Completed Shadowrun (1996) for Sega CD [シャドウラン]

[orcinator]

UPDATE 08: DWARVEN QUARTER

Spoiler

So, where were we?

Oh right, in the ghetto reservation.

A couple more steps and we're near the thing.

Actually, no. It's quite possible that this is where the plot irreversibly happens so let's explore instead.

This thing is a save station. The game tells us we should save, hehe.

A bit more to the east and we find a ramen (possibly) shop.

Inside it is not super cramped but close to it. D-Head is monologuing dramatically.

Mao has no problem chatting.

The other guy is a bit more friendly.

And the first one joins in:

「サイレント・ムーン」 - Of course, it's katakana.

Let's talk with the owner.

Okay, that was useful. The elves have captured the dwarf we want.

He says it was very weird, human man and woman. Why was that weird, I don't know.

We exit the shop and walk around some more.

Well, that's it. Time to enter the Black Iron Inn.

Dorfs everywhere! All bald with big noses as far as I can see. DeepL went nuts here:

Joining the separate lines produces a better result: "Oh, my God, there's even a fucking elf."

「タンポポ食い」 - is "dandelion eater" an official Shadowrun slur for elves? :D

The first dwarf just looks at us:

The next two are not even interactive. But the last two are:

And we get a choice:

喧嘩を買う - Pick a fight
おとなしくひきさがる - Back down quietly

At first I backed down.

But then decided, fuck it, let's have a brawl. It's purely optional, as far as I can tell, because the ramen shop owner already told us about the dwarven vigilantes.

And it's one of them fisticuff fights, no weapons allowed. Four out of five dwarves join the fight.

Everyone misses a lot here even with unarmed 6 for Rokudo and Shion. Rokudo and Shion deal 3 damage per successful attack which is sometimes lowered to 1 for some reason.

With each melee attack the opponent gets an automatic counter (which is why melee is probably not fun):

With the same 3 damage on success.

But it's 3 or 6 in case of Mao.

We deal with the first dwarf, then Mao goes down because her armor is weaker and because it turns out that a) magic is not allowed; and b) fists do stun damage and medkits only work on physical.

Rokudo's animation is an attack with katana, by the way. But it doesn't look like it's actually used. D-Head is down next, and one of the remaining dwarves starts to run.

And then runs back, lol. You can't move on top of the enemy bodies, btw. He goes down soon:

Shit attack by shit attack we whittle down one of the dwarves to 3 hp left and then defeat him:

I move Shion to the side because he's pretty low, too and Rokudo beats the shit of the last one:

Our downed party members get up and we exit the tavern to find the entrance to the dwarven gang HQ.

D-Head notes that it's all rubble and that only the first floor is open. Inside we find the Three Dwarves:

Two of them are just guards.

And we get another choice.

申し出に乗る - Take the offer
申し入れを断る - Refuse the offer

I took the offer and I'm mildly curious about the other one but not so much as to reload and try it.

Yeah, totally. You get a frontal assault in the streets and we lurk in the back.

And that's it. Now we can proceed north into the Elves' quarter.

D-Head immediately starts the internal monologue:

I don't know what greenery is he talking about, perhaps that asphalt texture is all grass?

And after that we're free to move on. Ah, so that's the greenery:

And that:

Aaaand we're there:

We get into the foye:

There's a door to the left:

What's that? Perhaps it's time D-Head got to hacking stuff? Rokudo answers that we don't have time to look for it and we get another choice:

端末を探す - Find the terminal
電子ロックを壊す - Break the lock

Well, I'm keen to see hot elven decking action, so I choose the first one. Okay, I lied, I chose breaking the lock first but since there are people waiting right behind the door, I've reloaded and chose the second one thinking we might avoid that ambush (spoiler: nope). The elevator is, of course, out of order, so we move on from floor to floor using stairs. The next floor has two doors (marked by the empty spots in the black rectangle).

The left one leads us to an empty corridor with another door:

That leads to an empty office.

Okay, on the next floor the single door leads us to an empty room with two doors.

The right one leads us into the computer room:

D-Head starts to work his magic (and don't ask me why there's power):

At this point I've had a pretty low opinion of their dungeons but I've checked the other room out of habit:

And what's that I see? A unique tile art? The poster goes down with a short animation:

Revealing the secret locker:

With a sword inside!

Ooooh, a magic sword. We take it, but I have no way of checking it out until the next combat, lol. We go down, open the door and find the exact same scene we would've found if we just broke inside:

And the combat starts.

Is Silver Spoon's leader as good as they say? Will the dark-haired elven schoolgirls be able to prevail? What's with the magic sword? You're gonna have to wait until the next one to find out.

Dandelion Eater is a canon slur for elves. I guess the Japanese audience woulkdn't have been able to get the reference behind "Keeb" the other canon slur as the Keebler elves aren't as well known there.

 

[abnaxus]

Beat up Elves, not Dwarves, breh

 

[infidel]

UPDATE 09: ELVEN MOP-UP

Spoiler

Since this update has a lot of images due to lots of talking, I've resized the images to 640x480. Let's see how this works.

When we last left off, we were right at the beginning of combat. As usual, Rokudo shoots first at the dark haired schoolgirls (which are named Elf 1, 2 and 3) dealing his usual 6 damage. He misses the second shot, though.

Oof, close quarters full-auto ain't a joke. A whopping 10 damage from Shiun's HK227.

And 6 more on another schoolgirl.

Rokudo's so fast, he gets another attack murdering the second schoolgirl. This looks like a massacre now. It's nice to move first.

The last one misses and even D-Head manages to do 6 damage.

But only 3 damage on his next one.

Now it's time for the leader to... cast some magic. Huh? I thought he was supposed to be a good swordsman. And the purple one is power bolt I think.

Which only results in him taking 1 drain damage.

And we find out his name. He's called... エルフボス - elf boss. Mao misses both her shots but Shiun finishes the last schoolgirl off, again with 10 damage.

And for his second shot:

Well, that was anticlimactic. On Rokudo's final turn I recall about the Magic Sword but it turns out he doesn't have it. Same thing with Shiun and I haven't bothered checking Mao or D-Head. So, perhaps, this is a Quest Magic Sword, then.

And that's when the leader starts talking.

Hey, we're right here, you know.

Well, now that that's over with, let's enter the first door.

Not much, huh. Second door, though, is what we want.

The dorf speaks:

And we move on to... somewhere.

You think he gained a level or two?

Yeah, who the fuck are you calling an ally? We've got hourly rates, dude.

And we go back to Black Iron, which now has a background image instead.

Talking with one of the dwarves.

And another one.

Thanks.

And talking to the main dorf.

Then somebody else enters.

The other dorf starts talking with the police.

Dindunuffin, officer.

And the cop leaves the bar.

Half the parties I know have a troll in them, Mao. Though they usually hang out in Seattle, hehehe.

I think it means we get a new contact to chat with in the future missions.

And just like that, we skip to the exciting part - being hidden in the cargo truck.

Well, that was smooth, wasn't it? We're back at the bar. D-Head is thinking.

Mao is chatting.

Ring-ring-ring.

You motherfucker...

And here's the last choice of this adventure.

持ち込む - Bring it
持ち込まない - Don't bring it

It's obviously useless but we'll still take a look.

We find ourselves in the abode of some hacker. Looks kinda lazy and not very hackerish.

Oh, wait, it's not just any hacker.

Dad???

His dad leaves somewhere in the back and we're left to wait. Not for long though, he's back soon with a revelation:

And we're back at the bar again. It looks like we need to check our contacts to kill time. Nat says something interesting:

They're foreigners. From Seattle, perhaps?

The net has a report about the group of three breaking into the blockade. Apparently they've killed three guards and then fled the scene. Then they say about our escape, which is perhaps related. We visit Grandma, who's next on our list and the game timer forces us to leave for the Otemachi.

Yeah, it's reeeeeally obvious. Next time: we finally meet our rivals and complete this mission.

 

[infidel]

UPDATE 10: WHAT D-HEAD REALLY THINKS

Spoiler

Once again we're at the bar and the final part of the adventure is upon us. We have to deliver the goods to an asshole client that specifically reminded us that delivery is part of the job.

And we go inside.

Mao screams and we immediately notice something.

Then Rokudo suddenly gets it.

We're dead serious about jobs.

A couple steps to the right (in the vain hopes of moving around traps):

We get inside.

We move on to another door.

The elevator is, of course, out of order so we go into the door.

And we're near the stairs up.

The next floor has nothing interesting, so we move on. Remember how everyone was implying there were more traps? Well, no, there aren't. Emerging from the stairs, we (the player) immediately see our opposition while we (the party) have a chat:

We do a couple of steps and one of the other guys starts talking.

Was it?

『ギャラリー』 - by the literal "gyarari" he means the spectators, i.e. the Johnson.

"Mano a mano. You, me, and my GUAAAAAAAARDS!"

Good first shot by Rokudo:

And we find the troll's name - 岩砕き, "iwa kudaki", or Rockcrusher.

Usually he misses the second one but not this time.

This combat has a reeeeally good start. Then their guy moves but doesn't do anything.

Shiun attacks him and we find out his name - 黒島, Kuroshima or literally "black island".

One damage? Woah, that's some armor. Same thing with the second shot:

Looks like 1 is the minimum damage because D-Head also hits (once).

Then it's their mage's turn:

She wastes it casting power bolt on D-Head:

And we find out her name - フレア, Furea, as in Flare. It's Rokudo's turn next and he misses twice (I decide to focus-fire Satoshima since it seems mages are pretty useless in this game). It's Mao's turn next and she can't do shit being too far away so I just move her closer to the action. Satoshima is now close enough to shoot at Rokudo:

FUUUUUUUUUUUUUUCK, he's good, he's real good. Shiun's turn now:

I guess 1 damage is when he dodges or it goes into his armor and 6 is when it bypasses? Anyway, that's enough for him. I'd leave no witnesses but it's a story fight, so you know:

トリニティ (Toriniti) is probably their decker's name.

Coincidence?

And we go up, to the finish.

We've already guessed that.

Imma personally stick a magic sword in his possibly dragon servant butt, Rokudo.

And we're back at the bar.

Shadowrunner's motto.

And he goes into his inner monorants.

Now that that's over with, let's watch the intro for the next one.

It's called 地質データの筆取 - Geological data acquisition.

Hey, these are the guys we almost wiped the floor with just now. They have their own drama.

That hawt young samurai. Lol, that kid's Trinity, I suppose?

Yeah, Rokudo's a total badass, for sure, all chicks dig him.

Imma call it right now, Rock is Rokudo's long lost lover/brother or whatever it was, I don't remember. The laws of animu dorama dictate that The cutscene is over and we move on into the... what was it, the Dawn bar? Rokudo's drinking with his samurai buddy Izo.

Yeah, they're not buddies but whatever.

Izo knows his shit.

And Rokudo starts thinking:

So THAT'S why Rokudo has put him down on his first turn.

Likely an idiom.

Remember, we're all dead serious about jobs. Samurais are doubly so.

And that's a nice segway into D-Head, who's standing on a street somewhere chatting with someone:

And we get a nice table at the near restaurant.

... thought D-Head, quietly slurping his sake.

ジオデック - can read either as Geodec or Geotech.

Orcs again?

... thought D-Head, staring into the dead eyes of the corpo slut in front of him. He wanted the man dead. Dead in the car trunk somewhere in the outskirts of Tokyo.

"They never care", thought D-Head, clenching his fists under the table, almost reaching for his gun. How easy would it be, one shot, and a nice round hole would appear in that immaculately groomed face he hated already. Instead, he took a deep breath and said:

It wasn't. Not unless there was something unknown, like on their last job. The job where the Johnson manipulated them and another team to see which one comes on top. The Johnson, just like the one that was sitting right in front of him, sipping his cocktail and watching him intently. But he needed the money. It was always about the money.

He played it down. You should never let the Johnsons see what you really think of them.

"The only good news you'll be waiting for is that your pet chihuahua survived after I've fed it the shoe polish.". But he never said these words, instead forcing himself to smile politely. Professional all the way, he stood up and exited the restaurant. It was time to get back to the team and see what they think of it.

Well, that's a good place to stop. Looks like we're finally going to see some l33t hax0r skilz by D-Head next time. I wonder what's this job really about.

 

[abnaxus]

Isn't the troll's name literally Rockcrusher?

The enemy samurai is named Kuroshima (黒島), the first character is 黒

 

[infidel]

Isn't the troll's name literally Rockcrusher?

Thanks for the corrections, I haven't bothered to re-check the OCRed kanji and screwed up. Same with Rockcrusher, looked into another part of the screen for some reason.

 

[infidel]

UPDATE 11: FEMME MAO-TALE

Spoiler

I'm gonna change the LP format to better accomodate reams of VN text and make it somewhat more compact in the hopes of accomodating 40 minutes of footage.

We've just received our new mission and the team is hyped. So Rokudo offers to start with Nat.

​

Nat: Geotech? I'm a street guy. I'm not very good at corpo stuff...
Rokudo: I know. I just wanna know what's up with them.
Nat: Wait... Speaking of which, I heard a rumor that a company by that name was looking for deckers.
Rokudo: Deckers? For what?
Nat: That, unfortunately...
Rokudo: All right, thanks, man.

Next is datanet, as usual.

​

"Geotech is a construction consulting firm established in 2010. Headquartered in Tokyo, it's a medium-sized company not affiliated with any mega-corporation. They have a large amount of data on the condition of ground underneath buildings and weather around in Tokyo and its suburbs. The company has seen rapid growth since 2030. It is proactive in hiring metahumans and has deals with major general contractors."

Next on the list is our corporate friend Johnson.

​

Shiun: I was wondering if you had a bit of information for me. Do you know Geotech company in Shibaura?
Johnson: They're an independent construction consultancy. What about them?
Shiun: I've had a bit of a run-in with them, so how's their reputation?
Johnson: It looks like they're growing rapidly, armed with a wealth of accumulated data. But they're not very polite, and notorious for their rough data collection methods. Some of the big mega-corps are running on fumes.
Shiun: I see... Thank you very much.
Johnson: I think it's safer not to get into a flashy fight with them. Because it looks like you're going to be working for me soon.
Shiun: Thank you very much for your concern. I'll see you soon...

And after that there's someone new in the contacts menu - アラクネ, Arakune, or Arachne.

​

From that point we'll find out that D-Head's buddies sometimes call him マジシャン - majishan. Here's a relevant song:



D-Head: I got a rather interesting request. It looks like we're up against that Geotech company.
Arachne: Well, well. What do you want to know?
D-Head: Anything you know about their system.
Arachne: ... 250 nuyen. Okay?
D-Head: All right. The info that gets into Arachne's web is always solid.
Arachne: I'm flattered, but you should go out with me sometime.
D-Head: Maybe later, but first let's have that info.
Arachne: Yes, yes. Their computer system is divided into two sections, one for accounting and one for research. The accounting system's security is above average, but the research system is problematic. It's a "stand alone" type, almost impossible to penetrate from the outside.
(sutando aron)
D-Head: Stand alone... So it's not linked to the public network.
Arachne: That's what I'm talking about, of course, because the access address would have changed by the hour. They're protected like megacorp, must be as profitable.
(she says purotekuto mo mega kopo, which is double funny)
D-Head: If it's too hard to get in from the outside, we'll have to sneak in from the inside... I've heard that Geotech is scouting for good deckers.
Arachne: That company got so big because of the aggressive data collection. They want good data grabbers.
D-Head: Where can I meet their scout?
Arachne: Maybe you can meet him if you hang out at Middle Heaven.
(ミドル・ヘヴン - midoru hevun, could also be middle haven instead)
D-Head: Middle Heaven... Yeah, that's where deckers hang out usually.
Arachne: Be careful, magician, because Geotech is not an easy opponent.
(and magic is my gaaaaaaame, yeah)

D-Head: I know. Much obliged.
Arachne: I'll see you next time, and don't forget to pay for my information.

​

Rokudo: You want to go for it?
Shiun: But if security is as good as they say it is, I'm not sure you can make it to the center of the research building...
D-Head: Based on what we've seen so far, I'd say they're fully guarded against the outside world. We've got to get inside.
Mao: But how?
D-Head: I'm going to reach out to them, and they're going to hire me as a data grabber. I'm a pretty good decker, aren't I?
(for some reason there are quotes around "pretty good decker" in japanese)
Rokudo: Well, do you have any ideas as to how?
D-Head: There's a place in the Matrix called "Middle Heaven". It's a hangout for deckers... Sort of like a pub in the real world. So I'm going to look for a Geotech scout. I'm going to access it from my home, it's more private there.
Mao: Hmm, sounds very interesting. And I can get into the Matrix...
D-Head: ... You're no match for them, Mao-san. But if you'd like to come in, I'm afraid I can't stop you.
Mao: Really? Hooray!
(she literally says banzai, lol)
Rokudo: If it's not too much trouble, will you let me and Shiun accompany you?
D-Head: I'm glad to hear it, but I'm not sure I can do it alone. Let's go to my apartment.

​

Mao: Wow, D-head lives the good life!
Shiun: He's the man they call the magician of the Matrix. Information can be very lucrative if it's handled well.
(matorikkusu no majishan)
Mao: Hmm. Being decker's a good business, right?
D-Head: Until you screw up one day. Now, I want you all to make yourselves comfortable. This screen will show you the scene inside the Matrix. I don't think there's anything to worry about, but if there is an emergency, please pull the jack out of my head. I'll leave the decision to you, Shiun.
Shiun: Acknowledged.

We're treated to D-Heads closeup and hilarious 5fps early CG anim that you can watch in the vid.

​

Hacker A: It's unusual for you to show your face in here.
D-Head: I figured an occasional social gathering wouldn't be a bad idea. To tell you the truth, I haven't had a lot of work lately. I thought there might be something good here.
Hacker A: Hey, if you really want some work, you're not out of luck.
D-Head: Well, what do you have?
Hacker A: Over there... see that werewolf in a suit? He's a recruiter for a company called Geotech. Sometimes he comes in here looking for a good decker.
D-Head: "I'm in luck! I never thought I'd find him this fast..."
D-Head: Huh. What kind of work does he offer?
Hacker A: Well, it's a lab work. It's so rare to work from home nowadays, isn't it?
D-Head: "It's easier and easier for me to approach him..."

Back in the meatspace.

​

D-Head: In a way, you're right. In the Matrix world, deckers wear masks - personas they prefer. The Matrix itself is like a giant costume party.
Shiun: So, how's the business meeting going, with the big sales pitch?
D-Head: I've already told him what I've done so far. How I can grab classified data and outsmart IC.
Mao: So you're living in luxury thanks to your accomplishments.
D-Head: He wanted to see the evidence, so we decided to meet next time at a program shop in Akihabara.
Rokudo: Are you sure you can trust him?
D-Head: I've never been involved with Geotech before. He should have no reason to doubt me.
Shiun: If you need backup, just tell us.
D-Head: Hmmm... Let's not do that. If they find out, my credibility will suffer. It's unlikely that Geotech would hire a suspicious decker. I think I should go there alone.
Rokudo: All right, be careful out there.

And now we can go to the meeting place in Akihabara.

​

But I still will. Hahahaha. Bastards, running away from their problems, leaving behind them nothing but empty meat. He took a deep breath. Akihabara smelled like plastic. Cheap plastic, like the stink of broken electronic whores once he was done with them satisfying his darker urges.

​

He turned to the side alley and walked the rest of the way to his destination.

