Age of Heaven
Ancient Greece.
The Mediterranean Sea.
Gi, Gou, Shoku.
The new unification.
The Northern and Southern Dynasties.
Argh...
Even after telling him that he might have to repeat a year...!
I'm sorry... for being late!
Sagara, you've only just come to take the test now?!
You're not in a position to be taking things so easily, right?!
Yes, sir.
I'm deeply sorry. But, because of some trouble...
That's enough!
Just hurry up and take your seat!
Roger.
Sydney
Vincent Blueno.
Concerning the execution of the Yangtze River tunnel pass operation the other day,
is it not correct that, aside from leaking information,
you also disrupted the execution of the operation?
Answer us!
I have no idea what you're talking about.
Do it!
Yes, sir!
Don't worry.
It'll be over after this.
Even if they break all his fingers, it still won't be enough.
Stop it!
I understand!
I'll tell you everything!
So, please forgive me already!
So you are the one who leaked information on the Yangtze River tunnel pass operation?
T-That's right!
It was me!
Who put you up to it?
I don't know.
Stop lying!
Wait a minute!
It's true! I really don't know their names!
They are... uh... Amalgam... They said they were messengers from Amalgam!
Amalgam?
That's all I know!
Really!
They're probably some Soviet intelligence agency or something like that!
I wasn't thinking!
They said they'd give me $200,000 if their plan succeeded!
We're talking about $200,000, you know!
There's no way I could've refused that!
Let's go.
Amalgam.
Could it refer to a metal alloyed with mercury?
It could be meant to insinuate something.
You mean they could've considered the fact that the word Mithril refers to an imaginary form of silver?
I have no idea.
But, it's a really unpleasant way of doing things.
Are you referring to the interrogation?
I agree with you, but it is in no way life-threatening.
That's true, but...
Besides, if it were me, I would have cut off his fingers.
The Admiral is on the phone now, but he says you can go in, Captain.
Jackson-san, please don't call me Captain.
But, it would be very inappropriate to call you Miss in a place like this.
Yes, I know.
We will settle things here our way.
Of course, we will save the records of the interrogation.
What?
We should talk about that problem another day.
My guests have arrived.
I'm hanging up.
Thank you for coming.
Would you like something to drink?
Thank you.
In that case, water please.
How about you, Lt. Commander?
Same for me.
Come on, how bland.
The head of the Intelligence Department was on the phone just now.
Did the Intelligence Department ask us to hand over Blueno?
Of course. I rejected them.
They seem unhappy that we abducted Blueno without their assent.
By the way, did you watch the interrogation?
Yes.
If you want to continue to be the captain of a ship,
you'll have to witness things like that and learn from them.
That's the path you chose to take.
Don't think too much about it.
You'll understand eventually.
Blueno has confessed.
What did he say?
Amalgam.
It seems to be the name of an organization.
Amalgam?
Do you have any clue what that might be?
No, but...
Be it the Perio Islands incident or the Nanjing incident this time round,
if there really are some organizations working in the background which we are not aware of,
we will have to adjust some of our current plans to take care of them.
So you are saying that...
First, Kaname Chidori.
The other day, her name was referred to us by the Intelligence Department.
Although she is a Whispered,
it appears they no longer see the need to treat her as one of the pending problems.
There's also the issue of Wraith.
It's true that the way they are doing things now is really inefficient.
I agree with that, but...!
What is it?
What about Sergeant Sagara?
He also has the problem regarding the ARX-7.
He's a valuable non-commissioned officer.
I do think that this is a perfect opportunity.
Do you have any objections?
No, sir.
Have you apologized properly to Kagurazaka-sensei?
Yes.
I promised her that I'd fix her car on Sunday.
Seriously, even if you get enough credits, it'll be for nothing if you're expelled because of all the scandals, you know.
That's true.
Don't talk like it doesn't concern you!
But, Sagara-kun, where did you go during the exams?
I had urgent business to attend to.
Is everything all right?
You seemed to be having a really hard time.
No problem there.
I see.
By the way!
Sagara-kun, are you growing out your hair these days?
Now that you mention it, you're right.
Is it weird?
It's not really that bad.
But, do you normally go to the hairdresser?
What's a hairdresser?
A barber.
No.
I always cut my own hair.
I think I can understand that.
Hey! Hey!
I know it's sudden, but how about we take Sagara-kun to the hair salon today?
We'll give him a complete makeover!
A hair salon?
Not a barbershop?
That's right!
Who knows, Sagara-kun might actually look really good as a normal high school student after a makeover!
Really?
Then again, it's not like he wants to go...
Okay, let's go!
Normal high school students get their haircuts there, right?
Please give him a regular haircut!
Please come this way.
It's really rare, isn't it...
For Sagara-kun to actually pay attention to his appearance...
What I'm talking about is your life plan!
Your future!
You're only seventeen, right?!
Are you telling me you've never thought about what you're going to do in the future?
Well then, I'll shampoo your hair now!
W-Wait!
No. Please continue.
Hey, hey!
There's an article on Dakitsubo in this magazine!
Oh. That's right!
Is it itchy?
No.
This is a really vulnerable position.
No, don't worry.
This is just soap.
And he's only an employee!
I always screw up here.
But...
This is a towel.
A towel. A towel. A towel. A towel. A towel. A towel. A towel. A towel. A towel. A towel.
Okay then. I'm going to cut your hair now.
The reason why he draped the cloth around me is so that the hair he cuts won't get on my clothes.
It's not because he's trying to prevent me from moving both my hands.
And this is just, is just, is just, is just a pair of scissors...
