()||9<黑屏1>0,10黑屏1>BGM_Empty:
()||9<黑屏2>:The building isn't as bright and spacious as I thought. Quite the contrary, it's pitch dark. Not a ray of sunlight penetrates into the construction; I can't even orient myself. +If it weren't for the solid surface beneath my feet, I wouldn't even be sure I'm actually standing on the ground.
()Commander||:Kalina, could you scan this area?
NPC-Kalin(4)Kalina<通讯框>||:It seems to be a subspace in the database. Access authorizations seem to be a bit jumbled and some pre-established subroutines have been written into the program...
()Commander||:Uh... In a language I can understand please?
NPC-Kalin(3)Kalina<通讯框>||:That is to say, it's like walking into an opera. Everything is written and pre-arranged.
()Commander||:Opera, huh...
()Commander||:Henrietta? +Are you still here?
()||:As if to answer my call, her soft, delicate hand squeezes mine with more force, and she keeps leading me in the same direction. +Even though I still can't see a thing, I feel somewhat more reassured having her with me.
()Commander||:Are there no lights in the building?
Henrietta(1)Henrietta||:No. +"Darkness is the best place for imagination because everything in here is unknown." +That's what Signore Marco once said.
()Commander||:Marco?
Henrietta(4)Henrietta||:That's Angelica's Handler. +Are you sure you're feeling alright, Signore Giuseppe? You seem to be rather forgetful today.
()Commander||:Oh, sorry, but I'm fine. I'm just a bit slow.
Henrietta(1)Henrietta||:So even you have your careless moments. Are you scared because it's so dark in here? +Then let me sing a song for you. +"Joy, bright spark of divinity, Daughter of Elysium..."
()Commander||:"Fire-inspired we tread thy sanctuary..." +Do you like Symphony No. 9 a lot?
Henrietta(1)Henrietta||:We sang it together the night we watched the meteor shower. +No matter what plight I may face, whenever I sing that song, I think back to that moment and feel calm again.
()Commander||:That's a pretty good way to comfort yourself.
()||:Henrietta's chuckle drifts back toward me; she seems very happy. +After a while, she comes to a halt.
Henrietta(1)Henrietta||:We're here. Angelica's Vita is the closest so it's pretty easy to locate.
()Commander||:But I'm not seeing anything?
Henrietta(1)Henrietta||:There's a door over here. Can't you see it?
()||:Henrietta's arm extends into the dark, and light starts seeping through as if there really was a door there.
Henrietta(1)Henrietta||BGM_Empty<白屏1>:Let's go in, Signore Giuseppe.
()||AVG_Door_Open_CloseGF_xGS2_25<白屏2>265:I walk into a scene of dazzling brightness and busy hubbub. +Having emerged from a dark and quiet place, I have to stop and squint to let my eyes adjust to the new environment.
Carcano1891(2)Carcano M1891||:Signore Marco! If you don't hurry, I'm going to leave you behind!
()Commander||:Marco? +Isn't that Angelica's Handler? +There you are, Cano...
Carcano1891(2)Carcano M1891||:What are you talking about, Signore Marco?! I've always been here. +Is your head addled with sleep?
()||:I take in my surroundings. Cano and I are standing in a street. +There are no reflective glasses or digital displays, just the solid austerity that's characteristic of architecture in the olden days. Other than the sun, nothing here pierces the eye. +From what I learned in school, this seems to be pre-WWIII Rome. +However, I've lost track of Henrietta. I look around anxiously but can't find her anywhere.
()Commander||:... +Henrietta?
()Henrietta's Voice||:I'm here, Signore Giuseppe. I'm standing right next to you, but I can't seem to touch you or anything here – how strange. +Can you not see me? +This is the first time I've entered someone else's Vita. I wonder if this is supposed to happen...
NPC-Kalin(3)Kalina<通讯框>||:Of course! Because of the pre-established subroutine, anyone not in the script is excluded from the scene.
()Commander||:Then how come I can talk to Cano?
NPC-Kalin(3)Kalina<通讯框>||:Your login ID has been automatically changed to the Handler named Marco. Maybe this has something to do with the subroutine as well?
()Commander||:You mean I'll have to pretend to be another person in here?
NPC-Kalin(3)Kalina<通讯框>||:Well... Do your best!
()Henrietta's Voice||:I'm sorry... I volunteered to bring you into Vita, but now I'm completely useless...
()Commander||:Don't worry, just stay by my side. It would be great if you could answer whatever questions I have.
()Henrietta's Voice||:Umm... Sure! I'll tell you whatever you want to know! You just have to ask, Signore Giuseppe!