​

The man's ugly mug was not a result of the plastic surgery, he was clearly born with it. Ugly. In a world where everyone could be beatiful with the right amount of money, ugliness was like a badge of honor. Except for orcs. And trolls. Those were ugly and there was nothing anyone could do about it. And why would they. Why, indeed.

​

I wonder why this password is deemed bad luck. You can't mention Heaven or is it a euphemysm for death?

​

『郷に入れば郷に従え』 which isn't that interesting, and translates something like "when you enter a village, obey its rules".

​

Recruiter: You said you could show me some evidence of your track record...
D-Head: Yeah. Take a look at this. I brought you a sample that has no market value today. About two years ago, Mihama developed a new material that increases the memory capacity of electronic chips. Two weeks later, Fuchi followed suit... Do you remember those events?
(it's written as 三浜, which reads either as Mihama or Sanhama, and there is Mitsuhama in Shadowrun, which is supposed to be 三津濱, so idk)
Recruiter: Are you saying you're the one who sold Fuchi the data from Mihama? I can reconstruct something like this from publicly available data... Okay, looks like it's real. Even if it's fake, if you can make something this good, that needs some talent.
D-Head: I'll take that as a compliment.

We can leave for Silver Moon right after.

​

Rokudo: You've never been to the court before, have you? Why don't you ask Shiun to teach you some manners?
(he uses the word 宮仕え, miyadzukae, which is translated as "court service")
Mao: I wouldn't put up with such formalities if I were you. Why did you go through all that trouble to get this job?
D-Head: It's a very rewarding job for a decker, and if you don't use your sword, it grows dull.
Rokudo: That's right, D-Head is a Matrix pro, so let's let him handle this one.
Shiun: So, have you been briefed on what you will do?
D-Head: I'm in the office five days a week, Monday through Friday. The title is "special researcher," but in reality, I'm just a guy trying to get classified data.
Rokudo: It'll get you inside Geotech, but will you be able to move freely?
D-Head: I don't know. They're well aware of the dangers of espionage. We have to wear the alarm devices when we're inside the building.
Mao: ... I'm getting a headache just by listening.
D-Head: Even employees are not allowed to enter important areas.
Rokudo: Oh, man, this job is not as easy as it seemed.
D-Head: I couldn't ask for a better one.

And we're off to Geotech.

​

Will he be all right? Will he? And how? How can he be all right surrounded by humans? Pondering it over, D-Head entered the lobby and looked around. A neat and tidy she-human was watching him from behind a neat and tidy reception desk with a polite doll-like expression. Dolls, heh. He took a deep whiff but there was no smell of cheap plastic here, only vague hints of expensive air refreshener.

​

Dude comes over.

​

And we move on to our office.

​

If it weren't for the job, he would mirror that. And add a little punch on top. Right into the middle of that expression of disgust. And another one. And another right after that, too. He wouldn't stop until that face... He took a deep breath, calming himself down. It was not the time yet. Not yet.

​

D-Head: "He looked at me and smiled... Does he know me?"
Ehara: All operational instructions will be given to you through this terminal.
D-Head: "Illegal business indeed. So they don't want to risk showing the face of the employee in charge to a bunch of outsiders."
Ehara: If you are successful in this position, you can be promoted to a senior researcher. If you do, you can even become a full-time employee at Geotech!
(... you lowly contractor scum! )
D-Head: "I don't know if I should feel grateful. It's people like this that make the corporate world what it is..."
Ehara: You will be required to wear this wristband while you are on the company territory. I won't be able to remove it until you leave it.

​

Ehara: It will alert you when you approach an important area of this building. Any attempt to enter the main building will result in the security alert. Please don't go to a department you have no business being in.
D-Head: "So. Time to start gathering some info..."

​

And now we can roam around this building poking our head into the offices to chat with people. Let's start with our office.

​

D-Head: What kind of work will I do as a senior researcher?
Hacker dude: You're gonna be moved into the research building one, this one is kind of an outpost for outside staff. I heard they specialize in data parsing and analysis in there.
D-Head: "I see... The actual research is being conducted in research building one."

​

Just in case the kid is a story progress, we move on to next office. It's a server farm, nothing interactive.

​

The next one, however, features a usable computer.

​

D-Head: Hmm... Research building one is a restricted area. Research building two is where I am now... It's my job to retrieve classified data. What's going on in building one... I need access the data bank... I can't get into the Geotech system from my terminal here.
D-Head: "The second research building is strictly secured for a group of outsiders. So they want to use decker skills, but they don't trust them... The guard stations are... Here and here."
(yeah, he was mumbling before that like a true pro)
D-Head: "Right... They've got the route to the building one covered. This plan doesn't show the security in the first building."

The next office is closed but if we move further east...

​

D-Head: "I can't use the same trick again, otherwise I'll be in trouble..."

There's one more room and it's empty. Now let's go back to our office and chat with that kid you all already know... Oops, turns out the kid is not interactive at all. Now we can just leave the building.

​

Rokudo: That's what I'm talking about. Geotech security system is solid.
Shiun: D-head is also a pro. Looks like we're gonna have to break into the research building one to get into the computer system core.
D-Head: I can gather more information if we take our time.
Mao: When you say it like this, I want to see it even more!
Shiun: All right. What do we do now...

We get a choice.

​

調査継続 - Continue investigation
ジオテックに侵入 - Infiltrate Geotech

There's no need to rush. In fact, there's never any need to rush afaik, so I always choose the slow and careful option.

Shiun: We don't have enough information yet to take action, so keep digging.
Rokudo: Focus especially on the research building one.
Mao: Doesn't it bother you that kid's smiling at D-Head?
D-Head: Okay, I'll try to play detective a little longer.
Mao: Take care, D-head.

And we're back in building two in exploration mode, I assume, after we've finished our daily work.

​

This time the kid isn't there in our office. We chat with non-hostile decker dude to find out why.

D-Head: Well, well, well.
Hacker dude: What up?
D-Head: I got lost looking for the diner. I was wandering near the first research building, and the security guard got mad at me.
Hacker dude: Well, you'd better be careful, 'cause the security is tighter there than it is here. They even have mages.

That racist asshole joins in.

​

D-Head: No way, I just didn't know where I was going.
D-Head: "I shouldn't say anything rash in front of this guy."

Starting a chat with the third hacker.

D-Head: "Where'd the kid go?"
D-Head: Excuse me, was there a little boy here?

​

Moving on, it's all the same. D-Head goes to the computer to continue his investigation.

​

D-Head: "... It's still the best way to access system core. I need the terminal in building one. Even I can't get my hands on it from here... It's pretty risky, but let's call up the security division's staffing files... All right, this is it. This is the guard roster for the first research building."

Nothing else to do but leave for the bar.

​

Shiun: Today's takeaway is that we're getting a better idea of the security of the first research building.
Mao: There's a mage? Astral projection can be dangerous.
Rokudo: Anyway, what do we do?

​

We get the same choice as yesterday. And I choose the same.

Shiun: It'd be a lot easier if we could use Geotech's people to break in. D-Head, can you pull up the personnel files on the researchers?
D-Head: I think I might be able to do it, I'll see what I can do.
Rokudo: We're still a bit too slow, but... Can't help it.
Mao: Wait again? Boo.
(she says ブーブー, which is literal buubuu)

Another day, another chat with hacker dude one.

​

D-Head: What are you talking about?
Hacker dude: Apparently, someone's been snooping around inside the company. I've been instructed not to act suspiciously and raise any doubts.
D-Head: It's disturbing, and I hope we don't get mixed up in it.
Hacker dude: It's scary because we, as outsiders, are the first to be suspected. Whatever happens inside the company, the police don't touch it. No one cares if I don't come home from work...
(he literally said ノータッチ, no tatchi )
D-Head: "Well... I guess it's time to stop gathering info."

Back to the computer.

​

D-Head: "Let's copy the files of the senior scientists in research building one. Hey, there's my file too... Huh? What the hell is this?"

​

I guess it says "Trinity wuz here" but I won't even bother trying to manually OCR this

Anyway, that is it. We go back to the bar for the final preparations.

​

Rokudo: It's about time the enemy got wind of the D-head's movements.
Shiun: It's not safe to go any further, and we've got the data on the researcher.
D-Head: Who rewrote my data? That childishness... It's hard to believe it was someone from Geotech.
Mao: Could it be that kid who went to the first research building or something?
Rokudo: I don't want to start speculating, so what do we do now?

We get the final choice. Did I say preparations before? Well, fuck you, dear player, it's like they forgot about the shops existence for some time (being ahead in the story, we'll next get access to the shop... in a couple of hours?).

​

調査継続 - Continue investigation
ジオテックに侵入 - Infiltrate Geotech
マオが研究員に接触 - Have Mao contact researcher

It's pretty obvious that we just get D-Head killed or captured if we continue but all that additional investigation has paid off in the form of the third option so let's do it. I'm slightly curious as to what the other two do but, as usual, not enough to actually try it.

Shiun: This researcher here... He has a reputation for being a womanizer.
(they use the word 女癖 - onnaguse here. which translates as "itch for women")
Shiun: It looks like he's been picking up girls at a bar near the office.
(ah, the wonderful world of dystopian near future. where your corp has files on your sexual proclivities... oh wait)
Mao: Oh, God, I have a bad feeling about this.
(she uses another onomatopaeia - ぎくっ - giku, which is the sound for "oh, shit")

​

D-Head: If we take the ID card from the researcher we can break into building one without too much trouble.
Shiun: That's why we're gonna need your help, Mao.
Mao: Ugh... I get it.

And we jump onto the scene. Behold Mao in her best hot female outfit.

​

Shiun: He's out, and it looks like he's leaving his car today and heading to his favorite bar.

​

Shiun: You want to waste a whole day?
Mao: It's not like that at all... It breaks my heart to deceive an innocent man.
Shiun: Don't worry, he's not that innocent.
Mao: All right, well, if I get in trouble, you're gonna have to help me.
Shiun: That can be... Hard to judge.
Mao: What was that?!
Shiun: Just kidding.

​

Mao: They're not here yet.
Mao: "I don't know where this voice comes from..."
Hot dude: Oh, I see. It's crazy to leave a beauty like you alone.
Mao: No, no, it's a girl I'm waiting for.
Hot dude: Huh? Oh, okay...
Mao: "It's okay to tease him a little bit, right?"
Mao: But I'm getting bored. Can you take me someplace interesting?
Hot dude: I got it! I know the area pretty well, and I'll be right back with the car.
Mao: I think I'm a little drunk. Why don't you come with me and I'll sober up a little?
Hot dude: O-of course! I've wanted to do the same thing.
(heh, every guy stutters in japanese games)
Mao: That's it! Men like him are so easy to manipulate.

​

Mao: "Shiun's car was... there, right?"
Hot dude: That's true... So, where shall we go? I like the idea of drivin' on the Gulf Freeway...

​

Shiun: We don't have much time, so I need you to have a pat-down.
Mao: I'm sorry... I don't want to do this to you.
Hot dude: God damn it, it was a setup!

He uses the word 美人局, which translates as a "badger game", or "scheme in which a man and woman trick another man into a compromising situation for blackmail". Heh, i didn't know there's a word for it - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Badger_game

Another form involves accusations of professional misconduct. In an example of this form of the trick, a "sick" woman visits a physician, describing symptoms that require her to disrobe for the examination, require the doctor to examine the genitals, or ensure similar scrutiny from the doctor. During the examination an "outraged husband" or "outraged father" enters the room and accuses the doctor of misconduct. The "sick" woman, who is of course part of the deception, takes the side of her accomplice and threatens the doctor with criminal charges or a lawsuit. This form of the badger game was first widely publicized in an article in the August 25, 1930 edition of the Time magazine.

- So, what problems are we having, miss?
- Doctor, my VAGINA hurts.
- What? Excuse me?
- My VAGINA, doctor. You need to take a look at it.
- B-but, miss, I, uh, I'm a dentist!
- Doctor, PLEASE!!! It HURTS!!!
- O-okay, then...
- WHAT THE DEVIL IS GOING ON HERE???
- I, she, erm, she...
- HE MADE ME DO IT, JOHN!!!
- BASTARD! I'LL KILL YOU!!!

Oh, Murica...

Mao: "I'm so angry that he said that. It's more helpful to us to make him think that, though."
Mao: There's his ID card. I found it.

​

Mao: I don't know if we can leave him alone.
Shiun: He's conviced it's a badger game. I'll take his cred stick too.
Mao: Poor thing.
Shiun: What, if he doesn't have any money, he can't hurt us.

We gather near the building.

​

Next time on Shadowrun Adventures - the party goes wild at Geotech! Join us at SRTV next week!

 

[infidel]

UGT has had another release, 0.70, which adds automatic text logging and automatic copying of source text into the buffer for translation aggregator to grab it. Noice!

https://www.codedojo.com/?p=2426

 

[abnaxus]

Mao looks like a boy.

 

[infidel]

UPDATE 12: GEOLOGY 101

Spoiler

​

We're standing near the Geotech building, ready to go inside and shadowrun shit up.

Mao: Here we go...
Shiun: Let's be careful, because we're not exactly prepared for this.
Rokudo: They say they've security on par with a megacorp. Let's see how good they are. All right, let's move in.

​

D-Head: You can't get into lab one with this ID.
Shiun: As the reputation of research building one suggests, it has a heavy security, so let's keep our heads down.
Mao: It does bother me that the data on D-head was rewritten.
Rokudo: There's nothing to worry about, as long as we stay alert.
Mao: I have astral vision and I'm on the lookout for wizards.
Rokudo: Let's do this.

And we're in the exploration mode with full party.

​

Building one is completely empty, but moving to the building two passage, we find a group of guards.

​

Mao: Won't that be a problem later?
Rokudo: So you want to turn back here?
Mao: You've got to be kidding me.
Rokudo: Get out of the way, you bastard!

And we start the combat. Moving Rokudo we find out that we've got five guards to deal with. Their names are "Security Guard 1-5", btw.

​

Feeling invincible, Rokudo starts with moving forward and his usual first shot.

​

Followed by his usual miss. Shiun gets the job done.

​

And even hits another guard.

​

It's Rokudo's turn again (damn, maybe I should've invested in wired reflexes for Shiun too at some point? or w/e it is that gives him a second attack)

​

This time he doesn't miss on his second one.

​

Guard three deals 1 damage to Rokudo.

​

Then 3 more.

​

Then 1 more from guard four...

​

Then a fucking 6 damage and Rokudo goes down.

​

3 damage from guard five to Shiun.

​

And 6 more... I think I've got problems.

​

I move D-Head to the front, dealing 3 damage.

​

And then another 3.

​

Mao tries Mana Bolt on the guy and misses. Minor spoiler: I think that from this point on until the end of the game NO spell from ANY mage does anything, except causing drain to the mage... Well, maybe a couple heals from Mao work later on.

​

Shiun is next. He misses twice and that's the end of combat pretty much.

​

Next shot of guard three gets him down with another 6 damage.

​

It's even faster than I thought. Guard four takes D-Head with 10 damage.

​

And Mao goes down soon afterward.

​

It's time to reload and repeat exactly the same thing without thinking, rite? This time Rokudo takes down the first guard with two good shots.

​

I move Shiun up front and press "end turn" by mistake. Guard two deals with him in two good shots of his.

​

Okay, it's time to reload and start applying some intelligence :D I remember that distance matters in combat. BOOM! See, thinking helps. And luck, too. Because Rokudo deals 10 in his first attack.

​

And 6 on his second. While staying relatively far away from the opponents.

​

Shiun can't shoot this far even after moving, so he still skips his turn. This time, however, guard two misses twice due to distance.

​

Guard four still manages to hit Rokudo once for 6. I make a mental note about investing into better armor for him making him our primary tank.

​

The other two guards miss. Applying my brain once more I move Rokudo back a bit but he misses both of his shots.

​

D-Head isn't bad with his pistol, he deals 3 damage again.

​

And again, taking down guard two.

​

Mao tries to heal Rokudo... and the game doesn't even acknowledge me trying except stating that there was no drain.

​

Shiun hits with one shot.

​

So does the guard.

​

And another guard hits twice bringing his HP to 1...

​

And another one finishes him off. Things are again starting to get grim.

​

I decide to start using medkits. They're a) reliable (self-healing 3 damage); and b) turns out, infinite. You can even use them between fights and I've never ran out. Which makes shaman heals even more worthless.

​

Now that we're all close together, guards start attacking Mao instead. Hitting only once out of four attacks.

​

D-Head hits with one attack.

​

And Rokudo is back in action.

​

Not believing that magic is this retarded in this game, Mao tries to heal Rokudo again. With the same results.

​

Guard five takes D-Head down but it doesn't matter much because the second one is stuck surrounded by dead bodies and skips his turn.

​

Rokudo deals 6 damage to guard five.

​

And after this guard misses twice finally puts him down.

​

One good attack on the last remaining guard.

​

And the guard remembers how to move around bodies and even hits Rokudo, too.

​

Rokudo moves in close just in case and finishes him off.

​

So remember how when your party members go down in a fight, they're auto-ressed after it? Not only that, they have full HP, too. Shiun's even starts talking like it's not his fault.

​

I forget to heal Mao and Rokudo and enter building two. It's as usual mostly empty. Until we stumble into another group of guards.

​

This time Mao moves first for some reason. And I do not hesitate to try out another Sleep.

​

Which, of course, doesn't do anything. Rokudo starts good, as usual.

​

Followed by Shiun.

​

Who also hits second time.

​

And this is where we stumble into the AI limitations. It's smart enough to get into the shooting range but not smart enough to realize that they need to go around the corner to hit us. I position D-Head so that he has LoS to a single guard and he finishes him off.

​

At this point I wasn't sure the game handles cover correctly, so I waste Rokudo's shots to try to hit the closest guard. Mao wastes her turn on magic, and Shiun is blocked by both of them to get into the position to hit anything. Two guards are just skipping their turns. And the third bastard manages to hit Rokudo. Ffs, why did I miss then? Because of grid-based LoS that produces different results between points A->B and B->A?

​

I continue to make Rokudo and Shiun stupidly attack the guard with no results.

​

Thank god, the guard misses, too. This is when I remember about medkits again.

​

One more hit from D-Head. And I have Mao use Heal which heals... ONE damage. Wth?

​

She starts the next round first. And this time Heal just produces 1 drain damage.

​

Guard five hits again. Ok, maybe its time to stop being stupid.

​

I move Rokudo back and start self-healing.

​

While Shiun moves forward and hits twice, killing the guard.

​

Guard three decides to start shooting from behind the wall for some reason... I let Rokudo heal to full while inching closer to the corner with D-Head and Shiun. Until Shiun is in position to murder guard two.

​

While also receiving a shot to the face from guard three.

​

D-Head hits twice for 4 total.

​

Mao misses two more heals, btw. I move Shiun back to heal himself. And finally Rokudo gets a cool hit for 10, ending this combat.

​

This time I remember to use medkits in exploration mode and we get inside the door they were guarding.

​

Shiun: We don't have time for this, so hurry up and get it done.
D-Head: I know what I'm doing.

Gentlemen, it's time to do some leet hax0ring. We start with another one of those hilarious 5fps rendered animations (you can watch the video from 21:00 to see them all).

​

D-Head: We don't have much time, and we need to find the access code fast.

And we get a menu.

