(ROAR)
HEH. COME ON YOU GUYS! DON'T LET UP ON ME!
I NEED EVERYTHING YOU GOT! NOW TAKE HIM DOWN!
GETTING A WIN AND SOLVING THE PROBLEM AREN'T THE SAME.
[KANAMI] WOOHOO!
BANG! BOOM! POW! SLAM! WOOHOO!
[NAOTSUGU] FORTRESS STANCE!
I THINK I'M GOING TO TEST OUT THESE NEW WEAPONS...
BY TAKING OFF YOUR HEAD!
[SOJIRO] WATCH CAREFULLY AND LISTEN TO ME.
YOU MUST MAINTAIN AN ATTITUDE OF CONSTANT IMPROVEMENT.
AND NEVER FOR A MOMENT DISCOUNT TRAINING YOU'VE RECEIVED.
THIS IS IT! SHIROE, I NEED A DISTRACTION FROM YOUR TEAM!
[KANAMI] AWESOME, AWESOME!
FIVE HUNDRED GUARDS MEANS ONE HECK OF A TREASURE!
I COULD NEVER HAVE FUN LIKE THIS IN THE REAL WORLD.
NOT EVEN CLOSE!
I SEE IT NOW!
[SHIROE] WILLIAM!
A LITTLE HELP HERE!
I CAN'T BEGIN TO TELL YOU HOW GOOD MY DINNER'S GONNA BE...
AFTER I GET DONE KICKING ALL YOUR BUTTS!
(GRUNTING)
HEY PEOPLE, GOT YOUR PUMPKINS OVER HERE!
(CHEERING)
[MAN 1] FOR LADY MISA
[CROWD] D. D. D.!
[MAN 2] THANKS COMMANDER TAKAYAMA!
OOOOOH! I WANNA PLAY!
YOU OUGHTA KNOW BY NOW THAT ORGANIZERS HAVE TO WORK, BABY!
UWAH...
(CHUCKLING)
[MARIELLE] OH COME ON!
I WANNA PLAY TUG OF WAR!
[NYANTA] HMM. SO TELL ME.
WHY EXACTLY DID WE NEED TO HAVE AN AFTER HALLOWEEN EVENT, HRMM?
[MARIELLE] WELL, YOU REMEMBER THE EVENT
WE HAD FOR HALLOWEEN, RIGHT?
THAT'S KINDA WHY I WAS ASKING...
THE GAME DEVELOPERS ALREADY HAVE AN EVENT THIS TIME OF YEAR,
MONSTERS DROP PUMPKINS WHEN THEY'RE BEATEN
DURING THE LAST THREE DAYS OF THE MONTH, YOU DIG?
AND THAT'S JUST IT!
WE'VE GOT A BUNCH OF PRIZE PUMPKINS RIGHT HERE!
SO WHY NOT HAVE AN EVENT TO FIND A WAY TO GIVE 'EM AWAY?
COUNT ON MARIELLE, THE PARTY STRATEGIST, TO MAKE IT WORK!
[NYANTA] NICE AIR GLASSES, GIRL.
[NYANTA] ONE THING'S FOR SURE. (STRUGGLED GRUNTS)
[MARIELLE] HM?
[NYANTA] THIS CITY OF OURS HAS BECOME A SMOOTH PLACE TO LIVE.
[MARIELLE] YES IT HAS.
I CAN'T BELIEVE HOW FAST IT HAS HAPPENED.
IT SEEMS LIKE JUST YESTERDAY
THAT WE GOT TRAPPED HERE IN ELDER TALES.
I MEAN WE'VE STARTED A CITY, SET UP A SYSTEM,
AND PUT TOGETHER THE ROUND TABLE CONFERENCE
ALL IN A VERY SHORT PERIOD OF TIME.
YOU KNOW IT, AND EVERYONE'S PUT IN A LOT OF WORK
TO MAKE THIS HAPPEN, EVEN LITTLE SERARA.
[SMASH] DON'T USE YOUR HANDS! AND REMEMBER...
YOU GOTTA PAY FOR EVERY BUN YOUR DROP OUT THERE!
EH! MMPH! EHH!
[SERARA, THINKING] I'M GOING TO BEAT EVERYONE TO WIN THIS RACE
AND THEN I'M GONNA HAVE A PUMPKIN PARTY WITH MISTER CAT!
(CHEERING) JUST LOOK AT TOYA AND MINORI.