()Commander||:Right then... It's time to start playing this Marco.
Carcano1891(2)Carcano M1891||:...Signore Marco? Why have you gone all quiet? +I was just joking. You're not mad at me, are you?
()Commander||:Oh... No, I'm not. +I'm just glad that you're okay.
Carcano1891(2)Carcano M1891||:Hmm? Of course I'm okay. You're so weird today, Signore Marco. +Oh, no! We'll miss the train back if we don't hurry! +If we get home late, you'll get another lecture from Jean! +What if he gets angry and sends you off to Hereford?!
()||<黑屏1>:Cano drags me on by the hem of my coat in great hurry. I try to gather my thoughts as I run after her. +Cano doesn't seem to have recognized me as the Commander. Rather, she's treating me as a Handler who exists in this world. +Has her memory been altered? Is that why none of the Dolls have returned? +I've got to get to the bottom of this...
Carcano1891(2)Carcano M1891||73<黑屏2>:I've completed my training today!
()Commander||:I saw the data. You did great.
Carcano1891(2)Carcano M1891||:Heheh, Cano is the best Cyborg! +Signore Marco, will I get a reward for doing well today?
()Commander||:Reward?
Carcano1891(2)Carcano M1891||:Huh? You haven't forgotten, have you? +You promised you'd buy me the sequel to the picture book if I perform well!
()Commander||:The picture book?
Carcano1891(2)Carcano M1891||:You know, "The Prince of the Kingdom of Pasta"!
()||:The speed at which time passes can be manually adjusted with this account. Three days have elapsed since I entered this story. +I have temporarily paused the story, causing Cano to freeze in a rather comical posture. +I open up the document. Apparently, the picture book was written by this Marco for his Cyborg. +However, at this point in time, it shouldn't be in public circulation.
()Commander||:Have you ever heard of the picture book, Henrietta?
()Henrietta's Voice||:Of course; the story is quite famous within the Agency.
()Commander||:But you can't buy the book in any bookstore, right? After all, Marco wrote it with his colleagues.
()Henrietta's Voice||:Hmm... That is correct, but anything is possible in Vita.
()Commander||:Is that so...? Must be the subroutine again.
()||:I resume the story. Cano is looking expectantly at me with sparkling eyes.
()Commander||:Oh, you're right. +Now I remember. Since you did so well today, I've got to reward you.
Carcano1891(2)Carcano M1891||:Then are we...
()Commander||:Yep, we're getting that book today.
Carcano1891(2)Carcano M1891||:Hooray! Thank youuuuuu, Signore Marco!
()||:Cano runs out of the office cheering. +I've been reading and re-reading this story, hoping to find something while I skip through moments, but I remain disappointed. +Cano's memories show no sign of returning, and I haven't caught even a glimpse of Angelica, the original owner of this Vita. +Angelica isn't on the list of Cyborgs who work under the Agency. All records of her have been replaced by Cano. Still, despite the lack of result from my investigation, I did find a lot more information about the Agency and their Cyborgs.
()Commander||:Cyborgs can't hope to compare with T-Dolls when it comes to combat capabilities. Through augmentation, they can only make the girls about as strong as the average adult man, though I suppose that's enough for a special service organization who needs to keep a low profile... +However, it's still very inhumane. They drastically reduce the girls' lifespan and even brainwash them. They take everything away from them but give them a first-class living environment as if out of magnanimity. What on earth are they thinking at this Agency?
NPC-Kalin(3)Kalina<通讯框>||:Commander, can you hear me?
()Commander||:Anything new?
NPC-Kalin(3)Kalina<通讯框>||:I've been studying the subroutines in there. It seems that only the corresponding authorized user can alter the program.
()Commander||:You can't do it from outside?
NPC-Kalin(3)Kalina<通讯框>||:My access keeps being denied. I think in order to solve the problem, you must first find this girl called Angelica. +A story is unfolding by the script in there. If you let it run its course, the subroutine will eventually lose effect.
()Commander||:So I have to let the whole thing play out and guide it to the scripted ending...?
NPC-Kalin(3)Kalina<通讯框>||:That seems to be the case. +I don't know why Cano has replaced Angelica in this story, but as long as she's still in there as a character of the play, you're bound to run into her at some point.
()Commander||:How can you be so sure?
NPC-Kalin(3)Kalina<通讯框>||:Because it's a story. As the original main character, she's got to make an appearance sooner or later. That's the rule that all stories must abide by.
()Commander||<黑屏1>:That explanation sounds way too meta... Anyway, I'll give it a try.