Hmm?
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I think he's here.
They waited for an hour. Lao Tzu and
Thank you for waiting.
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Thank you for waiting.
"Thank you for coming."
Without even a word of greeting, Jin D begins to ask <
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"Let me ask you a question right away. <
Well, I have observed it on my way here, and it is similar to my former <
"Is it correct to say that it's in the same vein as ...... but designed by a different architect?"
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Yes. Yes, that's correct.
"If so, can we talk to Agente and Herente, who seem to be the magical brains of this place?
This is the most important thing.
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Well, I can't say without talking to them.
Then
Do you hear me, Agente? My name is Helente. I am a magic doll made in the old days on the planet Arus.
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There was no response for a while, but <
And after the fourth call.
Your name is "HELENTE"? What do you want?
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A voice, slightly different from Agente's, rang out.
I'm here to see your master.
And what would you want with him?
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That's a very astute question. I can't just answer that I'm interested.
Since they had not discussed this beforehand, what would <
He wanted to know the roots of <
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Oh, Jin thought. It was a good answer, not a perfect score, but not a failure either.
I see. I can understand that thought. But ......
What's wrong?
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The three you're with, who are they?
They're my allies.
I see. So that makes you a traitor!
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How can you say that?
I have nothing to say to you. I have nothing more to say to you.
Wait!
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His voice trailed off.
"I'm sorry, I've been of no help.
I apologize. But Hitoshi D. says don't worry about it.
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"But I'm afraid we're stuck here," he says.
"Shall we proceed a little more aggressively?"
"Let's try to scare him first."
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Jin D decided to let Lao Tzu play that role.
"<
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Lao Tzu began to call out without raising his voice.
"We have no intention of antagonizing you. That thing in the hall was just a defense against your attack of your own accord."
There was no reply. Lao Tzu continues.
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"We were created by the inhabitants of the planet Arus, with the exception of
They decided to be honest about their purpose.
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This was a last resort, as it could have been perceived as a sign of hostile intent.
"A long time has passed since the emigration. Arus belongs to the people of Arus now. We are willing to help Hale, but there are limits. But there are limits."
Still no reply. But Lao Tzu thinks that Agente or his colleagues have heard these words.
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"I would like to discuss whether we can come to a mutual compromise. I would like to discuss it."
They can be trusted. I assure you, they are trustworthy.
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But still no answer.
"Materials, free ether. And repair the malfunctioning magi-machine. And food. And treatment of the sick. I think we can provide that kind of support.
Still there was no response.
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"At least give me a denial or a refusal. At least give me a response."
What came back was silence, or rather stillness.
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"...... or ......."
We waited for another five minutes, but there was no response, and we were about to give up, that's when it happened.
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[...... isn't it a lie that you can heal the sick?
A voice, different from that of Agente or his companions. It sounded like a woman.
"Yes, I can. I can't guarantee it for every disease."
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That's good. It would be more suspicious if you told me that you could cure me of any disease.
My voice is getting closer.
Let's give him one chance.
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"......!"
A human ...... or perhaps a homunculus appeared.
It is also very damaged.
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Like Anne of old,...... or even more so.
I could barely make out that it was a female form.
But that's all.
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Her dark hair, which had been glossy, had fallen out and only sparsely covered her skull.
One of the two round eyes was cloudy and seemed to be unable to see anything.
He seems to have difficulty moving, and he is dragging his feet.
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Her left arm is dried up and hangs limp, and her remaining right arm does not seem to be able to move.
He is wearing what appears to be rags rather than clothing.
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What am I? <
"I am Jin. I am an automata controlled by ......."
I know you're not a ...... person, but I'm willing to discuss this if you let me take a hostage as a guarantee of your safety.
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There was tension in his voice.
"Then let me be your collateral.
Lao Tzu offered.
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"If you are ready, the other one.
Nanny, I would like you to take two of the four as collateral.
I will not do anything to put a device on them. All you have to do is stay here.
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I'll do it.
He, too, knows that the pair of Hitoshi and Reiko is the most suitable pair for this occasion.
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All right. You two will stay here. You two stay here with me.
Nanny turns and begins to walk.
Her steps were slow, so there was no problem in following her.
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Soon Lao Tzu and Helente were out of sight. The passage was not straight but slightly curved.
Two or three weak wards are passed through.
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（They look like sterile wards.)
（Yes. (Yes, and the first one seems to have been a
Who in the world is Nanny going to let us see?
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Hitoshi D. and Reiko follow at a slow pace.