TOYA! YOU CAN'T DO THIS WITH JUST ATTITUDE
ANTICIPATE WHERE THE PHANTOM'S GOING!
GOT IT! OKAY! I CAN TOTALLY DO THIS!
[NYANTA] ISUZU AND RUDY ARE IN THE THICK OF IT, HMM?
[SMASH] ARE YOU READY?
DO ANY OF THESE WANNABES‐NAY‐WHOS
THINK THEY CAN ACTUALLY BEAT US?
AFTER ALL, OUR TEAMWORK IS AMAZING,
AND OUR FOOTWORK IS NOTHING SHORT OF MAGNIFICENT!
[SMASH]GET SET! (HORN BLOWS)
RUDY! THEY'RE STARTING WITHOUT US!
OH, COME ON!
(CROWD CHEERING)
WOW! I'VE NEVER SEEN AN OBSTACLE COURSE LIKE THIS!
INCREDIBLY DONE!
THAT'S AKATSUKI FOR YOU!
AMAZING!
FIRST PLACE GOES TO AKATSUKI OF LOG HORIZON!
HEHE. I WILL MAKE SURE WE TAKE HOME THE GRAND PRIZE, MY LORD!
[MINORI] MISS AKATSUKI! [RUDY] (LAUGHING) WOOO!
[TOYA] THAT WAS REALLY SUPER, MISS AKATSUKI!
[ISUZU] YEAH! YOU WERE GREAT!
(CHEERING) WOO!
I JUST WISH SHIROE AND NAOTSUGU COULD BE OUT HERE TODAY!
I KNOW WHAT YOU MEAN, BABY.
THEY'RE STILL HUNG UP WITH THE NEGOTIATIONS.
[MARIELLE] WELL, THAT'S A SHAME!
[NYANTA] MHMM!
[HENRIETTA] AH...
THE ARMOR'S EMPTY.
YOU DON'T HAVE ANYTHING TO WORRY ABOUT
[NAOTSUGU] YEAH, YEAH. SO THERE'S NO ONE IN THERE,
BUT THEY'RE STILL ROYAL GUARD ARMOR, RIGHT?
[HENRIETTA] AND THEY'RE STILL NOT GOING TO DO ANYTHING
UNLESS YOU TRY PICKING A FIGHT
WITH SOMEONE IN A NON‐COMBAT ZONE
[NAOTSUGU] JUST NEVER BEEN THIS CLOSE TO 'EM
IT'S SURE TAKING SHIROE A WHILE TO GET THIS DONE...
MAKES ME WONDER IF EVERYTHING IS GOING OKAY...
[NAOTSUGU] IT'S BEEN KINDA ROUGH IN THERE FOR HIM.
I MEAN, HOW MANY TIMES HAVE WE BEEN HERE?
THE KUNIE TRIBE IS TRICKY.
[NAOTSUGU] THEY'D HAVE TO BE...
THOSE NPCS ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR
CIRCULATING ALL THE WORLD'S CURRENCY
[HENRIETTA] IT ISN'T JUST BANKING.
THEY ALSO MAINTAIN AND DEPLOY THE ROYAL GUARD,
ALONG WITH THE MAGICAL PATHWAYS
THAT RESPAWN MONSTERS AND ADVENTURERS.
AND THEIR MAGIC BARRIERS KEEP MONSTERS OUT OF THE CITIES.
[SHIROE] SO WE CAN'T COME TO AN ARRANGEMENT?
TO DO SO WOULD BREAK LAWS DATING BACK TO MY ANCESTORS
HMM...
[EINS] WELL THEN, DO YOU THINK WE COULD TALK THE KUNIE
INTO GIVING US A LOAN?
[SHIROE] NO, I WOULDN'T BET ON IT
THE GUILD BUILDING, WHICH INCLUDES ALL LOCAL BANKING,
THE CATHEDRAL AND THE TRADE CENTER
ARE AMONG THE RESOURCES WE PURCHASED.
WE DID THAT IN ORDER TO PLACE THEM
UNDER CONTROL OF THE ROUND TABLE CONFERENCE.
WE WANTED TO BE SURE THAT NO ONE ELSE
WAS ABLE TO USE THEM AS THEIR OWN.
HOWEVER...
"HOWEVER", THE MAINTENANCE COSTS ARE NUTS!
ALL THOSE BUILDINGS ARE TAKING TEN MILLION IN GOLD
OUT OF OUR ACCOUNTS EVERY MONTH!