​

攻擊プロゲラム - Attack program
解読プロゲラム - Decryption program
検索プロゲラム - Search program
偽証プロゲラム - Deception program
透過プロゲラム - Penetrate program

The basic process is you try them out in whatever order. You can get "No, this isn't working." which means this one is not used in this encounter. There's also the "Oh shit, did I miss?" accompanied by a sound effect which means you should repeat it until you "hit" and progress to the next encounter. Visual novel hacking, in essence. I'm not sure if you can lose. There's CG between each encounter which you can watch in the video. Option four results in progress this time.

D-Head: All right. Now we can get into the system.

We immediately stumble upon one of those "triniteh wuz hear" things.

​

Who, indeed.

D-Head: It's like a child is playing... Speaking of kids... It can't be him, can it?

We proceed further until the second encounter.

​

This time option five is the way to go.

D-Head: All right, all right. It's working.

​

Option five again.

​

D-Head: I have no idea how much it's worth in total...

​

D-Head: It has a reasonable size, so I'll take it as a souvenir.

​

D-Head: Damn it, we haven't even found the file we're looking for yet.

​

Avatar: The Matrix superhero Trinity has arrived! Of course you've noticed, since I've left you all those signs, haven't I?
D-Head: I only saw that boy once, in lab two... That was you, wasn't it?
Avatar: Huhuhu. I know we've never met in person, but I've known about you for a while. That building in Otemachi, do you remember?
D-Head: No way! I'm pretty sure there wasn't any kids there... Oh, yeah, you must've took control of the systems in that building!
Avatar: I didn't have time to play with you at the time. It's been boring, but not today.
D-Head: ... What are you going to do?
Avatar: You broke through this system and made it to the data store. You know, you could entertain me a little...
D-Head: Why do we have to fight? Why are you following us?
Avatar: Fight?... This is a game, and it wasn't us who started it. Someone's trying to pit us against each other.
D-Head: The client for the last job also said this was a test...
Avatar: I like games, even if they're other people's games and I'm a pawn in these games. Come on, let's play together!

We get some menu fighting and animations.

Avatar: Huhuhu. It's fun playing with you.
D-Head: You can't keep playing with adults.
Avatar: Looks like we've been interrupted, we'll have to play another time. Don't let these guards catch you!

And we're booted out of the Matrix.

​

Shiun: How did it go?
D-Head: The file we wanted wasn't there.
Rokudo: Excuse me?
D-Head: I think there's more to this job than meets the eye. But we'll talk about it later, for now let's just get out of here.

I check out every other room but it's all empty. This game doesn't like you exploring all that much, does it? We're back at the bar.

​

D-Head: I couldn't get in touch with the client I met in Akihabara after all.
Shiun: This makes me wonder if the geological data was real...
Mao: We've been getting so many weird requests lately! It's driving me nuts!
Rokudo: And that kid D-head met. He was involved in the Otemachi case the other day.
D-Head: He called himself Trinity...

Spoiler

​

D-Head: The kid said something strange. "We're not the ones who started this game. We're just pawns like you."
Mao: I don't want to be manipulated by people!
Shiun: But until we know what's going on, we have no way of dealing with it. We need to find that out.
Rokudo: Yeah, I don't know who set this game up and all that. But I'm gonna show them what happens when you underestimate a runner.
D-Head: "Pawns in someone's game... Who the hell is running this game? And that Trinity kid... He's amazingly talented. I never thought he'd be able to compete with me at such a young age. It wasn't a difference in deck performance at all... Trinity seemed to understand the situation. Does he know who's behind this?"
Mao: What's wrong, D-Head? You've been silent a lot lately.
D-Head: Huh? Oh, I'm sorry. I was careless this time. I can't believe I dragged you all into this, didn't get paid, and now my client's ran away...
Rokudo: Well, that's okay, because now I got to see you working offline. You can gather information not just in the Matrix, but in the real world, too. What about you, Shiun?
Shiun: Someone's trying to use us. That's the big takeaway.
Mao: I don't like the idea of researching a client before I accept an offer.
Shiun: It's the world we live in.
D-Head: "I'm sure that kid'll come back to haunt me... I wonder if I'm looking forward to that..."

And that ends this chapter. The next one is called...

​

産業スパイ - INDUSTRIAL ESPIONAGE

​

Let's see the intro.

​

Some fishy looking people are chatting watching the evening sun.

​

Hey, we know that guy. He's that asshole that was testing us.

​

Henchman: We've hired both A and B teams. As you'll see in my report, the B-team's skill was superb. With very little warning to the target. Almost single-handedly, their decker has achieved the objective.
That Guy: Go on...
Henchman: Team B's decker has succeeded in making Team A's decker look suspicious. He camouflaged his movements. He also realized that this job was a comparison test between the two teams. Excellent work.
That Guy: If you cast suspicion on a rival, it gives you freedom of action and keeps them at bay. Nice work.
Henchman: On the other hand, the A-Team's infiltration tactics have exceeded our evaluation standards. But they made a strategic error by not assessing the situation correctly.
That Guy: They didn't realize they were being used by the B-team?
Henchman: That's right.
That Guy: I don't need a pawn who can't use their head, no matter how good fighters they are.
Henchman: So?
That Guy: Contact the B-team, it's time for us to move into full-scale operations.
Henchman: What about the A-team?
That Guy: Leave them alone, they're not strong enough to realize our true purpose.
Henchman: But there is always a chance.
That Guy: Then dispose of them. I'll leave that up to you. I don't have time to worry about all that.
Henchman: Yes, sir.

 

[infidel]

UPDATE 13: MASSACRE IN UENO! TEN PEOPLE SHOT DEAD BY A LONE MANIAC! #EndGunViolence

Spoiler

​

We start at Shiun's home with him relaxing with some chick, likely his wife. The phone rings.

​

Shiun: ... Yes?
Voice: Long time no see, Shiun.
Shiun: Yeah, it's been a while.
Voice: I need to talk to you about something, and I was wondering if you could help me.
Shiun: It's late. If it's about work, why not tomorrow?
Voice: I'd wait if it was possible.
Shiun: Top priority? I see. Where are you?
Voice: Shinbashi Oasis Hotel, room 502. Come up directly without going through the front desk.
Shiun: All right, I'll be there in 30 minutes.

​

Shiun: There are female clients, too.
Woman: Talking business in a hotel?
Shiun: ... I'm sorry, but it's urgent, I'll make it up to you.

​

Shiun: "Emmy... She's one of the few people who knows my past and present. I wonder if she's still working for Saegusa. That line of his has always bothered me. 'It looks like you'll be working for us in the future.' That's what he said to me. And then Emmy calls me out of the blue, and I don't think this is a coincidence. There's something going on. Either way, I need to know what it is so I can make a decision. First, I need to see her. I don't know how this is gonna play out, so I have to be fully prepped."
(エミー can be Emi, Amy, Ammy, whatever. I think later we'll find out her full name as Emily, so I'm sticking with that)
(三枝 is possibly Saegusa)

​

Shiun: "It's a lovely past in a lovely package, you can look at it from time to time. But how many of us can live with the past as it is? For me, Emmy is a reminder of that past... She's like a mirror that shows my old reflection whether I want it or not. Eight years ago, I was at Aztechnology, a huge company based in Aztlan, South America, one of the world's dominant mega-corps."
(アズテクノロジー)
Shiun: "I was a bright young man, an excellent operative. I wasn't obsessed with getting ahead, that was just a game for me. I was so sure of my abilities and I wanted to prove it, I wanted to win the game. But being a good field operative isn't enough to get ahead in the corporate world. Just as I was getting impatient, Ryoko showed up. She was the daughter of a key figure in the Japanese branch of Aztech. We met at a company party, and we started dating. I don't think it wasn't love, because love is also a game. I knew I wanted to win it."
Shiun: "I still don't know what I was to Ryoko. And we'll never know. Because she's dead. Her father was rapidly rising to prominence as the youngest director of the Japanese branch. He was sharp as a razor, and he was my senior. But he was in too much of a hurry to win, and then the explosion happened..."

​

Shiun: "With the loss of my faction leader I was as good as dead as a corpo man. There was a thorough investigation, but we still don't know the truth. Perhaps his meteoric rise has caused friction in all the wrong places. A rival executive was considered a prime suspect, but the evidence was inconclusive. But the truth didn't matter to me. For the one who seeks only to win the game it's only when you lose that you realize there's nothing left. That's what knocked me down, that I was now a pariah. For the first time, I thought seriously about Ryoko, but it was too late. I didn't give a shit about anything, I quit my job, I became a drunkard."

​

Shiun: "She contacted me when I was on the edge of ruin at the behest of Saegusa. I easily accepted his invitation. There was no hesitation at all in choosing to become a shadowrunner. You get hired, you do the work, you get paid. I was sick of thinking about it, and I liked the simplicity of it. Of course, Saegusa had his own agenda. But I didn't care, because I had nothing to lose, and I would decide for myself what I would do. But I'd also realized the real reason I'd agreed to be a runner. Instead of my career now it was my life that was the stakes of the game. Even if I can't face what happened eight years ago, Ryoko's death... I'll always be in the game. Until I lose one day..."

​

Shiun: "I'm going to her so I don't have to run away from the reflection of me I see in her."
(I don't know if the machine got that right, you're welcome to fix it - 彼女が映し出す自分自身から逃げないために俺は彼女の元へ向かうのだ)

And we're at the place.

​

Shiun: "It's a typical business hotel. There are people living on the streets, and it doesn't look very safe. Passersby... I don't see anyone particularly suspicious. Not even an illegally parked car. There's nothing around me that catches my eye, nothing that makes me feel funny."
Shiun: "The Shinbashi Oasis Hotel is here. I'm surprised Emmy, with her first-rate taste, would choose a hotel like this. She's not a woman who panics easily. What in the world drove her to do this?"

We go inside.

​

Shiun: "The doors to the rooms are lined up and its not in any way pretty to look at. Someone is approaching from across the hall. This man in a coat looks like he's a guest. The guy... he's a pro, I can smell it."

​

Man: Excuse me.
Shiun: "Does he know me? Well, I hope I'm not too late."

​

Shiun: "The man from earlier is gone but... I never thought I'd see two pros like us in a place like this. I don't think that's a coincidence."

He presses the intercom button.

Shiun: It's me.

​

Shiun: "She was as pretty as ever, but looked tired."
Shiun: Did you call anyone else besides me?
Emmy: No, why?
Shiun: Nevermind, don't worry about it.
Shiun: "She looked anxious, but I shouldn't be fooled, she was never one to show her true feelings easily."

​

Shiun: "The interior is plain and the furnishings are mostly cheap plastic."
Emmy: ... What's wrong? Sit down on the couch over there. I've got a problem, I need you to get me to Yokohama. Don't ask me why.
Shiun: What are you going to do there?
Emmy: It's irrelevant.
Shiun: I don't get it... You're quitting Aztec?
Emmy: One little mistake, and I'm marked by the security. You know what I mean?
Shiun: "All I know is Emmy got herself into trouble. I don't care about the cause. I'm someone who got out of the big corporate game a long time ago."
Shiun: I get it, but I'm a professional, too, and I'm not gonna work for nothing.
Emmy: Eight years ago, I pulled you out of that quagmire.
Shiun: I'm sure I've already paid you back for that.
Emmy: I'm gonna tell you something you don't know about that incident eight years ago.
Shiun: ... What?
Emmy: Don't look so scared. That case was thoroughly investigated, but the truth was never found. If you want to know, you'll have to get me safely to Yokohama.
Shiun: You're still very good at bargaining.
Emmy: It's part of our survival, no hard feelings.

They get outside.

Shiun: "The guy I passed in the corridor, if he's gonna do something, he's gonna do it now."
Shiun: Emmy, get behind me, and stay that way.
Emmy: Eh? What's going on?
Shiun: Shut up and do as I say.

Suddenly there's a shot.

​

Shiun: Move it!
Shiun: "Why... Why did he miss?"
Shiun: That sniper has missed intentionally. He's playing with us... What are you doing? Move!

​

Shiun: Get in the shadows over there! Don't move!
Shiun: "Trying to locate the sniper, but with all these buildings... The enemy is serious about this. The car doesn't matter, but I've lost the weapons in there. What to do..."
Shiun: "There! I'll take that chance."

​

Some loser: OMG, it's a pistol!
Shiun: Sorry, I'm gonna borrow your car. Get out.
Some loser: Oh-okay. Don't shoot me!

​

Emmy: Hey! If we get stuck here, we'll be in trouble!
Shiun: I know. It's bothering me, and I know I'm overthinking this, but...
Shiun: "Emblem of a dragon in a circle... This checkpoint is by ECP... East City Security. Let's check it out just in case."

After exhausing all LOOKs and TALKs and THINKs it looks like we're stuck. But no, the ITEM menu now has a new option - 携带電話 - mobile phone. Let's use it.

Shiun: I'll call D-Head.

​

D-Head: ... Yes?
Shiun: Hey, it's me. Can you do me a favor?
D-Head: Oh, Shiun-san, what are you doing at this hour?
Shiun: I'm sorry, we're in a hurry. Find out what checkpoints are scheduled near Shimbashi... The traffic division of Toto Security.
D-Head: What's going on? Is it work-related?
Shiun: I'm sorry, but I don't have time to explain what's going on, so please hurry.
D-Head: I'm afraid it's not that trivial, please wait.
Emmy: What's going on?
Shiun: I called a decker, and he'll get back to us as soon as he can.
D-Head: ... Sorry to keep you waiting, but there are no checkpoints scheduled in that area.
Shiun: Are you sure?
D-Head: It's from a friend of mine who makes a lot of money off the back of traffic reports.
Shiun: I see. I'm sorry, but can you call Rokudo and the others and have them wait for us at Silver Moon? I may need your help.
D-Head: I understand, but you'll have some explaining to do later.
Shiun: Sorry, I'll be in touch.
Shiun: That checkpoint is fake, we're turning around. They're a pretty elaborate bunch to pull off a stunt like that.
Emmy: This is not the time to be talking about that!
Shiun: I mean, they're totally serious. More importantly, is Saegusa involved in all this?
Emmy: ... No, he's had nothing to do with it.
Shiun: That's good. But if we don't do something about it, it's gonna get worse.

Time for another internal monologue while driving.

​

Shiun: "Even for Aztech, they're too quick to respond. It's like they were waiting for us, setting up a fake checkpoint... We can't just run around like this and we're gonna have to deal with them one way or another. I'm not sure I'm okay with the way things are going... We can't just run around like this."

Let's make another call.

Emmy: Where are you going to call now?
Shiun: I need to arrange for weapons. Because I can't take on a serious Aztech security team with a single heavy pistol. Don't be so nervous, I won't sell you out to the enemy.
Emmy: Oh, excuse me!

Voice: ... Yes?
Shiun: It's Shiun. I'm sorry it's so late.
Voice: Hey, hey, what time is it? Can't it wait until tomorrow?
Shiun: I'm terribly sorry.
Voice: What's the emergency, huh?
Shiun: It's like this...
Voice: Well, you can't help it, how do you want me to deliver it?
Shiun: Do you remember the drop point in Ueno that you used before?
Voice: That was a long time ago.
Shiun: We're gonna have to use that, because direct contact is too dangerous.
Voice: What about the payment?
Shiun: I can't do it right now, you're gonna have to put it on my tab.
Voice: Well, that's all right, on such a short notice it's gonna be expensive.
Shiun: I understand. I don't care about the extra cost when it's about survival.
(btw, Shiun is very polite with that guy, as opposed to D-Head, it's kinda hard to translate as usual)
Voice: That bad, huh?
Shiun: If something happens to me, please charge my associates.
Voice: Okay, just tell me what you want.
Shiun: (turns to Emmy) You'll take care of the expenses, correct?
Emmy: Of course. Whatever you need, I'll pay for it.
Shiun: First I need a submachine gun, then the light machine gun. That's all I need, so can you arrange it?
(huhuhu, LMG for STORY REASONS? sign me up! spoiler: and it's for free, too)
Voice: Uh-huh. I'll think of something.
Shiun: So how long will it take you to get it there?
Voice: Right... About an hour, can you make it?
Shiun: I'll manage. Bye.

And we skip to the night park in Ueno.

​

Shiun: "Ueno is a magic stronghold. Shamans and even mages who hate the corps flock to these dense woods. It's no coincidence that I wanted the weapon to be delivered here. Ueno is a place that even the big companies that run Tokyo can't touch easily."
Emmy: Shiun, behind you!
Shiun: "Them already? Are they monitoring our movements?"
Shiun: We need to ditch the car, buy ourselves some time until we get the weapons.

And we're in the exploration mode. The park is a simple enough maze that's empty until you get to your target.

​

When we get to... the fountain? The stone benches near the fountain? It's kinda hard to tell.

​

There's nothing else in the park but when we start to get back to the entrance, we meet our first opposition team.

​

I use this opportunity to check out our new weapons:

​

vz88v (with Shiun's bonus, pretty much a unique gun in the game) (F: Burst, PL 11, DR S, 2t/p, S:3/t, R:11)
ガスベント II - Gas Vent II
衝擊吸收パッド - Shock Pads
レーザー・サイト - Laser Sight
スコープ2 - Scope 2

​

And stock MPLMG. Except that PL is now 10 due to Shiun's skill, DR letter is D for some reason (which possibly proves that this stat is useless, and we're supposed to get 3 attacks per turn which is also not true I think)

アレスMPLMG - Ares MPLMG (F: Burst/Full Auto, PL 7, DR S, 2t/p, S:5/t, R:10) (2200y)
ガスベント II - Gas Vent II
衝擊吸收パッド - Shock Pads

I use vz88v until the end of the game because of that PL 11 and range 11. Or do I? Our opponents are named 工作員 1-3 which is translated as "covert operative". But with these backpacks and purple clothing they look more like park visitors.

BOOM. First shot.

​

Miss on the second one. The opposing team misses all four of theirs, too. Emmy just stands there in combat.

BOOM. Second round, first shot.

​

And the second one.

​

The enemy misses Shiun. He gets closer and finishes the last guy off.

​

Well, that was promising. We move forward until we get into the next fight.

​

This time Shiun misses the first shot but not the second one. BOOM.

​

He gets to act a second time. Two shots, one more body.

​

The hippie guy moves closer and misses twice.

​

BOOM. Dead.

​

This turned out to be a walk in the park, huhuhuhu. We move on to the third and final fight of the area. It's now four parkgoers against us.

​

We get one good shot.

​

And then something bad happens. The guy hits. For the same 6 damage. The rest miss.

​

Still not believing we're in trouble, I have Shiun finish the first guy.

​

The enemies all miss this time. Shiun hits the guy in the green vest twice and kills him.

​

The enemies miss again. This time I decide to get smart and heal.

​

A good decision, it turns out. 6 more damage from another guy.

​

Shiun misses his both shots now.

​

So does the opposition. But Shiun starts to hit again so the hippie is down.

​

The last punk is useless, sometimes he misses, sometimes the armor soaks all damage it looks like. Shiun kills him in two turns.

​

"Emmy used the medical kit, and Shiun's physical damage has been healed."

Very nice of her. The park is over and we stand near the entrance deciding what to do next.

​

Shiun: "It's a standard passenger car. Of course, it's loaded with weapons, which is cleverly disguised."

​

Shiun: "If you've got a expert rigger, it should be easy to track us down... Why didn't they just attack all at once? The passenger's monitor... It's a setup for a regular signal detector. The enemy is tracking us somehow, after all. It's just a coincidence that I took that other car, they didn't have a chance to plant the tracker. I think it's on Emmy..."
Shiun: All right, get in.
Emmy: What are we going to do now?
Shiun: I don't know, we have to be on the move.