Don't move!
...Did I do it again?
Sousuke!
Well, it'll be a good transfer for him.
I'm responsible for it.
You're the one who asked us to take you there, right?!
So why did you go on a rampage?!
I'm ashamed.
We got chased out of the shop in the end!
And they treated me like a delinquent who lost her cool too!
But, it was too dangerous to be so defenseless against a complete stranger,
with a sharp tool in his hand.
Oh really?
In that case, don't say that you want to go to the hair salon in the first place!
Can't you even predict something like that would happen when you go for a haircut?!
If you'd made a mistake, an innocent employee could have gotten badly injured, you know!
Can't you distance yourself from these thoughts of assassins and enemies once in a while?
I can't do that.
The enemies do exist.
That's a fact.
You can't know when they might try to attack you.
Well, that's...
My utmost priority here is to protect you from the enemy.
But...
...in the six months that I've been here,
somehow, my instincts have often been wrong.
It's also a fact that I have yet to adapt myself to the life here.
I'm always causing trouble to everyone.
And to you as well, of course.
So, it's been half a year already, huh?
It's true that you haven't shown any improvement at all.
Really?
Yes.
Hey, you want to stop by my house?
Since it's already been started, I'll continue that haircut for you.
You don't want to?
No. That's...
Are you wary of me too?
That's not true.
You're an exception.
Well then, sir.
How would you like it to be cut?
It's not too tight?
No.
It's fine.
Okay, I'm going to start then!
Chidori...
Yes?
Do you have any experience in cutting hair?
Nope.
Well, I like to play around with Kyoko's hair.
But, this is the first time I'm actually cutting someone's hair.
It'll be fine.
It's still better than if you were to cut it yourself, right?
Please be careful that you don't cut off my ears.
I'll try my best not to.
Hey...
What is it?
You didn't take the exams because you had to work, right?
Yes.
Did you fight again?
Yes.
What about it?
It's nothing.
You didn't get hurt, did you?
Just some scratches.
Nothing serious.
I see.
Say, Sousuke.
You seem to be very restless lately.
Who are you talking about?
You.
Have I?
Yes, you have.
Even today, you've been restless.
No. It's just your imagination.
I know that you must be worried because of the stalker incident from the other day, but...
Or am I being targeted again?
Why would you say that?
I just had a feeling.
But, so far, a lot of things have happened.
Don't worry. It's not the enemy.
There's someone else who is trailing you as a backup.
Someone I know?
Is it Kurz-kun?
No.
I don't think you know him.
Actually, I don't know him either.
I see.
He will never reveal his identity and presence.
That was the decision.
So even if I was attacked, he wouldn't come and save me?
You know, I...
I trust only you, Sousuke.
Thank you.
You're welcome.
Can you turn your head to the right a little bit more?
Huh? O-Okay.
Not that way! This way.
I think I'm beginning to get the hang of it.
All right! It's done!
Well then, I'll rinse your hair!
Hey! What's wrong?
I thought there were no plans to sortie today.
Hey! Stop that.
What is it? Why are you using your sex appeal all of a sudden?
Oh? I get it. I'll do it for you later on.
What?!
The kittens have escaped into the night?!
Exactly how are they discontented with me?!
Even though they are underage, I showed them no mercy and gave them the satisfaction of a lifetime!
I don't know about that!
But, in any case, they've stolen the Codarl M-unit they're so particular about and have escaped!
What did you say?
Ugh! Damn it! Talking with you won't get me anywhere!
Let me talk to them!
Yes, sir.
Opening communications!
You hear me, don't you, you bad, bad Lolita-chans?
Just what do you think you're doing?
Is there anything you want from us?
Piloting such an expensive toy, where are you off to play at?
It shouldn't matter to you.
We will do as we please from now on.
Who instructed you to do so?
Don't tell me you're planning to go say hello to Mithril using that?
Of course we are.
To kill those children... for Sensei's sake.
Pow!
I'm sorry for giving you yesterday's leftovers.
No, it's fine.
What's wrong?
No, it's nothing!
Say, you're always carrying some dangerous weapons around, right?
Yeah.
Do you have one that is easier and safer to use?
I thought of carrying one myself.
I see.
That's a very good attitude to have.
Tear-gas spray, handcuffs, flashlights,
and although it's disposable, I also have a stun gun prepared for you.
As usual, where did you hide all of these?
But this is pretty dangerous too, right?
It won't kill?
It only sends tens of thousands of volts of electricity through a wire temporarily.
An average male shouldn't die from it.
But that's in the case of an average male, right?
What about females and children?
Chidori, to begin with, you shouldn't show any mercy in such situations.
"To lick your lips in front of your prey" is what a third-rate person would do.
Besides, if that's the case, no living things would be capable of surviving.
Thank you so much for today.
Next time, when I am free, I shall cut your hair for you too.
Not in a million years!
We'll have to surprise Kyoko tomorrow!
I guess so.
Also, make sure you return those notes to me, okay?
Of course.
I'm really thankful for everything.
If you forget it again like the other day, I'll make you go get it alone!
No.
I will definitely not forget it this time around.
Well then, I should be on my way.
Yeah.
See you.
See you tomorrow.
Next time, maybe I'll pick out some clothes for him too.
I trust only you, Sousuke.
Okay.
Next Episode
I had no intention of running away.
I had no intention of abandoning her.
The sudden decree, and the bitter interaction with the apparition.
Next,
Being Left Behind
"Being Left Behind."
Unable to oppose the unshaken verdict, only a feeling of helplessness seeps into his heart.