NOW WAIT... I REMEMBER THE PURCHASE OF THE GUILD BUILDING
AND IT WAS ONLY FIVE MILLION IN GOLD AT THE TIME.
AND WE'RE PAYING ALMOST DOUBLE THAT
TO HANG ON TO THEM EVERY MONTH?
YEAH, AND THE ROUND TABLE CONFERENCE IS GONNA WIND UP
GOING BANKRUPT BEFORE TOO LONG...
[SOJIRO] WE'RE NOT GOING TO BE ABLE TO HOLD
OUR PARTIES OR FESTIVALS ANYMORE.
[EINS] I REALLY DON'T THINK THAT'S THE ISSUE AT HAND HERE?
[WOODSTOCK] HAS THIS THING GONE PUBLIC YET?
[SHIROE] NO.
IT WOULDN'T BE WISE TO MAKE THIS INFORMATION PUBLIC,
NOT WITH UNWELCOME EARS OUT THERE.
YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT MINAMI, AREN'T YOU?
YES, WE BELIEVE FROM PLANT HWYADEN...
THE PEOPLE ON THE STREET ARE ALREADY TALKING ABOUT THEM.
I HEARD EVERYONE IN MINAMI BOWS TO PLANT HWYADEN
LIKE IT'S SOME KIND OF DICTATORSHIP.
YES, BUT THEY'RE DOING OKAY, AREN'T THEY?
I'VE GOT A FRIEND OVER THERE WHO TOLD ME ALL ABOUT IT...
POLITICALLY THINGS ARE KINDA SCREWED.
[SHIROE] NOT ALL DICTATORS HURT THEIR PEOPLE, BUT...
[SOJIRO] YOU KNOW,
I SURE DO WISH KRUSTY AND ISAAC'S GUILDS WERE BACK.
[SHIROE, VOICEOVER] FATE DEALT US A PRETTY BIG BLOW
WHEN THE GAME SERVER KICKED OFF
THE "RETURN OF THE GOBLIN KING" EVENT
AND THE GOBLIN ARMY STARTED STAMPEDING ALL OVER EVERYTHING.
AFTER THEIR VICTORY IN THE RAID AT ZANTLEAF,
THE AKIHABARA ADVENTURERS BEGAN TO INVADE THE GOBLIN ARMY'S
STRONGHOLD IN SEVENTH FALL.
KRUSTY AND ISAAC SERVE AS OUR GENERALS OUT THERE.
KARASHIN AND AKANEYA ARE ALSO THERE
FOR TECHNICAL AND LOGISTICAL SUPPORT.
BUT THE BATTLE GUILDS HAVE IT COVERED
I DON'T THINK MINAMI'S GOING TO POSE MUCH OF A THREAT
TO US IN THE NEAR FUTURE.
FINE, SO WHAT DO WE DO NOW?
(EXHALE)
(EXCITED CHATTERING)
[SERARA] HEY! THANKS FOR WAITING!
I THINK YOU'LL FIND A LITTLE HINT OF PUMPKIN
IN MANY OF THE ITEMS ON THE MENU TONIGHT.
(GROANING) YEAH, IT'S TASTY
I'M GETTING THE FEELING HE PUT PUMPKIN IN EVERYTHING
CHIEF NYANTA, DO YOU HAVE ANYTHING WITHOUT PUMPKIN IN IT?
DO YOU KNOW HOW MANY NUTRIENTS ARE IN A PUMPKIN?
NOT TO MENTION THIS PUPPY CAN KEEP YOU WARM AT NIGHT.
YOU'RE PARTICIPATING IN A PUMPKIN FEAST,
DON'T DISRESPECT, LITTLE MAN.
I'M SORRY, CHIEF...
URR... WAHHH... I WANT MEAT!
[ISUZU] WELL D. D. D. CAME IN FIRST.
AND THE BLACK SWORD KNIGHTS TOOK SECOND.
[MINORI] TENTH PLACE IS ACTUALLY STILL PRETTY GOOD FOR US.
YEAH... SO WHAT'S THAT THING YOU GOT THERE, MINORI?
(STRANGE MOOING) SOME WEIRD OLD GUY
JUST WALKED UP TO ME AND SAID IT WAS OUR PRIZE FOR TENTH PLACE.
WELL IT'S KINDA FREAKY!
[TOYA] FU‐WOAH! THAT'S A STUFFED FUZZY GOAT SLIME!
