The riveting party has come to an end, and morning arrives. San visits Tatsuo’s group as almost everyone is knocked out from yesterday's celebration -- Punk Riot and Archer have already left.
***
*Flashback to Archer telling Darren that he’s leaving.
Darren: Huh? You’re leaving already? The party’s barely started.
Archer (hastily): Yeah, I can’t stay here any longer. I have to get out of here.
He takes a quick glimpse at Queenie before leaping off the balcony and disappearing.
Darren (thinking): What’s up with him…?
*Returning to the present.
Somebody knocks at the door. Tatsuo opens it and it is San. San apologizes for not being able to attend the party since he had to deal with the aftermath of Heymlir’s terrorism. He sits himself down across from Tatsuo. In the background, everyone else is still asleep.
San: The people wanted me to become the next mayor…But I refused.
San: We found the mayor’s body…He’s dead.
San: Or rather, he was killed.
San: We couldn’t find the core either…His torso was completely mutilated. We currently have people investigating the issue.
San: Thank you. You and your guild were a great help to us. We wouldn’t have been able to stop Heymlir if it wasn’t for you chaps. Not that his plan would’ve worked anyways depending on how far he planned to expand Argonaut. There’s still the guardian of Irene, The Green Beast…!
Tatsuo simply sat intently listening with his usual blanked out expression.
San smirks: You’re not interested in our state of affairs though aren’t ya. You want to know about Veloren…
San: Before I start, I want to ask…
San: Who are your parents?
Tatsuo: I don’t know. I never had real parents…I was always taken care of by a foster mother throughout most of my childhood.
This raises perplexity to San but keeps it to himself.
Tatsuo: How come you wanted to know that?
San: No…It’s just…I’d thought perhaps your father could’ve been Veloren…Or perhaps he could even be your grandfather at this point…I’d thought maybe that was the reason why you were searching for him.
San: It’s pretty embarrassing to admit…But even after I’ve traveled with him, the man was still an enigma…Hehe… So much for me touting about being his big fan…Sorry, but there’s really not much I can tell you about him…
San: But thanks to you, I remembered the time that I first met him…Back in Pillberry…It was around…Eighty years ago…I think…
San: Yes…I remember…It was there that Veloren had won my heart…
Tatsuo: What did I do to jog your memory back?
San smiles warmly at Tatsuo.
“It was your words. Back when you were fighting Heymlir.”
San: Veloren was a wanted man at that time…Me and my guildmates helped smuggle him out of this land.
San: If you’re looking for someplace to start, I suggest going to Odale. That was where me and my guildmates escorted him to. You may find some clues there as I know he spent a lot of time in that continent.
San: I also remember he carried around a log-book or some sort of diary. I was always curious about what was in there. I have no clue where it may be, but I reckon finding that book would be valuable in your search for him…If it’s still out there.
Tatsuo: You mentioned that you and him went on an expedition together. Where and when was this?
San: Ah…That was the last time I ever saw Veloren.
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Tatsuo: Then…Wouldn’t that be the best place to begin searching at instead?
San pauses in hesitation.
San: …I was hoping you would forget about that…There…Was a reason I didn’t want to mention it to you again.
San: On Beria, there are 9 continents that are officially recorded. But recently, geologists have included a 10th landmass to the list.
San: The expedition that Veloren and I partook in involved the exploration of this newly discovered continent, formed by elite individuals who wanted to explore it. The purpose was to bring back information for documentation.
San: The name of this newly discovered continent is called Eden. Even now, the world still barely knows anything about it. The reason I didn’t want to tell you this was because I knew you would make an attempt to go there…
San: Let me tell you this kid. The world is still an undiscovered place filled with many mysteries and wonders…Things that exist that humans cannot comprehend. And there’s a reason why Eden has remained as one of them.
San: That place…Is dangerous…! Once you set foot on there…You WILL die…!
Tatsuo: Then…How come you are still alive then…?
San: I went on the expedition…I never said that I actually explored the land itself did I? I was just one of the lucky few that didn’t set foot first to die before knowing the true danger that lurks there.
San: Us humans have no right being in a place like that, let alone living there. - The light from San’s eyes fades, slowly turning hauntingly cold.
San: That is why…Please...Promise me…You will NOT go there…
San: There is no chance that you will find Veloren there if he’s still alive…I don’t want to send you to your death…
Tatsuo: Sorry, but no promises. I don’t want to rule out the possibility of Veloren being there, no matter how dangerous the place is. But thanks for the warning.
San (smirks defeatingly): ...You foolish chap…
San: Sorry I withheld information from you. When we met, you came off as suspicious to me. Even now, you chaps still are…
San gets himself up.
San: I’m afraid that’s all the time I can spare with you right now. There’s still business I have to attend to.
Tatsuo: At this rate, you might as well be the new mayor of the town.
San: Don’t say that! I reckon it’s going to end up happening!
Right as San is about to go through the door, he remembers something else.
San: Oh yeah, try looking for a man named Newman Knowles. Many claim him to be ‘The Greatest Adventurer’.
San: He’s one of the few individuals to have actually explored Eden and made it out alive. He was also one of our main navigators. Without him, almost all of us would’ve died.
San (thinking): Well…Veloren was also one of them…But I think it’d be best if I refrain from telling him that…
San: I’m sure he’d be an immense help in finding Veloren for you.
With that, San makes his leave. Later on throughout the day, San makes a visit to Dr. Crogsbell’s laboratory to inquire about the amp. Core.
***
San: Sorry to bother you doctor, I’m sure you have a lot on your plate at the moment with what happened to the core and your lab…
Dr. Crogsbell: Oh! Pay no mind San! You helped save the city! You’re always welcomed!
Dr. Crogsbell: With that said, you don’t happen to be planning anything malicious towards me hm…?
San: Ha! Ha! Ha…! No…You won’t have to worry about anything like that with me. Please rest assured.
In the background, Mearl puts down a projectile weapon aimed at San while sighing in relief. Dr. Crogsbell walks off to continue in cleaning up his ruined-state lab.
Dr. Crogsbell: So? What pays for your visit here?
San: Well…There’s something I’m curious about. I understand if you can’t give me an answer…
San: But it’s about the item that went missing.
Dr. Crogsbell momentarily pauses his action.
San: Like I said, if something like that is classified, then–
Dr. Crogsbell: No…The commissioned item is already gone…And unless the commissioner provides us with another ‘crystal’, we can’t even recreate it. At this point there’s no use in withholding information. What is it that you wanted to know?
San: Who commissioned you folks to make that item?
Dr. Crogsbell: Why, it was none other than the King of Rototoskre!
Dr Crogsbell’s answer left San stunned.
San: So that’s how it is… I must say…That’s some big client you folks partnered with.
San: But shouldn’t we be cautious?
Dr. Crogsbell: Hm?
San: I mean…We were lucky enough that a friendly guild came on behalf of the client to pick up the item. But with us turning up empty handed, won’t the King direct his animosity towards us?
Dr. Crogsbell: Hmph! Well what can we do now? We’ll deal with that issue when the time comes. Besides, what is he going to do? Wage war against us? The King of Rototoskre wouldn’t be so foolish as to act so brazenly like a king from Odale.
San: Well…Let’s hope you’re right about that. Usually that’d be the case for most political affairs…But you understand that the King of Rototoskre is special...When it comes to folks like him, if he so wishes to…Someone of his status…
“Could destroy this city if he wanted to.”