Pumpkin Scissors
Episode 20
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title:
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Documents that are proof of Marquis Paul's embezzlement, you say?
Yes, we've just received word from our mole at the Great Capital Newspaper, "The Subject".
Immediately enter into a state of information control.
Deploy the Fourth Axe and use the police forces...
...to inspect all media and newspaper organizations in the area of the capital.
Retrieve all envelopes of the same type; permission granted to open letters.
Yes, sir.
What's the Marquis's schedule right now?
He is at a ballroom party.
Shall we send bodyguards?
This is all very impressive...
The Economic Development Branch can influence the spirit of the people so their information control is impregnable.
Now, how in the world did they get this information?
That aspect is much more interesting than the Marquis's life.
If we can capture the suspect in the end, then it's all for the better.
Prioritize the siege of the area over protecting the Marquis.
Yes, sir.
In order to proceed with questioning of the suspects,
we'll probably need them to have committed the crime of "Marquis killing".
Let us not waste this ballroom party.
Shall we dance, my princess?
Yes, but I am not trained in dancing-
Come now; I will teach you.
Bring your body closer.
You are very good at this, my princess.
Forgive me.
When a little bird lands on a branch,
it doesn't hurt the giant tree at all.
For you to have chosen these toes among all the shoes in this ballroom, I thank you,
my little bird-like princess.
Is he a maso-
Please shut your mouth.
Is something bothering you?
A man that towers into the skies, perhaps?
I've noticed that after looking at where your eyes lead you.
At times, Princess, you aren't looking at me,
but you're looking over my shoulders... looking up at someone.
This someone must be very tall, I presume.
A giant man.
That's what I thought before.
He always stands back up after falling down;
the owner of a very strong heart.
But, the reality is...
...he's not strong at all...
...he's not giant at all...
The reality is...
He's...
...not a person that wants to fight with others!
Idiot, aim better!
But...
Don't think you can get away!
Why...
Why do I have to point my gun...
at...
...at the people I wanted to give food to?
Is something amiss?
Oh... No...
Let us rest for a bit.
Why?
You ask why?
The military's no different than the nobles!
You guys live out a quality life by yourselves!
We're just on the sidelines!
Any one of those kids know this fact, too!
That they're living as the leftovers of society?!
Damn it!!
I was wondering where you were,
but getting your butt kicked by civilians?
Damn...
Give it up, will 'ya?
My martial arts grade was below average,
but at cheapshot street fighting...
...I am undefeated.
You... you've done it now, haven't you?
According to our boss,
the weapon that was responsible for the most kills in the trenches...
...wasn't guns or knives but shovels, you know?
Want to give it a try?
So, who are these people anyway, big guy?
Hey, snap out of it, big guy!
Ah...
This dream, again...
Maybe it's not a dream...
Because...
...I've killed many people...
It's okay...
The 2nd Lieutenant will appear, and I'll wake up...
2nd Lieutenant?
2nd Lieutenant?!
2nd Lieutenant!
Kill! Kill! Kill!
You shouldn't move!
Go back to sleep.
We'll send you to the hospital right away.
Anyway, let's deal with these two first.
What do you think, Machs?
Indeed, if these figures are correct,
then a case could be made for Marquis Paul's embezzlement offense.
And fifty copies, including this one, were made.
All of them were distributed, through various routes, to media and newspaper outlets.
I give you guys credit for having all this planned out so well,
but where did you guys get this?
Whatever, guys,
but this is going to fail.
With a scandal as big as this one,
Section I will take action to preserve the country's security.
Using the pretext of "not letting civilians feel insecure",
all these documents will be confiscated,
and all the media will be pressured to keep their mouths shut.
This incident will just go from the shadows and back into the shadows.
Is there something else?
Sergeant Major.
How many minutes have I been asleep?
No, thank you.
You should be allowed to moisten your throat with droplets of grapes, at least,
even if your subordinates are in the midst of a mission now.
You haven't put anything in your mouth for all this time.
Assault the ballroom party?!
What the hell are you guys thinking?!
If this incident gets big, Paul won't be able to cover anything up.
And if we can drag more idiotic nobles into this,
then we're prepared for execution.
You think an execution is enough?!
You guys are all going to be tortured by Section I.
Your entire family, all of your friends, everyone!
Our family has nothing to do with this!
You think Section I cares?!
An information breach as big as this...
Section I will use whatever means it needs to take to get the truth out of this.
The more nobles killed in this incident,
the more excuses Section I obtains.
Get going, Machs.
Don't be playing with me.
Get off!
But...
You got hit on the head.
You think I can take you into this carnage?
Besides...
If something were to happen to you,
these guys will become homicide suspects.
This injury was self-inflicted.
Hey Kiddo.
You brought "that", right?
Give it to me.
S-Sergeant Major!!
Quit complaining!
There's like a big hole opened on your head.
This is the fastest way!
Shall I stop the car?
No!
The time this guy got his butt kicked,
the time he was out cold,
the time we wasted talking...
We don't have any more time to waste!
Oreld, are you pissed or something?
Oh, I'm not pissed.
I did set up a date with that girl from the volunteer group.
I am somewhat jealous.
He may be your subordinate,
but to see you worried about other men...
