Gran and the others hurry toward a village to take an airship into the capital, but they are suddenly accosted by imperial soldiers. Rosetta manages to defuse the situation but everyone goes on high alert.
Gran and the others are still a ways from the capital.
They've almost reached the village to secure passage aboard an airship.
Drang
Won't be long now! Just a little farther!
Drang
Once we get aboard that airship, we'll be a stone's throw from the capital.
Imperial Soldier 1
Hm? Who are you people?
Imperial Soldier 2
Are you from the village? What are you doing out here?
Lyria
Ah! Um... Er... We're...
Rosetta
We're humble skyfarers. We have business in the village that pertains to a request.
Imperial Soldier 1
I see... There has been some unusual movement around the capital recently.
Imperial Soldier 1
Even if this is a remote village, I sincerely hope you don't stir up any trouble for us.
With nothing left to add, the soldiers disappear into the forest, perhaps to continue patrols.
Lyria
I'm sorry! I wasn't expecting that at all.
Eugen
Well, these boonies are still a part of Agastia, remember? We oughta expect to run into soldiers.
Eugen
Now's not the time to be dropping our guard. Keep your eyes peeled, Gran.
Gran and the others finally arrive at the village, but Lyria is discovered by imperial soldiers when her disguise is accidentally knocked off. A battle against the empire's newest arsenal ensues.
The infiltration team arrives at the village at long last.
They ask the villagers about the airship to the capital.
Villager
If it's the airship you be wantin', it's gettin' ready for takeoff.
Io
What! Now? We have to hurry! Lyria! Gran!
Lyria
Oh dear! W-wait! Drang and the others are still—
Villager
Hold your horses! The soldiers have priority, so any empty spaces are—
The villager waves his hand carelessly, accidentally catching Lyria's disguise.
Lyria
Eek!
Lyria
Owie... I fell on my bottom...
Villager
Oh, crap! Sorry! I didn't mean to knock you over. Are you okay?
Lyria
Yes, I'm okay.
Imperial Soldier 1
Hey, what's going on over there? What's all the ruckus?
Imperial Soldier 2
Is that... blue hair? Wait a minute!
Lyria
Huh? Uh-oh...
Black Knight
Tch... This isn't good.
Gran's party is suddenly surrounded by imperial soldiers.
Imperial Soldier 2
You're those wanted criminals, and she must be the classified girl... Her blue hair's a dead giveaway!
Drang
Whoopsie... Looks like our cover's blown.
Sturm
Humph. There's only one way out of this.
Lyria
Sniff... I'm sorry everyone. This is all my fault...
Io
No it's not! You didn't do anything wrong in the first place!
Vyrn
Yeah, but try telling that to those guys.
The imperial blockade tightens around the crew with nary a gap between the soldiers.
Imperial Soldier 1
Hah. Don't confuse us with those other soldiers.
Imperial Soldier 1
Hey! Bring it here! Now!
Black Knight
Oh? Do you plan on showing off yet another new toy?
Imperial Soldier 1
I hope you realize that we're the ones with the upper hand.
Eugen
What the? Were those footsteps?
Imperial Soldier 1
We soldiers of Agastia were granted a special weapon for the sake of safeguarding the empire!
As if on cue, a giant shadow emerges from the trees.
Imperial Soldier
I don't know what you came to Agastia for, but your luck ends here, you filthy criminals!
Io
What the heck is... that?
Rosetta
It doesn't look like something transformed using dark essence. Could it be a regular weapon?
Imperial Soldier
That's right! This steel armor is the future testament to imperial weaponry!
Imperial Soldier
And you lot will have the honor of being its first victims!
The newest weapons of the empire are defeated and are about to call for backup, but General Adam of the imperial army knocks out his own men to prevent that. He asks the infiltration team to end Erste. Meanwhile the passengers on the Grandcypher experience an equally shocking event.
Imperial Soldier
Damn it! Are the suits still not ready for field use?
Black Knight
So it was no more than a plaything after all.
Rosetta
That's probably not our biggest concern right now.
Imperial Soldier 1
Launch the airship! Call the army for reinforcements! We can't let them escape from here!
Rosetta
If even one of us is captured here, we can forget about sneaking into Agastia.
Rosetta
It might be better for us to return to the Grandcypher right away.
???
No, that won't be necessary.
Black Knight
You're!
I see. So even you have finally decided to move.
Imperial Soldier 1
General Adam! When did you arrive here?
Adam
You needn't worry about that. Please explain the current situation.
Imperial Soldier 1
Sir! We confronted the girl wanted by the empire and engaged her accomplices in battle.
Imperial Soldier 1
The MK 28 battle suits were mobilized, but the enemy managed to break through.
Imperial Soldier 1
We will send a messenger via airship to military headquarters to rally the entire army—
Adam
Understood. I would like you to recall the messenger immediately.
Imperial Soldier 1
Sir? Um, affirmative...
The soldiers disperse with haste to comply with the order.
Io
Did he just call that guy General?
Black Knight
That's right. This is the man who sits at the top of the Erste Imperial Army: General Adam.
Eugen
Great... So after you tangle with a major general and a lieutenant general, a general pops out...
Black Knight
No, I would say we more or less charged at him.
Black Knight
As commander of the nation's defenses, he wouldn't thoughtlessly leave his post in Agastia.
Black Knight
I have not interacted much with him, but some say he's been Freesia's trusted confidant since Erste was a kingdom.
Imperial Soldier 1
General! The messenger and all adjutants are present and accounted for!
Adam
This is everyone assigned to this area?
Imperial Soldier 1
Yes sir! All soldiers have gathered on your command, and we await your orders to attack!
Adam
Very good. You are all hereby placed on brief administrative leave.
Imperial Soldier 1
Ye—
Sir? Could you repea—
Imperial Soldier 1
Gah!
Adam delivers a single blow to each soldier in the blink of an eye.
He stands in the center of his troops who have been knocked out by his own hands within seconds.
Drang
No way... Uh... Um... Help?
Sturm
Don't ask me. Even I don't understand this.
Black Knight
What are you trying to pull, Adam?
Adam
Since I was tasked with preserving Erste long ago, I come to you with an appeal.
Adam
I have been waiting for you with growing impatience ever since the cogs of Erste started to spin out of control.
Adam
On behalf of the proud history of Erste, please grant me this request.
Adam
Please... I implore you to bring an end to Erste's existence.
At the same time, a figure emerges from the unknown airship that had been hounding the Grandcypher to deliver the same astounding words.
Katalina
What did you just say?
???
I want you to put an end to Erste.
Katalina
What do you mean? You're the leader of the imperial army. Why would you ask this of us?
???
It is true that my mission is to protect Erste.
???
However, the Erste I swore to defend is no more.
???
Thus I ask for your assistance. As the last vestige of Erste's pride, you may consider this my final prayers for Erste.
The man from the airship at last reveals his intentions.
The unbelievable revelation will lead to a conclusion for all parties involved.
54: Where There's Smoke 