[RUDY] REALLY!? IS THIS ONE OF THOSE DISGUSTINGLY CUTE ITEMS
I'VE BEEN HEARING EVERYONE TALK ABOUT?
BOYS ARE SO CRAZY ABOUT THINGS THAT ARE ALL GRODY, AREN'T THEY?
WHEN IT COMES TO IMMATURE STUFF LIKE THAT,
YOU'RE SUCH AN ADULT, MISTER CAT!
[MARIELLE] WELL THAT'S DISAPPOINTING TO HEAR...
[SERARA, UNDER] YOU'RE SO GROWN UP AND REFINED
[HENRIETTA] OKAY, I'M HERE, WHERE IS SHIROE?
UH MINORI... IS IT JUST ME OR...
DID BIG BROTHER SHIROE PULL A NO‐SHOW
FOR ANOTHER ONE OF OUR PARTIES?
HMMM... APPARENTLY HE'S CATCHING UP ON HIS WORK AGAIN.
HMMM...
WHY DO I GET THE FEELING
HIS BAD HABIT IS CATCHING UP WITH HIM AGAIN?
I DON'T LIKE IT...
BUT IT LOOKS LIKE THE ONLY WAY TO GET IT DONE.
WHEWW! (LAUGHING)
HEY! WE SHOULD PRESENT THIS GLORIOUSLY SLIMY TROPHY
TO MASTER SHIROE!
UH, TOTALLY!
THAT'S AN AWFUL IDEA.
(LAUGH)
HEY SHIROE!
GOOD WORK OUT THERE!
HEY, THANKS.
MY LORD! MY LORD!
(STRANGE MOO) TAKE A LOOK AT THIS...
WE GOT IT FOR TENTH PLACE
UH... Y‐YEAH? THAT'S GREAT!
MASTER SHIROE! I'M GLAD YOU MADE IT OUT!
UH? OH UH, THANK YOU MINORI.
SO UH, I GUESS WORK'S BEEN DIFFICULT
(DISAPPOINTED MOO) YEAH, KIND OF...
[SHIROE] SO THERE'S SOMETHING I NEED TO TELL ALL OF YOU.
OH YEAH?
OKAY...
WHAT KINDA NEWS IS IT?
RIGHT... IT'S LIKE THIS...
I'M PROBABLY GONNA HAVE TO LEAVE THE CITY FOR A WHILE.
(GASPS)
NO YOU CAN'T...! THAT'S NOT HAPPENING!
DON'T FORGET THAT CHRISTMAS IS COMING UP!
THERE! HA! I GOT YOU!
YOU CAN'T LEAVE BEFORE CHRISTMAS, MISTER STRATEGIST!
THAT'S NOT GOING TO WORK.
HMMM... (DOOR OPENING)
WELCOME BACK.
HOW'D IT LOOK?
IT'S FINE OUT THERE.
A LITTLE SNOW... AND A LITTLE BIT OF A BREEZE.
[SHIROE] THAT'S GOOD. THANKS.
[NAOTSUGU] SURE THING!
[NAOTSUGU] HERE YOU GO...
OH...?
MMM.
SO... YOU GONNA TELL ME WHAT'S GOING ON
OR ARE YOU GONNA JUST KEEP GRUNTING?
HMM?
IT'S BEEN TEN DAYS SINCE YOU BROUGHT IT UP.
[MINORI] YOU'RE LEAVING AKIHABARA?
PLEASE TALK TO US, WHAT BROUGHT THIS ON ALL OF A SUDDEN?
[SHIROE] I KNOW I'VE BEEN
A LITTLE SECRETIVE ABOUT THIS WITH EVERYONE...
BUT HERE'S THE THING, YOU GUYS...
THE CITY IS IN A LOT OF TROUBLE.
(GASPS)
[SHIROE] I CAN'T GO INTO DETAILS...
BUT I HAVE TO DO THIS BECAUSE IT'S THE ONLY WAY TO HANDLE IT.
OF COURSE, MY LORD...
COULD YOU...
TELL US WHERE YOU'RE GOING AT LEAST?
[SHIROE] I REALLY CAN'T, ISUZU...
I DON'T LIKE IT...
I WISH OUR GUILD MASTER COULD TRUST US MORE...
BUT IT'S FINE.
[MINORI, THINKING] HE HAS A GOOD REASON.
THERE MIGHT BE A SPY FROM MINAMI IN THE CITY SOMEWHERE.