I...
My princess.
Would you allow me to accompany you to your bedroom tonight?
By driving away other males,
the young lion shall become the king.
It always amazed me.
There's nothing behind your words,
no calculations,
no sarcasm.
Yes,
absolutely colorless words.
Your words don't even give a sense of "you".
But your words just now were wonderful.
You want to win over another man that simply appeared in a conversation or else you won't rest.
Those were Leonir Taylor's unfettered words.
That's...
Marquis Hoost.
His gentle personality makes him amicable to everyone.
I'm quite late, I see.
The guest of honor makes his entrance.
It must've been a lot of trouble to come in this snow.
Please have something warm over there.
That would be most agreeable.
Many people want to push him to hold an important political post.
How imprudent.
A VIP like him came without any bodyguards?
The same could be said about you, my princess!
I can protect myself and my sisters-
Get away from the window!!
Who are these people?
Hey, this isn't a place commoners can enter freely!
This is an act of justice!
Director of the Economic Development Branch, Marquis Paul!
We will give you the punishment you deserve!
Die!!
Did you just say "justice"?
All preparations are complete.
Block all roads that lead to the mansion.
Don't allow even an ant to pass.
Yes, sir!
Section I boys are going out?
Something fishy's going on.
Done.
Well, this will do for now.
What should I...
What should I have done?
I pointed my gun... not at enemy soldiers,
but at civilians that I should be protecting.
They were just holding shovels and hoes.
I was just... so scared...
It happens.
Machs and I have had that experience a few times.
Of course, we never had our heads hit by a hammer.
The same can be said about the LT.
Inside an angry city just after the armistice,
a soldier, the very people that wrecked all their lives,
was preaching war relief and stuff.
Both punches and rocks were thrown at her.
Then came jealousy and envy,
followed by stares of hatred, animosity,
and a full course of foul language.
What do you want, little girl?
That man over there...
...took advantage of his post as Director of the Economic Development Branch...
...and embezzled a large amount of money...
so that he can have fun like this every day!
And this is proof of it!
Th-They're all forged documents!
These people are just jealous of me!
But of course we are!
Children of us commoners don't have anything to eat and suffer from illnesses because of that.
Many of them end up dying like that.
You nobles treat them like trash.
It's not just Paul!
You are all targets of our punishment!
But...
You're first!
Paul,
you've eaten our lifetime's worth of food, right?
Don't be hasty!
If you pull the trigger, you'll endanger your family, as well.
I don't have any.
My son died from illness last year.
His body was all skinny and bony.
He was lighter than a bag of wheat...
Forgive me.
But...
Sister?
Right now, he wants Paul's life.
But, we don't know what'll happen after that.
We'll protect you until you reach the exit.
After that, rely on Mr. Gentleman over there.
Sister!
I-
It's okay if it's unfair!
You should enjoy more of a girl's life!
I will not back away.
Alice!
I will not back away even a step.
Fly away, Machs!
No!
Lieutenant Webner is going to kill me!
Sergeant Major!
Ahead! Ahead!
The tires lost their grip because of the snow!
Outta the way!
We didn't run over anyone, right?
Hey, big guy-
Corporal...
Are you all right?
Wonderful...
Wh-What's wonderful?
This doesn't look wonderful at all.
You are wonderful, indeed.
What's wonderful?!
Besides the LT, her two sisters are here, as well.
Where?
Rumors have it that one of them is the bearer of the Empire's most plump set of breasts,
and the other one has the most conceited breasts.
What?
Ah, those.
That was pretty fast.
Oh, you guys came at the right time.
Marquis Paul.
Now, let me get on this car and-
We're not here to rescue you.
Quite the opposite.
Those documents again?
Do you have evidence that those are authentic?
Yes, we do.
Fifty copies of this fifty page document were made.
Forty-nine of those pages are copies, however.
Only one page has the stamp of the Economic Development Branch, the real one!
It must be that the fifty original copies were each separated into fifty sets.
In other words, all fifty of them are fakes...
...and all fifty are authentic.
According to these documents,
just last month alone, you embezzled seven million marks.
The large amounts of money we're managing...
...and you're telling me you were able to tell just by glancing at these documents?
Someone can do that in Section III.
She messes up 2-digit addition,
but she's very good at this type of stuff.
They're so slow...
Well, we can continue this in our office-
You guys are Section III, right?
As I recall, Section III doesn't have the right to arrest people.
And it's blown...
Idiot.
If we don't arrest him here, this riot won't be nipped in the bud.
Soldiers should be quelling this civilian riot.
Go away!
Soldiers, get out of my way!
See what I said?
You guys are just watch dogs for the nobles.
Saying all that admirable stuff;
you're going to kill us all afterwards, right?
We won't let you do that!
Kill them!
What should I do?
Kill all soldiers and nobles!
What should I do?
Enough of this!!
A glove?
Indeed, Section III doesn't have the right to arrest.
Then, Marquis...
Right here, as a noble, I,
Alice L. Malvin,
challenge you to a duel!
Mer-kun, two skilled fighters from Loderia are entering the battle.
What's going to happen to the ballroom party?
And at that time, what's Section III doing?
Next time, "The Puppet and the Idol."
Come get us if you dare!