​

Shiun: If someone calls, don't answer.
Radio: This is the commander... Unit 4, do you copy? There's no response, and the target is on the move. Unit 4 should be considered as failed the mission. Units 2 and 3, give me your current position.
(komanda, unitto)
Radio: Target is heading southwest, where are you going...
Emmy: They know we're on the move!
Shiun: I know, look at that monitor right there.
Emmy: But how...
Shiun: You're the one who knows the answer to that question, aren't you?
Emmy: ...
Shiun: Don't want to answer? It's 30 kilometers from here to Yokohama, and I'm pretty sure we'll be caught on the way. And next time we might not be so lucky. All right, I'm not driving to Yokohama with an enemy battalion on my back.
Emmy: ... What are you going to do? Are you going to throw me out?
Shiun: I'm starting to think that might be wise. Sure, we've got weapons, but Yokohama's a long way away. They know what we're doing. It'll be easy enough to have the place completely blocked by the time we get there. We need to paralyze their teams, even if only temporarily. The only way to do that is to lure out their main force and neutralize it. Hmm, where would be a good place? Ideally, it should be a place that I know well, but they're not familiar with, like Ueno...
Emmy: So? You got a plan of action?
Shiun: Do you know how to operate the navigation system?
Emmy: Of course.
Shiun: Call up a map around Ikebukuro.

​

Shiun: "If we're gonna lure them in, it's gotta be in an abandoned building around here. It's risky, of course, but it's the only way to draw the enemy in and hit them. If we're going to use an abandoned building, it's important that we get the field completely right. If we don't, we could find ourselves surrounded by the enemy. We need the surveillance equipment still live in the building... Buildings with computer systems available are preferable. Yeah, like here..."
Emmy: Shiun, what are you thinking about? You can tell me at least a little about it, you know!
Shiun: Shut up for a second, will you? If you don't like it, just get out.

​

Shiun: "Let's get Rokudo and the others' help."

We use the phone again.

Rokudo: It's me. Looks like you're in a lot of trouble.
Shiun: Yeah, we're being chased by an Aztech task force.
Rokudo: Your old haunt. What's the problem with it?
Shiun: It's my client who got us into trouble, can you back me up?
Rokudo: Of course, no problem.
Shiun: I've lost my West Wind, so bring me a car, any model.
(ウエストウインド)
Rokudo: Nothing flashy, I get it.
Shiun: The asset is located in the Ikebukuro Sunflower Building... Do you understand?
Rokudo: Yeah, well, don't push yourself too hard, and leave me some of your catch.

​

Next time: Shiun's Final Hour.

 

[baud]

Our opponents are named 工作員 1-3 which is translated as "covert operative". But with these backpacks and purple clothing they look more like park visitors.

Maybe they're disguised as park visitors to stay covert?

 

[infidel]

Maybe they're disguised as park visitors to stay covert?

Heh, didn't think of that. That's quite plausible.

 

[infidel]

UPDATE 14: RUMBLE IN IKEBUKURO

Spoiler

​

Last time we stopped, Shiun and his client, Emmy, were standing near the abandoned building that he wanted to make an ambush in.

Shiun: "It's a compact five-story building. It's pretty securely made. But it's already abandoned with no owner. If we break in, the security company won't be swooping in immediately."
Emmy: What are we doing here?
Shiun: This is where we wait for the enemy.
Emmy: Oh my God! We'll be like trapped rats!
Shiun: I don't have time to argue with you, so shut up and go in.
Emmy: You're such a jerk!
Shiun: I think that both of us are equal in this regard, not showing our cards.

And we're in the exploration mode.

​

Moving a couple of steps, Shiun notes.

​

Shiun: "First, we need to find out if the device is still working."

Going into the nearest door, we find it.

​

Shiun: All right, I think I can make it work.
Emmy: What the hell are you doing?
Shiun: This building is five stories high, and we're gonna use the terminals to control the fire shutters. This'll divide the enemies coming up the stairs into two or three groups. We don't have much time, so we need to act now.

The rest of the building is completely empty, as is usual in this game. We find our next terminal on the fifth floor.

​

Shiun: "This is going to work. Okay, they're moving in. Come here... Commencing war operation."

Just then, the first group comes in. At the same time Shiun and Emmy move to the back of the room automatically and we begin our first combat.

​

I decide to cautiously stay just on the edge of the attacking range. BOOM! The first shot works wonders.

​

I have to skip the second one because of range. The enemies waste their turn moving and somehow do not even get a shot.

​

BOOM! Another one bites the dust.

​

Shiun misses the second one, but the next turn he moves first, so BOOM, down goes the last enemy.

​

We come to the terminal and wait for the next group.

​

Same composition, it seems.

​

BOOM! One down.

​

The second shot hits, too, but only for 6 damage.

​

And Shiun gets another turn for some reason. BOOM! Another body on the progressively bloody floor.

​

BOOM x2! Heh, this time the second shot does 10, too. And we're done with the second group.

​

We move to the terminal to check things out.

​

And this time it's four enemies, like he said.

​

BOOM!

​

Once again, Shiun gets another move (seriously, what is up with that?). BOOM!

​

The enemy finally moves and misses.

​

The second one moves and doesn't shoot. Well, you know what this means. BOOM!

​

I think, in this fight Shiun hasn't missed any of his shots. And he gets two turns while his enemies get one. Basically, it's stacked so that you will win this easily since you get free weapon. The park fights seemed harder.

​

Emmy: It's quiet.
Shiun: Yeah. The enemy is done for the time being.
Emmy: I can't believe I survived, I thought I was done for...
Shiun: Well, we're lucky, thank God, if you believe in that.
Emmy: No, it's you that we have to thank, for being such a first-rate pro.
Shiun: ... Get down!
Emmy: !!!

​

Mao: Oh, you scared me.

​

Rokudo: Took a while to get that car, but I'm glad it turned out well.
Shiun: I'd like you to meet my client, Emily Soames.
(エミリー・ソームズ)
Emmy: Nice to meet you.
D-Head: Anyway, let me ask about the state of affairs.
Mao: Right, right, what the hell happened?
Shiun: It's not that complicated. Emmy wants to go to Yokohama, but Aztech security doesn't want that to happen. I went to pick her up, and that's when they started attacking.
Rokudo: You'd never make it to Yokohama in one piece against an organized tracking party. So you set up an ambush here and took out all the enemies at once.
Shiun: I was on my own, and I didn't have a choice.
Rokudo: All the same, good work.
Shiun: What are you going to do now?
Emmy: We've defeated the enemy, haven't we? Let's head for Yokohama.
Shiun: Of course we will, but there's always the chance they'll catch up with us again. They've always been fast.
Emmy: I know, and that's why I need your people to help me.
Rokudo: Us?
Emmy: Next time we're surrounded by enemies, we won't have time for this detour. We're going to need a lot of power to force our way through, right, Shiun?
Shiun: You're right.
Emmy: I have the money, 3000 nuyen to escort me to Yokohama.
Mao: What do we do?
Rokudo: What do you think, Shiun?
Shiun: That's for the client to decide, and given the current state of affairs, I think she made a wise decision.
Rokudo: Okay, we're on board with that.
Emmy: Well, we'd better hurry, because we need to be in Yokohama harbor by dawn.

​

Shiun: "Mao is next to me and looks at me with curiousity. Cat shamans are like that. I'm sure she's thinking about Emmy and me. Emmy is staring out the window at the scenery."
Shiun: Emmy?
Emmy: ...
Shiun: This is the only chance for us to talk. If you quit Aztech, we'll never see each other again. Tell me... What's going on?
Emmy: I... I'm not a loyal employee of Aztech, I was a sleeper.
(スリーパー - suripa)
Shiun: Okay, so you're a sleeper agent, but where are you really from?
Emmy: I don't want to say that.
Shiun: "Emmy was a spy sent by Aztech's enemies. Sleepers stay inside the enemy and wait for orders. They serve as loyal servants for years, and turn a blind eye to enemies. They may be an employee of Aztech for a long time, but one day they get an order."
Emmy: Yeah... You know a guy named Aaron Elendil?
(アーロン・エレンディル - might be Erendil or Ehrendil or whatever else)
Shiun: Nope, never heard of him.
Emmy: He's a mage, the most powerful one in Aztech. And he's not just a researcher, he's got some serious political skills. He's risen to a pretty high position at Aztlan's headquarters. And now he's been transferred to the Japanese office.
Shiun: And that's what prompted your real employer to make a move.
Emmy: In fact, his arrival was so inexplicable that it caused quite a stir within Aztech. And I was to watch him. But I made a mistake. When Aztech security found out who I was, they started the hunt.
Shiun: "That's not all. If she's risked so much that they know her identity I can't imagine she didn't grab anything important. What the hell is it I wonder."
Emmy: Have you heard about the Aztech Expo being prepared at Haneda Airport?
Shiun: "She couldn't have known that it was a project planned by Ryoko's father. I still remember him talking enthusiastically about the significance and benefits of it."
Shiun: The idea was to present Aztlan with some appeal, a country that is not familiar to Japan. That's Aztech's advertising strategy, isn't it?
Emmy: Elendil is showing an unusual interest in that expo. I heard that the real reason he came to Japan has something to do with that.
Shiun: Why are you telling me this? I'm not your employer.
Emmy: Because Elendil's business concerns you, too.
Shiun: How's that?
Emmy: Well... That case from eight years ago.
Shiun: What do you mean?
Emmy: Elendil is a dangerous man. He's working for some personal agenda beyond what the company wants. And he's trying to use the Aztec Exposition in some way.
Shiun: The Aztec Expo? What the hell is he doing in Japan?
Emmy: I don't know. But he took a bold step to get control over it.
Shiun: Hmmm... That's what I was thinking...
Emmy: Akira Fujinami was a hindrance to Elendil. Fujinami-san was too powerful for Elendil to take over the expo project. He had no choice but to remove him.
Shiun: "Aaron Elendil... He's the man who killed Akira and Ryoko Fujinami."
Emmy: ... Shiun?
Shiun: Is Elendil in Japan now?
Emmy: He's spearheading the Aztec Expo, pushing Saegusa-san out of the way.
Shiun: What are the intents of Saegusa-san?
Emmy: Of course, he also wants to figure out what is Elendil doing. I'm retiring here, but I think he's going to do something about it.
Shiun: "It makes sense. That line of Saegusa, 'It looks like you'll be working for us in the future.' He must have been referring to this case."
Emmy: I'm so sorry about Ryoko. But you couldn't have done anything about it.
Shiun: "Of course it's not my fault that Ryoko's dead. However, I owe a great debt to a man named Elendil. His manipulations led to the death of Ryoko's father and my resignation from the company. In a way, it was Elendil who made me what I am today. I don't hold that against him. But he must face the consequences of his actions. That's not really for Ryoko. She probably wouldn't want me to do what I'm about to do. I'll say this, the matter with Elendil is not a game anymore. Or should I say, it's the most dangerous game of all? I'll be fighting for my very existence."

​

Shiun: Don't worry, we'll be in Yokohama soon.
Emmy: Thank you, Shiun, you've really saved me.
Shiun: It's not over yet, and you can't let up until the end.
Emmy: ... Right.

​

Shiun: What's the arrangement?
Emmy: My people should be signaling us from that freighter... Ah, there they are!
Shiun: Wait, Emmy. Emmy!
Emmy: Ugh...
Guy: We meet again.
Shiun: ... I knew it was you.
Guy: Nice work in Ueno and Ikebukuro, Aida-san. Your prowess is legendary in our security department.
(相田 - so Shiun is Shiun Aida)
Shiun: You're a chatty guy.
Guy: Hehehe... But this is your last stop. And your friends, we'll make them disappear, too.
Rokudo: If you're up to it...
Mao: Yeah, try it!

And we're in the combat mode. But no opponents are to be seen.

​

Thermoptic camouflage?

Mao: ... I don't know... Maybe it's magic?
Guy: So... What are you gonna do? You can't win like this.

Let's pull them out by moving Rokudo in front... Actually, let's hide behind those crates. We're rewarded by messages that "hitman" (ヒットマン) missed us.

​

The mages (they're predictably called メイジ1-2, mage 1-2) stand right in front of us as you can see by the animations but are not targetable.

​

And as we know by that point, they're really useless... Oops, Rokudo takes 6 points of damage.

​

The guy starts chatting again.

Guy: I can see right where you are... Kuku. So, how does it feel to be taken down with nothing to show for it? It looks like the oh so skilled and mighty Aida-san can't do anything... His legend is over.
Shiun: ... Shit.
Guy: Would you like to know how we were able to react so quickly? The target was carrying a special magical item. All we had to do was follow the trail it left behind. You never stood a chance from the start.
Rokudo: Damn, it's not over yet.

I heal Rokudo twice to full hp and we move around a bit because obviously it's a story battle. And good thing I do, because mage two hits again.

​

Mao: That's right... If they're hiding behind magic, we can use the power of spirits to find them! Oh Great Cat, tell me where the enemy is!

There's a big flash of light.

Mao: I found them! There, they're all lumped together!

And poof, now we can combat as normal.

​

Let's start by healing Rokudo.

​

Shiun's real close to the "hitman", so it's only proper to shoot him.

​

He misses the second one, so it's D-Head's time to help. Oof, just 1 damage. I really want me some of that arm...

​

BOOM! 3 more damage on the second shot and the guy goes down without even shooting once. Let's mop up the mages.

​

Okay, I take back what I've said about magic in this game. There's a single mage that CAN deal damage. Unfortunately for him, he won't live long. He attacks Shiun for 6 damage again.

​

BOOM! Mage one goes down fast.

​

Rokudo misses his second shot, but he gets a third one. And BOOM, we hardly knew ye, wizard.

​

Guy: Hehe... Really... A legend... No shit... Heh.
Shiun: No, you didn't lose to me, you overestimated yourself.
Guy: ... (blegh, dies quietly)

​

Shiun: ...
Emmy: Take care... And don't push yourself too hard.
Shiun: Heh.
Emmy: But I guess you won't just take my word...

​

She gives us a datachip. And we're back in our bar to relax.

​

D-Head: She was quite an attractive woman, wasn't she?
Mao: Hey, hey, is she and Shiun...
Rokudo: Hey! Don't just ask something like that.
Mao: Buuuut I'm so curious.
Rokudo: Let's just go over the data chip she gave us.
Mao: Oh, yeah, what is it, what is it?
Shiun: I don't know.
Rokudo: You sure you want to watch it?
Shiun: I don't care, but I think we need to see this.

​

Mao: It's data about us!

​

D-Head: No doubt about it, there's that decker kid, who was involved with the Geotech case.
Mao: This woman... She's a wizard.
D-Head: What's this? A troll...
Rokudo: !!!
Mao: What's going on?
Rokudo: "No way... That's impossible!"
D-Head: So it means that Aaron Elendil was pitting them against us?
Mao: We can't allow them to treat people like puppets for their own agenda!
TV: "... About the recent disappearances of orc children. Toto Security has set up a task force. The Ork Human Rights Commission criticized the response as too slow. 'They've finally buckled under our protests', they said in a statement."
D-Head: When you combine Emmy's story with this data Elendil seems to be up to something at the Aztech Exposition. For that matter, he turned to two teams of shadowrunners.
Mao: And after a few tests, we were rejected. So he's got the other team.
TV: "In other news, an unidentified body was found in Kamata yesterday. It has been identified as belonging to a male employee of Aztechnology who had gone missing..."
D-Head: The incidents so far have been nothing more than a preparatory phase for Elendil. I don't know what's going to happen now... But I have a bad feeling about this...

And that concludes this chapter.

​

The next one is called...

SECRETS OF THE AZTECH EXPO.

​

TV: "... for this inside report focusing on the recent series of orc disappearances in and around the blockade area. We're sending you a special edition of information related to the blockade. In the past month, we've heard from orcs living in and around it. There have been a number of cases of them going missing. No one has returned since their disappearance, and their whereabouts are still being investigated. The number of disappearances is high especially in the northern part of the blockade..."

​

Rokudo: It's the humans again. We're always going to do the same thing we did back then... That incident, that horrible tragedy 14 years ago...

He remembers the past...

​

Lil Rokudo: I'm sure there's a boat waiting for you with people fleeing to foreign lands.

​

Someone: Wait, kid. Where are you going this time of night? We're looking for orcs to eradicate these losers. Are you hiding something?... Show me.
Lil Rokudo: I-it's nothing.
Someone: Look! There's a troll hiding in there!
The crowd: Kill him! Kill him!!!
Lil Rokudo:: C'mon! We almost made it to the ship! Why can't you just leave him alone!
Troll Kid: Aah!
Someone: He's out of control! I'm gonna have to shoot!
Lil Rokudo: No! Don't do that!
Someone: Come on! Get him!
Lil Rokudo: Stop it!

​

Rokudo: "I never thought he'd return back..."
TV: "... from the above examples we believe that there is some kind of coordinated effort behind the orc disappearances."
Rokudo: Organized? You'd better be fucking kidding me...
Barman: ... I'm sorry about this, but if it's too much for you, I can turn it off.
Rokudo: Ah, no, just leave it on.
TV: "... The authorities have taken this incident very seriously and are stepping up patrols around the blockade. In connection with this incident..."
Mao: Good morning. No, wait, it's good evening already.
Barman: Good evening, Mao-san.
Mao: Oh? Only you are here?
Rokudo: ... Uh-huh.
Mao: What's wrong with you? What kind of reply is that?
Rokudo: It's nothing... It'll be business as usual soon.
Mao: Really? It doesn't look like it...
(the following is not really split up in the game but just for better understanding that it's an interview of some kind)
TV 1: "... What about the possibility that there's some kind of tribal warfare going on in the blockade? In recent years, there have been frequent reports of such conflicts, right?"
TV 2: "There have certainly been some incidents reported. But there is a lot of unconfirmed information. I have to say we still don't know enough about what's going on in the blockade."
TV 1: "That's what I was thinking about when I told you about the tribal war. It's all speculation for now..."
Mao: So, what's wrong with him?
Barman: I don't know. He's been like that ever since he got here.
Mao: He's not really that pensive usually.

Shiun joins the party.

Barman: Shiun-san, Rokudo-san and Mao-san are here.
Mao: You took your time. I thought you'd be here by now.
Shiun: I guess then sometimes your hunches are wrong, Mao. I wasn't gonna come, but I got an appointment to meet someone here.
Mao: Eeeh, with a woman?
Shiun: I don't know.
Mao: If you're meeting here, then it's not about romance, huh.

And with that we're gonna watch some more TV which is not related in any way to our work, right?

(same thing, hard to tell who is talking when)
TV 1: "... It's something that's brought up when this kind of thing happens. What about the anti-metahuman group aspect of the movement?"
TV 2: "Certainly, in some cases. We've been hearing that from some people for a while. Anti-reconciliation groups are among the leading candidates for being the culprit, of course. It's true but there have been few cases when those groups were actually involved."
TV 1: "As for this latest series of disappearances, those organizations have also issued statements denying any involvement. After all, this case is extremely unusual. Thank you very much for your time. This case seems to be a very deep-rooted problem. On to our next topic..."
Shiun: What's the matter? What's on your mind?
Mao: It's not healthy to be alone with your problems.
Rokudo: ... Mao, you're unbearable. Well, I'd be lying if I said I didn't have problems, but I don't have to hide them. It's about that troll in the file.
Shiun: You mean one of the team who were put to "test" with us? He was calling himself Rockbreaker.
Rokudo: Yeah, I'm a little concerned. A long time ago I think I used to know him...
Shiun: A runner's past doesn't really exist. Even if there are ties that can't be broken. There's no point in dwelling on it.
Mao: Right, or do you have some sort of history with him?
Rokudo: ... Yeah.