[MINORI] A LEAK FROM ANY ONE OF US,
NO MATTER HOW "SMALL" OR "HARMLESS"
COULD CAUSE A PROBLEM.
[SHIROE] THAT'S RIGHT.
[RUDY] WELL THAT MAKES SENSE I GUESS.
THAT'S ONE WAY TO KEEP US QUIET ANYWAY.
HAVE YOU TOLD ANYONE ON THE ROUND TABLE ABOUT THIS?
[SHIROE] KRUSTY NEEDS TO KNOW,
ALONG WITH SOJIRO AND ISAAC. COMBAT GUILD LEADERS.
IF ANYONE CAN DO THIS,
GUILD LEADER SHIROE‐ECHHI WILL FIND A WAY TO MAKE IT WORK!
(ALL AGREEING)
THANKS A LOT, CHIEF.
AND NOW THAT WE'VE GOTTEN THAT STRAIGHTENED OUT.
NAOTSUGU, I NEED‐
NO, YOU DON'T... HUH?
PITCHERS NEED THEIR CATCHERS, BUD.
AND AN ENCHANTER NEEDS HIS GUARDIAN.
NO WAY I'M STAYING HERE, YOU GOT THAT?
(EXHALE)
[AKATSUKI] MY LORD!
HUH?
I‐I'M GOING, TOO!
AKATSUKI, I NEED YOU TO STAY BEHIND IN THE CITY.
OH?
(INHALES)
I'VE GOT A SPECIAL TASK
THAT ONLY YOU ARE CAPABLE OF COMPLETING.
SO, WHY DID WE COME ALL THE WAY UP HERE
IN THE SNOW LOOKIN' FOR CASH?
FOR ONE THING, YOU CAN'T GET WHAT WE'RE LOOKING FOR
BY SLAYING MONSTERS OR COMPLETING THE KNOWN QUESTS.
THAT WOULD TAKE TOO LONG.
WHAT DO YOU MEAN BY THAT?
THE GRAND TOTAL...
SITS SOMEWHERE AROUND EIGHTY TRILLION.
(TOCCATA AND FUGUE PLAYS) WOOOOOAAAAHHHH!
E‐EIGHTY TRILLION?!
RIGHT.
I DID THE MATH AND FIGURED OUT
HOW MUCH EVERY ADVENTURER IN THE WORLD HAD
AND EVEN THEN WE'D FALL WELL SHORT OF OUR GOAL.
WAIT, WOULD WE NEED ALL OF THAT JUST TO KEEP CONTROL
OF EVERYTHING WE ALREADY HAVE?
HMMM?
[REGAN] EXCUSE ME...
HMM?
UM, MASTER SHIROE.
PARDON ME, BUT IT WOULD APPEAR YOUR GUEST HAS ARRIVED
THEN WHAT'RE YOU LURKIN' AROUND LIKE A CREEP FOR?
IT'S BEEN QUITE A WHILE HASN'T IT?
THAT ALL DEPENDS ON YOUR PERSPECTIVE.
LET ME INTRODUCE YOU TO REGAN.
HOWEVER, YOU MAY KNOW HIM BETTER AS THE MAGE OF MIRROR LAKE.
[NAOTSUGU, THINKING] I'VE SEEN HIS NAME
IN FLAVOR TEXT LIKE A ZILLION TIMES,
BUT THERE WASN'T ANYTHING IN THERE
SAYING HOW SKETCHY LOOKIN' HE WAS.
I SEE IT, BUT I STILL DON'T BELIEVE IT.
[KINJO] YES, OF COURSE.
I SERVE AS THE LIAISON OFFICER FOR THE KUNIE TRIBE.
MY NAME IS KINJO. NICE TO MEET YOU.
OH, IT IS A PLEASURE TO MEET YOU, TOO!
WHAT AN HONOR TO MEET A MEMBER OF THE KUNIE TRIBE.
SUCH A TREAT.
LIKEWISE.
I FIND MYSELF BEFORE THE MASTER STRATEGIST
WHO REPRESENTS ADVENTURERS.
AS WELL AS THE ONE AND ONLY MAGE OF MIRROR LAKE, REGAN.
[KINJO] I DOUBT EVEN MY GREAT ANCESTORS
COULD HAVE PREDICTED SUCH AN IMPRESSIVE GATHERING.
(EXHALES)
IT TRULY IS WONDERFUL TO HAVE YOU JOINING US.
THE FACE THAT YOU'VE AGREED TO THIS MEETING
MAKES THE GRAVITY OF THIS GATHERING QUIET ASTONISHING.
