Just let us through already!
We can't do business unless we transport the goods there!
An investigation is underway.
Damn it, we're here to do business!
How many times do I need to tell you?
I have a feeling
you are very obsessed with the Black Fairy Tome.
My father was passionate about exploring Midend.
I lost count of how many times he'd taken me to that desert of death.
The fairy scholars found the Black Fairy Tome in Midend
by deciphering the 52 inscriptions.
But your father went missing, right?
It was his 17th trip to Midend. He went and never came back.
What do you plan to do from now on?
When everything is over, I will go to Westald.
The devil is wanted everywhere.
But you should be safe on the other side of the sea.
Yeah. Besides,
it should be fun there.
What's going on here?
Tell us your relationship with Veronica Thorn
once we're back in the Dorothea headquarters.
Yes, understood.
It's too dangerous, stay away from the administration building!
Please back up!
How did it go?
We looked everywhere. There was no sign of Eajay.
We can't keep stopping the people and goods from entering.
We'll let everyone through tomorrow morning.
We're going back to Rondacia empty-handed.
Well, not exactly.
And now, everything is set in motion.
Please back up! It's too dangerous here! Stay away from the administration building!
Please back up! The lockdown will be over in the morning!
I have a duty to fulfill.
CHAPTER 17: BALANCE ON SAND
DOROTHEA HEADQUARTERS
Gui Carlin has the Black Fairy Tome now?
Yes. It's possible the information was leaked.
And Gui Carlin wasn't the only group looking for the tome.
There are other forces at play?
Is there anything you want to tell me?
Sorry to trouble you, Director Nein Aular.
I am Damian Carme, a fairy scholar.
Carme...
Are you related to the Mother of Fairy Weapon, Michelle Carme?
I am her great-great-grandson.
But we are basically strangers to each other. We barely get in touch.
Back in Isharat,
I met him in the house of Cain Distarol, the fairy scholar.
This man was traveling with Veronica Thorn.
Things just got interesting.
I have a request.
Could we talk in private, Director?
Why?
There is something I can only tell
the Director of Dorothea.
Very well.
Director!
Leave it, Marlya.
This is the Director's decision.
Let's go out.
Well?
Until that day, my name hadn't been Damian Carme.
What do you mean?
My last name wasn't Carme.
My real identity
is Albastora.
Due to some reasons, I had to hide my family name.
Are you a descendant of Crucia Albastora, the author of the Black Fairy Tome?
Yes, and that is why I know.
What do you know?
I know the entire content of that tome.
Thank you.
Don't mention it.
Are you thinking about Veronica?
There's that...
The Black Fairy Tome is a confidential document about the fairies.
The United Zesskia wants to collect all parts of it.
I know that much.
But what about the other guy?
Vero was with that Damian guy.
And what about Gui Carlin?
What do they want?
There are five great tomes about fairies.
Hel S. Bellwood's Original Text,
Jay B. Mercer's Blue Fairy Tome,
Timothy Connar's Red Fairy Tome,
Colen Thor's White Fairy Tome,
and Crucia Albastora's Black Fairy Tome.
Did I get everything right?
Yes.
But the Black Fairy Tome didn't exist.
What do you mean?
Around 200 years ago,
one man attempted to combine the five tomes into one.
Was it Alan Bach?
Yes. However,
parts from the Black Fairy Tome were excluded from his book.
What about the book we're searching for?
Alan Bach split the copy he hid
into nine copies and gave them code names instead.
He hid the content on purpose.
He was after the Black Fairy Tome too?
Probably.
But was it really worth it? Or was there another reason?
Why are you telling me this secret?
I only know the main topics. I can't use the knowledge for evil.
The compilation by Alan Bach contained only the gist of it too.
But anyone would want to possess it after reading the content.
Before the book was published,
the Albastora family erased that part of the book.
You didn't do a thorough job.
Alan Bach has a copy of the Black Fairy Tome.
And now, people are trying to collect the divided copies.
Gui Carlin...
It's not just them.
There are more sinister foes at play.
The United Zesskia is collecting parts of the Black Fairy Tome
for the sake of peace, right?
During the War of Unification,
every country deployed countless fairy soldiers and artificial fairies.
The damage was unimaginable.
But if the Black Fairy Tome falls into the wrong hand,
there will be even more disasters.
Tragic things such as wars will take place.
People will be in pain and suffering.
And to prevent that, we must finish our mission.
Yeah, that's right.
I've had enough of war.
Ministry Bellwood, could I have a word with you?
Excuse me, Minister. She claims it's urgent.
I'll be right there.
The room is a little messy right now.
Are you working already?
I was going through some files.
Are you here for the incident at the port city?
Yes.
The thing we confiscated from the trade ship
was the ninth part of the Black Fairy Tome, the Black Nine.
However, it was lost.
I see.
I dispatched the Dorothea as a precaution,
perhaps I made the wrong decision.
We can't deny our failure, however,
we do know that Gui Carlin took the Black Nine.
I see.
The Dorothea will seize the opportunity to eliminate the Gui Carlin Mafia.
I have no objection.
They are nothing but a threat to the United Zesskia.
I hope you could support this plan when I propose it to the Prime Minister.
I'll help as much as I can.
Thank you.
By the way, Minister?
What is it?
More than half of the Black Fairy Tome is now kept by the government.
After we took the Black Four from Gilbert Warlock,
the Ear of Gui Carlin, we already have six copies of the nine.
There are only three copies left to find.
