As you know, Hugo has been continuously avoided by his opponents.
He couldn't get many matches?
Right, that's why we wanted him to get back up to speed.
So we arranged a tune-up match before the promotion bout.
And that's when we heard from...
That AJ, huh?
Ranking 22nd and having recently transferred from Whiteland,
she was off our radar.
Did you look into Venning's Gym?
Yeah. As expected, it appears that Amethyst's behind this.
Seems they provide technical assistance by supplying parts and engineers.
Hm...
This is from the regulation inspection...
Yeah.
Looks like it's been modified for military-grade usage.
What's more, with parts used on mechanized soldiers...
That's clearly against the rules!
All they've done is "touch up" the competition parts.
In theory, anyone can do it, but there is no point.
The pain from the burden on the nerves would make it impossible to fight.
Then AJ was...
They would have used something to anesthetize the pain.
Probably drugs.
Drugs...
B-But, why go that far?
Isn't this Amethyst some huge company that pumps up Agartha water?
It makes me suspicious too.
What benefit would come from getting into metal boxing...
The details are unknown, but it seems a certain man is acting on his own whim.
A certain man?
The chairman of Amethyst.
And why is such a big shot...
We're still investigating, but he seems to be aiming
to do more than just get AJ into the promotion match instead of Hugo.
A hidden agenda?
Levius... perhaps?
What do you mean?
There are rumors that strings had been pulled
so Levius could join the promotion bout.
Seems seeds with the association were cleverly sown.
So they deliberately wanted Levius in the promotion match?
This is him...
A mask?
Dr. Rudolph Clown.
EPISODE 7 DO YOU REMEMBER? WE MET BEFORE
Whoa...
Impressive... My tenement looks worse than a rabbit hutch compared to this...
Aristocratic style... huh...
Sure is fancy, but the guy can't even come out to welcome us--
Please accept my sincere apologies.
I'm afraid I'm out of practice. We rarely have visitors.
We were referred by the Association. My name is Stratus.
Welcome.
Now, please come inside.
Everything's mechanized huh...
Damn, I'm not used to these kinds of places.
Huh?
A piano...
Well, what an elegant welcome.
H-Hey, nobody's playing it.
It's a self-playing mechanism.
Hah! Every single thing needs to be mechanized, huh. Damn rich folk...
Huh?
How did you like the prelude?
Should we continue with the suite next... A fugue perhaps...
Though, of course, you could make a selection.
Hm?
It conceals an old scar.
My apologies for the rudeness of not removing it.
First, thank you for visiting.
Now, what can I do for you today?
-I'm here to speak with AJ. -Oh?
H-hey, take it easy...
-Levius, sorry but I must go first. -H-hey, you...
This man owes me an explanation.
Enquiry is the key that reveals the world.
Your question shall be answered.
You planned to destroy Hugo from the very beginning. Am I right?
You were the one looking for a match.
That's true.
Blinded by the promotional match dangling in front of me,
I walked straight into your trap!
Exploitation is one method that is but a means of reaching one's goal.
I don't see what the problem is...
Nonsense!
Your fighter AJ was illegally modified!
Her modification is not illegal.
If it were illegal, she wouldn't be in the ring.
Am I wrong?
It's not my fault that your Hugo chap fell in the ring.
-He's... your son, am I right? -That's right.
I see... the resemblance.
You're just like your son.
Mediocre, boring...
unsightly.
Admit it!
You planned to use Hugo from the beginning!
We just reached out to help.
Even if what you say is true,
there would have been no problem if you had won, correct?
Your son was weak.
That is the one unshakable truth.
Shut up!
Wait!
L-Levius!
We need to talk.
Stay away from her! Did you forget last time?!
I'm fine. Help the chairman.
Okay, if you say so...
Hey! Pull yourself together!
You're okay. No broken bones.
Th-Thanks...
Intertwining wills... Eclipsing hearts...
Do you remember? We met before.
Sure, we met in the ring the other day.
Right...
But, we also met before that too.
Five years ago, you were dragged away by mechanized soldiers
along with the other children...
Five years ago... You have a good memory.
There's no way I could forget.
I remember now...
That day, five years ago...
That wasn't an abduction.
We were rescued.
What?
But... You and the other children were calling for help...
Perhaps you were mistaken?
Not a chance!
It haunts me... What happened at Greenbridge...
Greenbridge?
There seems to be a misunderstanding.