WOULDN'T YOU SAY?
WHEN I THINK OF THE POWER OF THE KUNIE TRIBE
AND THE ARTS AND SPELLS OF THE MAGIC USER'S CIVILIZATION,
MY HEART JUST SWELLS WITH ANTICIPATION!
ANTICIPATION?
OH YES! EVEN MASTER SHIROE CAN'T HELP
BUT BE JUST GIDDY THINKING ABOUT IT!
REALLY? DON'T YOU THINK THAT'S A BIT MUCH?
(EXHALES)
[SHIROE] LET'S GET BACK TO THE REASON
I ASKED YOU HERE, ALL RIGHT?
[KINJO] I REMEMBER YOU SAID SOMETHING ABOUT FUNDING.
DID YOU NEED A LOAN FROM US?
[SHIROE] YES. WE TALKED ABOUT THIS BRIEFLY IN THE CITY.
[KINJO] BUT YOU STILL WANTED TO COME
ALL THE WAY UP HERE TO NEGOTIATE.
I'M GUESSING THAT WAS TO PROVE YOU KNEW OUR WHEREABOUTS?
REGAN HAD A LITTLE SOMETHING TO DO WITH THAT.
[KINJO] OH, REALLY
AND I SUPPOSE THAT'S IN THE RECORDS AT MIRROR LAKE?
[SHIROE] NOT PRECISELY, BUT WITH HIS HELP,
I WAS ABLE TO DEDUCE THAT THE KUNIE TRIBE'S VILLAGE
IS NEAR THE TEAR STONE MOUNTAINS.
I SUPPOSE IT'S MY WAY OF SAYING, "HEY, I KNOW WHERE YOU LIVE."
HONESTLY, AS THREATS GO, IT'S PRETTY CLICHE.
[KINJO] ALL THINGS CONSIDERED, I'D LOVE TO HELP YOU,
BUT I'M AFRAID A LOAN SIMPLY IS NOT POSSIBLE.
YOU ALREADY KNOW.
ALREADY KNOW WHAT?
THAT IT WOULD VIOLATE EDICTS LAID DOWN BY MY ANCESTORS.
(EXHALE) HMM...
[SHIROE, THINKING] IT WOULD SEEM MY RESEARCH WAS DEAD ON.
REGARDLESS OF WHETHER ITS FOR A LOAN OR AN INVESTMENT,
THE BANKS HERE DON'T CONTRIBUTE TO INCREASING THE MONEY SUPPLY.
BANK ARE JUST THAT, BANKS.
PLACES TO PUT YOUR MONEY AND GET IT BACK WHEN YOU WANT IT.
MONEY LENDING, EVEN FOR A FAIR INTEREST RATE,
ISN'T A PRACTICE IN THIS WORLD.
(ROAR)
[SHIROE, THINKING] SO BASICALLY, IF YOU WANT GOLD...
YOU HAVE TO BE IN THE BUSINESS OF DESTROYING MONSTERS.
AND THAT MEANS THERE'S ONE JOB AND ONE WAY TO GET PAID FOR IT.
NO OTHER CURRENCIES.
OKAY SO LET ME ASK YOU SOMETHING, KINJO.
IS THE ONLY WAY TO EARN GOLD TO DEFEAT MONSTERS?
YES, THAT'S CORRECT.
AND OCCASIONALLY WE CAN GO ON A DUNGEON QUESTION,
[SHIROE] AND WE CAN GET HUNDREDS OF GOLD PIECES THAT WAY?
[KINJO] OF COURSE. YOU ARE, AFTER ALL,
SHOWING A GREAT AMOUNT OF BRAVERY.
[SHIROE] IF THE KUNIE TRIBE IS UNWILLING TO GIVE US A LOAN,
[SHIROE] I MUST CONSIDER ANOTHER OPTION.
I MIGHT JUST HAVE TO TAKE THAT GOLD
FROM ITS CENTRAL DISTRIBUTION POINT.
I IMAGINE THAT WOULD CAUSE YOU A GREAT DEAL OF TROUBLE.
I'M SURE YOU'D WANT TO AVOID THAT.
EH? HMM...
UH? HUH?
WAIT A MINUTE, SHIROE!
YOU SAYING WHAT I THINK YOU'RE SAYING?
[NAOTSUGU, THINKING] OKAY, SO THAT'S HOW THE GAME WORKS:
WE BEAT A MONSTER, GOLD POPS UP.