D-Head comes in.

D-Head: Hey, guys, I knew you'd all be here.
Mao: Aren't you supposed to be holed up in your room today?
D-Head: Well, I was going to, but, uh, I got this really weird thing that I want you to see.
Mao: What is it, what is it?

​

Mao: There's some kind of weird fog over the top, what's wrong with it?
D-Head: This image was sent to my home computer. I don't know who did that, or under what circumstances, but... It's kind of creepy.
Mao: All they sent you was a picture?
D-Head: Uh-huh. There's nothing else.
Mao: Well, it's definitely creepy... Do you know anything about the building?
D-Head: No, I don't. If I could only know what it was, I wouldn't have to worry about it so much. And there's something even stranger. Look here, I've used an image analysis program...

​

D-Head: The "fog" itself seems to be quite special.
Mao: Is that... magical?
D-Head: That's possible. At least if we can figure out what building this is, I'm sure there are things you can do to find out.
Mao: I guess...
Shiun: ...! This is the Aztech Expo pavillion!
D-Head: What? You know it?
Shiun: Yeah. That pyramid-shaped building... I'm sure of it. The Aztec Expo was originally a promotional event for Aztlan, an emerging Central American country. And it was one of Aztechnology's market strategy events.
D-Head: Under the direction of a wizard named Aaron Elendil. They're trying to use it for something. And speaking of Elendil, he's the one who put us to the "test". He sent us into the blockade and made us to do a data grab from another corporation.
Mao: But we lost to another team with a weird combination and got rejected. It's all good now, but what does that have to do with us?
(the japanese sure do love to repeat themselves. all this in case you forgot what you've played an hour ago)
Shiun: ... I don't know. But once you're involved in something, you develop a strange bond with it. I feel that connection with the Aztec Expo. Maybe it's better to call it fate, though.
Mao: Heh, even Shiun the realist would say something like that.

A woman comes in.

​

Followed by a man.

​

Barman: Welcome to our establishment.
Shiun: ... Saegusa-san...

Well, well, well. We finally meet, Saegusa-san. I guess this means that the plot is moving into the final phase. Next on Shadowrun Radio: AERIAL ASSAULT ON AZTECH LAIR. Well, maybe not next but after that, probably.

 

[baud]

(the japanese sure do love to repeat themselves. all this in case you forgot what you've played an hour ago)

maybe it's the console design, made around shorter sessions, so repeating the info from time to time make sense, especially if there's no journal

 

[infidel]

I've noticed that in other VNs so it might be their thing, repetition for some kinda dramatic or other effect. Like in detective investigations characters tend to gather regularly and go over stuff they know. In this case, they at least have a good excuse - likely weeks of world time pass between chapters so the characters are plausibly trying to tie together their recollections.

 

[infidel]

UPDATE 15: SAEGUSAAAAAAAAA!

Spoiler

When we last left off, we were relaxing in a bar at the start of the next chapter. And then someone from Shiun's old days walks in. His name is Saegusa.

​

Shiun: ... Uh-huh.
Shiun: "He's one of the executives of Aztechnology Japan and the man who was my direct boss. He was also the man who dragged me into the world of shadows. 'It looks like you'll be working for us in the future.' When was the last time Saegusa-san said that?"

​

Saegusa: I guess I should call you by your street name here, Shiun.
Shiun: What the hell do you want? You're not here to talk about the old days, are you?
Saegusa: It was always a bad habit of yours to jump to conclusions quickly. Anyway, did you like the image I sent you?
Shiun: Image?
D-Head: Was this the blurry image of the pyramid by any chance?
Saegusa: Correct. Actually, I have a job for you. I want you to investigate the location on that image - the site of the Aztech Exposition.
Shiun: Investigate the Aztech Expo? That's an Aztechnology project. Why don't the company people deal with it? You have an excellent security department.
Saegusa: That's true, but we've got some problems. You, please explain.
Assistant: Yes, sir. First, take a look at this.
(when she says "yes, sir", she actually says one of these "very polite for talking with superior" forms, かしこまりました - kashikomarimashita)

​

Assistant: It's a project to promote our company, Aztechnology, as well as our home country, Aztlan, by recreating ancient Aztec temples and architecture with modern technology combined with magic. It was an event that the Tokyo branch was working on with all its capabilities.
Mao: I know, I've seen the commercials a few times.
(コマーシャル - komasharu)
Shiun: So... Ryoko's father... No, the Japanese branch was making every effort to carry it out.
Assistant: But things have changed drastically recently. Someone has arrived from headquarters. Aaron Elendil, one of the most powerful people in the Aztechnology headquarters, both as a mage and as an executive. As soon as he arrived in Tokyo, he formed the "Special Projects Office" and took over the entire planning and management of the Aztech Expo. Now all of us at the Tokyo office have been removed from the project.
Assistant: Not only that, but Elendil seems to be making drastic changes to the plans all on his own. There were changes of the exposition pavilion and the extraordinary increase in security to hide it. In addition, he seems to be involved in illegal activities.
(aren't we all, baby)
Assistant: He's got a team of four runners working exclusively for him.
Rokudo: What's their mission?
Assistant: I'm afraid we don't have the details. They've been very clever at keeping people in the branch office out of the loop. Our preliminary investigation, including the security department's efforts, was limited. The only thing we've found out is that they are possibly involved in the recent orc disappearances.
Shiun: So you're saying we're supposed to do the security department's job for them?
Saegusa: Yes, Elendil's manipulations have kept us from making our move. That's why I'm asking you to do this. And it's all for the company's benefit. The investigation indicated that Elendil may have twisted the plan for his goals whatever they are. If that's the case, it's a situation headquarters can't ignore. The Aztech Expo is the biggest event in our Far East strategy and we want it to be a success.
Shiun: I think I have a pretty good idea of what's going on. But we're dealing with a man that even you can't touch. That's a pretty dangerous job, I'd say.
Saegusa: I knew you'd say that but I've got a card that could make your job a lot easier. Elendil is removing the Tokyo office people from the project slowly but surely. And now, even access to the site is restricted.
Shiun: Things are getting more and more difficult?
Saegusa: If it continues that way, yes. But it does give me a chance to go inside this construction site under the guise of inspection.
Shiun: If you intend to enter the site, we can go as your men to investigate in an open manner, can't we?
Saegusa: No, it's a very difficult situation, and I'm afraid I can't take you to the construction site openly. Only my assistant was allowed besides me... So, instead of her...
Mao: You want to use me, by any chance?
Saegusa: That's right, you know how to do magic. And if you saw the pyramid image, you understand. There's something magical going on in that building right now.
Mao: Yeah, it looks like it's pretty elaborate.
Saegusa: That's why I need someone with magical knowledge to accompany me. And the rest of you will back us up just in case. After all, that place is as good as hostile territory for us. That's the plan I have in mind.
Mao: Hiding in plain sight as an assistant... That sure sounds interesting.
Saegusa: ... So, about Elendil. Did Emmy tell you anything about him?
Shiun: Sure... I'm certainly interested in this guy. But... It's not up to me to decide whether or not to take the job...
Mao: I don't mind, but the others...
Saegusa: Of course, there is no such thing as a risk-free job in this world. But Elendil is already linked with you all personally. You know what that means, Shiun.
Shiun: ...
Saegusa: The runners he hired, for example. Apparently that team is also connected to the orc disappearances around the blockade zone...
D-Head: ... You've got a very good story. I don't know about the rest but I'm certainly interested in this case.
Saegusa: ... And... That troll on that team called Rockbreaker.
Rokudo: !
Saegusa: Of course we'll pay you... I see no reason why you should refuse, do you?
Shiun: ... I understand your story. You'll have to wait a bit for our reply. We'd like to see if our contacts have more information.
Saegusa: Very well, but I don't have much time, so get back to me as soon as you can.

And they leave the bar.

D-Head: What do you want to do? I want to see it through to the end.
Shiun: That's some pretty big fish we're gonna be dealing with. Anyway, let's gather as much information as we can. It's not too late to refuse.

Contacts menu opens up and we can contact Nat or surf the datanet.

Rokudo: I'll call my informant.

​

Rokudo: I need you to look into something for me. It's about four runners hired by a guy named Aaron Elendil. What is their mission now? What kind of work have they been involved in? Anything about that team, I don't care what.
Nat: Elendil... I've heard that name before, he's the mage from Aztech. He's in charge of the Aztech Expo.
Rokudo: That's exactly who I'm talking about.
Nat: But it's a bit dangerous... So please give me some time. I'll see what I can find out.
Rokudo: Okay, but do it as soon as you can.

D-Head: Let's check out the data net.

We've got two topics, Aztechnology and Aztech Expo.

"It's a huge company that was founded in the 21st century. Its home country, Aztlan, is an emerging Central American country and is very proud of it. It is one of the eight largest companies in the world, and its Japanese branch is located in the Makuhiki waterfront district of Tokyo. The main sectors it's working in are heavy and military industries. They are also making huge investments in the magic sector. The level of its research is said to be among the best in the world."

"The event that falls under the Haneda Airport land reuse plan is using the latest technology to recreate ancient architecture and show off the Aztec civilization to Japan. There will also be an exhibit of awakened species and a demonstration of their unique magic. A number of pavilions are planned to be built under the theme of "Science Meets Magic". The managing company is Aztechnology Tokyo Branch. By hosting this event Aztechnology, Inc. is said to be one step ahead of its competitors in reusing of the vast former Haneda site."

So what happened to Haneda airport in Shadowrun world?

Shiun: All right, we'll work separately, gather as much intel as we can.
Mao: Well, I'm off to see Grandma Tokaido.

​

Grandma: ... Ho ho ho, that's strange. And when you tried to filter the image, this blurry part didn't change at all, did it?
Mao: Nope. Only the rest became clearer.
Grandma: I see...
Mao: What do you think?
Grandma: I don't know if I can say for sure with this much info, but this "mist" you see there seems to be a powerful illusion spell that can bewitch even the eyes of a machine, which makes sense when you think about it.
Mao: Illusion...
Grandma: It must take a lot of magic to maintain such powerful illusion. Is there something they'd rather keep hidden here?
Mao: Well, if they hide it so well... I can't wait to see what's in there!
Grandma: What is it, Mao? Are you going to the place in this image?
Mao: Yup, that's right... So, Grandma, I've got a question for you. Can I borrow your "mask"?
(『マスク』 - masuku)
(they forgot to add grandma's answer)
Mao: Okay, bye, I'm off.

We switch to D-Head.

​

D-Head: That's the thing about corporate work, it doesn't seem to sit well with me... It's hard to find an interesting job.
Hacker A: Yeah? Surely a good magician can do anything, right?
D-Head: That's not how it works... Oh, did you hear that? I understand that a large number of deckers employed in connection with the Aztech Exposition have been laid off.
Hacker A: Oh, yeah? That's new.
Hacker B: You seem to know many rumors, magician. It's true that there are a lot of fishy rumors circulating about the Aztec Expo right now.
D-Head: Oh, I see. Isn't that the event that Aztech is putting so much effort into? I want to know what those rumors say.
Hacker B: The head office has recently started to look into this event. And yet, they don't seem to be interested in having a serious exposition. Except for the main pyramid, they haven't done much work on it.
Hacker A: Yeah, but it's funny how tight security is, isn't it?
D-Head: Well, that's certainly odd for a high-profile event...
Hacker B: I've heard that story too. I heard they were a target of a terrorist attack. At one point, there was even talk of canceling the event. I heard they solved the problem by deploying attack drones.
(『ドローン』 - doron)
D-Head: Drones... Automated offensive machines, they're very dangerous.
Hacker B: Well, I don't know if it's true. I'm sure the security at the pyramids is so tight that rumors like that started circulating.
D-Head: ... I get it, there's a lot of crazy stuff going on and I'm getting more and more interested in it. But it seems wise to stay out of it.
Hacker A: Yeah, yeah, they're a huge corporation, and we have to be careful. They say curiosity can kill a cat.
(nothing interesting in that idiom, it's the same in japanese)
D-Head: I know, and I'll keep that in mind.

We switch on to Rokudo sitting in the bar.

​

Rokudo: Well, for now I'm just waiting to hear from my informant... Uh, can I use your terminal? I need to do some research.
Barman: It's at your service.

Rokudo goes into the datanet to read news.

"About the surge of orc disappearances near the blockade. The investigation is ongoing, but as before, the truth remains in the dark. The theory that this is a coordinated kidnapping at the hands of anti-metahuman forces is getting a lot of attention. We haven't found any hard evidence yet, so this is still speculation. But the same car was somehow spotted near the scenes of disappearances. We're still waiting to identify this car and its occupants."

​

Barman: Rokudo-san, it seems the person you're waiting for is here.

Rokudo goes outside.

​

Rokudo: I'm surprised we're meeting for real.
Nat: Because It's all about shadowrunners. It wasn't really something I could talk about on the phone... So, you were asking about the team of runners hired by Elendil. I had a hard time finding their trail, but I've got some information.
Rokudo: Let's hear it.
Nat: First of all, that team is led by a human male mercenary named Black Swan. The second one is Flare Wind, a human female mage. And the third one is the troll samurai called Rockbreaker. I can't find any previous records of him, but he seems to be pretty good.
(黒鳥 - kuroshima, black swan, i think i've already did that, but whatever)
(『フレアウィンド』 - furea windo)
Nat: Also... A child recently joined their team. His name is Trinity. The information has been so cleverly hidden that I know very little about him. It's not like kids are going to be mingling with samurai and mercenaries and doing rough work. I'm thinking he's possibly a decker.
Rokudo: ... So what kind of work were they taking on?
Nat: That's the thing... It appears that that team is, in fact, involved in the recent orc disappearances. And those were forced abductions.
Rokudo: They're taking orcs? Why would they do that?
Nat: Right. I didn't get that far. It took a lot of effort to get this story right. It's all done under their new employer, Elendil. There is no doubt in my mind that they're kidnapping orcs.
Rokudo: ... Okay, thank you for your time. Anything else you can tell me about each member?
Nat: There are people who know more about that than I do.
Rokudo: More than you? Who's that?
Nat: A samurai named Izo, and I'm sure you know him, Rokudo-san.

Time to go have a samurai drink.

​

Izo: Well, you don't look like you're in the mood.
Rokudo: Uh-huh. I'm somewhat mixed up in something. Could you give me a bit of info?
Izo: That kind of formal talk doesn't suit you. What is it? Anything I can tell you, just ask.
Rokudo: Yeah... I need you to tell me about a mercenary called Black Swan.
Izo: Black Swan... Sure, I know him. He's a runner who used to work in Tokyo. He was the kind of guy who liked to take the high-paying jobs. What about him?
Rokudo: It seems we have a strange connection.
Izo: Yeah, well, I don't ask a lot of questions, but I didn't know him that well either. I've only worked with him once. As a mercenary, he's certainly a skilled one. But he's a greedy man... who betrayed his allies on one job. The opposition bribed him with a higher pay than the client, you know. I guess it got hard for him to stay in Tokyo, so he went overseas for a while. There was some talk that he lost his life during a mission...
Rokudo: ... He didn't...
Izo: Uh-huh. I only recently found out he was still alive... Just before that tsujigiri deal. He came back to Tokyo right around that time. The guy who came up to me, he asked me if I wanted to join his new team. But I don't get along with him. Back then these Metal kids offered me a deal to help them and I took it.
Rokudo: So, what about Black Swan?
Izo: He found someone else. When he was in Tokyo, he was with a mage named Flare Wind. She was already on the team when I worked with him. Always following him like a shadow, supporting him. Oh... And, by the way, he had a troll with him that he met on a job in a foreign country. As I recall, they called him Rockbreaker... He barely spoke, but he seemed to have lost his memory of the past. Black Swan said he felt a connection with the guy who was forced to leave Japan a long time ago...
Rokudo: Okay, well...
Izo: Something wrong?
Rokudo: No, it's nothing... But wasn't there another member named Trinity?
Izo: Trinity?... No, never heard of him.
Rokudo: ...I see. Thank you, that's very helpful.
Izo: I don't know what awaits me, but I don't think about it too much. Overthinking leads to hesitation, and hesitation leads to death.
Rokudo: ... Yeah, I know.

And after that bit of samurai wisdom we're back in the bar with Shiun coming in.

Barman: Welcome back, sir. Are you alone today?
Shiun: Uh-huh. Where's everybody else?
Barman: Everyone is too busy to visit our establishment.
Shiun: Yeah...

He grabs a phone and calls Saegusa.

Saegusa: Yes.
Shiun: It's Aida.
Saegusa: ... Are you ready to give me an answer?
Shiun: There's something I'd like to ask you before we go. The man at the center of our current deal, Elendil. What do you know of him?
Saegusa: ... I'm still not sure, though I thought you might want to know. As I said before, he is one of the best mages in Aztechnology headquarters. He's an authority on ritual magic, and he specializes in large-scale magic involving many mages. He had a successful career with many accomplishments in the field of magic research. I'm sure his political skills are top-notch as well, given his record of success in a highly competitive field.
Shiun: I see, but I'm not convinced by what you just said. Monopolizing the Aztec Exposition and changing the plans, I don't see how it's beneficial to Elendil. If headquarters finds out, it won't be just a demotion.
Saegusa: I can only speculate on that, and I can tell you if that's okay with you?
Shiun: Yeah, I don't mind.
Saegusa: I'm not sure why, but Elendil is very hostile to Japanese companies and Japan as a country. He once said that Japanese companies have a high level of competence and it's because they have a stable market and a place to experiment and develop new products. This place is...
Shiun: Tokyo, right?
Saegusa: Correct. 'The only way to take the power out of Japanese companies is to get rid of Tokyo,' another quote of his. And whatever Elendil is planning to do at the expo by coming all the way to Tokyo, we can't just stand by and watch.

At this point the rest of the team comes in.

D-Head: ... What do we do now? If they're involved in the orc disappearances, I'm interested.
Mao: I'm good, too, I'm really curious what that inspection will turn out. I think it'd be fun to pretend to be a corpo assistant. And if something happens, you'll help me, right?
Shiun: ... Right... But I've got a bad feeling about this job. We're dealing with Aztech, not an easy task.
D-Head: You're very careful. Intuition of a former worker?
Shiun: That's about it, because I know exactly how horrible Aztech can be. What about you, Rokudo?
Rokudo: I'm certainly concerned about letting Mao go alone.
Mao: Ooooh, you're worried about me?
Rokudo: ... Yeah... But if everything that's happened so far is connected to that thing, I'm gonna find out the truth.
Shiun: All right, that's it.

He calls Saegusa (with the image of Johnson on the screen for some reason).

Shiun: We've agreed.
Saegusa: I was hoping you'd say that, so I'll pick you up the day after tomorrow as soon as the arrangements are made.

Later...

Shiun: Well, it's been two days, so if the client's gonna show up, it's about time.
Mao: I can't believe you're up this early in the day. I'm so sleepy. Besides, I haven't slept much lately because I've been practicing pretending to be the assistant.
D-Head: Well, thank you for your time, but are you ready for your disguise?
Mao: Yup. I can't use the disguise spell, but this should do the trick.