The Ministry of Fairies must be deciphering it as we speak.
Are you interested?
It's said that the reason
the land of Tsubal turned into the desert Midend was written in there.
Even if...
Even if that was true, the people shouldn't know the truth.
Perhaps you're right.
I'll have a glass of water.
Right away.
After Warlock was arrested,
Gui Carlin's operations in Rondacia have been hindered.
For someone who's now being hunted by them, this is a great hiding place.
What about you?
Have you fallen me for my beauty as well?
I'm here because you're a criminal.
I could give you a clean slate.
I don't mind if you finish it in one go.
Don't interrupt me.
Tell me what you know about Gui Carlin.
Tell me everything.
You have my word the Dorothea won't follow you afterward.
Finish it.
That's my condition.
I know you don't trust me.
I don't trust you either.
Show me I can trust you.
Trust me, Sweetie.
Is this true?
Yes.
Everyone on the list has deep ties with the Gui Carlin Mafia.
It's safe to see them as members or executives of the mafia.
But several of them are businessmen who supported us in the War of Unification.
Even our high-ranking officers...
The consequences will be severe if we go after all of them.
I'll take full responsibility.
Are you willing to step down if you're wrong about them?
I will accept the punishment.
Very well.
Get it done.
Yes.
Yes, please see that it's done.
Yes, my lady! It's a pleasure to serve you!
"BUZ" SEBASTIAN, INFORMANTS TEAM
Listen up! Give it your best and don't let her down!
Yes!
What did you do to these people?
I didn't do anything.
Please put this on, my lady!
ASCRACH BALL ROOM
What's wrong?
It's nothing.
Not bad, you look great in the dress.
What's great about it?
My lady, he's over there.
That man is known as the "King of Balls."
Helneil Fang, an artwork merchant.
He looks like the rich and annoying type.
I didn't say anything wrong.
He seized the opportunity to steal treasure from countries during the war.
He's far from virtuous.
He also bribed people to become a socialite.
We proceed as planned.
Yes, my lady.
Well done, my lady.
Operation, commence.
I get it.
I'll inform the Minister of Foreign Affairs.
I'm sorry to trouble you, Deputy Minister.
Deputy Minister Nick Laima, please come with us.
Director Nein Aular of the Dorothea?
How can I help you?
Let's hope the next minister is as outstanding as you.
You know why I'm here. This is about Gui Carlin.
I have no idea what you're talking about.
Is that so?
FUZAN
There's nothing here.
We're in the right place.
This is where we first met, right?
Didn't we meet during the guards' meeting before that?
This is where we actually talked.
Yeah.
We still have some time.
We must go in before sunrise.
Do you feel sleepy?
That's good to know.
By the way,
what got you into this job?
I...
Fighting is pretty much the only thing I know.
But why do you fight?
At first, I wanted to protect my country.
Men were meant to be on the battlefield.
That was the time we lived in.
Was it the War of Unification?
Yes.
Before I realized it, fighting was the only thing I knew.
Were you still fighting after the war?
The Director took me in.
And until then...
I don't think that's true.
Fighting isn't the only thing you know.
You offered me help when I needed it.
And now you're caught up in this fight.
I'd been called the child of misfortune ever since I was born.
Nothing ever happened to those around me.
Some even lost their lives.
I used to think it was my fault.
But that thought was too arrogant.
Everyone is living their life.
Some do so for others, some live only for themselves.
Everyone has a reason to live on and follow through with their reason.
Everyone lives their life.
Until the very end, their life is their own.
I learned a lot in this place.
I learned that even I deserved to live on.
I must live and move on for someone I care about.
Fighting isn't everything.
I've had fun with the people of Dorothea.
We eat together.
My comrades are precious to me.
Is that so?
Yes. I can still fight.
No one has given up,
and that's all thanks to you.
That's good to know.
Free.
It's almost daybreak.
Yeah.
You're right.
MINISTRY OF TRANSPORT, EAST EASTALD
Now is our chance! Move in!
Roger!
-Ouch! -Let go of me!
Brown Skyer, we are the Dorothea.
You are now under arrest.
Do you have any idea how much I've invested in the United Zesskia?
Goldbarn and I have been friends since before the war!
Of course, we're here on his permission.
Hey, stay still.
Ouch!
You're really good at this.
I learned it from Klara.
I see.
Director Aular.
Are you here to report your progress in eradicating Gui Carlin?
The Prime Minister ordered me to deliver results.
An overly head-strong approach might garner animosity.
For the sake of peace and order, and to protect the harmony and prosperity,
such an approach is necessary.
I must get going.
DOROTHEA HEADQUARTERS
Let's go.
Where are you taking me?
We know where Eajay is.
He's our biggest target yet.
We are leaving Rondacia for the time being.
If those dangerous individuals learn of my existence,
I might be in trouble. Is that what you're saying?
Anyway, this is the Director's order.
I'll escort you to safety.
Damian Albastora.
Stop using Vero for your bidding.
And what made you say that?
I've never made her do anything.
You tricked her into helping you.
She had her own reasons to do so.
Revenge is meaningless.
We don't get to say whether it's meaningless or not.
Only she knows the answer to that.
I want to stop Vero.
Humans are always lonely.
She might never come back to me.
She plans to see it through on her own.
Vero is not lonely.
She still has me!
The fairies belonged to no one.
Raising fairy soldiers?
For the comrades who believe in me!
Free!
"DANCING MOUSE AND BROKEN HORN" I will end you here.