As she says, Amethyst rescued them, those poor children,
to protect them from the cruelty of war.
That's a lie...
I saw it, she was crying out!
Tears of gratitude perhaps?
No!
The fact of the matter is that she is saying she was... rescued.
AJ grew up beautifully and healthily.
And she is now living comfortably.
Amethyst saved her from the war and I took her in as my adopted daughter.
Adopted daughter?!
I protected the future of the children.
Is that a crime?
It's true Amethyst is keen on its contributions to society.
They were committed to ending the war.
However, there are also rumors that they kidnapped children amid the chaos.
What a surprise...
Mr. Bill Weinberg. A man whose principles have always been guided by reason,
now believes such wild rumors?
He... knows Bill?
I know you too, Zack Cromwell.
And you too, Levius Cromwell.
I protected AJ...
Raised her as a strong and beautiful metal boxer...
And why is that?
Because metal boxing
is one of this world's most aesthetically pleasing art forms.
The combat that takes place through fusion of body and machine, is a sublime sight.
It leaves a deep impression on people.
The majority of this world is stuck in the cage of their mediocre, boring lives.
Thus, people are searching.
For that overwhelming inspiration, unreachable in their daily lives...
God has planned for this world to emerge from chaos and to arrive at order.
And, God's words are musical...
This beautiful world is filled with beautiful melodies.
So you see...
Metal boxing is a supreme stage for the strong and beautiful AJ
to play melodies rich with harmony and beauty.
This is what brings me, the people, and the whole world, true catharsis...
Yes... The world seeks to be moved and I shall provide.
Since that is my joy... and my calling.
I'm very happy right here.
E-Everybody, Levius...
That's enough, right...?
Levius... I don't understand everything that guy's saying,
but she's saying she's happy here too--
That's not true!
I heard her voice!
She asked me to help her...
At Greenbridge, and even in the ring!
Isn't that right, AJ?!
I never said such a thing.
You're lying! I know what I heard! Clown's forcing you to lie!
O-Oi, Leviu--
He's also forcing you to metal box, isn't he?
I can tell.
Your... Your eyes aren't like those of the other metal boxers.
Those aren't the eyes of one who fights willfully!
I don't know what you're talking about...
I'm fighting of my own free will.
I take on highly dangerous fights
in order to...
move people in a way that's...
impossible for them to achieve...
i-in their...
daily lives.
AJ...
Come with me! You don't belong here!
H-Hey Levius...
Fortissimo.
What's the matter?! Stop! Please stop it!
Two melodies...
I can help you--
L-Levius!
You okay?! Hang in there!
Your arm...
I'm okay.
I give up, Levius...
Though you have much to learn on how to treat a lady...
Go and take AJ as you wish.
L-Levius!
That is...
if you win.
What...
Next match. If you win, your wish will be granted.
AJ will be yours.
However, if you lose...
you will become mine.
B-Bollocks! No way we'd accept something like that!
If you want to get something, you need to give something.
It's the law of nature.
So what! What's Levius to a man like you?!
You point a gun at me, shoot,
and then try to forcefully take away my daughter, AJ...
On top of not handing you all over to the police,
I have given you an opportunity.
To me, this sounds stunningly generous.
So this was your aim all along...
Now you're having some sort of delusion, Mr. Bill Weinberg?
You seem to be very particular about Levius.
I just saw the beauty of the two of them fighting.
The sight of two melodies colliding, dancing, and sweeping toward a harmony...
There he goes, still spouting off all this nonsense...
Become my son, Levius.
Arsehole! You think we'd hand over Levius to a prick like you!
If I win, you promise to let AJ...
W-Wait, Levius... I won't allow this!
Just a moment...
This is a contract.
Y-You expect us to trust that?!
Drawing up a contract is a sacred ritual. It is order itself.
By no means will it be annulled.
Well, what will it be, Levius?
It all falls to you now.
What? Hey! Levius! S-Stop it! Hold on, hey...!
I'm sorry, Uncle.
I can't leave her like this.
Levius...
This settles it.
You made the right choice.
I will...
I will save you.
I'm sure you will end up living here too.
It seems we shall have a glorious time.
Oi, mask freak!
You best throw us everything you got.
All right, let's get training!
Huh?
Levius! Hairy pig! Quibbling four-eyes!
No one's here?
If you're not here, at least say something!
What the heck. How could they just leave me here...