​

Mao: If you wear it and think about it, you can become whatever you want. Um, even that assistant of his.
Rokudo: It can disguise you so well that they won't find out?
Mao: Well, physically it'll be perfect, but I'll also need to copy general gestures. Saegusa-san said so, so I got the data from her. It's a thin veneer, but it'll be just for a little while.
D-Head: It's about time, but let's just hope it goes well. For once, it's not my turn to be alone.

The assistant lady comes in.

Assistant: I'm sorry to keep you waiting, are you ready?
Mao: Yeah, pretty much, all I have to do is get "you" ready.
Assistant: ... What?
Mao: There's a slight difference between the data and the real person when you look at it up close... I guess that's it.

​

D-Head: Excellent... Now all we need is the language.
Mao: Hahaha! 'Is that all right with you, D-Head-san?'

We all go outside.

​

Mao: Null sweat, leave it to me, yo... I mean, please, leave it to me.
Shiun: Saegusa, if anything should happen to her...
Saegusa: I know. Me and this young woman, no, me and all of you, we're in the same boat. If anything should happen to her, I'll be damned if I'm going to do anything stupid.
Rokudo: Mao, please don't be reckless, and don't let your curiosity kill you.
Mao: I know, I know.

And we're in the car in front of the gates.

​

Saegusa: It's not supposed to be in this state, construction is 70% done. Some of the pavilions were supposed to be in testing already. I'm irritated almost to the breaking point.
Driver: We're entering.
Guard: Excuse me. Can I see your ID, please?
Driver: Saegusa from the Tokyo Branch Office. We're supposed to be making an inspection today.
Guard: ... I'm sorry about this.
Mao: "I'm sure we'll be able to find a way to make it work."

We drive inside.

​

Mao: There's not a lot of construction vehicles or machinery, and it's pretty clear they stopped building halfway through.
Saegusa: ...I can see from this that Elendil has no intention of holding the exposition. The Aztech Expo is a great demonstration for Aztlan's land. I don't know what the hell he thinks he's doing.
Mao: Do you know him personally, Saegusa-san?
Saegusa: I've only talked a few times to him in person, but it was enough to make me realize what a horrible man he is.

​

Saegusa: That's the building that is supposed to be the main pavilion. The appearance is the same as in the reports I've received. I've heard that they've been replaced by something else, but I don't know the details.
Mao: You're right, all the other buildings have stopped construction, but this one just seems to stand out.
Saegusa: Do you see anything on top of the building?
Mao: Let me transfer my senses into astral space... What's this?! It's magical. Not just an illusion spell, but something more powerful... Saegusa-san, did you have any magical events planned for the building? I mean, something large-scale.
Saegusa: Large-scale?... A brief demonstration was planned at the top... On a scale large enough for two or three mages. Not a very big deal, I'd say.
Mao: Right... Well, there's a lot of power there. A very powerful magical artifact has been brought to the top of the pyramid. It's a pretty big pyramid when you look at it like this.
Saegusa: This style of building is the symbol of our company. The Tokyo branch office in Makuhari is very similar in appearance. Except the office building is even bigger.
Mao: Hmmm... When I hear you talking like this, you sound just an ordinary corporate worker.
Saegusa: I'm flattered, and I'm sure it's a compliment in your own way. But if I were to ask your people, they'd have a very different opinion. I don't care what they think, but for me, the interests of the company come first... Now, this is hostile territory, so are you ready?
Mao: Yup.

​

Saegusa: Aztechnology Tokyo Branch Office, Planning and Promotion Department, Toshiyuki Saegusa.
Guard: It's confirmed. Here you go. Your companion next, please.
Saegusa: She's my secretary. Is my guarantee not enough?
Guard: ... I'm sorry, sir. Please go ahead.

We're dropped into the exploration mode, but sort of on rails.

​

Saegusa: We're here.

​

Saegusa: It's been a while since I've been here, but you've changed a lot. I have to admit, I'm a little confused.
Other guy: It can't be helped... the decision for the project to leave the branch office was made suddenly. We are not yet ready for Elendil-san's new plans.
Saegusa: I'm sure we'll be hearing more about that today, won't we?
Other guy: Well, let's not just stand here and chat, follow me.

We're led into the meeting room.

​

Other guy: There are new plans to change the use of the site after the expo. So the design of the pavilion has been partially changed. There's been a delay in the construction schedule, but with the new shifts being pulled, we should be back on track in three months. This is a proposal from Elendil-san's Office of Special Projects...
Mao: "Damn, I'm so bored, I feel like we're being fed some bullshit. I don't think we're going to find anything if we just sit here and listen. I need to get out of here... Could you do something for me, Saegusa-san?"
Other guy: ... That's the current status of this plan, and then...
Saegusa: Look, I understand the plan itself, but what does headquarters think about that? This is the first I've heard of a change of use for the expo site. No matter how many people from headquarters are managing it, you can't have a successful exposition without our help. I'm not convinced that the delay in construction period is necessary, even taking into account the amount of changes.
Other guy: ... But it's...
Saegusa: What's the matter? Don't be shy. Talk to me.
Other guy: ... No, I don't mind talking about it, but...
Saegusa: ... Okay. Would you excuse us for a moment, please?
Mao: Huh? Oh, right, of course.
Mao: "This means I should take this opportunity to look around. Let's go talk to some people here and there."

​

And now we're free to explore the pyramid. What secrets await for Mao's curiousity? Piles of grisly murdered bodies neatly stacked like dominoes? Effervescent pools of ritual blood bubbling ominously in the torchlight? Hordes of cultists chanting sinister incantations? Half-summoned dragons roaring with thunderous power? Insect spirits pouring in from a rift between worlds? We'll gonna have to wait until the next time to find out here, on ShadowRadio!

 

[baud]

Piles of grisly murdered bodies neatly stacked like dominoes? Effervescent pools of ritual blood bubbling ominously in the torchlight? Hordes of cultists chanting sinister incantations? Half-summoned dragons roaring with thunderous power? Insect spirits pouring in from a rift between worlds?

All five?

 

[abnaxus]

The game's overarching plot is p. banal.

 

[infidel]

UPDATE 16: WHEREIN CURIOUSITY GETS THE CAT INTO TROUBLE

Spoiler

​

We were right in the middle of the pyramid full of cultis... I mean, Aztech workers busily preparing for an expo. The pyramid has four floors, a roof and a basement, accessible by an elevator in the center. The corridors usually have guards and the rooms are full of workers who we can talk to. Most say like a line at most, after that saying that they have to get back to work, so I'll skip that. There's also a save point in one of the rooms, just in case.

​

There's a security room on the second floor.

​

Here's one of the more interesting ones.

​

Worker: ... Did you hear what I just said?

We get a choice of yes and no. If we say yes:

Worker: Please don't tell anyone I said that. Alright, work, work.

Some workers know us.

​

Worker: What? Did you forget? I'm originally from the Tokyo office... Between you and me, I've been dealing with a lot of magic-related data ever since those guys from headquarters got here. It wasn't part of the original plan, and you should tell Saegusa-san that.

​

So, what's on the roof?

​

Mao: "Some spirits I've never seen before..."

And poof, the illusion vanishes.

​

Mao: "That's because of all the magic concentrated in one spot. It's that stone tablet... The magic that gathers on it is like a whirling wind... It's hard to even keep my eyes open. And on top of that, I almost can't breathe, so just doing this is hard. Anyway, let's get closer."

​

Mao: "...I see, this is a huge convergence device for gathering magic power! Ugh! I feel like my magic power is being sucked away just by standing near it! Is this... an altar? I... I've seen it before. I think it's an ancient Aztec altar sacrifice. It's very old and... Are these pictographs on the surface?"
Mao: "... It looks like ancient language. Sun... Power... Robber... Shaking ground? Humanoid monster... Demon?"

Tun-tun-tuuuun.

​

Mao: Who's there?

​

Elendil: Nice to meet you... No, it's actually we meet again, young lady.
Mao: You are...
Elendil: Remembering me? I think it's been a while since you've been to the blockade...
Mao: Are you... Uh, Elendil?
Elendil: I'm flattered that you know my name.
Mao: What the hell do you think you're doing with all this stuff in here? Such a big convergence tool... Sucking all the magic out of the surroundings... You'll warp it completely. If you're a mage, how could you not know that?
Elendil: ...Warping magic into a distorted form. Allow me to explain. This is done for the fulfillment of my desire, the execution of the prophecy contained herein.
Mao: Prophecy?
Elendil: Have you seen the inscriptions on the surface? 'He who robs the power of the great sun will bring us great calamity, and give us the power of the earth and all that inheres it. Then the earth will thunder, and those who stole the sun's power will fall, and our ordeal will be over.' That's the rough translation, do you understand?
Mao: ...
Elendil: Shall I explain further?... 'He who robs the power of great sun' is this country. The one who owns the abominable satellite that gathers the power of the sun. The one who rose to prominence by solving a long-standing resource problem. The one who 'brought us great calamity'. I have come to destroy the one who would take the power of the sun and to 'end our ordeal'.
(i've no idea what's that thing about a satellite, Japan has some solar-powered orbital thing going?)
Mao: ... AHAHAHAHAHA... That would be impossible, no matter how powerful a wizard you are. No matter the power of that tablet, there's no way you can do that.
Elendil: Do you really think so? The power of this country rests in the hands of many corporations. And it's this city that is the source of that corporate power. Tokyo is a huge market and a living laboratory at the same time... Do you understand? I don't have to deal with the whole country. I only need to target this city.
Mao: ...
Elendil: And this tablet is not fully charged yet. We're still preparing for charging it to full power. I'd like to show you what happens then, too...
Elendil: Well, I'm afraid we've been chatting too long. Would you like to come with me now?
Mao: "I can't get caught like this... I have to do something... Hey, is that woman...? Killer..."

​

Mao: How could you let these people...
Woman: Shut up!
(they obviously know each other)

And we go into the combat mode. I think that's the first time in the game that we don't act first, the mysterious woman does. She runs up to Mao and hits her for 3 damage, likely being a physical adept (were there physical adepts in 1996 SR?).

​

From the combat messages we find out that she's indeed called Killer (殺). Let's try shooting her. 1 damage.

​

She responds by another jump kick, this time only for 1 damage.

​

I shoot again...

​

To make a long story short... I win this combat. By moving back a bit and shooting, I manage to one damage each time. Elendil does not intervene in the duel. And when Killer comes close, her aim is off due to moving (we noticed that in that tsujigiri fight way back) so she misses often. We miss sometimes, too, of course, but our medkits are infinite, so it's just a matter of time.

Nice shot for 3 damage. Notice how Killer has 1 damage in stun, I believe due to how we get a melee attack back on her every attack and one of them hit earlier.

​

Moving just one tile away is enough, by the way. Takes around three minutes of this.

​

And in the end... of course, this was a story fight, so the game just behaves as if we lost. Killer even talks like she won.

​

Elendil: We need a mage for the sacrifice. She'll be just the material for that.

We're back in the bar with the rest of the party.

​

But what about the basement? Out of curiousity, I reloaded my earlier save to check it out. It's not much.

​

We can talk to the guy on the left who looks cool but is just a maintenance man.

​

The guards don't say much and all of the five cell doors are locked. The corridor, however, features this inconspicuous ladder in the end which may or may not be important in the future.

​

I've inserted that chunk into a correct place in the video.

Rokudo: It's getting late, we should've heard from Mao by now.
Shiun: Calm down... There's no point in getting worried.
D-Head: Yeah. There's nothing we can do about it now.
Rokudo: ...

(a phone rings)

Shiun: Speak of the devil... Yeah... What about the operation?
Assistant: ... It appears that the other side was better than us.
Shiun: What do you mean?
Assistant: Mao-san has been captured...
Rokudo: Shit. What about your boss?
Assistant: Saegusa-san has also been taken into custody. You are our trump card now. I'll send you the information you can use to get there right now. It's the address of the computer system in the main pavilion and the truck delivery schedule... And the runner who offered to help us should be on the way.
Shiun: Runner?
Assistant: Yes, she was the one who told me about the failure. She's also confirmed that Mao is safe, and if we hurry, we should be able to help her.

Then "she" walks in the door.

​

Shiun: ...
Rokudo: Killer!
D-Head: ... Well, what a coincidence.
Assistant: You'll have to discuss the details of the situation and your future plans with her. We'll do everything we can to back you up, and we wish you all success.
Killer: Well... It's been a long time. I'd like to say we have a lot to talk about, but we don't have time for that.
Shiun: What the hell is going on here?
Killer: Ever since I left you guys, I've been living in the shadows. I've learned a lot from people.
Rokudo: "Her name is Killer, and she uses her magic for hand-to-hand combat. And she was one of us until three years ago. For one reason or another, we had to part ways, but we never forgot her. More than once, I've wished she'd been with us on the job."
Killer: And my last job was escorting a VIP. Aztechnology executive who came to Japan. His name is...
Shiun: Aaron Elendil, right?
Killer: Yeah. I was surprised when I found Mao with him. I had to detain her, though it got a little rough.
(for you, bitch)
Rokudo: So, where is she?
Killer: She's unconscious and locked up. He's not going to take her life right now. But I don't know what will happen if we don't hurry. That's why I annulled our contract and rushed here.
Shiun: ... Well, I'm sorry you had to go through that.
Killer: I couldn't just leave my friends hanging.
D-Head: Talk about an sudden and emotional encounter! Right now, we have to think about saving Mao.
Rokudo: There's nothing to think about. We have to strike as soon as possible!
Shiun: Hold on, I know you're impatient, but try to control it. There must have been a commotion over Mao at the expo. Security should be getting tighter now.
Killer: That's right.
Rokudo: ...
Killer: But I can lead you to the room where Mao is being held. These two are the only security badges we use on the construction site and they make it a lot easier to break in.
Shiun: Security badges... That would help.
D-Head: Yes, but even if we'll use them, first we need to find a way into the expo. And it's possible that the ID credentials have been changed. We'll have to rewrite them to use the badges. Let's hack into the expo computer system. We got the address for it from Saegusa-san's secretary. Then it's gonna be simple.
Shiun: Can you do that?
D-Head: Of course... Let's go to my room.

We move to D-Head's apartment.

​

D-Head: I'll get a floor plan of the facility and rewrite the security IDs. And neutralize as much of the security equipment as possible. So I'll have to take out the data stores and slave nodes. It's going to take a lot of work, but I'll do it!
Shiun: We're counting on you.
D-Head: Hehe, leave it to me.

Once again we get into the Matrix. As much as D-Head is useless in gameplay, he's necessary for the plot. Once more we see a 3D cutscene with some narration overlayed on top.

​

D-Head: It's also linked to ID recognition. I would normally avoid these. But if the ID rewrite works, entering from the basement might be the right way to go.

​

D-Head: The drones are linked to alarms in the facility. It's a system that automatically raises an alert if it can't get to the drone. If you unlock the door without using your ID, an alarm will be triggered, too.

​

D-Head: Let's just find the information we need.

​

D-Head: That's curious, I'll grab it.

​

D-Head: Another good thing to get... Well, it's all we need. Now I just need to rewrite the IDs.

​

D-Head: No other choice but to take it down.

We're in "menu Matrix combat" mode again. The last option does the job.

D-Head: Okay, now I can rewrite the ID without worry.

We're treated to the final 3D animation.

D-Head: All right, mission accomplished. Let's head back.

​

D-Head: Perfect... Now that we have a floor plan of the facility, we can go over it and figure out what to do. Security's pretty tight, so it's gonna be tough to take them head-on.
Shiun: There are attack drones in the basement, and I'd rather not deal with them if I can help it.
Rokudo: Surely it's easier to fight a man than a machine.
Killer: Yeah, the machines are hard and they're armored.
D-Head: Wait a minute, these drones are linked to the ID and I've rewritten them. It should be easier to deal with than with human.
Shiun: Well, a machine can't be as flexible as a human. And if we enter from the basement, we can use the elevator directly to each floor. This is a good thing.
Rokudo: So you're thinking to get in through the underground drainage ditch. But only two people can use the security badges. I'm sorry, but even me and Shiun are not enough, and we may not succeed.
Shiun: Yeah, I guess so... Wait! I saw the data the secretary sent over earlier. I'm pretty sure there was a schedule for trucks that go into the site.
Rokudo: A delivery truck schedule? Oh, yeah! We're gonna grab a truck.
Shiun: Uh-huh. First, the two of us will enter the basement through the drainage ditch using the security badges and lead the way. We should be able to bypass the toughest drones with the badge IDs. The first team's goal is to take Mao back anyway.
Rokudo: And the other two secure the delivery truck. We're going to stagger our entry into the facility, and we're going to separate the attention of security between the two teams.
Shiun: That's right.
D-Head: Got it... We don't have much time. Now that we have a plan, we'd better hurry.
Shiun: All right, who's going down the drain?
Rokudo: I'm going in, because it's going to be a tough fight.
Shiun: Okay, one more...

We get a choice of who's going with Rokudo, and I chose Shiun.

Shiun: Okay, well, that's where my skills come in.
Rokudo: It's settled... Now we just need bigger weapons.
D-Head: Let's go back to Silvermoon.

We go back to the bar and now we can visit two contacts, Triple Z and Angel clinic. We can finally upgrade our gear since... I forgot when. This would be a good time to pause, since the next update starts with shopping.

 

[infidel]

UPDATE 17: TO THE RESCUE!

Spoiler

Now that Triple Z and Angel clinic are available, let's see what they got. Actually, I don't care much about the clinic due to the insane prices (they've nothing new, too). But what's that?

​

FINALLY I can sell shit off! It's actually not that much because there's no loot in the game. In the end I've got 23,049 nuyen. So what've got to buy?

​

Looks like we've got four new categories!

ライト・ピストル - Light pistol
ヘビー・ピストル - Heavy pistol
サブマシンガン - SMG
アサルト・ライフル - Assault Rifle
ライト・マシンガン - LMG
ミディアム・マシンガン - MMG
ヘビー・マシンガン - HMG

Here's what they contain. BTW, there's nothing new in the old categories.

=== アサルト・ライフル - Assault Rifle

FN-HAR (F: Semi-Auto, PL 8, DR M, 2t/p, S:1/t, R:9) (1200y)
+ ガスベント II - Gas Vent II
+ レーザー・サイト - Laser Sight
AK-97 (F: Full Auto, PL 8, DR M, 2t/p, S:5/t, R:9) (700y)
AK-98 (F: Semi-Auto, PL 8, DR M, 2t/p, S:1/t, R:9) (2500y)
+ グレネード・ランチャー - Grenade Launcher
M22A2 (F: Semi-Auto/Burst/Full, PL 8, DR M, 2t/p, S:5/t, R:9) (1600y)
+ ガスベント I - Gas Vent I
+ グレネード・ランチャー - Grenade Launcher

=== ライト・マシンガン - LMG

イングラム・バリアント - Ingram Variant (F: Semi-Auto, PL 8, DR M, 2t/p, S:1/t, R:0?) (1500y)
+ ガスベント II - Gas Vent II
+ 衝擊吸收パッド - Shock Pads
アレスMPLMG - Ares MPLMG (F: Burst/Full Auto, PL 7, DR S, 2t/p, S:5/t, R:10) (2200y)
+ ガスベント II - Gas Vent II
+ 衝擊吸收パッド - Shock Pads

=== ミディアム・マシンガン - MMG

アレスMPMMG - Ares MPMMG (F: Full Auto, PL 9, DR S, 2t/p, S:5/t, R:8) (2500y)
FN-MAG5 (F: Full Auto, PL 9, DR S, 2t/p, S:5/t, R:8) (3200y)
+ ガスベント II - Gas Vent II
+ レーザー・サイト - Laser Sight

=== ヘビー・マシンガン - HMG

MPHMG (F: Full Auto, PL 8, DR M, 2t/p, S:1/t, R:9) (4000y)
M107GPHMG (F: Full Auto, PL 8, DR M, 2t/p, S:1/t, R:9) (5200y)
ガスベント III - Gas Vent III
レーザー・サイト - Laser Sight

In the end I bought MPMMG for Shiun, upgraded with Gas Vent III, Smartgun Systems and Tripod. He had a free MPLMG but it looks like it has 1 less PL for some reason. Remembering that Rokudo is my main tank, I bought full suit for him for that 10k nuyen. I also upgraded Shiun's armor jacket to partial suit because I didn't have enough money for the second full suit. Selling MPLMG after that left me with 6,315 nuyen.