PRACTICALLY OUT OF NOWHERE.
IT JUST SHOOTS UP. INSTANTLY.
I MEAN IT MAKES SENSE IN A GAME.
HACK, SLASH, GET GOLD.
MONSTERS RESPAWN. HACK, SLASH, GET MORE GOLD.
AND SO BASICALLY, SHIROE THINKS THERE MUST BE A SOURCE
OF ALL THE COINS THAT APPEAR WHEN MONSTERS COME BACK TO LIFE.
THAT'S A HELL OF A RISK, BUDDY,
'CAUSE YOU'RE PROBABLY THE ONLY ONE OUT THERE
WHO THINKS SOMETHING LIKE THAT EVEN EXISTS.
AND YOU REALLY THINK THAT'S THE WAY IT WORKS?
THE SPIRITUAL THEORY EXPLAINS
HOW THE MONSTERS COME BACK TO LIFE.
BUT WHY ARE THEY REINCARNATED WITH THE SAME AMOUNT OF RICHES?!
WELL OF COURSE!
IT WOULD ONLY MAKE SENSE THAT THERE'D BE A MECHANISM IN PLACE!
NOT ONLY DID MY STUDIES FIND THAT THERE WAS A MECHANISM,
BUT SOMEONE BEHIND IT TO MAKE IT POSSIBLE!
AND VOILA!
I FOUND THE KUNIE!
A TRIBE IN CHARGE OF ALL THE GOLD.
[REGAN] IN THE LOWEST LAYER OF THE DEPTHS OF PALM,
MY TEXT SAID THERE IS A GIGANTIC WHIRLPOOL OF GOLD
THAT DAZZLES THE EYE!
AND IT WAS SEALED AWAY BY A MAGE OF MIRROR LAKE
FIFTEEN GENERATIONS AGO.
HAH. OH MY...
[SHIROE] I'VE ALREADY VERIFIED THAT IT'S THERE.
THERE'S AN AREA THAT'S BEEN SEALED OFF
WITH MAGIC FROM MIRROR LAKE.
CRACKING IT OPEN SHOULDN'T BE THAT HARD.
NOW YOU TELL ME WHAT YOU WERE OUT THERE FOR.
[KINJO] INTERESTING. SO YOU SPENT YOUR TIME RESEARCHING US,
SO YOU CAN ACQUIRE A WHIRLPOOL OF GOLD.
YES.
AND YOU'RE ABSOLUTELY POSITIVE
ALL THIS GOLD BELONGS TO MY TRIBE.
I AM.
WELL THEN, WHEN YOU SAY
YOU WANT TO "TAKE" THE GOLD FROM ITS SOURCE...
DOESN'T THAT MEAN YOU'RE INTENDING TO "STEAL" IT FROM US?
ARE YOU SAYING THE ROUND TABLE
HAS DESIGNS ON PILLAGING OUR GOLD?
THAT'S ACTUALLY THE REASON I CALLED YOU
WE DO NO WANT TO STAND
ON ANTAGONISTIC TERMS WITH THE KUNIE TRIBE.
I KNOW WHAT MY TRIBE DOES WITH IT,
WHAT WOULD YOU DO WITH IT?
HM?
IF I WERE TO TELL YOU,
WOULD IT CHANGE IN ANY WAY WHETHER OR NOT YOU WILL HELP US?
(EXHALES)
(LOG BREAKING, FIRE CRACKLING)
[KINJO] I'M AFRAID NOT...
THERE'S STILL THE MATTER OF THE ANCIENT LAW.
(NAOTSUGU AND SHIROE EXHALE)
[REGAN] SO WHY DID MASTER SHIROE
BOTHER DISCUSSING THIS WITH MASTER KINJO AT ALL?
IT OCCURS TO ME THAT YOU COULD'VE GONE DOWN THERE
AND STARTED STEALING THE GOLD, ALREADY.
[NAOTSUGU] IT MIGHT BE TRUE THAT, FROM TIME TO TIME,
SHIROE IS THE "VILLAIN BEHIND GLASSES".
BUT NOT WHEN HE HAS A CHANCE TO MAKE A FRIEND INSTEAD.
HUH? MAKE A FRIEND?
[NAOTSUGU] HONESTY'S IMPORTANT TO HIM.
AND TIPTOEING AROUND THE TRUTH LIKE THAT WOULD'VE BEEN A LIE.
