
He has no qualms about reducing this place to a pile of rubble.
Lopera: Doctor!
Her shout echoes through the halls of the chapel.
Santos: Huh? It's you!
The little gambler from the ship.
Lopera: I should've put a bullet in your skull back on that ship.
Santos: I'm afraid you're playing the wrong game now.
Lopera: Oh, yeah? So what does the winner get this time? Dr. Dores?
She steps toward the enemy on the pulpit.
Santos spreads his arms.
Santos: No, there are no prizes.
Santos: You and I are nothing but specks of dust in the wind.
FINAL BOSS: Santos, Reborn in Suffering
Guns emptied, Lopera drops her revolver and charges at her opponent with nothing but her fists.
Lopera: Looks like I win again.
She kicks the weakened Santos to the ground, pinning him by the throat, her fist poised.
Santos: Yes, yes, you won this round.
He lies among the rubble, blood trickling from his mouth, smiling as Lopera's fist hovers above him.
Santos: But I'm afraid there won't be a table left to play the next.
Santos: So long, little gambler.
Lopera: What?!
Santos: Perhaps it's time you paid a little more attention to your friend.
He presses the button in his hand. After a loud bang, the chapel starts to crumble.
In Lopera's moment of distraction, Santos kicks her away.
He vanishes amid the chaos of the explosion.
Now there is no one but Lopera, the doctor, and a building that's about to crush them both.
Lopera: Crap!
She grits her teeth and runs to the pulpit, freeing the bound doctor.
Doctor Dores: ...
She tries to speak, but the effects of the potion still hold her throat in a tight grip.
Lopera: We can talk after we get out of here.
She hoists the doctor onto her back and carries her through the falling debris.