​

Rokudo: Two of us using security badges break in through an underground drainage ditch and rescue Mao. The other two will secure the delivery truck with some delay, and storm the facility. Then we'll retrieve the two advance team members and Mao while drawing the attention of security. Let's go when we're ready.

Selecting the option to go brings us to the sewers entrance, all ready for entry.

​

Rokudo: The other side of these bars leads to the Aztech Exposition.
Shiun: Elendil... I'm going to find out what his connection is to me.
Rokudo: Hang on, Mao.

And we're in the exploration mode in the sewers.

​

It's short and mostly empty apart from a few security bots. We stumble on our first one.

​

Rokudo: Shit!
Bot: ID recognized.
Rokudo: Phew. Looks like the security badge is working.

The second one also lets us pass.

Bot: ID recognized.
Rokudo: It's getting worse, and the search is taking longer and longer. It's about to get dangerous.

The third one says that something is wrong I guess. All bots speak in katakana for some reason (to make it sound robotic probably) so it's hard to translate for the other machine, hehe.

Rokudo: Well, it looks like we're about to get our feet wet, so let's get a move on.

The fourth one ain't having it.

Rokudo: Not good.
Bot: ID refused.

And the bot attacks.

​

I check out Rokudo's weapon for the first time since forever and he has a nice 12 PL. As usual, he deals 6 damage on his first shot and misses the second one.

​

Changing Shiun's vz88v to our new MPLMG bring his PL to 14!

​

Unfortunately, he's too far away since I forgot to move Rokudo. I do that on the second turn and now Shiun shoots for 10 (actually he did before as well since that seems to be max damage).

​

Rokudo: Woo-hoo!... We'd better get a move on.

We get to the ladder.

​

Rokudo: Let's get up the ladder.

And we emerge right where where that inconspicous hole was.

​

Shiun: All right, let's go.

We move to the first door.

Rokudo: Looks like it's locked.

Same with the next one. But the third one is not empty.

​

Orc: ... We were brought in from the blockade. We were taken by three runners.
Rokudo: Three runners?
Orc: Yeah, two humans and a troll. I can't believe you're just wandering around this place. You guys aren't from here, are you? Please, just get us out of here. One of us was taken from here and never came back! If we stay here, they'll kill us, please! Please! Open the door!

We get a choice:

開ける - Open
開けない - Don't open it

Well, I did the obvious.

Rokudo: If they're careless, there's gonna be an alarm... But we have to do this.

He opens the door (and I assume triggers the alarm).

Rokudo: Shit! We have to hurry!

The last two doors are closed. Moving on to the elevator, we meet the human opposition.

​

Guard: Wait! Stop right there and show me some ID!
Rokudo: We're not gonna be able to fake it... Let's get it on.

We start off as usual.

​

Rokudo's reflexes kick in again, two hits this time.

​

Both guards miss. Shiun kills off the wounded one (I should've actually attacked the full HP ones but it didn't come to my mind back then).

​

Rokudo misses his shots and then it's Shiun's shot again. Well, that was fast.

​

Rokudo: All right, let's take the elevator.

I decide to check all the floors just to... I dunno, there's usually no reason to. The first floor is completely empty. So is the seco... Oh, wait, there she is. Tucked in a room to the right.

​

Rokudo: Mao!... Damn, she's out cold... We finally found her. Come on, let's go home, the bus should be here any minute.

Mao silently joins our party. Out of curiousity, I check out the remaining floors. There's nothing there, of course, but the roof is now in "night mode". Just look at that lovely Tokyo skyline!

Spoiler

​

We return to the first floor right into an ambush.

​

Our turn starts as usual - two hits, one body. This time I remember to shoot different targets.

​

One more reflexes-based turn and we get a second body.

​

Full suit ftw.

​

Shiun, unfortunately, doesn't have one.

​

Mao misses her bolt, as usual. Shiun doesn't.

​

This time, Rokudo hits twice, both for 6.

​

One more turn and it's over.

​

As in, we go straight to the bar after the fight.

​

Mao: Glad to be back... Did I worry you by any chance?
Barman: Not at all. I believed that everyone would be able to get you back.
Rokudo: Enough with the praise, old man.
D-Head: That's right. We just did what friends do.
Shiun: So, Mao, why don't you tell us what you saw at the pyramid? We got the gist of it from Killer, but...
Mao: Right, okay... At the top of the pyramid I saw a huge stone slab. That wasn't just a stone, it was a giant convergence device that gathered massive amounts of magic power.

​

Mao: The power of the sun... And the shaking earth and demon monsters... Like it's implying something. Elendil said it was the language of prophecy. And that he would fulfill that prophecy.
Shiun: Prophecy?
Mao: Uh-huh. I'm sure that's what he said. 'He who robs the power of the great sun will bring us great calamity, and give us the power of the earth and all that inheres it. Then the earth will thunder, and those who stole the sun's power will fall, and our ordeal will be over.' 'He who robs the power of the great sun' means this country. And Elendil said he would fulfill the prophecy and destroy it.
Shiun: ... That's completely absurd...
Mao: That's what I thought, too, but then Elendil said this. 'The power of this country rests in the hands of many corporations. And it's this city that is the source of that corporate power. Tokyo is a huge market and a living laboratory at the same time. I don't have to deal with the whole country. I only need to target this city.'
Shiun: ... Tokyo, is it?
Mao: Yup. I don't know what I'm gonna do. Elendil's going to try to do something to this city. 'And this tablet is not fully charged yet. We're still preparing for charging it to full power. I'd like to show you what happens then, too...'
Mao: This tablet is already incredibly powerful. I can't believe that it's still not fully charged. If what he said is true, I can't leave him alone.
Shiun: ...

 

[infidel]

UPDATE 18: LOTTA TALKING

Spoiler

When we last left off, we just saved Mao and with everyone presumably sipping beverages in our favorite bar, we can now discuss this saving Tokyo business like proper school-, I mean heroes.

​

Rokudo: Destroying Tokyo...
Shiun: ... It's a long story, but now that we're involved, we can't just leave it at that.
D-Head: ... But it's an unpaid job?
Shiun: Then why don't you go back to Seattle?
D-Head: Absolutely not! In Japan, there's a saying, "Once you're on boat..."
(乗りかかった船 - I took some liberties with translating that. jparser says "already embarked (and hence cannot go back)")
Mao: I can't just leave it either... I'd feel bad if I didn't return the favor to Elendil.
Rokudo: Same with me, I'm not leaving, too.
Rokudo: "... and I've got something I've got to get back from them."
Shiun: ... Then it's settled.
Mao: ... All right! How about you, Killer?
Killer: ... I'd like to help... Sorry, I've got things to do now.
Mao: ... I see.
Killer: But I'll be back soon... I promise.
D-Head: So, what do we do now? I think we should start by gathering as much information as we can.
Shiun: Yeah... We're too far behind Elendil. We need to make up some of that difference.
Mao: A tablet that gathers magic, and a wizard named Elendil. That's all the clues we have for now?
D-Head: As for the Aztech Exposition, we have the data left by Emmy. And I'm also analyzing that unidentified program from the facility's computer. I'm going to take some time to check it out now.
Rokudo: I'm also curious about the orcs that were trapped in the basement of the facility...

​

D-Head: But still, too many things have happened.
Shiun: You're right... We should probably call it a day and get some rest.
Rokudo: Okay, okay. I'm a little tired, too, so I think I'll go back to my bunk and get some sleep.
D-Head: I'll look into things when I have the time.
Killer: You're going home too, right, Mao? I'll give you a lift.
Mao: ... Yeah, thanks.

​

Rokudo: "I never thought I'd see that guy in front of me, and as my enemy. I swear that as a samurai, I will crush Elendil's plans once and for all. I'll stop him from doing what he wants. And I'll get him, my brother, back."

​

Shiun: Saegusa...

​

Killer: ... Say something, Mao.
Mao: ... Huh? Oh. Anyway, it's been a while since we've met...
Killer: Yeah... I was amazed when I saw you on top of the pyramid.
Mao: How have you been?
Killer: I'm always fine, of course. What about you, Mao?
Mao: Well, I'm the same as before.
Killer: Yeah, I know exactly what you mean about being too curious and making mistakes.
Mao: Oh, come on, you say it like I'm not making any progress.
Killer: Ahaha... But I'm relieved to see you haven't changed.
Mao: So do I, Killer.
Killer: Yeah! But if this is where it goes, I should have done more research on that Elendil guy.
Mao: ... I don't blame you. I didn't mean for any of this to happen. They've saved me, and it's enough for me to know that they'll always be my friends.
Killer: Thanks. I'm glad you said that.
Mao: ... But I'm a little angry because I thought we were gonna get back together.
Killer: Sorry! But, you know, you'll get your chance.

Meanwhile, back at D-Head's.

​

D-Head: "Can't relax all that much when we think about the future. Let's poke around in the files that Emmy-san left behind."

​

D-Head: "There's also the hidden part in her file... 'What is the name of your offering?'... Offering? There was a prophecy that Mao told me that said... It makes sense, but I'm afraid I don't understand it fully. And then there was that program I've got from the expo computer. Let's try it.

​

D-Head: "There's a lot of weird stuff in here... Parameter settings for simulations... 'Number of bodies used.' 'Number of participating magicians.' 'Personal Induction Magic.' 'Ritual time.' What the hell is this..."
(damn, they've got it covered. "Tokyo Apocalypse Simulation")
D-Head: "Previous simulation data... I'll load the most recent data... Is this... An earth spirit? No way..."

And we move into the next (and final?) chapter.

​

EARTHQUAKE PROJECT
(地震計画)

​

Henchman: We're up to 80% done with the "body donations" required for the ritual. But the magic is not converging.
("my conglomerate aint conglomerating, you see")
Elendil: What's the current rate of achievement?
Henchman: You can read about it here.

​

Henchman: However, even after processing that many "donations", the degree of convergence is extremely unstable!
(body donations is probably a pun on "organ donations")
Elendil: Go on.
Henchman: Even if we perform the last ritual and release the magic, it could spread to a wide area. In that case, we can't create a "calamity" on the scale we're planning.
Elendil: What's the solution?
Henchman: We have no choice but to increase the number of "donations" for the "processing". We can only offer more sacrifices, hoping for more convergence.
(dude doing air-quotes like crazy the whole dialogue)
Elendil: ... I'm afraid we're going to have to move quickly. Thank you for your trouble.
Henchman: Yes, sir.
(goes out)
Elendil: ... Call the Black Swan.
Another henchman: Here you go, sir.
Elendil: ... The ritual procedures and theories are supposed to be flawless, with no problems...
Black Swan: Sir?
Elendil: More sacrifices are necessary. How long will it take you to finish the job?
Black Swan: With all due respect, sir, things aren't looking too good. The operation so far has raised the alert level around the blockade. We're no longer at a place where we can maintain covert action. If we go any further with the operation, we could expose the plan.
Elendil: Giving up? I didn't hire you to listen to you whine. You're going to do whatever it takes, and you're not going to fail.
Black Swan: ...
Elendil: Why so glum? Hurry and get back to work.
Black Swan: ... Yes, sir, I'll do my best...
Elendil: All I want to hear from you is about your success. I don't care how many more you can get, just get to it.
Black Swan: Yes, sir.
Elendil: We must complete this plan at all costs. Is's what we've always wanted. We have to destroy the city and fulfill the prophecy!

The scene moves on to Black Swan's outfit.

​

Black Swan: I took every risk and prepared as many orcs as I was told was necessary. How many more can he need?!

​

Flare: But work is work. I have a contract with that man, and I'm not gonna stop, no matter how much I hate it. Or do you want to renege on the deal? If you do that, you may never get to work in the shadows again. I'm fine with that, though...
Black Swan: I don't care how many orcs die. But it's not safe for us to continue our mission close to the blockade. I don't want to lose my rep by screwing up this boring job.

​

Black Swan: What?
Trinity: It's gonna be harder if we're gonna try to collect from the same place we did before. What if I told you there is another place in this city where orcs congregate besides the blockade? It's also virtually unknown...
Black Swan: What the hell... Enough with this bullshit.
Trinity: I'm a genius at gathering information, and there's nothing I don't know.
Black Swan: Flare, shut that kid up.
Flare: Wait... The information this child got has never been wrong. It should be worth a listen.
Black Swan: ... All right, just tell me what you know. But if you talk some nonsense I'm gonna kill you right now.
Trinity: Don't get so worked up about it, because it's very valuable information. I mean, the blockade is not the only place on Earth they live in. There are a lot of holes in the ground beneath this city that aren't being used anymore. What if the orcs who were driven from their homes above had set their eyes on such a place?
Black Swan: A hole that is not being used now?... Underground... Abandoned subway lines.
Trinity: Exactly. It's further back from the main line. There are orcs in there! And they never "existed" in the first place anyway. It's okay no matter how many of them die.
Black Swan: ... Good, because if that's true, it'll make things a lot easier...
Flare: ... You'll really do it?
Black Swan: Of course, it'll be interesting to see if that's gonna be enough for this Elendil guy.
Trinity: ...

And it's now back to our team in the bar.

​

Shiun: ... If that's true, it's a pretty big deal.
D-Head: That's right. I'm still a little skeptical, though. After all, there's a lot we don't know about that program.
Mao: What we don't know?
D-Head: Ah, Mao-san, when I hacked into the computer system at the Aztech Exposition I dug up some weird program.

​

D-Head: Apparently, it's a program that simulates the size and damage of earthquakes, including the ones caused by magic.
Mao: ... What?! Earthquakes caused by magic?
D-Head: I couldn't just believe it either.
Mao: Earthquakes caused by magic... Noone would be able to do that under normal circumstances. But maybe it's not impossible... Yes, if only someone had the power of that stone slab I saw in the pyramid.

​

Mao: I saw that weird tablet at the top of it. As far as we know, it's a device that concentrates magic power, and a tremendous amount of it. Even with all that magic concentrated, it's not something an ordinary mage could handle. He will be crushed before he can give form to magic. But Elendil was so confident. Is it really possible to use that much magic? And... He said the tablet had a prophecy on it.
(remember, guys? maybe you've forgotten, the prophecy prophecy. imma remind you and repeat it again because it's important and even highlight it with italics. there you go)
'He who robs the power of the great sun will bring us great calamity, and give us the power of the earth and all that inheres it. Then the earth will thunder, and those who stole the sun's power will fall, and our ordeal will be over.' 'He who robs the power of the great sun' means this country. The one who owns the abominable satellite that gathers the power of the sun. The one who rose to prominence by solving a long-standing resource problem. The one who 'brought us great calamity'. I have come to destroy the one who would take the power of the sun and to 'end our ordeal'.
Mao: I couldn't believe these words but Elendil's face was unmistakably serious. I have a feeling that he can do it.
D-Head: And that program I've found in the pyramid's system.

​

D-Head: "... Special simulation program? I'm curious, so let's grab it."
D-Head: This program is for calculating how big an earthquake would have to be to destroy Tokyo. And it was in the Aztech Expo's system of all places.
Rokudo: ... And there was one more clue.
Shiun: Right, the data Emmy left behind. It was noted in that data that Elendil was pitting us against another team of runners. He is definitely ready to wake up the earth spirits. That's... for sure.
D-Head: Right, that file...
Shiun: What about it? What'd you find out?
D-Head: I'm just curious. I've checked out the data a few times since then. I'm sure that there's still something hidden in that file. "Give me the name of your offering." That's the password hint.
Shiun: "The name of the offering?"
D-Head: If I can find that out, I can look into it more closely...
Rokudo: On top of that, there were many orcs trapped in the basement of the pyramid.
(nah, they were just detained for looting)

Spoiler

Rokudo: Maybe it was the three runners who fought us that did it. It's all part of Elendil's plan... But what on earth did they intend to use the orcs for?

​

Mao: ... Oh, I've heard that before. They have a "ritual" with sacrifices...
Rokudo: Sacrifices?
Mao: Yeah, well, the life force of living things is very much tied to magic. Therefore, you can convert it into magical powers.
Rokudo: That's it... The ritual with sacrifices.
Mao: Yes, the scarificial ritual to enhance the magical power.
Rokudo: And the orcs were chosen as the sacrifice.
Mao: ... Maybe, but there's something I don't understand. They chose orcs as a sacrifice because... If it's about the living things, it's all the same.
D-Head: I don't know anything about magic, but if I had to guess why, I could do that.
Mao: What do you mean?
D-Head: You remember the blockade, don't you? Orcs, elves, dwarves, trolls... All of us metahumans, we've been subjected to unwarranted discrimination by humans. In other words, if some orcs disappear, who would care?
Mao: ... Right...
D-Head: That's the reality of it. They've already taken quite a few orcs. The humans are not going to do anything about it.
Mao: ...
D-Head: They've secured a large number of sacrifices without being noticed. For lack of a better word, the orcs were a perfect match.
Mao: ... Sacrificing orcs and gaining great amounts of magic power. He'll use this magic power to cause a massive earthquake in Tokyo. Yes, that's what Elendil is trying to do...
Rokudo: The destruction of Tokyo by earthquake... Magically induced...
Shiun: How is that even possible? You're right. I don't think I need to ask seeing your face.
Mao: I haven't heard of any magic of that magnitude happening nowadays. But when the magic was just waking up American shamans have used it to cause natural disasters. Enough to decimate an entire army. It's been a few decades now...
D-Head: I know that story, too. Sure, if you can gather that much magic it wouldn't be impossible to destroy a city.
Mao: That man, Elendil, was unmistakably serious. The tablet I saw on the roof was used to collect a large amount of magic power. And with the addition of the ritual sacrifices, I'm pretty sure Elendil has the power to make "the prophecy" come true.
Shiun: Looks like we're going to have to face reality. We're probably the only ones aware of this fact. But... Elendil has everything he needs. How much time do we have if we're gonna try to stop him? And where do we even start?
Mao: You're not just gonna sit on your hands, are you?
Shiun: ...
D-Head: There's a saying, "you can't fight fire with fire."
(『毒を持って毒を制す』 - translated literally like "control poison with poison" or "evil with evil")
D-Head: Can't we tip off some other company to interfere?
Shiun: ... I've thought about that, too, but there's a problem. If we use the help of another corporation, they're gonna get the secret to the ritual. Then the situation will be the same as it is now, because you never know when that company might get the same idea. Emmy put this information in our hands before she left, maybe because she foresaw it...
Mao: So you're saying there's nothing we can do?
Shiun: ...
Mao: ... I'll do it anyway. I don't know what that "prophecy" talking about but I can't let them destroy this city that I've lived in all my life. I can't face the city spirits if I let them do that.
Shiun: ... I've told you before. Now that I know this much, I'm not gonna get off. I owe Elendil a great debt, and I'm going to crush his plans with my own hands.
D-Head: Like I said, we're already on the boat. Of course I'll stay with you, and we'll see this through to the end.
Mao: ... Rokudo?
Rokudo: ... Yes. I have something I need to get back from Elendil. I'm not getting off here.
Shiun: It's settled, then.
Rokudo: ... We still need to figure out the plan of action. They'll be ready for anything, and it's not gonna be easy to outsmart them.
Shiun: Yeah, well... We're gonna need all the information we can get.
(at this point i'm having a strong sense of dejavu and checking out previous posts whether i posted this already)
Shiun: Whatever it is, we'll find a way.
D-Head: That's right. I'm going to work more on Emmy's file. Because there must still be hidden content.
Mao: I'll look into the tablet. Grandma might know something.
Rokudo: What about us?