HE'S ALMOST TOO HONEST FOR HIS OWN GOOD.
[REGAN] WHAT DO YOU MEAN?
ALL I HAD TO DO WAS SIT THERE,
AND WATCH BOTH OF 'EM TALK TO EACH OTHER...
THEY BOTH KEEP SECRETS.
WHEN YOU MAKE A NEW BUSINESS CONTACT WITH SOMEONE,
YOU GOTTA DROP SOME OF THAT CRAP,
LEARN ABOUT WHAT MAKES THE OTHER GUY TICK,
AND THEN BE UP FRONT ABOUT
WHAT YOUR SIDE IN THE NEGOTIATION WANTS...
FINALLY, YOU'RE GONNA HAVE TO MAKE COMPROMISES,
AND WHEN YOU'RE ON THE LEVEL, YOU USUALLY GET WHAT YOU WANT.
[REGAN] OHHH...
DID YOU HAPPEN TO BE A MERCHANT, MASTER NAOTSUGU?
LET'S JUST SAY I CAN TAKE CARE OF BUSINESS.
"BIZ‐NESS..."
I'M BETTING THAT JUST HAPPENS TO BE
A NEGOTIATION TALENT.
OKAY... LOOKS LIKE I NEED TO GO TALK TO HIM AGAIN.
ALL RIGHT... SO WHAT DO YOU THINK HE MEANT BY THAT?
HM?
[KINJO] IT'S SETTLED...
WE'LL MEET AT THE MEANDERING RIVER
AND FORGOTTEN UNDERGROUND GARDEN...
THIS IS THE POINT AT WHICH THE GOLD COINS THAT APPEAR
FROM THE VOID, RETURN TO THE VOID.
[BOTH] HUH?
I'D SUGGEST BRINGING SOME FRIENDS...
YOU'RE GOING TO BE NEEDING THEM, I'M SURE.
IT WON'T BE EASY GETTING DOWN TO THE BOTTOM OF THE FOUNTAIN.
WE'LL MONITOR YOUR GROUP'S PERFORMANCE...
IF YOUR RESPONSE TO THE CHALLENGE IS SATISFACTORY,
WE WILL CONSIDER YOUR REQUEST.
[SHIROE] "BRING A FEW FRIENDS..."
I THINK WE ALL KNOW WHAT THAT MEANS.
IT'LL BE A HUGE BATTLE.
WE'LL NEED A FULL RAID PARTY.
WHOA...
[SHIROE] THE DEPTHS OF PALM HAS A RAID ZONE AT THE BOTTOM.
IF WE DON'T CLEAR IT, WE DON'T GET THE GOLD.
I'M NOT EXPECTING IT TO BE EASY.
[NAOTSUGU] WE'RE DEFINITELY GONNA NEED
A RAID PARTY FOR THAT.
[SHIROE] YEAH, BUT THERE'S NO WAY WE CAN CALL
SOMEONE FROM THE ROUND TABLE TO JOIN US.
WE CAN'T TAKE THE CHANCE OF MINAMI FINDING OUT.
THEY COULD ONLY SEE IT AS AN OPPORTUNITY TO MAKE A MOVE.
OKAY SO WHO DO WE CALL FOR HELP?
I THINK I HAVE SOMEONE IN MIND.
CAREFUL MY LORD...
[SHIROE] I BLEW IT...
I DIDN'T ACCOUNT FOR ALL THE VARIABLES
AND I DIDN'T TRUST EVERYONE TO GET THEIR PARTS DONE.
[SHIROE] AKATSUKI? DID YOU... DIE?
MM‐HMM.
YEAH, WELL... I DIDN'T MAKE IT EITHER.
SO THIS IS WHAT IT'S LIKE...
[AKATSUKI] ALL THINGS CONSIDERED,
IT WAS A PRETTY CRAZY CHRISTMAS EVE, MY LORD.
[AKATSUKI, VOICEOVER] THEY HAVE DESCENDED UPON
THE NORTHERN LAND.
AND THERE, THEY FIND A MAN. WILLIAM MASSACHUSETTS.
GUILD MASTER OF A PROUD RAID‐GUILD,
THIS MAN TOLD SHIROE HE WASN'T INTERESTED
IN PROTECTING AKIHABARA BUT, THERE IS ONE OTHER MAN.
HIS NAME IS DEMICAS.
SHIROE TOOK HIS LIFE ONCE.
[SHIROE] STAND UP... ONE MORE TIME!