Conversation · Kim Kitsuragi

"Yes."

Nod.

"You were bleeding out by then..." He thinks. "You warned me -- I was able to disarm Kortenaer before he got the jump on me."

Thank you. Although...

"I killed her," the lieutenant repeats himself. "And that's what happened."

"And they're all dead, all three... of the contractors?"

"De Paule was the last to die." He nods. "Evrart had their bodies returned to Krenel for a funeral. The company is yet to retaliate."

"Why?"

"Because we deterred them? Or Joyce did? Maybe the harbour -- in full lockdown -- is too costly a target. Or maybe..." he breathes in the fumes, thinking.

"Maybe they are simply taking their time and will attack soon? I don't know."

"So you also killed."

He nods.

"I thought you only smoked one a day."

"This is the one."

"How many casualties... on the Union's side? Total?"

"Five: Glen, Theo, Angus. The fat one, he... took a lot of bullets." There's a pause. "And Titus."

"And Elizabeth too -- Elizabeth Beaufort was her name. The gardener."

"She did not make it?"

"No. She bled out before Evrart's surgeon could help her. Evrart sent his personal doctor but..." He shakes his head. "A costly loss for the Union. She was being trained for leadership."

"I did all I could there."

"I know you did. It's all right."

That's right.

"If I would have presented the theory better... to their leader..."

"She never had a chance. She should not have been there in the first place. There was no way to convince them."

Stop this line of thought now. You're too broken for ghosts.

"Six: Glen, Theo, Shanky, Angus. The fat one, he... took a lot of bullets." There's a pause. "And Titus."

"Four: Glen, Theo, Angus. The fat one, he... took a lot of bullets." There's a pause. "And Titus."

"Five: Glen, Theo, Shanky, Angus. The fat one, he... took a lot of bullets." There's a pause. "And Titus."

"Four: Glen, Theo, Angus, the fat one, he... took a lot of bullets." There's a pause.

"Five: Glen, Theo, Shanky, and Angus, the fat one, he... took a lot of bullets." There's a pause.

"Three: Glen, Theo, Angus. The fat one, he... took a lot of bullets." There's a pause. "And Theo -- he was just too old for combat."

"Four: Glen, Theo, Shanky, and Angus. The fat one, he... took a lot of bullets." There's a pause.

"And the major..."

"... is in a private hospital across the river. Krenel claimed him from the local butcher shop, where Titus died. Turns out he's insured."

There is unveiled anger in his voice.

"We won't get to him anymore. The good news is -- he's not coming here either. I did some damage."

"And that's..." (Conclude.)

"All." He nods.

"It's a total shit show, Kim."

"Yes, officer," he says calmly. "Six people are dead. It's not a success."

Plus one. Ruby.

"But what's done is done. The violence is cordoned off, the mercenary tribunal is neutralized. The worst scenario has not materialized -- yet."

"And..." he smiles: "We are still alive -- both of us."

He did not expect you both to survive once you stepped between those two armies.

His smoking, his hunched back... you have it worse, but he took a real beating. That cigarette has medicinal purposes.

"I don't see how it could have gone any better."

"Let's face it, officer -- and this is both of our fault..." he says calmly -- without accusation. "It could have gone a little better. Six people are dead."

"Let's face it, officer," he says calmly -- without accusation. "It could have gone a little better. You could've not missed."

"Let's face it, officer..." he says calmly -- without accusation. "It could have gone a little better. You could've not missed with the bomb. If you already threw it."

"Let's face it, officer..." he says calmly -- without accusation. "It could have gone a little better. The diplomatic approach was terrible. It was my mistake. I should have attacked..."

He was afraid.

"Not that bad -- all things considered."

"Oh no, officer," he says calmly -- without accusation. "It's pretty bad. Six people are dead."

"An absolute disaster."

"Titus is dead?"

"Yes." He pulls on his cigarette intently.

"I killed her." The lieutenant takes a cigarette from his coat pocket and lights it. A bitter smell fills the room. "And that's what happened."

Thank you.

"You were bleeding out, you said something, I don't know what..." He thinks. "And you warned me. I was able to disarm officer de Paule before she got the jump on me."

"Eugene?"