​

(that got me chuckling :D, read in arnie voice)

Shiun: We should be able to track the Elendil's runners.
Rokudo: Yeah, okay...

Mao and D-Head leave the bar, we can now go visit the "datanets" and "informants". So Rokudo calls Nat.

Nat: Yes... Ah, Rokudo-san.
Rokudo: I need to ask you something about the orc abductions that took place in the blockade. Anything you know, just tell me.
Nat: The orc abductions, is it... It's been all over the news lately. The police are finally getting their act together. I don't know how far they'll go in their investigation, because it's about orcs, after all.
Rokudo: You don't care about orcs either, do you?
Nat: No, it's not like that. But there are people who know about it more than I do. If you're looking for information on the case, you'll need to get in touch with those people rather than me.
Rokudo: What kind of people know more about it than a professional informant?
Nat: ORC... Orc Human Rights Committee.
Rokudo: ORC? The organization that fights metahuman discrimination?
Nat: That's right. They are also deeply connected to orcs as a race. I'm sure they're following the case quite closely. And they're feeding information to the Circus Network. There's even a rumor that it's one of them.
Rokudo: I see. So, for ORC, it's a case of their own people getting involved.
Nat: It seems that at the center of the movement is an elven activist, a rarity in the ORC.
Rokudo: Elven?
Nat: The elf lady who calls herself "Mute".
(『ミュート』 - myuto)
Rokudo: How do I get to chat with this elf?
Nat: It's usually not easy, ORC is pretty wary of humans. You'd have to have strong connections to make contact.
Rokudo: Strong connections... D-Head is an elf, but has no connections to ORC. But we can't be slowing down, either. We have to talk to them somehow.
Nat: Don't worry, Rokudo-san, you know a dwarf called "Nagafune", don't you?
Rokudo: Uh-huh, we've ran into him in the blockade.
Nat: I'm sure that dwarf will be your way into ORC.
Rokudo: Nagafune?
Nat: He has a lot of weight in a lot of organizations, and ORC is one of them.
Rokudo: Nagafune, hmmm... All right, I'll see what I can do.

The datanet has this:

"The investigation into a series of orc disappearances in the vicinity of the blockade continues. To date, no hard evidence has been obtained. The anti-metahuman forces believed to be the prime suspects are all denying any involvement in the crime. There are many unanswered questions about the case background, and we expect the investigation to continue to be difficult. The perpetrators are believed to be an unidentified team of shadowrunners. Authorities are determined to identify and apprehend them."

Rokudo: No results, huh...
Shiun: The reason they've been so quiet lately is because they don't need to kidnap anyone anymore. Either that or they've learned how to avoid being seen.
Rokudo: If they no longer need to take the orcs then it's gonna be a dead end...
Shiun: ...

Phew, that was a lot of talking. And even more to come, we're firmly in the VN territory! Nagafune, ORC, perhaps some more insights from grandma or stuff hidden in the files, all that before we swoop in on Elendil and crush his machinations to destroy our beloved city of Tokyo with our sandalled feet.

 

[orcinator]

Thanks to this LP I accomplished my life goal of knowing I don't like any of the shadowrun video games. Well almost accomplished, not sure how I'll manage to honestly hate the xbawks MP only one.

I also have a way to finally translate that one visual novel I've been interested in but whose fan translation died.

 

[infidel]

They all are lacking in some sense, that's for sure. Then again, maybe it's actually the setting that is the problem?

 

[infidel]

UPDATE 19: CALLING IN FAVORS

Spoiler

Last round of talking left us with the party determined to save Tokyo and two leads to follow up. Those are ORC - Orc Rights Committee, and Nagafune, that dwarf we've helped out back in the blockade to get to ORC.

Rokudo: ORC, huh? The datanet was a miss, but Nat's info seems to be worth a shot.
Shiun: But... If we're want to contact ORC, we need to get in touch with Nagafune first.
Rokudo: Nagafune... That dwarf smuggler we've met in the blockade.
Shiun: I'm sure you have his contact info.
Rokudo: Uh-huh. I guess he owes us a favor for saving his life, he told us so when we were leaving the blockade.
Shiun: I never thought we'd have to meet him again like this...
Rokudo: Anyway, let's go see him.

The contacts menu now has Nagafune's house option in it.

​

Rokudo: That's quite a mansion... and I don't think a dwarf would live here.
Shiun: When I heard the address, I thought he must be some kind of a dwarven hotshot. For the mansion of this size, the security's not so obvious.
Rokudo: He even said he didn't like being a show-off when we met in the blockade. I guess he wasn't exaggerating. Well, let's go in.

We ring a bell.

Voice: Yes?
Rokudo: I'd like to meet Nagafune-san...
Voice: I'm sorry, sir, but do you have an appointment?
Rokudo: No... But please tell him that it's Rokudo.
Voice: Rokudo-sama... Yes, sir, just a moment, please.

Rokudo: You think he'll meet us?
Shiun: Unless he's forgotten about what happened in the blockade.
Voice: Sorry to keep you waiting. He says he'll meet you right away, please come in.

​

Check out Nagafune's house music track, btw, it's p cool (starts at 3:15 in the video).

Shiun: I thought perhaps you'd forgotten about us.
Nagafune: I never forget a favor once I've received it. And it's rare for me to receive a favor from a human. I've been thinking about you.
Rokudo: Well, thanks for that... But we're not here to talk about the old days.
Nagafune: I understand, it's not my charming company you're after. You can tell me anything, and if there's anything I can do, I'll help you.
(some time later)
Nagafune: ... The destruction of Tokyo? That's a pretty amazing plan... I can't believe it.
Shiun: I understand why you might have a hard time believing that, but it's unmistakably real.
Nagafune: Now that you've brought me up to speed, I don't see what good can I do. But if that plan is true, I won't be able to just stay out of it. What do you want me to do?
Rokudo: It won't be much. We're tracking the runners involved in the orc abductions.
Nagafune: The orc abductions... The "ritual" sacrifice... I wonder what they were thinking when they chose the orcs.
Shiun: We can only speculate as to why. The truth is, we don't know. But since they're still doing this, I'm pretty sure the earthquake plan is still in progress.
Rokudo: The quickest way to get to them is to catch those runners by the tail. I thought ORC might have something for us.
(tbh, the quickest way to get to them is to bomb the pyramid and the altar, we already know where it is)
Nagafune: ... Indeed. I guess I should just bridge you guys to ORC.
Rokudo: That's what I was thinking.
Nagafune: It's a small price to pay for what I owe you. Though what makes you think that's all there is to it? We're going to stop the destruction of Tokyo.
Rokudo: ... It's nice of you to be so helpful.
Nagafune: I wouldn't want to see this city go away. I'm willing to help.

And we're off to ORC HQ. There are two guys in front already.

​

Dude 1: All impure orcs must leave the area immediately!

​

Dude 1: We humans are the pinnacle of all species. Woe to the lowly orcs!
Dude 2: Woe to them!
(woe kanji looks p neat - 災い, you can just see shit raining down on a mountain)
Rokudo: ...
Shiun: What's up? Let's go.
Rokudo: ... Yeah.
Dude 1: You people! You're human, but you're connected to ORC. You must denounce them immediately!
Dude 2: Denounce them!
Dude 1: You traitors!
Dude 2: Curse the filthy ORC and their collaborators!
Rokudo: ...
Dude 1: Uh...
Shiun: What's the matter, Rokudo? We don't have time for those guys.
Rokudo: I'm sorry, I know.

And we go inside.

​

(ヒューマニス - hyumanisu)
Very nice of the artist to draw four separate orc portraits that will never get used anywhere else in the game.

Shiun: Excuse me for a second, but I need to speak to someone.

​

Make that five. And two guys out front that have a whole dialogue. And a ton of passersby, now that I think about it.

Elf? dude: We don't have anyone here who has business with Humanis.
Rokudo: Don't get us wrong, we have nothing to do with those people out there.
Shiun: You should have received word from Nagafune that we'll be here to meet with "Mute"-san.
Elf? dude: Oh, it's you. Just a moment, please.

The dude leaves.

Rokudo: I can't even talk calmly when I'm so angry.
Shiun: Yeah, it's those guys out front, no wonder you're tense.

The dude returns.

Elf? dude: Sorry to keep you waiting, Mute would like to see you now. This way, please.

​

Rokudo: Let's see what kind of an ugly guy comes out.
Shiun: I heard he's pretty good.

​

Rokudo: "She's a very thin woman, hmmm. I think I've seen her before... Maybe it's just my imagination...
Mute: ... You wanted to talk to me?
Shiun: Yes, I'm sure Nagafune-san told you why we're here.
Mute: Only in general. About a plan to destroy Tokyo with magic. And that the abductions case is connected to that plan. I think it's an interesting story, but to be honest, it's like trying to grab a cloud. I'm still a little skeptical.
Rokudo: I know it's hard to believe, but it's an indisputable fact.
Mute: ...
Rokudo: I want you to tell us what you know about the abductions. We need to find the runners involved. It's not gonna make it any worse for you.
Mute: ... I'm a bit of a magician myself. I do know that you can draw great magic from special rituals. That's a matter of knowledge. But to cause an earthquake capable of destroying an entire city... I can't even imagine how much magic that would take.
Rokudo: As we've said before, the orcs continue to get abducted to be used as a sacrifice in a magical ritual. They're going to destroy this city with the blood that's spilled that way. And the only ones who can stop them now is us. I need to know what you know.
Mute: ... I understand. I'll tell you what I know. We can't afford to disgrace Nagafune-san.
(she uses an interesting term, 顔に泥を塗る - kaonidorowonuru, "to bring disgrace/dishonor", "to fling mud at", "to put to shame")
Mute: But I don't believe in everything you've said.
Rokudo: ...
Mute: Would you let me accompany you?
(since she uses extremely polite form, that looks way longer in japanese - わたしもあなたがたに同行させてもらいますかまいませんか?)
Rokudo: We're dealing with some very powerful people. If you're not careful, you'll end up with more than just bruises.
Mute: ... You don't know what kind of world we live in, do you? Fighting metahuman racism isn't as easy as it sounds. Even my hands are in no way... clean.
Rokudo: ... Okay, you can do whatever you want.
Mute: Anyway, let me tell you what we know. These are the people that have been behind all the abductions so far.

​

Mute: Originally, he was working in Tokyo. We know he left the country for awhile a short time ago.
Shiun: What did he do abroad?
Mute: I don't know the specifics of the mission. But it seems he was working for Aztechnology.
Shiun: Aztech...

​

Mute: I didn't find a lot of significant activity by her. She's been working with Black Swan for quite some time now.

​

Yeah, that same single troll you've seen five fucking times already, there are no other trolls in Tokyo.

Mute: He calls himself "Rockbreaker", though again, we don't know much about his background. And there's no sign that he was ever active in Tokyo. Apparently, he joined up with Black Swan overseas.
Rokudo: ...
Mute: It is deplorable that he, a metahuman, is involved in this incident.

​

Shiun: I didn't know this kid was a runner.
Mute: It seems that his specialty is gathering information in the Matrix. And there's nothing we know about him. A boy who just appeared out of nowhere one day, just like that.
Rokudo: All runners are like that. No one wants to talk about their past.
Mute: I know, but I'm a little concerned about something. I found out about these runners by researching them. They've all almost completely erased their pasts. But this boy, Trinity, he had a very strange record. As if he wanted someone to find it.
Shiun: Strange record?
Mute: Um, yes. It's an old record from a few decades ago, when the Awakening happened. I was trying to find the people who may have been involved with Trinity and that's about as far back as I can go. It's on record that there was a boy who looked exactly like the current Trinity.
Rokudo: Decades ago? This kid is about 10 years old from the looks of it. There's no way that could be him in records that old. I don't know why you bothered to look into it.
Mute: Of course, I considered that. No, there's no other way to think about it. But there's something terrifying about this boy that I can't shake off.
Shiun: Elvish intuition is fine, but... There's no point in worrying about these old records. Let's focus on what we can do now.
Mute: ... That is correct, I completely agree with you.
Shiun: So what are they doing now?
Mute: They've used to be involved in orc abductions in and around the blockade. But lately they've been on the move. The number of orcs abducted so far, including children, is nearly a hundred. The orcs are pretty vigilant now. I'm sure they're not in a position to do anything about it.
Rokudo: So it got hot and they backed off.
Mute: I really hope so... Up until now, they've been playing us for fools. It's possible that they're still operating outside the blockade.
Shiun: Where else but the blockade would orcs gather? Is there really such a place in Tokyo?
Mute: I've thought about it... And I certainly have no idea.
Rokudo: ... Wait, there was one place. I'm sure you remember, Shiun. That time when we chased an ant monster, we came upon an orcish settlement underground.
Shiun: ... Right.

​

Shiun: If they've heard about the settlement from somewhere else...
Mute: What are you talking about? Where are these orcs?
Rokudo: Underneath this city, in a place you don't know about.

And we move on to the metro.

​

Rokudo: "We can't be sure that Black Swan knows about the orcs underground. Now all we can do is pray for their safety."
Mute: What on earth is in this place?
Shiun: Just shut up and follow us and you'll see.

​

Once again, we're in Tokyo subway exploration mode.

​

Shiun: Before it was abandoned, it was used as a subway. No one goes here now.
Rokudo: You'd have to be really curious to come to a place like this. Unless you know what you're doing, like those guys.
Shiun: Let's go, and stay alert.

We move forward some more.

Rokudo: A hole? This hole hasn't been open when we were here before.
Shiun: That means there's someone else who wants to go down there. Whoever did this doesn't seem to have very pleasant ideas.
Mute: Are there orcs beyond this point?
Shiun: ...

After some more movement, we find orc bodies.

​

Mute: Good lord! We have to help him!
Shiun: ... Too bad... He's already dead.

We check out the others and the party says something uninteresting until we get to the last one.

​

Rokudo: Hold on!
Orc: They've... got... big guns... Be... careful.
Rokudo: Dammit, get a grip!
Shiun: No good, he's dead.
Rokudo: Shit! If only we'd have been here sooner!

Moving on.

​

Shiun: They're using some pretty big weapons, such a pain in the...
Rokudo: That doesn't mean we can just watch them! Let's go!
(the party positions themselves)
Rokudo: What can you do, Mute?
Mute: A bit of magic...
Rokudo: Lend us your help.
Shiun: Damn it! We've got to do something about their big weapons!
Rokudo: Hey, orcs! We can handle this!

Rokudo was shouting to a bunch of orcs that we can't yet see on the screen. It's time to test those new duds we've gotten an update or so earlier. The enemies are called 傭兵, mercenary 1-3, btw. Rokudo and Shiun easily finish the first one.

​

Rokudo moves on to the second one, hitting him twice.

​

The third one moves closer to us for some reason, perhaps evading orcs and, since Shiun misses both of his attacks, we at least get a chance to look at Mute's stats.

​

Mute
BOD 5, AGI 6, STR 5, CHA 6, INT 4, WIL 4, MAG 4, REA 5+0, CYB 0
Unarmed 3, Melee 4, Firearms 4, Heavy 0, Magic 4
アルス・プレデターII - Ares Predator II (F: Semi-Auto, PL 9, DR M, 2t/p, S:1/t, R:7)
アーマー・クロージング - Armor Clothing (BD 3, ID 0)

マナ・ボール - Mana Ball 2
マナ・ボルト - Mana Bolt 3
パワー・ボール - Power Ball 2
パワー・ボルト - Power Bolt 3

Hot bod in a really shitty outfit, I see. I let her try some magic, with predictable results. Next, one of the three orcs manages to do something useful, followed by Rokudo finishing the job.

​

Oh yeah, now I remember that they've noted some big weapons no less than three times. Welp.

Rokudo: Done already? ...
Mute: ...
Shiun: Anyway, let's go into the village.

​

Orc: We're saved for now.
Shiun: I wouldn't say it's over yet.
Mute: Who are these people?
Rokudo: Orcs who have abandoned the above and gone underground. We've met them by chance before.
Shiun: Who else survived?
Orc: We've got beaten up pretty bad, but we're okay... But they took some of our people...
Shiun: They took your people? Did any of the people who attacked you look like this?
(shows holo i assume)
Orc: ... Yes, I'm sure it was them. Humans, male and female, and a troll with them. We were trying to get our friends back after they took them away. As you can see, it worked perfectly in our favor.
Shiun: Damn... We're too late.
Rokudo: ... Oh, by the way, where's the shaman? Is he all right?
Orc: We did everything we could to protect him... He's safe.
Rokudo: Can we talk to him? There's something I need to ask him about.

We move on to the temple.

Rokudo: "The shaman who leads the orcs of the settlement... We've been here before, but he only talked with Mao."
Shiun: ... So it's like that. Looks like we're ahead of the curve this time.
Orc shaman: ... I see. They kidnap us to be sacrificed in a magical ritual... It's a horrible story.
Rokudo: Do you believe us?
Orc shaman: Now that there's been actual bloodshed, it's hard not to believe. I must pray that those who died defending me may find rest, and I have you to thank for that.
Rokudo: No, no need to thank us. If only we'd known about this sooner, we wouldn't have let them get away with it.
Mute: We need to get those people out of there as soon as possible.
Orc shaman: Are my friends still alive?...
Shiun: Probably for a while.
Mute: Anyway, please leave it to us. I don't mean to sound rude, but you're not going to be able to help them.
Orc shaman: ... I'm aware of that. We're going to make sure that no one can get in now, and we're going to defend ourselves even more fervently.
Shiun: But it's still weird. They went to a great deal of trouble to search out this place and secure the orcs for sacrifice. Why do they care about orcs?
Orc shaman: ... I've never even heard of such a ritual. With us as their target, it's less of a problem for them, that's for sure.
Mute: I... don't understand it either.
Orc shaman: If you'd say that they attacked this village because of me, I'd understand. And if it weren't for me, my friends in this village would be torn apart. But it wasn't me that they wanted. Are there mysteries that even the Great Spirit cannot unravel?...
Rokudo: ...
Orc shaman: By the way, how's that shaman Mao doing? She is loved by the Great Spirit. I'd like to see her again and talk.
Rokudo: She's working on this case, too.

We cut to Tokaido, where Mao is chatting with grandma. And that's where we stop for now.