I'm sorry. I've gotten you in a spot of trouble.
Don't sweat it. We're just glad you weren't hurt too bad.
However...
This mechanical arm can't completely block AJ's attacks.
I have to redesign it from scratch.
Well, we'll be sure to pay him back for this.
For what he did to Hugo, too.
I'm sorry! Let me know if there is anything I can do to help.
Huh? What is it? Something wrong with my face?
Your face has always been odd...
Good point... Hey, now hold on!
...but are you sure about this?
Hm?
Yeah.
Thanks, Uncle.
There's no going back now. No choice but to suck it up right?
Right.
To be honest, I wasn't gonna let you fight...
I was gonna turn them down, no matter what.
But...
I saw AJ...
She looked so sad...
Just like how Levius was back then...
And... you're willing to put yourself on the line to rescue her.
I ain't backing down neither.
So, what was the deal with AJ?
One minute she's talking normally, and the next she goes berserk...
As with dulling her sense of pain,
it may be a sort of brainwashing or mind control.
All the more reason we can't let him run loose.
Right.
Zack...
I need some time on top of the mechanical arm development time.
There's something on my mind...
We're home! Whoa!
You're late!
What the hell've you been doing, you hairy pig!
Sorry, I, uh, completely forgot about you...
So you just came back with your tail between your legs?
How pathetic.
Shut it, will you. Don't go mouthing off.
It was no picnic, you know?
So where's the quibbling four-eyes? Leave him behind since he's such a pain?
He's at Timor Gym. He's asking Hugo's dad to help him look some things up.
Said something about that masked creep's motives...
Anyway, you're gonna fight that wee lass, right?
In that case...
make sure you win.
I will. I've got no choice but to win.
Okay! Training is everything. Gonna have to build from square one.
For the time being, you can train normally with this.
One-one-five-five-three-seven!
Good! Again!
Come on! More! More speed!
Remember your footwork! That's it!
I see... It all makes sense now.
I know you're determined, but isn't this a bit much?
Yeah, you're right arm isn't in top shape yet either.
Oh, you're back! Sorry, but can you do some maintenance on Levius?
And how's the new mechanical arm coming? When can we test it out?
Don't ask everything at once. I have a lot on my mind already.
What's with you...
Zack, do you have a minute?
-Huh? What? What's going on? -Again with their together time.
So that's the masked creep's aim...
There's no conclusion yet, but yes...
I just wanted to run it by you before saying anything in front of him.
I'm sure Levius will be fine...
Now listen carefully.
It seems the key to all this could be a city called Greenbridge.
Greenbridge...
That's the city where Levius and AJ were born, right?
Yes. Greenbridge is close to the Agartha water springs
which is believed to have affected the physical constitution of the people there.
People who've lived there for generations seem to have an exceptional type of blood
that makes them more compatible with Agartha water than the average person.
If this theory is true, they have several notable characteristics including
advanced steam manipulation and abilities to sustain it for longer times.
The reason that masked creep is so interested in Levius...
Is because Levius is from Greenbridge. It does make sense.
Th-That's why they were kidnapping children?
What kind of bullshit is that!
There is also a possibility they maliciously took advantage of the war.
That means...
Due to the outbreak of the Fosanian Conflict,
Greenbridge was temporarily occupied by the Republic of Rosvia.
But perhaps even that was a plot created by Amethyst... By Clown.
In other words,
it was his plot to create a justification for the "Greenbridge Recovery"...
This is just conjecture, but under the pretext of ending the war,
Amethyst sent their mechanized corps into Greenbridge.
Amid the chaos, they kidnapped children under the guise of "offering protection".
To use those children in their secret research...
So, ever since then AJ has been...
Most likely kept as a research subject.
A research subject...
If the legalities for adoption are done properly,
experiments can be done with none being the wiser.
The mind control is probably part of the research too.
-That's horrible... -What a shithead!
From a practical stance, this would sound like no more than a ridiculous conspiracy,
but, now that we've actually met that man, I think it's likely enough.
That guy is totally bonkers...
True... But that doesn't change the fact that he's a powerful man.
If we lose...
As the contract dictates, Levius will become Clown's puppet.
Go in unprepared and there's no guarantee for your life.
Knowing that, will you still fight?
I made a promise...
A promise to my mother...
A promise to Hugo...
A promise to AJ...
So, no matter what happens...
I will fight.